The newly created skill, Sword Shower, shimmered in the menu before him, still raw and unrefined.

He didn't hesitate.

With the remaining experience points he had saved up, he poured them into the skill, watching its level rise step by step.

*Ding*

[Sword Shower has advanced to Lv. 16]

*Ding*

[Sword Shower has advanced to Lv. 17]

*Ding*

[Sword Shower has advanced to Lv. 18]

He stopped there, reading as the system informed him of the rising cost.

'Tch. It's getting more expensive every single time,' he muttered in his mind.

The difference between Lv. 15 and Lv. 18 was already vast.

Sword Shower was now upgraded and the damage ratio had grown fiercer but it was not yet maxed out.

To push it any further would require an absurd amount of Exp points, far more than what the newbie village could provide him.

Even though Axton had received massive amounts of Exp from the invasion and his critical hit triggers, it still didn't feel like enough.

Not for the number of things he wanted to upgrade, not for the arsenal he was planning to build.

That left him with only two options.

The first was to leave this backwater village and head to the city.

He has not been to the city yet but he knew he would run into stronger monsters, higher level quests and better rewards

The path to becoming stronger would open up there.

The second option was to use the Hell's Key.

He would step into the demon realm itself, a place overflowing with danger and ominous opportunities.

With every demon he hunted, his critical hits would stack, and his growth would skyrocket.

'If I go to the demon realm now, my strength will soar. But… no. First, I'll head to the city. Secure myself there and then I'll consider stepping into hell.'

His mind flicked briefly to another idea he had been toying with.

Extracting the [Enchantment] skill and binding it to his shock plate.

In theory, it could transform his defensive gear into a lethal weapon, electrified and enhanced beyond anything he had seen.

But he wasn't comfortable yet.

If it failed, he would lose one of his few pieces of protection, along with coins, and defense was not something he could afford to gamble on right now.

Not until he got a backup piece of armor.

Exhaling deeply, Axton pushed himself up and straightened his clothes.

"Time to wrap things up with the village chief."

He had yet to receive the final quest rewards for stopping the demon invasion.

******

The air was calm outside, though faint scars of battle still lingered on the ground.

The villagers were busy patching up broken fences, repairing shattered homes, and burying their dead.

Life was trying to return to normal, and in a way, Axton felt relief at the sight.

When he reached the chief's residence, he raised a hand to knock but the door creaked open first, as if the old man had been expecting him.

"Come in," the village chief said in a calm, almost knowing voice.

Axton stepped inside.

The chief sat across from him, his back straighter than the last time they met.

The man looked lighter, freer, as though the burden of constant fear had finally been lifted.

"As you already know, I've completed the mission," Axton said flatly as he took a seat. "The invasion has been stopped."

"I can see that." The chief's voice carried relief. "You are indeed an extraordinary young man, Khan."

He gave a light chuckle, his eyes shining with gratitude. "...And don't worry. I haven't forgotten our agreement."

A notification chimed immediately.

*Ding*

[Congratulations!]

[You have completed the quest — Defeat the Demons]

[Reward: Firestone]

Axton's gaze flickered to the item details.

[Firestone]

[Grade: 4]

[Attribute: Fire]

[Effect: +85 Defense]

[Skill: Conjure a golem of fire and earth, a hybrid guardian bound to the stone.]

His eyes widened slightly.

Almost a hundred defense points was massive on its own, but summoning a golem?

That was practically an extra fighter on the battlefield.

Then…

[100x Critical Hit initiated]

[Choose your reward:]

[1. Firestone ×100]

[2. Hell Blaze Armour ×1]

Axton's breath hitched.

His eyes darted immediately to the second option.

The name alone made his pulse quicken.

Hell Blaze Armour.

The name was ironically cold… and dangerous.

He tapped it.

[Hell Blaze Armour]

[Grade: 5]

[Level: 15]

[Effect: +120 Defense]

[Skill: Hell's Knight]

Adrenaline rushed through his veins as he read the description.

[Skill: Hell's Knight]

[Grade: 5-star]

[Level: 1]

[Description: Allows the user to conjure a knight from Hell, dressed in flames and capable of summoning the flames of hell within a range of 100m². Hell's Knight deals a damage that is a cumulate of both the user's attack and defense stats. The effect lasts for 30 seconds. (Cool down: 5 minutes)]

[Can be levelled up to Lv. 20. Every level up increases range by 20m² and cool down by 2 minutes]

[Drawbacks: Requires Level 15 Warrior/Mage class to use. Consumes 200 mana points]

Hell's Knight was a crazy skill!

Axton's heart hammered.

A knight of hell itself.

Flames covering the battlefield.

'My attack and defense combined as damage?'

It was insane.

It was terrifying!

Compared to it, even Sword Shower seemed like child's play.

This was an ultimate trump card, something that could crush both armies and bosses alike.

A slow grin spread across his face. "Hell… blaze," he muttered under his breath.

******

The chief's voice pulled him back. "Will you be leaving the village soon?"

"Yes," Axton replied without hesitation. "There's nothing left for me here."

The old man nodded knowingly. "That's right."

For a moment, Axton half-expected another hidden quest to pop up from the conversation.

However, the system remained silent.

Instead, the chief reached for a small piece of parchment, scribbling something on it with deliberate care.

He folded it neatly, then handed it across the table.

"Take this. Go to the city of Atlas," he said, not wanting to reveal too much. "You'll understand when you get there."

Axton took the slip, his curiosity piqued.

'The city of Atlas.'

The name alone sounded grand.

Pocketing the note, he stood up. "I'll be on my way, then."

The chief rose as well, giving him a respectful bow.

"Thank you, Khan. You've given this village hope again."

Axton didn't reply.

He simply nodded, acknowledging the chief's gratitude.

His mind was already racing ahead, toward the city that awaited him and the future quests where his new armour and the Hell's Knight would make their debut.

For now, the newbie village was behind him.

What lay ahead would decide how far he could climb.

******

Author's Note: I apologise for the mix up in chapters. It has been corrected now.

Thanks for your understanding <3.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.