— Four Weeks Later —
For the past three weeks, I had lived a silent life in the palace—eating nothing and speaking to no one. Walking this path, I believed it was my first step to escape the grip of the heavens.
Yet it turned out to be a path set for by the heavens.
It was heartbreaking.
Ten tis more heartbreaking than when my family testified against and had imprisoned.
I was tired—not in body, but in soul.
The praises and chants that once moved felt hollow, even annoying.
On the bright side, Serena wasn’t speaking to either. My harsh remarks had broken sothing in her. I guess she never imagined a situation where any man would reject her—the future Empress.
Was she beautiful?
Yes.
But so were Kenza and Natasha.
Beautiful girls could be found everywhere. She was nothing special.
Because of this, she clung tight to her grimoire, and I hadn’t bothered learning any new spells since then.
Luckily for the people of Solinthar, our victory at both valleys and the declaration of the Great One’s presence had shaken their enemies to the core.
I wasn’t just a naless hero—I was the one who defeated Thalorien, the most popular elf prince, or so I had been told.
So for now, they enjoyed peace like never before.
---
— Solinthar Royal Court —
Na: Adam Black
Level: 10
Race: Human
Talent: Gatekeeper
Talent Tier: SSS-Tier
[Stats]
Strength: 13 5
Speed: 10 5
Vitality: 14 5
Intelligence: 10 5
Health Points: 150/150 50
Energy Points: 40/40
Experience Points: 7550/12,400
Corruption: 0.5%
Universal Fragnts: 0
Dark Fragnts: 0
Blood Fragnts: 0
Limitless Fragnts: 0
Solinthar Fragnts: 2,330
Orc Fragnts: 12
[Skills]
Na: Door
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: C
Cost: 1 EP
Proficiency: 50%
Technique: Doorpost
Na: Blood Pact
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: A
Cost: 10 HP
Proficiency: 0%
Na: Might of Man
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: C
Cost: Nil
Proficiency: 100%
Na: Berserk Mode
Status: Fixed
Tier: C
Cost: Nil
Proficiency: 100%
Na: Blood Ignition
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: B
Cost: 10% HP
Proficiency: 0%
Na: Crimson Threads
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: B
Cost: 1 HP per thread
Proficiency: 0%
Na: Angel
Status: Upgradeable
Tier: B
Cost: 3 EP
Proficiency: 0%
Na: On Pulse
Status: Fixed
Tier: B
Cost: 5 EP
Proficiency: 0%
Na: Corrupted Growth
Status: Fixed
Tier: A
Cost: 10 EP
Proficiency: 0%
Na: Magic Acun
Status: Fixed
Tier: SS
Cost: Nil
Proficiency: 100%
[Territory]
Solinthar Empire [Living Realm]
Perk: 5 to all Stats & 50 Health Points
My curious gaze was fixed on my stats, ignoring the noisy courtroom. After hitting the level ten threshold, I noticed a qualitative change. My skin grew slightly paler, my senses sharper, and the pain in my chest intensified.
Before, it felt like a knife was lodged in my chest. Now, it felt like soone was shoveling through my ribcage to reach my heart.
Still, I had grown more resilient—resilient enough to ignore the pain.
On the flip side, I unlocked sothing new: the ability to upgrade my skills using fragnts.
It didn’t matter which fragnt—which was a good thing. Because if I needed Blood Fragnts to upgrade my blood-based skills, I’d be helpless until I found a vampire realm.
However, the system—being the fraudulent bastard it is—made upgrades ridiculously expensive.
Upgrading a skill cost 1000 fragnts.
Yes, a thousand.
At this point, I believed the system didn’t have fixed prices. It just looked at my stats and set the price based on what I had. I killed over 2000 people to accumulate these fragnts—ant to be used on high-level spells—yet it planned to rob blind.
This wouldn’t have been a problem if that bitch Serena would stop being moody and just hand over the grimoire. I couldn’t rip it from her hands—it would ruin the image I had fought to build.
And that was what pissed off the most.
"The Kings have arrived!"
The cry from beyond the doors snapped back to reality.
I was seated on the main throne while Queen Althea sat beside on a smaller throne. Serena stood behind her, while Caleum stood behind .
The entire court fell silent as the doors swung open and six figures walked in—each dressed in expensive robes with puffy faces and delicate skin.
So were bald, others half-bald, and only one with a decent hairline. What annoyed most were the capes. Whatever presence those capes were ant to give was ruined by their protruding bellies.
Clearly, these kings had lived comfortable lives while humanity struggled to survive.
I planned to have a civil conversation, but seeing them made want to slaughter so and threaten the rest.
Thud!
Their heavy footsteps halted nearly a dozen ters away from the throne. Their contemptuous gaze swept through the room, landing on —then fear crept in.
Of course it would. I didn’t look very human.
To won, I was their fantasy.
To n, I was a threat.
"Introduce yourselves," I said coldly, and all eyes shifted to .
It was clear people didn’t speak to these kings like this. Given the empire’s current situation, they expected to be ek.
The kings exchanged glances. A few seconds later, the one at the center stepped forward.
"King Aldurion Vhal’Tor... King of Virelia," he said in a stuffy voice, like he had a whole chicken stuck in his throat.
He was the fastest of them all, dressed in expensive purple garnts and a clean white cape with a fur collar. Ironically, he was the only one with a decent hairline.
He stared at , waiting for so sort of acknowledgnt.
I glanced past him.
"Next."
I felt Serena’s worried gaze from the corner. Diplomacy was needed for our survival, yet I was speaking to the allies we so dearly needed like they were the ones who needed our help.
"King Renar Solgrave of Duskhold!"
Unlike the rest, he wasn’t outright fat. He was tall—nearly 6’4"—but his belly was the biggest of them all. The man was half-bald and had a fat nose that could gather oxygen for two people.
"King Kaelus Dreadmourne of Lag’etha."
"King Orun Velmire of Kael’Barad."
"King Tiberion Ashvane of Orynthall."
"King Zevrath Ul’Mael of Thal’Venora."
Not long after, all six had introduced themselves with displeased looks in their eyes.
The recognition and grand welco they expected... they did not receive.
"Why have you refused to help Solinthar in its war against these barbarians?" I asked coldly, and they snapped.
"WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TO QUESTION US?!" Kaelus scread—only to run out of breath after one shout.
"Do you think we are peasants you can question?" King Orun barked.
"Yes."
Buzz!
This ti Queen Althea glanced at in shock, but I ignored her and rose to my feet.
"I asked Selric to rally you all in my na... and rally you shall. Or pay the ultimate price."
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