Chapter 751: The King’s First Rescue

Angie was cleaning one of the castle wings, tearing ancient cobwebs from the walls and ceiling corners. The place still reeked of damp neglect, old stone, and years of accumulated filth, but little by little, it was starting to look less like a forgotten ruin and more like somewhere people could actually live again. When she reached the Kingdom Core chamber, she stopped in front of the floating orb.

Building a strong kingdom was also the key to keeping one of these safe. Walls, physical structures, and, of course, people. A perfect symbiotic cycle. The risk would always be there. Anyone with High Nobility could appear, claim the Core, and initiate a Conquest quest. The Monarch would then have to kill either the Conqueror or their own citizens to stop it from progressing.

That was exactly why Angie understood the importance of a strong kingdom. If its foundations were solid enough, the Monarch wouldn’t have to waste time dealing with pointless threats. She would dedicate herself to that. She would become the best at building a prosperous realm. A Kingdom Core’s borders expanded as the kingdom grew, but there had to be a limit. Otherwise, everyone could simply join a single kingdom and let its Core spread its influence across an entire planet.

It couldn’t be that simple. Higher kingdom levels probably came with harsher requirements. Perhaps they would have to conquer other Kingdom Cores. Not some basic Core with three citizens, but powerful ones belonging to larger, more developed communities. Even so, Angie couldn’t dismiss the possibility that people were already searching these lands for lost Cores. Worse, there might be people sabotaging entire communities to keep them from growing.

An authoritarian ruler seeking to hoard power could deliberately cripple their own population. Keep anyone within their society from becoming strong enough to build something of their own. She had encountered a similar concept in one of the books she’d read about businesses on Earth. Something called a monopoly.

The same logic could be applied to a society built around Cores and the System. Sabotage the citizens. Withhold information about progression. Deny them education and direction. There. A perfect herd. No one would grow strong enough to become a threat, and the Core would continue feeding on them.

In some cases, quantity could overcome quality. The Core considered population an important factor, which made it perfect for that kind of control strategy. That was what her knowledge and wisdom told her.

Maybe that’s the right way to do it. Build somewhere good and prosperous. Swallow the market like a company would. And once we have a monopoly... we control everything.

Angie left the chamber and continued through the corridors, using [Lance Drill] to destroy the remaining webs. Dry fragments rained onto the floor as her spear pierced and shredded the abandoned nests.

Outside the castle, Charlie was tossing piles of dirt and webbing into a large bonfire. Thick smoke rose from the flames, carrying away much of the rotten stench that seemed soaked into the stones.

“The castle doesn’t smell as bad anymore,” Charlie said, watching the fire.

“Definitely not.”

Angie walked over and began helping, throwing more debris into the flames. For several minutes, they worked in silence, listening to the snap of burning wood, the crackle of dry webs, and the wind passing through the courtyard.

Charlie was a good worker. She was dedicated, efficient, and rarely needed to be told the same thing twice. Yet Angie could not stop thinking about the ring and what it had done to her. After discussing it with her lord, they agreed to keep it away from Charlie as a precaution.

Luke had warned her that some items carried curses even [Identify] could not reveal. Their best theory was that the ring in Jonathan’s possession specifically affected vampires. It was the only explanation they had for Charlie’s temporary amnesia. Angie wanted to test the ring on other vampires, at least until she figured out what it did.

Her evolution had changed more than she first realized. As she flew above the forest on patrol, she opened the System interface.

Name: Angie

Level: 115

Race: Archangel

Rank: D

Class: [Storm Valkyrie (Lvl 114)]

2nd Class: [Cleric of the Radiant Dawn (Lvl 110)]

Title: [Servant of the Dark Lord]

Health Points (HP): 19200/19200

Mana Points (MP): 31875/35950

Stamina: 18784/19350

Stats:

Strength: 2054

Lethality: 2250

Agility: 1051

Dexterity: 1224

Endurance: 1935

Vitality: 1920

Toughness: 1572

Perception: 1728

Wisdom: 3595

Intelligence: 1744

Willpower: 2199

Free Points: 0

Class Skills: [Advanced Polearm Handling (Common)], [Spear Throw (Common)], [Battle Roar (Uncommon)], [Battle Instinct (Uncommon)], [Critical Pierce (Uncommon)], [Weak Wrath (Uncommon)], [Valkyrie Charge (Rare)], [Force Infusion (Rare)], [Spear Return (Rare)], [Advanced Lightning Resistance (Rare)], [Bloodthirsty Spear (Rare)], [Lightning Spear (Ultra-Rare)], [Berserker Valkyrie I (Epic)], [Lightning (Common)], [Lightning Spear Throw (Rare)], [Lightning Dash (Rare)], [Electric Overcharge (Epic)], [Axe Spin (Rare)], [Lightning Aura (Ultra-Rare)], [Lightning Valkyrie (Mythic)], [Lightning Verdict (Legendary)]

