Nerves, Levi suspected, were something he was becoming accustomed to. For now, he bottled up the thoughts plaguing his mind. For now, he had much more pressing issues to worry about.

Travelling through the valley, Bram focused on the teethlings in front, while Levi held the back. Levi was still waiting for his time to strike. He didn’t have to wait much longer.

From above, a hunched over teethling dropped from the steep mountainous walls above. Levi gasped and quickly dodged backwards. The teethling crashed down, somehow accurately avoiding the razor-rocks covered in a veil of mist and grass. Fangs baring, it leapt for the target it was closest to: Levi.

Bram glanced over his shoulder, nodded to Levi, and continued focusing on the threat at the front. It wasn’t looking good—if it were any other person, that was. Bram moved like a phantom, leaving a bloody mist in his wake.

Levi readied himself. Covering the bottom of his feet and hands in golden armour, Levi leapt backwards. The teethling crashed down where he was, clawed hand swatting the air. It hissed at Levi. It jumped for him again, but this time he was ready.

Already touching the side of the wall, placing a trap, he ignited it right as the monster passed. It blew the teethlings arm off, the force of the impact throwing it against the other side of the wall.

Levi pressed on. Augmented kukri in hand, Levi stabbed at the monster's throat. Perhaps it was dazed, but Levi’s blade tore through its throat, cauterising the wound as it glided past flesh. Levi continued with a kick to the beast’s chest with a resounding thud as the teethling fell to the ground.

He watched closely as a familiar worm—one from all over the walls and ground—wriggled free from the monster’s ear. Then, and only then, did the worms begin climbing atop the teethling, consuming its flesh and blood and bone. Levi grimaced.

You have defeated: Teethling (Level 34)

| You have Levelled up: 37 -> 38

| You have 2 unspent Stat points.

Levi had Levelled up a couple times during the multiple days of travel. Just like always, he placed all of the points straight into Magic. It was beginning to annoy him not being able to place points into his body. If he could, then he would have absolutely placed a lot more points into Vitality.

If it weren’t for his Archmagus Talent, even his Magic and Mana would be limited until he turned sixteen. Sure, the restriction was to prevent the person from implosion, but Levi couldn’t help but ponder. His talent in magic was extraordinary, so obviously that meant he could gain more Stats before reaching a limit his body could handle. But was that the same for other, lesser talents? Or was it unique to his Archmagus nature? And what about warrior talents? Could people with remarkable talent, or perhaps those with inherently superior genetics, also bypass physical limitations regardless of age like he could?

Ignoring the body consumed by worms, Levi caught up with Bram. As he was fighting a horde of monsters, it was time for Levi to test out something.

Spotting a teethling 20 odd metres down the passageway, Levi formed a regular lance of fire. But this time, he extended it, making it longer until it was the length of a full size javelin. He wanted to test to see if the damage increase from spears and javelins actually worked.

It took only 2 seconds to form the weapon of his desire, and then he threw it, speed enhanced by the power of his Magic. He felt the difference immediately. The javelin tore through the air… and missed its target.

Despite missing, Levi’s lips curled. It was a good feeling when things went to plan.

***

Levi and Bram made it out of the steep and narrow valley unharmed. Well, Bram was. Levi had cuts and even a laceration on his arm from his fights with the teethlings. One cut was even death from one of the razor-rocks lining the walls. He had to be careful of dropping blood on the floor, so he had to stop here and there to bandage his wounds.

However, pain wasn’t the only thing he had gained. He had Levelled up again, killing around 10 or so more teethlings. He placed all 2 points into Mana.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“We’ll rest here for now,” Bram said as he brought Levi to an opening. It was surprisingly flat, with grass and flattened rocks. On all sides, they were surrounded by mountains. Up ahead, far in the distance, was a mountain that eclipsed all the others. Levi just knew that was their destination. He felt it. The aura warns them to stay away.

“Good,” Levi moaned, throwing his pack on the floor and sitting his butt on one of the nearest rocks. He took out some water and gulped it down, then ripped off a piece of dried meat he had stored, and ate that as well.

