Inside another part of the cave, herbs and alchemy tools lay scattered.
Siyam stood beside Dhiyano.
"What should I do now?"
Dhiyano remained silent for a moment. Doubt flickered in his eyes.
"I don't know… but you'll need to create an Elixir. It can normalize mutated monsters… bring them back to their original form."
Siyam nodded.
"Alright… I'll try."
After a pause, he asked,
"Why is mutation such a big problem? Your power increases, right? Your race becomes stronger."
Dhiyano's voice lowered.
"There are things beyond power… things strength alone can't give."
Siyam fell silent.
He studied Dhiyano's face—
a little sad… a little helpless.
After a moment, he gave a faint smile.
"Forget it. I'll do my best. I'll fix things for you."
Dhiyano nodded, a small smile appearing on his face.
---
TING!
A system window appeared.
[Mission: Mutation Cure — Time Limit: 2 Days]
Reward:
→ Level 3 Technique
→ 200 EXP
Siyam smirked slightly.
"A chance to level up… perfect."
Dhiyano just stared at him.
---
Siyam opened the system panel.
Words scrolled across the screen—
"Insult Points… the more the insult, the more the points… no points for repeating the same target…"
Siyam narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting…"
A mini spin interface appeared.
"5 points per spin…"
He counted.
"100 points…"
Click.
SPIN!
A black pen appeared in his hand.
Siyam's face twisted.
"Seriously?"
He tossed it aside.
"Ever since I got this system… it's nothing but trouble."
Another spin.
And another.
On the sixth—
TING!
[Congratulations! Primal Pulse Herb Obtained]
His eyes widened.
"Primal Pulse Herb…! Bro… jackpot!"
Dhiyano stared at him, confused.
Has he gone crazy over a plant?
---
Siyam sent him outside.
"You go. I'll handle this."
Now alone, he checked the system.
"Points… 70…"
"Let's level up."
TING!
[Level Up → 2]
[New Feature Unlocked: Craft]
Siyam's lips parted slightly.
"Now it gets interesting."
---
The cave fell silent.
Siyam sat surrounded by herbs, a cauldron in front of him.
He picked up the Primal Pulse Herb, examined it carefully, then dropped it into the cauldron.
A blue book lay open—"Elixir Refined."
He followed each step.
Slowly.
Carefully.
A faint blue energy flowed from his fingers into the cauldron.
Heat rose beneath it.
Smoke spiraled upward.
Siyam clenched his teeth.
"I spent 40 points on this… it better work…"
TING!
[EXPLOSION RISK!]
He froze.
"Stop… or continue?"
[Craft Progress: 89%]
He inhaled deeply.
"Just a little more…"
Sweat rolled down his face.
His eyes reddened.
All night—
The skill faltered.
The herbs resisted.
Every few minutes—
[WARNING!]
[EXPLOSION RISK!]
His hands trembled…
But he didn't stop.
"I can't back out now…"
---
Final moment—
He pressed [CONFIRM]
One second…
Two…
Three—
A soft green glow emerged.
The smoke cleared.
Inside the cauldron—
Small, oddly shaped green pills.
Siyam collapsed backward.
"…It's done."
---
Morning light seeped into the cave.
Dhiyano approached quietly.
He froze.
Siyam lay on the ground, deeply asleep—hair messy, face exhausted.
In front of him, on a stone…
Green pills, neatly arranged.
Dhiyano picked one up, turning it between his fingers. A faint glow shimmered.
"…What is this?"
After a pause—
"Maybe… a power boost pill…"
He glanced at Siyam.
Still asleep.
"Let's try one…"
---
He swallowed it.
One second…
Two—
FLASH!
Green light flooded the cave.
Dhiyano's body trembled.
Energy surged.
His skin shifted—
CRACK…
Bones moved.
Black horns emerged.
His hair lengthened, turning dark and glossy.
His skin turned pale.
Red-black patterns spread across his body.
