"I really don’t like this, Captain," Sera muttered, her grip on her blade's handle tightening until her knuckles turned white. She watched as Levi, despite being wounded, forged ahead once more. She could feel the determination pierce from his very eyes. It was… the first time she had witnessed it from a child.

It was something that couldn’t be trained. It was something that, like her, the aristocratic children of the Imperial City lacked. Born with a golden spoon, it was difficult to raise such an intense desire to improve. It was why a lot of the noble children fell short, despite their advantages.

"He’s a monster, that kid," Gregor said, his lips twitching with a mixture of disbelief and awe. "What kind of child can endure those wounds, can mentally weather the fact that monsters wish to rip him apart?"

“He’s amazing,” Sera said, nodding in agreement.

“Levi’s meant for this life,” Gregory declared. “Now, do you believe me? I sensed it the moment I first laid eyes on him in that forest, surrounded by the corpses of greenkins. He's not like other children. He possesses the mind of an experienced adult.”

Gregory's gaze lingered on Sera for a moment before he continued with a smile, "Come on, we better get to work ourselves. We've got evidence that the Devil Worshipers are working to summon another apostle. Now we can earn a little extra on the side."

***

Levi didn’t know how many hours had passed, but the fact that his body was refusing to listen to his commands told him exactly how long it had been. Hours. Levi stood just behind a mound of corpses. Silence reigned.

It was a sight he had grown accustomed to: fire raging, pits scattered about, and deadly metal shards strewn amidst the chaos. Levi shielded his face with a damp cloth, a feeble defence against the acrid smoke threatening to invade his lungs.

Using the knowledge gleaned from his Trap Making skills, Levi had rigged tripwires throughout the narrow cavern. And to further incapacitate his adversaries, the floor was littered with sharp metal shards. What good was a bipedal monster if it couldn't even stand? It was a rhetorical question; they had no purpose other than to writhe in agony on the ground, their paw pads sliced open by the jagged metal. All that awaited them was more bolts and fire.

With no more monsters emerging from the darkness, Levi rested, his arms trembling with feverish excitement. He Meditated for a while, almost bringing him to the next Level. What wasn’t close, however, was his overall Level, which had just reached 20.

You have defeated: Crypt-Hound Newborn (Level 15)

| …

| You have Levelled up: 19->20

| You have 2 unspent Stat points.

Levi placed all of the points straight into Mana. he felt the mana container deep within him stretch, increasing in size. Improvement felt good.

You have reached a Milestone Level - 20

| You can now feed Ingredients to your 2nd Birthright. Choose wisely. Decisions cannot be reversed.

| Once fed, you will evolve to the next tier: Apprentice.

I’ve done it! Levi would have pumped his fist into the air, if not for the wounds threatening to make him fall. Instead, he bit his curled lips in elation, and quickly moved onto the other notifications.

Title earned – Crypt-Hound Slayer: You have defeated 50 monsters on your own as an adolescent. Crypt-Hounds serve their progenitor, the Hound apostle. One day it will rise again, reigning terror across the worlds. Today isn’t that day.

| Damage dealt against CryptHounds is increased by 15%.

Well, that’s not ominous at all, Levi thought as he wiped the blood and soot from his face. He felt the exhaustion weigh across his shoulders.

Honestly, Levi was quite surprised not to have yet earned another Skill. Something involving using a crossbow or spear or something else, like heavy breathing, or just something. The only thing he could think of, was that it was a lot more difficult to gain a Skill than previously thought.

He had only picked up the crossbow today. And for the spear, he’d only used it to kill a few monsters. It probably took weeks or months to learn something like that.

Maybe things like Trap Making were easier to learn compared to sword fighting? Whatever the reason was, Levi would have to experiment.

Just as he was about to leave, Levi caught a scuffling sound in the distance, coming from deeper within the smoking tunnel. But Levi was confused. Nothing should be able to endure the smoke further within. If something was alive, its lungs would be poisoned; its life hanging on by a thread.

Urged on by primal curiosity, Levi kicked out the fire's embers, and stalked quietly through the smoke cloud.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

It wasn’t until he reached a dead end, did he notice a large hound, weak from the previously intense smoke, loom in the distance. With its back turned, it didn’t even notice him, couldn’t even smell him.

The smoke has damaged its ability to smell, Levi thought as he pulled the trigger of his crossbow. The bolt flew through the air, striking the monster in its front leg. It wasn’t what he was aiming for, but it would do.

Howling in pain, the dog's head snapped around. Levi rushed in for the kill. The animal was about to lunge when Levi shouted at the beast: “Fall,” a short command, unable to be resisted, the hound crashed to the ground.

Levi thrust his spear, blade sticking into the beast's fur. It hadn’t penetrated deep enough. Swearing, Levi tried again, but the hound lurched forwards. Levi leapt to the ground, crashing against hard rock, rolling, aiming his spear at the hound. Luckily, the spear tip burst through the creature’s eye, eliciting a terrifying howl.

