Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas agreed, and the two started walking through Volantis. The city was quiet, as fewer people were on the street. While strolling, Grishna spoke, ''Are you excited about doing your first quests?''

He nodded before responding, ''Yes, I'm looking forward to it. I've never done one before, so it's new to me, but I'm also excited.''

The orc girl nodded, ''Being an adventurer is something special as we see things that normal people would never believe; I've loved being one and can't wait to rank up,'' she said excitedly.

Following that, the duo continued traveling around Volantis and admired the sights they encountered. Soon enough, no one was on the streets, so they returned to the inn. It took them ten minutes to get back and enter their room.

Everyone was still asleep, and Grishna walked toward her bed and collapsed before falling asleep. Atlas laughed at the older girl and joined Amethyst. The Phoenix girl snuggled up to him while Lilith climbed on his feet, making Atlas smile as he fell asleep.

Neither knew that people were following them through the city, keeping watch. As Atlas slept, he dreamt of three young elf women engaged in the battle against monsters in a vast blue desert, mirroring the vision he had seen earlier.

They wielded stunning blades that shimmered with an azure glow, much like his own eyes. While watching that, three stars slowed overhead, which confused Atlas. He watched their journey across the land until they reached Thalassar City, the capital of the Thalassia Empire.

Something told him to head there to meet them, but he had no clue how to get there. That's when the dream changed to one of an icy wasteland that stretched as far as his eyes could see.

While looking around, Atlas spotted a massive polar bear monster rushing across the landscape. A sabertooth tiger chased behind her as another star shone high in the sky, causing him to think, 'Stars again? Maybe they're part of the thirteen stars of the Azhar'Zul Constellation.'

Soon enough, Atlas woke up only to notice the sun wasn't up, and he felt refreshed. While lying there, he decided to try the Void Realm again. Without wasting any more time, he activated the skill.

His consciousness was sucked into the strange realm, and he reappeared in the forest. Atlas shook his head before checking the total of Void Raptors and Warriors he needed to kill before searching for Death Valley to deal with the guards.

[Void Raptors - 787/1000]

[Void Raptor Warriors - 3/4]

[Death Valley monsters - 1000/1000]

[King Void Raptor - 1/1]

'This is going to take a while, but at least I can get experience using my spells and skills,' Atlas mused as the Void Raptors roars rang out through the forest.

He glanced around only to see a group of ten rushing toward him, their black eyes gleaming with malice. Atlas raised his hand and cast three Void Blasts that sliced through the air and slammed into the monsters.

A small explosion erupted, but Atlas pressed on, unleashing Void Bullets that wreaked havoc on the Void Raptors, transforming them into azure motes. Suddenly, more monsters emerged, accompanied by a towering warrior raptor.

He managed to use Void Sight on the warrior.

[Void Raptor Warrior]

[Rank: D]

Despite the new threat, Atlas remained poised. He cast Void Step, disappearing and bewildering the creatures. Instantly, he reappeared amidst them, unleashing a devastating Void Wave attack that caught the Raptors off guard.

Chaos erupted as the Void Raptors lunged at Atlas, who used Void Step to avoid the attacks while casting his spells at them. The azure projectiles tore through the monster's bodies before exploding in front of the creatures behind them.

Atlas battled against dozens of Void Raptors, converging from all directions. Despite his agile dodges and counterattacks, several managed to land blows, including one monster clamped down on his shoulder, causing him to let out a pained scream.

He blew the monster's head off using Void Bullet but destroyed his left arm, which was out of service. The Void Raptor Warrior swiped at him with its tail, but Atlas braced himself while casting Void Guard.

An azure shield suddenly appeared and deflected the attack, sending Atlas skidding back with an ache in his joints but not injury. Three Void Raptors lunged at him, but he cast a Void Wave that annihilated the creatures.

Atlas continued killing the monsters while dodging the warrior's sudden attacks until the raptors stopped coming. He was breathing heavily before checking the total after destroying so many.

[Void Raptors - 775/1000]

'Nearly halfway there; shouldn't take too long to clear this counter,' he mused before facing the Void Raptor Warrior as the bigger monster charged at him.

It rushed forward while letting out a menacing growl. As it got closer, Atlas cast Void Step, only to vanish as the monster crashed into the spot where he was just out. He reappeared above the warrior and dropped on its back.

