Azure Prime was bleeding. Since the descent of the System, the world had teetered on the brink of extinction more times than Ash Valor could count. Before, he was just a leaf caught in the gale of history, struggling simply to stay afloat. Now, for the first time, he felt the weight of the tiller in his hands. He wasn't Evan Valor—he couldn't rewrite the fate of the entire world with a single strike—but he could tip the scales.
Kill more monsters. Save more people. That’s the only metric that matters, he thought.
The math was simple and intoxicating. Ten thousand Worldborn kills yielded ten thousand War Merit, which bought ten Attribute Fruits. With his One in a Million talent multiplier, every ten thousand kills translated to forty thousand attribute points. With a dedicated support team, Ash could clear that count in a single day.
Forty thousand points a day. At that rate, he wouldn't just grow; he would transcend.
"Hold on," he whispered, looking toward the distant horizons where the Prime Citadels stood. "Just hold on a little longer." He needed time to bridge the gap between a survivor and a protector, to finally share the crushing burden Evan carried alone.
While other Citadels buckled under the pressure, Southhaven was relatively stable. Ash didn't go looking for news, but he knew the siege was brutal. Even though the Eternal Guild was stretched thin, Roland Blackwood had still diverted heavy hitters like Thorne Ashwick and Zhang Zhong to bolster Southhaven’s walls. Even Sera Ashford, only days after returning to the guild, was constantly teleporting to the ramparts to drop high-tier devastation on the encroaching hordes.
Ash blocked out the noise. He lived in the grind. Every day, his attributes climbed by fifty thousand, and with every point, his efficiency spiked. Toward the end, his personal Contribution Points accounted for nearly half of the entire guild’s output.
Twenty days passed in a blur of blood and notifications. His total attributes finally shattered the two-million mark.
Ding!
[System Announcement: Your combat power has entered the Top 10 of Azure Prime. Achievement Unlocked: Azure Apex!]
[Reward: Attack Range +200 meters. HP/MP +10%.]
He had doubled his strength in less than a month. The sheer scale of it felt hallucinatory. Am I becoming invincible? The thought was a dangerous drug, tempting him toward arrogance.
But the cold reality of the System acted as a sobering splash of water. Even with ten times his current power, Azure Prime was still a sinking ship. He might be able to clear a Level 50 dungeon with a hundred-fold increase, but the world had already unlocked Level 100 dungeons. The ceiling was still miles above his head.
"This is just the beginning," he muttered.
Azure Prime was merely a Level 1 Plane. Even if his stats hit the billions, they might be nothing more than rounding errors to the entities of the higher planes. He remembered the Patriarch of the Crimson Vow—only a mere avatar—and the nine statues that watched the world like indifferent gods. The path was infinite.
"But stats are the foundation," he reminded himself, gripping his bow. "And as long as there are things to kill, I won't stop building."
If the world allowed it, he would spend a century in this slaughterhouse. In a few months, he could potentially break into the top three combatants in the world. He decided to cut his sleep down to two hours. Efficiency was his only god.
"Meteor Barrage!"
Fire rained, turning the horizon into a charcoal pit. His Kill Count and War Merit soared. He downed a mana potion, the bitter liquid fueling the next volley.
"Get your AoEs ready, boys! Don't say I didn't leave you any scraps!" Ash shouted to his support team.
In the middle of the carnage, a private message pinged.
Roland Blackwood: Ash, thank you. These last few months have been the most critical period in Eternal’s history. Without you, we might have lost the gates.
"Don't mention it," Ash replied. "It’s a mutual exchange. Without the dozens of supports feeding me mana, I wouldn't have cleared half this many."
Roland had been generous, assigning nearly fifty players solely to manage Ash’s resource pool. Without them, he’d be lucky to hit a few thousand kills a day. But now, the tide was turning. The monster waves were finally thinning.
Roland Blackwood: We’ve crossed the threshold. Eternal has hoarded enough resources for a massive defensive overhaul. We’re upgrading a thousand Defense Towers by a full level simultaneously. That should sweep the surrounding plains clean.
Ash whistled. A thousand Level 7 Defense Towers. The sheer firepower would be nightmarish.
Roland’s voice boomed over the guild channel, thick with emotion: "Today, we empty the treasury! Every point of War Merit, every scrap of gold—it was worth it! We reclaim our territory! Don't let a single one of these bastards escape!"
He gave the order: half the guild on the walls, the other half back into the dungeons. It was a victory cry. Ash watched the Eternal members—hardened veterans—weeping and embracing in the dirt. It brought a lump to his throat.
