Time passed, and weeks went by. Three weeks later, Dante had spent the month cultivating diligently. At this moment, he had reached a cultivation of 2 stars, with regular double cultivation, and the constant training had not been very difficult.
As soon as the 100 mana threads were gathered, his strength took a slight leap, which pleased him greatly and motivated him to do something he still desired: hunting. After the lion hunt, Dante seemed to have begun to enjoy it — the feeling of hunting and being hunted, the intense struggle, the danger of death, and the thrill of victory were extremely satisfying.
Then he went to Tyler to inquire about positions, and he managed to secure a spot in one of the small hunting teams. The group would consist of him and 14 other members, including a captain of 7 stars, two vice-captains of 6 stars, five members of 5 stars, and six members of 4 stars. Dante, of course, had strength similar to the members of 4 stars.
At first, Dante thought he might have problems getting Viviane's approval, but after almost a month living together, their relationship had improved greatly. He could understand her better and realized she had no intention of stopping him; she was only a little concerned and gave him some talismans for protection.
Viviane took up more and more space in his heart each day. If there was something that could bother him about this hunt, it would be being away from her. He was getting used to seeing her, feeling her presence, and desiring her. Spending a few weeks without seeing her would be somewhat painful.
Cultivation was cruel, but Dante knew he would never be completely alone. Above all, he was confident and excited; hunting with others seemed far more enjoyable than his previous experience, which had basically been a search for death.
Having truly become a Level 1, he could now understand the difference between levels. If that lion hadn't gone into conflict with the rhinoceros and been severely injured, he would have died without a doubt, with no space to defend himself. That beast had probably used only 10% of its strength, maybe even less, and yet it had exerted extreme pressure.
Now it was different. He was much stronger than before. If he used the exoskeleton armor, he could fight on par with a 4-star opponent. With the armor skill and blood in frenzy, his physical strength could approach almost 5 stars. Even though he could not use spells, his monstrous physical power compensated.
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Days passed, and the moment finally arrived. At the entrance of the village, Dante was with a group of 14 people, all preparing to depart.
— Be careful and come back safely! — said Viviane, brushing his face with her hand.
— I will — he replied, hugging her gently.
— Let's go! — shouted a robust man, wearing an iron mask over his face. This was Crawler, the Iron Hunter, leader of the team.
He was very strong; even at 7 stars, he could compare to someone with 8 stars and was considered a future Elder, capable of replacing those nearing death.
— Farewell — said Dante, glancing one last time at Viviane before stepping after the group. With a few strides, he caught up with the others.
He was probably the most excited about the mission, though he was limited to dealing only with beasts of up to 3 stars.
— Comrades, our route will be north, to the recently destroyed forward post. In addition to hunting the beasts, we will carry out a reconnaissance of the situation in the name of the Elders.
— But remember: we must leave the area exactly as it is. Any subtle change could be noticed by the evil gods. If you see something unusual, report it! It's better to have a false alarm than none at all.
Crawler then formally introduced himself:
— Allow me to introduce myself: I am Crawler, captain of the village hunting squad, Level 1, peak 7 stars.
Following the captain, all members introduced themselves:
Vice-captains (6 stars): John and Clark, brothers.
5-star members: Tina, Lena, Ivy, Peter, and Cylan.
4-star members: Dina, Viena, Arthur, Tomé, Gabriel, and Luke.
Dante: physical strength equivalent to peak 4 stars, but unable to use spells due to low level.
With everyone introduced, they began their journey in a 1-6-5-3 formation, with Crawler at the front, while Dante accompanied John and Clark in the rear.
The destroyed forward post was not far; by the normal path, it could be reached in two hours. However, they took a different route. The usual path had fewer beasts, but marked trees and blood in the treetops indicated danger.
The sub-route added 1 to 1.5 hours to the travel time, but Crawler opted for the safer route, and no one objected. They might spend up to a week outdoors, and every bit of preserved energy was extremely necessary.
The team advanced through the trees, and after three hours, they reached the destroyed forward post. Shock ran through everyone upon arrival.
It was not just ruins: there was a massive crater, as if a mountain had fallen and evaporated everything it touched.
This crater could not have been created by a Level 1, even at absolute peak. Only a true Level 2 could generate such destruction.
The wind aura around it was terrifying, sending gusts into the air every few seconds. Even someone with 7 stars like Crawler could not approach.
— This… how is this possible? — said one member of the group, stepping back in fear.
Everyone shared the same thought. No matter how many near-Level 2s existed, the village could only be defended if a Level 2 was present as a leader.
Dante also thought the same, but differently.
Tyler… you monster…