After As dealt with the Void Raptor that lunged at him from the river below, which sshed back into the water, alerting even more monsters, he rolled his eyes before darting into the forest, thinking, ''What is the objective of this ce? Kill all the creatures? Find the boss?''


    While mulling that over, a notification popped up, causing him to trip over a root he couldn''t see before falling t on his face.


    [1. Defeat Void Raptors - 966/1000]


    [2. Defeat four Void Raptor Warriors - 4/4]


    [3. Locate the Death Valley and kill the monsters guarding the entrance - 1000/1000]


    [4. Defeat the King Void Raptor to unlock them for use in the outside world - 1/1]


    ''Void Raptor Warriors! Death Valley! What is this hateful ce,'' he internallyined before asking it something, ''What happens if I die? Does it carry over?''


    [Yes, Voidwalker, if you fail the run, your total carries over. Do not worry and conquer the first level of the Void Realm]


    Afterward, As journeyed through the forest, relentlessly attacking any Void Raptors he encountered. After ying dozens, his arm grew weary, and his chest heaved with exhaustion, causing him to look for a ce to rest.


    While sitting down, As checked the total number of monsters he killed.


    [Void Raptors - 881/1000]


    ''This is going to take ages,'' he thought while sitting there.


    While resting, a noise caused his ears to twitch. As looked to the right where it wasing from, only to see arge Void Raptor. This one was ck with azure blue markings down its body.


    Seeing this creature sent shivers down his spine, but As still managed to scan it using Void Sight.


    [Void Raptor Warrior]


    [Rank: D]


    ''Oh god, what is this nightmare,'' he thought while scrambling to his fight as the monster lunged at him.


    He yelped but quickly used Void Step to dodge the first lunge before casting Void st into the creature''s side. This caused it to let out a pain-filled roar, which encouraged the monster to attack even faster.


    As had trouble keeping up with the sudden burst of speed, and whenever the chance appeared, he tried to cast Void st. The warrior dodged it beforetching onto his left arm, and when he felt its teeth, he screamed.


    The pain overwhelmed him, but As still managed to cast Void Wave in a pointless attempt to get it off. To his surprise, the Void Raptor Warrior ripped his arm off with a quick tug of its head, causing him to go into shock.


    Soon, it jumped on him again, but As plunged the dagger into its eyes this time before casting Void st through the weapon and blowing the creature''s skull apart, causing it to vanish into the mist.


    As dropped to the ground while trying to recover, but the pain was overwhelming. He nced at his arm and was shocked as he witnessed his skin stitching together and creating more.


    It was reconstructing his arm from the cells up, which was a pleasant surprise. Then, As stood up and shook his head while his Regeneration kicked in, which baffled him, but soon howling and roars could be heard.


    He scanned his surroundings, seeking a spot to ambush the approaching monsters. Spotting a high branch, As ascended it as he could, but his missing arm slowed him down. As still managed to get high enough to avoid the first Void Raptor that burst out of a nearby bush.


    The creature sprinted towards him like a hound dog, tracking him by scent. He panicked and cast a Void st at it, which tore them apart, but even more appeared below him. They started climbing the tree, causing As to go higher as the monsters reached the branch he was on.


    While doing this, As constantly spammed spells into the horde of monsters closing in on him. Explosions erupted once he started using Void Bullet, but he messed up and destroyed the tree he was in.


    As it began to fall, As swiftly leaped to a nearby tree. However, a Void Raptor lunged at him, sinking its razor-sharp ws into his back. Despite the pain, he reacted swiftly, casting Void Wave, which killed the creature and freed him from the pain.


    Exhausted and injured, he crashed to the ground, darkness enveloping him, which meant he failed. When he regained consciousness, he found himself back on the ship. Opening his eyes, he saw Estelle sitting beside him, gently ying with his hair.


    ''''Were you having a nightmare, Le Messie élu? You screamed a few times,'''' she said with a worried smile.


    As sat up while shaking his head, ''''I was in the Void Realm and failed,'''' he said confusedly. ''''I''m still not used to it, but I''ll get used to it.''''


    ''''Whats that?'''' Estelle questioned.


    He exined everything about the Void Realm, which amazed the blonde knight. She offered to assist him on his next visit. Upon hearing her offer, As smiled warmly before embracing the older girl.


