A small black dragon clung to the massive trunk of a towering tree, its claws dug into the rough bark as it ascended higher and higher. This tree dwarfed the others in the vicinity, standing like an ancient guardian of the forest.
With steady, practiced movements, Kai climbed toward the top, his sleek, scaled body moving effortlessly. He had no immediate threats pursuing him, no predators lurking in the shadows. For the first time in a long while, there was a moment of peace.
But not even a week ago, this same small dragon had been the catalyst for one of the greatest crises the first realm had ever witnessed. A battle between two powerful beings had erupted, shaking the entire realm and leaving devastation in its wake. Cities crumbled, landscapes were scarred, and powerful entities took notice.
Yet, despite the chaos, the anomaly they had fought over—Kai—was still alive. And not just alive, but stronger than ever.
Over the past week, Kai had not wasted a single moment. True, he had taken a brief respite, his mind reeling from everything that had transpired, but once he had processed it all, he had thrown himself fully into his growth.
His Monster Core had now reached the highest tier of the Silver Rank—an achievement that most players who started at the same time as him could only dream of. While the majority of players still struggled to break through the Bronze Tier, with only a handful reaching its peak, Kai had surged ahead at an almost unnatural pace.
Yet, despite his growing strength, his focus now lay on something else entirely.
"Why are we doing this again?" Isla grumbled, her tiny figure zipping around Kai's head, clearly exasperated.
"I need to look for someone," Kai replied, his voice calm but determined.
***
The morning after the Mana Sphere had reshaped the world, Lily had burst into Kai's room, her face alight with excitement.
"Brother! Guess what? I started playing Realms of Monster! We should totally meet up and play together!"
Kai blinked in confusion, his mind still sluggish from exhaustion.
Village? He didn't even know what kind of forest he had ended up in, much less where he was in relation to the game's map.
"Uh… I'm not sure. What village are you in?"
"Bramblewick! It's one of the three starting villages for humans. Is that close to where you are?"
Kai paused. He had never heard of Bramblewick. Then again, it wasn't surprising—he wasn't following the same path as the rest of the player base. While others had chosen humanoid characters, he had been thrown into a much different existence: that of a monster.
"Hm, I think so," he lied. "I'll have to check once I log in. When are you playing next?"
"Tskl, you don't even know where you are, how clueless of you. Anyway, I'll login probably next weekend," Lily said, sighing. "I have too much homework, and you know how Mom is. But I'll be free on the weekends!"
Kai nodded slowly, the gears in his mind turning. One week. That should be enough time to reach Bramblewick—assuming he could even find it.
"Alright," he said. "I'll make my way there."
"Wait, why don't we just add each other as friends in the game? That way, it'll be easier to find each other!" Lily suggested eagerly. "What's your gamertag?"
Kai stiffened.
Notamonster.
Yeah, there was no way he could tell her. If she saw his name, the number one player dominating global announcements, she'd start asking questions he wasn't ready to answer.
"Uh… let's just add each other when we meet up, alright?" he deflected smoothly.
Lily pouted but didn't push further. After a bit of playful arguing, she finally left, unaware of just how deep her brother's in-game identity ran.
As soon as she was gone, Kai let out a breath and called for Hilda to place his helmet over his head, eager to get back to work.
***
"You're sure you'll be able to find Bramblewick once I reach the top?" Kai asked, his wings twitching slightly as he climbed.
The past week had proven far more challenging than he had anticipated. Finding the village had not been simple.
For one, the forest was teeming with powerful creatures. He had encountered numerous beasts, many of which he had slain and consumed, absorbing their bloodlines. However, none held the same appeal as his current bloodline—the Nocturne Dragon. The potential for unique evolutions intrigued him, but until he gained the ability to control his bloodline's interactions, he would remain in his current form.
His evolution progress reflected that effort:
[Growth Stage: Young Drake (3/5 | 3401/35,000)]
Upon evolving into a Young Drake, he had gained a new skill—one that he had desperately needed. Up until now, all of his abilities were built for offense or escape. He had no real means of defense.
That had changed.
[Shadow Armor]
Description: A rare, medium-level ability of the Nocturne Dragon. Imbue Monster Energy within one's body to form a protective shadow armor, significantly enhancing defense against magical and physical attacks. The more Monster Energy used, the stronger the armor becomes.
[Cost: 3 Monster Energy per second (minimum)]
The skill was invaluable, but it came with a price.
Kai's biggest weakness was still his Monster Energy reserves. Even with his Maxed-out Silver Rank Monster Core, his energy capacity was far from ideal.
Previously, when he had first entered the Silver Rank, he had a total of 300 Monster Energy. Now, after reaching the highest tier of Silver Rank, that number had doubled to 600.
And thanks to his second-tier Varkul Cultivation Technique, he could temporarily boost that to 1,200 Monster Energy when necessary.
It was impressive compared to other players. But in the grand scheme of things, it was still far from enough.
Finally, after minutes of climbing, Kai reached the highest branch of the tree.
From here, the world stretched before him. He could see vast landscapes, rivers cutting through dense forests, and distant mountains looming like sleeping giants. The view was breathtaking, but Kai wasn't here for sightseeing.
His sharp, reptilian eyes scanned the horizon, searching for a human settlement.
And then, from deep within his Monster Core, Isla's voice echoed in his mind.
"I think I found it."
Kai's eyes narrowed, following Isla's direction.
Nestled between the rolling hills and a winding river, a modest village stood—a collection of thatched-roof houses, dirt roads, and stone walls marking its borders.
Bramblewick.
A slow smirk crept onto Kai's face.