The thick canopy of trees overhead cast eerie shadows over the forest floor as Gershion ventured deeper into the outer layer of the Genesis Portal. His heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. He had seen a few groups of celestial warriors along the way—teams made up of healers, assassins, and knight angels, all perfectly balanced for their tasks. As he approached one group, he overheard them discussing battle tactics and distributing their roles.
“Hey, you there!” a burly knight angel called out, waving him over. “You look like you could join our ranks. We could use another sword.”
Gershion hesitated, stepping forward with a bit of hope. He wanted to prove himself, but as he drew closer, a few faces lit with recognition.
“Wait a second,” one of them muttered, squinting at him before turning to the others. “Isn’t that the guy with only two celestial essence points?”
A ripple of laughter spread through the group. One angel, a lithe assassin with daggers strapped to his sides, shook his head in disbelief. "How can someone built like that only have two essence? What a waste."
Another celestial, a healer with glowing orbs of light hovering around her hands, gave him a pitying look. “You should go back. Genesis isn’t for someone of your... rank.”
The knight angel who had first called out raised his eyebrows. “A body like that, but only two essence? You must’ve really disappointed some folks.” His tone was mocking, causing the group to burst into laughter again.
Gershion felt the weight of their words, but he wasn’t about to let them shake him. He had always been different, and now he knew why. The system had been changing him, enhancing his body to match the stats he was slowly building up. His once average physique had transformed—muscles were more defined, his edges sharper, and he moved with a confidence he hadn’t felt before.
Still, the mockery stung. He clenched his fists and turned away from the group, his determination hardening. "I'll go alone," he muttered under his breath, ignoring the snickers behind him as he ventured deeper into the forest.
---
All portals were only accessible to angels of equivalent essence or lower ranks. Higher-ranked angels—those with immense celestial essence—were forbidden from entering lower-tier portals. However, Lower angels could venture into higher-tier portals if they dared, but it was seen as a death sentence. Portals were tiered not just by the strength of the warriors who entered but by the levels of creatures found inside.
Creatures within portals like Genesis were classified based on their power:
- Monsters: The weakest and most common type found in low-tier portals. They were dangerous but manageable for angels, especially the seasoned ones.
- Magical Beasts: A step above monsters. These creatures had the ability to manipulate elemental powers and often required a team to defeat.
- Spiritual Beasts: These beings had a connection to the spirit realm and could tap into spiritual energy. They were extremely rare and powerful, usually found in mid to high-tier portals.
- Legendary Beasts: These beasts were nearly mythological in their strength and abilities. Only a handful had ever been documented, and they were feared even by higher angels.
- Divine Beasts: The rarest and most powerful of all. Beasts like dragons fell into this category. Their power rivaled that of archangels and even higher celestial beings. It was said that only divine warriors could stand a chance against them.
Genesis was home to only monsters. Magical beasts, spiritual, legendary and divine beasts were never seen here.
---
The monsters in the outer layer of the Genesis portal were nothing like what Gershion had imagined. As he pressed forward, the first creature he encountered was a **Vermis Wraith**, a serpent-like monster that slithered between trees with frightening speed. It lunged at him, its fangs dripping with venom, but Gershion was ready.
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With a fluid movement, he sidestepped the attack and brought his dagger down, slashing through the creature’s scaly hide. The wraith shrieked, its body convulsing before it collapsed. He stared down at the monster, surprised at how easily he had dispatched it. He hadn’t expected his strength and reflexes to have improved this much.
[You have slain a Vermis Wraith. Strength +1, Sense +3.]
The notification blinked in his vision, and he felt the surge of power in his limbs. It was small, but noticeable. He took a deep breath, feeling the excitement rise within him.
He pressed on, encountering more low-level creatures as the day went on— Forest Imps, small but cunning monsters that darted between the trees, and Mist Hounds, ghostly creatures that attacked in packs. Each battle honed his skills, and with each victory, his stats increased, his body becoming faster, stronger, and more capable.
By midday, he was facing groups of monsters at once. A pack of Fell Gnolls charged at him, their claws tearing at the earth as they howled. Gershion’s movements had become more fluid, more instinctive. He dodged one, spun to deliver a crushing blow to another, and leaped over the third, stabbing down with precision. By the time the dust settled, he stood alone, breathing heavily but unharmed.
[You have slain 3 Fell Gnolls. Agility +1, Strength +1.]
[You have slain 3 Fell Gnolls. Agility +1, Strength +1, Sense +1.]
The feeling of his growing power was addictive. The more he fought, the more his body adapted. Soon, slaying monsters became almost routine. He no longer struggled with the creatures of the outer layer. By evening, he had slaughtered over a hundred monsters, the forest floor littered with their remains.
His stats were rising with every battle:
Strength: Maxed
Agility: Maxed
Sense : Maxed
Intelligence : Maxed
Ready to evolve to Archangel
Do you want to Yes/No
He accepted without hesitation.
Evolution Started...2%
Gershion marveled at the way his body had transformed over the course of a single day. What had once been difficult was now effortless. He had become a force to be reckoned with, though the true challenges still awaited him.
As the sun began to dip behind the horizon, casting long shadows through the trees, Gershion decided to set up camp for the night. After gathering materials and lighting a small fire, he made his way to a nearby river to catch some fish. The riverbanks were quiet, save for the gentle flow of water.
But as he approached, something caught his eye.
A creature, lying at the shore, its scales gleaming faintly in the dim light. It was small—no bigger than a horse—but there was something regal about it. Blood stained its silver scales, and it panted heavily, its golden eyes watching him warily.
Gershion froze, heart pounding.
New Quest: Aid the Injured Dragon
A dragon? Here? In Genesis?
He had heard of divine beasts—creatures far more powerful than the monsters that roamed the portal—but they weren’t supposed to be in Genesis. Dragons were legendary beings, their power beyond comprehension. To see one here, injured and alone, was shocking.
The dragon, though small, was clearly a divine beast, not a regular monster. It seemed to have been in a brutal battle. Gershion edged closer, torn between wanting to help and fearing what it might do if provoked. The creature’s eyes tracked his every move, vigilant but exhausted.
His hand hovered over his dagger, the urge to strike it down rising in him. After all, a dragon—no matter how young—was dangerous. But something in its eyes stopped him. It wasn’t just a beast; there was intelligence there, and maybe even desperation.
Just as Gershion was about to make a decision, the sound of a low growl rumbled from the bushes behind him. His blood ran cold as the foliage parted, revealing a towering figure—a Titan Goliath, one of the highest-ranked monsters in the Genesis portal. Its hulking frame blocked out the last of the evening light, its eyes glowing with malice.
Gershion’s heart sank.
He knew that Titan Goliaths were near the core layer of the forest, where only the most powerful monsters resided. No one dared venture into that area, not even high-ranking angels, for the monsters there were said to rival magical beasts in strength.
And now, one stood before him, its massive fists clenched, a deep growl vibrating through its chest. He was alone, facing a monster he had no hope of defeating.