The monster was startled, thrashing wildly as it realized Atlas was clinging to its back. Undeterred, he maintained his grip and swiftly cast a Void Arrow into the warrior's head, causing it to stiffen in place.

Seizing the opportunity, Atlas continued his assault, unleashing a barrage of Void Blasts until the creature's body disintegrated into azure motes, dissipating into thin air. Exhausted, he took a moment to catch his breath, lying down briefly to recover.

[Void Raptor Warriors - 2/4]

Then, Atlas jumped up once he felt better and continued traveling deeper into the forest while keeping an eye on his surroundings; as he was walking, his arm was already regrowing thanks to his Regeneration, which was healing him.

After doing that, Atlas killed off many Void Raptors who tried to ambush him along the way. Thanks to Void Guard and Void Blast, he quickly dispatched them whenever they appeared. Once all the creatures were dead, he checked out the number needed to complete the first objective.

[Void Raptors - 702/1000]

Following the battle, Atlas continued until he came across a clearing where he spotted a Void Raptor Warrior surrounded by the usual raptor. All their heads snapped in his direction, which made him step back.

But Atlas steeled his determination and unleashed a barrage of Void Blasts and Bullets into the horde, plunging the scene into chaos as the monsters charged forward. He swiftly dodged one of the Void Raptors, and despite all that, another crashed into him, knocking him off balance.

He quickly recovered his feeding before dashing around the clearing while peppering the second warrior. The monster tried to dodge the spells, but he was one step ahead of the smarter monster and sent some Void Arrows in the path it took.

The azure projectiles pierced through the warrior's body, causing it to turn into motes that returned to where it came from.

[Void Raptors - 668/1000]

[Void Raptor Warriors - 1/4]

'Not long before I can move onto Death Valley and the monsters that guard it,' he mused.

After that, Atlas continued through the forest and saw a mountain in the background, which beckoned to him. He approached it, but when getting close, something erupted from a nearby bush while attacking.

'Oh shit what is this thing!' he thought before using Void Step to get out of the way and allowed him to scan it.

[Voidstalker]

[Rank: F]

The monsters, with their black hides and glowing yellow eyes, reminded him of Troodons from Earth. As Atlas backed away, the creatures began letting out calls, alerting every nearby Voidstalker.

Reacting quickly, Atlas cast Void Blast, obliterating one of the creatures with ease. However, ten more burst through the bushes, charging at him in a wild frenzy. He panicked and started spamming spells, but it was too late as they lunged at him and ended his go at level one.

Atlas woke up in bed next to Amethyst and noticed the phoenix girl had just woken up along with the others. After yawning, Artemis said before leaving the room, ''I will order breakfast for us while you get ready. I want to go swimming soon before taking some quests with Grishna.''

''I have to see the city mayor; he knows I'm here with my party and has requested a meeting to help out with refugees flooding into the city from the Everglade Kingdom due to the king allowing citizens passage,'' Estelle said while walking into the room with wet hair.

Amethyst and Grishna joined them while Atlas checked his current progress.

[Void Raptors - 600/1000]

[Void Raptor Warriors - 1/4]

[Death Valley monsters/Voidstalkers - 997/1000]

'Won't be long now until I can use these monsters, but what are the conditions,' he wondered.

Seconds later, several notifications popped up.

[You've reached the third section of level one and have met the Voidstalkers. I can give you relative information that you're entitled to see]

[Summon a group of Void Raptors to assist in battle. The pack comprises six members led by a leader who prioritizes your safety over their own. Each summoning portal requires 400 Mana and lasts for ten minutes. Extending their presence costs an additional 200 Mana for another ten minutes]

[Summon a group of Voidstalkers to aid in battle or scout an area. Each summoning portal costs 300 Mana and remains active for ten minutes. Extending their duration requires an additional 150 Mana for another ten minutes]

There were two more notifications, which were blurred out after Atlas checked his status.

[Health: 436→444]

[Mana: 1580→1592]

[Strength: 424→432]

[Stamina: 444→454]

Pleased with his small gains, Atlas got out of bed while pushing a sleeping Lilith off his legs before standing up as Estelle turned to him with a piece of paper, ''Take this, Azhar'Zul. It's directions to several weapon stores I know.''

Atlas looked puzzled, ''You're calling me Azhar'Zul?