Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas looked at the blonde girl confusedly, ''Dark Ones? What are they?'' he questioned.

Estelle looked at the others, but Artemis commented while sharpening her blade, ''It's clear he doesn't know about them; you tell him blondie.''

He waited for someone to start speaking, which happened seconds later when Estelle looked at him, ''Dark Ones are cruel monsters who have infested Valoria; they hunt during the night and tend to stay away from towns and cities, but they do attack small villages,'' she explained while glancing as the tracks all around their camp.

Atlas followed her gaze only to shiver when she noticed the claw marks in the ground, which looked like a wild animal had gone crazy and slashed the ground. ''What do they look like?'' Amethyst asked as she was listening intently.

"The monsters are tall and gangly, twisted remnants of what were once humans, now corrupted by the Dark Gods," Estelle said, her voice trembling. "They haunt the deepest shadows of the forests and the blackest corners of the world. Their skin is sickly, ashen gray, stretched taut, making them look even worse.''

Atlas noticed the horror in her blue eyes, which remained briefly before it vanished as she continued. ''Their dark eyes are voids of darkness, soulless and empty. Their teeth... a horrific maw of razor-sharp fangs, perfect for ripping flesh from bone. They devour everything that gets their claws on."

''And they were here last night? Why didn't they attack?'' Atlas questioned.

Estelle pointed at the fire and then at the traps the others set up that circled them, ''Instead of being useless as usual, Grishna set up traps that keep them away.''

''Shut up bitch,'' the orc girl retorted while throwing a stick at the knight. ''At least I know how to keep the creatures away, unlike some.''

The blonde knight dodged the stick before ignoring Grishna and continuing, ''It is said diabolical cults kidnap villagers to sacrifice them in a strange ritual that turns them into a Dark One who answers to the Dark God Vorkoth and his minions.''

"Why haven't the kingdoms or empires done anything about them?" Atlas inquired.

Artemis was the one to answer, "They have tried, but it's futile. These creatures flee to underground caverns, old mines, and countless other places where numbers are useless. Some royal families hire powerful adventurer parties to clear out their nests when found."

That's when Amethyst jumped while exclaiming, ''Azhar'Zul will fight the Dark Ones and banish them back to their master's realms.''

Atlas gulped when he heard this, but he was curious: ''I want to stay up tonight and look at them.''

All the girls looked at him as Grishna replied, ''Why? They give me the creeps, always prowling in the shadows like perverts.''

While they were chatting, Atlas felt Estelle looking at him. He smiled at the older girls before speaking, ''Why are you staring at me?''

''You remind me of an old family that lived on Aridonia; it's an old wives tale that the scholars believe was told to deter betrayal,'' Estelle explained while still putting a teapot on the fire as the others did their own thing.

The blonde knight said, ''Want to listen while having tea? It's an Argonian specialty.''

Atlas nodded, ''Yes, please.''

Estelle smiled as she tended to the fire, deftly arranging two cups and gathering various ingredients. "Before the Achaemenids swept into Aridonia," she began, her voice soft and reminiscent, "there existed a powerful realm in the Northeast known as the Aurelian Empire.

Their fair and capable emperor was bolstered by a noble house of great renown—the legendary monster slayers known as the Pendragon Family."

After speaking, Estelle poured some sweet-smelling tea into one of the cups before handing it over to Atlas, ''Legends speak of their valor in defending the empire during its darkest hours, sacrificing themselves so that the imperial line might endure. They hunted the darkest monsters of the knight and terrible necromancers that plagued the world."

She sat down and looked at Atlas with a gleam in her blue eyes, ''The Pendragons were renowned for their snow-white hair and devilish good looks; at their lowest, the Aurelian Imperial Family took them in and boosted them into legend, but like everything good, it ended thirteen moons ago.''

Atlas was entranced in the tale and sipped the delicious tea before talking, ''What happened? Why aren't they around anymore?''

Before Estelle could speak, the other girls chimed in, Artemis smiling warmly. "I've heard this tale," she said, her voice nostalgic. "Mother used to tell it to me when I was younger. Arthur was a true warrior and laid down his life for the Aurelians."

The blonde girl nodded, her smile reflecting the story's gravity. "When the Achaemenids invaded, the entire Pendragon Family rushed to the capital. They arrived just in time to reach the imperial palace as the enemy breached the city days later."

Everyone sipped the tea Estelle had poured for them before she continued, "During the final days of the empire, the Pendragons held the line against the Immortals so that the Imperial Family could escape.

