2026-02-13 22:15:07Outside the habitat, the first tree that caught my attention was massive, oak-like, with broad branches and leaves tinted a deep purple.
“Scratch!”
My claws flared as I activated the skill. With a single leap, I landed a horizontal strike at the base of the trunk.
SHHHHHHHHK!
A deep claw mark carved into the wood, shaving away a chunk of the base.
“Ooo! Look at that…” I muttered. “My level-ups weren’t for nothing.”
Confidence boosted me as I struck again.
SHHHHK!
The tree toppled.
BAAAM!
Dust burst upward as the behemoth slammed into the ground. Before I could step closer, the fallen tree dissolved, breaking apart into drifting particles.
[Normal Wood has been added to inventory.]
“…What? Inventory?”
The moment I spoke the word, a window appeared before me with rows of small rectangular slots. One of them was filled with an icon of stacked wood, a number written beneath it, 250.
“Well… so there is an inventory system.”
As soon as I said the word inventory again, the window vanished.
“If one tree like that gives me 250 wood…” I murmured, thinking. “Then four should be enough.”
I didn’t waste anymore time as I moved through the forest, looking for massive trees and large stone outcrops.
But they weren’t common. By the time the sun climbed directly overhead, I had only managed to gather 750 wood and 500 stone.
My limbs were exhausted as I could feel my muscles were starting to stage a mutiny. Every step felt like I was dragging weights behind me.
The habitat felt far behind me now, and I was already thinking about turning back …
“There!”
The fourth behemoth stood ahead, thicker than the rest. White vertical lines spread across its green trunk gave it a unique touch, crowned with leaves of deep sea blue.
“Finally.”
I leapt forward baring my claws. The trunk rushed toward me as I drew back my arm…
And something slammed into my side.
The impact sent my body flying left. My back hit the ground first, then my body flipped hard across the dirt. My ribs screamed in pain as the breath left my lungs in a ragged wheeze.
But I wasn’t inexperienced anymore.
Blink!
The world twisted as I reappeared on my feet, skidding slightly as I braced myself. A sharp ache pulsed at my side as I covered them with my left arm, panting.
I didn’t even think and pulled up my stats. My HP had dropped by nearly half.
I could feel the damage throbbing through my body.
“Damn it!”
Then something dropped down from the tree.
A monkey, larger than the Baby Ape I’d fought before. Its body was thicker, muscles packed tight beneath its fur. It landed lightly, then threw a familiar one-two punch into the air before locking eyes with me.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.[Boxer Ape encountered.] [Final Evolution Form of Baby Ape.] [Class: Alpha]
“…Oh.”
I flexed my claws, lowering my stance.
“Guess what? The annoying brat’s big brother showed up.”
I opened with the same failsafe tactic that had worked against its younger brother.
Blink!
I closed the distance instantly, swinging my claws in a tight right strike aimed at its face. But the older one didn’t panic like the baby did.
It came at me immediately with a right hook.
“Ooh,” I muttered, twisting mid-step. “You’re the mature one, huh? Then how about this?”
Blink!
As the hook whistled past my ears I vanished and reappeared behind it. My swing completed…
SHHHK!
The ape lurched forward. I saw the slash clearly this time, blood streaking across its back. But it was too heavy to be thrown aside like the Baby Ape.
Still, its reaction was familiar.
It spun around instantly, eyes wide, locking onto me.
“Eh? So it works on you too.”
I repeated the pattern.
Dash in close with open strike then blink to its blind side and finish the blow. It was a cheap loop that worked.
But the elder one adapted faster.
On my third attempt, it twisted the moment I blinked, its left cross snapping toward where my jaw would have been.
Too close.
Blink!
I escaped by a breath, reappearing above its head as the punch ripped through air again. I flipped mid-air, claws dropping straight down.
The ape noticed as it rolled forward just in time as my strike only caught a handful of air. I landed hard behind it.
