chapter 19

The scent of earth and stone hit my nostrils before I even saw my final target. Following the heavy odor, I prowled through a section of forest where the trees thinned out, giving way to rocky terrain. A rumbling sound—like boulders shifting—drew my attention to a small ravine.

There it was, my fifth opponent. A hulking figure crouched among the rocks, its massive body covered in what looked like natural stone armor. Patches of moss grew on its shoulders and back, and its knuckles were encrusted with minerals that glinted in the sunlight.

My Analyze skill activated:

[Earthclad Ape (Rank 2)]

[Level: 29]

[HP: 450/450]

[Mana: 250]

[Stats:

Strength: 70

Speed: 30

Defense: 65

Agility: 25

Intelligence: 30]

[Skills:

Stone Skin: 3

Earth Pound: 2

Rock Throw: 2]

I snorted dismissively. The creature was strong but slow—a simple combination I'd faced before. Its intelligence was barely above the boar's. This would be quick.

"Let's finish this quest," I muttered, stalking closer.

The ape's head swiveled toward me, surprisingly alert. Its small eyes narrowed, and before I could pounce, it slammed its fists against the ground. The earth trembled beneath my paws.

"Predictable," I scoffed, leaping forward anyway. I'd simply dodge whatever clumsy attack it—

A massive fist connected with my side mid-leap, sending me flying into a nearby boulder. Pain exploded across my ribs as I slid to the ground, momentarily stunned.

[HP: 680/750]

"What the—" I gasped, struggling to my feet. The ape hadn't been as slow as I'd expected. It might be bulky, but those arms could move when they needed to.

The creature beat its chest, the sound echoing like thunder against stone. It charged, each footfall shaking the earth.

I couldn't match it for raw strength—that much was clear. Time to be smarter.

"Ice Spike!" I channeled mana into the ground beneath the charging ape. Sharp spears of ice erupted upward, not aiming to pierce but to destabilize.

The ape stumbled, its momentum carrying it forward as its footing betrayed it. It crashed to one knee, momentarily vulnerable.

I didn't waste the opportunity. Lunar energy surged through my body, concentrating in my claws until they glowed with silvery light.

"Moon Slash!"

I pounced, focusing all my power into a single, devastating strike. My claws tore through the stone armor protecting its chest like it was nothing more than dried clay.

The ape's eyes widened in shock as it toppled backward, a deep gash across its torso. It tried to rise once more, then collapsed with a final, rumbling groan.

I approached cautiously and extracted its mana core—this one dense and heavy, pulsing with earthen energy. When I consumed it, I felt a wave of solidity wash through me.

[Mana Core absorbed. +1 Stat Point acquired.]

[Random stat increases: +2 Defense, +1 Strength]

[Mana increases: +5]

I flopped onto my side, exhaustion finally catching up to me after the fifth battle. My breathing came in deep, even pants as I savored the warmth of the mana core absorption spreading through my body. The forest had grown quiet again, as if acknowledging my dominance.

A familiar chime sounded in my mind.

[Quest Complete: Hunting the Hunters]

[Objective: Defeat five Rank 2 Mana Beasts]

[Difficulty: Hard]

[Reward: 2 Skill Points, 500 XP, 100 Store Points]

"About time," I muttered, rolling onto my stomach and stretching my limbs. Despite not gaining XP from the actual kills, the mana cores had given me substantial stat boosts—thirteen points spread across my attributes, plus twenty-five additional mana. Combined with the quest rewards, I felt significantly stronger than when I'd started.

[Would the host like to view her updated status?]

"Yes, show me."

My status screen materialized before my eyes, and I couldn't help but purr with satisfaction at the improvements.

"Those mana cores were worth every scratch," I said, examining the fresh cuts and bruises that dotted my white fur. Nothing serious—they'd heal quickly enough with my regeneration.

The system's voice chimed in again, sounding almost pleased.

[The host has shown remarkable growth. Your combat efficiency has increased by 28% since your evolution.]

"Only 28%? I thought I was doing better than that," I joked, licking a small wound on my paw.

[Host's sarcasm noted. Your performance exceeds expectations for your current level. The acquired skill points and store points will further enhance your capabilities.]

I chuckled, rolling my shoulders to work out the stiffness. "I'll take that as a compliment."

The 500 XP hadn't leveled me up, but it had pushed me closer to my next milestone. More importantly, the additional skill points and store points opened up new possibilities. I'd need to think carefully about how to use them.

I stretched lazily in a patch of sunlight filtering through the canopy, allowing myself a moment of rest after the five consecutive battles. The forest had grown quiet around me, as if the other creatures sensed a new apex predator had emerged.

"Those fights were... surprisingly easy," I murmured to myself, licking a small cut on my paw.

When I'd first evolved into a Moon White Tiger, every battle had felt like a desperate struggle for survival. Now, I was taking down Rank 2 beasts—creatures that would have terrified me just days ago—with calculated efficiency.

My movements during the battles had been sharper than ever before. Where I once hesitated, I now flowed like water between attacks. My reactions came faster, almost instinctive, as if my body knew what to do before my mind could process the danger.

The panther's ambush should have caught me off guard, but I'd sensed and countered it before its fangs could find my throat. The fire wolf's speed had seemed almost sluggish compared to my own. Even the lightning stag, with all its electrical fury, couldn't match my enhanced reflexes.

"I'm becoming the hunter I was meant to be," I purred, feeling a surge of pride.

The mana cores had certainly helped. Each one I'd consumed had enhanced different aspects of my abilities. The panther's core had boosted my defense and agility, making my movements more precise.

The fire wolf's had increased my strength and intelligence, allowing me to plan and execute more complex attack patterns. The stag's electrical core had further enhanced my already impressive speed and agility, while the earthen ape's had reinforced my physical durability.

I examined my claws, noticing how they seemed sharper, more lethal. My Moon Slash technique had cut through the stone ape's armor like it was nothing more than dried clay.

"The cores are like specialized training sessions," I realized. "Each one refines different aspects of my power."

While none of the beasts had posed a true challenge individually, their collective contributions to my growth were undeniable. I was becoming something more than just a powerful beast—I was evolving into a true apex predator.