---
The night passed gradually, the stars shimmering in the sky, while the pale moon cast its light over the forest, which was cloaked in a terrifying silence. The sound of rustling leaves swayed with the cold wind, which carried with it the scent of fresh blood. Yet, this scent was not what stirred the beasts of the forest. On the contrary, it made them quieter, more still— as if fear itself had sealed their mouths.
Fear... of Kyle.
Kyle was immersed in a breakthrough process. His body remained still, his eyes half-closed, as though isolated from the world, indifferent to what surrounded him. His aura was steadily rising, glowing with a fiery red light, while the air around him gradually heated, as if the very breath of the earth had begun to burn.
But more importantly… within the tongues of fiery aura, there was a flicker of blackish-purple lightning—not quite lightning, yet dancing like a whispering serpent of death. That flicker radiated a terrifying sensation that seeped into bones and froze the blood in veins.
Suddenly, Kyle's aura erupted with immense force, and the sound of glass shattering echoed through the air, as if an invisible barrier had been broken. Kyle had broken through the Low Bronze Knight rank and entered the Mid Bronze Knight rank. Flames wrapped around his body, and his aura turned into real fire, with such intense heat that it lit up the entire area around him. It was as if a sun had risen in the middle of the night. The ground beneath his feet began to melt slowly, and the green grass, stained with dried blood, burned away into black dust drifting in the wind.
Yet amidst this hellish scene, Kyle remained unaffected. On the contrary, he looked completely relaxed, eyes closed, breathing deeply as if the fire's heat were a warm bath washing away the fatigue of days. A look of serene relief rested on his face, surrounded by the blazing flames.
Then, a black-purple flash of light suddenly burst from his body—swift and sharp, like a freed soul—and shot off into the depths of the forest, leaving no trace behind.
Afterward, several smaller flickers of the same blackish-purple hue began to appear around Kyle's body. Weaker than the first, yet carrying the same eerie feeling… something important had begun.
The awakening of Kyle's second element had started — an element never seen or heard of in this world, not even among the rulers themselves.
An element that was, by nature... destructive.
In the deepest part of the forest, if one were to follow the path of the purple-black flicker, they'd find it had stopped in a strange region... an area marred by spatial distortion, time unraveling, and the very essence of life twisted. The air was heavy, the light distorted, and reality itself shimmered like a mirage.
But that didn't last long.
The air cracked suddenly and turned into a small black hole that pulled everything into it—leaves, stones, ash, even the light itself—before it vanished.
The area returned to normal, but at its center remained a giant, silent crater, devoid of chaos, as if it had never been part of this world.
---
The sun rose gently, casting its first golden rays to cleanse what remained of night and ash.
Kyle opened his eyes, glowing with a mysterious light, and exhaled a murky breath.
He felt a transformation within his body; he was stronger, his muscles more solid. He rotated his wrist and cracked his fingers slowly, sensing power coursing through his veins.
> "I feel strength overflowing in my body... even though I haven't reached Low Silver Knight yet..."
He stood up and looked around. The area around him was scorched in a perfect circle five meters in diameter.
> "Honestly… I wonder what happens every time I break through."
He tilted his head slightly, gazing thoughtfully at the charred earth beneath his feet.
In truth, Kyle possessed far more power than he should have. Had anyone seen him in that moment, they'd be shocked by the transparent aura surrounding him—vastly larger than expected.
Perhaps it was because Kyle's soul wasn't from this world… or because of his body, or his traits… or maybe all of it together.
He shook those thoughts away but suddenly remembered something… something he had forgotten.
> "I feel like I forgot something…"
Kyle muttered as he slowly scanned the area… until his eyes landed on a boulder blocking the entrance to a cave.
> "Ah yes… the women I left in the cave."
He said it calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world… then suddenly his eyes widened:
> "Women!!"
Realization struck, and he rushed to the cave entrance, beginning to push the massive boulder aside.
Inside the dark cave, where the morning light barely reached, the women huddled together, their bodies trembling with fear.
A long night had passed without sleep, filled with terrifying sounds of battle outside… howling wolves, tearing flesh, and the scent of blood so thick it suffocated. And then, the voice of their savior… especially his final cry, which tore through the sky.
