Chapter 18: Conquering the Wilderness

Chapter 18: Conquering the Wilderness

Facing the Level 8 Beast

The jungle was eerily silent, an unnatural stillness hanging in the air. Even the rustling leaves and chirping insects had gone silent, as if nature itself feared the presence of what lurked ahead.

I gripped my flying knife tightly, my senses heightened. A low, guttural growl echoed through the dense foliage, sending a shiver down my spine.

Then, the beast emerged.

A monstrous figure, standing over four meters tall, its thick, muscular body covered in dark red fur. Its glowing amber eyes locked onto me, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air. Razor-sharp claws, each as long as a dagger, flexed in anticipation of the hunt.

A Foundation Stage Level 8 beast.

A true predator.

This was the strongest opponent I had ever faced.

Yet, excitement burned within me.

This was exactly the kind of challenge I had been waiting for.

The First Clash

Before I could make the first move, the beast lunged forward, closing the distance in an instant.

"Fast!"

I barely managed to sidestep as its massive claw swiped down, tearing through the ground where I had stood moments before. The sheer force sent dirt and rocks flying in all directions.

I retaliated immediately.

With a flick of my fingers, my flying knife shot forward like a bullet, aiming straight for the creature's throat. But before the blade could land, the beast twisted its neck at an unnatural angle, dodging with incredible reflexes.

The knife barely grazed its skin, leaving behind a shallow wound.

It wasn't enough.

The beast roared in rage and swiped again, this time with even more force. I raised my arms instinctively, activating Titan Body to reinforce my muscles.

Boom!

The impact sent a powerful shockwave through my arms. I was flung backward, crashing into a tree. The thick trunk splintered from the force, but my enhanced physique kept me from suffering serious injury.

I gritted my teeth and pushed off the ground.

This was going to be tough.

Finding the Weakness

I observed the beast carefully as it prowled in a slow circle, studying me in return.

It was strong, fast, and incredibly durable. But no creature was invincible.

My mind replayed the way it had dodged earlier—quick, but its movements weren't flawless. There was a slight delay after each attack.

A rhythm.

More importantly, its joints—especially around the neck and underbelly—were less protected than the rest of its muscular body.

A plan began forming in my mind.

I needed to bait an attack, exploit that delay, and strike at its weak spot.

The Killing Blow

I steadied my breathing, then dashed forward.

The beast reacted instantly, swiping its massive claw at me. Instead of dodging, I lunged straight at it, forcing it to commit to the strike.

Just as its claw was about to hit me, I twisted my body midair, barely avoiding the attack.

This was my moment.

With a flick of my fingers, my flying knife shot forward—this time, not in a straight line.

I guided it with Mental Power, curving it midair, making it seem like it had missed—until it suddenly changed direction and plunged into the beast's exposed neck joint.

A wet gurgle escaped its throat.

The creature staggered, its powerful body convulsing as blood gushed from the wound.

One second.

Two seconds.

Then, with a final, agonized growl, the beast collapsed with a thunderous crash, shaking the ground beneath me.

I exhaled slowly.

I had won.

Lifespan gained: 32 years.

Lifespan Gains & Storing the Body

Standing over the fallen beast, I wiped the sweat from my brow. My body was still buzzing with adrenaline, but the battle was over.

I quickly checked my total lifespan.

Current lifespan: 339 years.

Satisfied, I stored the massive corpse inside my Vital Space, ensuring that none of it would go to waste.

Now, it was time to hunt more beasts.

Mass Beast Hunting & Lifespan Increase

I ventured deeper into the jungle, actively seeking out Foundation Stage Level 6 and Level 7 beasts.

The hunt became a blur of battle after battle.

A Level 6 armored boar, its tough hide almost impenetrable—but not resistant to a well-placed strike to the eye.

A Level 7 serpent, its venom potent enough to kill a lesser warrior instantly—but useless against me, as I killed it before it could strike.

A Level 7 shadow panther, using stealth and speed to attack from the darkness—but no match for my heightened reflexes.

For hours, I hunted, fought, and killed, refining my skills with each encounter.

By the time I was finished, my total lifespan had reached 500 years.

I took a deep breath, standing amidst the fallen bodies. My muscles ached, my mind was exhausted, but I had achieved my goal.

It was time to return.

Returning to the Border City

After ensuring I had collected all valuable materials, I made my way back to the Border City.

As I approached the city gates, the guards barely glanced at me, too used to warriors returning from the wilderness covered in blood.

The familiar sights and sounds of civilization greeted me. But my focus was on selling my loot.

Selling His Loot

I headed straight to the Beast Materials Trading Center, where merchants eagerly awaited fresh monster parts.

The calculations were straightforward:

Level 6 Beasts → 50,000 AstraCoins each

Level 7 Beasts → 100,000 AstraCoins each

Level 8 Beast → 250,000 AstraCoins

After the transaction was complete, my total earnings stood at 3 million AstraCoins.

A hefty sum.

Upgrading His Arsenal

With this newfound wealth, I immediately sought to upgrade my weapons.

I purchased seven Level 3 flying knives at a discounted price of 1.1 million AstraCoins (original price: 1.4 million).

Each knife was crafted with superior materials, sharper, stronger, and infused with energy-conducting properties.

With these, my combat potential had skyrocketed.

Remaining Balance: 2.5 million AstraCoins.

Returning Home

With my business in the Border City concluded, I booked a high-speed transport back to Mumbai.

As I sat in my seat, gazing out at the passing landscape, my mind was already planning my next steps.

I had grown stronger.

But this was only the beginning.

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END OF THE CHAPTER.....

This version provides expanded descriptions, deeper tension in battles, and greater immersion in the protagonist's journey. Let me know if you liked it