The next morning, Gershion awoke with a heightened sense of determination. The little dragon’s cocoon shimmered faintly in the early light, and he couldn’t help but feel a connection to the powerful divine beast. He had to leave it there, though, knowing that once it emerged, it would no longer need his protection.
He gathered his gear, glancing one last time at the cocoon nestled by the riverbank. "Stay safe," he muttered under his breath, though he knew the dragon would be far stronger once its evolution was complete.
With a deep breath, he turned and ventured deeper into the Genesis portal’s forest. The core awaited him—a place where only the bravest or the most foolish dared to go.
---
The journey through the inner layer was different. The air was thick with a sense of danger, the trees taller, their shadows darker. The monsters lurking here were far deadlier than those he had faced at the outer edges. But Gershion was ready. His evolution into the archangel sub-category had changed everything. His body felt invincible, his essence far beyond what he had ever imagined.
As he moved through the dense undergrowth, he encountered small groups of celestials, each team carefully making their way through the treacherous terrain. They were organized, their ranks filled with healers, assassins, and knight-angels, working together to fend off the dangers of the inner forest.
But when they saw Gershion walking alone, their reactions were mixed.
"Isn’t that Gershion?" one whispered, eyeing him with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "The one with essence two?"
"Yeah, it is," another said, stifling a laugh. "What’s he doing here? He’ll be wiped out in minutes!"
Some of the celestials, however, didn’t laugh. They stared at his physique, at the confidence in his stride. “He doesn’t look like someone with essence two,” one of them muttered, unsure.
As Gershion passed, a group of celestials approached him, offering to let him join them for safety.
“You’d be safer with us,” said a knight-angel, his armor gleaming. “The inner layer is no joke.”
But then, another celestial recognized him, laughing. “Wait, isn’t that the kid who failed the celestial exams? Essence two? No way he’s making it through here! He’ll only drag us down.”
The group’s mood shifted, and soon, their offer was retracted. "Good luck, kid. You’ll need it," they said mockingly, turning away.
Gershion clenched his fists but forced himself to remain calm. The words stung, but he wasn’t here to prove anything to them. His power was far beyond what they could comprehend. Without another glance, he ventured further, deeper into the forest, where even seasoned celestials feared to tread.
---
As he entered the heart of the inner layer, the monsters grew fiercer. He fought through packs of Cù-Sìth—spectral hounds that materialized from the shadows, their glowing eyes tracking his every movement. But they were no match for him. His agility, now far beyond that of any regular celestial, allowed him to dispatch them with ease.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Cù-Sìth defeated. Essence gained. Agility +2, Speed +2, Strength +1.
Next, he encountered Perytons, winged beasts with stag-like bodies that swooped down from the treetops, talons outstretched. But with a few deft strikes, Gershion brought them down, each one further increasing his strength.
Peryton defeated. Strength +3, Reflex +2.
His stats climbed with each battle. By the time he reached the boundary of the core, he had slain hundreds of monsters, his body a finely tuned weapon. The celestials who mocked him would never have believed what he had become.
But Gershion wasn’t done yet.
---
The transition from the inner layer to the core was palpable. The trees thinned, replaced by jagged rock formations, and the air became thick with a foreboding energy. This was the core of the Genesis portal, where only the most powerful monsters roamed—creatures that even seasoned celestials avoided at all costs.
It was said that the core was home to monsters on the verge of becoming magical beasts, the next step up from regular portal monsters. Magical beasts were far more intelligent, imbued with arcane power, and many were believed to rival even celestials in combat.
He stepped cautiously into the core, his senses on high alert. The energy here was different, more hostile. But instead of being greeted by a swarm of deadly creatures, he found something strange—monsters were avoiding him.
Gershion had grown so powerful, his essence so overwhelming, that even the most dangerous monsters instinctively knew not to engage him. He could feel their presence lurking in the shadows, watching, but none dared to attack.
Until he encountered one—a Sköll, a giant wolf-like creature with blazing eyes and fur that shimmered like molten metal. It was one of the core’s apex predators, and unlike the others, it didn’t back down.
The battle was fierce. The Sköll was fast, its movements almost a blur as it lunged at Gershion, fangs bared. But Gershion was faster. He sidestepped the attack, his blade flashing in the dim light as he slashed at the creature’s side.
The Sköll howled in pain, but it didn’t retreat. It circled him, its fiery eyes narrowing, before lunging again, this time with its claws. Gershion blocked the attack with his arm, the impact reverberating through his body, but his enhanced strength held firm.
The battle raged on, but Gershion’s stamina never faltered. With each passing moment, he felt stronger, more in tune with his power. Finally, with a final, decisive strike, he drove his blade into the Sköll’s heart, and the massive creature collapsed to the ground.
Sköll defeated. Strength +1, Reflex +1, Speed +1, Intelligence +1, Sense +1.
By the time the battle was over, Gershion stood victorious. He had slain nearly every powerful monster in the core, and those that remained kept their distance, sensing his overwhelming power.
---
As night began to fall, Gershion found himself standing at the edge of a cliff overlooking the core’s central valley. He had come here seeking power, and he had found it in abundance. His stats had maxed out, his essence far beyond anything he could have imagined.
But as he stood there, looking down at the valley below, a sense of unease crept over him. His rapid rise in power, his evolution—it had caused a disturbance in the portal. He could feel it in the air, a ripple of energy that hinted at something greater, something dangerous.
And then, he realized: the portal wouldn’t let him stay here forever. His essence had grown too strong for Genesis, a low-ranked portal. If he left, he would never be able to return. The portal would close to him, forever locking him out.
But Gershion wasn’t afraid. He had no intention of turning back. His next challenge lay ahead, deeper within the core.
Glancing back in the direction of the riverbank where he had left the little dragon, Gershion felt a twinge of concern. The dragon would soon emerge, more powerful than ever. But for now, he had to press forward.
“I’m not done yet,” he murmured to himself, turning his gaze toward the heart of the core.
With his mind made up, he set his sights on the next challenge. Demons.