I swung my new sword a few times to get a feel for it. The balance was heavier than my old blade, but the edge felt sharper, eager. After running through the plan in my head one last time, I began my fifteenth ordeal.
The Hog materialized before me—larger than the boars I'd faced before and far more menacing, its three jagged horns glinting like obsidian spears. I locked eyes with it as the familiar prompt appeared:
[Target Rank Exceeds Your Own]
[Skill Restricted for 20 seconds]
I dashed forward, blade flashing, and pierced its side. The sword bit deep—but not deep enough. The Hog roared, blood spilling down its flank, and charged again. The wound had barely slowed it.
I'd overestimated the new weapon. The cut wasn't nearly as deep as I'd hoped, and the Restriction timer was already ticking down.
The Hog stomped the ground and lunged, head swinging low. It tried to activate its horn skill, but when nothing happened, it adjusted, angling its horns like a lance, ready to impale me.
I backed up until my spine pressed against a tree. The moment it closed in, I leapt sideways. Its charge ripped through the trunk—the wood exploded into splinters as the Hog kept barreling forward before finally righting itself. It turned, bellowed, and shook its head violently.
The horns dislodged and launched toward me, homing in like heat-seeking missiles.
I sprinted into the forest, weaving through the trees. One by one, the horns embedded themselves into trunks behind me. When I turned, the Hog was already charging again—too close for comfort.
I wanted to use Dash, but—
[Skill on Cooldown]
I twisted my body at the last second. Evasive Motion kicked in, the world slowing slightly as I slipped past its massive bulk. It wasn't a huge boost, but enough. As the Hog thundered past, I raised my blade and brought it down with everything I had.
[Bloodburst] ×5
Half my HP drained instantly, but it was worth it. My blade sliced clean through one of its hind legs and grazed the other. The Hog toppled with a thunderous crash, dirt and leaves scattering everywhere.
I waited for the prompt.
[+180 Essence]
[Predation]
[Corpse Devoured]
[+180 Essence]
And with that, the fifteenth ordeal ended.
The Sixteenth Ordeal
Two juvenile Yang Foxes emerged next. They were about as strong as Dire Fangs but carried the Shadow Movement skill. I'd faced that before—it was almost routine now.
I restricted the skill of one and waited. The second tried to ambush me from the shadows, but I was ready. A single strike cut it down, and the first fell soon after.
[+100 Essence × 2]
[Predation]
[+400 Essence Total]
The Seventeenth Ordeal
This time, I faced juvenile Yin Foxes. Their illusions made them trickier than their Yang counterparts. When I sealed one's skill, the other used its illusions to mask its attacks, forcing me into a long, grueling fight. Eventually, I broke through their deception and finished both.
[+400 Essence Total]
The next ordeal would pit me against a mature Yin–Yang Fox, capable of manipulating both shadow and light—its illusions even more convincing than before.
I needed an edge.
Opening the Skill Store, I scrolled until one caught my eye:
[Blood Sense (Passive)]
Detects nearby living creatures within 10 meters via blood flow. (Cost: 100 Essence)
Perfect. Even if it hid behind illusions, its heartbeat couldn't lie.
Still… I couldn't resist.
I bought six Mystery Cards—one for each ordeal I'd completed and then some.
The roulette began to spin, colors swirling into a radiant mirage. One by one, the cards dissolved into streams of light.
[Skill Acquired: Chain Assault (Blue – Rare Rank)]
Each successive hit increases the next strike's force.
[Skill Acquired: Arcane Echo (Red – Unique Rank)]
The last skill used replays automatically at reduced power.
[Skill Acquired: Flow Counter (Blue – Rare Rank)]
Redirect an enemy's momentum to offset their impact. Perfect timing turns defense into offense.
[Skill Acquired: Bloom Surge (Red – Unique Rank)] (Nature Affinity)
Explosive burst of flora that heals allies and poisons enemies. Life and decay bloom together in a single breath.
[Skill Acquired: Aether Step (Red – Unique Rank)] (Wind Affinity)
Momentarily dissolve into mana and reappear several meters away, leaving behind a shimmering afterimage.
[Skill Acquired: Soulbound Dominion (Gold – Legendary Rank)]
Forcefully tame a subdued monster or any creature below your rank. Bind its soul to yours, influence its growth, and claim it as a lifelong companion. (Limited to three bonds.)
A Legendary skill.
I stared at the message, stunned.
I'd hoped for one—but I didn't truly believe I'd ever pull it off. Even if I didn't use it, I could sell it for a fortune.
The affinity-based skills would have to wait until I knew what elements I could wield—and until I unlocked my class.
With that decided, I turned my focus to my next goal: reaching Level 10.
[Level 9 – 200 Essence]
[Level 10 – 200 Essence]
Then—
the system glitched.
[&|&!| Error &#!]
[Non-Human Race Detected]
[Evolution to High Human Failed]
[Racial Evolution Delayed]
"What the fuck is this now?"