The journey through the canopy was a masterclass in silent agility.
Daniel used the enhanced effects of [Ghoststeps+], his near-invisible form blending seamlessly with the shifting bioluminescent light and shadows cast by the colossal flora.
His feet, augmented by Agility exceeding 90 points, barely whispered against the crystalline bark as he leaped vast distances between branches, covering ground far faster and more stealthily than any ground-based movement could allow.
Below him, the chaotic sounds of the Purge, the roars, the screams, the sickening impacts, faded slightly as he moved deeper into the jungle, towards the strange, cold locus his [Aura Sense] targeted.
A notification pinged softly on his Nexus Interface.
[Warning: You are departing the designated Assessment Zone scoring perimeter.
Kill score calculation and positional tracking by Academy command will be temporarily suspended until reentry.]
Daniel barely glanced at it. The official assessment rules felt trivial compared to the potential harvest ahead.
Rank 1 could be secured later; exponential power growth took precedence now.
As he neared the coordinates indicated by [Aura Sense], the density of Purge Beast signatures increased, but they seemed less frantic, more purposeful.
He descended cautiously to a lower, thickly-leaved branch, peering towards the entrance of what looked like a large, naturally formed grotto or cave system nestled at the base of a cluster of jagged, obsidian-like mountains.
The cold energy signature emanated strongly from within.
Just outside the grotto entrance, partially hidden by thick, blood-red vines, he spotted movement.
A large, canine creature, easily the size of a pony, lay panting heavily. Its fur was mangy grey, its claws looked unnaturally long and sharp, like shards of obsidian, similar to the Razorclaw Stalker he'd seen kill Jaxon Rex, but larger, tougher.
Its flank was bleeding from several deep gashes, suggesting a recent fight. Daniel scanned it.
[Shard-Clawed Gravehound – Level 3 (Purge Variant – Injured)]
Stats: High Strength, High Vitality, High Agility (Currently Impaired), Moderate Spirit.
Abilities: [Rending Shard-Claws], [Corpse Scent], [Frenzied Resilience]
Threat Assessment: Dangerous Pack Alpha (Weakened). Highly aggressive when provoked or near designated 'larder'.
A Purge Variant, Level 3, and injured. It seemed to be guarding the entrance.
And beside it, confirming Daniel's hypothesis, lay the mangled corpse of a female recruit, her C-grade defensive vest shredded.
Patience. Daniel remained hidden, observing. Attacking the Gravehound now might draw unwanted attention from whatever lay deeper within the grotto.
But the corpse… it represented immediate potential gain. A C-grade Awakened could yield a valuable skill.
He watched as the Gravehound nudged the corpse possessively, then turned its head, sniffing the air towards the grotto entrance as if expecting something. This was his chance.
He dropped silently from the branch, landing noiselessly on the mossy ground perhaps fifteen meters away.
He focused his intent intensely on the recruit's corpse, pushing the command through his mind: Assimilate!
He needed to be quick, before the Gravehound fully registered his presence.
The familiar energy flow began, pulling the residual essence from the fallen recruit…
[Soul Assimilation successful on Fallen Awakened: Zariel Elunaria (Talent: Poisonous Touch - C Grade).]
[Warning: Residual Consciousness Echo detected. Adaptability check passed.
Moderate psychological imprint detected - Echoes of venom and decay. Spirit check passed. Imprint suppressed.]
[Gain: Spirit +0.2]
[Gain: Adaptability +0.1]
[Gain: D-Grade Skill - Venomous Strike]
[Skill: Venomous Strike (D-Grade): Imbue a melee attack (fist or weapon) with moderate corrosive venom. Inflicts damage over time and minor vitality drain on successful hit.
Mana Cost: 30. Cooldown: 45 seconds.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (14/15 Remaining).]
A poison skill! Excellent synergy potential with his ranged attacks or knife work. But the assimilation took precious seconds.
The Shard-Clawed Gravehound whipped its head around, emitting a low, guttural snarl.
Its beady eyes fixed on Daniel, glowing with malevolent red light. It had sensed the energy shift.
But before the L3 Gravehound could charge, the surrounding jungle erupted.
From behind rocks, beneath dense foliage, bursting from shallow burrows Daniel hadn't noticed, emerged more Gravehounds, smaller, sleeker, Level 2 variants, but at least ten of them.
They formed a rapid semicircle, cutting off any easy retreat, their shard-like claws scraping against the stone as they advanced.
An ambush! They hadn't just been guarding; they had been waiting. His brief focus on assimilation had cost him tactical awareness.
No time for regret. Daniel reacted instantly. "Boom!" The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself upwards, activating [Ghoststeps+] to its absolute maximum.
The wind shrieked as he became a near-invisible blur, exploding vertically towards the high branch he'd just vacated.
The coordination of the pack was momentarily broken by his unexpected upward evasion.
He landed lightly on the branch, immediately drawing his E-grade Initiate's Bow. It felt flimsy in his hands now, woefully inadequate against Level 2 and 3 Purge Beasts.
He needed a better weapon, but for now, precision and power would have to suffice.
The pack below snarled, looking up. The injured L3 Alpha directed them, and several L2s began leaping, trying to reach his branch with surprising agility.
Daniel drew the bowstring back, his Strength (57.1) making the E-grade bow feel like a toy, yet allowing for incredible draw power. He didn't have poison arrows yet, but he had [Kinetic Hammer].