Roland Blackwood: Ash, we’ve spent everything. I literally don’t have a single gold coin left to pay you for this last stretch.
"Forget it," Ash said. "If you hadn't held these monsters here, Skystrider would have been overrun next. We’re even. Besides, Sera already took her 'payment' in advance."
Roland Blackwood: True. We’ll be facing Level 400 and 500 monsters soon enough. But until then, Eternal is safe.
"The real war hasn't even started," Ash agreed. "I’ve heard reports of Level 400s appearing in the outer wastes. It's endless."
But for now, there was peace. And for Ash, that meant the end of the infinite mana supply. It was time to head home.
"I only planned to stay a few days," he realized, checking his logs. "It’s been over a month."
He bid his farewells to Roland and the mana-battery team, then launched into the sky. His increased Agility was terrifying; he was now fast enough to give Blackwing a run for his money. Minutes later, the familiar spires of the Skystrider Guild grounds appeared.
"Home sweet home."
He touched down on the rampart, casually unleashing a dozen Meteor Volleys into the stragglers at the base of the wall. The guild’s mana regeneration buffs were active, making the skills feel effortless. He did a quick sweep of the perimeter, clearing the trash. Orion and the others were still grinding dungeons, and Sera was nowhere to be seen.
Level 27 dungeons cleared on farm status. Not bad, he noted, checking the guild logs. With the defense systems fully operational and Sera as the guild’s nuclear deterrent, Skystrider was secure.
I don't need to be a wall-guard anymore, Ash thought. He was too strong to be wasted on a quiet frontier. He needed to be where the world was breaking.
"No more Attribute Fruits for a while," he decided. He needed to save Merit for the truly high-end treasures in the shop. "First, let's hit the cap."
He was only one level away from a major milestone. He hunted the elites surrounding the grounds until the golden flash finally enveloped him.
Ding!
[Level 300 Reached! All Stats +100. Attack Range +20m. Attack +30,000. Attack Speed +0.2.]
[Planar Vault Reward: Attribute Fruit x3.]
Status: Ash Valor
Level: 300 (290M XP)
Total Attributes: 2.21 Million
Attack Power: 4.59 Million
HP: 7.6 Million | MP: 1.4 Million
Defense: 583,000
Attack Range: 1,790m | Attack Speed: 21.8 | Move Speed: 496 | Crit Chance: 74%
Talent: One in a Million (LV6) - 2 Attribute points per Worldborn kill.
Passive: Phase Step (30%), Reflect (30%)
Active Skills: Tenfold Shot, Armorpiercer (LV2), Crushing Blow (LV2), Meteor Volley, Radiant Aegis (10% Lifesteal), Skybreaker Arrow.
Universal Skills: Phantom Summon, Blink, Eye of Clarity, Ward’s Bulwark, Damage Reflection, Granite Bulwark, Enthrall.
"With a Berserker Draught, my attack hits ten million," Ash calculated. "1.4 million mana means thirty-five Skybreaker Arrows or eighty Meteor Volleys back-to-back."
He could delete a boss with three billion HP in seconds. In terms of raw burst damage, he was likely peerless in Azure Prime. He wasn't as well-rounded as Evan Valor, but in the art of the 'one-shot,' he was the undisputed king.
"Time to go hunting," he murmured. The world was drowning in despair. They needed a win. They needed to see the gods bleed. "Let’s see if I can take a few Voidlord heads without getting myself killed."
If he wanted to boost morale, he couldn't stay in Southhaven. Killing a few Voidlords here was just housekeeping. He had to go to the front lines—the places where the screams were loudest.
He pulled up the World Forum, scanning the distress signals.
Sandscar Bastion and Clearwater Refuge are initiating a full retreat. All high-level players requested for rearguard duty.
Skywater Hold holding by a thread. Resources desperately needed.
He scrolled past the desperate pleas until a small, grim post caught his eye.
[Wolfcrag is falling. Do not come to help; you will only die. The Lupine will hold the line until the end.]
[It is the highest honor of the Lupine to die in battle. Wolfking Galehorn bids farewell to his brothers of all races. This world is a shthole; I’m not coming back in the next life.]
The Lupines had seen the end. They weren't retreating. They were choosing their burial ground.
"Idiots," Ash cursed. "Everyone is losing their minds. If everyone just decides to die 'honorably,' who the hell is going to save the future?"
The idea of a whole race just lying down to die ignited a spark of fury in him. "That’s not honor. That’s just suicide with extra steps."
