Something Worth Feeding

Kael read the talent description twice.

[Boundless Evolution]

The concept was simple.

Kill monsters. Earn Evolution Points. Use them to evolve his companion.

But simple didn't mean predictable.

In his first life, Kael had learned one lesson the hard way numbers were never the whole story.

A skill could look useless on paper and become terrifying in the right hands. Another could look incredible and turn out to be worthless. He needed to test everything himself.

Kael opened his companion panel.

"Let's see what I've got."

The system responded. A pulse of darkness gathered beside him. Something crawled out of it.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

The creature stood barely waist-high, its deep-purple hide stretched tightly over a body that looked more skeletal than muscular.

Thick Short bone spurs protruded from its shoulders and along its spine.

Then it opened its mouth. Far too many teeth.

The creature stared at Kael. Kael stared back. A low growl rolled through the room.

The system displayed its information.

[RAVENOUS HUSK]

Bloodline Tier: Iron

Constitution: ★★★★★

Strength: ★★★★

Agility: ★★★

Spirit: ★★★

Skill I Husk Ward: in Permanent dual-resistance +2 per level.

Skill II Devour: Bite for 120% Attack, converting 30% of damage dealt into HP. On kill permanently gain +5 Max HP and increase in size.

Mana Cost: None.

Cooldown: 40 seconds.

Kael's expression slowly changed.

This wasn't bad. It was ridiculous.

Ascension had ten known bloodline tiers Common, Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Legendary, Epic, Mythic, Divine.

But tier wasn't the only thing that mattered. Every companion had four primary attributes, each represented by stars. For an Iron-tier creature, fifteen total stars was the natural ceiling.

The Husk already had fifteen. Five in Constitution. Four in Strength. Three in Agility. Three in Spirit.

It had reached the maximum potential of its tier before even entering combat.

Kael crouched in front of it. "And then there's Devour."

The Husk's eyes remained fixed on him. Every kill permanently increased its maximum HP. Not temporarily. Not until logout. Permanently. Feed it enough enemies and its health would keep climbing.

A skill like that would have been valuable on a high-tier companion. On a creature most players would consider garbage? It was absurd.

Kael almost laughed. They really have no idea what they're looking at.The Husk suddenly snapped its jaws.Kael leaned back. "You're hungry already?"The creature growled.

Kael stood. "Good."

He glanced toward the clock. 11:10PM. Ascension wouldn't officially open until midnight. He still had twenty minutes. There was no reason to waste them.

Kael logged out.

At 11:30 PM, he returned to the capsule. This time, he had no excitement on his face. Only focus.

He had spent his first life entering Ascension like a player. Tonight, he was entering it like someone who had already survived its ending.

The capsule sealed around him.

[Connection established.]

Darkness swallowed his vision. Then came the loading sequence. Ten minutes. Kael waited.

When the darkness finally disappeared, sunlight hit his face.He found himself standing in a crowded stone plaza.

Buildings surrounded the square on all sides, most of them unfinished and strangely plain. Wooden scaffolding covered several structures.

A blacksmith was hammering away at an anvil. A woman was arguing with a group of players. A child NPC ran through the crowd carrying a basket.

Above everything floated a massive translucent message.

[WELCOME TO ASCENSION]

[Spawn Zone: Haven's Rest]

[Region: Ashwood Outpost]

Kael looked around. He remembered this place not because anything important happened here, but because this was where thousands of players made their first mistakes.

The plaza was already overflowing. Some players were trying to understand the interface. Others were testing their weapons. A few had immediately started bothering the NPCs.

Kael was about to leave when a loud voice caught his attention.

"Sir! I'm looking for a quest."

An elderly NPC behind a wooden counter didn't even look up. "You don't qualify."

The young man blinked. "What?"

"You don't qualify."

"Why?"Because you're level one.

The player looked offended. "I'm level one because I just started."

The old man finally raised his head. "Then come back when you're level two."

"That's it?"

"That's it."The player stared at him. "Can't you give me something easy?"

The old man pointed toward a broom leaning against the wall. "You can sweep the floor."

