10th floor: The Ancient Jungle 1
The white light faded, and immediately my senses were overwhelmed.
The air was thick with humidity, carrying the sweet-rot scent of decomposing vegetation and something else—something older, more primordial.
Mist swirled around my feet as I took in my surroundings, my enhanced vision piercing through the natural haze.
"What is this...? Ferns"
Massive ferns, their fronds large enough to engulf entire creatures, stretched toward a canopy so dense it turned daylight into perpetual twilight.
Towering cycads and conifers stood as silent giants, their ancient forms unchanged for eons. The jungle pulsed with life—chirps, guttural growls, and the distant bellow of something enormous.
This wasn't just a jungle; it was like a mutated vision of prehistoric Earth, raw and untamed, a place where survival was the only rule.
A system notification appeared:
[Welcome to the 10th Floor Trial: The Primordial Hunt]
[Duration: 48 Hours]
[Current Location: Ancient Jungle Biome]
[Trial Rules:]
1. Killing monsters awards Hunt Points.
2. Explorers who die will be transported to the Safe Zone and disqualified from Earth's defense.
3. Long-range teleportation and use of teleportation items are disabled.
4. Energy recovery is reduced by 50%.
5. Each biome contains unique monsters and challenges.
6. The Apex Beast must be defeated within the time limit.
7. New skills can be obtained through combat experience
[Current Hunt Points: 0]
[Time Remaining: 47:59:45]
Elira and Rin were nowhere to be seen. The system had separated us, likely placing them in different biomes.
It made sense—we needed to prove our individual worth before any potential teamwork in the final confrontation. I might be wrong and this may just be that the tower is deciding again that going solo for me is the best.
The air felt different here, heavier than normal.
My cosmic energy seemed to interact strangely with it, as if the very atmosphere held some power that resisted my abilities.
I focused on my breathing, remembering what I'd learned about controlling energy in the previous floors. I tried circulating the energy inside my body and there was no problem with that.
The only problem was that the cosmic energy in the surrounding seem to be under the control of something else. It wasn't trying to move into my body with it usual ferociousness.
The shield that filtered out cosmic energy was also not working as it seem to sense that it will be difficult to refill energy consumed if it filtered it away.
"This will be enough if I conserve it" I said as I open the system to check the current amount of energy I had. "I should explore for now"
I took my first few steps on the floor before something caught my eye—a cluster of fruits hanging from a nearby tree.
They were unlike anything I'd seen before, their skin semi-transparent and pulsing with a faint inner light. The system provided information:
[Luminous Heart Fruit]
Rarity: Uncommon
Effects: Temporarily enhances energy regeneration
Warning: May attract predators
I reached for one, only to freeze as movement rustled through the underbrush.
A low, rumbling growl filled the air, followed by sharp clicking sounds.
A pack of Razorclaw Raptors emerged, their scales shifting colors to match their surroundings. Seven of them, each about the size of a large wolf, with claws that gleamed like polished obsidian.
[Razorclaw Raptor]
Level: E-Rank
Hunt Points Per Kill: 10
They moved with frightening intelligence, spreading out to surround me.
Their leader, slightly larger than the others, let out a series of guttural clicks, like a coded language. They weren't mindless beasts—they were strategizing.
A chorus of screeches erupted as they lunged in unison. I dodged, twisting midair, but they were faster than expected. Claws slashed at my arms, drawing shallow cuts despite my enhancements.
"Shit… I forgot to enhance the cloak with energy before coming here" well it was a mistake on my part but the Razorclaw raptors had no problem with going after me.
Their leader charged forward last, red energy crackling around its body.
This was no ordinary raptor—it had some kind of power. Its movements blurred as it slashed at me with supernatural speed, forcing me to block with a reinforced space barrier.
The impact sent me skidding backward. "So E-rank creatures have enough power to break through my barrier. That should not be surprising since I am E-rank too"
I was now ready to fight both mentally and physically. I have confirmed the raptors strength, it was now time for me to end them.
Instead of relying purely on cosmic energy projection, I need to conserve my energy so I channeled it into my muscles.
At my actions, the system words rang in my ears:
[New Skill Obtained: Body Enhancement Lv.1]
[Physical abilities temporarily boosted by cosmic energy]
"This should allow me to strike back with sheer force."
I caught one of the raptors mid-leap and slammed it into another, sending them tumbling. My fist connected with the leader's jaw in a devastating uppercut, sending it flying. The pack scrambled but continued their assault, clawing and snapping in unison.
"They are still not dead?" This was surprising "E-rank should have more life force but that cannot explain this"
The raptors I had slammed into each other were now back on their feet's running towards me as if they have not taken damage.
