Soft sunlight filtered through the white curtains of the medical ward, carrying the faint scent of salt from the nearby sea. The rhythmic sound of waves striking the rocks beyond the cliffside could barely be heard, soothing and steady—so unlike the chaos that had come before.
Kane lay motionless on the clean cot, his body bandaged from shoulder to waist, his breathing slow and even. The faint humming of healing modules near the bed pulsed in sync with his heartbeat.
At the foot of the bed sat Reina, curled up on a small sofa with a blanket draped over her. Exhaustion had claimed her at last; even in sleep, she clutched the edge of Kane's blanket with one small hand, as if terrified he might vanish again.
Beside the bed, on either side, sat Lena and Maya.
They hadn't left since he was brought in.
Now, both had fallen asleep in their chairs, their heads tilted slightly toward him. Lena's gauntlets rested on the floor beside her, the dark marks of battle still faintly visible on her arms. Her usual stoic composure was replaced by quiet vulnerability. Maya's hand had unconsciously fallen near Kane's arm, fingers almost brushing his wrist.
The air around them was peaceful—too peaceful after what they had endured.
And then, with a low, shuddering breath, Kane stirred.
His eyes opened.
For a few moments, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, the weight of memories crashing down—flashes of his berserk state, the screams, Reina's terrified eyes, and the sound of the world cracking beneath his rage.
"…Reina…" he whispered hoarsely.
He turned his head slowly—and his chest softened instantly.
There she was. Fast asleep, her tiny frame curled in the sofa, one hand still reaching toward him. He smiled faintly, a deep, tired smile that carried both guilt and relief.
Then he noticed Lena and Maya.
Both were still asleep, their faces peaceful in the quiet morning glow. For a long moment, Kane just stared—something unfamiliar twisting inside him.
The two women who had fought beside him, bled beside him, and risked their lives to keep him anchored now sat here, quietly guarding him even in their exhaustion.
He didn't know what to call the feeling that welled in his chest. Gratitude, maybe. Or something far more dangerous.
Carefully, he sat up, his muscles protesting but healing fast.
The system's tone rippled faintly in his mind—silent, steady, but waiting. And then, like a tide rolling in, the backlog of notifications began to queue—visible but unread, as if the system itself was holding them until he was ready.
Then, the main reward window unfolded before his eyes.
[Emergency Quest: COMPLETE] [Final Boss Defeated – Floor 6 Cleared] [Dungeon – First Completion Record Achieved]
Rewards Granted:
+3 Levels — Final Boss Victory Bonus
+5 Levels — Complete Dungeon Clear Bonus
Title:First Pioneer of the Depths
Unique Reward:Dungeon Core (Personal Domain) — Access opens every 7 days; generates adaptive materials and scalable challenges.
Global Reward Distribution:All residents of your island gain a Skill Choice (Profession-Specific).
Early Bird Bonus:Increased rarity of all materials for the next 3 dungeon cycles.
Kane blinked, stunned. A Dungeon of his own?A territory that opened weekly, rewarding materials and training grounds?That was far beyond anything he expected—an achievement on the scale of legends.
A faint smile crept onto his lips. "So that's the reward for being the first…" he muttered.
Even as the words faded, faint ripples of golden light pulsed across the island. Every person linked to his settlement—the fighters, engineers, scouts—received the same wave of system resonance, their bodies infused with the first taste of power from their chosen professions.
He could feel it, like a heartbeat stretching across every mind connected to him.
For once, it felt… peaceful.
Kane swung his legs off the bed, watching the sunlight dance on the ocean through the window. His reflection in the glass showed tired eyes, a few scars, and the ghost of something new in his expression—resolve.
He could feel the stored potential inside him—the eight levels earned through pain and victory, lying dormant and ready to be triggered at his command.
His hand lifted slowly, system light glimmering faintly at his fingertips.
"Let's see what comes next…" he whispered.
Then, without hesitation—
[Use All Pending Level Ups: +8]
The system pulsed once.A deep, resonant glow began to envelop his body—quiet, steady, building toward something unseen.
The window blinked, waiting.
And just before the light flared completely, the scene faded—
The golden light deepened, flooding through Kane's veins like molten metal.Every pulse of radiance carried the hum of the System itself—structured, powerful, absolute.
Then the voice echoed within his mind:
[Level Up Sequence Initiated: +8 Levels Pending Processing…]
[Current Level: 22 → 30]
[Processing all stat increases, profession modifiers, and threshold bonuses…]
Kane clenched his fists as the energy coursed through him—his body felt as if forged anew in the crucible of light. His heartbeat steadied, and every fiber of muscle tightened with refined strength.
He could feel it—the clean burn of advancement, not chaotic or wild like the berserk state, but focused, disciplined. Controlled.
Level-Up Summary:
From Level 22 → 25
Profession Bonus: +5 to All Stats per Level
Natural Growth: +5 to All Stats per Level
Total Per Level: +10 All Stats × 3 Levels = +30 to All Stats
Free Stat Points Earned: +33
From Level 26 → 30
Profession Bonus: +6 to All Stats per Level
Natural Growth: +6 to All Stats per Level
Total Per Level: +12 All Stats × 5 Levels = +60 to All Stats
Free Stat Points Earned: +65
Free Stat Points Available: 98 Total
The interface shimmered, awaiting allocation.
Kane exhaled deeply, then began distributing the free points, his focus sharpened.
"More strength for impact. Endurance for control. Intelligence… for the skill link."
He moved through the interface, his selections deliberate—each decision carved by experience and survival instinct.
