The battlefield was still trembling, smoke curling upward from the giant crater that stretched beyond sight. The once-mighty beast lay in shattered remains, its colossal form nothing but two broken halves staining the ground. Silence ruled the arena—no roars, no cheers, only the heavy breath of warriors who had just witnessed the impossible.
Yet, even in victory, Aamir’s expression was grim. He wiped blood from his lips, forcing himself upright though his knees begged him to collapse. His system screen still blinked faintly, warning him like a cruel reminder:
[Caution: System Overload]
He chuckled bitterly under his breath. Overload, huh? If I had pushed just a little more, maybe I wouldn’t be standing here at all.
Zalmic rushed forward, catching him by the arm before he could stumble. "Lord Aamir, are you alright? You’re bleeding too much!"
"I’m fine." Aamir waved him off, though his voice cracked with exhaustion. "If I can still talk, I can still fight. Don’t fuss."
But the truth was, his body scread in agony. Every bone, every vein felt stretched to breaking point. Still, the system had given him what he wanted most—victory.
As the dust cleared, the familiar blue glow shimred before his eyes.
[Battle Complete]
[Reward: Level Up 1]
Only one.
Aamir clenched his fists. Just one again...
His jaw tightened. He knew the truth—the limit was caging him. If not for that invisible barrier, today’s battle should have pushed him five, maybe six levels forward. The sheer size and power of the beast would have been enough to skyrocket any other wanderer. But for him? Just one step.
He sighed, dragging his palm across his face. "Tch... so unfair."
Still, he forced himself to smirk. "No matter. If the system wants to keep on a leash, then I’ll just tear through that leash myself. I’ll train, I’ll hunt, and I’ll gain strength on my own terms."
He turned to Zalmic, who was already barking orders at his soldiers to clear the battlefield. The King of Beasts was battered but still stood tall, his golden eyes filled with gratitude and awe.
Aamir walked up to him, his sword now sheathed, his presence still sharp. "Lord Zalmic. I need so rest. I’ll return to my place for a while." He gestured to the battlefield. "You handle this ss. When I wake again, I’ll hunt every last beast still breathing on this planet. Consider it a promise."
Zalmic bowed his head deeply. "We will obey. Without you, none of us would still be standing here. Rest, my Lord, and when you rise, the beasts of this world will tremble."
Aamir then shifted his gaze to Seemus, the warrior from the neighboring world. His cloak was torn, his armor cracked, yet his eyes never left Aamir.
"You," Aamir pointed. "Wait. Once I’m finished here, I’ll go with you to your planet. I already know what waits there. A being stronger than the beast I just cut down... soone who manipulates all of you like pawns. I’ll destroy him and cleanse your world."
Seemus’s lips tightened, his eyes shaking with both hope and disbelief. "You... you would truly do that for us?"
Aamir’s reply was firm, leaving no room for doubt. "I don’t make empty promises."
Seemus bowed so low his forehead touched the cracked earth. "Then I will wait. No matter how long it takes."
Without another word, Aamir turned and raised his hand. A spiral of dark-blue light tore open in front of him, a swirling portal linking directly to his own chamber. His legs were heavy, but he didn’t let anyone see weakness. He stepped into the void, the battlefield fading behind him.
The mont his feet touched the floor of his room, his mask of strength crumbled. His body gave way, and he collapsed face-first onto the bed. His sword clattered to the ground, forgotten.
The system’s red warnings followed him even here, their glow filling the dim room.
[Danger: System Overload]
[Danger: Core Strain at 92%]
[Warning: Prolonged usage may result in permanent damage]
Luman’s voice chid in, calm yet heavy. "Aamir, listen carefully. If you had pushed your strength for even one more second, the overload would have crushed your heart and torn apart your spiritual core. Do you understand? You were at the very edge."
"I know," Aamir whispered, eyes half-closed, sweat dripping down his temples. "But I had no choice. It was either or him."
"You can’t keep gambling your life like this," Luman scolded. "There are enemies far stronger waiting ahead. If you continue without control, you won’t even reach them."
Aamir chuckled weakly, turning his head to the side. "Then I’ll just get stronger faster than the overload can catch . That’s my only answer."