One of the raptor leapt at me, jaws wide, but I reacted instantly. A portal flickered open in midair—then snapped shut just as its head passed through. The cleanly severed body crashed to the jungle floor.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
"That was instant" the raptor had died instantly. This made me to remember the fact that in the tower, the explorers are treated as if we are in a game.
As long as you have HP left and it is not an instant death attack, you can survive anything.
"I just need to hit them until I exhaust their HP" I said as I curled my fist. I was determined to put an end to the raptors.
But I was not the only one determined.
The six remaining Razorclaw Raptors didn't hesitate. They struck all at once, a blur of shifting scales and gleaming claws. They wanted revenge for their dead comrade.
Their leader clicked, signaling their strategy. Two flanked me from the sides, one lunged from the front, another leapt from above, and the last circled behind, waiting for an opening.
I had no time to think—only react.
The first raptor lunged straight for my throat. I twisted, letting it pass as I drove my knee into its ribs.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
At the same time, the one from above dropped toward me, claws extended. I threw myself into a backward roll, just in time for its talons to slash through the air where I had been.
But the moment I landed, another raptor struck from the right. I barely had time to raise my arm before its claws raked across my forearm, drawing blood.
[15 damage to Seun]
Gritting my teeth, I grabbed its leg before it could retreat and slammed it into the ground.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
Another raptor was already upon me, its powerful jaws aiming for my shoulder. I used the body of the raptor I had just thrown as a shield. The crunch of teeth meeting flesh filled the air as one raptor bit into another.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
I didn't wait—I surged forward, striking the biting raptor with a devastating elbow to its temple.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
The second raptor went limp, its body crumpling to the ground.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
The leader, larger and faster than the others, finally moved. Its claws crackled with red energy as it blurred forward. It was aiming for my blind spot.
I barely managed to block, crossing my arms as it struck. The impact hurt. My feet dug into the jungle floor as I was pushed back.
[25 damage to Seun]
I countered instantly—my fist lashed out, connecting with its snout.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
But before I could follow up, two more raptors pounced from the sides. I twisted midair, using their own momentum against them. My legs shot out in a double kick, slamming one into a tree while I flipped over the other.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
Landing smoothly, I ducked under another swipe and retaliated with a sharp uppercut. The force sent the raptor's head snapping back.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
It staggered, its body shuddering before collapsing.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
I exhaled, pushing more cosmic energy deeper into my limbs. My body felt lighter, faster.
The raptors sensed the change and hesitated for a fraction of a second. I capitalized on it.
The one I had stunned earlier tried to recover—I dashed forward and drove a knee into its gut, lifting it off the ground before smashing it back down with a hammer fist.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
The raptor spasmed, its body giving out as it slumped over, motionless.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
Another came from behind—I spun low, sweeping its legs out from under it, then stomped down hard on its chest.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
Its ribs cracked, a final wheeze escaping before it stilled.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
The leader roared and charged again, faster this time. I met it head-on. Our claws and fists clashed, exchanging blows in a blur of motion. It was faster than the others, but I was stronger.
A left hook to its ribs.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
A rising knee to its chin.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
A downward elbow to the back of its skull.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
It staggered, but before I could finish it off, another raptor leapt at me. I grabbed it midair and spun, hurling it into its injured leader. The two crashed into a fallen tree.
[46 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
The impact was fatal. The leader twitched once before going still, while the last raptor gasped weakly before succumbing.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
The jungle was silent once more, save for my heavy breathing. The Razorclaw Raptors lay motionless, their bodies were cold from not having life anymore. The system chimed in:
[Total Hunt Points Awarded: 70]
[Skill Progress: Body Enhancement Lv.1 → Lv.2]
I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders.
That was a real fight.
I move closer to each of them before putting them in my storage space. "I should be able to earn DC from selling them"
Just as I opened my status screen…
A thunderous roar sounded from deeper in the jungle.
Another pack emerged, this time they were only 3 in number but their eyes glowing with the same red energy. They let out a synchronized howl, and the very ground beneath me trembled.
[New Skill Identified: Seismic Charge]
[Effect: When multiple Razorclaw Raptors rush together, the vibrations create a localized earthquake]
The ground trembled beneath my feet as the three new Razorclaw Raptors let out their synchronized howl.
The red energy coursing through their bodies crackled like electricity, their muscles bulging with newfound power.
Unlike the previous pack, these raptors weren't just fast—they were stronger, smarter, and far more coordinated.
The jungle floor buckled as they sprinted toward me in a staggered formation.
The seismic charge ability wasn't just for show—I could feel the ground shifting unpredictably beneath my feet, throwing off my balance. I needed to stop them before they gained too much momentum.