They were nearly caught until Arthur Pendragon, the young master of the family, rumored to be in love with a maid who worked in the palace, sacrificed himself by detonating his Mana Core to ensure their freedom."

''Are the Aurelians still alive? And why did you say I remind you of the Pendragons?'' Atlas inquired.

Estelle shrugged nonchalantly. "They vanished thirteen years ago, and no one's seen them since," she disclosed before addressing his second question. "You bear a resemblance to Arthur Pendragon, though he was human with white hair, and you're clearly of a different race."

Atlas nodded solemnly, but their moment of reflection was abruptly interrupted by a resounding roar. This prompted Grishna to take charge, her voice cutting through the tension. "Alright, time to strategize, people. We've got three routes through the Everglade Kingdom, each with its pros and cons. Let's decide together."

The orc girl jumped up and pointed south, ''We can follow the coast until reaching Navagrono Port City, where we can hope to hire a boat to sail us to the Moonhare Kingdom where the Evergladians won't chase us.''

Everyone listened intently as Grishna continued, ''Or we can travel north through the Twilight Titan Mountains to lose our pursuers and cross the Twilight River before following the coast to Port Wildreach, where smugglers will take us to the Sea City of Volantis, which is in the Argonia Kingdom.''

''What's the third option?'' Amethyst said with a smile as she sat next to Atlas.

"Then there's the riskiest option, but it'll help Atlas level up even more. We rush east, crossing straight through enemy territory. We'll have to fight all the way, but once we reach the Moonhare Kingdom, they'll stop," Grishna concluded with a wild smile.

When Atlas saw her expression, he knew what he wanted to do as his excitement soared. "We go east. I need to level up, and it'll improve our teamwork."

Amethyst looked nervous, and Atlas sensed her unease. He turned to her with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, my Pigeon. You're strong and can handle the upcoming fights."

The phoenix girl nodded with a determined smile. As the group stood up, Atlas took charge. "If we get surrounded, Estelle, you take point with your shield. Grishna and I will follow behind. Artemis and Amethyst, you two take the rear."

Everyone nodded as Grishna put out the fire, and the others kept a lookout as even more roars rang out across the forest. Atlas walked over to the sleeping Lilith and poked her belly, causing the honey badger to wiggle.

Lilith's head shot up as her yellow eyes landed on him; the little monster jumped up and climbed up his body before nibbling on his neck, causing a shiver to run down his spine as he ran his fingers through her silky fur.

While doing that, Atlas checked his status as he felt something during last night's fight, and when he saw the gains he had earned, he got excited.

[Level Up: 40→41]

[Experience: 390/1000]

[Experience Gained: 1200]

[Health: 274→324]

[Mana: 1180→1384]

[Strength: 248→300]

[Stamina: 260→314]

[Charisma: 308→330]

[Intelligence: 246→298]

[Core Rank: Mid Novice→High Novice]

[Core Point: 19500→100]

[Core Points Gained: 600]

Once Atlas had given his instructions, he wanted to check on Estelle and Grishna's status before setting off. He walked over to the blonde knight, who was cleaning her tea equipment in a nearby stream.

Hearing his approach, Estelle turned and smiled, her French accent adding a charming lilt to her words. "What can I do for you, Le Messie Élu?"

''Can I see your status, please?''

The blonde knight nodded and replied, ''Certainly, here, take a look.''

Name: Estelle Argonia

Age: 23

Race: Human

Class: Solar Guardian

Level: 125

Rank: Adept

Experience: 4340/5000

Affinity: Light

___

Attributes:

Health: 1148

Mana: 3900

Strength: 1218

Stamina: 1102

Charisma: 960

Intelligence: 750

___

Spells:

Attack: Lv-1: Solar Slash (5) Lv-2: Light Blast (2) Lv-3: Radiant Strike (1) Lv-3: Dawns Wrath (0)

Defence: Lv-1: Holy Barrier (6) Lv-2: Solar Shield (1)

Support: Lv-1: Healing Light (4)

Utility: Lv-3: Vigilant Watch (1)

___

Skills: Swordsmanship (7) Archery (3) Hunting (2) Hand-to-Hand (5) Cooking (10) Brace (2) Shield Wall (1) Ground Pound (4) Vigilant Watch (2) Shield Bash (2)

"Oh, you're strong," Atlas mumbled, a smile spreading across his face. "You have Level 3 spells; you must show me them one day."

Estelle nodded, her expression serious. "I will, Le Messie Élu, but now's not the time. We have to get moving before the Evergladians find us," she said.