That changed everything.
Being able to rank up his core without facing a trial meant he was no longer shackled to the slow, punishing grind of growing stronger one ordeal at a time.
A faint smile crept onto Vale's pale face.
It wasn't certain, but it was good enough. He didn't have time to dwell on whether his assumption was true or not, at least not yet.
His next instinct was clear—summon his weapon.
As he focused on the Artifact, a tingling sensation bloomed in his abdomen.
Light particles spiralled around his right hand, and in a blink, something materialised in his grip—the Ordinary Katana.
The blade shimmered in the darkness of the cave, its polished edge catching the flickering torchlight. A beautiful hamon rippled along the steel, while the handle, guard, and blade collar—all pitch black—contrasted starkly against the gleaming metal.
Vale studied the sword with quiet awe. As the second prince, he'd handled more than his share of master-crafted weapons, yet this one stood among the finest he had ever laid eyes on. He couldn't imagine what a weapon forged from an S-Rank Awakened monster might look like.
"No wonder artifacts are so expensive," he mused.
Lowering the torch to the ground, Vale began testing the katana, flowing through a series of attacks to gauge its weight and balance. He had trained with swords since childhood and was proficient in nearly every weapon—adjusting came naturally. Within moments, the air around him was alive with the sound of sharp swings slicing cleanly through the silence.
Minutes passed. Sweat beaded along his skin, but he barely noticed. Swordsmanship had always been more than training—it was an obsession. The one thing that kept him grounded amid the suffocating expectations of the royal family.
After a final flurry of slashes, Vale lowered the weapon, satisfied with how it felt in his grip. He had already adapted to its weight. Now, it was time to move. His objective was clear—find the Tree of Life and consume its fruit so that he could return to the living world.
With his torch in one hand and katana in the other, he strode deeper into the cave. For the first time since entering the Demon Realm, he felt a measure of control—not comfort, for no one could ever truly relax here—but at least his situation was no longer as dire.
Still, caution ruled his steps.
His movements grew lighter and quieter, honed by years of training. Every sense remained alert, which is why he was quick to notice the change ahead.
The torchlight flickered, casting warped shadows as two crevices appeared in the stone wall. As Vale approached, the cracks widened into tunnels.
One sloped upward, the other descended further into darkness.
For Vale, the choice was obvious. He needed to reach the surface—lingering in this cave any longer would only waste time. Without hesitation, he headed toward the left tunnel, hoping it would lead him higher.
Were it not for the slope, he might have struggled to tell the tunnels apart—everything here looked the same. Navigating caves wasn't his strength. He had never been in one before. Thankfully, this path was simple. There were only two options, and one clearly moved upward.
Fatigue began creeping in. His legs grew heavy, his breath shallowed, and his stomach grumbled for food. Even in the Demon Realm, the body still had its mundane needs.
Then he heard it—a squeaking noise, faint at first but growing louder.
Vale froze.
His grip on the katana tightened as he slowed his pace, though he didn't stop. He couldn't afford to.
The chirping grew sharper, and a moment later, two shadows burst from the darkness ahead, wings stretched wide, nearly filling the width of the tunnel. Their eyes glowed faintly, and fangs jutted from snarling mouths as they hurtled toward him.
He dropped the torch, gripping the katana with both hands and swinging in one smooth motion. The first creature veered at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the blade.
The second lunged straight at his face. Vale twisted mid-step, intercepting it with a well-timed block. The impact rattled his arms, but he used the momentum to slam the monster against the cave wall. Bone cracked.
He rolled forward to gain distance, but they were relentless.
As soon as he regained his footing, they were on him again. Claws raked the air. Fangs snapped. Steel met bone with a harsh, echoing clash. Each strike from the monsters hit with the force of a grown man's full strength.
But Vale had sparred with stronger opponents his whole life. His body knew how to endure force—how to respond with precision.
Spotting an opening, he lunged. His blade drove through the chest of one beast, a wet shriek tearing from its throat as it crumpled.
[ You have slain an E-Rank, Dormant Monster, Flying Bat. ]
The familiar voice echoed in his mind, but he paid it no heed. The fight wasn't over.
Only one creature remained.
The momentum shifted. Vale pressed forward, his attacks growing faster and sharper with each moment. The cave floor grew slick with green blood as strike after strike found its mark.
Then, with a final, lightning-fast slash, his blade carved through the creature's wing. It shrieked, spiralling downward, and writhing on the ground.
Vale watched it twitch in agony for a heartbeat before stepping forward. A single thrust to the skull ended its struggles.
[ You have slain an E-Rank, Dormant Monster, Flying Bat. ]