Heart smashing against his chest, Levi shouted once more, his container brimming with mana.

“Stay down, you damned dog!”

His mana imbued words collided against the hounds mind as it finally fell to the floor, unable to move. Levi crept forwards. Its eyes followed him. Gritting his teeth, Levi plunged his spear further into the hounds eye, killing it.

Levi was rapidly reaching his limit. His lungs burned, his limbs heavy. He couldn’t breathe properly as the wet piece of fabric was covering his face. But he knew that things would get far worse if he took it off. Even now, his eyes blurred and burned and tears streamed from the corners.

He needed a reprieve. He turned, but he heard something else. Something small. Whirling around, Levi noticed a small insect scuttle across the back wall. Illustrious gold, two small gilded horns, and fire that seemed to hold its wings in its destructive embrace. Levi’s eyes widened, which he instantly regretted as more smoke assaulted him.

Quickly squinting again, and just by a glance, Levi knew it was special. Just like the Ember Shard Gregory had given him. Levi neared it, inspecting it. His hands clenched in amazement.

Birthright Ingredient (Rare) — Gilded Titannous Beetle: A race of noble insects that can only be found within the Krag. It is known for its incredibly durable carapace and mighty strength. Holds mild magical attributes.

| Class: Warrior

| Path: Brawler

Holy shit, that’s a good find. Did Gregory leave it here, or did he not see it? Whatever the reason was, All Levi knew was that he wanted it. With his talent, as long as it held magical attributes, a Rare grade Ingredient would transform into an Epic one.

However, the noble looking insect panicked, picking up speed. It was fast. Just before it escaped, Levi’s Inciting words stopped it in its tracks– but only for a moment. Hot fire erupted from its back as it shot into a hole in the back wall.

No!

Levi scrambled to where it disappeared to. He peered into the hole in the wall. All he could see was darkness. However, he felt a brush of warm air against his cheek. There was another passageway behind the wall.

Do I stop here, or do I head further and try to hunt for the Ingredient, Levi pondered, grappling with the decision. For power, I need it.

With resolve in his heart, Levi sprang into action. Seizing a nearby pickaxe, he began to pound relentlessly at the wall. Each strike resounded through the narrow passage, the rhythmic clinks echoing off the rocky walls of the mine.

Thanks to his increased strength, it wasn’t long before a small section of the wall collapsed inward. Levi persisted, striking again and again until the entire wall gave way, sending debris cascading down and engulfing the passage in a thick cloud of dust. Levi coughed and covered his eyes. As the dust was drawn deeper into the tunnel, the smoke from his fire followed suit, disappearing into the darkness ahead.

With the air finally cleansed, Levi took off his mask, taking a deep breath.

The slender passageway he was used to had opened up somewhat. If before it was only 10 feet or so from wall to wall, it was now more than 20.

After taking a good 10 minute break to recover his stamina, Levi stepped over the fallen rocks, making sure not to trip. He looked up at the cave ceiling, worried it might collapse. He wasn't sure if it was going to happen soon, but as he took a few more steps, he noticed something troubling. Even though he didn't know much, he could see that the path ahead was dangerous. There was a big crack in the ceiling above him, and dust was falling through it.

That’s a little disturbing, Levi thought.

He no longer saw the beetle. But he didn’t spot any holes in the walls or ground that it could get through. It could only go forwards. So, not wanting to forge ahead without a care in the world, Levi retraced his steps back through the tunnel. He stopped in front of a selection of large wooden beams. He tried grabbing two at once, but he felt the burden on his arms immediately.

Even with 10 strength, I can't handle two of these, Levi thought, shaking his head in frustration. In a world with incredible strength, how could he be happy with that?

With a heart full of desire to no longer be weak, he dragged one of the larger wooden beams back through the tunnel. Placing it against the ceiling, he repeated the process several times until he felt satisfied with the added security against the tons of earth above.

Next up, he collected the bolts embedded into the hounds, and started on some basic traps just beyond the restructured ceiling. They mainly consisted of tripwires and spiked metal shrapnel. He rested for a good 20 to 30 minutes again before quietly stalking through the passageway.

As Levi ventured deeper into the darkness, the narrow walls gradually widened until they opened up into a small room. The air was filled with the echoing snarls of hounds, busy gnawing on something amidst the shadows. Levi directed his light, revealing the grim scene at the centre of the room: a robed skeleton, its bones still tinged with patches of pink flesh. Nearby lay a torn leather satchel, abandoned and forgotten.

There were six hounds.

To the left, Levi caught sight of his target: the illustrious golden shelled beetle, its surface flickering with hot flames. Strangely, the hounds seemed to pay it no mind. Perhaps they sensed the danger posed by the fire.

At the sound of Levi's approach, the hounds turned their attention to their new potential meal, their eyes gleaming with ferocious hunger.