Even though his stamina hadn't fully recovered, Brama continued toward the location of the spiritual anomaly indicated by the system. A deep urge within his soul pulled him—more than just curiosity, it was a survival instinct honed through years of being a battle-hardened general.
Armed with his extensive battlefield experience, Brama never allowed himself to move without preparation.
He moved quickly. Within an hour, he had crafted basic gear from the resources available in the forest:
An emergency spear-knife, formed from a sharp stone carefully honed and tied to a sturdy wooden shaft with tightly woven root fibers.
A small shield made from thick tree bark, quickly dried over a small fire.
A trip-snare trap, made from flexible roots and branches, capable of binding or tripping enemies with controlled force.
An emergency pouch made from large leaves, woven and sewn with small thorns, enough to carry water and some wild fruits.
With all that ready, he continued his journey.
---
Upon arrival, Brama discovered a hidden cave—covered in moss and roots, blending perfectly into the environment. Without the system's guidance, it would've been impossible to notice.
The cave was silent, with several tunnels stretching into unknown directions. At the center of one corridor stood a circular arrangement of stones, resembling a primitive altar. At first glance, there was nothing special—just ordinary stones.
Brama asked immediately:
> "Where exactly can I awaken my spirit beast?"
Ding!
The host may step into the center of the stone formation and place one Spirit Stone on the central stone. Wait for the process to complete.
> "Spirit Stone? What is that?"
Ding!
A Spirit Stone is a soul-infused crystal formed from accumulated cultivation energy within living beings.
Brama massaged his temple, irritated.
> "Why are you only mentioning this now?"
Ding!
The host did not ask. In version 1.0, the system only responds within the scope of requested information. For additional features, please upgrade the system.
> "Then, how can I identify beasts that have already cultivated?"
Ding!
Cultivated beasts have distinct traits depending on their tier. Here is the full classification:
---
Cultivated Beast Tiers:
1. Tier 1 — Basic Soul (Level 1–9)
Traits: Brighter eyes than normal, faint glowing patterns on skin or scales.
Abilities: Muscle strength increased 2–3x above normal.
Movement: Still similar to wild animals, just slightly faster.
2. Tier 2 — Pure Soul (Level 1–9)
Traits: A faint qi aura visible at night, larger teeth or fangs.
Abilities: Exceptional physical durability, capable of crushing rocks with a bite.
Movement: Agile, can sometimes dodge attacks from ordinary humans.
3. Tier 3 — Hunter Soul
Traits: Their cries begin to carry soul pressure, and their bodies emit strange heat or cold.
Abilities: Can manipulate basic elements (wind/water/earth).
4. Tier 4 — Mutated Soul
Traits: Physical mutations, like extra horns, wings, or tails.
Abilities: Can attack using aura.
Level Difference: Each level greatly enhances aura strength.
5. Tier 5 — Royal Soul
Traits: These beasts have symbols or runes on their bodies.
Abilities: Can affect nearby beings with soul pressure.
(Tiers 6 to 10 will appear in future updates when Brama reaches higher cultivation levels.)
---
Brama sighed. "Damn… then why did I rush here?"
But before he could continue complaining, a soft trickling sound echoed from one of the tunnels.
He immediately took a combat stance, slowly moving forward, his spear tucked behind his shield. He peeked around the corner and… a disgusting creature crawled out of the tunnel: a giant worm, as thick as a human thigh, five meters long, with thin scales covering its body. Several open wounds oozed black fluid.
Ding!
Creature identified: "Terrifying Steel Worm" — Tier 2 Pure Soul, Level 5.
Brama quickly assessed the situation. "Thin scales under the neck, open wound on the left side. That's the weak spot."
He silently crawled back, then activated the system.
> "System, confirm the weak points."
Ding!
Verified weak points: Open wound on the left side, and breathing cavity beneath the jaw.
Brama regulated his breath. In one swift move, he threw the snare trap forward. The worm was caught—its body jerked. In that moment, Brama leapt from behind a rock, driving his spear into the exposed wound with a spiraling motion.
The creature thrashed violently, but Brama left no room for escape. He jabbed a sharpened stick into the worm's lower neck, straight into the respiratory cavity. Black fluid sprayed out; the massive body convulsed, then went still.
Ding!
Congratulations! The host has earned 2000 EXP.
Brama caught his breath, cold sweat drenching his brow. This was only the beginning...
But his eyes locked onto the worm's body. From the decaying corpse, a faintly glowing stone emerged.
A Spirit Stone…
> "So… it wasn't for nothing after all…"
---
> In the depths of the silent cave, beyond the dark tunnel, a heavy sound echoed… not a trickle, but a deep breath.
Brama turned.
That wasn't the only creature living there.
> You have gained 2000 EXP.
> You have leveled up to Level 2...!
> You have leveled up to Level 3...!
> You have leveled up to Level 4...!
> EXP 500/1600 to reach Level 5.
Brama stood still. His muscles were tense. His eyes scanned the silent chamber deep within the cave. His breathing was steady, yet deep. The electronic voice still echoed in his ears.
