Chapter 35: Finally Reached Level 100

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Finally Reached Level 100

Captain Adrian Cross fell silent.

Westmere’s City Lord, Edmund Sterling, continued, "Regardless of whether Nathaniel wins or loses, this duel is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his abilities."

He paused, considering the consequences.

"If we leak information about his recent progress and force those executives to back down before the duel, we might interfere with the High Command’s assessment. We don’t know what they’re looking for, and I won’t risk disrupting their plans."

Adrian nodded slowly.

"That makes sense."

Edmund leaned back in his chair, his expression turning thoughtful.

"Besides, I want to see something for myself."

He looked toward the window.

"Just how far can that boy go?"

Adrian gave a wry smile.

"The Beaumont Trading Consortium has four Level 200 professionals. If those executives decide to abandon all dignity and have all four attack Nathaniel together, the situation could become dangerous."

He paused before continuing.

"Even with his extraordinary growth, the difference between Level 100 and Level 200 is enormous."

Edmund nodded.

"Nathaniel might not win."

He wasn’t underestimating the young man. The difference in levels was simply too significant to dismiss. Ordinary professionals needed years of effort to bridge such a gap, and even a powerful class couldn’t automatically erase every disadvantage.

"But," Edmund added, a faint smile appearing on his face, "we can’t say that with certainty either."

He shook his head.

"Ever since his class awakening, has that boy done anything normal?"

Adrian immediately laughed.

"That’s true, sir."

The two exchanged a knowing glance.

For now, they could only wait and see what Nathaniel would accomplish next.

Neither of them would have to wait long.

Day Seven: Level 88!

The following morning, Nathaniel returned to the Westmere Professional Center.

His objective remained unchanged.

Reach Level 100 as quickly as possible.

Once he completed his first class advancement, he could continue increasing his level and unlock a new stage of growth.

He had no intention of wasting even a single day.

"Shadow Summoning."

Darkness spread beneath his feet.

Shadow Soldiers emerged in rapid succession, their black armor gleaming faintly under the lights of the dungeon entrance.

Nathaniel didn’t stop at ten.

He summoned a force large enough to divide into several assault units, then used Shadow Command to assign each group a separate section of the dungeon.

The front ranks would engage the strongest monsters. Other units would sweep through the surrounding passages, eliminating smaller groups before they could gather into dangerous formations. Additional soldiers would reinforce whichever unit encountered the greatest resistance.

The result was a coordinated advance across multiple battlefronts.

While one group fought, another was already moving toward the next target. Whenever a section was cleared, the soldiers regrouped and pushed deeper without waiting for Nathaniel to personally lead every encounter.

Nathaniel followed behind his advancing army, using Shadow Sense to monitor the battlefield.

He had learned that sheer numbers were only part of the advantage.

An army that moved together could accomplish far more than the same number of soldiers acting independently.

With each dungeon he cleared, Nathaniel refined his commands and improved the efficiency of his forces.

Monsters that would have forced an ordinary party into prolonged battles were overwhelmed by coordinated attacks from multiple directions.

Bosses received concentrated assaults, while weaker enemies were eliminated by separate units before they could interfere.

His army was no longer merely a collection of powerful summons.

It was becoming a force capable of clearing entire dungeon sections with astonishing speed.

The hours passed in a blur of combat and system notifications.

By the time Nathaniel finally left the dungeon area that evening, his level had reached 88.

He checked his status window.

Then he looked toward the next portal.

"Still not enough."

He had gained considerable ground, but Level 100 remained his immediate target.

He needed one more day of relentless effort.

And he intended to use every minute of it.

Day Eight: One Level Away!

Another day passed.

By evening, darkness had settled over Westmere.

The dungeon area of the Westmere Professional Center had grown quiet. Most professionals had already returned home, leaving only a few employees on duty.

Administrator Lucas Bennett was still stationed near the portals.

He struggled to suppress a yawn as he checked the time.

He had been waiting for hours, but he didn’t dare leave his post.

Nathaniel Beaumont was still grinding dungeons.

Lucas had never encountered anyone who treated dungeon clearing like a full-time occupation without a moment’s hesitation. Most professionals needed regular breaks, especially after fighting powerful monsters for an entire day.

Nathaniel seemed determined to squeeze every possible moment out of his schedule.

