-----
The hydra's flame breath struck me head-on. A massive explosion engulfed me as I raised my Holy Barrier to shield both myself and Fenrir, prioritizing my pet's safety over my own.
BOOOM!
The blast was ferocious, spiritual flames and poison scorched my skin and charred my entire body, but it wasn't enough to kill me. I coughed up blood, yet I tensed every muscle to its absolute limit.
I should have died right there if not for Guts. That skill had just saved my life, holding me at roughly 1% health. The damage rapidly began to heal as I enveloped myself in Healing Flames and Healing Light.
"Fenrir, drop from here!"
"Rarr?!"
"Just do it!"
Fenrir nodded and leaped as high as he could. I jumped off his back as he fell back to the ground. I transformed my Divine Weapon into a giant axe, fused it with my two War Spirits, and…
"Freyja! Can you help?!"
"I-I can try?!"
Even though she was literally the system, she possessed a spiritual body and could interact with the physical world.
Her composition was extraordinary, made of spiritual runes and divine runes of incredible power. When I summoned her and drew on her as a Spirit, a flare of gold-red energy surged through my entire body.
"Like this?! Wow, I had no idea I could do this!"
"That's enough!"
I was stunned by the sheer power contained within her as a Spirit—not just as the system itself. For a moment I stood speechless as the hydra greeted me with its claws, trying to stop me from reaching the final eye.
I spun in midair, using my two Shadow Clones as footholds while they fell beneath me. My axe cleaved through the hydra's claws, tearing them apart.
CRAAASH!
I reached the monster's neck and cleaved it with my axe, but the cut was too shallow. The wound began regenerating almost instantly.
Thousands of sharp vines erupted everywhere, entangling my legs and body, their poisonous spines stabbing toward my skin.
"HAAAA!"
I released every ounce of energy I had left. My Aura exploded outward, shifting from red to a deep, dark hue as my muscles bulged to the very edge of what my body could endure.
I kicked the monster's neck and climbed higher. My nails lengthened into sharp, beast-like claws. I reached the hydra's head.
Its jaws opened wide, poisonous green flames surging, ready to incinerate me.
But then—
"Who the hell are you trying to burn?!"
With all my strength, I drove my fist into the hydra's chin. Its mouth slammed shut. The flames detonated inside its own throat.
BOOOM!
"GRYAAAACK!"
The hydra let out an agonized scream and vomited blood everywhere. I scrambled up the back of its neck and smashed my axe into the final third eye with everything I had.
CRAAASH!
The hydra let out a tortured growl as the last eye shattered, revealing a small crystal core beneath. Each eye was actually a core—granting immense power but serving as glaring weak points.
"GRYAAAAAHHH!"
It hadn't died yet, but it was severely weakened, limping and collapsing repeatedly.
"You guys! Kill it! Aim for the chest!"
Barely recovered, Veldr, Ivar, and Ylva attacked together. Veldr's Spell Blades and Ivar's Stone Fists hammered the monster's wounded chest, slashing and punching with all their might.
Ylva summoned fire serpents and thunder serpents—evolved forms of her spells that moved independently. They coiled through the air and struck the wound, triggering dozens of explosions.
And me?
I leaped down.
"Spear Form!"
My Divine Weapon reshaped into a crimson spear. I drove it straight into the monster's exposed spirit heart, shattering the core into countless fragments. A massive explosion of spiritual energy erupted from within.
BOOOM!
The colossal Tier 5 monster finally fell. Its gigantic body crashed to the floor as an immense surge of strength washed over us from the levels we gained in that brutal hunt!
[Congratulations! You and your party have slain the Spiritual Forest Dungeon Boss [Spirit Root Hydra (Tier 5+)]!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[...]
[You have reached Level 91/130. Stat Points have been allocated; you gained 14 Free Stat Points.]
Fourteen levels from slaying this thing alone! I definitely wasn't supposed to kill it at my current Tier and Level, which only made the victory feel even sweeter.
Still, it had been an incredibly difficult fight. For a moment I genuinely thought we were all going to die. So yeah, let's call it quits for now and head home quickly.
"Brunhild! Your body! You're covered in burns!"
"Ylva, you can walk again?"
"I healed my leg, and Ivar helped me set it back in place. It hurt like hell, but I toughed it out."
