Level Up: Voidwalker

It took her hours until Nuliajuk had all the skins hanging up after she ensured the meat was stored in her space bag. After that, she cooked a meal for them, stirring the stew as Atak approached the fire and slumped down with a huff.

''Dinners nearly done,'' she commented with a smile. ''I put extra meat in it this time; I'm starving.''

The Frostfang didn't get up as Nuliajuk finished the dinner and looked at the lazy cat. She rolled her eyes before grabbing Atak's bowl, filling it up, and approaching. ''You need to come when called, you silly cat; otherwise, you'd miss dinner.''

Atak growled in response, but she bonked him on the head, ''Say thank you! There's no need to be sarcastic.''

After that, Nuliajuk sat down and started eating while admiring her home. It was a large cave that she had craved using her claws for many moons. She used monster bones and wood to create a bed, sofa, and storage chests.

At fifteen, she was banished from the hidden village with nothing but the clothes on her back. For the next four years, she survived in the northern wastes. The first year was especially harsh, as she spent it in her Frostbear form, leveling up and growing stronger.

In the second year, she found Atak, the lone survivor of a Glacial Tyrant attack. His parents and siblings managed to kill the monster, but unfortunately, he was left alone and was about to be attacked by the Great Northern Lions.

When they were about to pounce on him, Nuliajuk appeared in her Frostbear form and attacked the lions. It was a vicious battle where she was nearly bested, but thanks to leveling up during the fight, she overpowered the monster.

She decided to take care of him and soon found Windpeak Mountain and the small cave that was originally there. Nuliajuk carved out a home for the two of them and made it comfortable to live in.

After finishing her meal, she surveyed the Northern Waste, where several herds of monsters roamed. A massive mountain chain loomed to the south, isolating them from the outside world.

As she gazed across the landscape, she witnessed a fierce battle unfolding between two rival monster colonies. One was a light blue ant, about half the size of a horse, known as the Frost Fire Ant.

Its adversary, resembling a termite from Earth but as white as the surrounding snow, was known as an Ice Termite. They were mortal enemies locked in a relentless struggle as they battled over a hunting area.

Nuliajuk licked her lips as she spotted several warrior-type insects that were good to level up but were weak Rank E monsters that she could tear apart without using magic or enhancement.

With that decided, she called out, ''You lazy cat! I'm going to level up for a bit!''

All she heard was a deep growl, which caused her to smile before she jumped off the mountain ledge and transformed into her Frostbear form as she fell. Nuliajuk crashed, letting out an earth-shaking roar before rushing to the ongoing monster battle.

She spotted Warrior Termites fighting with the ants and barreling into the group, slashing at the monsters shocked by the sudden attack. Her massive white claws slashed through the creature's bodies, rending exoskeletons and tearing flesh with primal ferocity.

Their icy blue carapaces gleaming from the sunlight, Frost Fire Ants turned to face this new threat, only to meet a swift and brutal end. Ice Termites, white as the snow around them, scurried desperately, their mandibles clicking in fear as they tried to defend against the onslaught.

Nuliajuk's white fur was matted with blood as she carved a path of destruction through the battlefield. Some monsters tried to flee, but her speed and strength were unmatched in this frozen realm.

As minutes turned to an eternity of battle, Nuliajuk felt the weariness take hold. Yet still, she pressed on, driven by an insatiable rage and the need to prove her dominance. She fought until the last monsters lay dead or scattered, their ranks decimated by her wrath.

It took a little while before the ants and termites fled from her rage-filled slaughter. Once they were gone, Nuliajuk lay down in the middle of the battlefield to catch her breath before she turned her gaze south.

"Perhaps one day," she mused, contemplating whether to venture into the outside world.

Afterward, Nuliajuk checked her status to review the gains she had earned.

Name: Nuliajuk Sivraq

Age: 25

Race: Frostbear

Class: Hunter

Level: 176

Rank: Adept

Experience: 200/5000

Affinity: Ice - Water

___

Attributes:

Health: 1450

Mana: 4900

Strength: 2950

Stamina: 1750

Charisma: 622

Intelligence: 250

___

Mana Core:

Core Rank: High Novice

Core Points: 15000/3000

Body Tempering Level:

___

Spells:

Attack:Lvl-2: Aqua Bolt (5) Lvl-2: Water blast (3) Lvl-3: Ice Claw

Defence: Lvl-3: Ice Shield (1)

Support: Lvl-2: Cleanse (-) Lvl-3: Fog (0)

Utility: Lvl-1: Aqua Barrier (7) Lvl-1: Ice Manipulation (8)

Skills: Archery (2) Hand-to-Hand Combat (7) Frostbear Form (10) Survivalist (10) Hunting (10) Cooking (3) Intimidation (7)

***

[Port Zalliyah -Achaemenid Empire - Aridonia Continent - Redwood Forest]

A woman with dark brown hair, rich brown skin, and captivating brown eyes strode confidently down the bustling main street. Due to the bounty on her head, she was wearing adventurer's armor to blend in while traveling.

