Hunt
For the next three months, Lester D. Raizel—Strider's assumed persona—became a ghost in the Dark Forest, hunting down monsters relentlessly.
The Dark Forest was infamous across the Stoneheart Empire.
It stretched for hundreds of miles, filled with deadly beasts, poisonous flora, and ancient remnants of lost civilizations.
Many cultivators seeking fortune and power ventured inside, but only a handful ever made it out alive.
Lester, however, was not just another hunter.
He was a predator.
Upon entering the Dark Forest, he immediately set his sights on the Energy Accumulation Realm monsters.
These creatures were stronger than regular beasts, capable of harnessing Qi in battle. Some possessed elemental abilities, while others had hardened bodies, venomous attacks, or even regeneration.
But none of them were a match for Lester.
With his dual cultivation paths—both Qi and physical refinement—his body was as resilient as tempered steel, and his attacks carried explosive force.
Moreover, his newly acquired True Shadow Clone technique allowed him to move freely, striking fear into the creatures that lurked in the shadows.
At first, the beasts fought back fiercely.
The Scarlet Fang Wolves, notorious for their pack tactics, attempted to ambush him. He crushed them one by one.
The Venomous Scaled Basilisks spat lethal toxins, but his energy barrier neutralized the poison, allowing him to decapitate them with precision.
Even the Ironclad Behemoth, a monster feared for its near-impenetrable defenses, was torn apart after Lester pierced through its weak spots with pinpoint accuracy.
Each battle was ruthless, but with every victory, his strength grew.
The monsters he slew provided precious materials, valuable cores, and, most importantly, a steady supply of spirit stones—the key to recharging his system and progressing toward the next simulated copy world.
As weeks passed, the monstrous population in the Dark Forest began to dwindle.
Hunters and cultivators who often entered the forest noticed an eerie silence where once there had been constant danger.
Blood-soaked battlefields, torn limbs, and the scent of death filled the air.
It wasn't just the humans who noticed.
The rulers of the Dark Forest—three Core Building Realm beasts—were not pleased.
The Abyssal Night Panther, a creature that could melt into the shadows and strike with lightning speed.
The Infernal Thunder Serpent, whose body crackled with devastating electric Qi.
The Crimson Bone Guardian, a towering skeletal beast with near-invincible defenses.
These three beings had ruled the Dark Forest unchallenged for decades.
The sudden disappearance of their subordinates and the increasing scarcity of monsters made them realize that something—or someone—was disrupting the natural balance.
Their territory was being invaded.
Lester's actions did not go unnoticed among humans either.
Rumors of a mysterious hunter spread rapidly across the nearby territories.
Some whispered of a devil who slaughtered without mercy, while others speculated that an unknown genius cultivator had emerged in the empire.
Even the major noble houses took notice.
A few mercenary groups and bounty hunters attempted to track and confront the figure responsible, but they never returned.
Their remains were sometimes found, torn apart or burned beyond recognition.
Lester paid no attention to these distractions.
His goal was simple: gather resources, and prepare for the next step.
By the third month, the balance had been shattered.
The three Core Building Realm monsters had enough.
As Lester tracked his next prey—a Golden Fang Direwolf—he suddenly sensed a shift in the air. The natural Qi in the surroundings trembled, as if the very forest itself was reacting.
Then, an overwhelming killing intent crashed down on him.
Three powerful figures emerged from the depths of the forest.
The Abyssal Night Panther's emerald eyes glowed in the darkness, its sleek black fur blending into the shadows.
The Infernal Thunder Serpent coiled its massive body around the trees, sparks of lightning crackling along its scales.
The Crimson Bone Guardian towered over the battlefield, its glowing red eyes fixed on the intruder who had slaughtered their kind.
Lester smirked.
"Finally, the real fun begins."
Without hesitation, the three rulers launched their assault.
The Abyssal Night Panther vanished from sight, its shadow teleportation making it nearly impossible to track.
The Infernal Thunder Serpent let out a deafening roar, sending bolts of electricity crashing down in a wide area.
The Crimson Bone Guardian charged forward, its colossal bony fists smashing everything in its path.
Lester dodged, weaving through their attacks with practiced ease.
The Dark Forest was eerily silent.
The thick mist swirled around towering trees, the scent of blood lingering in the air.
Lester D. Raizel stood in the clearing, his crimson cloak billowing in the faint moonlight.
Across from him, the three rulers of the Dark Forest gathered, their eyes filled with unrelenting fury.
The Abyssal Night Panther let out a low, guttural growl, its emerald eyes flashing as its sleek black body merged with the shadows, becoming nearly invisible.
The Infernal Thunder Serpent coiled around the trees above, its massive form crackling with arcs of electricity, the scent of ozone burning in the air.
The Crimson Bone Guardian stood motionless, towering over the battlefield like a fortress of death, its red eyes locked onto Lester, filled with murderous intent.
Lester cracked his knuckles, smirking.
"Three on one? How generous."
The battle erupted in an instant.
The Abyssal Night Panther Strikes
The panther vanished, its body melting into the darkness.
A gust of wind brushed past Lester's shoulder—an attack!
Lester twisted his body just in time. A clawed strike sliced through the air, missing his throat by inches.
Before he could counter, the panther was gone again.
Another flash—this time from behind.
Lester activated his Spectral Step, his body flickering as he dodged at the last second.
The beast's claws scraped against his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Fast bastard," Lester muttered.
Instead of chasing shadows, Lester closed his eyes, relying on his senses instead of sight.
There.
A ripple in the air.
The moment the panther lunged again, Lester sidestepped and delivered a devastating punch to its ribs.
The impact sent the beast crashing into a tree, snapping the trunk in half.
It let out a pained growl, but before Lester could finish it, the next attack arrived.
Above, the Infernal Thunder Serpent hissed, its body illuminating with crackling blue energy.
Lightning surged down like a tidal wave, engulfing the battlefield in blinding light.
Lester leaped backward, conjuring a barrier of Qi, but the force still sent him skidding across the ground.
His cloak burned at the edges, static clinging to his skin.
The serpent descended with terrifying speed, fangs bared.
Lester didn't retreat.
Instead, he charged forward.
At the last moment, he twisted mid-air, dodging the fangs and landing on the serpent's massive body.
With a feral grin, Lester drove his fist into its skull, releasing a shockwave of power.
The serpent screeched in pain, its body writhing violently, but it wasn't done yet.
The Crimson Bone Guardian finally moved, its massive fists descending like a hammer.
Lester jumped just as the earth shattered beneath him, the impact leaving a deep crater.
Landing on the ground, he prepared himself.
This fight had just begun.