The mama Behemoth extended its horns up again, and at that exact moment, Alviz managed to release an arrow with his last strength. It pierced right through the chest of the baby Behemoth. The wounded baby paused for a second. That's when Cedric used his Infernal Dance to close the distance and pierced his sword through its heart with his Infernal Surge.
[Congratulations, you have reached Rank 4 Cipher]
[+200 for all stats]
[You have unlocked Infernal Healing]
[All of your skills have reached Lv. 5]
The mama Behemoth, enraged with fury, bolted toward Cedric. Gravely wounded, Cedric managed to bolt to the other side with Infernal Dance. Unable to walk, he thought he would die here, but something unexpected happened.
The beast slowed down instead of charging at Cedric again. It approached its dead baby softly and made a whimpering sound. It was grieving over its child. Cedric was surprised by its reaction but seized the opportunity and crawled toward it slowly. Placing himself right under its soft belly, he used all his remaining strength to make his Infernal Surge blaze like a volcano and jumped up with his ability.
Stabbing through its belly, it growled in pain. Cedric sliced through its soft flesh, exposing its bowels—its internal organs and blood poured over Cedric. Convulsing violently, the Behemoth fell down. It slowly lost consciousness as it dragged itself closer to its baby. Finally, when it got close enough, the Behemoth lost its breath.
[Congratulations, you have reached Sentinel]
[+400 for all stats]
[You have unlocked Infernal Shadows]
[All of your skills have reached Lv. 10]
[You have unlocked a stacking ability with every kill, your blade will grow sharper]
Cedric used his new skill, Infernal Shadows. Blazing dark flames came out of his back like an octopus; its fangs cut through the Behemoth's horns with multiple continuous strikes. There, the impaled Alviz lay unconscious. Cedric managed to take him out and heal him a little with his Infernal Heal.
It was enough to make him conscious. Alviz slowly healed himself. He whispered his thanks to Cedric for saving him, but Cedric apologized, claiming it was all his fault. Alviz, with a soft voice, said, "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, remember? You did this to save your sister." Cedric was truly grateful to Alviz, because if it wasn't for him, Cedric would have died twice.
Alviz and Cedric sat down and watched the beautiful sunset from the peak of Mount Drouca. The cold breeze of the mountain top hit them as Cedric muttered, "They just wanted to survive too, right? Along with their loved ones."
Alviz leaned back, looking at the sky. "Yeah, but this world was never fair, it's either you or them." Cedric kept silent and glanced at the deceased Behemoths. He furrowed his eyes and stood up on one foot, as if to make his resolve stronger.
After they healed, they skinned the Behemoth for its hide and gathered its tusks. On their way back to the shelter, Alviz noticed something. Cedric appeared to be much taller. His back also seemed wider, and his markings looked more prominent and darker. Cedric looked at his own hands. "Oh, now that you mention it, my veins seem to have become darker too."
Alviz grabbed his chin and pondered. "Hmm, maybe the Infernal Progression System has a stronger effect on adolescents since they're still physically growing." He chuckled. "Now you're looking more like your brother, Syleric."
Cedric paused. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His brother Syleric was an illegitimate child of Rodric. He was never made known to the public, not even to the extended family members. The only people who knew about him were Rodric's immediate family. Syleric lived in a backwater town his whole life and was never politically relevant. Cedric himself had never seen him.
"How do you know about Syleric?" asked Cedric with a haunted tone. Alviz tried to keep a calm demeanor but couldn't hide his uneasy expression. He tried to deflect, saying Syleric was a mutual friend of Rodric and him, and he'd mentioned him only because of the resemblance he noticed.
But Cedric didn't buy it. "What are you hiding? Why would you even risk your life to come searching for a stranger? And what is an Invoker doing here? Surely you must be part of a major clan or group with such a rank."
Alviz finally gave in. "Listen closely, Cedric. I am your father's brother, Alviz Alvyren."
Cedric, startled, refused to believe, but Alviz continued. "You've most likely never heard of me. Long ago, when I was a young boy, I renounced my royal lineage to marry the love of my life, a peasant. But of course, it didn't last. I was too ashamed to return to my father, so I lingered around the outskirts of Dravem. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I let my royal pride take control, resulting in the death of a man who provoked me. After that, I was enslaved for many years until an unknown man paid for my freedom. That man was your father. He allowed me to work under him as a Vower. I was personally tasked with hiding Syleric from the world and finding a safe place for him and his mother. The last time I visited him, he was all grown."