Second Class Skills: [Advanced Magic Conjuration (Common)], [Advanced Healing (Uncommon)], [Lesser Restoration (Common)], [Energy Blessing (Common)], [Soundproof Barrier (Common)], [Lesser Ranged Heal (Uncommon)], [Restorative Light (Rare)], [Healer’s Analysis (Rare)], [Light (Common)], [Mana Shield (Rare)], [Lesser Healing Circle (Rare)], [Mana Drill (Rare)], [Light Ball (Common)], [Guardian Dome (Ultra-Rare)], [Radiant Judgment (Epic)], [Dome of Light (Epic)], [Arcane Light Ball (Rare)], [Greater Healing Circle (Ultra-Rare)], [Greater Ranged Heal (Rare)], [Lance Drill (Ultra-Rare)], [Radiant Wingguard (Legendary)], [Radiant Drill (Epic)], [Lightforged Arm (Legendary)]

Race Skills: [Demonic Servant Perception (Uncommon)], [Conceal Wings (Ancient)], [Winged Defense (Ancient)], [Celestial Wings II (Ancient)], [Angel’s Will (Ancient)]

Eye Skills: [Eyes of Uriel (Unique)], [Wisdom of Uriel (Unique)], [Eyes of the Archangel (Ancient)]

A new section had appeared beneath her race skills.

My lord does not have this section, though his eye possesses a skill I received upon reaching Race Level 110.

[Eyes of the Archangel]: An evolution of [Eyes of the Angel]. The eyes function as a secondary heart and brain. If either organ is destroyed, they temporarily assume its function, keeping the body alive while the damage is repaired.

Now I understand. Those must be the skills Sariel awakened through this process. But my lord cannot evolve his eye any further or awaken new ones through it. I can.

Angie had lost some of the angelic knowledge she possessed back when she was Uriel. Even so, the discovery intrigued her. Her eyes now held two Unique skills and one Ancient skill.

Her four wings beat harder, carrying her above the treetops. Angie swept across the territory, marking the locations of its strongest beasts and assessing potential threats before returning to the castle.

Unfortunately, she had bought her own storage item from the System Shop, leaving the one Luke had given her unused.

Should we give it to the snake boy?

Angie would consider that later.

Besides the storage item she’d bought from the shop after the event, she’d also picked up some gear and even a powerful skill.

[Lightforged Arm (Legendary)]: Not even the loss of a limb is enough to bring down a true Cleric of Light. If one of the user’s arms is lost, destroyed, or rendered completely unusable, this skill manifests an arm made of [Light] in its place. If the original limb remains attached but can no longer serve its purpose, activating the skill consumes it in radiant energy to make way for the sacred replacement. The Lightforged Arm moves as a natural part of the body and can grasp, attack, and defend. It also allows the Cleric to channel light magic without relying on artifacts, staffs, or wands. The arm lasts as long as the user has enough power to sustain it. It is neither healing nor mercy. It is light refusing to let its bearer fall.

***

Several boars burst through the trees and charged at Franky. The boy jerked the staff up, nearly losing his balance under its weight.

“Burn, rats!”

A [Fireball] exploded among them. The boars thrashed and squealed in the flames, but Franky kept hurling spells.

“All right, all right. That’s enough,” Luke said. “You need to learn how to conserve mana. Managing your resources is part of fighting too.”

“But I killed three at once, human. Soon, I will surpass those two female rats who follow you around.”

Luke stared at Franky for several seconds. “You really have no idea how levels work, do you?”

Franky planted the staff in the ground and admired the fallen boars with far more pride than the achievement deserved.

Luke sighed. “You can barely hold that staff. You’re going back to the wand.”

Before Franky could complain, several new messages appeared in front of him.

“The cool floating symbols are back.”

[Frankzaroth’s Class [Crypt Mage Apprentice] reached Level 8!] (+5 Wisdom, +4 Intelligence, +3 Willpower, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Free Points)

[Frankzaroth has unlocked a new Class Skill!]

