Time passed.
Not in days.
Not in battles.
But in accumulation.
One year—
Gone.
The forest core did not change.
But everything within it did.
Super creatures—
Fell.
One by one.
Different forms.
Different strengths.
Different methods.
Han Chandu adapted.
Every fight—
Refined.
Every movement—
Reduced.
Every mistake—
Removed.
Super combat—
Became routine.
Not easy.
Never easy.
But controlled.
There was no meat.
No consumption.
No simple gain.
Only one thing remained.
Essence.
Every kill—
Guaranteed.
The Life Geno Essence.
No exception.
No failure.
Han Chandu consumed.
Every time.
→ +1
→ +1
→ +1
→ +1
→ +1
→ +1
→ +1
→ +1
Sometimes—
→ +1
→ +1
Sometimes—
Only one more.
→ +1
Then—
It ended.
No resistance.
No limit.
No "+0".
Only completion.
Each essence—
Eight.
Nine.
Or ten.
Nothing less.
But something else—
Did not follow the same rule.
"Beast Soul gained."
Or—
"No Beast Soul gained."
Random.
Rare.
Unreliable.
One year—
Only two beast soul gained
He don't know he has so much
Bad luck
Han Chandu stood still.
Looking at the panel.
A faint panel appeared.
[ Sanctuary Panel ]
Status:
Evolution → Not Evolved
Life Span → 200 Years
Genes:
Ordinary → 100 / 100
Primitive → 100 / 100
Mutant → 100 / 100
Sacred → 100 / 100
Super → 96 / 100
Beast Souls:
Armor → Shadow Armor (Mutant)
Weapon → Mutant Blade (Mutant)
Weapon → Mutant Sword (Mutant)
Weapon → Sacred Beast Soul (Sacred)
Mount → Golden Jade Lion (Super | Evolvable)
Pet → Crystal Back Turtle (Sacred | Evolving)
Pet → Silver Spine Serpent (Sacred)
Pet → Flame Crest Bird (Sacred)
New:
Armor → Black Armor (Super)
Special → Shapeshift Beast Soul (Super)
The panel remained.
Han Chandu observed.
Calm.
Because now—
Everything was clear.
One year.
Almost complete.
But the Beast Souls—
Too few.
Two.
Only two.
A pause.
Then—
"…bad luck."
No frustration.
No anger.
Only fact.
Black Armor.
Reliable.
Shapeshift.
Flexible.
Enough.
He turned.
Looking deeper.
Because now—
Only four points remained.
Four.
The end—
Close.
Not rushed.
Not forced.
Only inevitable.
He stepped forward.
Again.
Because now—
There was nothing left—
Except completion.