Chapter 9: Calculated Risks
Kael’s pulse quickened as he crept toward Revik, his eyes darting between the battle and the dangerous figure lurking on the edge of the clearing. The baron’s soldiers were locked in a desperate struggle against the massive beast, its strength forcing them back with every swipe of its claws. But Kael’s attention was focused on Revik—the man was biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Kael’s heart raced with excitement and fear. He had already made progress with his Sharp Senses (Stream) and Stealth Talent (Stream), but this new threat represented a different kind of challenge. Revik’s Torrent (Rank 8) essence and talents were leagues above Kael’s current level. Copying those talents was out of the question, at least for now.
The system had made it clear: Kael didn’t have enough EXP to make a jump that big. He could only evolve or copy talents one rank higher than his current aptitude, which meant that even though he had already strengthened his Sharp Senses, he couldn’t just jump from Stream to Flair without more experience—and a lot more EXP.
He was still limited by his Mote (Rank 1) essence. That frustrated him. The immense gap between himself and the likes of Revik was a reminder that he still had a long way to go. But this was an opportunity. Kael didn’t need to defeat Revik directly—he just needed to survive and gain enough experience to move forward steadily. He’d have to think smart.
‘Patience,’ he reminded himself. ‘Rushing in won’t do me any good.’
Revik stood poised, his eyes scanning the battlefield with a calculated coldness. Kael’s instincts told him Revik wasn’t here just to watch. The poison-infused aura around him pulsed with an energy that made Kael’s skin crawl. Whatever Revik was planning, it was bound to be deadly.
Kael edged closer, using his Stealth Talent (Stream) to remain hidden in the shadows. His goal wasn’t to confront Revik head-on. He wasn’t ready for that. Instead, he needed to gather information and, if possible, take advantage of the chaos surrounding the hunt. The battle with the beast was escalating, and soon, opportunities would present themselves.
The beast roared, its powerful limbs crushing the ground beneath it as it lashed out at the soldiers. The baron’s men were strong, but even they struggled to maintain formation under the relentless assault. Kael could sense the beast’s raw essence surging through the air, a deep and primal energy unlike anything he had felt before.
He had to be careful. If he got too close, he risked being noticed by either the soldiers or Revik, and that would almost certainly be the end of him. But if he played his cards right, he might be able to gather some essence from the battle, maybe even enough to boost his own rank.
Kael’s mind raced as he watched the chaos unfold. The beast was wounded but still fighting fiercely, and the baron’s men were wearing down. Revik’s presence loomed like a shadow over the clearing, waiting for the right moment to strike.
‘He’s not here for the beast,’ Kael realized, narrowing his eyes. ‘He’s after the baron.’
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Suddenly, the beast reared up, letting out a blood-curdling roar. In that moment, Revik moved. Kael watched as the man activated his Poison Talent (Phoenix), his hands glowing with the sickly green aura. Revik dashed forward, his movements too fast for the soldiers to track as he cut through the chaos, heading straight for the baron.
Kael cursed under his breath. He needed to act, but what could he do? He wasn’t strong enough to confront Revik directly, and he didn’t have enough EXP to copy any of his higher-ranked talents. He was still stuck at Mote (Rank 1), and his strongest evolved talent was only Sharp Senses (Stream).
But Kael knew that if he let Revik kill the baron, the consequences for the village—and for him—would be dire. The baron’s death would throw the entire region into turmoil, and whatever power play Revik was orchestrating would likely lead to a much larger conflict.
Kael’s only option was to intervene in a way that wouldn’t get him killed immediately.
He moved swiftly, using his Stealth Talent to circle the battlefield. His mind raced with possibilities, and then a thought struck him. If he couldn’t confront Revik directly, maybe he could throw him off course—create a distraction that would delay the assassin’s plan.
Kael spotted one of the baron’s soldiers lying on the ground nearby, injured but still conscious. The man was struggling to rise, his spear lying just out of reach. Kael darted over, grabbed the spear, and slid it into the man’s hand.
“Get up,” Kael hissed. “The baron needs you.”
The soldier blinked, confused by Kael’s sudden appearance, but his training kicked in, and he grabbed the spear. Kael pointed toward Revik, who was now closing in on the baron.
“Enemy,” Kael whispered urgently. “Poison-wielder. He’s after the baron.”
The soldier’s eyes widened as he spotted Revik and immediately moved to intercept. Kael backed away, keeping low as the soldier stumbled toward Revik, shouting a warning to the others. The distraction worked. Revik slowed, his eyes narrowing as he sized up the approaching soldier.
Kael slipped further back into the shadows, watching as the baron’s forces regrouped and began to shift their focus. They hadn’t noticed him, and Revik’s attention was now split between his target and the soldiers closing in.
It wasn’t much, but it bought time.
The battle dragged on, the beast weakening as the combined efforts of the baron’s men began to wear it down. Kael kept his distance, watching the fight unfold, his mind constantly calculating. He couldn’t afford to take a direct role yet, but every moment he observed added to his understanding of how to fight at this level.
More importantly, he needed to absorb some of the beast’s essence if he had any hope of advancing to Aura (Rank 2). The energy radiating from the creature was overwhelming, and if he could just get close enough when it died, he could absorb enough essence to push himself to the next level.
The baron’s sword cut deep into the beast’s hide, and with a final, ear-splitting roar, the creature collapsed. Kael saw his opportunity.
As the soldiers moved in to finish off the beast, Kael positioned himself at the edge of the clearing, focusing on the massive amount of essence pouring from the fallen creature. He could feel it pulling at him, the raw energy of the beast’s life force flooding the air.
Kael closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath as he activated his essence-absorbing ability. Slowly, carefully, he began to pull the essence toward him, siphoning off just enough to avoid detection. The feeling was intoxicating, like a rush of power flooding into his veins. But he knew better than to overindulge. Too much, too quickly, and he would alert the baron’s men—or worse, Revik.
Gradually, the essence flowed into him, filling him with a sense of strength and clarity he hadn’t felt before. His Mote (Rank 1) essence was beginning to expand, pushing him toward the next level. But it wasn’t enough to complete the jump just yet.
Kael opened his eyes, scanning the battlefield. The soldiers were preoccupied with securing the area and tending to their wounded. Revik had vanished into the shadows, likely retreating now that his plan had failed. For now, Kael was safe.
But the events of the day had made one thing clear: Kael was still far from strong enough to face the threats that lay ahead. He needed more time, more battles, more experience to evolve his essence and talents. He couldn’t rush this.
As Kael turned to leave the clearing, his mind drifted to the future. The hunt had shown him the scale of power that existed beyond his village, and he was determined to rise to meet it. But there was still one more goal looming on the horizon—the Academy.
If he was going to prove himself worthy of a place there, he would need to steadily grow stronger. And with only ten spots available for the entire viscount’s lands, the competition would be fierce.
The path ahead was long, and Kael knew it wouldn’t be easy. But with every fight, with every talent he evolved, he was one step closer to breaking free of his limits.
For now, he would return to the village and prepare. His journey was just beginning.