I stood there for a moment, allowing my body to relax back a little, then turned and walked back toward where my sword had been thrown aside. The blade lay half-buried in the dirt, still stained, the edge chipped but intact enough for now.

I bent down, pulled it free, and wiped it once against what remained of the orc’s cloth before straightening again. My gaze shifted to the axe lying a short distance away and after a brief pause, I stepped over, picked it up, and tested its grip.

"It’s heavy but usable."

Holding the sword in one hand and the axe in the other, I turned toward the statue.

I stepped across the stone boundary and moved straight toward the center, stopping just a few feet in front of the hooded figure.

I didn’t hesitate.

Shifting my grip on the axe, I drew it back and brought it down in a full, controlled swing. The blade struck the statue with a heavy crack, the impact echoing outward as a fracture spread across the surface.

I pulled it back immediately and struck again.

The second hit landed harder, deeper, widening the cracks as pieces of stone chipped away and fell to the ground.

On the third strike, I put everything into it. The axe came down with full force, and this time the statue couldn’t hold.

It shattered.

Fragments burst outward, breaking apart from the center as the entire statue collapsed, the hooded form disintegrating into pieces that scattered across the platform.

For a brief moment nothing happened.

Then a golden glow emerged from the broken remains, faint at first before gathering into a concentrated form. It hovered for a fraction of a second, then surged forward, rushing straight toward me before I could react.

It entered my body instantly. The effect was immediate.

A chime echoed.

Then another.

Then a third.

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level 9 → 12]

[Influence Points +50]

A rush of energy spread through me, my body adjusting rapidly as the increase settled into place. The difference was clear, not just in strength but in how naturally everything aligned, as if the gap between intent and movement had shortened again.

Then suddenly something dropped onto the stone.

I looked down.

A small crystal lay among the broken fragments, glowing faintly with a white light that pulsed continuously. I stepped forward and picked it up, the surface cool against my hand.

The moment I touched it, a notification appeared. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

[Destroyer Path Detected]

[Generating Skill...]

A brief pause followed, then the window shifted.

[Skill Acquired]

[Impact Burst 1 (Active)(Uncommon)]

[Description: Releases a sudden, uncontrolled burst of energy generated through movement, allowing rapid acceleration in a straight line or explosive vertical displacement for jumps.]

Another rush of information flooded my mind about the skill and how to use it.

It was an uncommon skill and from the memories I could understand why it was so. I tightened my grip slightly around the crystal before the glow faded from it completely, leaving it inert in my hand.

[Warning! You have been Marked!]

Another notification popped up.

I shrugged. I had expected something like that but it was alright. I was not gonna skip quick level ups like that.

My gaze moved once more across the area, searching for anything I might have missed, but aside from the bloodstained pillar standing a short distance away, there was nothing left of value.

I walked over to it, and reached out to test it. The moment my hand made contact, the structure gave way without resistance, collapsing into fragments as if whatever had sustained it had already been stripped away. The debris dropped at my feet, leaving nothing behind.

"That’s disappointing," I muttered quietly, straightening up as I brushed the dust from my hand.

There was nothing more to take from here.

So I turned and moved forward again, stepping out of the clearing and back into the forest, the sword in one hand and the axe resting against my shoulder.

The sounds of movement returned as I pushed deeper, the forest once again alive with distant echoes of creatures shifting through it, but none came close immediately.

Minutes passed.

Ten, maybe more.

The density of the forest shifted gradually, the ground sloping slightly downward as a new sound began to rise over everything else. At first, it was faint, barely noticeable against the background noise, but with each step, it grew clearer.

Water.

Flowing fast.

I adjusted my direction slightly, turning toward the source as the sound grew louder, the air cooling faintly as I approached. The trees began to thin again, opening into a narrow stretch where a stream cut through the land, clear water rushing over stone, reflecting light in constant motion.

I stepped closer.

The sight alone was enough to draw me in after everything so far, and I crouched slightly, lowering myself toward the edge with the intent to drink, letting one hand move toward the water.

The moment I reached out, a notification appeared.

[You have entered Great Ape Territory]

[Great Ape was a Believer even before the System descended. The integration has granted it blessings from God Goldius.]

[Objective:]

→ Defeat Believer: Great Ape

→ Convert territory into Defier Safe Zone

[Warning: Target commands a small army of Great Apes]

Another notification followed immediately.

[Warning! You have been Marked!]

"If anything, this just makes it easier," I muttered, shifting the axe slightly on my shoulder as I glanced around the area, scanning the tree line and the higher ground beyond the stream.

A territory, a leader and an army.

Which meant more experience, more Combat Points and more Influence.

"Its time to grind." I smiled and opened my status to have a look at my stats.

[Status]

—-----------------------------------

Name: Ryan Heavens

Level: 12

Class: Unassigned(Destroyer)

Talent: Overdrive

Designation: Defier

Combat Points (CP): 110

Influence Points (IP): 60

Stats:

Vitality: 30

Strength: 40

Dexterity: 29

Intelligence: 19

Endurance: 19

—-----------------------------------

I could tell immediately that Intelligence and Endurance were falling behind the rest, the gap not huge yet but noticeable enough to matter in longer fights where control and recovery would decide the outcome.

The problem was obvious. There were no free stat allocations to correct it, no flexibility in growth, just fixed increases tied to level progression, which meant I couldn’t adjust it directly even if I wanted to.

I let out a quiet breath.

"There has to be a way around it," I thought, not slowing as I continued forward, my attention spread across the terrain, watching for any shift, any movement that might hint at what was coming next.

The forest didn’t stay quiet for long.

A sharp crunch broke through the layered sounds around me, something heavy pushing through the undergrowth just ahead, and I shifted my stance slightly as a figure emerged from the bushes.

[Monster Great Ape – Level 7]