The player looked at the broom. "Does it give EXP?" No.What of gold.

"No."

Then why would I do it?"

The old man shrugged. "Because your floor is dirty."

A few nearby players burst out laughing. Kael shook his head. The old man was exactly as irritating as he remembered.

But another conversation nearby caught his attention.A woman stood in front of an NPC shopkeeper, holding a small leather pouch. "Please. I only need enough copper for a weapon."

The NPC shook his head. "Then sell something." I don't have anything.

"Everyone has something."

The woman looked down at her inventory. After a moment, she pulled out a small silver necklace.

The shopkeeper examined it. "Two copper."

Her face dropped. "That's worth more than that."

"Then don't sell it."

She hesitated. The old man behind the quest counter suddenly spoke. "She's right."

The shopkeeper glanced at him. "You weren't asked."

"I know."

The woman looked between them. The old man pointed toward the forest gate. "If you're desperate for money, don't buy a weapon."

"Then what should I do?"

"Find something worth selling."

"What?"The old man smiled. "Something everyone else is too stupid to notice."

Kael stopped walking. For half a second, the words reminded him of himself. Then the memory changed.

Cynthia. Ironclad. People smiling beside him while secretly planning his death.

His expression hardened.

That was the problem with trust. You could spend years building it. Someone else could destroy it in a single moment.

Kael turned away. Never again.

He headed toward the nearest general store.

The shopkeeper looked him over. "New player?"

Kael nodded. "I need something that hides my

face."The shopkeeper pointed toward a rack. "Pick one."

There were dozens of masks. Leather. Wood. Metal. Some looked ridiculous. One had horns. Another had a long beak. Kael ignored them.

Then he saw it. A plain iron half-mask. No decoration. No symbol. Just cold metal covering the upper half of the face.

Kael picked it up.

The moment his fingers touched the metal, something about it felt familiar. Not the mask. The feeling. Cold. Detached.

Like the moment Cynthia had looked at him on the battlefield.

Like the moment Ryan had stood behind her. When every teammate who had accepted his help while secretly waiting for the chance to take everything from him.

Kael stared at his reflection in the dull metal. The face staring back looked emotionless.

Good.

"How much?"

"Twelve copper."Kael paid. The shopkeeper handed it over. Kael put the mask on.

The world changed immediately. His face disappeared. The famous Kael Mercer was gone. Only an unknown player remained.

He adjusted the mask. "Perfect."

The moment Kael stepped outside the settlement, he understood why so many players had struggled on their first day.

Chaos.

The clearing beyond the gates was packed with players. Kael watched for three seconds. Then he walked away.

This was exactly what he expected. Thousands of players had entered Ascension at the same time.

Everyone wanted the first advantage. And almost everyone was following the same beginner guide kill whatever is closest.

Kael had no intention of doing that.

His destination wasn't the clearing. It was deeper inside Ashwood Forest.

He passed through the trees. The noise behind him slowly disappeared. The further he went, the fewer players he saw.

Good.

Kael stopped. "Husk."

Darkness appeared beside him. The Ravenous Husk stepped forward. Its nose lifted. It sniffed the air. Then its head turned toward the deeper forest.

Kael smiled. "So you can track them."

The Husk growled."Then show me."

They moved.

Ten minutes later, Kael reached the place he remembered a narrow stretch of forest surrounded by thick roots and low bushes.

Most players would never come this far on their first night. Kael had come here because he knew what lived nearby.

A rustling sound came from the bushes. The Husk immediately lowered its body. Kael raised one hand.

"Wait."

Two red eyes appeared between the leaves. A white creature slowly stepped out. Long ears. A row of sharp spines running along its back.

The system identified it.

[THORNBACK HARE]

Tier: Common

Level: 3

HP: 270

ATK: 12–14

DEF: 13

[Description: Appears harmless. Attacks when cornered.]

Kael looked at the creature. Then at the Husk.

The monster's mouth opened. Too many teeth flashed in the darkness.

Kael smiled beneath his mask.

"Go get it boy."The Husk exploded forward.