“Damn it,” I hissed. “It’s not just guessing faster…its reaction speed’s higher too.”
But the more it learned my Blink, the more options I had.
I blinked again. It turned backward instantly, one eye tracking above, waiting for the follow-up Blink.
That hesitation—
—that was it.
SHHHK!
No second Blink. I stepped in and drove my claws straight across its back.
The ape turned as its body slid, still on its feet, eyes wide again as blood seeped through its fur.
I felt that familiar, ugly heat of a win bubbling up inside me.
“What?” I said lightly. “Your baby brother didn’t warn you about Blink?”
I tilted my head.
“Or are you a brother from another mother he’s got a grudge against?”
It felt like the monkey understood my intent. It leapt back several steps, then roared at me…
KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAA! KIIIIIAAA!
It threw another one-two into the air. But something was wrong. The ape was nowhere near me. And yet, two massive stone fists burst into existence right in front of my face, swinging in a brutal one-two.
I swayed left, then right. The blows whistled past my ears, close enough to stir the fur along my neck.
“…Outboxing,” I muttered, eyes widening. “Hit-and-run.”
The Baby Ape had done the same thing when Blink confused it, keeping distance.
Now that I am facing an evolved version of it, that distance had turned lethal. In-boxing became out-boxing.
My skin felt too tight as irritation spiked. A jagged pulse of frustration throbbed in my temples.
KRRRRRHHAAAA!
“I’ll overwhelm you.”
A spark caught in my chest as I moved.
“Rolling Dash!”
Blink burned MP. If it wanted to fight from range, then I’d close the gap without it—and use Blink only when necessary.
I rolled forward as another stone fist slammed down where my head had been. I kept moving, dodging mid-roll as more blows ripped through the air behind me.
I curved my path, looping in a tight arc—
—and launched.
Like a truck tyre spinning out of control, my Rolling Dash smashed straight into its chest.
KIAAAAA!
The ape flew backwards with a heavy crash. I didn’t stop.
Blink!
I reappeared behind its airborne body and carved a deep slash across its back. The impact twisted its trajectory mid-air.
Blink!
I appeared again with another strike.
Blink!
Again.
The world fell silent as my mind went quiet, leaving only the rhythm of my blink and the wet sound of my claws finding their target. The forest trembled as our movements tore through it like two violent forces colliding again and again in a star-shaped blur.
SHHHK! SHHHK! SHHHHK!
Blink after Blink, Scratch after Scratch, I overwhelmed it.
I twisted my body violently mid-air as the final blow sent the ape flying straight into the massive tree behind it.
KIAAAA!
It’s back slammed into the trunk. Blood sprayed, and then dripped down as its body slid limply to the base of the tree, collapsing into a seated position.
I stood in front of it, breathing hard. Its eyes were half-lidded. Blood ran freely from its wounds.
That’s when a thought struck me.
“What if I mix it…?”
Elemental affinity, combined with attack.
I remembered the sensation. The burning crawled up my spine when Helis first integrated into my body, when blue particles melted through invisible restraints of the spiders.
“Helis Integration,” I murmured.
The sensation returned instantly.
Blue particles bled out of every pore as heat sparked through my core. My claws flared as the energy collided around them, igniting into a faint blue shimmer.
I mixed it with Scratch. But I didn’t aim at the ape.
I swung.
The blow passed just above its head and cleaved straight through the massive tree behind it.
The behemoth split in two.
The upper half collapsed with a loud noise, shaking the ground as it hit. The ape lifted its head weakly, meeting my eyes one last time… and fainted.
I stood there, claws still glowing faintly, staring down at it. My eyes burned with triumph and fury as a grin carved itself across my lips.
[Level Up.]
The system chime hit me like a jolt.
“…Level up?”
My head snapped toward the monkey.
“Did it die?” I shouted in panic. “Did I kill it?!”
“Status!”
The screen appeared immediately.
