Level Up (2)
Before setting out to find the Millennium Tree, Kim Jehyun opened the Ellen's Treasure Chest he'd received as a bonus reward for the sudden quest.
Opening Ellen's Treasure Chest+7.
As the chest opened, a burst of golden light erupted from it.
"Legendary item, come on out!" Kim Jehyun muttered, his voice thick with anticipation as he stared at the golden glow.
Whoosh!
The light flared even brighter once more, and soon a single scroll emerged from the treasure chest.
"Hm?"
Kim Jehyun let out a somewhat ambiguous sound as he eyed the scroll from Ellen's treasure chest.
◈ Allows teleportation to designated coordinates.
◈ No distance limit
◈ 1-person limit
"A teleport scroll, huh…."
The description was straightforward, but its Unique grade made sense given the lack of distance restrictions. Teleportation magic itself was among the highest-tier spells, after all.
—Not a bad haul. Keep it for emergencies—it could serve as a lifeline.
Alkasha was right. In a pinch, this scroll could be a lifesaver.
That thought eased the lingering disappointment a bit.
"Still, it was a +7 treasure chest… kinda underwhelming."
Kim Jehyun stowed the scroll in his inventory and prepared to set out for the Millennium Tree.
—Dost thou know where the Millennium Tree lies?
"Hm… Not exactly, but I know someone who might."
Kim Jehyun rummaged through his memories.
When he'd met Haidel in the Elf Forest, they'd chatted about all sorts of things. Haidel had mentioned the Millennium Tree back then.
"Guess it's time to pay Haidel a visit after all this time."
Kim Jehyun quickly packed his things and headed straight for the Elf Forest where Haidel resided.
* * *
"High Elf Haidel greets the Great One."
"The children of the forest greet the Great One."
As soon as Kim Jehyun entered the Ariel Elf Forest, Haidel and the other elves came out to welcome him, offering the utmost courtesy.
He'd sent word ahead that he was coming, so they'd prepared in advance.
"It's been a while, everyone."
Kim Jehyun naturally accepted their bows and greetings.
In the past, their excessive formality would have felt overwhelming, but now it was starting to seem… normal.
—Kekeke. Thy presence is finally taking on draconic dignity.
Alkasha chuckled like a pleased grandfather at Kim Jehyun's demeanor.
'Feels like he likes this more than my actual breakthroughs.'
Kim Jehyun smirked at Alkasha's attitude. The ancient dragon grumbled when he grew stronger too easily, calling it "free gains," yet it reveled in these shows of respect like they were its own.
Alkasha's mind was an enigma.
"You've come a long way—must have been tiring. Please, try this. It's Dal-mong tea, brewed from the rare Dal-mong flowers that bloom only once a year."
Haidel personally served the tea.
Kim Jehyun took a sip, and admiration escaped his lips.
It was sweet yet refreshing, filling his mouth with flavor. His senses sharpened vividly, coming alive in a way no ordinary tea could achieve.
"Whoa. This tea is insane."
"Isn't it?"
Haidel smiled warmly at Kim Jehyun's praise, clearly delighted by his satisfaction.
Slurp.
Kim Jehyun savored the Dal-mong tea at length, enjoying a moment of respite. Then, gazing at Haidel, he got to the point.
"Haidel, I'd like to hear more details about that Millennium Tree you mentioned last time."
"Ah! So that's why you've come."
Haidel immediately grasped the reason for the visit.
"The Millennium Tree is…."
Haidel explained everything he knew about the tree with utmost sincerity.
"Hmm, so it's in the Forbidden Zone…."
According to Haidel, the tree was located in the northern Forbidden Zone territory.
The Forbidden Zone was land lost to humanity after countless rifts opened there, triggering a massive dungeon break all at once. It had become a paradise for unimaginable hordes of monsters. Rumors swirled that if those beasts ever pushed south, humanity might face extinction.
'This… looks way more dangerous than I thought.'
Kim Jehyun furrowed his brow.
The Forbidden Zone remained unconquered even in the future. It teemed with off-the-charts named monsters that defied all standards.
"Ah! Fortunately, Shimaynis Mountain—where the Millennium Tree grows—is on the rift's outskirts, so it shouldn't have the strongest creatures inhabiting it."
That was some relief. The outer edges meant no encounters with those freakish outliers.
With caution, he could probably make it there and back without issue.
"That said, Shimaynis is a dormant volcano… The terrain is all lava fields. We have a child who gathers there often—shall I assign her as your guide?"
"There's a kid who goes there?"
"Yes, she's quite sharp. You'll find her very useful."
Haidel stepped out and called for someone. Moments later, an elf girl entered the room.
Her eyes sparkled like they held the stars, her long emerald hair cascaded down, and her flawless porcelain skin gleamed. She exuded refined grace, the kind that promised she'd grow into one of the elves' greatest beauties.
"I greet the Great One. I am Sharze."
Sharze knelt on one knee, the other raised, bowing in the demure style of women from some ancient eastern kingdom.
"Nice to meet you, Sharze. I'm Jehyun."
"Yes, Great One…."
"Just call me Jehyun."
"Understood, Jehyun. I look forward to serving you."
With that, Kim Jehyun took Sharze and headed straight for the Forbidden Zone.
Sharze proved as capable as Haidel had boasted. She handled meals and lodging effortlessly, anticipating his needs without a word and preparing everything seamlessly.
But she was more than that—an exceptional guide. She charted the shortest path to their destination, navigating the Forbidden Zone's outskirts flawlessly.
—Hoh, upon closer inspection, she bears high elf blood.
At Alkasha's words, Kim Jehyun glanced at Sharze with mild surprise.
High elf lineage. If it fully awakened during her coming-of-age rite, she'd be the next generation's high elf.
