The night stretched around them, cold and silent, a stark contrast to the inferno they had left behind. Kael's breath came in ragged gasps as he stumbled forward, each step a battle against the lingering pain in his side. Reis steadied him with a firm grip while Edric and Joren flanked them, weapons still drawn.
No one spoke. The events of the last hour weighed on them all—Lyria's betrayal, the assassins, the burning mansion, and his sister. Drayven's estate, his home, was gone.
But Kael barely had time to grieve.
Because something else had awakened within him.
Ding!
The chime echoed in his mind again, sharp and clear. Golden text flickered across his vision, unseen by the others.
[Orchard Keeper System: Fully Activated.]
Kael's breath caught. The moment those words appeared, his body changed. The pain in his side dulled to a distant throb. His limbs, which had moments ago felt weak and sluggish, now tingled with renewed energy.
And more than that—he could feel the land beneath his feet.
Not just the dirt but the life hidden within it. The roots of trees pulsed beneath the soil, whispering their presence to him. The grass swayed not with the wind but with an unseen force—his will.
He knew this power belonged to him.
But he had no time to dwell on it.
Joren stopped suddenly, his hand shooting up in a silent command for them to halt. His sharp eyes scanned the dark forest ahead. "We're being followed."
Reis cursed under his breath. "More assassins?"
"No." Joren's expression darkened. "Something else. Something more dangerous."
The rustling in the trees grew louder. A presence loomed beyond the darkness—larger than any man, its breath heavy and unnatural. Then, from the depths of the woods, a shape emerged.
A Cragbeast.
Kael's stomach twisted. The monstrous creature was nearly twice the size of a horse, its hide covered in jagged, stone-like plates. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto them, hunger gleaming in its gaze. It took several men to kill it. How would they kill it?
"We don't have the strength for this," Edric murmured.
The Cragbeast's muscles tensed. Then it charged.
Joren was the first to react, stepping forward and raising his greatsword. The weapon gleamed in the moonlight as he brought it down with brutal force—only for the blade to glance off the Cragbeast's armored hide, barely leaving a scratch.
"Damn thing's tough," Reis growled, drawing his twin blades. "Kael, get back!"
Kael should have retreated. He should have left the fighting to them. But something inside him refused to run. The pulse in his chest returned, stronger than before.
The system's voice whispered to him.
[New Skill Acquired: Verdant Surge – Temporarily accelerates plant growth and strengthens flora-based attacks.]
A flash of instinct surged through him. He knew what to do.
Kael dropped to one knee and placed his palm against the ground.
Grow and show your strength.
The response was immediate.
The earth trembled.
Vines erupted from the ground, thick and gnarled, twisting around the Cragbeast's limbs before they could reach Joren. The monster let out a furious roar, thrashing violently—but the vines held firm, tightening like iron chains.
The others stared in stunned silence.
Reis was the first to recover. His gaze flicked to Kael, who was kneeling on the ground, then back to the struggling beast. "I don't know how you did that, but I won't waste the chance."
With a burst of speed, he darted forward, his blades gleaming as they found their mark—slicing deep into the exposed flesh between the Cragbeast's plated joints. The creature howled as it struggled to be free, but the vines only tightened further, holding it still as Joren delivered the final crushing blow with his great sword.
The beast collapsed, its massive form shaking the ground.
Silence fell over the group.
Kael slowly stood, his breath heavy. His hands still tingled from the energy that had surged through them. He had just… controlled the forest. He had held a creature twice his size in place as if it were nothing more than a weed in a garden.
Edric's gaze was unreadable, but there was a glint of something in his eyes. "Young master… what have you become?"
Kael wasn't sure how to answer.
Reis exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "You can explain later. Right now, we need to keep moving."
Joren nodded. "We'll head for the valley. It's safer there. We can regroup and plan our next move."
Kael barely heard them. The golden text flickered in his vision once more.
[System Task: The Orchard Must Grow. Expand and Cultivate.]
A shiver ran through him. This power… wasn't just a gift. It was a command.
And for the first time since his betrayal, Kael felt something other than rage or pain.
He felt purpose.
This was only the beginning.