While marching toward the [Elven Stronghold], Leon finally allowed himself a brief mont to slow down and properly observe the panels hovering around him.
He and Emilia had killed many monsters after all, and as expected... they leveled up.
Ding!
[Congratulations, you have leveled up to Level 26 27!]
[Due to "Heaven’s Blessing", you have gained 300 points in all attributes and 300 free points to distribute.]1
Leon let out a satisfied breath.
"Nice."
The feeling of leveling up twice at once never really got old. Monts like this had always felt rewarding.
And this ti, it wasn’t just levels.
In addition to the stat bonuses from leveling up, his attributes had climbed sharply thanks to the essences he had consud along the way.
Every ti [Celestial Hand] activated, Leon didn’t even hesitate. He always chose the essence.
Materials could be fard later. Equipnt could be replaced.
But permanent stats? Those were priceless.
Ding!
[ 302 Strength, 271 Constitution, 326 Spirit, 174 Agility.]
Leon flexed his fingers slightly as the power settled into his body.
It wasn’t explosive or overwhelming, but it was steady, like each bone, each muscle, had been reinforced layer by layer.
He split the spoils without much thought, handing over roughly a third of the [Constitution] and [Spirit] essences to Emilia.
With her constitution and spirit multiplier, she gained even more value from them than he did.
Emilia accepted them with a bright smile, consuming them imdiately.
"Whoa..." she muttered, blinking a few tis. "That feels amazing."
"Get used to it," Leon said lightly. "It only goes up from here."
Aside from essences, they had also picked up various basic materials, bones, hides, cores, fragnts, but none of it was particularly impressive.
’I an, I guess Tolkien will be happy, but I’d have to go back to [Moon City] for that.’
Compared to what they were already carrying, it was borderline worthless.
Leon didn’t bother checking most of it in detail. His focus was elsewhere.
Because the closer they got to their destination, the heavier the atmosphere beca.
And then, another panel appeared.
Ding!
[Human, unless it is a matter of utmost urgency, you are not allowed to proceed any further.]
[Any more will force us to send our strongest warrior.]
Leon didn’t even slow his pace.
His eyes flicked over the warning for less than a second before dismissing it entirely.
"What kind of panel did you get?" he asked casually, glancing at Emilia.
"Huh... let check."
She paused, her eyes unfocusing for a mont, then with a small gesture, she shared the panel with him.
[Hello, fellow elf, welco to the "Elven Stronghold"!]
Leon stared at it for a second.
"...Damn."
The difference in treatnt couldn’t have been more obvious if it tried.
One warning him of death and retaliation. The other welcoming her in like a long-lost family mber.
But Leon wasn’t surprised. Emilia was an elf. He was a human.
In the [Lower Domain], most races tolerated each other to so degree.
Conflict happened, but outright exclusion was rare. Elves were so of the exception.
They were one of the only race that openly barred all outsiders from their strongholds.
"I wonder why they’re all so arrogant," Emilia said lightly, her tone almost amused. "Most of them are weak anyway."
Leon chuckled softly.
"But still," she continued, her eyes narrowing slightly, "it’s a good thing you brought us here. The ones who betrayed ... they’re probably here."
Leon tilted his head.
"Didn’t that happen only like a day ago?" he asked. "Our growth speed should’ve far outpaced theirs by now."
"No," Emilia said, shaking her head firmly.
She explained what had happened after Leon cured her of the poison.
The mont her body stabilized, she had been forcibly teleported back to her original [Novice Village].
At first, she thought only a few hours had passed.
But once she escaped the cave and reached civilization, she realized the truth: nearly three weeks had gone by.
Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh... that makes sense," he muttered. "Ti distortion isn’t uncommon in [Eternal Ascension]. Certain zones ss with it pretty badly."
So areas accelerated ti. Others slowed it.
In his past life, he had once spent what felt like a single night training, only to return and discover an entire month had passed outside.
It was dangerous, but also exploitable. And then, barely a minute later...
Ding!
[You were warned, human.]
BOOM!
The air exploded.
A massive volley of arrows erupted from the walls of the [Elven Stronghold], blotting out the sky as they scread toward Leon like a storm of steel and wood.