Hum!

A dungeon portal suddenly illuminated the hall.

Lucas immediately straightened.

A familiar figure emerged from the light.

Nathaniel.

His clothes showed signs of a long day of battle, and unmistakable exhaustion had settled across his face. Even his usually composed expression looked slightly strained.

Lucas hurried over.

"Mr. Beaumont, you’ve been grinding for a very long time today. Wouldn’t it be better to rest for a while?"

Nathaniel didn’t answer immediately.

He opened his status window.

[Name: Nathaniel Beaumont]

[Level: 99]

His gaze lingered on the number.

Only one level remained.

One final step stood between him and the level cap for his first class advancement.

He could feel the exhaustion weighing on him. His mind had been processing combat information for hours, and his body felt heavier with every passing moment.

Even his concentration was beginning to falter.

But then he remembered why he had started this journey.

His parents were still missing.

The Abyss Rifts remained unexplored.

And five days from now, he would have to face the senior executives who intended to seize control of his family’s business.

He couldn’t afford to stop just short of his goal.

Nathaniel raised his head.

"Open one more dungeon."

Lucas blinked.

"One more?"

"Yes."

Lucas hesitated before opening the dungeon list on his terminal.

"There’s a dungeon with a Level 99 entry requirement. It’s one of the most dangerous options available at your current level."

He turned the screen toward Nathaniel.

"Blood Moon Altar. Hell Difficulty."

Nathaniel glanced at the information.

[Blood Moon Altar: Hell Difficulty]

[Entry Level: 99]

[Recommended Party Size: 10]

He nodded.

"That one."

Lucas looked at him for another moment, apparently wanting to say something about rest and safety.

In the end, he simply activated the portal.

"If you need assistance, contact the Professional Center immediately."

Nathaniel gave a brief nod.

Then he stepped into the light.

Blood Moon Altar: Hell Difficulty

The moment Nathaniel entered the dungeon, the atmosphere changed.

A vast stone altar stretched beneath a blood-red sky. Enormous pillars surrounded the central platform, their surfaces covered in ancient markings. Crimson mist drifted between the broken structures, and a gigantic blood moon hung overhead.

The ground was littered with bones.

At the far end of the altar, a staircase led toward a towering temple entrance.

A system notification appeared.

[System Prompt: You have entered Blood Moon Altar, Hell Difficulty.]

[Entry Level: 99]

[Recommended Party Size: 10]

Nathaniel examined the surroundings.

He could already sense numerous hostile presences scattered throughout the ruins.

He didn’t intend to approach them one at a time.

"Shadow Summoning."

His shadow expanded across the stone floor.

The first ranks of Shadow Soldiers emerged, their black armor contrasting sharply with the crimson mist. More followed, then more again, until a formidable army stood across the altar grounds.

Nathaniel continued summoning until he had deployed one hundred and fifty Shadow Soldiers.

Their formation extended between the broken pillars, creating several independent assault units.

Some would clear the outer ruins. Others would advance through the temple’s side passages. The central force would push directly toward the altar, where the strongest enemy presence waited.

Nathaniel issued his commands.

"Clear the outer sections first. Keep the units connected through the surrounding shadows. Once the outer paths are secure, converge on the central temple."

The soldiers bowed their heads.

Then the army moved.

The ruins erupted into battle.

Monsters emerged from the crimson mist, their distorted bodies covered in blood-red armor. Some wielded rusted weapons, while others attacked with claws and jagged teeth.

The Shadow Soldiers met them head-on.

The first assault unit smashed through a cluster of skeletal warriors. Another formation swept around a ruined tower and attacked the monsters from behind. A third unit blocked a narrow passage, preventing reinforcements from reaching the battlefield.

Within minutes, several outer sections had been cleared.

Nathaniel followed the advance, occasionally redirecting soldiers when his Shadow Sense detected a stronger enemy.

The army’s numerical advantage was decisive.

Rather than allowing the dungeon to funnel him into a series of isolated battles, Nathaniel used his forces to attack multiple areas simultaneously. Weaker monsters were eliminated by smaller units, while larger groups were surrounded and crushed by concentrated numbers.

The Shadow Soldiers moved deeper.

Their formation converged on the temple entrance, where a dense wave of monsters poured down the stairs.