She scanned the scene around her, observing traders and citizens engrossed in their daily affairs. Amid the busy scene, her attention was drawn to the Achaemenidian soldiers patrolling the streets.

'Damn dogs will burn by the time I finish,' she seethed inwardly.

Shortly afterward, she spotted her fellow rebels gathered around a market stall. Approaching them, she was met with nods of recognition as a woman stepped forward. "Delilah. The Blue Shards are planted across the city at your designated spots."

''Move to your positions. I will take the city bank with my squad while you take out any soldiers who approach,''

''Yes, Shahzadi!'' the group whispered before rushing off.

The stall left her and two warriors, and she spoke with determination laced in her exotic accent, ''We will complete this job so we can fund an army to strike at the Achaemenid forces in the Redwoods.''

They all saluted before making their way toward the Zalliyah bank in the noble district of the city. While the trio was walking through the street, explosions rocked the city. At least twenty went off, causing everyone to panic, but Delilah continued her journey.

Delilah and the warriors swiftly arrived at the bank, where Achaemenidian guards appeared rattled by nearby explosions ripping through buildings. She unsheathed her Mithril katana, catching the soldiers' attention.

"Rebels! It's an Al-Munfiyah attack!" the commander shouted, prompting them to charge at Delilah and her two warriors, who readied their weapons.

As the first soldiers closed in, aiming their spears, she gracefully leaned back and pivoted to the left, launching a swift counterattack. With two precise swings and expert footwork, she dispatched the soldiers effortlessly, decapitating them.

Chaos erupted as her fellow warriors joined the fray. Delilah was a master swordswoman and had been training since she escaped from her father, who tried to kill her when he found out her mother hid her birth from him.

Because of that, she practiced from morning to night until her hands bled. After years of hard work and determination, Delilah became a master; she knew everything about the blade and could butcher dozens of men without effort.

Delilah danced around the battlefield, dodging attacks and killing many guards. The Achaemenidians were dropping, but that's when she noticed one of her warriors getting cornered while injured; that's when the warrior took out a Blue Shard and shouted, ''Shahzadi! Make sure to free our people; you will bring us freedom!''

With that, he activated the bomb, which detonated, obliterating the remaining soldiers and the bank walls. Witnessing the devastation, Delilah prayed for the warrior's soul as they followed the Path, whispering, "Al-ladhi yushir al-tareeq."

Following that, the last warrior guarded the entrance. At the same time, Delilah rushed into the bank and killed several more soldiers before reaching the vault door made from Aetherium, which glowed with mana that strengthened it.

Delilah took out a specialized Blue Shard and stuck it to the door. She backed away as it went off and burned a hole right through it. Once it dropped to the floor, she rushed into the vault.

With a smile, she pulled out a Morozov Space Bag and started emptying all of the copper, silver, and gold coins, along with one hundred platinum coins and three-star coins, which sparkled with multiple colors and reminded her of the night sky.

After that, Delilah took everything and rushed outside to see the chaos in the city. She aimed her hand and cast a spell to signal the retreat. A green bird flew into the sky, letting out a screech before exploding.

Delilah and her last remaining companion sprinted through the winding streets, their destination the Red Serpent River, for their escape. As they reached the square, their path was abruptly cut off, surrounded.

The warrior, breathing heavily, spoke with conviction, "Shahzadi, it has been an honor to fight by your side. Free our people from their chains—this sacrifice will not be in vain."

She paused momentarily, emotions conflicting in her gaze, before solemnly replying, "May you find paradise in the next life."

The warrior's eyes blazed with determination as he retrieved a Blue Shard, hurling himself towards the nearest soldiers and triggering its explosive power. The resulting blast created a chaotic diversion, enabling Delilah to break free and sprint towards the Red Serpent River, where a boat awaited.

They navigated the waters swiftly, disappearing into the dense forest cover as the pursuing Achaemenidian forces lost their trail.