Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, painting the ground in flickering patterns of gold and green. Moss-covered roots twisted like serpents beneath towering trees, and vines drooped like curtains of living shadows. The air was thick with moisture, the scent of wet earth mingling with wildflowers and a faint, electric tang of magic. Every breath I drew was a cocktail of life, decay, and the pulse of a world brimming with unseen forces.
I moved silently, each step deliberate. Even a leaf crunching underfoot was too loud in this forest. My crimson eyes scanned every shadow, every flicker of movement. The freed slaves had vanished into the undergrowth, their soft footsteps swallowed by the forest. I didn't mourn their disappearance. They were free, for now. My priorities were different. I was not here to save. I was here to understand, to hunt, and to ascend.
"Host," the System whispered in my mind, its tone neutral but urgent, "Master-level entity detected nearby. Power estimation: 65. High destructive potential. Engagement advised with caution. Surrounding environment may be irreparably damaged."
I smiled, almost imperceptibly, allowing a small thrill to run through me. Master-level, city-level destruction potential. How quaint.
The forest shivered, and then it emerged.
The Eldertree.
Towering, ancient, and alive. Its bark twisted into jagged, blackened limbs that jutted unpredictably, roots writhing like serpents, smashing smaller trees and crushing rocks beneath their weight. Glowing amber eyes, embedded deep in gnarled wood, scanned the forest with intelligence and malice. Runes etched along its bark pulsed faintly, resonating with a low hum that vibrated through the earth, shaking the smaller fauna and birds into frantic flight.
"Host," the System warned, "destruction radius if uncontrolled: 100–150 meters. Forest will be decimated. Casualties among nearby wildlife: inevitable."
I paused to admire it. It was magnificent, terrifying, and yet… predictable. I had faced Master-level foes before. I had absorbed Mythical knowledge. I had conquered Spriggans capable of flattening forests. This Eldertree, while powerful, would fall. And when it did, Aurelia would take notice of Kaelthar Voidreign.
The first swing of its root shattered the air like thunder. The ground cracked where it struck, sending splinters of stone and earth flying. A nearby tree groaned and toppled, uprooted by the tremor. The forest cried out, leaves rustling violently, branches snapping, and a small river nearby churned in reaction to the shockwave.
[STATUS WINDOW — KAELTHAR VOIDREIGN]
Power Rank: Legendary → MythicalEstimated Power Level: 75–90Health: 100%Mana: 100%Skills: Shadow Manipulation, Superhuman Strength, Heightened Senses, Rapid Regeneration, Aura PerceptionInventory: Storage Ring, Throne, Miscellaneous Treasures
The System continued its briefing:"Host, Master-level entities: 51–70 power. Capable of destroying cities, leveling forests, and overwhelming elite soldiers. Legendary: 71–85, can decimate kingdoms. Mythical: 86–95, continent-level devastation. Demigod: 96–99, nations. God: 100, world-altering."
I grinned inwardly. Knowledge, power, and strategy. That was my weapon—far sharper than mere strength.
The Eldertree advanced, limbs crashing, roots writhing like massive serpents, its amber eyes locking on me with predatory precision. Birds fled in a flurry, and a distant mountain echoed the groans of displaced earth. Every step it took made the forest quake, leaves raining like embers.
I let shadows coalesce around my arms, spiking into obsidian tendrils. They writhed and twisted, hungry for prey. The Eldertree struck, roots lashing, swinging with terrifying force. I sidestepped effortlessly, shadows latching onto a root and constricting. Bark splintered under pressure, shards of wood flying like arrows. Another tendril snaked toward its leg, crushing it with near-lethal precision.
The creature roared—a deep, resonating sound that vibrated in my chest—but I remained calm. My senses absorbed every motion, every subtle shift of its magical aura. Master-level strength, I thought, capable of leveling cities, but predictable under observation.
A root swung toward my head, thick and brimming with magical energy. I leapt sideways, shadows tangling around its limb, tightening, squeezing. The forest around us became a chaotic battlefield: trees snapped and fell, rocks shattered, and a small creek overflowed from the tremors of the Eldertree's attacks. I could feel the destruction in my bones, and yet I felt no fear—only exhilaration.
The System's voice was calm, almost clinical:"Assessment: Master-level entity. Destruction radius: 150 meters. Engage tactical precision. Direct assault feasible. Environmental hazards imminent."
I smiled. Tactical precision was my specialty.
I launched myself into the air, shadows wrapping around my form like armor. Landing behind the Eldertree, I coiled my tendrils around its trunk, constricting. It thrashed violently, roots slamming into the ground, toppling nearby trees, and sending dirt, rocks, and debris into the air. Magic crackled along its runes, shockwaves tearing through the forest. Animals fled in terror.
Yet I was unshaken. Each movement, each magical pulse, each quiver of its bark was data. I analyzed, calculated, and adapted, moving with precision no creature of this forest could match. My shadow tendrils twisted, tightened, and pierced weak points in the Eldertree's structure. Bark cracked, limbs splintered, and the forest itself seemed to sigh in relief as the Eldertree's power waned.
With a final surge, I compressed the shadows, crushing its core. A tremendous groan shook the forest as it collapsed. Roots tore free from the earth, boulders tumbled, and the clearing around me widened, dozens of trees uprooted. The destruction was immense—consistent with a Master-level entity's full potential, yet it had been subdued with ease.
I allowed the Eldertree's essence to flow into my System. Power, knowledge, magic, and raw physical strength—all recorded. Every kill made me sharper, stronger, and more attuned to Aurelia.
I took a step back, surveying the devastation. Trees were splintered, a small river had changed course, and a clearing over a hundred meters wide bore the scars of battle. I inhaled deeply, the scent of splintered wood, crushed earth, and magical energy filling my lungs. Aurelia was alive, and I was beginning to understand it.
"Host," the System whispered, "this is the hierarchy of destruction. Advanced: small villages, forests, or forts. Master: cities, armies. Legendary: kingdoms, regions. Mythical: continents, cataclysms. Demigod: nations, islands, major magical disasters. God: continents/world-altering events. Your strength: Legendary → Mythical. Capable of annihilating Master armies with ease."
I let my crimson eyes fade, shadows condensing around me. The forest hummed, alive and chaotic, yet I had imposed order through precision. I could already sense the next steps: recruiting followers, converting the powerful into my vassals, testing the limits of artifacts, creating a vampire hierarchy. Fledglings, barons, marquises, dukes—each rank measurable in strength, influence, and obedience.
The hunt had ended, but the lesson remained: Aurelia's strength is visible, measurable, and conquerable. And I, Kaelthar Voidreign, would be the predator that mastered it.