He made his choice. Wolfcrag.
He was fast, he was lethal, and he had enough Displacement Talismans to survive a trip to hell and back. Even if the city fell, he could fly out.
Wolfcrag was on the western edge of the world, a melting pot of hundreds of races, dominated by the Lupine. While humans were a minority there, millions of them still called it home. The Lupines were the backbone of Azure Prime’s military history—they matured in a year and possessed a ferocity humans couldn't match.
"Orion, I’m heading to Wolfcrag. Keep the guild tight," Ash messaged.
Orion: Wolfcrag? Are you high?
"The home defense is too easy for me now. Keep an eye on the Planar Broadcasts over the next few days. I’m going to make some noise. Try to recruit anyone who gets inspired."
Orion: Ash, listen to me. You’re the most paranoid, survival-focused guy I know. If you’re going to Wolfcrag, you must be under mind control. Blink twice if the Voidlords have you.
"Caden Marlowe told me I’m 'blessed by heaven,'" Ash joked. "The big shots are fighting on higher planes. I can't just hide in the guild hall forever."
Orion: We’re all going to die. Don't believe a word Caden says. But if you’re set on this... just don't expect me to bring a rescue party. We're busy.
"Just keep the lights on for me, Orion."
Ash stepped through the Rift Gate. The air on the other side didn't smell like the salty breeze of Southhaven; it smelled of ozone, wet fur, and rot.
He emerged into the heart of Wolfcrag, and the situation was worse than the forums suggested. The ramparts hadn't just been breached; they were gone. A dozen Lupine warriors were locked in a desperate struggle with a Level 330 Abyssal Dreadworm right in the middle of the city plaza.
The Lupine fought like demons. They didn't care about their own HP bars. They traded limbs for strikes, throwing themselves into the monster’s maw just to create an opening for a comrade. It was brutal, efficient, and heartbreaking.
"They really have given up on living," Ash muttered.
There were five or six of these Level 300+ Abyssal Fiends within a hundred meters of the gate. The Lupine were using 'wolf pack' tactics—dying in groups just to take down one.
Ash didn't hesitate. He drew his bow and let fly a Skybreaker triple-shot. The Level 330 Dreadworm didn't even have time to shriek before its head evaporated.
[XP +33,000. War Merit +1. Random Stats +2.]
The Lupine warriors froze, staring at the human who had just deleted their nightmare.
"A human?" one growled, wiping blood from his snout. "This is Wolfcrag, traveler. You’ve taken a wrong turn."
"Wolfcrag is a death zone," another barked. "You aren't Lupine. Get out while the gate still functions."
Ash rolled his eyes. "I came here to fight, not to take a tour. Why the hell is everyone trying to kick me out?"
"You're strong, human," the leader said, a Level 210 Stormfang named Wolfpack-36. "Go defend a human city. Save your own kind."
"Wolfcrag is part of Azure Prime, isn't it?" Ash replied, firing another shot that turned a second Dreadworm into red mist. "And I do what I want. I like the XP here."
The Lupines exchanged stunned looks.
"I’m trying to help," Ash said. "Why aren't you leaving?"
"We are Lupine," Wolfpack-36 growled, baring his teeth. "This is our home. We die where we stand. We don't run like you humans."
"Yeah, humans are flexible," Ash retorted. "Home is where the people are, not the dirt. Staying here to die is just stupid. But since you’re determined to be stubborn, consider me a human volunteer. Now, invite me to the party."
"Bizarre human..." Wolfpack-36 muttered, but the invite popped up.
[You have joined the Galeforce Strike Team!]
[Buff Active: Lupine Battle Fervor - Attack Power +10%.]
"I'm Ash Valor," Ash said, testing his bowstring. "And I’m going to carry you lot to some levels. Try to keep up."
"Don't use your petty human provocations on us," the wolf snarled. "We aren't children."
"Fine. Just point me to the biggest bastards on the field. I’ll take the high-value targets, you mop up the rest."
"You think you’re Evan Valor?" Wolfpack-36 scoffed.
"He's my brother," Ash lied effortlessly. "So watch your tone."
Before the wolf could respond, a piercing howl echoed from the city's northern district. It wasn't a howl of battle; it was a warning of catastrophe.
"Damn it," Wolfpack-36’s ears flattened. "A monster... something terrifying is coming this way. It’s heading for the Rift Gate."
He looked at Ash, his eyes grim. "If the gate falls, Wolfcrag is a tomb. This is your last chance to run."