"Yes," Axil whispered.
The scroll dissolved into light, merging with his body.
A surge of energy coursed through him, his flesh and bones absorbing the particles as if they were alive. Knowledge unfolded in his mind—fragments of understanding, whispers of possibility. He could feel it: the power to bend gravity itself.
Curious, Axil decided to test it. He focused on a nearby rock, channeling his mana into The stone's [gravity x10] weight multiplied tenfold. At first, it looked unchanged, but when he tried to lift it, his arms strained uselessly. It was immovable. With a thought, he released the spell, returning the rock to its normal weight. This time, it shifted easily in his hands.
A realization struck him—every use of gravity magic drained his mana by five points. He frowned. Power always came with a price.
Determined to learn more, he repeated the experiment. He increased the rock's gravity again but didn't cancel the spell. Instead, he waited. Minutes passed. His mana points reduce slowly—one point every two minutes. After ten minutes, the effect vanished on its own, even though he hadn't released it.
Little by little, the mechanics of his new magic revealed themselves. He smiled faintly. He was beginning to understand.
But knowledge wasn't enough. He needed strength. He needed experience.
Axil tightened his grip on his sword and ventured deeper into the forest.
---
The shadows thickened as he walked, the air damp and heavy. Soon, he spotted movement ahead—five goblins clustered together, their guttural voices echoing through the trees. He crouched low, observing carefully. No others lurked nearby.
He inhaled sharply. "Gravity x10."
A pulse of energy rippled outward, pressing down on the goblins. Two collapsed instantly, screeching helplessly under the crushing force. But the other three resisted. Their muscles bulged, veins pulsed, and with snarls of defiance they pushed against the invisible weight.
Axil's eyes widened. He had thought gravity was absolute. Yet they broke free.
With a roar, the goblins charged. One swung an stone axe at his neck. Axil bent backward, the axe grazing past his face. Another lunged from the side, claws slashing toward his chest. He blocked with his sword, sparks flying.
The third grabbed his arm, teeth snapping toward his flesh. Axil twisted, sliding across the ground to escape.
Behind him, the first goblin raised its axe again. Axil spun, his sword flashing. The blade sliced through its neck, sending its head tumbling.
The other two roared in fury. Axil leapt back, then rushed toward the goblins still pinned by his gravity spell. With one swift strike, he cut off their heads. Now only two remained, and his mana was no longer a concern.
He drew a second sword from his back. With a sudden motion, he hurled it at one of the goblins, amplifying its weight with gravity x10. The blade pierced its heart, dropping it instantly.
The last goblin charged, chasing him through the trees. Axil feigned retreat, then spun sharply. His sword flashed, slicing through its neck.
Panting heavily, he stood among the corpses. But then, a strange sensation filled him. His body grew stronger, fatigue vanished, and power surged through his veins.
---
**[You have acquired soul power of Normal Goblin Level 5.]**
**[You have acquired soul power of Normal Goblin Level 3.]**
**[You have acquired soul power of Normal Goblin Level 6.]**
**[You have acquired soul power of Normal Goblin Level 5.]**
**[You have acquired soul power of Normal Goblin Level 3.]**
**[You have leveled up to Level 2. You gain 2 status points to distribute freely.]**
---
Green messages flashed before his eyes. Axil let out a long sigh of relief. To climb from Level 1 to Level 2, he had been forced to kill five goblins, draining his stamina and mana.
He tightened his grip on his sword, a faint smile tugging at his lips. The forest was dangerous, but so was he.
This was only the beginning.