Astrael could feel the alluring yet strange connection from the core, but couldn't tell why. He didn't have any cultivation technique to make use of this either.
Reluctantly, he willed it into his inventory. The core vanished from his hand.
"Status."
The blue screen snapped in his retina.
Host: Astrael Ravenastra
Age: 4 yrs
Race: Human
Title: Young Master, The One Who Defies Death, ???, ???
Class: -
Cultivation: Novice stage 1
Level: 5
Exp.: 220 / 600
Bloodline: Ravensastra Bloodline
-------------------------------
Attributes:
- Strength: 8-->18
- Agility: 19-->29
- Intelligence: 10
- Endurance: 8
- Vitality: 7
- Charm: 5
- Soul: 100 (LOCKED)
- SP: 4
-------------------------------
Skills and Abilities:
[Appraise]
[ Sword Mastery (Beginner) --> Apprentice]
[ Quick Draw (E) lvl.2 -->3]
[ Mana Augmentation (E) lvl.1] NEW!
-------------------------------
His eyes locked onto the Strength and Agility attributes. Even without moving, he could feel the raw power humming through his veins, coiled and ready. Every muscle felt tighter, more responsive, as if he were born to wield this strength.
He knew the battles ahead would be tougher than anything he'd faced so far. There would be no time for hesitation. His gaze shifted to the remaining attributes. With deliberate thought, he pushed two points into Intelligence, and one each into Endurance and Vitality.
Almost instantly, a strange warmth spread through his body. The dull ache in his recently reconstructed shoulder melted away, replaced by a deep, grounded sturdiness. It felt like he was submerged in pristine mountain spring water—soothing, steady, and invigorating.
As his Intelligence stat rose, he could feel the mana in the air reacting. It began to draw toward him naturally, like iron to a magnet. His control and precision sharpened dramatically. The fog clouding his thoughts lifted, replaced by a focused clarity that felt nearly razor-sharp.
After soaking in the surreal sensation for a moment, Astrael turned his attention to the skill he'd acquired, Mana Augmentation. He wanted to test it in action. Closing his eyes, he focused his will and carefully directed a thin stream of mana into the muscles of his right leg.
The sensation was bizarre but oddly familiar, like flexing a phantom limb that had always been a part of him, just dormant.
He tensed the muscle gently to test it. A sudden jolt of energy surged through his leg, electric and powerful. He took a cautious step forward.
The world blurred around him. His foot landed far beyond what he intended, causing him to stumble and fall awkwardly to the ground.
He blinked and quickly checked his mana reserves.
Roughly one-fifth had been consumed—enough for five or six uses, depending on precision. He continued experimenting, channelling mana through different parts of his body, testing limits. As expected, the mana cost varied with the area and duration. Prolonged use or full-body enhancement consumed significantly more.
"Hahh... how cold..." Astrael shivered as he looked down at his ragged clothes, now little more than tattered strips hanging loosely on his thin frame. Half of his body was exposed, and the biting temperature gnawed at his skin like tiny needles.
He gritted his teeth. Right now, he had no other choice.
Gurgle~
Gurgle~
His stomach cried out again. He had lost track of time, but the hunger had reached unbearable levels. Though his body had seen dramatic improvements, his endurance and vitality were still his weakest points, especially when it came to resisting cold and maintaining energy.
In truth, he wasn't that different from an ordinary person—just a few steps ahead. And at the end of it all, he was still a five-year-old child. Strong, yes. But human nonetheless.
Then, like a sudden flash of hope, he remembered something and swiftly opened his inventory.
Inside, a few mushrooms rested quietly, one of them glowing faintly with multiple colours.
With a thought, the mushrooms materialised in his hands.
[{Brown Mushroom} (Consumable): A common forest mushroom with mild energy-restoring properties. Temporarily eases hunger and restores a small amount of stamina. No effect on mana. Safe to eat raw but best when cooked.]
[{Three-Colored Mushroom} (Consumable): A rare mushroom with swirling red, blue, and green hues. Restores moderate stamina, aids in minor cultivation recovery, and slightly boosts mana regeneration for a short duration. Effects amplify when used in alchemical brews.]
Reading the descriptions, Astrael couldn't help but chuckle with disbelief, a smile curling onto his face.
"Is this what they mean by legendary plot armour?!" Astrael muttered to himself, his voice laced with awe and disbelief as he tried to comprehend the absurd turn of events unfolding before him.
