Battle Against the Unyielding Black Hawk

"Surprisingly, the demon was still breathing. Its resilience was truly remarkable." Riku marveled at the Black Hawk's tenacity, his heightened senses allowing him to observe the creature's struggle in the pit, even from his vantage point high in the air.

"Well, let's see if you can withstand this!" Riku's brow furrowed as he descended from the sky like a cannonball, carrying tremendous kinetic energy. He landed squarely on the struggling giant eagle, driving it back into the ground.

For the next few minutes, a relentless barrage of explosions resonated, and the earth and rocks trembled, causing unsettling disturbances in the vicinity. The Black Hawk's cries grew weaker and weaker.

Eventually, the silence prevailed. "Finally, it's over," Riku remarked as he sat atop the motionless Black Hawk, exhaling in relief. He released the grip on his Eight Inner Gates technique, his body relaxing.

"The power of the Eight Inner Gates has significantly amplified my physical strength," Riku noted, his satisfaction evident. The Black Hawk's strength was unquestionable—its incredible speed transcended physical limits, and its destructive force was terrifying. Yet, it had succumbed to Riku's use of the Fourth gate.

"Though it's unfortunate the demon's bodies were obliterated," Riku muttered in frustration, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "They represented exchange points that are now lost. I could've gained 2,000 to 3,000 exchange points from them."

A sudden system notification broke his train of thought. [Ding, the body of the high-level demon black iron eagle was found, worth 8,000 exchange points. Is it recycled?]

"Eight thousand? This creature is more valuable than a Dwarf warship," Riku exclaimed, pleasantly surprised.

The choice was clear. "Recycle," Riku promptly commanded the system.

In an instant, the colossal body of the giant eagle vanished, leaving Riku hovering in the air.

"Now, I have 10,000 exchange points. Perhaps I should consider purchasing two exquisite treasure chests…" Riku pondered while floating mid-air. "On the other hand, my strength has seen significant improvement. Let's save the exchange points and open an exceptional treasure chest first. It might yield greater rewards."

Riku's eyes shifted to a golden treasure chest nearby. "Next up, it's time to open the golden treasure chest—my first one. Hopefully, it'll contain something valuable," he said with enthusiasm.

In the past days, Riku had felt as though his luck had run dry, yielding mediocre results. But now, he was ready to see if his fortunes would change.

His silhouette became a shadow as he covered several kilometers in mere seconds, arriving at the gleaming golden treasure chest.

"Indeed, it lives up to its name—a golden treasure chest," Riku marveled at the jewel-adorned chest.

Without further ado, he extended his hand and placed it on the golden treasure chest.

With a crisp 'click,' the chest swung open, releasing a blinding burst of golden light that nearly overwhelmed Riku's vision.

Simultaneously, the system chimed in. [Ding, congratulations to the host on obtaining a World Shuttle Token.]

"A World Shuttle Token…" Riku mused as he examined the golden token resting in his hand. "It seems my luck may be turning around. This could be quite useful."

Though the token didn't directly enhance his strength, Riku remained optimistic. "Enough contemplation. I should make my exit before attracting the attention of those superior races. Trouble is the last thing I need."

As Riku left the scene, the world once again descended into silence, leaving behind only a massive crater as a testament to the fierce battle that had taken place.

Moments later, a delicate figure arrived, none other than Riku's acquaintance, Jibril—an Exceptional Unit Flügel.

"Such potent energy fluctuations. A fierce battle undoubtedly occurred here," Jibril remarked, surveying the immense crater. "And these energy signatures feel oddly familiar…"

Shrugging off her momentary confusion, she decided, "Never mind that for now. My priority is to track down those forest-dwelling creatures. Their escape with the magic grimoire books is proving to be quite the nuisance."

With that, Jibril activated her spatial abilities and vanished from the area, ready to resume her pursuit.