Luman fell silent for a mont, then sighed. "...Stubborn as always."
But Aamir was already drifting. His body was beyond its limit, his mind sinking into the darkness of exhaustion. His last thought before slipping into unconsciousness was a simple vow:
I’ll break every wall this system throws at . Even if it kills .
The room fell silent except for the soft hum of the red warning screens. Outside, the world carried on, unaware that its protector lay broken, dreaming of battles yet to co.
And sowhere, far away, Shamrock’s twisted laughter echoed into the void.
Aamir woke up after a full day of rest, his body still carrying the weight of the last battle. The crimson glow of his system had faded, but the warning still echoed in his mind. He stretched, rolled his shoulders, and muttered to himself, "Alright, no more delays... ti to finish what I started."
He went straight to King Zalmic, who had been waiting with his council. The vampire lord rose to greet him, his crimson cloak dragging lightly against the marble floor. Aamir spoke firmly, "I’ll make all of the beasts here submit to . That way, you won’t have to worry about them threatening your people again."
Zalmic bowed his head. "If anyone can, it is you, Lord Aamir."
Without another word, Aamir disappeared into the wilds.
For the next twenty days, the entire planet felt his presence. Beasts that once ruled mountains, rivers, and skies found themselves facing the unstoppable force that was Aamir. He did not kill them; instead, he fought them head-on, forcing their submission. One by one, they bowed, their killing intent crushed under the weight of his will.
Every beast he marked beca part of him, their auras tied to his. The planet’s balance slowly shifted—where once chaos reigned, order spread. Hunters no longer feared the night; villages no longer trembled at roars in the distance.
By the twentieth day, Aamir returned. His steps were heavy, but his eyes burned with quiet victory. He stood before Zalmic and the vampire lords, his voice calm yet carrying weight. "Hai, Lord Zalmic. It’s done. All the strong beasts have been tad. They are now my pets."
The lords exchanged glances, astonished at the feat.
Aamir paused, then added almost casually, "And I rember... I marked all of you too. If you wish, I can release you."
The hall went silent. Zalmic stepped forward, his expression grave yet respectful. "Lord Aamir, as king of vampires, I was reaching my limit. Growth was slow, and I could not see beyond it. But when you marked , I felt sothing change. Every ti you grow stronger... I grow too. For the first ti in centuries, I feel like I can protect my people better."
His voice deepened with conviction. "So no, I will not ask you to release ."
The other vampire lords quickly agreed, each voicing similar sentints. Their pride as rulers remained intact, yet their loyalty to Aamir had been sealed.
Aamir gave a small nod. "Alright then. I’ll respect your choice. But now... I have to leave."
He turned toward Seemus, the werewolf king, who had been waiting silently at the side. "You and I—we’re not done yet. On your planet, there’s soone stronger than even the beast I just fought. Soone manipulating you all. I’ll destroy him and set your people free."
Seemus bowed his head in acknowledgnt, his voice steady. "We’ll stand with you, Aamir."
With that, Aamir boarded a ship alongside the werewolves. As the engines roared to life and the skies opened above, he took one last look at Zalmic and his people.
"Protect this place. I’ll be back once I’ve settled things on your neighbor’s world."
Then Aamir looked at Seemus and said, "So, Seemus, I will co with you. I hope this tournant will go as smoothly as this, but rember—do not fight them needlessly. I need your help. And Lord Zalmic, yours too."
When Aamir ntioned Zorwath’s na, both Seemus and Zalmic’s faces turned pale.
"No... that shouldn’t be possible," Zalmic muttered. "He was the one who started it all. He was sealed."
Aamir’s tone hardened. "The seal is broken. He has returned. If he grows again, everything will be dood. That’s why I’m getting stronger—but I need you both."
Zalmic straightened, resolve firm. "We will lend you our strength. We rember what happened 1,700 years ago. It won’t happen again."
Aamir nodded. "Good. Then I’m counting on you." With that, he stepped onto the ship, determination burning in his eyes.
And then, with a flash of light, the ship soared into the stars, carrying Aamir toward the next battlefield.
Reviews
All reviews (0)