Without another moment's delay, he bit into the brown mushroom. The taste was earthy, slightly bitter, but bearable.
Within moments, the hunger gnawing at his belly faded as if it had never existed. His body felt light again.
"Phew... now I'm feeling much better," Astrael exhaled, letting out a tired sigh of relief.
His eyes narrowed toward the dark tunnel ahead.
"Time to move. I need to get the hell out of this damn dungeon," he muttered, gripping his sword tightly as he took his first steps deeper into the unknown.
***
Along the winding path, Astrael encountered two to three goblins at nearly every turn. But they were nothing like the monsters from before. With his newfound strength and enhanced precision, he moved like a blur.
Each goblin fell before it could even raise a weapon.
Heads rolled, blood sprayed, and silence returned before the enemy even realised they were under attack.
Astrael didn't stop. His pace was steady, his grip firm, and his eyes locked forward. The dungeon had turned from a nightmare into his personal training ground.
Astrael moved swiftly, and the sword was like an extension of his body. Each goblin that leapt from the shadows was dispatched with a single, fluid motion. Blood splattered the rough stone walls, but Astrael never faltered. The rhythm of battle was intoxicating. As he battled, his movements, strikes became more sharper, faster and more lethal than ever before.
[You have acquired the soul energy of a level 2 Goblin soldier]
[+150 exp]
[You have acquired the soul energy of a level 3 Goblin scout ]
[+100 exp]
[You have acquired the soul energy of a level 1 Goblin ...
Astrael had no idea how much time had slipped by. Minutes? Hours? He couldn't tell anymore. All he knew was that he had been completely consumed by the chaos of battle.
His senses blurred, sounds, movements, blood, and steel all blending into one violent rhythm. He moved on instinct alone, cutting down goblins one after another, his mind overtaken by a strange calm amidst the carnage.
In that moment, time no longer held any meaning for him. He was lost in the slaughter.
.....
[You have levelled up and reached level 6]
[You get 2 status points to distribute freely]
[You have levelled up and reached level 7]
[You get 2 status points to distribute freely]
[You have levelled up and reached level 8]
[You get 2 status points to distribute freely]
A sudden warmth coursed through his body, like lightning racing through every nerve. His wounds sealed in seconds, fatigue washed away as if it had never existed. Astrael let out a sharp breath, eyes scanning the dim corridor.
By slaughtering all the goblins in the tunnel, he levelledp up thrice.
"Perfect timing."
Without hesitation, he accessed his status panel and dumped the newly earned attribute points, each to the endurance, vitality, intelligence and two to the strength. His breath was more stable, his body pulsed with life, and his thoughts grew sharper and clearer. His arms are now capable of delivering devastating force with terrifying ease.
After walking for several more minutes, the narrow tunnel gradually widened. Astrael slowed his steps.
Up ahead, the cave opened into a large, dome-shaped chamber dimly lit by glowing blue fungi that clung to the walls and ceiling like tiny stars.
He crouched behind a jagged rock and observed silently.
Dozens of goblins, maybe more, were scattered across the cavern. Some were sitting around crude fires, roasting chunks of meat. Others argued, snarled, or sparred with rusted blades. In the centre stood a larger tent made of stitched hides and bones. A crude totem of skulls surrounded it, most likely the boss quarters.
Astrael's eyes narrowed.
"A goblin camp," he whispered.
This wasn't just a random gathering; it was organised. Their weapons were crude, yes, but there was clear structure, even a form of discipline among the stronger ones.
His gaze fell on several larger goblins, the ones he had fought earlier. Hobgoblins. Each of them carried jagged axes and spears and barked orders to the others.
His expression hardened.
"This changes everything," Astrael muttered to himself. "I can't just charge in... I need a plan." He knew, like before, he couldn't barge. It would be like writing a death sentence.
He carefully retreated a few steps into the shadows, thinking fast. With his current strength and Mana Augmentation, he could likely take out the outer goblins in a blitz. But if the Hobgoblins rallied, or worse, the chieftain emerged, it would become a death trap.
Still, the determination in his eyes said it all.
He wasn't backing down.
Not now.
Not when the path forward could be his first real step toward becoming someone powerful, someone capable of shaping his own destiny.
Tightening his grip on the sword, Astrael silently prepared for war.
***
🌟 Hey, fellow traveller of tales and treasures! 🧭 Your presence here is a journey filled with surprises, like uncovering hidden gems 💎. Isn't it fascinating how a little GOLDEN ✨ something can change everything? 💛