Could he channel its force through the arrow? He focused, willing the kinetic energy into the arrowhead as he took aim at the lead leaping L2 Gravehound.
"Kinetic Hammer, Arrow!"
he mentally commanded, releasing the string.
Twang-WHIZZ-BOOM!
The arrow flew with impossible speed, trailing a faint kinetic distortion. It struck the leaping Gravehound square in the chest.
The arrow itself likely did little, but the kinetic energy discharged on impact. A visible shockwave pulsed outwards.
The Gravehound's chest imploded, sending bone shards and viscera flying. It was blasted backwards, slamming lifelessly into the ground.
[You have slain: Shard-Clawed Gravehound (Level 2 - Purge Variant)]
[EXP Gained: 40]
[Level 2: 46/500 EXP]
The pack hesitated, momentarily stunned by the raw power display.
Daniel used the pause, rapidly firing normal arrows infused only with his sheer strength, aiming for eyes and throats.
His accuracy was phenomenal, each shot finding a weak point.
Two more L2s fell with choked yelps before the others renewed their attempts to reach him, scrambling up the tree trunk or leaping desperately.
He quickly ran through his meager supply of arrows. Five down, maybe six or seven L2s remaining, plus the injured L3 Alpha circling below. He needed his arrows back.
Making a split-second decision, he holstered the bow, drew his E-grade Vibro-Knife, and leaped down into the midst of the remaining L2s.
He activated [Ghoststeps+] again, becoming a whirlwind of motion. He used [Quick Dodge] to evade snapping jaws, his enhanced knife flashing as he targeted joints and necks.
His high Strength and Agility allowed him to dance around their attacks, landing crippling blows.
"Boom!"
He used [Kinetic Hammer]'s shockwave discharge from his fist, blasting two hounds away, stunning them long enough for him to retrieve a fallen arrow and plunge it into another's eye socket.
Just as he retrieved the last of his spent arrows, the injured L3 Alpha seized the opening.
Ignoring its wounds, it launched itself at Daniel with a speed that belied its injuries, Rending Shard-Claws aimed at his throat.
Daniel spun, dropping low. He couldn't fully dodge in time. He brought his left forearm up, trusting the E-grade vest layered beneath his fatigues and his passive [Stone Resilience].
SCREEECH-CRUNCH!
The claws raked across his forearm guard. Sparks flew. Pain lanced up his arm as the force transferred through, bruising bone, but the armour held. The claws failed to penetrate.
The Alpha was momentarily overextended. Daniel exploded upwards, knife held in a reverse grip.
He channeled every ounce of power he could muster into one final [Kinetic Hammer] impact strike, focusing the energy through the vibrating E-grade blade.
"DIE!"
BOOM!
The knife slammed into the Alpha's already injured flank with devastating force.
The kinetic shockwave ripped through its body. Scales shattered, ribs cracked, organs ruptured.
The massive beast was thrown sideways, crashing heavily against a rock face with a final, agonized howl before slumping lifelessly.
[You have slain: Shard-Clawed Gravehound (Level 3 - Purge Variant)]
[EXP Gained: 75]
[Level 2: 121/500 EXP]
The remaining two or three L2 Gravehounds, witnessing their Alpha's brutal demise, whimpered and scattered, vanishing back into the dense jungle.
Daniel didn't pursue. They weren't worth the effort or the charges right now.
He stood breathing heavily amidst the carnage, arm aching, but victorious. He looked at the corpse of the L3 Alpha.
Its shard-like claws were incredibly sharp and durable. Its hide, though penetrated by his ultimate attack, felt remarkably tough. An idea sparked.
He spent the next few minutes working quickly. Using his knife, he carefully extracted the largest, sharpest shard-claws from the Alpha.
He stripped tough sinew and strips of hide from its carcass. He examined his E-grade bow. It was functional but clearly a bottleneck.
Using the sinew, he tightly wrapped and reinforced the bow's riser and limbs, making it feel significantly sturdier.
He then carefully affixed the razor-sharp claw tips to his existing arrows, replacing the standard metal heads.
He tested the modified bow. The draw felt slightly heavier, more solid. He fired a shard-tipped arrow into a nearby tree.
THWACK!
It embedded itself far deeper than a standard arrow would have. Not a true upgrade in grade, but a definite improvement in durability and penetration.
He mentally dubbed it the "Reinforced Shard-Tip Bow."
Satisfied, he turned his attention to the spoils. Kneeling, he began the process of [Soul Assimilation] on the L3 Alpha and the seven L2 Gravehounds he had slain. Waves of feral, predatory energy flowed into him.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Shard-Clawed Gravehound (Level 3)...]
[Gain: Strength +8, Vitality +7, Agility +6, Adaptability +3]
[New Skill Acquired: Enhanced Claws (F-Grade - Minor boost to unarmed/natural weapon damage)]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (13/15 Remaining).]
[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Shard-Clawed Gravehound (Level 2)...] x7
[Total Gain: Strength +28, Vitality +21, Agility +35]
[Assimilation Charges Consumed (6/15 Remaining).]
His attributes climbed again. Strength pushing past 65, Vitality nearing 70, Agility well over 100. The F-grade skill was minor, but every little bit helped.
He glanced towards the dark, ominous entrance to the grotto system, the Ossuary.
The air felt colder here, carrying the faint scent of decay and powerful, dormant energy.
With his reinforced bow ready, charges available, and power boosted, he finally stepped across the threshold, ready to face the dangers within and claim the harvest he knew awaited him.