"Spoken like a true barbarian! Hahaha!"
Despite her refined, elven appearance, Ylva was a member of the tribe, possessing incredible pain tolerance and a body far tougher than most would guess at first glance.
As they celebrated, I noticed a massive soul floating beside me, at least ten meters across. The hydra's soul stared blankly at the ceiling, eerily calm.
"Yoink."
I reached out and pulled it into my Soul Orb, storing it alongside the hundreds of souls I had collected on this trip.
A very fruitful harvest indeed.
And it seemed a lot of skills had leveled up again, further proof that intense, life-or-death battles accelerated skill growth dramatically.
[Your Skill: [Divine War Demigoddess' Weapon – Tier 4: Level 3/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Skill: [Mana Mastery – Tier 2: Level 2/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Skill: [Mana Aura – Tier 1: Level 9/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Skill: [Mana Reinforcement – Tier 1: Level 9/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Skill: [Weapon Talent: Axe – Tier 1: Level 7/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Skill: [War Spirit Aura Embodiment – Tier 1: Level 8/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Skill: [Divine Soul Orb Sanctuary – Tier 1: Level 2/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Skill: [Mana Aura – Tier 1: Level 10/10] has reached Max Level and can now Rank Up and Evolve.]
[Rank Up Requirements]
[Ten Tier 2 Monster Cores]: [10/10]
[Five Spirit Crystals]: [5/5]
[Five Mana Crystals]: [5/5]
[Do you wish to Evolve the Tier 1 Skill?]
[Yes] [No]
[Your Skill: [Mana Reinforcement – Tier 1: Level 10/10] has reached Max Level and can now Rank Up and Evolve.]
[Rank Up Requirements]
[Ten Tier 2 Monster Cores]: [10/10]
[Five Spirit Crystals]: [5/5]
[Five Mana Crystals]: [5/5]
[Do you wish to Evolve the Tier 1 Skill?]
[Yes] [No]
Huh, same requirements as before.
Alright, let's evolve them right now.
Without hesitation, I selected yes on both. The materials were instantly claimed from my inventory and consumed for the evolution.
In seconds, both skills advanced to Tier 2, gaining new names and significantly stronger effects. My internal Mana flow felt far more refined and powerful.
Ding!
[Congratulations! The Skill: [Mana Aura – Tier 1: Level 10/10] has evolved to [Mana Aura Expansion – Tier 2: Level 1/10]!]
[Congratulations! The Skill: [Mana Reinforcement – Tier 1: Level 10/10] has evolved to [Mana Strengthening – Tier 2: Level 1/10]!]
I already understood what these did.
With Mana Aura Expansion, my Mana Aura was no longer confined to my body or its immediate surroundings, it could now extend over twenty meters.
Anything within that radius could be grabbed, lifted, or hurled away with enough mastery and Mana.
It was practically telekinesis, though harder to control and with limited range. Even better, it could help me maneuver through the air and resist gravity itself.
Mana Strengthening was an evolved form of Mana Reinforcement. It didn't just toughen my body, it dramatically increased my physical attack power as well.
With sufficient mastery, I could imbue objects with this power, making weapons tougher, more durable, or sharper.
Both evolved skills would be invaluable against powerful foes.
Other skills had leveled up too.
Ding!
[Your Spell Skill: [Fireball – Tier 1: Level 5/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Spell Skill: [Healing Light – Tier 1: Level 4/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Spell Skill: [Holy Barrier – Tier 1: Level 4/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Spell Skill: [Exorcizing Flash – Tier 1: Level 1/10] has Leveled Up!]
Exorcizing Flash finally progressed. I had recently discovered it could cleanse certain status conditions, like weak poisons. Ylva had also shown me that combining it with Holy Barrier turned it into solid light capable of harming enemies.
I planned to experiment with merging the two, perhaps creating unique techniques the game never allowed.
Ding!
[Your Class Skill: [Magic Rune: Wild Beast Path – Tier 1: Level 4/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Charge Attack – Tier 1: Level 6/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Archery – Tier 1: Level 5/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Healing Flame – Tier 1: Level 6/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Shadow Step – Tier 1: Level 5/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Future Sight – Tier 2: Level 2/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Guts – Tier 2: Level 2/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Beast Senses – Tier 2: Level 2/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Holy Smite – Tier 2: Level 2/10] has Leveled Up!]