“I’ll read them for you,” Luke said. “Also, we’re going to have to teach you how to read. You can’t have access to the System and stay illiterate.”

Franky did not seem offended. He was far too busy waiting to see what destructive new power he would get.

Luke examined the options.

[Mist (Common)]: The Mage conjures a dense mist within a 5-meter radius of a chosen point or target, obscuring vision throughout the area. It can conceal allies, disrupt enemy aim, and turn open ground into a dangerous blind zone.

“Bad,” Franky declared. “That one is weak. I want strong skills.”

“You know I’m only reading them, right? I don’t pick the options.”

Luke moved on.

[Light Step (Common)]: The Mage reduces a target’s weight, making movement lighter and easier to control. While active, running, jumping, climbing, and crossing unstable ground become easier, allowing the target to move faster with less physical effort.

“Bad,” Franky repeated.

[Feather Fall (Common)]: The Mage wraps a target in a thin layer of mana, reducing the force of a fall. While active, the target descends gently enough to land without injury, making the spell useful for escapes, vertical exploration, and sudden drops.

“Not strong either.”

“Stop thinking only about offensive magic,” Luke said. “Some skills are useful outside a fight.”

“Why would I want powers that do not help me defeat enemies?”

Luke pointed at the bodies scattered across the ground. “Pick up all eight boars we killed and carry them back to the guild.”

Franky looked at the carcasses, then at the floating spectral hands beside him.

“They cannot carry all of that. Neither can I.”

Luke snatched the staff from his hands and activated [Enhanced Telekinesis]. One after another, all eight carcasses rose into the air.

“See my point?”

Franky’s mouth fell open as he stared at them floating above the ground.

“Oh. You were... teaching me.”

“Correct. Apparently, you’re the kind of student who needs me to draw the picture and then explain the drawing.”

Luke returned to the list.

[Crypt Sight (Common)]: The Crypt Mage Apprentice alters a target’s vision, allowing them to see in darkness for a limited time. It does not reveal invisible creatures or see through solid objects, but it allows the target to navigate caves, ruins, tombs, and crypts while spotting paths, shapes, and hidden threats.

“That one... is good,” Franky admitted.

A moment later, his expression twisted with outrage.

“But I used to be a snake. Losing that is an insult. I refuse.”

Luke did not argue. He simply read the final option.

[Spawn Crypt Rats (Common)]: The Crypt Mage Apprentice uses a corpse to spawn up to 10 Crypt Rats, living carnivorous creatures formed from rotting flesh. Small, ravenous, and obedient, they crawl from the corpse ready to swarm, bite, and devour the Mage’s enemies. The number spawned depends on the corpse’s size and condition. Each Crypt Rat is created at 30% of the corpse’s level, but cannot exceed the Mage’s level or the skill’s maximum level. The rats remain until killed. Each active rat requires 1 point of Willpower to control, limiting how many the Mage can command at once.

Luke finished reading.

“Rats?” Franky asked.

“Rats...?”

Luke read it again. “What kind of weird skill did you get?”

“Is the skill good or not, human?”

“I have no idea. Basically, it lets you create rats that obey your orders.”

“Rats that obey me? Then that makes me their alpha?”

“I... guess so.”

“I want that one.”

Luke did not stop him. He wanted to see what the skill could do.

[Frankzaroth has acquired the Class Skill: Spawn Crypt Rats (Common)]

Franky pointed his wand at one of the dead boars.

[Spawn Crypt Rats]

AA wet squelch came from inside the carcass as the boar’s belly caved in, its flesh consumed from within. The abdomen split open, and a rat crawled out. Another followed, then another, until five blood-soaked rats emerged and stopped before Franky.

“That is not a rat.”

“That is absolutely a rat.”

“But it is small. You are much bigger.”

“That is what a real rat looks like. I’m not a rat. And that giant creature we found on the road wasn’t a normal rat either.”

[Crypt Rat - Lvl 2]

When Franky started walking, all five rats immediately followed him.

“They are following me. What do I do now?”

“No idea. Order them to attack one of the dead boars.”

Franky pointed his wand at one of the carcasses. The rats swarmed the corpse like a school of piranhas. They tore into it, ripping chunks from the flesh within seconds.

“They are cool, human.”

Before Luke could answer, another boar charged out of the trees. Franky pointed his wand at a different carcass.

