Chapter 28: Confronting the Past

The alien landscape seemed quieter today, the oppressive stillness broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional hiss of the wind through jagged rock formations. Noah had grown accustomed to the haunting stillness of this world, but he was far from complacent. Every day brought new challenges, and every corner turned could hide another aberration waiting to strike.

Today, Noah ventured toward the small, dark river cutting through the zone, his canteen slung over his shoulder. This was where he had been ambushed a week ago by a mid-level aberration, and though he had survived the encounter, the memory still burned fresh in his mind. He had narrowly escaped, pushing his fledgling skills to their limit. That fight had shaken him, leaving him with bruises, claw marks, and the sobering realization that his survival here was far from guaranteed.

Now, he was back, stronger and more prepared. His grindstone progress had been significant over the past week, his stats climbing steadily. This time, if that aberration returned, he wasn't planning to flee.

Noah knelt by the river's edge, dipping his canteen into the sluggish current. The murky water didn't inspire confidence, but it wasn't for drinking—he used it for cleaning his gear and occasionally rinsing off his body.

The faint sound of shifting stones caught his attention. He froze, his grip tightening around the handle of his blade. Slowly, he straightened and turned, scanning the treeline. The sound came again, louder this time, accompanied by the unmistakable clicking noise he had come to associate with aberrations.

And then he saw it.

The mid-level aberration emerged from the shadows, its grotesque form taller and bulkier than the low-level ones he had been fighting. Its black, scaly skin glistened in the dim light, and its glowing red eyes locked onto him with a predatory gleam.

"You again," Noah muttered under his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. This was the same creature that had nearly killed him a week ago. But this time, things were different.

Noah shifted into a ready stance, his blade drawn and his body coiled like a spring. He had prepared for this moment, training relentlessly and consuming aberration cores to grow stronger. Now, it was time to see how far he'd come.

The aberration charged, its speed startling for its size. Noah sidestepped at the last second, narrowly avoiding the swipe of its claws. He countered with a quick slash to its side, his blade biting into its flesh and drawing a spray of dark ichor.

The creature let out a guttural snarl, spinning to face him with a ferocity that sent a shiver down his spine. It lunged again, swiping with both claws in a flurry of attacks. Noah ducked and weaved, his increased agility allowing him to avoid most of the blows, though one claw caught his shoulder, tearing through his jacket and leaving a shallow cut.

He gritted his teeth and retaliated with a powerful slash across the creature's chest.

"Energy Surge!" he called, activating his skill. A surge of power coursed through him, his movements becoming faster and his strikes hitting harder.

He pressed the attack, landing blow after blow, but the aberration was relentless. It seemed to adapt to his movements, its attacks growing more unpredictable. One clawed hand caught him in the ribs, sending him stumbling back with a sharp gasp of pain.

The fight raged on, both combatants bloodied and exhausted. Noah's stamina was waning, and the aberration showed no signs of slowing down. It circled him like a predator stalking its prey, its glowing eyes filled with malice.

Noah clenched his jaw, gripping his blade tighter. He couldn't let this thing win. Not here. Not now.

The creature lunged again, and this time Noah met its charge head-on. He ducked under its swing and drove his blade into its abdomen with all his strength. The aberration shrieked in pain, flailing wildly as it tried to dislodge him.

With a grunt of effort, Noah twisted the blade and yanked it free, black ichor spilling onto the ground. The creature staggered back, its movements slowing, its strength fading.

Noah didn't hesitate. He surged forward, delivering a final, decisive slash across its neck. The aberration let out one last gurgling cry before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

"Hostile eliminated. Reward acquired: Mid-Level Aberration Core (x1). Strength, Stamina, and Agility experience gained."

Noah dropped to his knees, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. His body was battered, his wounds stinging, but he had won. The mid-level aberration lay motionless before him, its glowing eyes extinguished.

For a moment, he just sat there, the weight of the battle sinking in. Then his eyes fell on the core the creature had dropped. It was larger and more vibrant than the low-level cores he had been collecting, its dark surface pulsing faintly with energy.

"This better be worth it," he muttered, picking up the core.

He hesitated for only a second before consuming it. The effect was immediate—a rush of heat spreading through his body, far more intense than anything he had experienced before. His muscles tensed, his heartbeat quickened, and he felt an overwhelming surge of energy.

"Mid-Level Aberration Core consumed. Significant stat increase applied."

Noah's grindstone interface appeared before him, displaying his updated stats.

[Noah Greene – Level 16]

Strength: 50 (+9)

Stamina: 48 (+10)

Agility: 44 (+9)

Intelligence: 7

Skills:

Beginner Combat Proficiency (Lv. 6)

Basic Evasion (Lv. 5)

Energy Surge (Active)

Aberration Slayer (Passive)

Noah stared at the numbers, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. The mid-level core had given him a massive boost, propelling his stats to new heights.

He let out a shaky laugh, a mix of relief and triumph. "Looks like all that training paid off," he murmured.

As he sat there, his blade resting across his lap and the body of the slain aberration at his feet, Noah allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. The fight had been brutal, but it had proven one thing: he was no longer the same man who had stumbled onto this alien world. He was stronger now—strong enough to face whatever came next.

End of Chapter 28.