[Your Class Skill: [Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone – Tier 2: Level 2/10] has Leveled Up!]
Everything leveled up—wow. So many skills, and the craziest part was that I actually used every single one of them.
[You learned the Trait: [Herculean Body (A Rank)]]
Wait—what?!
A Trait just appeared out of nowhere!
-----
[Herculean Body (A)]
A Trait granted only to those who possess a truly powerful, enduring body touched by divinity.
Increases Natural Wound Regeneration Speed and Efficiency by 100%.
Boosts Resistance to Physical Damage and Trauma by 50%.
When fighting a foe larger than you, increases Strength by 25%.
Grants natural insight into wielding any weapon you grasp.
Negates damage taken below a certain threshold.
1% of damage taken regenerates your Mana.
Calories burn x3 as quickly.
-----
"Holy shit—did I fulfill all the conditions for this one, Freyja?" I asked as she appeared beside me.
"It does seem that way," she nodded.
"But isn't this an endgame Trait?! I remember getting it around Level four hundred," I muttered.
"Well, you met every requirement: Strength above a certain threshold, enduring severe physical and traumatic damage, surviving a life-or-death situation at 1% HP, and having been touched by divinity," she confirmed. "Yep—all of them."
"Damn…" I whispered. "Well, I'm glad. This will be really useful."
I already felt incredibly strong, but also…
Starving.
"Ugh… I'm starving…" I felt skeletal all of a sudden.
Ylva panicked when she saw my ravenous expression.
"B-Brunhild?! You're dying?!"
"Hahahaha! She looks like a zombie!" Veldr laughed heartily.
"Looks like all that power burns a ton of calories… we should eat something before we leave," Ivar suggested. "Maybe…"
"Yeah…" I growled. "I'm about to eat this thing raw. Let's make a big bonfire and roast it… I can barely hold back."
As I began butchering the hydra and Ylva started a large bonfire to cook it, I spotted a large green treasure chest that had appeared after the boss fell.
"Ah right! I almost forgot about this…" I knelt and opened it to see what we had earned.
Aside from piles of gold, silver, spirit stones, and more, three notable rewards stood out.
A silver-colored scroll sealed with red thread.
A beautiful green axe shaped like four hydra heads fused into a single blade, each eye a yellow jewel, the edge gleaming purple and poisonous.
And finally, a clear green elixir.
"Now this is nice, I can almost forget how hungry I am," I celebrated.
The Skill Scroll was unidentified; its effect would only reveal itself once it is opened and used.
But I recognized the axe instantly.
The Spirit Hydra Axe, a strong early-game weapon that inflicted poison with every strike and occasionally paralyzed enemies.
Lastly, the green elixir was a Spirit Hydra Blood Elixir. Drinking it could awaken a Spirit Root Hydra Bloodline… with a 30% chance of success and a 70% chance of a weaker variant.
Bloodlines mattered greatly. Beyond stat bonuses per level, they grew stronger through Tiers and by absorbing specific materials, unlocking new abilities, techniques, and skills.
Even the weakest bloodline was better than none.
They couldn't be replaced, but they could fuse, so waiting for "the best of the best" was pointless and unrealistic.
So… I drank it without hesitation. I didn't even tell my friends.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp… Guh?!"
A sharp pain stabbed through my stomach. My hands trembled as my consciousness flickered in and out.
"Agh…"
I dropped to my knees. My veins turned red, then green. Scales briefly protruded from my skin before receding.
"Ahhh…!"
In the reflection of a puddle of the hydra's blood, I saw my eyes shift to reptilian slits for a moment before returning to normal.
As I coughed, red flames scorched the ground.
"Wait… what is this feeling…?!"
This wasn't a normal bloodline.
-----
Author's Note:
Hello and thank you for reading so far! I am the author PancakesWitch and wanted to say that this is a novel I'm writing with a lot of love. I will publish 5 chapters a week, or sometimes 4.
There will always be an additional chapter on Patreon though, and you can also join it right now to get +22 Advanced Chapters for only $10! The number will keep increasing every week as well!
https://www.patreon.com/pancakeswitch