Level Up: Voidwalker

Chapter 25: You're A Siren

After chatting for a while, the three went quiet. Atlas walked over to the window and looked outside, only to see rough waves hitting the bottom of the ship. 'I wonder where we are,' he thought.

While standing there, the door was opened, and a woman walked in with three plates stacked with meat on each one. She placed them on the table, allowing Atlas to see the two heavily armed men standing guard outside.

'Damn, I can feel their strength,' Atlas mused as he realized they can't escape through the door.

That's when the woman left the cell as he looked at the food and started eating. Time flew by, and all the three talked. They passed a massive jungle when the sun rose on the fourth day.

Atlas noticed it ended at a small sandy beach with beautiful yellow sand, perfect for sunbathing. Gnarly trees twisted high into the sky, and karsts dotted the landscape.

He was amazed by the sight, which caused the other two to laugh. Artemis joined him at the window with a friendly smile, ''Do you want to escape Atelos? If so, I can only do it under one condition.''

''What's that?''

''You help me take back my kingdom in the future,'' she revealed but quickly continued with a smile. ''My second mother betrayed me and turned most of the realm against me due to lies she spread about me.''

Atlas's eyes widened. "How am I meant to fight a kingdom that has an army?" he asked. ''Seems a bit impossible to me at the moment.''

Artemis laughed before explaining, ''Well, by the time you're older, you will be stronger, and no doubt many powers will come to know about you and send assassins.''

"Alright, I'll assist you in leveling up as we journey, and we'll encounter numerous monsters on the way. Additionally, I'll aid in preparing you for what lies ahead." Artemis grinned mischievously before adding, "Now, pay attention."

Atlas and Amethyst watched in astonishment as she began to sing out to sea in an unfamiliar language. The melody was soothing but seemed ancient, sending goosebumps all over his body.

Artemis continued singing for a few minutes until she stopped and turned to them, ''Whatever you two do, don't let go of each other. We have minutes at best.''

"What was that?" Atlas questioned.

"It's a race skill I unlocked. It's called Leviathan's Call, and Sirens gain it when we come of age," she said with a smile.

Atlas's eyes widened in surprise. "You're a Siren?"

The young woman nodded solemnly. "Correct. If we get separated, meet at the tallest mountain in the jungle, I will make sure Amethyst is safe but who knows what will happen once the ship goes down."

Atlas's face paled at her words, his heart beating as a roar echoed through the ship. He rushed to the window, scanning the turbulent sea, but saw nothing. As he looked out, the ship's speakers crackled to life, commanding urgently, "We have a Kraken bearing down on us! Man the cannons and drive the monster away."

Before long, explosions erupted, causing Atlas's ears to throb with pain. The cannons fired sluggishly, unable to keep up, just as something massive slammed into the ship. Startled, Amethyst leaped to her feet and hurried toward Atlas, throwing her arms around him as the Kraken struck the vessel once more.

Artemis looked at the two of them with a worried look. '' Remember to meet at the tallest mountain if we're separated.''

They nodded in understanding. The Kraken clung onto the ship and started to crush it as the cannons continued to fire. Just as that happened, the world went black as their cell was cracked open.

The group was sucked into the cold sea, Atlas tightened his grip on the phoenix girl, but the current was too strong and tore them apart just as he spotted a tentacle heading toward him.

Atlas quickly cast Void Guard, but it shattered, knocking him out before sending him flying through the ocean. He drifted through the water until he was washed up on the jungle beach, his body repairing while out cold.

Hours passed, and the sun started to set, lighting the world with an orange glow. However, Atlas remained unconscious until the two moons hung overhead. He soon woke up in a panic, hearing a hiss, which caused him to look around quickly.

That's when Atlas spotted a giant snake slithering toward him. He sighed before using Void Sight on it, 'What the hell is it with this world? Are their monsters everywhere.'

[Jungle Viper]

[Rank: F - 100 Exp]

After scanning the monster, Atlas quickly cast Void Arrow at the snake just as it lunged at him. The azure blue arrow pierced through its skull as it crashed into him, but that was all the damage he received.

