Lumberling then turned to the glowing notifications floating.

(Týr's Blessing has become Level 1. Power +100.)

(Thor's Blessing has become Level 1. Power +100.)

(Ullr's Blessing has become Level 1. Power +100.)

(Odin's Blessing has become Level 2. Power +120.)

(Beginner Spearheart Thrust Lv.2 → Lv. | Power +144)

(Beginner Dual Wielding Axe Lv.2 → Lv.3 | Power +144)

(Beginner Bonecrush Method Lv.3 → Lv.4 | Power +173)

(Low-Level Spearheart Doctrine Lv.6 → Lv.7 | Power +331)

(Beginner Shadow Glide Lv.10 → Low-Level Glide Lv.1| Power +2596)

(Beginner Phantom Step Lv.1 → Lv. | Power +100)

A soft hum vibrated through his body as the essence settled in. His veins pulsed with life, his muscles felt lighter yet sharper, and his senses expanded, reaching even the ground beneath his feet.

He could feel something shift deep inside his chest. The small seed he had nurtured within his heart finally stirred, blossoming into a sprout with two tiny leaves shimmering faintly like jade. Different energies coursed from it in steady waves. The sprout didn't just hum with life, it resonated with his every path, as if symbolizing the physical manifestation of his newly evolved skill.

Lumberling placed a hand over his chest and let out a faint smile. The heartbeat of his strength felt stronger than ever.

With this power, facing someone at the Knight Two Peak would no longer be an impossible challenge.

Now, he could fight them head-on.

…..

Rain slicked mud squelched under their feet as Lumberling and the elves slipped through the battlefield. Shadows of fallen soldiers stretched across the ground, and the distant clash of steel rang through the storm.

An elite Viking turned just in time to see a flash of a spear before falling soundlessly into the mud.

A few steps ahead, a martial artist lay sprawled on the ground, his chest torn open. Rain washed the blood away, mixing it with the dirt as he struggled to breathe.

"This one won't make it," Aurelya said softly.

The martial artist forced a weak smile, his lips trembling. "For… for the Duke," he whispered, his hand clutching at the air as if reaching for someone who wasn't there.

Before anyone could respond, Lumberling's spear struck, piercing the man's heart. The martial artist's eyes widened in shock, then slowly closed as the life drained from him.

Liraeth's eyes widened. "What are you doing?" she asked, surprised.

"I'm helping," Lumberling said quietly, wiping a tear. "It's painful to see them suffer. If they've already given their lives, might as well end it quickly."

"You… you're a bad man," Liraeth said, pointing at him.

"I'm just helping," he replied with a faint grin. "If I tell their glorious tale to Senior, he'll understand."

His essence devour activated automatically. The dead man's essence drifted into him like a gentle mist, filling his veins with warmth and steady power.

(Beginner Stone Step Art Lv.0 (1/1000) has been learned.)

(Beginner Imperial Mindseal Meditation Lv.2 → Lv.3 | Power +144)

(Beginner Ironblood Tempering Scripture Lv.2 → Lv.3 | Power +144)

(You have stepped on Body Tempering Realm - Skin & Muscle Hardening Stage. Power +364)

Lumberling flexed his arms, feeling the subtle toughness settling into his skin and muscles. The effect was slight, of course, his body was already hardened from reaching True Knight, but he could sense an extra layer of resilience, like a faint armor forming just beneath the surface.

He shifted his weight, testing the flow of his movements. The Stone Step Art, a footwork technique taught by Duke Hadric, hummed through his body. Each step seemed to draw strength from the earth itself, giving him sudden bursts of speed without ever losing his balance.

"I finally reached the Skin & Muscle Hardening Stage," he muttered, letting out a small laugh and a sigh. "Took me ages… I guess even my talent for cultivation isn't all that great."

"You got stronger again," Vaenyra said, a warm smile tugging at her lips as she stood beside him.

"I… guess," Lumberling shrugged, a faint grin forming as he felt the quiet hum of power settle into him.

Aurelya, unable to hide her excitement, grabbed his arm. "Me too! I want to try absorbing a martial artist's essence," she said, practically bouncing with energy.

"Not yet," Lumberling replied with a grin. "You haven't finished the Hadric Conversion Art. Absorbing their essence now would be useless."

Aurelya clicked her tongue and pouted. "That's not fair."

Lumberling chuckled softly. "How's your progress with the Hadric Conversion Art? Have you finished the first step?" he asked, glancing at her.

She nodded, a small grin on her face.

"Alright, I'll ask Senior for help with the Vein Engraving after this," Lumberling said.

"Can't you just do it yourself?" Liraeth asked, curious.

"I could," Lumberling said, shaking his head slightly, "but I'm not familiar enough with the process. I don't want to risk it for you all."

He leaned down and wrapped his arms gently around Aurelya's waist. "Be patient, alright? Your turn will come soon enough," he said softly, smiling at her.

Aurelya's cheeks warmed slightly, but she didn't protest. Vaenyra and Liraeth watched them with quiet amusement, though their attention soon returned to the battlefield.

…..

The hunt for Vikings pressed on. Tens of thousands of them swarmed the battlefield, and hundreds carried Divine blessings, making every move dangerous.

Lumberling led the charge, thunder rolling through his body with every movement. He spun and lunged, testing his spear skills even as enemies fell around him.

To the right, Vaenyra stood perfectly still, her calm a stark contrast to the chaos. She didn't even draw her sword. The blood pooling on the ground obeyed her, moving like living blades that pierced the Vikings around her. Those with Divine blessings were captured effortlessly, bound in chains of blood and tossed aside.

To the left, Liraeth and Aurelya fought side by side. Aurelya moved like a teacher guiding her student, her rapier cutting with deadly accuracy while Liraeth matched her rhythm with twin swords.

"Watch your back, don't just charge in," Aurelya called as her blade skewered a Viking who had slipped past Liraeth's guard. Her tone was gentle but firm, a mix of sisterly care and commanding guidance.

Liraeth nodded, adjusting her stance. With Aurelya beside her, she moved with sharper focus, their strikes flowing in sync like a single shadow through the chaos.

Amid the chaos, Lumberling spotted martial artists who had survived the first clash but were badly wounded, struggling to breathe or even lift their weapons. He knelt beside one man, his arms and chest pierced from multiple strikes. The man's eyes met his, and a faint, pained smile appeared on his lips.

"For the duchy…" the martial artist whispered, barely audible.

Lumberling nodded softly. "You've done your part," he said, and in one smooth motion, he ended the man's suffering. The man's essence rose like a mist, drifting into his body and filling him with warmth.

"Another one," Lumberling murmured, scanning the battlefield. Each injured martial artist he found became a source of strength, a gift for his cultivation. He moved from one to the next, finishing what the battlefield had left unfinished.

Aurelya glanced at him, eyebrow raised. "You really don't waste anything, do you?"

Lumberling gave a small grin. "Mercy. It's painful to watch them suffer. Better to give them peace…and gain a little strength for the fight ahead."

Vaenyra and Aurelya continued their hunt, covering him as he moved. The rhythm of their rotation was seamless: attack, absorb, and move on. Each step brought them closer to thinning the Viking ranks while strengthening themselves.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.