Chapter 8 - Another advance rank

Nex moved silently through the dense underbrush, his knife glinting faintly in the scattered light filtering through the canopy above.

The mod on his wrist emitted a faint, steady glow, illuminating the intricate veins of his skin.

He wasn't in any rush. In this wilderness, haste was a luxury only the reckless afforded themselves. Every few minutes, he paused, scanning his surroundings for movement, his senses sharp and attuned to even the faintest rustle of leaves or snap of a twig.

When weaker creatures wandered into his path, he dispatched them with swift, efficient movements, harvesting their ether crystals.

The thrill of hunting came in waves, momentary satisfaction tempered by a disciplined restraint.

Nex refrained from venturing too deep into the wilderness despite his growing power. It wasn't fear that held him back, but caution.

The wilderness was dangerous. It rewarded patience, punished arrogance, and swallowed the careless whole. He understood this better than most after that near-death experience.

The awakening of his talent had granted him strength, but even that wouldn't save him if he let his guard down. Survival came first.

He had just pried a crystal from the chest of a low-ranked creature, its faint warmth lingering on his fingertips, when a guttural roar ripped through the jungle.

The sound was loud, and so close that he felt the vibration through the soles of his boots.

His body tensed for a moment. He clenched the bloody crystal tightly in his fist, his eyes darting in the direction of the sound.

A sly grin crept across his lips.

"That roar..." he murmured. "Sounds like it's in trouble."

The idea of a wounded beast, ripe for the taking, sent a jolt of excitement through him.

He tucked the crystal away and gripped his knife tighter. "If it's already hurt, that's free ether for me."

Even as he spoke, a small voice in the back of his mind warned him not to underestimate the situation. The jungle had a way of luring the overconfident to their doom.

Shaking off the thought, he moved cautiously toward the source of the noise, his footsteps light and slow, barely disturbing the foliage around him. He was a shadow, a predator stalking its prey.

The roars grew louder as he approached, interspersed with the sound of crashing branches and heavy impacts.

Nex pressed himself against the rough bark of a massive tree, its surface damp with moss.

Peering around the edge, he found himself staring into a small clearing where chaos reigned.

A bull-like creature stood at the center, towering over the landscape with its hulking frame.

Even hunched over, the creature's bulk was imposing, its body covered in thick, matted fur.

When it reared up, it easily stood over three meters tall. Its claws, long and razor-sharp, tore through the air as it swiped at its unseen adversary.

A jagged wound stretched across its back, deep enough to expose raw muscle, and blood dripped steadily onto the ground, pooling beneath its powerful legs.

Nex's gaze narrowed as he studied the scene.

"What could've done that to something this big?" he whispered.

The mod on his wrist vibrated, drawing his attention.

[Direbeast Identified]

[Rank: Advance]

[Description: Mutated predator with immense strength and endurance. Known for its resilience and aggressive nature.]

"Advance rank?" Nex muttered, frowning. The creatures he had hunted so far were only basic ranks. He hadn't even dared to face any basic ranked combat-type creature, let alone something this dangerous.

Yet, as the Direbeast snarled in pain, its movements sluggish from blood loss, Nex couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement.

His heart raced, not with fear, but with anticipation. A strange confidence bubbled within him.

Maybe it was his newly awakened talent. Maybe it was sheer arrogance. Either way, the Direbeast didn't seem like an insurmountable challenge, it looked like prey.

As he shifted slightly for a better vantage point, his eyes caught movement on the other side of the clearing.

A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, stepping towards the Direbeast.

They were tall, clad in a sleek black ether suit that hugged their form like a second skin.

Nex crouched lower, pulling out his ether gun and adjusting the scope for a closer look.

"Another contestant," he murmured, recognizing the advanced design of their gear. "That explains the suit."

His fingers hovered over the trigger, but he held his fire, curious to see how the fight would unfold.

Nex steadied his aim, the crosshairs of his ether gun centered on the Direbeast's massive chest.

The beast was losing steam. He could almost feel the ether crystal it carried, the reward for the fight he wasn't even involved in.

"When the big guy drops, I'll take my shot. Let them do the hard part, and I walk away with the crystal," he thought smugly.

His finger hovered lightly over the trigger, his lips curling into a grin. It was the perfect plan. Minimal effort, maximum reward.

But as he continued to watch, something unexpected caught his attention. The situation was taking a bizarre turn.

The Direbeast roared, the sound shaking the very ground beneath Nex's crouched form.

Despite its injuries, it lunged forward with alarming speed, its claws slicing through the air like scythes.

Nex tensed, expecting the other person to leap back, dodge, or even retreat. That's what anyone with sense would do.

Instead, the person stepped forward.

"What the hell are you doing?" he muttered, confused.

The figure didn't just face the attack head-on, they caught it with their bare hands.

The beast's claw slammed into their palms, sending shockwaves through the clearing.

Dirt and debris flew outward from the impact, and the ground quaked under the sheer force of the blow.

Nex could see that peron's arms were trembling under the weight, their muscles straining so hard the person seemed on the verge of snapping.

Still, the person didn't back down. Teeth clenched and eyes blazing, the person held firm.

Nex's thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

"That's... no ordinary strength," he murmured to himself. "An awakener? They're redirecting the force somehow... That's the only way they're not splattered across the jungle by now."

The Direbeast roared again, frustration fueling its relentless assault. It swiped and clawed, each attack landing with bone-shaking force.

The figure absorbed every strike, their movements slowing but never faltering.

Despite himself, Nex felt a flicker of admiration for the stranger.

"They've got guts, I'll give them that," he muttered. His eyes remained fixed on the combatants. "One mistake, and they're done."

The Direbeast's strength was failing. Its swings grew clumsy, the once-deadly speed replaced by sluggish, desperate movements.

The contestant, too, was showing signs of exhaustion.

The Direbeast gathered itself for one final attack. With a deafening roar, the creature reared back, lifting its claw high above its head, ready to bring it down in a crushing blow.

The person didn't flinch. Instead, they surged forward with a shout that echoed through the trees, their fist glowing faintly with absorbed energy.

They drove it into the beast's abdomen with a sickening crack that reverberated through the clearing.

The Direbeast froze, its hulking body trembling.

For a heartbeat, everything was still.

Then, with a groan that sounded almost like a whimper, the massive creature crumpled to the ground, its weight shaking the earth as it collapsed.

"Yes!" the person gasped, staggering back.

Their arms hung limply at their sides, trembling from exertion.

Relief replaced the tension in their eyes as they turned toward the downed beast, ready to claim their prize.

From his hiding spot, Nex's grip tightened on his Ether gun.

"Now's the time," he whispered, adrenaline surging. He adjusted his aim, preparing to make his move.

But just as his finger brushed the trigger, the Direbeast's eyes snapped open.

"What-?" The word barely escaped Nex's lips before the beast moved.

With terrifying speed, the Direbeast lunged upright, its massive arms wrapping around the unsuspecting person with a death clutch. The person's eyes widened in shock as the breath was forced from his lungs.

[A/N: Well our MC didn't bother to help. I guess we know the kind of Person he is.]