[Boxer Ape — Class: Alpha]
[Status: Level: 80 Experience: 1744 / 2000 HP: 10 / 1900 MP: 460 / 970Stats:
STR: 150 AGI: 160 INT: 280 SPD: 180]“It’s not dead…” I muttered. “Then how…”
My gaze drifted away from the ape.
The massive tree behind it was disappearing, its broken trunk slowly evaporating into faint particles.
[Normal Wood has been added to inventory.]
My lungs felt heavy as if they were filled with thick tar, something inside my chest had slammed shut, cutting off the air.
“…These are lives too,” My voice barely carried the whisper. “Lives that I’m taking.”
A cold twitch of realization made me grip my chest as the warm feeling of triumph switched with a dark, cold guilt.
And as I stood there, surrounded by broken bark and fading particles, busy gathering materials for my domain and learning the rules of this world…
Far away, inside sealed halls where civilized beasts gathered behind stone and law, trembling hands drafted an order.
[Bearda, Capital of Regilios]
Inside the royal bedchamber, the only sound was the frantic scratching of a quill. A trembling hand dragged the final line across the parchment; the ink was still wet beneath the unsteady glow of candlelight.
For a brief moment, the hand hovered.
Then the parchment was folded sharply and slipped into an envelope. Hot red wax followed, dripping thick before a seal was pressed down with unmistakable authority.
A royal decree.
No words were exchanged as it changed hands.
A maid took the envelope and moved quickly through the stone corridors, her footsteps echoing too loudly in the silence and her breath shallow as if the walls themselves were listening. She reached the gate and stopped.
A soldier was already waiting.
His face was hidden beneath a steel helm, unreadable. He accepted the letter without question, mounted his horse in a single practiced motion, and kicked hard against its flank.
The wild crackle of hooves tore through the sleeping capital, carrying the order that would, in time, turn my ‘safe’ world into a graveyard of regrets.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 136: The Unwanted Encounter
Rhonda and Mat sat beside the two beds.The room remained unusually quiet. Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting pale streaks across the wooden floor. The two unconscious summoners had finally awakened an hour ago, but neither looked any better.Franc sat against the headboard of the left bed. Toby occupied the one beside him.Both still looked pale.Thin streaks of dried blood remained beneath their noses. Every few moments, they pressed their fingers against their temples as if trying to suppress a pounding headache.The door creaked open.Hugo entered first. Noussir followed behind him. The moment Franc and Toby saw them, both tried to rise from their beds. But the room immediately tilted, and their vision blurred a little. Franc grabbed the edge of the mattress while Toby fell back against the headboard with a groan."Easy."Rhonda frowned."You idiots can barely sit."Hugo approached the beds. A warm smile was carved on his lips, but his eyes felt like a serpent
Chapter 135: The Uncertain Tomorrow
The cries of the wolves had awakened half of Corned.Even at midnight, doors opened, and mana lanterns flared to life. Residents spilled into the streets in nightclothes and half-fastened cloaks, drawn toward the Market District by fear of those howls. Around Corned Heaven, the crowd thickened with every passing minute.People leaned from balconies. Guards pushed through the press, barking for order. But questions moved faster than answers. A handful of guests from the tavern had witnessed the chained werewolves suspended near the balcony. Most, however, had only heard the howls.And those howls were enough.Amidst the growing crowd stood four familiar faces––Hugo, Noussir, Mat, and Rhonda.The four blended seamlessly into the gathering of citizens. Their eyes flickered from one balcony to another, mirroring the crowd. Yet unlike the others, they knew exactly what had happened. Hugo's arms remained crossed over his chest as his eyes swept through the crowd. Two people were missing. Hi
Chapter 134: A Trail of Demon Blood
