Roy’s Recovery


Roy sat cross-legged, his body motionless as the faint glow of red aura enveloped him. His breaths were slow and deliberate, his focus entirely on the energy coursing through him. Over the past six days, Roy had engaged in a painstaking cycle of channeling his aura to heal his battered body, particularly his brain, which had borne the brunt of injuries during the second test.After using his aura to repair himself, his reserves would deplete. However, recovering the existing aura required no cultivation; it naturally replenished from the environment in a matter of time. Only expanding the capacity of his aura—a task for stages like Qi Cultivation—required deliberate effort and time. 

For Roy, this automatic recovery had become a lifeline as he continued healing for such a long time. It was the sixth day of the test, and this rhythm had defined his every moment.

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the canopy, Roy opened his eyes, their fiery glow piercing the dim light.

"Fuuu," he exhaled slowly, releasing a breath that carried tension from his body. 'I didn't think it would take this long to heal from the injuries. I better be careful next time.'

He rolled his neck, the sharp cracks breaking the silence of the forest. His body felt renewed, albeit still a touch stiff. After settling for a moment, he closed his eyes again, this time focusing inward to assess his aura. It pulsed with vigor, far exceeding what it had been when he first entered the trial.

'It's six times compared to when I started,' he thought, a smirk curling his lips. 'Hehe, let's see what Kevin says now.' Kevin always had a natural abundance of aura, nearly double that of Roy's before the trial began. It had been one of Kevin's rare advantages that he took subtle pride in. But now, Roy's aura had surpassed his friend's, finally leveling or even skewing the playing field to his side. The image of Kevin's reaction brought a rare flicker of amusement to his otherwise serious demeanor.

"He he he," he chuckled under his breath. 'He won't be smug about it now.'

Roy stood and leapt into the air, his body twisting in a graceful arc before descending with controlled power. As his feet hit the ground with an audible boom, a small crater formed beneath him, dust swirling in his wake. Rising to his full height, his fiery eyes scanned the horizon.

'It's time to start hunting,' Roy thought with determination. With only a day and a half left in the trial, he knew he had to make up for lost time. His aura flared briefly as he launched himself deeper into the wilderness, his pace unrelenting.

The forest was alive with the hum of life, yet Roy's focus remained singular. His heightened senses mapped the terrain as he moved swiftly through the trees. He encountered multiple Bronze Level and a few Silver Level beasts along the way, their faint growls and rustling movements betraying their presence. Yet, he did not engage with them; only Gold Level beasts could help him make the progress he needed. Slowing his steps, he approached silently, his eyes narrowing as the scene came into view.

In a clearing, a massive Gold Level 3 beast stood amidst the wreckage of broken trees. Its name sprang to Roy's mind instantly: the Thunderclaw Ape. Towering over ten feet tall, its limbs exuded raw power, arcs of lightning dancing across its jet-black fur. The very air around it sizzled with static energy, a faint hum resonating with each of its movements. Its glowing yellow eyes scanned the forest, a predator seeking its next victim.

Roy crouched behind a fallen log, observing the beast's patterns. 'That thing's dangerous,' he thought, his smirk returning. 'Perfect.'

The ape roared suddenly, its cry reverberating through the forest as a surge of lightning arced from its claws, striking a nearby tree and reducing it to splinters. Roy took a steadying breath and stepped into the clearing, drawing the beast's attention.

"Alright, big guy," Roy said aloud, his tone almost playful. "Let's dance."

The Thunderclaw Ape snarled, arcs of lightning crackling across its fur as it fixed its glowing yellow eyes on Roy. Without warning, the beast lunged, its massive claws cutting through the air, trailing bolts of electricity. Roy sidestepped the initial swipe, the crackling energy close enough to make the hairs on his arms stand on end.

As the ape landed, its fists struck the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Roy jumped back, narrowly avoiding the concussive force, his eyes narrowing. 'It's not just brute strength; this thing knows how to use its power,' he thought.

Roy retaliated, his twin daggers flashing as he slashed at the beast's forearm. The blade connected, cutting through fur and flesh. Sparks flew from the wound as the ape roared in pain, but the attack seemed to anger it more than weaken it. The Thunderclaw spun, its massive tail sweeping toward Roy with devastating force. Roy ducked, rolling to the side to avoid the blow.

The ape wasted no time, its claws glowing brighter as it slammed them into the earth. A surge of lightning spread outward in a web-like pattern, forcing Roy to leap onto a nearby rock to avoid the electrified ground. The air buzzed with static, and Roy could feel the electricity pricking at his skin.

From his elevated position, Roy charged forward, leaping toward the ape. His twin daggers gleamed as he aimed for the beast's shoulder, but the Thunderclaw reacted quickly, swinging a charged claw upward. Roy twisted mid-air, narrowly evading the counterattack, and landed behind the ape. In one fluid motion, he drove both daggers into the creature's exposed flank, their edges sinking deep.

The Thunderclaw howled, its roar shaking the trees, and unleashed another burst of lightning. The energy forced Roy to disengage, retreating to avoid being caught in the blast. He crouched low, his fiery eyes locked on the beast as he adjusted his grip on the hilts of his twin daggers.