With a sharp breath, I activated [Body Enhancement Lv.2], reinforcing my muscles with more cosmic energy.
My speed and reaction time surged, allowing me to leap into the air just before the raptors reached me.
The instant I left the ground, the shockwave erupted beneath where I had stood, cracking the earth in a devastating explosion of force.
Landing a few meters away, I reassessed my approach. "These three are different. I can't take them down the same way."
One raptor—slightly larger than the others—took the lead, its eyes glowing with raw aggression. It was the true alpha. The other two flanked it, moving in sync like trained warriors. If I wanted to win, I had to break their coordination.
The leader lunged first, its claws streaking toward my throat. I twisted, barely dodging, but the second raptor was already there, its powerful hind legs propelling it toward my ribs.
I had no time to dodge both.
Instead, I met the second raptor mid-air with a reinforced space barrier. The impact sent shockwaves through my arms, but it worked—the raptor was momentarily stunned.
The third raptor saw its chance and surged forward, aiming low to sweep my legs out from under me.
"Tch."
I pivoted, using the force of the first two raptors against them. My fist lashed out, striking the stunned second raptor in the side of its head.
[56 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
It staggered, but before I could follow up, the leader was already back in the fight, red energy crackling around its claws. This time, it wasn't aiming to wound—it was going for a fatal strike.
I blocked at the last second, but the sheer force behind the blow sent me skidding backward.
[30 damage to Seun]
A sharp pain burned through my forearm. Even with my enhancements, their strength was something else. I needed to finish this fast.
The three raptors regrouped, their movements eerily synchronized. They were trying to force me into a corner, leaving me no escape. But I had already found my opening.
The leader roared and lunged first. The moment it moved, I did too.
I dashed straight toward it, feinting a left hook before vanishing with a short-range teleport behind it. The raptor hesitated for just a fraction of a second—but that was all I needed.
I drove my knee into its spine.
[56 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
It stumbled, but before it could recover, I grabbed its tail and spun, using its own weight to hurl it directly into one of its approaching allies.
[56 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
The two raptors crashed together in a tangle of limbs and claws, but the third was still closing in.
This was my moment.
I clenched my fist, cosmic energy surging into my knuckles as I turned and struck the final raptor square in the chest with a reinforced punch. The shockwave from the impact sent it flying into a massive tree.
[56 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
It let out a strangled cry before slumping to the ground, motionless.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
The remaining two raptors untangled themselves and snarled, but I could already see it—they were weaker now. Their coordination was broken, and the leader was struggling to stay upright.
I wasted no time.
Dashing forward, I closed the gap before they could recover. My foot slammed into the injured leader's ribs, sending it tumbling.
[56 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
It didn't get up.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
The last raptor, now alone, hesitated. It bared its teeth, but without its pack, it was vulnerable. I could see it contemplating retreat—but I wasn't about to let it go.
I surged forward, feinting a punch.
The raptor dodged—just as I had planned.
I had already created a small portal behind it, and as soon as it dodged, I reached through, grabbing its leg from the other side.
I was immediately assaulted by a headache. It seems I was overdoing it again.
Before it could react, I yanked it off its feet and slammed it into the ground with bone-crushing force.
[56 damage to Razorclaw Raptor]
It twitched once, then went still.
[Hunt Points Awarded: 10]
Silence returned to the jungle.
I exhaled, rolling my shoulders as my system screen updated.
[Total Hunt Points Awarded: 100]
The bodies of the fallen raptors lay around me, proof of my victory. Without hesitation, I stored them in my inventory. I had a feeling their materials would be valuable.
[Level Up Achieved] x2
A warmth spread through me as the now familiar sensation of leveling up washed over my body.
My wounds healed, my energy reserves replenished and increased. It felt like a reward for my actions.
The jungle fell silent save for my heavy breathing. The mist around me swirled lazily, disturbed by the carnage left in my wake. My head ached, but a wide grin stretched across my face.
More.
I clenched my fists. The battle had awakened something inside me. A thrill I hadn't felt before. The creatures I had just fought were the strongest I had ever encounter.
"And I won!" This was more than survival—it was exhilaration. I wanted to fight stronger foes, to push beyond my limits.
"I am a battle junky huh" I said as I tried to ignore the feeling of happiness, I had performed moves just like an action movie protagonist. "I need to calm down"
Taking a moment to breathe in and out. "If earth is in danger, I need to get stronger, I should not get complacent with this amount of strength, I need more to make a difference"
I don't have the grand goal of saving everyone, but I just want to make sure my family and loved ones are safe.
As the adrenaline settled, I noticed the trees seemed to whisper, the very air tingling with something unknown. The battle had drawn attention.
Something else was coming.