"Level up? What does it mean by level?" he murmured.
> Ding! Level reflects the Host's basic statistics. The higher the level, the greater the base power. With every level up, the Host receives 10 points to allocate to any attribute.
Brama frowned. He thought quickly. In military training, every piece of information had to be gathered swiftly. This system, although helpful, explained things too briefly.
"How do I check my stats?" he thought. But before he could say it...
> Ding! To display status, the Host only needs to say: Show Status.
Brama followed instantly.
"Show Status."
A transparent screen, like a tactical military hologram, appeared in front of his eyes. White text on a deep blue background looked just like a central combat command interface.
[Status: Brama]
Level: 4 EXP: 500/1600
STR (Strength): 25 [+] AGI (Agility): 25 [+]
VIT (Vitality): 25 [+] INT (Intelligence): 25 [+]
Available Points: 30
Brama stared at it intently. He gave a slight nod.
"This is like... an RPG system. Just like the ones I watched as a kid. Isekai, huh? How many years has it been since I saw anything like this? The military wiped all those fantasies out of me. But now... I'm living it."
"System, where should I allocate these points?"
> Ding! The system has no current recommendation for point allocation. All decisions are at the discretion of the Host. However, here are the basic descriptions:
STR (Strength): Pure physical power. Affects attack power, lifting ability, and damage of both unarmed and weapon attacks.
AGI (Agility): Movement speed, reflexes, and dexterity. Affects fast attack accuracy and dodging ability.
VIT (Vitality): Physical endurance, resistance to injury, and stamina regeneration. Crucial for surviving long battles.
INT (Intelligence): Intelligence, data processing, understanding of techniques or spiritual/magic abilities.
Brama crossed his arms. He was thinking hard about strategic distribution—a habit from years of tactical operations.
But just as he was about to touch the [+] icon on AGI, from the far end of the cave corridor... came a deep, heavy breathing sound. It echoed from the ground itself. Not just any creature.
One inhale... then a long pause. The sound shook Brama's chest cavity.
His reflexes kicked in. His hand went to his waist. No weapon. Just his body and mind.
"System... did you hear that?"
> Ding! The system has detected a sound, but cannot access its source. The object is beyond range.
"What's your range?"
> Ding! 150 meters, centered around the Host.
Brama took a deep breath. That distance was too close. The enemy could reach him in two minutes. He hadn't allocated his points yet. But he still had to plan.
"Are there any other creatures within your range?"
> Ding! Several wild beasts are within range, but their aggression level toward the Host is low. The system can display data upon request.
"This system is useful, but still not interactive. Everything depends on me," Brama thought. "This isn't a guide system—it's more like... a raw tool. I have to make the most of it myself."
He turned toward the path leading to the summoning altar.
"If I start the summoning now, how long will it take?"
> Ding! Average summoning duration is 30 minutes per individual.
Brama clenched his fist. His eyes narrowed.
"Too long. I'll be discovered first..." he whispered. Then he slipped behind a large rock formation.
A few minutes later...
> Ding! An object has entered the system's range.
Creature Data
Name: Korrun, Rammer of the Valley Type: Pure-soul Beast Level: 7
STR: 65 AGI: 30
VIT: 60 INT: 10
Abilities:
[Stone Horn]: A direct charge attack with destructive energy.
[Heat Sense]: Can track living beings via body temperature.
[Bound Fury]: Upon seeing blood of its species, gains 20% strength boost.
"He's chasing that worm... the one I wounded. So he came because of that blood scent."
Korrun drew closer, each step heavy and ground-shaking. Its snout raised high... sniffing the air.
Brama held his breath. But too late.
CRACK! BOOM!!
His hiding rock was smashed by Korrun's horn. Brama was thrown backward. His shoulder slammed hard, his lips bloodied. His head throbbed, but he remained conscious.
"Damn! It knows where I am!"
Quickly, he scrolled the screen and tapped [+] on AGI as much as he could.
AGI: 25 → 55
> Ding! Points have been allocated. Status updated.
Brama's body instantly felt lighter. The world around him slowed.
Korrun attacked again.
But Brama now moved like a shadow. He leapt to the right, rolled under a narrow gap. Korrun's horn slashed only air.
One more strike... Brama sprang between two boulders, bounced off them, and slid out a tight corridor. Dust and stone shards chased him.
His breathing was ragged. But he kept moving. Every motion now had military precision.
Yet his body began to tire. Injuries to his arm and side were taking a toll.
Korrun kept chasing, roaring violently.
Brama spotted a small tunnel—like a ventilation shaft. Tight. But just enough.
He squeezed inside, groaning from the pain. Then... silence.
Korrun couldn't follow him into that crevice.
Brama knelt in the darkness. His body trembled, but he was alive.
> Ding! Host has survived a direct threat. System recommends recovery. Contract summoning can continue once stable.
Brama closed his eyes briefly. His hands were bleeding, his breath uneven. But he was alive.
"Just leveled up... already nearly dead. What kind of world is this?" he muttered coldly.
He leaned against the wall, staring ahead.
The summoning... must begin soon.