The ape charged again, its fists glowing with concentrated energy. Roy waited, watching its movements carefully. As it swung, he sidestepped at the last moment, using the momentum of the beast's attack to get inside its guard. His daggers flashed, striking at the soft tissue under its ribs with precise, cutting blows. Blood sprayed as the Thunderclaw staggered, its movements growing erratic.

"You're tough," Roy muttered, breathing heavily. "But I'm tougher."

The Thunderclaw snarled, its eyes blazing as it prepared a final, desperate attack. Lightning surged through its entire body, arcs of energy sparking wildly as it raised both fists for a devastating strike. Roy steadied himself, his aura flaring in his body as he prepared for the onslaught.

With a roar, the beast brought its fists down, the impact sending a massive shockwave through the clearing. Roy leapt into the air, using the momentum to drive both daggers down into the Thunderclaw's exposed back, their edges piercing vital points. The blade pierced deep, severing vital connections as the beast's roar turned into a pained groan. Its body convulsed as the electricity flickered and died.

Roy landed lightly as the massive creature collapsed, its weight shaking the ground. He pulled his daggers free, wiping the blood off on the grass as he stood over the fallen beast. Despite the beast's size and power, Roy felt no true satisfaction. 'This wasn't even a proper challenge,' he thought, flexing his fingers as he adjusted to his regained strength. Sitting idle for days had dulled his instincts slightly, but now he was quickly reacclimating. The Thunderclaw Ape had understood how to use its abilities, but its proficiency with lightning manipulation was far from refined, leaving exploitable openings in its attacks. "You were strong," Roy murmured, almost as an afterthought, "but not strong enough."

"One down," he said, his voice calm but resolute. Kneeling beside the fallen Thunderclaw Ape, Roy searched for its token. Embedded in the creature's chest was a glowing golden token, radiating faint warmth. Roy gripped the token and pulled it free, the energy within it thrumming briefly before settling. He held it up, observing its glow for a moment before tucking it away. 'Time to find the next,' he thought, rising to his feet as his fiery eyes scanned the forest once more.

The forest remained alive with distant sounds—growls, roars, and faint clashes of other aspirants battling their own challenges. Roy began moving again, his steps silent but swift. The token's faint warmth pressed against his side as it rested in his pocket, His pace quickened as he picked up a faint scent of rain in the air, blending with the earthy musk of the forest. Somewhere in the distance, the caw of a bird broke the tension, startling a small rodent that darted past Roy's feet.

'If Kevin were here, he'd probably trip over that thing,' Roy thought, a fleeting grin crossing his face before his focus sharpened again.

As the canopy above grew denser, casting darker shadows on the forest floor, Roy's senses picked up subtle shifts in the environment. The air felt heavier, the sound of rushing water faint but growing. He slowed his steps as he approached a stream flanked by jagged rocks, its surface rippling unnaturally. Curious, Roy crouched by the bank and flicked a pebble into the water. A hiss erupted as the pebble disintegrated upon contact. 'Poisonous runoff. Nice touch,' he mused, a sardonic smile tugging at his lips.

Before he could move further, a rustle in the bushes ahead caught his attention. He froze, his fiery eyes narrowing as he drew his daggers. A Gold Level beast? No—this felt different. Heavy breathing reached his ears, along with the faint clink of metal. 'Another aspirant?' he wondered.

The bushes parted, revealing a hulking figure: a Muscle Forging cultivator wielding a spiked mace. The stranger's eyes locked on Roy, his expression a mix of desperation and hostility.

"Hand over the token," the cultivator growled, lifting his weapon threateningly.

Roy tilted his head, his smirk returning. "Or what?"

Without waiting for a reply, the cultivator charged, his mace arcing down with brutal force. Roy sidestepped effortlessly, the weapon crashing into the ground with a dull thud, sending shards of earth flying. Roy's smirk widened as he stepped back, watching the bald man recover for another swing.

"That's all?" Roy teased, spinning one of his daggers lazily in his hand. The cultivator snarled in frustration and swung again, but Roy was already gone, appearing to his left with a faint blur of motion.

"Missed," Roy said, his tone mocking. He made no move to attack, dancing out of range each time the cultivator lunged forward. The mace struck nothing but air, and with every failed attempt, the man's anger grew.

Roy dodged a final, desperate swing and yawned dramatically. "This is getting boring," he said flatly. "Let's end this."

Before the cultivator could react, Roy stepped forward and vanished from view. The bald man's eyes darted around wildly, searching for his opponent. In the next instant, Roy appeared directly in front of him, his twin daggers slicing in a single, fluid motion. Blood sprayed as the cultivator's arms fell limp, both hands severed at the wrists.

The man let out a scream, stumbling back. Roy's fiery eyes locked onto him, and a wave of black, oppressive energy poured forth, enveloping the cultivator in suffocating killing intent. The man froze, his body trembling uncontrollably. His knees buckled, and the sharp smell of urine filled the air.

"If I ever see you again, you won't leave alive," Roy said coldly, his voice laced with menace. He turned away, but not before snatching the tokens from the cultivator's pocket. Roy held them briefly, noting their faint glow, before slipping it into his own pouch. His total was now 1,600 points.

Roy gave the trembling man one last glance before vanishing into the forest, leaving behind only silence and fear.