Chapter 19: Into the Hollow's Depths
The wind whispered through the silver grass.
Lei Feng stood silently in the clearing, his breath heavy, shoulders rising and falling. Blood stained his hands, sweat clung to his skin—but instead of exhaustion, a warm rush surged through him. Subtle at first, like a distant heartbeat… and then—
Ding!
> +1 to all stats
+10 to Health and Mana
+5 free stat points awarded
A weight lifted from his limbs. The ache in his muscles vanished. His senses sharpened, his heartbeat steadied. The world felt... crisper.
He blinked.
"...So this is the thrill of leveling up," he murmured.
A familiar translucent screen shimmered into existence.
---
━━『 OmniClass God System Interface 』━━
[Status Panel]
Name: Lei Feng
Level: Awakener Lv. 2 (Magic Initiate)
Talent Rank: ???
Mana Core: ??? (Special)
Class: None
Elemental Affinity: None
EXP: 0/125
HP: 110/110
MP: 60/60
[Attributes]
Strength: 12 (+1)
Agility: 6 (+1)
Endurance: 8 (+1)
Intelligence: 2 (+1)
Perception: 1 (+1)
Free Stat Points: 5
---
A soft ping echoed in his mind.
> System Tutorial:
"Assign stats to shape your path. Your growth is your weapon."
Lei Feng grinned.
"This system's way too damn good."
He stared at his stats, recalling the numbers from ten days ago—when he'd first awakened the OmniClass God System.
> Strength: 2
Agility: 1
Endurance: 3
Intelligence: 2
Perception: 1
Back then, even throwing a proper punch had felt like swatting flies.
"But after ten days of that hellish daily quest program…" He exhaled. "Push-ups, sit-ups, laps around the courtyard…"
He clenched his fist, veins surging with power.
"Every drop of sweat was worth it."
"The quest helped me lay a strong foundation. I'm confident I can take on opponents a few levels above me now."
Thinking back to his battle with the Ember Mice, he opened the interface again and smoothly assigned his free points.
> Agility: +3
Perception: +2
---
[Updated Attributes]
Strength: 13
Agility: 10
Endurance: 9
Intelligence: 3
Perception: 4
Free Stat Points: 0
---
The moment he confirmed the changes, a wave of energy surged through him. His center of gravity shifted—his balance sharpened. The rustle of grass, the chirp of distant insects… clearer.
Even the wind had texture now.
He glanced at his EXP bar.
> EXP: 0/125
"Just like I thought," he muttered. "It's getting longer. Each level's gonna be harder."
The sky dimmed. Shadows lengthened, creeping between the trees.
He turned his gaze toward the darker edge of the Hollow—where the real wilds began.
"Level 1 beasts aren't worth it anymore. I need a bigger challenge."
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the BeastCall Database. Blips lit up on the map, each marking a nearby magical beast.
---
Zone: Inner Beginner Zone
Magic Beasts Detected:
ScaledThorncat [Lv. 5]
Berserk Boar [Lv. 5]
Black Wolf [Lv. 4]
Crimson Snake [Lv. 4]
Many more lurked on the map, but he ignored them.
---
"These ones are deeper in," he murmured. "Level 4 beasts... that's my next goal."
He curled his fingers into a tight fist.
"I've got the stats. I've got the foundation. Now—time to test it."
Without hesitation, he broke into a sprint. Silver grass brushed past his legs as he dashed through the thickening woods. The trees grew denser. The air, heavier.
Snap!
A vine lashed from the underbrush, coiling around his ankle and yanking him off his feet.
"Wha—?!"
Thud!
He slammed shoulder-first into a tree before crashing onto the ground.
"Ghh—!" he grunted, ribs aching.
> -3 HP
HP: 107/110
He winced, rubbing his side.
"Should've seen that…"
Then he froze.
That feeling—like instinct tightening around his spine.
A rustle.
A blur.
From the shadows slithered a long, low creature. Iron-colored scales, jagged ridges along its back, and yellow eyes gleaming with malice.
Ironback Lizard — Level 3.
A brutal ambusher, native to shaded hollows. Muscle-bound, plated like armor.
He didn't need the database to recognize it.
Lei narrowed his eyes.
"You picked the wrong guy today."
The lizard hissed and lunged.
With hightened agility, he sidestepped—barely missing its tail swipe.
With keen perception. He tracked the beast's movement—spotted the shimmer behind its eyes.
Strike.
His blade arced through the air—
Swash!
Steel met flesh. The blade cut clean through the lizard's jaw. Blood sprayed as the beast collapsed in a heap.
---
Ding!
Successful Kill!
> +15 EXP
EXP: 15/125
---
He exhaled slowly.
"That was clean."
No hesitation. No wasted motion.
He pushed forward, deeper into the Hollow. Eyes sharp. Blade ready.
Another shimmer—this time, above.
A Jade Frog leapt from a tree branch, slick skin gleaming in the dim light. Its glowing eyes locked onto him. With a croak, it lashed out its tongue—
Lei ducked, rolled forward, and skewered it mid-air.
> +10 EXP
EXP: 25/125
He kept moving—faster now. Another Ironback. Another Frog. Each fell under his blade with calculated precision.
The system chimed again.
And again.
---
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
---
He wasn't just fighting.
He was evolving.
"So… Level 2 beasts give 10 EXP. Level 3 gives 15," he muttered in the lull between battles.
"Not bad. But to reach Level 3 soon…"
He wiped blood from his blade and pressed on.
---
By the time his EXP bar hit 100/125, Lei Feng found himself before a wide ravine.
Beyond it, the forest twisted unnaturally. A low fog clung to the ground, glowing faintly with an otherworldly hue.
Beep!
His map blinked.
> Warning: Mutation Zone Detected.
Magic Beasts within are enhanced. Proceed with caution.
"M-Mutation?" he whispered, a chill running through him.
Then—
A scream.
Human. Sharp. Full of terror.
It echoed through the fog.
He stiffened. His grip tightened on his sword.
One voice screamed: Turn back.
The other: Go.
He cursed.
"Why now…?"
But his feet were already moving.
The mist licked at his boots like hungry fingers. The world dimmed—muffled, like a fading dream.
Then he saw it.
A boy. Maybe fifteen. Slumped on the forest floor, limbs twisted, blood soaking through torn robes. He groaned, a weak hand reaching out—
Lei Feng dashed forward—
Growl.
Low. Deep. Too close.
He froze.
Two glowing yellow eyes blinked open in the shadows behind a gnarled tree.
Watching.
Waiting.