Ascension of the Forsaken

Chapter Three: The Predator Awakens

A pack of beasts emerged from the foliage—massive, wolf-like creatures with dark obsidian fur, each one the size of a full-grown lion. Their bodies radiated a faint, menacing Qi, their razor-sharp fangs glistening with anticipation. These were spirit beasts—the bane of wanderers and cultivators alike, feared for their lethal prowess and primal fury.

Kael, however, was anything but ordinary.

A slow smirk curved his lips, dangerous and unyielding.

The wolves circled him, their instincts screaming that he was prey.

But they were wrong.

Kael flexed his fingers, the sound of cracking knuckles echoing softly. The thrill of the impending battle ignited something primal within him—a fire that had long remained dormant, now roaring to life.

The wolves lunged.

And Kael moved.

Faster than lightning.

More lethal than a blade.

The first wolf hurtled forward—fangs bared, claws extended—a blur of fur and blood-red eyes. Its sheer speed was unmatched, closing the distance in an instant. The force of its attack could have shattered bones, torn through flesh, and killed a lesser man.

But Kael was no lesser man.

His body reacted on its own, instincts turning to action before thought could intervene.

Kael sidestepped fluidly, his motion precise and effortless. The beast's claws sliced through empty air as its balance faltered. Kael struck.

BOOM!

His palm connected with the wolf's ribcage, and a sickening crunch echoed through the forest. The impact was monstrous—beyond what a human should be capable of. The beast's body twisted grotesquely before it was launched backward, slamming into a tree with brutal force.

It was dead. Instantly.

The other wolves froze, hesitation clouding their predatory instincts. They had been the hunters; now, they were prey.

Kael exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. A cautious tension gripped him when the spirit beasts first emerged, yet now—

This body.

He could feel the surge of power running through him, his every movement crisp, precise—perfect. It was intoxicating. The thrill of battle, the rush of superiority. He had fought countless battles before, struggled for survival in the face of overwhelming odds, but never like this. Never with such certainty.

The wolves growled, their primal instincts spurring them forward. They fanned out, forming a loose circle.

Kael smiled.

Come.

They attacked.

Three at once.

One lunged low, aiming for his legs. Another sprang high, claws reaching for his throat. The third circled around, waiting for the perfect opening to strike.

Their coordination was flawless—an impeccable pack strategy honed through countless hunts.

But to Kael, it was meaningless.

He moved like lightning.

His foot shifted slightly to the right—just enough to let the first wolf’s bite snap at empty air. His right arm shot upward, gripping the second wolf mid-leap by its throat. And his left hand—

BOOM!

Kael’s fist tore through the ribs of the wolf attempting to flank him, sending it crumpling into the ground, lifeless.

The wolf in his grip struggled, its claws scraping at his skin. Yet the attack was futile. Shallow cuts faded before they could even bleed.

Kael’s fingers tightened around its throat. The beast whimpered softly before—CRACK.

Its neck snapped.

Kael tossed the lifeless body aside.

The final wolf stood frozen.

It had watched its packmates fall, dying in a span shorter than a heartbeat. Crimson eyes trembled, filled with fear—a feeling no Spirit Beast should ever have known.

Kael locked eyes with it, his expression cold and resolute.

In that moment, the beast turned and fled into the shadows.

Kael let it go—not out of mercy, but because it no longer interested him.

The battle was over.

Kael exhaled deeply, allowing the adrenaline coursing through him to settle. His movements had been instinctual, effortless. And the true revelation?

He barely used any Qi.

His body had reacted perfectly on its own, the motions ingrained as though he had performed them countless times before. More importantly, his Unmatched Cultivation Talent had already begun shaping his control over Qi—precise, efficient. Where others would have flared their energy to enhance their speed and power, he had simply used raw technique and physical superiority

If this was his strength at the lowest level of cultivation…

A slow smirk tugged at his lips.

Then this world will never be able to contain me.

Turning to the fallen wolves. His gaze sharpened, and within moments, he understood.

Spirit Beasts weren't just mindless animals. They were living repositories of Qi—pure, condensed energy. Their bodies contained Beast Cores, crystallized sources of power that cultivators could refine for their own use.

Kneeling beside the largest corpse, Kael pressed his palm to its chest.Kael focused, his Qi surged, flowing into the beast. He felt the faint pulse of the core hidden within—the source of power waiting to be drawn out. With precise control, Kael directed his Qi, extracting the core smoothly.

A faint glow emerged—a small, deep-red crystal hovering above the beast’s lifeless body.

Kael gripped the Low-Grade Qi Beast Core, its energy faint but enough for him to exploit. He inhaled deeply, focusing inward as he absorbed the core.

Raw energy flooded him.

BOOM!

The power rippled through him as his meridians flared to life. His Qi deepened, expanded, refined. His foundation—already flawless—solidified further.

Kael felt his strength surge.

His third breakthrough just mere moments after he had just arrived. His first cultivation breakthrough had taken seconds. His second? Just slightly longer. He had advanced again and this time to the third stage of body refining realm. A mind-boggling notion but that was the reality. A reality that would make fellow cultivators wail as if they had lost their mothers.

 For Kael, however, it was only natural.

Progress was inevitable.

Kael turned his attention to the remaining wolves. Each was a source of power, their cores ready to be harvested. Without hesitation, he began extracting and refining them, absorbing their energy into himself.

By the time he finished, Kael had made two more breakthroughs, reaching the peak of the fifth stage. His strength, his Qi, his potential—it was all boundless.

Kael rose to his feet, the forest once more silent around him. Blood lingered in the air, yet his focus was already on the horizon.

This world was built on strength, and Kael would rule it.

With a final glance at the fallen beasts, he strode deeper into the forest, power radiating from him.

His journey had only just begun.