"My lord," Norm said, kneeling before the king, "my eldest son, Dane Solomon, is a young and gifted warrior. He has already reached the 7th tier (Lv. 230), an achievement few can claim where Most struggle to break past 5th tier (Lv. 100). This is our opportunity to establish ties with the Hero's Party and display the strength of the Elves."
During that time, the Hero Kyle himself was only Lv. 135, but his growth was astonishing. Dane's presence would prove the might of the Elves, and perhaps even rival the Hero himself.
Yet not everyone shared in this glory.
In the shadow of his brother's excellence stood Kang Solomon, Norm's second son. Compared to Dane's overwhelming talent, Kang was merely Lv. 89. The gap between them was immeasurable.
Jealousy burned deep within Kang's heart. His brother was always superior—always chosen, always favoured. And now, he was to represent the Elves in history's most important battle?
When he heard this Fury overtook him. Without hesitation, he stormed into his father's chamber.
"Father! How can you give Dane every opportunity while ignoring me?" he demanded.
Norm barely spared him a glance. "Because you lack his qualities," he replied coldly.
Kang clenched his fists. "You never gave me the same resources or training! If you had, I could have surpassed him!"
Norm, exhausted from his duties, had little patience for yet another argument. With a sigh, he said, "If you truly believe you are worthy, then prove it. You have three days before your brother departs."
Kang seethed. "I will defeat him in three days."
As he turned to leave, he came face to face with Dane.
Dressed in simple attire, his elder brother's expression remained calm. Despite Kang's resentment, Dane had never treated him poorly. To him, Kang was simply his younger brother—the same boy who once followed him everywhere, looking up to him with admiration.
But to Kang, Dane was an unreachable mountain, a figure who stole the light meant for him.
Dane met his brother's furious gaze and kang simply said to him, "Three days." Then, he walked away.
Kang stormed outside, his heart pounding with frustration. Deep down, he knew the truth—there was no way he could defeat his brother.
But then, a dangerous idea crept into his mind.
For a moment, he considered it.
Then, he shook his head.
No. That would only bring ruin upon himself.
Two days passed, and Kang Solomon still found no way to defeat his brother. Frustration gnawed at him, each moment slipping through his fingers like grains of sand. The weight of failure pressed upon him, and desperation took root in his heart.
Finally, a reckless thought took shape.
He would steal the Essence of the World Tree.
The World Tree—a colossal being stretching thousands of miles, its ancient branches piercing through the clouds—was the heart of elven civilization, the very symbol of their existence. The elves worshipped it as a god, a divine protector that had nurtured them since time immemorial.
Every century, a single elf was chosen to receive its most sacred gift—a single drop of its Essence, a sap of pure power, extracted only once in a hundred years. The recipient was determined by merit, a reflection of their achievements and contributions to the elven race.
This time, the chosen one was Dane Solomon.
It was inevitable—his brother's accomplishments were legendary. With a name known across the lands, it was only natural for him to receive the highest honor. And once he drank the Essence, his already formidable level of 230 would soar beyond 300, pushing him through his 8th transformation, solidifying his place among the greatest warriors of the age.
But if Kang took it instead…
He clenched his fists, his mind racing.
Because his level was lower, the experience gain would be far greater. His brother might rise by 70 levels, but Kang? He could soar past 100 levels, reaching 200 in an instant. This was his chance—his only chance—to break free from Dane's shadow.
That night, under the veil of darkness, he made his move.
The elves were preoccupied with preparations for Dane's departure. The entire kingdom was bustling, lost in the excitement of the ceremony. Kang slipped away, his heart pounding as he approached the inner sanctum of the World Tree.
The entrance was guarded, but he had already planned for this.
Striding forward with confidence, he addressed the sentries.
"My father, Commander Norm, is looking for me," he said firmly. "I'll stand guard here while you attend to your duties."
The guards exchanged glances but did not question him. As the son of the commander, he was known and trusted. Besides, he had visited this sacred place many times before with his father.
No suspicion. No hesitation.
As the guards departed, Kang turned toward the depths of the tree. The sanctum was silent, save for the distant hum of energy. The further he went, the more intense the natural aura became.
At the very center, surrounded by a web of ancient roots and golden leaves, he saw it.
A single drop of pure green liquid, nestled within layers of enchanted foliage, radiating warmth and boundless energy.
The Essence of the World Tree.
His breath quickened. Without a second thought, he unsheathed his sword, slashing through the protective leaves. The sacred energy pulsed violently, but Kang paid it no heed. His hands trembled as he seized the glowing droplet and brought it to his lips.
The moment the liquid touched his tongue, a wave of raw power surged through his body.
A golden light enveloped him as the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations]
[You have absorbed the Essence of the World Tree. A massive amount of experience has been acquired!]
[Levelling up… Lv. 89 → Lv. 100 (5th Tier Achieved)]
[Levelling up… Lv. 100 → Lv. 150 (6th Tier Achieved)]
[Skill enhancement detected. New skills acquired.]
[Wind Slash]
[Fatal Strike]
[Plant Growth Manipulation]
Kang's heart pounded. The overwhelming rush of energy made his body feel weightless, his very soul elevated to a new plane of existence.
But then--
[Warning: Curse of the World Tree detected.]
Kang's vision blurred. A sharp pain stabbed through his mind.
[Description: You have been cursed by the World Tree. You have committed sacrilege by stealing its sacred Essence. You are unworthy.]
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
"What?!" His breath hitched.
His eyes darted to his status window. His level had stopped at 150.
Why?, Why wasn't he continuing to level up?
Then, the final message appeared.
[Penalty Applied: You can no longer level up.]
Kang's body froze.
His hands clenched as horror dawned upon him.
"What-No longer… level up?"