Standing amidst the relative safety and bustle of Silverhaven, Kael weighed his options. The Resonator Chamber beneath the Old Ruins pulsed in his mind, a profound mystery tied to the Tablet humming faintly against his hip. Captain Valerius expected him to be available, potentially pulling him into official investigations he wasn't equipped for, socially or materially. Staying here felt like waiting for a spotlight he desperately wanted to avoid.
Then there was the other lead, faint but intriguing: the old monk on Whisper Peak, supposedly a master of unarmed combat. Hand-to-hand. It was the core of his current reality. Despite his rapidly increasing Strength making his fists potent weapons, he lacked technique, finesse. Relying solely on overwhelming stats felt inefficient, dangerous even, as enemies grew stronger and smarter. Improving his fundamental combat style seemed the most practical, most necessary step forward. The ruins could wait. His own power came first.
Decision made. He spent only a few more minutes in Silverhaven, enough time to mentally commit the route towards Whisper Peak, a jagged silhouette against the northern horizon, based on his map and the general direction indicated by tavern chatter. He confirmed his displayed level was still locked at 3. No supplies to buy, no gear to repair. His preparation was purely mental.
He checked his status one last time before leaving the relative security of the outpost.
Name: Kael
Level: 14 (Displaying: 3)
Class: Novice
HP: 1180/1180
MP: 80/80
Title:
Stats: (Including +1 Title & Allocations up to Lvl 14)
Strength (STR): 136
Dexterity (DEX): 25
Vitality (VIT): 91
Intelligence (INT): 11
Wisdom (WIS): 11
Stat Points Available: 0
Satisfied with his current power level, Kael slipped out of Silverhaven's north gate, drawing less attention than when he'd arrived with Roric. The path led him away from the rocky plateau of the ruins and back into woodlands, though these felt different – older, denser, climbing gradually towards the mountains. The mobs here were already a clear step up from the immediate vicinity of the outpost.
He encountered herds of aggressive Mountain Rams, powerful beasts easily Level 12-13, far tougher than anything players sticking to normal quest progression would be fighting yet. Their charging attacks could likely one-shot players still in basic gear, but Kael's improved Dexterity (DEX 25) made sidestepping their linear charges easier, and his Strength (STR 136) allowed him to shatter their horns or stagger them with well-placed punches, finishing them quickly.
[System]: Mountain Ram defeated! +300 EXP! [System]: Loot Drop: Ram Horn x2 [System]: Ram Horn detected. Transmuting via Absolute Assimilation... +120 EXP! (60 per horn) [System]: Loot Drop: Tough Mountain Hide x1 [System]: Tough Mountain Hide detected. Transmuting via Absolute Assimilation... +80 EXP! [System]: Total EXP Gain: 500 EXP. Applying 3x Multiplier... +1500 EXP!
After dispatching a small group of rams, his EXP bar stood at: Level 14: 4800 / 10500 EXP
Higher up, where the trees thinned and rocky outcrops dominated, the threats escalated significantly. He spotted territorial Skyfang Griffins circling overhead – sleek predators radiating Level 15 or 16 energy. Kael knew instinctively that no other player on the server could possibly handle these yet; most were likely still struggling to break past the Level 10 barrier, if they'd even reached it. These Griffins attacked with diving strafes, claws extended. Kael learned to use the rocks for cover, timing his emergence to land powerful blows as they swooped low, grounding them before finishing them off. He took down two of the beasts, the fights requiring his full attention and stats.
Defeated 2 Skyfang Griffins: (Base 400 + Transmute 150) * 3 = 1650 EXP each.Total EXP Gain from Griffins: 3300 EXP.
Level 14: 8100 / 10500 EXP
The path grew steeper, winding upwards onto the desolate flanks of Whisper Peak itself. The air thinned, and clouds occasionally drifted past, obscuring the view. There were no signs of other travelers here – no footprints, no discarded items, no campfires. The silence was profound, broken only by the wind whistling around the crags. This area felt untouched, hostile, a zone far beyond the current player frontier. Only Kael's unique progression, his sheer statistical advantage born from Absolute Assimilation, allowed him to traverse this high-level territory.
He followed a less-traveled side path mentioned in the tavern rumors, one that branched off from any semblance of a main route towards the summit. It led him along a narrow ledge, overlooking a dizzying drop veiled in mist, before opening onto a small, sheltered plateau partway up the mountain.
There, nestled against the cliff face, was a simple stone structure – barely more than a hut, with a small, meticulously raked gravel garden beside it. Smoke curled lazily from a chimney. Outside, sitting perfectly still on a flat rock overlooking the valley, was an old man. He was bald, his face a network of deep wrinkles, clad in simple, worn robes the colour of sunset. Despite his apparent age, his posture was ramrod straight, radiating an aura of intense discipline and contained energy. This had to be the monk.
Kael approached slowly, respectfully. The monk didn't turn or acknowledge his presence immediately, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Kael waited patiently a few feet away.
After a long moment, the monk spoke, his voice raspy but clear, carrying easily in the thin mountain air. "The wind carries many scents today. Ambition. Frustration. A peculiar hunger... What brings you so far beyond the beaten path, boy, dressed in rags but brimming with power you barely comprehend?"
Kael was taken aback. The monk hadn't even looked at him, yet seemed to perceive... something. "Master," Kael began, deciding formality was best, "I heard legends of your skill. I seek to learn the way of unarmed combat."
The monk finally turned his head, his eyes sharp and piercing, assessing Kael in an instant. He noted the bare feet, the basic undergarments, the lack of any weapon. "The way of the empty hand is not a shortcut for those who cannot grasp a sword," the monk said sternly. "It demands discipline, understanding, balance. Qualities often lacking in those who chase only power." He paused, his gaze lingering. "And it requires payment. My time is not free. The traditional offering is a Sunstone Blossom from the summit shrine, proof of dedication and resilience against the peak's trials."
Kael's heart sank slightly. A specific item. Just like the collection quests. Even if it wasn't a monster drop, if he gathered it... would Absolute Assimilation claim it the moment it entered his possession? He couldn't offer gold, couldn't offer items.
"I... cannot provide that specific offering, Master," Kael admitted honestly. "My circumstances are... unique. Is there no other way? A test? A service?"
The monk raised a skeptical eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Circumstances?" He chuckled dryly. "The mountain cares little for circumstances. It demands strength, will, focus. If you cannot bring the blossom... then show me you possess what it represents." He slowly rose to his feet, his movements fluid despite his age. "Strike me. Show me the 'power you barely comprehend.' Let me see if there is anything worth teaching beneath the raw force."
He stood passively, hands clasped loosely behind his back, offering no guard. A test. Not of collection, but of combat. Kael looked at the seemingly frail old man, then at his own fists, brimming with the strength of nearly 140 points. This was his chance. But how could he strike this potential master? And more importantly, how could he impress someone who valued balance and discipline with the blunt instrument his power had become?