Stat Allocation:
+30 Strength
+20 Endurance
+18 Agility
+15 Intelligence
+15 Perception
Final Stats (Level 30): AttributeValue
Strength - 247
Agility - 222
Endurance - 235
Perception - 209
Intelligence - 206
[Threshold Achieved: Level 25 – Skill Point Awarded]
[Threshold Achieved: Level 30 – Skill Point Awarded]
[Total Skill Points Available: 2]
[Profession: Warlord — Tier II Advancement Confirmed][Profession Evolution Path Unlocked]
The golden seal of his class burned faintly across his chest as the system continued:
[Warlord Profession Advancement Recognized]Tier II – "Ironblood Warlord" AchievedEffects:• Command Radius +25%• All Allies under Command gain +5% Strength & Endurance• Rage Threshold Increased by 60%• "Berserk Collapse" now stabilized (Controlled Berserk Mode unlocked at will).• Skill: [Warpath Dominion] – Grants temporary stat amplification to all linked allies based on Command Synchronization.
Designation Update:"Island of the Ironblood Warlord" – Established as Main Territory Anchor.
The system paused, as if waiting for his acceptance.
Kane looked out through the ward window, toward the horizon where the sea stretched endlessly beyond the cliffs. A faint wind brushed through the room, stirring his hair and the curtains.
He smiled faintly.
"Ironblood Warlord, huh… Guess it fits."
The glowing interface dissolved, leaving behind a faint emblem etched into the air—a crimson insignia shaped like a warbanner, fluttering with invisible fire.
Behind him, Reina stirred in her sleep, mumbling softly, "Brother… don't go…"
Kane turned, watching her small frame curled on the couch, and the hardened aura that had surrounded him moments ago melted away.
"Not anymore," he whispered. "Not without you all."
He leaned back against the pillow, the new strength thrumming quietly beneath his skin, power now his—not the System's rage, not uncontrolled wrath.
This time, it was earned.
And the moment the last flicker of System light faded, the world outside began to stir—the start of something greater waiting beyond the island's calm shore.
The golden interface flickered back into view the moment the last thread of light faded from Kane's body.Three faint runic orbs hovered before him—each pulsing with dense energy, awaiting his command.
[Skill Points Available: 3][Skill Tree Access Granted: Command | Magic | Physical]
Kane's vision adjusted as the System presented three branching constellations of glowing runes before him.Each tree shimmered like a web of possibility — power condensed into choices that would shape his future.
He leaned forward, instinctively drawn to the first.
The network of combat runes pulsed red and gold — the essence of his muscle and motion.
He traced a glowing strand that connected to an unfamiliar icon:a blazing axe wrapped in flame and smoke.
[Skill Unlocked: Titan Breaker]Type: Physical (Active)Tier: AdvancedEffect: A single devastating strike empowered by raw kinetic energy and internal mana compression.
400% Physical Power Multiplier
Causes armor shatter on impact
Cooldown: 30 secondsSide Effect: High mana strain; recommended to use after [Iron Will] or [War Cry].
He exhaled softly as the mark branded itself into his hand for a brief moment before fading.A close-range, explosive move — something personal, something that hit like a warhammer to the soul.
"That's one," Kane muttered. "Something to finish what gets too close."
Then he shifted his attention toward the Magic Tree.
The web was far more intricate here—blue and violet runes swirling like stars in a calm void.But three in particular glowed brighter, calling to him.
The first felt familiar—a pulse of elemental control he had used many times before.
[Skill Unlocked: Elemental Fusion]Type: Magic (Passive)Tier: AdvancedEffect: Allows simultaneous control and fusion of two basic elemental spells.(Example: Fire + Wind = Plasma Jet / Water + Earth = Mud Prison)Synergy: Greatly enhances hybrid spell combinations.
Kane smiled faintly.
"Now this… this is tactical."
But the second glowing rune was different.It pulsed in black and crimson, hidden deep in the branching roots of the Magic Tree — as though buried there for those who dared to reach too far.And yet… it didn't repel him. It welcomed him.
He reached out.
[Warning: You are attempting to unlock a Special-Class Skill.]
[Skill: Necromancy (Pure Variant)]Type: Magic (Special-Class)Tier: UniqueEffect: Allows the manipulation and animation of non-sentient corpses through soul-echo resonance.Summoned entities act as extensions of the caster's will.Mana cost scales with number and quality of summons.Restrictions: None.Corruption Risk:Nullified.
Compatibility detected — Command Sync: "Ironblood Warlord" identified.
Special Synergy Triggered:
[Warpath Dominion] → [Soulbound Command]
[New Subskill Created: Soulbound Command (Passive)]Type: Command/Magic HybridEffect: Summoned or controlled entities gain direct Command Link under the Warlord's aura.Increases control range, coordination, and morale of undead or mechanical units by +25%.Special Trait: Converts traditional Necromancy into Honorbound Reanimation — no corruption, no backlash, no loss of self.
Kane's eyes widened as the black rune merged seamlessly into his Command constellation, connecting Necromancy to his leadership abilities.The two systems overlapped perfectly—like puzzle pieces that were always meant to fit.
"No… corruption?" he murmured. "So I can command even the dead… without losing myself."
The System pulsed once more, confirming the change.
The runic screen dimmed, leaving Kane staring at his hands—tiny flickers of red mana swirling with faint traces of black mist.There was no malice, no hunger in it—only a silent, obedient energy.
Behind him, Reina stirred again, half-awake, whispering his name.
Kane turned slightly, his voice low.
"Don't worry… brother's right here. Just getting stronger for you."
The air in the ward shimmered faintly.For the first time, Necromancy did not represent death.It represented command over life and death, the balance he alone could maintain.
As he leaned back against the headboard, the faint mark of his Tier II emblem glowed again—and within it, new branches of potential awaited: Golem Creation, Summoning Core, Tyrant's Will, and more.
But that… would come next.