Cedric was overwhelmed by what he was hearing. He lashed out at Alviz for not saying so sooner. Unable to contain his emotions, he stormed off. "If I hadn't caught him, he would have never told me the truth. And... and who really is Syleric? Why would a father task his brother to take care of an illegitimate child? He has countless other bastard children, but none of them are ever mentioned," Cedric thought to himself in frustration.
The thought of someone else being more favored by his father haunted Cedric, but he redirected his thoughts, realizing he must hurry before nightfall or Selina would sleep hungry. The gates were closed at dusk to keep out thieves and troublemakers, but Cedric managed to sneak in through a secret passage.
Upon Cedric's arrival, Selina looked at him with her eyebrows raised and eyes wide open. "Cedric, you seem to be growing so fast! You don't look like the frail boy you once were." Cedric gave a cheeky reply, but he was glad she was well enough to speak. "You look rather pleasant to the eyes," she added with a smile, but her coughs and pale face implied that she wasn't doing as well as she pretended.
That night, Cedric cooked her favorite food with the new ingredients from his previous purchases, along with the meat of the Behemoth. It was a nourishing meal that Selina desperately needed. Another day passed with their bellies filled, but Selina seemed to be growing weaker by the day.
Cedric promised his sister that he would bring a proper healer tomorrow by any means. The loot would be enough to get her the best doctor and medicine possible, Cedric reassured her as she coughed more blood.
The next morning, Cedric rushed to the market to sell the loot. The merchant offered to pay him 300 gold coins for it, which was far too little, even with his outlawed status. Cedric protested politely, but the man only raised the sum by a few coins. This time, Cedric said nothing but stared at him with an intense gaze.
The man was unsettled by his threatening look, in fact, it made him tremble. After all, a Sentinel's burning glare was different. Those who reached this level developed a presence that could shake an ordinary man with a single cold gaze. His stare was enough to turn the scrupulous merchant into an honest man. The merchant backtracked and gave him an honest price of 1,500 gold coins.
Cedric went out counting the gold coins with a bright smile on his face. He hadn't seen such wealth since his childhood. But alas, misfortune awaited him again. Dorvik was walking by and spotted Cedric's face lit with satisfaction. He couldn't let that slide. "Cedric! Oh, I see you're now a Vowed. Either way, you don't have the right to sell loot as an outlaw."
Cedric's eyes burned with fury the moment he laid eyes on Dorvik, but he contained his anger for Selina. "Leave me alone," Cedric said plainly.
Dorvik laughed. "If I don't? What will you do? Shit your pants like your old man?" He clutched his stomach, unable to stop laughing. His men joined in unison, laughing like maniacs.
Clenching his jaw, Cedric tried to leave, but one of the men stepped in front of him and the others surrounded him. Dorvik approached this time with a serious face. "Give me the money! I won't ask again." Cedric refused, claiming this was his rightfully earned money.
Dorvik asserted that an outlawed person didn't have any rights, and if an officer of the state asked an outlawed person to do something, he must comply.
Cedric protested and held tightly to his sack of gold coins. Someone watching the scene spoke up, "He's right, boy. An outlawed person could be killed in broad daylight, and the perpetrators would face no consequences." It was none other than Orselith.
Cedric, now unable to restrain himself, unleashed his built-up anger. He drew his sword and released Infernal Shadow. The atmosphere exploded in an instant. Dorvik and his subordinates jumped back, creating distance within seconds.
Orselith ran away in fear. The place became chaotic with screams and the rush of the crowd. Dorvik shouted, "You dare draw your sword against an officer? Filthy wretch! Restrain him, men!"
As Dorvik rushed forward, he seemed to grow larger, his veins glowing red-hot. The first strike of his sword made Cedric take a few steps back. He tried to use his Infernal Shadow, but it seemed to waver.
The Ciphers had placed a spell on Cedric, weakening his state. Blow after blow came from all directions. Cedric tried to escape with Infernal Surge, but to his surprise, there was nowhere to go, or at least, that's what he thought.
Cedric found himself in an enclosed ring. Demonic shouts pierced his ears, and demons crawled up from the ground. Bewildered by the sudden change in environment, he paused, and at that moment, the hallucination faded.
He was back in reality, only to be met with a crushing blow to the face. One of the Ciphers had made Cedric hallucinate, and seizing that opportunity, Dorvik struck him down with the back of his sword. Darkness followed as Cedric collapsed to the ground.