The first thing Azrael felt was the weight of his own body.
It was heavier than he remembered, as though every muscle had been reforged in the fires of war. His mind was sluggish, piecing together fragmented memories, but one thing was certain—he was no longer on the battlefield.
The scent of medicine and herbs lingered in the air. The dim glow of candlelight cast shifting shadows against the fabric walls.
A tent.
His tent.
He shifted slightly, testing his strength. A dull ache radiated through his body, but it was nothing compared to the agony he had endured before. He was still alive. He had survived.
But for how long had he been unconscious?
Before he could fully gather his bearings, footsteps approached. Then, the tent flaps burst open.
Light blonde hair. Shining red eyes.
Elaris Velmira.
Her expression, usually composed and unreadable, shattered the moment she saw him awake.
"You're awake!"
She rushed to his side, kneeling beside the cot, her hands hovering slightly as if debating whether or not to touch him. Her gaze swept over him, searching for signs of weakness.
"You were unconscious for twelve days, Azrael."
Azrael blinked.
Twelve days?
His golden eyes narrowed in disbelief. He had expected hours—maybe a full day at worst. But twelve?
He let out a slow breath. His body had truly reached its limit.
"You almost died," Elaris continued, her tone sharper than before. "If not for the healers and your ridiculous regeneration, you might not have woken up at all."
Azrael didn't respond immediately.
It wasn't that he didn't care about his own life—he did, more than anything. But in that moment, all he could think about was how long he had lost. Twelve days of wasted training. Twelve days of weakness.
His fingers clenched against the sheets.
Another presence made itself known.
Veyrin Malzev.
The black market noble leaned against a nearby table, arms crossed, his usual playful smirk nowhere to be seen. His ocean-blue eyes studied Azrael carefully, as if still deciding whether he would collapse again.
"You scared quite a few people, Kaelthorne," Veyrin remarked. "Even I thought you might not wake up."
Azrael met his gaze. "That would have been inconvenient."
Veyrin raised an eyebrow before exhaling a soft chuckle. "Only you would call dying an inconvenience."
Elaris, however, did not look amused.
"You were reckless," she stated, her voice firm. "Using a Berserk Potion in the middle of a battlefield? Do you have any idea what could have happened if you had collapsed earlier?"
Azrael tilted his head slightly. "I won."
Elaris's red eyes burned with frustration. "That doesn't mean you should throw your life away!"
Silence stretched between them.
Azrael studied her carefully. She was angry. No—she was worried.
She wasn't the type to express concern openly, but the way her fingers tightened against her sleeves, the way her jaw clenched—she had been affected by his near-death.
For a moment, he considered reassuring her.
Then—
---
Ding!
A familiar, cold voice echoed in his mind.
---
[System Notification]
[Mission Complete: Defeat Earl Sherlock & Normon Astro]
Reward: +100 Stat Points, 10,000 System Points
[Bonus Mission Complete: Defeat Lloyd Frostier]
Reward: +120 Stat Points, 20,000 System Points
---
Azrael's golden eyes gleamed.
220 stat points. 30,000 system points.
Without hesitation, he poured every single stat point into his Aura.
A rush of raw, overwhelming power surged through his veins. His very soul seemed to tremble under the weight of his newfound strength.
Something within him changed.
A second notification followed.
---
[New Titles Acquired]
[Battlefield Tyrant]
Increases Aura effectiveness by 30% in large-scale battles.
Suppresses weaker opponents' morale.
[Unbroken Will]
Reduces backlash effects from Berserk-type skills or potions by 50%.
Allows partial movement even when heavily injured.
---
Azrael exhaled slowly.
A new realm of power had just unfolded before him.
He would never fall on the battlefield again.
Elaris narrowed her eyes. "What did you just do?"
Azrael simply smiled.
To Be Continued…
---
Azrael Kaelthorne's Updated Stats
Before Using Stat Points:
Strength: 950
Agility: 950
Endurance: 820
Mana: 650
Spirit Energy: 700
Senses: 600
Aura: 600
After Using 220 Stat Points on Aura:
Strength: 950
Agility: 950
Endurance: 820
Mana: 650
Spirit Energy: 700
Senses: 600
Aura: 820 (Previously 600)
---
Titles:
New Titles:
1. [Battlefield Tyrant] – Enhances Aura effectiveness by 30% in large battles. Suppresses weaker opponents.
2. [Unbroken Will] – Reduces backlash from Berserk-type skills by 50%. Allows partial movement while injured.
Previous Titles:
1. [Abyssal Crown of Fated Eclipse Tyrant] – Increases regeneration ability by 200%. Grants stronger presence but requires prideful/arrogant behavior.
2. [Successor of the Abyssal Crown] – Allows access to Abyssal Crown System functions.
3. [Cursed Heir] – Signifies past suppression of talents. (Dormant)
4. [One Who Killed a Demon Lord] – Demons feel fear when they see Azrael. Increases damage dealt to demons by 20%. Lesser demons instinctively hesitate before attacking.
---
Techniques & Skills
Kaelthorne Swordsmanship (Mastered)
Beginner Level ✅
Intermediate Level ✅
Advanced Level ✅
Kaelthorne Family Advanced Footwork
A high-speed movement technique that allows for extreme agility and precise footwork.
Increases evasion and maneuverability in battle.
Enhances speed and reaction time against multiple opponents.
---
Aura Techniques:
[Abyssal Tyrant's Blade] – A sword technique infused with abyssal power.
[Tyrant's Suppression] – Exerts overwhelming pressure on weaker foes.
---
Magic Spells:
[Umbral Mastery] – Complete control over Umbral (Darkness) element.
[Teleportation] – Instantaneous movement to a known location.
[Elemental Mastery: Fire, Ice, Lightning, Earth, Wind] – Master-level proficiency.
---
Additional Skills:
[Abyssal Severance] – A strike that ignores divine defenses.
[Frozen Eclipse] – Temporarily slows time for enemies within range.
[Soul Requiem] – Absorbs the essence of defeated enemies to restore stamina or power up attacks.
[Abyssal Judgement] – A high-destruction area attack.
[Dark Blade Cascade] – Rapid abyssal sword strikes.
[Void Step] – Instant short-range teleportation.
[Mana Severance] – Cuts through magical defenses.
[Titan Slayer] – Enhanced damage against colossal foes.
[Blood Reforging] – Converts his pain into power.
---
Azrael Kaelthorne had risen stronger than ever.