Levi thrust his thumb over his shoulder, toward their destination. “I take it that’s where we’re going?”

“Good observation,” Bram said with a smile. “Stay here, it’s relatively safe. I have some preparation to do.” Bram turned.

“Wait,” Levi spoke up, stopping him. “What preparation?”

Bram turned back around. “Here I was thinking you’d want that as a surprise?” Bram chuckled.

“Funny,” Levi said. “A hunter, cook, detective, and now a comedian.”

“I have no intentions of fighting the bird,” Bram said truthfully. “The only other option is to lure it away. But how?”

Realising that Bram was asking how he would do it, Levi said after a moment's thought, “Find another predator that can threaten it? Attack it from a distance and then run away and pray to any god that listens you can out run it?”

“Bingo,” Bram said. “But first, I have a few things to prepare. I’ll return, then we’ll continue up that mountain.”

And so Bram left Levi to his own devices. He secured his position by placing down numerous high powered traps in the surroundings. Then he recovered his Mana by Meditating, and finally found the time to take in the other System messages he had received during the past few days.

He had Levelled up all of his Skills. Incite and Mana Control were the highest at 6 stars each. Followed by Fire Control which was at 4 stars. Then Trap Making, Meditation, and Golden Carapace which were at 3 stars. Just like before, every star-up increased their effectiveness by 10%.

It was all the more reason Levi couldn’t wait to reach max stars. What would his Skills evolve to? More than that, he was looking forward to reaching Level 50 more than anything. If his guess was correct, then he’d be able to unlock another Birthright then. If it wasn’t Level 50, then it was 100. He hoped it was 50.

What Ingredients should I feed my 3rd Seed? Levi thought.

One would obviously be that book. But what of the second and third?

Levi wasn’t able to continue his train of thoughts as he heard a branch snap from a nearby bush. And it wasn’t Bram.

***

Firing a lance into the head of an intruding teethling, Levi panted. Six corpses lay smouldering on the floor. They were coming from everywhere. There must be a nest somewhere, Levi surmised. He quickly readied himself as another arrived.

This one was taller, stronger. Levi prepared for a tough fight, but there was no need. Bram teleported in front of Levi and blasted the creature into a mangled mess. It was a skill similar to the bodyguard that the Antor family had at their disposal. Did all bodyguards have such potent movement abilities? Or just the strongest of them? Levi couldn’t help but wonder.

Hands on knees, Levi asked, “Are all your preparations done?”

“All done,” Bram said. “Rest a while. Then we go.”

As they continued, the threat of the teethlings all but vanished. Levi suspected it was because they were forging closer towards the monarch's domain—the big bird.

“So,” Levi whispered, fearful of waking the king of the mountains, “what’s the name of this beast? You still haven’t told me.”

Bram responded, his voice also low, “You didn’t ask. It’s called a Dirge Hawk. Some say it has the blood of ancients running through its veins. All I know is that it isn’t a monster I can defeat.”

“And let me guess,” Levi said, “you have full confidence in this plan of yours and the captain because… he said so?”

“Me and the captain have gone through more than you can imagine, Levi. And yet we made it through. It was all because I decided to follow the captain’s orders resolutely, without question. If he ordered me to walk through the fires of hell, well, I’d do it, because he’d have his reasons.”

Levi shook his head. There was no way he could do that. Would he ever be able to trust someone to that degree? He doubted it. But there was no time for doubt as they reached the base of the mountain peak.

Hundreds of small black birds flew to and from the mountain, most likely bringing food back to their nest.

“Is it the Dirge Hawk’s children?”

“No,” Bram said. “If they were, we’d already be dead. Our destination is at the top.” He pointed to a small valley that led up to at least halfway. After that, it was a sheer drop.

“There’s no way I can climb that,” Levi said, shaking his head in fear. He hated heights.

“No choice, I’m afraid,” Bram said with an encouraging smile. “You can do it. Just think of it as a small challenge.”

Levi craned his neck so much that it strained his spine. Yeah, what small challenge? It was a bloody mountainous one.