Nathaniel watched the approaching horde.

"Break through."

The central formation surged forward.

Dozens of Shadow Soldiers struck the enemy front while additional units attacked from the flanks. The monsters attempted to hold their ground, but the pressure came from too many directions.

Their formation collapsed.

Within moments, the stairs were covered with defeated enemies.

The Shadow Soldiers continued upward.

Nathaniel’s exhaustion remained, but his focus sharpened as the final encounter approached.

He had come too far to stop now.

The Blood Moon Priest

At the summit of the altar stood a towering figure dressed in crimson ceremonial robes.

A mask covered its face, and a long staff crowned with a blood-red crystal rested in its hand.

As Nathaniel approached, the figure slowly raised its head.

The blood moon above the temple pulsed.

A wave of crimson energy swept across the altar, and the remaining monsters roared in response.

The system identified the final boss.

[Blood Moon Priest]

[Boss Encounter Initiated]

The priest lifted its staff.

Crimson magic gathered overhead, forming a massive sphere of blood-red light.

Nathaniel immediately issued a command.

"Spread out! Break its line of attack!"

The Shadow Soldiers separated into several groups.

The first unit rushed toward the boss from the left, forcing it to turn its attention away from the central formation. Another unit advanced from the right, while a third climbed the ruined pillars to attack from an elevated position.

The priest released its spell.

A crimson shock wave swept across the altar, tearing through the stone floor.

Several Shadow Soldiers were caught in the blast, but the rest had already scattered beyond its main impact zone.

Before the priest could prepare another attack, the first unit reached it.

Black weapons crashed against the boss’s defenses.

The priest staggered.

It swung its staff, unleashing another burst of blood-red energy, but the Shadow Soldiers attacked from multiple directions. Every time it turned toward one group, another struck from its blind side.

Nathaniel watched the battle through Shadow Sense.

The boss was powerful, but its attention was divided among too many enemies.

He ordered the central formation to close in.

The remaining soldiers surged forward, surrounding the altar and cutting off the priest’s escape routes.

The boss raised its staff for another spell.

It never completed the casting.

A wave of black-armored soldiers crashed into it from the front while another group struck from behind. The priest’s defensive magic flickered beneath the continuous assault.

Nathaniel stepped forward.

"Shadow Execution."

Darkness gathered above the altar.

The Shadow Energy surrounding him surged into a massive blade of condensed darkness. Its immense silhouette appeared against the blood-red sky, casting a shadow across the temple.

Nathaniel’s expression remained cold.

"End it."

The blade descended.

BOOM!

The entire altar shook.

Cracks spread across the stone platform as the strike swallowed the Blood Moon Priest in overwhelming darkness.

The boss’s defenses shattered.

Its figure collapsed beneath the attack, and the blood-red energy that had filled the temple dispersed into the air.

For one brief moment, the entire dungeon fell silent.

Then the system notifications appeared.

[You have killed the Blood Moon Priest.]

[Experience Gained: +6,000,000]

[Blood Moon Altar, Hell Difficulty, cleared.]

[Clear Rating: SSS]

[Level Up!]

[Current Level: 100]

[Notification: You have reached the level cap for your first class advancement.]

[Current experience cannot increase further.]

[Please complete your first class advancement quest to continue leveling.]

Nathaniel stood motionless as he read the notifications.

Level 100.

He had finally reached it.

From class awakening to the first advancement threshold, only eight days had passed.

Eight days of relentless dungeon runs, countless battles, and an army of Shadow Soldiers that had helped him turn what should have been a long journey into an extraordinary sprint.

His body was exhausted.

His mind felt stretched to its limit.

Yet a deep sense of satisfaction rose within him.

He had accomplished the first major goal he had set for himself.

A smile slowly appeared on his face.

"Finally."

He looked toward the blood-red moon hanging above the ruined altar.

"Tomorrow, I’ll complete my class advancement."

He had reached the limit.

Now he needed to break through it.

Nathaniel dismissed the surviving Shadow Soldiers, allowing them to return to his shadow, then stepped into the clearance portal.

The moment he emerged from the dungeon, he intended to return home, eat something, and get a proper night’s sleep.

Tomorrow would bring a new stage of power.

And he wanted to meet it with a clear mind.