No wonder Haidel treasured her—she was being groomed as a successor.
"This way…."
Even amid the trek, Sharze guided them steadily. Astonishingly, they reached Shimaynis Mountain on the outskirts without a single monster encounter—a testament to her skill.
"From here on, we might run into monsters."
Sharze explained they'd avoided them so far by sticking to forest and mountain paths via elven trails that evaded detection.
But Shimaynis was a dormant volcano with flowing lava. No trees or grass for elven paths—just barren rock.
Now they'd have to climb openly, traces exposed.
"You've been gathering out here all this time?"
"Yes, there's sun grass growing a bit further off, so I've come for that."
Elves sustaining on rations often lacked yang energy, so they sought out yang-rich plants and flowers. Sun grass was top-tier, brimming with it.
Grown near lava vents, it greatly aided elven growth.
'Looks about eighteen or nineteen in human years. Impressive kid.'
Feeling fond, Kim Jehyun absentmindedly patted Sharze's head.
Pat pat.
"…?"
Sharze's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden gesture, like a startled white rabbit. Elves were elves, after all—adorable no matter the expression.
'Their real weapon might just be their beauty.'
Even Kim Jehyun, with his refined tastes, thought so. That spoke volumes.
"…Thank you."
Unclear what for, but Sharze blushed and spoke softly.
"How long have you been gathering here?"
"Since we settled here, I think."
As they climbed toward the summit, Kim Jehyun chatted with Sharze about this and that. Initial awkwardness from their lord-vassal dynamic faded quickly.
Watching her sweet demeanor, he felt like an uncle doting on a niece—fitting, given his pre-regression age over thirty. She looked just past high school age.
His expression softened further.
Sharze beamed back, cheeks still faintly pink.
"Grrr."
Something interrupted their budding rapport—a house-sized wild boar with flaming red fur and bristles.
A Karqun, red-bristled variety. A-grade mana beast.
The Forbidden Zone brimmed not just with mana but dense demonic energy, birthing monsters, mana beasts, and fiends aplenty.
"I'll…."
Sharze stepped up, but Kim Jehyun stopped her.
She was A-grade herself—an impressive feat for her age, especially with high elf blood.
He was curious about her skills, but first, he needed to check something.
"Dig, Lightning Storm."
The charging Karqun's paws sank into the ground as blue lightning from Kim Jehyun's hand struck its body.
Zzzzap!
The bolt was so fierce it seemed to char the bones visible through its flesh, incinerating it in one hit.
Blessed by blue mana, his lightning magic was at its peak.
Though also A-grade on paper, Kim Jehyun's power far surpassed it—nearing S-grade Stage 7. The gap was vast.
Thud.
The Karqun dropped dead in a single blow.
"…!"
Sharze's eyes widened at the sheer power. He'd heard Jehyun was still a hatchling, not past the second wall—yet this?
She was stronger than peers, but Jehyun was on another level.
'Truly the Great One….'
Her gaze sparkled even brighter.
She'd glimpsed a dragon once from afar, sensing only its presence. Experiencing a hatchling's might firsthand revealed the legends' truth—power transcending grades.
Once he became a holy dragon, few save other dragons could rival him.
It was a moment of partial understanding why elves revered dragons as great ones and claimed their lineage.
'Hm. No EXP, as expected.'
Kim Jehyun had slain it to test for extra EXP. None came, confirming it.
Enlightenment was needed from here on.
'Does that mean my summons can't grow either?'
Wasting potential EXP irked him.
"Princess Sayo."
Against the next mana beast, he summoned Princess Sayo for battle. She felled it, and Soul Collect gained EXP.
'Soul Collect gets EXP.'
Spirits summoned next also leveled their skill.
He climbed using them, squeezing every drop of efficiency.
—Thou art ruthless! Or perhaps that's why fortune favors thee?
Alkasha marveled, tone laced with admiration.
'Whoa… These spirits are way stronger than normal ones, and I've never seen them before!'
Sharze gawked at his spirits.
Unlike standard ones, Kim Jehyun's were exceptional—even elves with supreme affinity noticed.
None were ordinary. Her eyes sparkled more as an urge to serve him grew beyond the soul's echo.
"Ah, is that the Millennium Tree?"
At the summit, Kim Jehyun spoke upon seeing the vista.
A central crater bubbled with molten lava, ringed by flat ground. At the edge stood a colossal tree, easily over 100 meters tall.
The Millennium Tree, thriving on volcanic fire energy—one of the divine trees brimming with yang.
At its peak hung a plump red fruit, born of the tree's spiritual qi and absorbed yang.
Chit chit.
Flame centipedes with crimson shells swarmed nearby—symbiotes of the tree, B+ to A+ grade, dozens strong.
"Princess Sayo, Thunder Bird."
He ordered them to clear; they obeyed flawlessly.
Sayo's staff froze the charging centipedes solid.
Thunder Bird's lightning engulfed them.
"Kreee!"
They writhed and fell.
"This was too easy."
Combat was a breeze—almost suspiciously so for a millennium fruit. Sharze's guidance helped, but the difficulty was surprisingly low.
Kim Jehyun tilted his head, though pleased.
As he moved to pluck the fruit—
Rumble!
A black lightning bolt struck down, slamming Princess Sayo beside him.
"…!"
She reverse-summoned without a scream. Her golem core steamed, deeply cracked—nearly shattered.
'What the—!'
Kim Jehyun and Sharze whipped toward the surge of immense mana amid the steam-shrouded lava.
Whoosh.
A silhouette emerged—a young man with fierce eyes and a gleaming bald head.
"…!"
Kim Jehyun's eyes bulged in recognition.
"Kang… Sihoo!"
Kang Sihoo, Black Snake Clan leader. He parted the steam and stepped forth.