A surge of energy exploded within Isaac's body. His muscles clenched, his veins igniting with unfamiliar power. He gasped, his breath ragged as the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Skill Unlocked: Dark Regeneration]
The wound on his body sealed instantly. Torn flesh mended, and broken bones snapped back into place. His skin became smooth, without scars or blemishes.
[Skill Unlocked: Darkness Instincts]
His senses sharpened. He could feel movements around him, even the smallest shifts in the air. The darkness was no longer just emptiness, it was alive, whispering to him.
[Innate Ability Unlocked: Colossal Might]
His muscles expanded slightly, his arms and shoulders growing stronger. When he clenched his fist, he felt power pulsing inside, as if he could break through stone with a single strike.
Isaac took a deep breath, but the system was not done. His body trembled as more changes spread through him.
[Innate Ability Unlocked: Shadow Reflexes]
His vision sharpened, his eyes adjusting instantly to the darkness. When a leaf fell nearby, he noticed it before it even touched the ground. His body responded faster, ready to react at any moment.
[Innate Ability Unlocked: Endless Labor]
His breathing steadied. The exhaustion he had felt before disappeared completely. His body was stronger, more efficient. His stamina increased.
Isaac exhaled, steam rising from his lips as his body settled into its new state.
His eyes snapped open. One remained human, while the other glowed blue, flickering with dark energy. But when he blinked, the eerie light vanished, leaving both eyes looking normal once more.
The transformation had lasted only seconds.
Then, he took in his surroundings.
The camp was in ruins. Bodies lay scattered everywhere, men, women, and children. Some had been cut down mercilessly. Others burned beyond recognition. The stench of blood and smoke filled the air.
He stood.
A few survivors who had escaped earlier slowly returned, carefully searching for anyone still alive.
The small boy Didi stood a few steps away, staring at him with wide, teary eyes.
Didi hesitated, then ran toward him.
"Please… save my sister! They took Aiah!"
Isaac turned to him, still processing everything. His mind was sharp, but his emotions felt distant, like he was adjusting to a new body.
"Where did they take her?" he asked.
Didi, pointed toward the forest road.
"They're not far yet!"
Isaac looked around for a weapon.
Swords, spears, and bows lay scattered on the ground, taken from fallen warriors. He reached for a sword, but something felt off.
Then, he saw an axe.
He walked toward it and gripped the handle. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, he knew.
This felt right.
A sword belonged to a soldier.
A spear belonged to a knight.
But an axe…
A farmer's weapon. His weapon.
[Innate Ability Unlocked: Tool Savant]
His grip around the axe tightened. The weight felt perfect, like an extension of himself. Perfect mastery over farming tools in battle.
Isaac lifted the axe and swung it once. Perfect balance. Familiar weight. This was something he knew how to use.
He turned toward Didi and the others, his grip tightening around the axe handle.
"I'll bring her back."
Isaac tightened his grip on the axe, his expression unreadable. But before he could take a step, a mocking laugh rang out.
"Are you serious?" the thin man scoffed, crossing his arms. "You think you can just walk in there and take them all down?" His ribs pressed against his shirt, making him look like a man who hadn't eaten well in weeks.
The one-armed man, still pale from shock, pointed at Isaac. "I saw what happened! You were knocked down by the chief with a single hit! And now you're saying you'll fight all of them?" He adjusted the strap of his cloak over his missing arm, his face twisted with doubt.
The other survivors murmured in agreement.
"That's right!" another man added. "You were just a class-E! How the hell do you expect to fight trained soldiers?!"
A man with a high hairline shook his head. "Those men aren't weaklings. The lowest among them are class-D. Some of them are even class-C. Even I wouldn't dare face them alone!"
A few others chuckled bitterly.
"You'll be dead in seconds."
"Maybe he lost his damn mind."
"Pathetic. He doesn't even know his own limits."
An old woman, her face filled with worry, stepped forward and grabbed Isaac's wrist. "Please, child, don't throw your life away. You can't win alone. Let's think of a plan, gather weapons…"
"There's no time," Isaac interrupted. His tone was calm, unwavering.
The thin man scoffed again. "No time? Oh, so you're in a hurry to die?"
"I'll bring them back." Isaac said, his gaze steady. "Every single one of them."
The crowd quieted for a moment before someone let out another laugh.
"You? Bring them back?" The thin man sneered. "You're just one man against almost a hundred. No strategy, no backup. You're walking straight into a massacre!"
"I will kill them all," Isaac said flatly.
The confidence in his voice sent a chill through the air. The laughter stopped. The mocking smirks faded.
The man with a high hairline frowned. "You… You really think you can do this?"
Isaac didn't respond. He simply turned toward the forest, his axe resting on his shoulder.
With steady steps, he disappeared into the trees, the shadows swallowing him whole.
Silence hung over the group. No one spoke at first, still processing what had just happened. Then, the thin man scoffed and shook his head.
"He's dead. He just doesn't know it yet," he muttered.
The one-armed man massaged his forehead, "I don't get it. Where is that confidence coming from? Did he forget that he was knocked out with one hit?"
The thin man sighed. "It doesn't matter how determined he is. One man can't take on a squad of trained soldiers. He's throwing his life away."
The old woman wiped her eyes. "Poor boy. He must still be in shock. That's the only explanation…"
Then, a voice cut through the murmurs.
"He will bring them back."
Everyone turned to look at Ben who spoke up, one of the men who had found Isaac unconscious in the forest.
—---
Aiah woke up to the rough jolting of the carriage. Her body ached, her arms bound tightly in thick leather gloves that suppressed her magic. A gag covered her mouth, ensuring she couldn't even attempt to cast a spell.
Across from her, the commander watched with a twisted grin, his hungry eyes drinking in every inch of her restrained form.
"You know," he drawled, a smirk curling on his lips, "this kingdom is being purified. All class-F and E are being captured, sold, or traded. But you… a class-D living among them? Why would someone like you stoop so low?"
Aiah glared at him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
He leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee.
"When we reach the capital, they might decide you're useful. But before that… you'll stay in my chambers. You'll serve me first." His gaze roamed pervertedly over her body.
Aiah clenched her fists. She wanted to burn this man alive, but without her magic, she was helpless.
Outside, the captives were being transported in a line, some bound and forced to march, others stuffed into wagons. Elder Peter was in another carriage, his face grim as he watched over the others.
The commander's eyes darkened with hunger. "That glare of yours… it only makes me want you more."
He reached for his sword and pressed the cold metal against her shoulder. With a flick of his wrist, he sliced through the fabric of her dress, the cloth slipping from her skin, exposing her cleavage.
Aiah jerked violently, but the bindings only dug deeper into her skin, leaving angry red marks.
The commander exhaled, eyes trailing down her body. His smirk widened. "Soft, just as I expected."
His gaze shifted downward. He dragged the tip of his sword along the hem of her skirt, lifting it inch by inch, exposing more of her legs and reaching her underwear.
His breathing grew heavier, he could no longer control himself, so his fingers slowly reached for his belt.
But before he could undo it…
The carriage slammed to a sudden stop.