Perceiving that about a quarter of all the [Soul's Grace] had already been claimed, and most participants were battered and bruised, Ol'ksa thought to himself:
"That's enough…"
He pushed off the ground, leaping onto a branch ahead, and sprinted along the treetops.
Luckily, the demonized plants were far tougher than ordinary flora; otherwise, bearing Ol'ksa's weight would have been a major issue. Standing over two meters tall and far heavier than most creatures of his level, normal plants would have snapped under him.
Relying on his incredible speed and demonic energy, he moved with ease across the dense canopy, exceeding 360 kilometers per hour. On the ground, he could easily rival high-speed trains.
"Hmm?"
He suddenly stopped after covering half the distance. A [Soul's Grace] had broken through the chaotic battlefield, rapidly approaching. Through energy vision, he identified the bearer as a [Lesser Demon], with at least several hundred demons in pursuit.
To fish in troubled waters among hundreds—or among millions—was another choice Ol'ksa faced.
While the smaller group offered a higher chance of snatching the [Soul's Grace], the larger crowd meant he didn't even have to fight for it. He relied on the Evolution System, not shortcuts.
The millions of chaotic demons were focused on the [Soul's Grace]. He could exploit this, slaughtering weaker creatures in concentrated areas to accumulate evolution points. Whether he acquired the [Soul's Grace] was secondary.
Still, letting the treasure fall into another's hands didn't suit him. Ol'ksa was a demon; opportunity beckoned, and he wouldn't ignore it.
Deciding on strategy, he dug a large hollow in a tree trunk, concealed himself, and prepared a trap for the approaching party.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5…
Ignoring obstacles with energy vision, Ol'ksa silently counted down, waiting for the perfect moment.
"Bastards! I'll kill you all once I recover…"
Korgolius, battered from the relentless pursuit, seethed with hatred. One-on-one, he could defeat anyone, but he had been overwhelmed by numbers. If not for his speed, he'd already be dead.
The [Soul's Grace] was a critical lifeline, especially for him, about to be expelled from the Howling Forest. Exceeding [Lesser Demon] strength or overstaying would result in forced expulsion. Survival outside the Abyssal Hell wasn't simple, and he needed the power boost.
Suddenly, an invisible force struck his soul, numbing his head. He stumbled, rolled across the ground, and fell into chaos.
Behind him, pursuers seized the moment. Explosions tore the ground apart. When the dust cleared, Korgolius was no more—only a shattered husk remained, and the [Soul's Grace] lay nearby.
All demons surged toward it, unaware a new predator had entered their midst. One intentionally stepped on Korgolius's corpse, standing briefly before disappearing. By the time he left, the body was a dried husk.
[+477 Evolution Points]
Ol'ksa rushed toward the [Soul's Grace], killing an [Imp Demon] on the way with a casual [Soul Shock] and arm thrust.
[+89 Evolution Points]
Although capable of defeating any [Lesser Demon] single-handedly, Ol'ksa remained concealed. He wasn't here to show off; the melee ahead offered enough opportunity.
The ground was scarred and pitted, littered with debris and blood.
"Hand it over! We can let you go!" Temple barked at the demon in front. Only three [Lesser Demons] remained: Temple, Solo, and Grimp.
The first casualties had been [Imp Demons], slaughtered swiftly. Ol'ksa, lying in wait, was the fourth—already positioned before the melee began.
He had evolved the ability to control his aura, perfect for launching sneak attacks.
"10… 9… 8… 7…"
Impatient, he counted down silently. If they didn't act by zero, he would rise and annihilate them, sustaining only minor injuries.
Fate intervened: the demon holding the [Soul's Grace] chose to flee, throwing venom balls to push back the others.
Ol'ksa would not allow it.
Solo's four legs sprinted as fast as if he were possessed. Just as he prepared to use [Swift Form] to escape, excruciating pain struck his side. Before he could react, claws dug into his neck.
Tear! Tear!
Ol'ksa ripped his throat bone and a chunk of flesh, while his tail pierced the heart. No struggle was possible.
"Wasting my time!"
After absorbing everything, Ol'ksa tossed Solo's corpse aside and grabbed the fist-sized [Soul's Grace], facing the remaining two demons.
"Hand over the item!"
Temple and the other [Lesser Demon] instinctively stepped closer. They felt danger—this seemingly ordinary [Imp Demon] had just killed a [Lesser Demon] with a sneak attack.
"Hahaha… Hand it over to you?"
Ol'ksa laughed low, opening his mouth nearly to his ears and swallowing the [Soul's Grace].
System converting [Soul's Grace] into evolution points…
[+21,000 Evolution Points]