Above Westmere

Nathaniel had no idea that someone had been watching his progress.

High above the city, beyond the reach of ordinary professionals, two figures stood quietly among the clouds.

Neither wore flying equipment.

Neither had wings.

They simply stood in the open sky as though the air beneath their feet were solid ground.

Below them, Westmere’s lights stretched across the landscape like a vast sea of stars.

The glow of the Westmere Professional Center’s dungeon area was clearly visible in the distance.

One figure wore a black trench coat. A dark token bearing a golden dragon emblem rested in his hand.

He was the High Command agent who had previously visited the City Lord’s Office.

Beside him stood a middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe.

The gray-robed man gazed down at the city, his eyes filled with undisguised amazement.

"Eight days."

He shook his head slowly.

"From class awakening to Level 100 in eight days. That boy is frighteningly fast."

The man in black remained composed.

"His progress is impressive."

Despite his calm tone, a faint ripple of surprise passed through his eyes.

The gray-robed man laughed.

"Impressive? That’s an understatement. Even across the history of the Aurelian Alliance, his speed would rank among the most extraordinary cases."

He turned toward his companion.

"Do you know who reached Level 100 the fastest among our current High Command members after awakening?"

The man in black answered without hesitation.

"Alexander Whitlock."

"Exactly."

The gray-robed man nodded.

"Alexander Whitlock had an exceptionally rare special class, and his family poured enormous resources into his development. He had elite teams clearing dungeons for him, the best experience potions available, and access to almost every resource he needed."

He paused.

"Even with all those advantages, it took him eight full days to reach Level 100."

His gaze returned to the Professional Center.

"But Nathaniel?"

He raised eight fingers.

"Eight days, and he spent that time clearing Hell-difficulty dungeons himself."

The gray-robed man exhaled.

"That’s not something ordinary talent can explain."

The man in black didn’t disagree.

The High Command had seen countless prodigies.

The Five Top Academies produced candidates who seemed extraordinary to the outside world, but those same candidates were only the beginning of the selection process at the highest level.

Even by the High Command’s standards, Nathaniel’s progress was remarkable.

What made him even more unusual was the way he fought.

His class allowed him to summon Shadow Soldiers in numbers far beyond an ordinary party. Rather than relying on a small squad to fight every monster sequentially, he deployed coordinated forces across multiple sections of a dungeon.

His army reduced wasted time, overwhelmed enemy formations, and allowed him to clear Hell-difficulty dungeons at an astonishing pace.

His growth wasn’t merely a matter of possessing high attributes.

He had a method of turning those attributes into an increasingly efficient fighting force.

The gray-robed man suddenly grinned.

"Once the training camp ends, send him to my team."

The man in black turned his head.

"He hasn’t passed my assessment yet."

"I know."

The gray-robed man waved his hand casually.

"I’m only making an early request. Who wouldn’t want a talent like him?"

He glanced back toward the city.

"With his performance so far, passing your assessment should only be a matter of time."

The man in black remained unmoved.

"The High Command doesn’t evaluate talent alone."

The gray-robed man’s smile faded slightly.

After a moment, he sighed.

"True. Still, if someone like him fails to join the High Command, it would be a tremendous loss."

He studied his companion.

"Couldn’t you lower your standards a little?"

"No."

The answer came immediately.

"The more talented a candidate is, the higher the standard must be."

The gray-robed man fell silent.

The man in black continued, his voice measured.

"An ordinary genius who takes the wrong path can cause limited damage. Someone with Nathaniel’s potential is different."

He looked toward the distant dungeon portal.

"His growth rate is extraordinary. If his judgment, character, or mindset develops serious flaws, the consequences could be far greater than those caused by an ordinary professional."

The wind swept through the clouds.

For a long time, the gray-robed man said nothing.

Eventually, he nodded.

"You’re right. The more extraordinary the talent, the more carefully we must evaluate it."

He folded his arms.

"We’re recruiting future guardians, not creating future disasters."

The man in black looked down at Westmere once more.

"Exactly."

Far below, Nathaniel was already making his way home, unaware that the most powerful institution in the Alliance was examining not only his strength, but also the person he might become.

Tomorrow, he would attempt his first class advancement.

And after that, his path would lead toward challenges far beyond the dungeons of Westmere.

___________________________________

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