Clash of Survival

The creature that emerged from the shadows was beyond anything I had ever imagined. A towering, fire-blazing ape with eyes that gleamed with malevolent intelligence. Its roar was deafening, a primal, bone-shaking cry that reverberated through my very soul. Every instinct screamed for me to flee, to find refuge in the safety of the mountain or the forest, but deep down, I knew running wasn't an option. I had no choice. I had to face it.

This wasn't a test. This was real. If I didn't fight, I would be consumed.

As our gazes met, the ape let out a bone-chilling roar, a challenge in its gaze. The ground trembled as it moved toward me with terrifying speed.

"ROAR!"

The terror surged through me, and for a moment, I considered fleeing. Without hesitation, I turned and sprinted toward the cave ahead, heart pounding in my chest. Its narrow mouth offered a slim chance—if the beast couldn't follow, it might buy me some time. 

I raced deeper into the cave, my thoughts racing faster than my feet. The weight of my situation crashed down on me like a tidal wave. This was no simulation, no illusion. The creature chasing me was a Demon Beast, and it was real. I had to think fast.

In a desperate moment, I activated Appraisal, hoping for some insight into the creature's strength.

**Appraisal**

[RACE: APE] 

[BLOODLINE: FIRE DEMON APE BLOODLINE] 

[CULTIVATION: BODY STRENGTHENING (LOW)]

A low-level Body Strengthening Demon Ape. Though weak in cultivation, its fiery bloodline made it a formidable foe, one capable of taking on a mid-level Body Strengthening cultivator. My heart sank as I realized how ill-prepared I was. I had saved my Creation Points for something important, but now... my life was on the line.

I didn't waste another second. "System, how many points do I need to upgrade my cultivation to low Body Strengthening?"

"600 points," the system responded.

I opened my status window, my hands trembling.

[HOST: YI LIAN] 

[CULTIVATION: NULL] 

[PASSIVE ABILITIES: APPRAISAL, MENTAL LOCK] 

[CREATION POINTS: 750]

750 Creation Points. I had just enough. With no time to lose, I immediately used all of them.

"System, upgrade my cultivation to low Body Strengthening."

The surge of power was instantaneous. It was like my very essence was rewritten in that moment. My muscles rippled with newfound strength, and my senses sharpened. I was now strong enough to hold my ground—barely.

I glanced over my shoulder. The ape was closing in fast, its fiery eyes glowing with fury. Only ten meters separated us now, and it was gaining ground.

Without thinking, I turned to face it. The ape let out another deafening roar, charging toward me with the fury of a storm.

"ROAR!"

The earth beneath us trembled as the beast closed the gap. When it was close enough, I threw a punch, my fist aimed squarely at its face. It retaliated with a massive arm, crashing into me with bone-shattering force. The moment our fists collided, the world erupted in a cacophony of sound.

**CRACK! CRACK!**

Pain shot up my arm as my bone fractured under the impact. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to push through the agony. The ape, stunned by the force of my strike, hesitated for just a moment—enough for me to strike.

I moved in, my body acting on instinct. I lunged forward, my arm plunging deep into the ape's stomach, tearing through its flesh. It howled in pain, its massive form thrashing wildly. But I didn't stop. I drove my hand into its face, gouging out its eyes with brutal precision.

Blinded and disoriented, the ape flailed in desperation, slamming against the cave walls. But I held firm, refusing to let go. With a snarl, I thrust my hands deeper, my fingers gripping its skull, and pushed with all my might.

When my hand finally made contact with its brain, I pressed down hard, ignoring the intense heat radiating from its fiery body.

In an instant, the beast crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Breathing heavily, I stumbled back, my chest heaving with exhaustion. I stood there for a moment, trembling, as the adrenaline coursed through my veins. I cautiously approached the fallen ape, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed to find its core—the source of its power.

I searched the body, my hands shaking. No core in its stomach, no core in its head. Panic started to rise, but then my hand brushed against its right arm.

There it was.

With trembling hands, I pulled the core free. It was about the size of a ping-pong ball, glowing with an intense, fiery red light. Demon beast cores held immense power, capable of increasing a cultivator's strength, but they were dangerous. Consuming one carelessly could send a cultivator's energy spiraling out of control.

But in this moment, I had no choice. If I wanted to survive, to grow stronger in this world, I had to take the risk. Without hesitation, I swallowed the core whole.

As it hit my stomach, an explosive surge of energy rocketed through my body. My fractured bones began to heal, the burns from the ape's fiery touch started to fade, and my strength swelled with every passing moment. But then… the heat within me spiraled out of control. My body resisted. The fire spread through my veins like wildfire, consuming me from the inside.

My vision blurred. My skin burned as though I were being scorched alive. My thoughts became a chaotic storm. I tried to control it, but my body refused to listen.

What went wrong? I couldn't make sense of the pain, the heat, the overwhelming surge of power. One thing was certain: I was no longer in control.