Silence.
Complete silence.
"Th… this…"
"What is happening…"
---
Siyam woke up.
He sat up—
"…Wait."
His eyes locked onto Dhiyano.
"Another… human?!" a monster shouted.
All eyes turned.
Dhiyano stared at himself in shock.
Then—
Nary stepped forward.
"What happened here?"
The air grew heavy.
A path opened.
The Queen stepped forward, her hands trembling.
"What… is this…"
WHOOSH!
Kery appeared beside Siyam.
A claw stopped inches from his neck.
Siyam didn't flinch.
(Inside):
I don't even know what's happening…
"Move back."
Dhiyano stepped forward.
For the first time—his voice carried authority.
Kery paused… then stepped back.
---
The Queen approached.
Shock was clear in her eyes.
"What is this, Siyam?"
Siyam rubbed his neck, slightly awkward.
"Side effect… I didn't expect it. I was going to test it, but he ate it first."
Dhiyano's body shifted again.
The energy calmed.
He returned to his monster form—
But now stable.
The mutation… gone.
---
Silence.
Then whispers spread—
"He's fine…"
"The mutation… it's gone…"
The Queen smiled faintly.
"Now you can use both your original and human forms."
She looked at Siyam.
"Thank you."
Siyam smiled lightly.
(I don't even know what I did… but at least I'm not dead.)
---
Relief filled the cave.
The atmosphere had changed.
The Queen stood tall.
A faint green glow still lingered in the air.
All the monsters stood silent… holding their breath.
Her voice echoed softly—
"From this day onward…"
"…you are our King."
Silence.
"King…? Me…?"
"I can't—"
"Why not?"
"Age doesn't matter."
THUD.
Kery appeared.
"This is a human!"
"He doesn't deserve it!"
"I have already said it."
Silence.
Then—
"This is wrong."
An old man stepped forward.
"Master Raman…"
"Calm down."
"No."
"You are breaking the rules."
Siyam smirked.
"Old man…"
"…what's your problem?"
Pause.
He slowly raised his hand—no hurry, no hesitation.
The middle finger stood tall, a sharp contrast to the 'rules' and 'traditions' the old man was barking about.
"You're talking too much."
Dead silence.
Raman's face turned pale. The other monsters were in shock. Dhiyano's mouth was literally wide open.
"At least you could've spared him…" Dhiyano muttered under his breath.
Siyam didn't stop. He stepped forward… eyes locked on Raman.
"You're talking about rules…"
Another step closer.
"But have you ever looked at yourself? You've grown old… and you're still walking around with a diary like some professor…" A faint laugh escaped Siyam's lips. "Or are you just handing out free lectures after retirement?"
Some monsters' expressions shifted. The aura in the room was changing.
"You're trying to teach the Queen… but you can't even control yourself." Siyam leaned down to his eye level, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Want me to tell you the truth? You don't look like a rule… you look like a burden."
Raman's hand trembled. He gripped his diary so tightly his knuckles turned white. Energy began spreading through the air, thick and violent.
"You—!"
He moved to attack Siyam—
WHOOSH!
The Queen stepped in between. With one hand, she stopped Raman's attack effortlessly.
"Enough." Her voice was cold… but absolute.
Raman stopped, breathing heavily, his eyes still burning with rage. The Queen looked directly at Siyam, her gaze unreadable.
"…Fine."
The cave fell silent again.
"If he turns out to be more powerful than all of you… then it will be possible."
Raman slowly ran his hand over his diary, trying to steady his breath. "…it might be possible." His voice wasn't as firm as before. The confidence had been stripped away.
Ending
"If he proves stronger…"
"…then it will be possible."
TING!
[Insult Points +100]
"…Interesting."
"You may go."
"But stay tonight."
"Dhiyano's marriage celebration."
"…Tomorrow, he'll take you to the human city."
Siyam smiled faintly.
Extended his hand.
"Fine… deal."