All of the hunters were clueless.The werewolves had appeared in three different rooms tonight. Yet, except for Van, nobody had been attacked. And before anyone could understand what was happening, the creatures had shattered into silver light and vanished.Questions immediately erupted throughout the room. Glances shifted from face to face as murmurs spread within the wooden walls."What were those things?""Weren't they just watching us before?"Duke ignored the growing noise and looked toward Sierra. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips."So...?"Sierra clicked her tongue and winked."Got'em all."Duke’s shoulders sagged a little. Nearby, Steve crouched beside one of the blood stains left behind on the floor. The crimson droplets glistened under the moonlight pouring through the balcony.His finger brushed through the blood. Then he brought it close to his nose. The moment the scent entered his nostrils, his jaw tightened. Steve shot to his feet."Captain..."Duke and Sierra im
Chapter 133: The Unknown Threat––II
The night stretched long over Corned. One by one, the lights inside the tavern went dark. The laughter and clatter from the dining hall thinned, then died behind the walls. Behind closed doors, the hunters waited.For the first hour, nobody slept. Every creak of wood made someone reach for their weapon. A gust of wind across the balconies made shoulders tense, and hearts skip a beat. Yet the werewolves never came.The second hour passed, then the third.The moon climbed higher above the town while the mana lanterns outside continued casting their soft glow across the streets. Bit by bit, exhaustion wore down caution. One by one, the hunters surrendered to their heavy eyelids.Van was no exception.His shield rested against the wall beside his bed. His armor lay neatly folded beside it. The tanker had fallen asleep with one arm hanging over the edge of the mattress. Then a faint sound reached his ears.Rustle.His eyes slowly opened. For a moment, he remained still. Another rustling so
Chapter 132: Eternal Grace of Water
“What the hell??”My calves pushed me up off the throne. My eyes refused to move from the CCP. Toruous had released his dimension inside the prison.…And it was one heck of a dimension release.The water droplets spiraling toward him froze midair, then burst outward, splattering onto the floor. The tank sentinel plunged his shield onto the floor with a heavy thud as the zone defense activated. A thick sphere of aura embraced all five sentinels, enclosing them in its womb.But Toruous smiled.“Lucid Shackles.”Within the blink of an eye, water droplets lifted from the soaked floor, twisting into countless whips inside the aura barrier. Their free ends lashed forward like hissing serpents, snapping around the tank sentinel’s wrists and ankles. Then they recoiled toward the floor, yanking his limbs apart and stretching him wide.Thud!The massive shield dropped onto the floor.Bang!Loud noise echoed through the prison, ricocheting off the stone walls until the whole chamber rang. Toruou
Chapter 131: The Eyes Behind the Wolves
The second branch of Corned Heaven was far quieter than the main one.Only a handful of tables were occupied. The distant clatter of cutlery echoed softly beneath the warm glow of the mana lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The rich smell of roasted meat drifted through the dining hall.At a table near the corner sat six travellers. Or at least, that was what Corned believed them to be.Their hoods had long been removed.A large platter of roasted boar meat occupied the center of the rectangular table while mugs of beer and noodle bowls surrounded it. The bearded man resting his elbow atop the table tore off a piece of meat and glanced toward the man sitting at the head of the group."How long do we stay as shadows, Boss?"The leader brushed his long white curls backward and tied them into a ponytail. He tilted his neck slightly.Crack.The joint popped as he looked toward the bearded man."Only till tonight, Noussir."A grin appeared beneath Noussir's beard. Across from him, a red-ha
You may also like
Holy Demon God
LuoFeng91521.8K viewsGlad He Hate All ~Gladiator~
Zuxian16.3K viewsONCE BULLIED: LYON ARMSTRONG IS BACK.
ASystem19.7K viewsReincarnation Of The Bullied
Udoka Okoh115.7K viewsThe Fallen Ring
Inara223 viewsTALES OF THE SERPENT TAMER
titilola171 viewsThe Forsaken Heir of the Frozen End
titilola304 viewsThe Eternal Emperor: Reborn to Slaughter The Gods
Olamide106 views