Atlas threw the corpse off himself before standing up and looking around confusedly. He was standing on a beach connected to a dense-looking jungle, and a shiver ran down his spine when he saw it.

He remembered killing a dozen bandits in Frostwood Village. Memories of Biric and his family surfaced, causing him to worry about their safety. However, Atlas pushed the thought aside and focused on checking his status after pulling out the white Monster Core.

[Level Up: 24?26]

[Experience: 550/1000]

[Experience Gained: 1600]

[Health: 234?244]

[Mana: 1084?1114]

[Strength: 218?226]

[Stamina: 222?228]

[Charisma: 298?302]

[Intelligence: 222?230]

[Core Points: 16300?17100]

[Core Points Gained: 800]

Atlas was pleased with his gains but still confused. He gazed into the sky and spotted a lone mountain in the distance, which he struggled to see. 'That is a journey!' he thought to himself.

With that in mind, he turned back to the sea, only to sigh when he saw an empty expanse. Atlas reluctantly started his trek through the jungle, taking out his tomahawk and dagger in case he was attacked.

When he stepped into the underbrush, it was like a new world. Hot air hit his skin, causing him to sweat badly. Atlas had to keep wiping it from his fore before taking his shirt off and wrapping it around his face.

The fabric blocked the heat, making Atlas feel better. He found a Game Trail and started following it until he came across a small clearing that looked peaceful, but something told him it was the complete opposite.

He stopped walking and crouched beside a tree, hiding behind a bush. Looking around, Atlas found a stone and picked it up before throwing it into the clearing, causing chaos as plant creatures popped out from the ground.

The moonlight allowed Atlas to see the whole clearing as if it were daytime. He was confused when he saw the monsters. They were plants but took on creepy humanoid shapes, with colorful flowers dotting the vines that snaked everywhere.

The scene gave him the creeps, making him shudder at their jerky movement. Once he overcame that, he scanned the monsters to find their rank.

[VenoNovelFireine Creeper]

[Rank: D - 300 Exp]

Following Atlas scanning the creatures, he counted ten meandering around the clearing, looking for the fake intruder. He wanted to kill them as that would earn him three thousand experience and a bunch of Green Monster Cores.

He got ready to attack and would use Void Arrows, and Atlas planned to pepper them with a wave of projectiles. With that decided, he popped out of the bush and started casting his spells, which slammed into the Venomvine Creepers.

The plant monsters let out an ear-piercing screech that hurt his ears, but that didn't stop Atlas from casting Void Bullets that hit the surviving creatures, causing them to burn as the explosion blew and annihilated the monsters.

Soon enough, he thought they were all dead until he felt something crawling up his leg, causing him to jump in fright. Atlas looked down and saw a vine wrapping around him, but he started cutting it away.

But that's when the vines grew barbs that stabbed into his legs, causing him to scream in pain.

[Health: 204/244]

'The fuck! That hurts,' Atlas internally panicked.

He continued to cut away the vine, but the barbs kept stabbing into him, reducing his health at a scary rate.

[Health: 164/244]

''Get the fuck off me, you damn plant!'' he raged before casting Void Bullet at his leg, causing a sharp pain to shoot through his body.

[Health: 84/244]

But Atlas achieved his goal and freed himself from the vines before collapsing to the ground while breathing heavily. He pulled out a Minor Health Potion and downed it before pouring it on his leg.

Following that, he checked his health after using the potion.

[Health: 134/244]

Atlas was delighted at his swift recovery and hastened it further with another potion. When nearly healed, he rose to his feet and surveyed the clearing. Ten glowing cores lay scattered around the clearing.

He gathered them one by one, storing each in his Dimensional Storage. Once Atlas finished that, he continued his journey and realized he could travel as far as the jungle blocked the moonlight.

Deciding it was time to rest for the night, Atlas spotted a nearby bush he could hide inside. He crouched low, slipped inside, and curled up, wrapping the Enchanted Winter Cloak around his body to ward off the chill.