Though they acted like dolls, void of emotion, they were human in the end… and buried deep inside were feelings, even if they couldn't express them.
They were afraid for their savior—the one who freed them from their torment. They weren't afraid for themselves; their fate was already sealed… but for him, that young man who hadn't yet lived his youth, they didn't want him to be harmed.
All night, they prayed for his survival, even though they no longer knew if anyone even heard their prayers… for their goddess had abandoned them at the darkest moment of their lives.
And when the sounds outside ceased, terror settled over them… What if he had died?
They tried to push the boulder, but their frail bodies failed them.
For the first time since they were captured by goblins… their tears fell from pure helplessness.
With the first rays of the sun, they stared at the boulder… waiting for their savior.
And as fate repeated itself, just like when he entered the goblin prison and freed them… there he was, moving the boulder aside, sunlight pouring in to chase away the cave's darkness.
At the entrance stood a young man—handsome despite his disheveled appearance from battle, covered in blood. Dirt didn't hide his striking features:
His black, messy hair, his soot-stained face, his torn clothes, and the armor scarred by countless blows… and his red eyes, which held a terrifying calmness and strange wisdom, as if they saw the truth of the world itself.
---
After confirming they were safe, Kyle gathered the corpses around him, washed his face, ate a little food, and set off with the women toward the village.
As he walked through the forest, he muttered quietly:
"Status."
The screen appeared before him:
> [Name: Kyle Leviathan
Class: Knight
Element: Fire / Beginning Awakening
Rank: Mid Bronze
Skill: Flame Lion Meditation Technique]
Kyle noticed the status screen had changed slightly… especially the second element.
> "Does this mean the second element has started to awaken? I wonder what it is…"
Kyle was slightly excited. The emergence of a second element meant a new trump card.
An element he could use when doing something… mischievous—to stir a bit of chaos here and there…
But let me make one thing clear about what he means by "a bit of chaos"...
They're actual catastrophes—not limited to a region or kingdom, but the entire continents.
---
After a grueling journey through the forest that lasted two and a half days, and a fierce battle against a pack of wolves, Kyle finally managed to lead the women out safely.
Kyle stood at the front, his eyes fixed on the village surrounded by a five-meter-high wall.
Though he hadn't yet approached, he immediately noticed that this village was quite different from what he expected.
He muttered to himself quietly:
> "Are all the villages in this world like this?"
But he quickly pushed that thought aside—it didn't seem logical.
He continued toward the village with the women, and it took them about half an hour to reach its gate.
There, he noticed the village was bustling with activity. Caravans constantly passed through, people flowed in from all directions, and the place was filled with noise.
Kyle frowned slightly, observing the scene cautiously:
> "What's going on here? A village like this shouldn't be this lively."
While he pondered the reason behind the crowd, he noticed two people walking together toward the village.
Their appearance was simple—ordinary clothes and tired faces from travel, which made him think they were just villagers.
He decided to approach them to find out what was happening. He first tried to speak politely, but they were uncooperative.
As a civilized man, Kyle believed in the importance of dialogue—but in this world, they didn't believe in talk alone; words didn't always work.
He slowly drew his dagger and threatened them—without showing excessive hostility—and it became clear they also preferred words if needed.
They nervously told him everything they knew.
After getting what he needed, Kyle returned and sat with the women in a secluded area just outside the village, among some low trees.
The air here carried the scent of damp earth and dew, while a gentle breeze brushed their faces.
Kyle muttered as he gazed into the distance:
> "The Saintess…"
He discovered that a saintess had visited this village just two days ago, which explained why people were flooding in from everywhere.
It made sense—she was the first saintess to appear in three hundred years since the last one died.
> "She might be able to care for the women… but what brings someone of her stature here?"
He looked up at the sky, as if seeking answers in the thickening gray clouds.
He thought for a moment, hands clasped, his back slightly hunched from exhaustion:
> "Alright… whatever her purpose is, I'll leave the women and move on immediately. I have no intention of getting involved in things that don't concern me."
He stood, dusted off his clothes, and headed toward the village gate guards.
He spoke calmly, explained the women's situation, and tried to get them inside without causing trouble.
Once he confirmed their safe entry, Kyle strode quickly toward the temple.
All he wanted now was to enter… and leave… before he got dragged into something he had no business being part of.