2 — Blood Awakens the Path
The retreat horn echoed again.
But this time, fewer responded.
Graystone Fortress was breaking.
Smoke rolled across the battlefield like a living thing. The outer wall had already collapsed, and Iron Wolves soldiers poured through the breach in disciplined formation.
Kael moved with the retreating disciples, but his mind was no longer panicked.
It was calculating.
Every fallen body.
Every dying breath.
Every fluctuation in the air.
All of it was data.
A wounded Iron Wolves soldier stumbled out from the smoke ahead of him. His armor was cracked at the shoulder. Blood ran down his arm, but his eyes were still sharp with killing intent.
He saw Kael.
And smiled.
"So the rats are still crawling."
The man charged.
Fast.
Faster than anyone Kael had faced in this life.
But Kael did not retreat blindly.
He focused.
[ ─── Target Analysis ─── ]
[ Identity: Iron Wolves Soldier ]
[ Realm: Body Tempering — Late Stage ]
[ Core Attributes ]
[ Strength : 8 ]
[ Agility : 7 ]
[ Vitality : 7 ]
[ Spirit : 2 ]
[ Luck : 1 ]
[ Combat Pattern ]
[ Aggressive Forward Suppression ]
[ Predicted Opening ]
[ Left Rib Exposure — 0.9 Seconds After Overextension ]
[ Extractable Fragments ]
[ ① +2 Strength ]
[ ② Combat Instinct Fragment ]
[ ③ Minor Vitality Boost ]
[ Daily Extraction Remaining: 2/3 ]
[ ─────────────────────── ]
The world slowed.
Not physically.
But mentally.
The system highlighted timing.
Movement trajectories.
Momentum imbalance.
The soldier's blade came down in a brutal diagonal strike.
Kael stepped back half a pace.
The blade sliced through air.
The soldier lunged further—
Overextended.
Exactly as predicted.
There.
Left rib.
Kael thrust forward.
Steel pierced flesh.
The soldier gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
He staggered back two steps before collapsing to the ground.
Silence surrounded Kael for a brief second.
His first kill.
Not as the weak outer disciple.
But as something else.
[ Target Vital Signs: 0 ]
[ Extraction Available ]
[ Please Select ]
His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
This was power.
But power attracted attention.
Still—
He chose.
Combat Instinct Fragment.
[ Selection Confirmed ]
[ Extracting Fragment… ]
[ Integrating… ]
[ Neural Reflex Optimization: Minor Increase ]
[ Reaction Speed Enhanced ]
[ Integration Complete ]
A sharp pulse shot through his spine.
His senses expanded.
The sound of footsteps behind him felt clearer.
The direction of incoming arrows became easier to judge.
Even the subtle shift of air pressure carried meaning.
This is… dangerous.
He quickly opened his status.
[ ═════ HEAVEN'S DEBUG SYSTEM ═════ ]
[ Host: Kael Ardyn ]
[ Realm: Body Tempering — Middle Stage ]
[ Core Attributes ]
[ Strength : 6 ]
[ Agility : 6 ]
[ Vitality : 6 ]
[ Spirit : 3 ]
[ Luck : 2 ]
[ Comprehension ]
[ Sword : 0.3 ]
[ System Level : 1 ]
[ Daily Extraction: 1/3 ]
[ Concealment Mode: Passive ]
[ ═══════════════════════════════════ ]
Agility had increased.
So fragments indirectly strengthened attributes.
But before he could think further—
The air trembled faintly.
[ ⚠ HEAVENLY LAW FLUCTUATION DETECTED ⚠ ]
[ Consecutive Data Absorption Logged ]
[ Pattern Recognition: Initiated ]
[ Observation Intensity: Low → Moderate ]
[ Concealment Integrity: 91% ]
His chest tightened.
It's tracking frequency.
Too many extractions too quickly would expose him.
He needed control.
A Graystone disciple ran past him, face pale.
"Kael! Fall back! The Commander is moving!"
As if summoned by those words—
A terrifying pressure swept across the battlefield.
The Iron Wolves Commander raised his massive blade.
The air itself seemed to bend around him.
Disciples within twenty meters collapsed under the aura alone.
Kael felt his knees strain.
He focused on the commander desperately.