[Spawn Crypt Rats]

Five more rats tore their way out of the body. Ten creatures now surrounded the boy. The moment they spotted the living boar, the rats rushed it. The animal did not even have time to charge. They scrambled up its legs, sank their teeth into its flesh, and dragged it down. The boar squealed and tried to shake them off. It was dead seconds later. The rats returned and lined up in front of Franky, waiting for another order.

The boy grinned. “I like this skill, human.”

Without hesitation, he pointed at another corpse.

“Ow—my head hurts.”

Franky clutched his head as four more rats crawled from the boar, bringing the total to fourteen.

Name: Frankzaroth

Level: 3

Race: Jormungandr

Rank: F

Class: [Crypt Mage Apprentice (Lvl 8)]

Title: [Servant of the Dark Lord]

Bloodline: [Bloodline of Queen Jormungandr]

Health Points (HP): 160/160

Mana Points (MP): 53/320

Stamina: 32/50

Stats:

Strength: 6

Lethality: 5

Agility: 11

Dexterity: 4

Endurance: 5

Vitality: 16

Toughness: 6

Perception: 15

Wisdom: 32

Intelligence: 11

Willpower: 14

Free Points: 12

Class Skills: [Basic Magic Conjuration (Common)], [Mana Arrow (Common)], [Ghostly Hands (Rare)], [Fireball (Common)], [Spawn Crypt Rats (Common)]

Race Skills: [Identify (Common)], [Meditation (Common)]

Bloodline Skill: [Transcendent Jormungandr (Mythic)]

“You’ve hit your Willpower limit,” Luke explained. “Fourteen rats is your limit. Cast anything else, and either the spell fails or that headache gets worse.”

Luke spent Franky’s free points: five on Willpower, five on Wisdom, and the remaining two on Vitality.

They continued deeper into the forest. A large flying insect swept past them. Franky pointed his wand. The rats leaped, dragged it to the ground, and devoured it.

“I want another one.”

Minutes later, Franky marched through the forest at the head of his own fifteen-rat army.

***

Luke entered the guild carrying the staff. Twenty dead boars floated behind him in an absurd procession of suspended carcasses. Almost everyone in the city had stopped to stare as he passed.

He reached the counter.

“Here they are. Where do I put them?”

The receptionist, Thea, blinked several times in confusion.

“Y-you know, Mr. James... you didn’t have to bring them inside.”

Luke lowered the boars into a thoroughly inelegant pile.

“Too late now. Hand them out or keep them. The quest counts as complete, right?”

“Yes, it does.”

Thea checked the paperwork, wrote something down, and handed him a card shortly afterward.

Luke took it and rested the staff against his shoulder. “Do you have anything tougher I can do yet?”

***

Several days passed. Things at the guild were far too quiet. There were no difficult quests available to Luke, and his rank was still low, severely limiting his options. With little else to do there, he focused on learning more about the Core and the surrounding territory.

[The Quest “Hunt the Remaining Beasts” has been successfully completed!]

“That was it?”

Luke stared at the dead giant foxes lying before him. He and the others had hunted the creatures throughout the territory, tracking them down in different parts of the forest.

But we still have the quest to eliminate the spiders. Are spiders classified as monsters instead of beasts?

He opened the Kingdom Core interface. He had learned to access it remotely as long as he remained within the kingdom’s borders. The [Citizenship Card], however, still couldn’t be accessed that way. It was a limitation, but the Core’s remote functions remained useful.

Luke activated the [Cloak of the Arcane Witch] and began leaping through the forest. As he moved, he noticed that the kingdom’s borders had expanded after the beasts died.

Good to know.

After some time, he found a massive root rising from the ground. A spider nest clung to it, with several creatures feeding on the wood like parasites latched onto living flesh. Luke killed them one by one, then burned away the webs. When he touched the root, he tried to sense the tree.

Nothing.

Complete silence.

[Aid the Great Tree]: The Tree Spirit needs your help.

The quest remained vague, explaining almost nothing. But Luke didn’t believe it was a coincidence that he had been placed near a [Kingdom Core] with that quest active. He continued through the forest, finding more roots infested with spiders. He killed the creatures, burned more webs, and pressed onward. Then, while bounding through the air, he spotted something that made him stop.

Holy shit. That tree is... colossal.

Hidden in a valley between mountains stood a gigantic tree. It wasn’t merely tall. It was absurd. The kind of thing his brain needed time to process before accepting the sheer scale of it.