    Estelle returned the hug and suggested, "We can do it together. Why not try it now?"


    As nodded in agreement before taking Estelle''s hand and activating the Void Realm. Instantly, they copsed onto her bed. A deep fatigue washed over his body when he reappeared, causing his shoulders to sag.


    ''Why do I feel so sluggish?'' he wondered, stretching his body to alleviate the weariness.


    [If you use the Void Realm too soon after failing the level, fatigue will be added as a penalty]


    This caused As to roll his eyes before turning to Estelle, ncing around the forest with wide eyes, ''''Why does this ce feel so creepy, Le Messie élu?''''


    ''''I''m not sure, but I''m sure our souls are no longer in Valoria,'''' he revealed. ''''Be careful, though. The Void Raptors are sneaky.''''


    Following that, he pulled up the totals and saw he was nearly a quarter of the way there for the Void Raptors.


    [Void Raptors - 857/1000]


    [Void Raptor Warriors - 3/4]


    ''A quarter of the way there,'' As thought. ''Hopefully this fatigue goes away.''


    As shook his head wearily and yawned, prompting Estelle to ask, "Why are you so exhausted?"


    "It''s a penalty for jumping back into this ce so soon," he replied as the distant roars echoed through the forest.


    Anticipating the impending danger, he readied his spells while Estelle stepped protectively before him, raising her shield and casting Healing Light to bolster him, ''''Is that the Void Raptors?''''


    As nodded just as he cast Void Bullet at an approaching monster that blew it away. Estelle blocked a sh from another creature''s ws, causing sparks to fly as it hit the shield, but she shed at it using her sword that cut through its body.


    A chaotic battle erupted as more Void Raptors charged at them. As rushed forward while trying to push the tiredness away while shing at the monster''s leg, bringing it to the ground with a thud before casting a Void st at another.


    Estelle managed to kill a few more before a group of four jumped her, kicking the blonde knight out of the Void Realm and leaving As alone. When all the monsters turned to him, he gulped and quickly cast Void sts into the group.


    This sent the raptors flying, but some were protected by the others and pounced on him, causing his world to go dark. As woke up in the room with a raging headache; he got off the bed while walking toward the door, ''''I''m going to get some fresh air; my head is hurting.''''


    The blonde knight didn''t answer. She looked shocked, and As walked out of their quarters and saw sailors doing business. He walked toward the stairs at the end of the hallway and stepped onto the deck as the ship sailed across a dark ocean.


    As couldn''t see more than a few feet from the ship. He walked towards the railings and leaned against them while looking at the pitch-ck sea. Without thinking, he used Void Sight to see if any sea monsters were nearby.


    [Razorhide]


    [Rank: A - 1000]


    ''Oh boy what kind of monster is that,'' As mused while trying to spot the thing but saw nothing.


    That''s when Pierre''s voice rang out from behind him, ''''Razorhide''s are horrible monsters that follow ships and leap up to grab sailors from the deck.''''


    As turned around to ask, ''''What do they look like?''''


    ''''A mix of Blood Sharks and a Swamp Drake, they reach about five meters long and are intelligentpared to other monsters that lurk under the waves,'''' Pierre joined him by leaning against the railing.


    The older man looked at him with a curious expression before asking, ''''I wonder who you truly are? Maybe the Le Messie élu or the Le Malin are the same?''''


    As shrugged. ''''All I want to do is live a life of adventure and happiness. I''ve experienced a lot in my young life and want to have fun,'''' he revealed.


    ''''Do you have any ambitions of ruling a kingdom?'''' Pierre asked.


    He shook his head before answering, ''''No. I want to explore the world and dive into dungeons.''''


    ''''You''re a free spirit, I see,'''' the older manmented. ''''They are entertaining to be around; most I''ve met have explored the jungles to the east, deserts to the south, and the grasnds of Demecia.''''


    ''''Haven''t heard of any of them, but I''m sure I''ll find myself there one day,''''As answered, causing Pierre to nod in agreement.


    As and the older man went quiet until he was summoned below deck, leaving him alone on the dark deck lit by a few torches. While standing there, he checked the amount of Void Raptors he''d killed so far.


    [Void Raptors - 787/1000]