For a brief instant—
[ ─── Target Analysis ─── ]
[ Authority Restricted ]
[ Realm Classification: Beyond Mortal Tier ]
[ Energy Density: Extreme ]
[ Warning: Direct Exposure Fatal ]
[ ─────────────────────── ]
Beyond Mortal Tier.
So Body Tempering wasn't the true beginning.
There was more.
Much more.
The commander's blade fell.
The ground split open.
Three disciples were crushed instantly.
Kael forced himself to look away.
If I want to survive worlds beyond this… I must break through quickly.
Another Iron Wolves soldier lunged toward him from the side.
Peak Body Tempering.
Stronger than the last.
Kael barely raised his sword in time.
The clash sent shock through his arms.
Pain flared.
He stepped back.
The enemy grinned.
"Die."
Kael's mind raced.
He had one extraction left.
If he killed this one—
He could push himself to the edge.
Maybe even trigger a breakthrough.
He focused intensely.
[ ─── Target Analysis ─── ]
[ Realm: Body Tempering — Peak Stage ]
[ Strength : 9 ]
[ Agility : 8 ]
[ Vitality : 8 ]
[ Estimated Combat Superiority: 68% Against Host ]
[ Environmental Variables Detected ]
[ Unstable Rubble — 1.7m Right ]
[ Dust Density: High ]
[ Tactical Recommendation: Force Close Combat Exchange ]
[ ─────────────────────── ]
He adjusted his stance deliberately.
Invited aggression.
The enemy took the bait.
A heavy overhead slash came down.
Kael sidestepped and kicked the unstable rubble.
Dust exploded upward.
Vision obscured.
He stepped inside the enemy's guard.
Sword thrust.
Deep.
Precise.
The enemy's body stiffened.
Then fell.
Kael stood still for half a second, breathing hard.
His muscles trembled.
His heart hammered violently.
This is the limit of Middle Stage.
The system window appeared again.
[ Target Vital Signs: 0 ]
[ Extraction Available ]
[ Daily Extraction Remaining: 1/3 ]
He chose without hesitation.
+2 Strength.
[ Selection Confirmed ]
[ Strength +2 ]
[ Strength: 8 ]
[ Energy Circulation Destabilizing ]
[ Breakthrough Threshold Approaching ]
Heat surged through his limbs.
His blood felt like it was boiling.
Veins pulsed violently beneath his skin.
His breathing deepened.
Something inside him cracked.
Not painfully—
But forcefully.
[ Internal Energy Density Increasing ]
[ Blood Refinement Stage Accessible ]
[ Initiating Minor Realm Breakthrough ]
His vision blurred.
Sound faded.
For a moment, the battlefield disappeared.
All he could hear—
Was his own heartbeat.
Stronger.
Heavier.
More stable.
Then—
Clarity returned.
[ Breakthrough Complete ]
[ Realm Advanced: Blood Refinement — Early Stage ]
[ Core Attributes Increased ]
He checked immediately.
[ ═════ HEAVEN'S DEBUG SYSTEM ═════ ]
[ Host: Kael Ardyn ]
[ Realm: Blood Refinement — Early Stage ]
[ Core Attributes ]
[ Strength : 10 ]
[ Agility : 7 ]
[ Vitality : 9 ]
[ Spirit : 3 ]
[ Luck : 2 ]
[ System Level : 1 ]
[ Daily Extraction: 0/3 ]
[ Concealment Integrity: 84% ]
[ ═══════════════════════════════════ ]
His strength had jumped dramatically.
This was not incremental growth.
This was qualitative change.
His blood circulated more powerfully.
His body felt denser.
More complete.
But the sky above flickered again.
The faint crack pulsed brighter this time.
[ ⚠ HEAVENLY LAW ALERT ⚠ ]
[ Abnormal Realm Advancement Detected ]
[ Observation Intensity: Moderate ]
[ Risk Level: Elevated ]
[ Concealment Stability Decreasing ]
Kael slowly lifted his head.
The battlefield was still raging.
But something had changed.
Heaven was no longer passively watching.
It was measuring him.
Evaluating him.
And possibly—
Preparing.
Kael tightened his grip on the sword.
If Heaven wanted to observe—
Then he would grow faster than it could correct.
This war was only the beginning.
And this continent—
Was far too small.