There were hundreds of them. No, thousands.
Darkness Barrier!
Leon raised his staff, and a dense black barrier instantly enveloped him.
The arrows struck it in a deafening barrage, clangs, cracks, and splintering echoes overlapping into a single violent roar.
But not a single arrow passed through.
They bounced off harmlessly, falling to the ground like broken twigs.
Leon didn’t even flinch.
"I want to speak to your leader," he said calmly, his voice carrying forward. "I have a request."
He knew exactly what the elves possessed.
In his past life, the [Elven Stronghold] had held one of the earliest [Secret Realm Tokens] in the [Lower Domain].
At the ti, Leon had been too weak, and too cautious, to even think about approaching.
This ti was different. [Secret Realms] were dangerous and brutal.
And even finding one in the first place was hard, the [Star Magic Cave] being the only one in this [Lower Domain].
But their rewards were incomparable.
And before heading to the [Star Magic Cave], he needed that token. No matter what.
Leon had missed too many opportunities in his past life, not just because he lacked strength, but because he hesitated.
He had waited. Second-guessed.
And by the ti he acted, it was always too late.
That wouldn’t happen again. It didn’t matter if these elves beca enemies.
In the future, many of them would bow to the [Goddess of Nature] anyway, empowering her and contributing to countless disasters.
Leon had no illusions about alliances. Anyone who stood in his way was just another obstacle.
He needed power. And he was ready to fight for it.
A full minute passed. No response ca from the walls.
Leon exhaled slowly.
"Well," he said, taking a step forward, "guess we’re doing this the hard way."
"I’m fine with that," Emilia said, a grin spreading across her face. "Let’s take the [Secret Realm Token]."
Fighting an entire stronghold, even an underdeveloped one, was pure insanity by normal standards.
But Leon didn’t intend to remain "normal."
One day, he would need the strength to face entire cities... or kingdoms.
He lifted his staff, mana beginning to gather—
"Stop."
A powerful voice echoed across the plains.
The air itself seed to vibrate as a figure appeared between Leon and the stronghold.
He was tall, nearly two ters, with long white hair and a matching beard. His ears were elongated, sharp, unmistakably elven.
The pressure rolling off him was imnse. Enough to make weaker beings freeze on the spot.
Appraisal!
---
[ID: ElvenStronghold]
[Level: 50]
[Talent: ???]
[Skills: ???]
[Combat Power: ??? (Above 150,000)]
---
Leon raised an eyebrow slightly.
The system rarely gave even this much information against powerful targets.
’Above 150,000...’
That was high. Extrely high for the [Lower Domain].
Even Leon would struggle if he fought carelessly. But he was certain of one thing.
’I’d still win.’
If necessary, [Celestial’s Might] could cripple the elf leader instantly. After that, either Leon or Emilia could finish the job.
Still... that would be a last resort.
Leon had no proof these elves had committed any unforgivable cris yet.
Arrogance alone wasn’t enough to justify slaughter.
In his past life, he had known plenty of humans who acted the sa way once they gained power.
’Everyone’s the sa in the end,’ Leon thought with a faint grin.
"What do you want?" ElvenStronghold said coldly, disgust clear in his eyes. "Speak quickly. Any useless talk, and the full force of my stronghold will descend upon you."
Leon t his gaze without the slightest hint of fear.
"I want your [Secret Realm Token]," he said calmly. "In exchange... I can do sothing for you."
The elf’s eyes widened, "How do you even—"
He gazed at Emilia, and the mont he did, he stopped talking.
It wasn’t that [ElvenStronghold] was srized by her beauty, but mostly that one of Emilia’s talent passives was currently working.
[Your reputation with all races is increased slightly more than anybody else, making them more eager to cooperate with you.]
This ant even soone like the elf leader was more eager to talk.
And so...
"We have no real use for it," ElvenStronghold said slowly. Then a sharp grin spread across his face. "But since you want it so badly... let’s make a deal."
And the mont he finished speaking—
Ding!
[You have received the S-Level Quest: "Bring a Stronghold Crystal to the Elven Stronghold."]
Leon clicked his tongue.
"Damn."
(150 150) since two levels
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