Luke shot through the forest, running and leaping with the cloak’s help. The closer he got, the more impossible the tree looked. He had to glance at it again and again. How long did something like that take to grow?

At its base, the roots were enormous. The trunk looked like a living wall, too broad to comprehend from up close. Waterfalls poured down the valley slopes, feeding rivers that flowed around the tree and between its roots.

Luke studied the surrounding forest. “I think every tree in this valley is part of the same tree.”

The other trees weren’t truly ordinary trees. They were roots that emerged from the ground, rose like trunks, and spread branches overhead. The entire valley seemed to be part of a single organism. As Luke drew closer, his vision flashed white for a moment. Then small green orbs began appearing in the air.

“What the...”

There were dozens of them. Some floated like fireflies, while others clung to the trees. Their light pulsed gently, spreading a green glow throughout the valley.

“They’re spirits, Luke,” Artemis said.

“Spirits? As in... actual spirits? They’re nothing like that death spirit.”

“Nature Spirits, to be precise. My blessing must be helping you see them.”

“Are they lights?”

“Yes and no. Remember when I told you I owed you an explanation about spirits? Well, now’s the time. Spirits are a form of life made up of their own spiritual energy and mana. Some are attuned to nature. The green ones are connected to plants, but you should also start seeing others in rivers and similar places.”

“Can’t anyone else see them?”

“Hmm... let’s just say mortals can’t. Not without some kind of assistance, like the blessing I gave you. These beings exist in the same world as you, but on a different layer of reality.”

Luke continued forward. Near the colossal tree, he spotted several decaying roots. The spirits were clustered around those exact areas.

They’re helping her.

The little orbs reacted to Luke’s presence. Some retreated, while others simply drifted aside to make room.

“They know you can see them,” Artemis said. “They’re nice.”

“Can they talk?”

“Their communication doesn’t work the way yours does. They are both separate beings and pieces of a greater whole. But the more powerful ones can speak, yes.”

“Botanist...”

The voice came as a whisper.

Luke froze. “Where did that come from?”

“Where did what come from?” Artemis asked.

“You didn’t hear it?”

He looked around, searching between the roots and trunks. There was no one there. He used his Perception but sensed no presence at all.

“Botanist...”

This time, Luke looked up at the tree.

Could it be...?

He approached and placed a hand against the trunk. He felt something. Darkness.

Then he activated [Botanical Bond of Mother Freya].

Green lights appeared within the darkness. There were countless points of light, falling like silent rain until they gathered and formed two enormous green eyes.

“Botanist?” the voice asked from within them.

A living plant.

Luke stared at the great tree. “Artemis... this is a living plant.”

“Hmm... all plants are alive.”

“No. You don’t understand. This thing is... sentient.”

“And what do you think that means, Luke?”

“Is the tree itself the spirit?”

“Find out,” Artemis replied, far too casually for the situation.

“When the quest mentioned a Tree Spirit, I thought it meant a spirit near the tree. Something haunting it or whatever. Not the actual tree.”

Luke touched the trunk again and focused on the connection.

Hello?

For a while, there was no answer. Only deep darkness and green lights scattered like submerged stars.

Then the enormous eyes opened. "Hello."

The tree had answered him. Luke had never received a literal response from a plant before. Usually, all he felt were sensations, intentions, and emotions. Never words. It was fascinating in a way he couldn’t ignore.

Are you the tree? he asked, testing the connection.

"Yes. And you are a Botanist of Mother Freya."

Mother Freya? How do you know that?

"Can you help me? It is urgent."

“Master Luke.” Charlie’s voice cut through his mind. [Soul Infiltration] was active on her.

“Urgent? What’s happening over there?”

Luke pulled his hand away from the tree and focused on his connection with Charlie. She was speaking too quickly, the information rushing together, urgent and almost impossible to follow.

[Spell Grimoire activated]

The black grimoire appeared before him.

“Message.”

The book opened.

“Charlotte Vespertilio.”

Luke steadied his focus.

Charlie, start over. Slowly. I couldn’t understand you.

On the other end, Charlie stopped. The message had reached her mind. Thanks to the Core’s power, the spell could reach anywhere within the kingdom.

“Can you hear me?” Charlie asked.

It was a combination of [Soul Infiltration] and [Message].

“Yeah. I can hear you.”

Her reply came heavy.

“The human village is under attack by orcs.”