Kall sat quietly in the dim light of the village clearing, the strange energy around him still pulsing faintly. The villagers, now evolved after the ritual of naming, were gathered nearby, their forms radiating with soft, ethereal auras. Yet Kall noticed something: despite the obvious changes in their bodies, the villagers still seemed restrained, like caged beasts holding back their true strength.
He frowned and pulled out his phone, the one link connecting him to the vast knowledge of the Sage Grimgore and the mysterious universe he had stepped into. Suddenly, the phone vibrated with a piercing ring. Kall's heart thudded — was it a message? He tapped on the glowing icon, and the screen bloomed with a stream of notifications.
As he scrolled through, the messages began to paint a clearer picture of the situation.
"Contract with Golden Dog confirmed. Spiritual beast bond activated."
"Villagers who received names have undergone evolutionary change, but remain without full powers due to Master's low level."
"The dog is a spiritual beast, and the villagers belong to a single spiritual beast tribe linked through the Master."
"Master's current level: Low Master — limiting subordinate powers."
"New features unlocked in Sage skill: Ability to grant powers, beasts, weapons to subordinates."
"Class tab unlocked — Current class: Master."
Kall's eyes widened. So this was the reason why, despite their evolution, the villagers could not yet harness any special skills or powers. Their potential was tied to his own strength. The dog, his first spiritual beast, was unique and powerful, but even its growth was capped because of Kall's current rank.
He leaned back, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. The Sage skill—this ancient, supreme ability gifted by the divine—had now opened new horizons for him. The possibility to empower those around him, to lead a tribe, to become a true Master—it was intoxicating.
Kall stood up and addressed the gathered villagers, his voice echoing through the clearing with newfound authority.
"My subordinates," he began, his eyes sweeping over their eager faces. "I have made a decision. I will make this Hell peaceful. I don't know if you realize it, but none of you have real power or skills yet. That's because my level is still low, and it restricts your growth."
He paused, letting his words settle.
"But that will change. I will train and grow stronger, and each of you will train every day alongside me. Together, we will prepare for the future — for whatever challenges await us."
The villagers nodded, some with excited murmurs, others with steely determination. Kall smiled. This was the beginning of a new chapter.
After organizing the training schedules and bidding his subordinates farewell for the day, Kall turned his gaze toward the dark, looming silhouette of the volcanic forest that lay beyond their village. It was a place of danger, mystery, and opportunity — a place where he would test his own limits.
---
The heat hit him the moment he stepped under the forest canopy. The volcanic forest was a realm of blazing hot air, thick smoke, and ash that floated like snowflakes. Twisted, blackened trees with molten veins pulsed with energy. Strange creatures lurked behind every gnarled trunk, eyes gleaming like burning coals.
Kall moved cautiously but swiftly, his boots crunching on the scorched ground. He was alone now, far from the safety of the village, facing the unknown.
As he pressed deeper, a sudden chill ran down his spine—a feeling out of place in such a fiery place. His heart pounded, and then his breath caught. There, rising from the mist of smoke and ash, was a structure unlike anything Kall had ever seen.
A palace.
Massive and ominous, the towering edifice was constructed of black stone that seemed to drink in the light, with twisted spires that clawed at the sky like the talons of some great beast. It radiated an aura of dread and ancient power.
Kall's mouth went dry. "How is this possible?" he whispered. "Who could have built this... here, in Hell?"
Without hesitation, Kall approached the heavy iron gates. As he stepped forward, a cold, mechanical voice reverberated through the air like the grinding of gears.
"You have entered the true Hell Dragon's dungeon."
Kall's eyes shot open wide in shock. "What...? What the fuck is this?" he cursed aloud, the harsh words echoing in the eerie silence. "The Grimgore never mentioned this! Why didn't it warn me?"
His heart thundered as he realized this dungeon was far beyond anything he had imagined. Yet beneath the fear was a spark of excitement—this was a challenge worthy of a true Master.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Kall muttered, "Let's go."
---
Real World
Two days later, Kall awoke with a start, sweat soaking his brow. He was back in his small, humble room—his sanctuary from the hellish world he had left behind.
Sitting up, he whispered firmly, "Status."
A translucent window shimmered into existence before his eyes, bathing the room in a gentle blue glow. It displayed his current attributes, the numbers reflecting the immense growth he had undergone:
---
Name: Kall
Power: 100
Speed: 299
Agility: 100
Mana: 1000
Souls/Spirit:
Unique: 10
Normal: 5
Medium: 5
Low: 5
Unique Skills:
Sage Grimgore (Fully Evolved)
Immortal Body (Fully Evolved)
Lava Control
Skills:
Martial Arts (Stage 2)
Thunderstorm
---
Kall blinked, awestruck. His power had surged beyond anything he had expected. His speed was nearly supernatural; his agility rivaled the swiftest creatures of legend. His mana reserves were vast—more than enough to fuel even the most devastating spells.
The unique skills filled him with pride. The Sage Grimgore, now fully evolved, was an unfathomable font of knowledge. The Immortal Body skill gave him resilience beyond mortal limits, able to shrug off injuries that would kill an ordinary man. And Lava Control—his command over the molten forces of the volcanic forest—was now absolute.
The newly acquired skills in martial arts and thunderstorm magic made him a versatile fighter, capable of both brutal close-quarters combat and ranged elemental assaults.
Kall closed the status window and rubbed his hands together, a smile slowly spreading across his face.
"Now this... this is power," he murmured.
He stood and stretched, feeling the energy coursing through his veins like wildfire. The boundaries of his potential had expanded dramatically, and with this newfound strength came a responsibility heavier than any he had ever borne.
He gazed out of the window, the familiar world outside seeming suddenly small and insignificant compared to the vast realm of possibilities before him.
"Time to return," Kall said to himself, his voice low but resolute. "The real challenge lies ahead. The Hell Dragon's dungeon awaits, and I will conquer it."
---
Back in the volcanic forest, the gates of the Hell Dragon's dungeon loomed like a black maw, beckoning him inside. The Grimgore hummed faintly at his side, a beacon of wisdom and power.
Kall felt the weight of destiny on his shoulders. He was no longer just a boy lost in a cruel world—he was a Master, a leader, a force of change.
Steeling his nerves, Kall stepped forward into the darkness.