The worldly natural energy associated with a feeling of extreme comfort rummaged Kailen's cells at an astonishing pace, each second leading to an increase in strength.
Kailen's eyes remained close, each second of concentration significant to him.
[You have completely absorbed the B ranked energy orb.
Congratulations, You have become a B ranked awakened.
You have obtained 4 more slots for creating shadow creatures]
The voice of the time dilation artifact rung in his mind, confirming Kailen's breakthrough.
His eyes snapped open, each cell of his body brimming with newfound power.
His gaze, now more intricate in taking in the view around him, scanned the cave, noticing even the tiniest bit of movements.
''When I received the temporal boost of the system to become a B ranked awakened, coupled with the reinforcements of my shadow creatures, I was able to defeat an A ranked awakened, even though the strength gap between awakened increases with ranks. I'm running out of time. Now that I'm an official B ranked awakened, I suppose I could try duking it out with the wyvern'' Kailen mused inwardly.
Kailen had made considerable progress. To be honest he felt weird and nostalgic. So much had happened to him during his little trip to the wilderness.
''Who knew that an attempt to hunt a few creatures would experience such a dramatic turn'' He mused to himself, replaying the events that had occurred since his awakening till now.
''I've come far, but compared to those S ranked diabolic beasts lording over the seas of the continents, I'm still considerably weak'' Kailen mused with a sigh.
His thoughts drifted to the geography classes he had taken a few years ago.
Earth was previously divided into five continents.
However,200 years ago, an event known as the great change occurred, causing the planet to experience changes.
Some individuals started to experience a process called the awakening at the age of sixteen, whereas others remained normal people.
This occurrence was coupled with the mutation of animals, which led to a very dark period in humanity's history.
The mutated animals were referred to as diabolic beasts, as they were nothing short of diabolic. Some of these animals were extremely savage, ginormous and barbaric.
They traversed cities and continents, ravaging human lives and cities to nothings.
For a long time, the awakened humans, barely able to keep up with the diabolic beasts, fought with all their strength. However, the diabolic beasts managed to completely destroy two continents, Narama and Antartica.
''Well, Antarctica ,being full of ice was barely habitable for humans, yet it was still a continent that was completely dominated by the diabolic beasts, so..'' Kailen mused.
The human world had now managed to barely create a strong system of defense against the diabolic beasts by creating a united world government several years ago called The Federation, combining the military and awakened forces of all nations of the world into one, to defend the human race against the terror of the diabolic beasts.
However everyone knew that there were terrible, grotesque like diabolic creatures lurking beneath the seas of the two destroyed continents, and the remaining three habitable to humans ,namely Rath , Sia and Urna.
Occasionally, these monsters would suddenly launch large scale attacks against the humans, leading to massive loss of human lives and land.
''Compared to those guys, the beast tides we experience on regular occasions are nothing. Those bastards...'' A look of coldness and pain graced Kailen's demeanor.
Alongside every human, he was well aware that the beast tide that had caused the destruction of New York city, ultimately leading to the death of millions, his parents included, was caused by one of these eldritch like monsters dwelling beneath the seas of the continents.
''That bastard, the Coiling Terror ...'' Kailen shivered at the mere mention of the Coiling Terror's name... It was a monstrous ginormous diabolic beast whose size Kailen could not estimate.
However, according to what he had seen on the news, the ginormous snake was extremely massive, barbaric and terrifying. Replaying the contents of the video of the destruction the monster weaved in New York City two years ago in his mind, Kailen shivered.
''Everywhere it would pass, ice, a world of ice and destruction would follow''
Kailen sighed, followed by a sarcastic laughter.
''Yet, my goal, is to give that monstrosity and it's colleagues a taste of it's own medicine....
Worst of all, according to scientific literature, we don't even know how many of those monsters lurking beneath the seas of the continents exist, not to mention the uncountable number of diabolic beasts hoarding the forests, and the ravaged lands of Narama and Antartica... I really need to become strong ... I may have come far compared to when I awakened, but compared to those monsters, I'm extremely weak. Only those S ranked awakened are a match for those monsters... But even they pale in number, compared to those monstrosities... However, with my shadow creatures, who grow stronger the more I grow stronger, I'm sure that one day, I can give them a taste of their own medicine ''
Kailen sighed, however his gaze resolute... '' A step at a time, Kailen". He stood up, heading towards the edge of the cave.
The shadow wall parted and became ephemeral, dispersing eventually.
''As expected''. Kailen stared at his shadow creatures, his confidence in defeating the Wyvern experiencing an increase
Feral had become a C ranked shadow creature. The creature now stood at the same height with Avarice , about 5 meters tall, her obsidian build now more compact and robust.
Avarice was now a B ranked shadow creature, with nothing else extraordinary about him. However, Kailen knew that the creature's terrifying ability of using that strange flute to cause harm to others would only increase in intensity from now on.
The three nameless C ranked Dark fiend shadow hounds had also entered the B rank, now standing at three meters tall. Their obsidian skin seemed more robust, as their eyes revealed an insidious glint.
''Avarice, search for the body of the A ranked awakened I killed and bring it to me'' At Kailen's command, Avarice moved with swift speed towards the forest.
"He's faster compared to previously'' Kailen nodded, awaiting the response of the errand boy.
Feral and the three dark fiend shadow hounds however, seemed to be bickering over something.
Kailen's attention drifted to the shadow creatures, getting the gist of the banter.
It turned out that the three dark fiend shadow hounds had approached Feral with a question concerning why their master had not yet given them a name.
Feral, with the bearing of a senior having become a shadow creature ealier than them and extremely loyal to her master, had reprimanded them to not question the judgement of Kailen, adding that he would give them a name when he pleases.
The shadow hounds seemed unhappy with the response, leading to further bickering.
''They are not able to verbally speak at their level, but their intelligence cannot be scoffed at. With time as they increase in ranks, I'm sure I can verbally communicate with my shadow creatures'' Kailen observed the shadow creatures, with intrigue.
Very soon, Avarice returned, however the errand boy was empty handed.
''The body was probably devoured by some hungry beast... Quite a let down'' Kailen had wanted to turn Ice into his shadow creature, however now, it seemed impossible.
He berated himself for forgetting to carry the corpse along with him, however there was no use dwelling on the past.
''Well, I guess it's finally time to pay Mr Wyvern a visit'' Kailen stood up, sighed, then activated shadow manipulation.