E-Rank Knife!

The cool, slightly metallic weight of the Vibro-Knife against his hip was a small comfort in the unnerving silence that followed the retreat of Jaxon's terrified former teammates. Daniel remained concealed within a thicket of pulsating, fan-shaped flora, catching his breath and taking stock. He now possessed an enhanced E-grade vest offering decent protection, a D-grade skill providing a crucial close-range defensive option, and a slight boost to his Strength. And now, a weapon. An F-grade weapon. Better than his bare fists, certainly, but still woefully inadequate against creatures like the Razorclaw Stalker.

He glanced down at the knife. Could he enhance it, just like the vest? The potential to wield E-grade offense and defense, even this early, was incredibly appealing. It would dramatically increase his survivability and his ability to actually hunt, not just scavenge. Checking his interface, he confirmed he had 2 Assimilation Charges remaining. Worth the investment.

Focusing his intent on the Vibro-Knife clipped to his belt, visualizing its metallic structure, the vibrating edge, the simple power cell in the hilt, he initiated the process. Yes.

Again, the effect was subtle. A faint shimmer, almost like moonlight on steel, briefly coated the blade before vanishing. His interface chimed with the confirmation.

[Soul Assimilation successful on F-Grade Initiate's Vibro-Knife.]

[Item Enhanced: Initiate's Vibro-Knife upgraded to E-Grade.]

[New Stats: Attack +50. Vibration frequency optimized, minor increase in cutting efficiency.]

[Assimilation Charge Consumed (1/5 Remaining).]

Daniel drew the knife. It felt subtly different in his hand, perhaps a slight shift in balance, or maybe just his perception. The low hum from the blade seemed stronger, more resonant. An Attack rating of +50, combined with his base Strength (now 11.1), gave him respectable offensive capability for a Level 0 aspirant.

He now had a matching set: E-grade offense and E-grade defense. Plus a skill. His personal power level had skyrocketed in the short time since entering the Verge, all thanks to the silent, efficient work of [Soul Assimilation]. He was already significantly better equipped than most of the other recruits, except perhaps those who had awakened powerful C or B-grade combat talents right off the bat.

The core principle of his Talent wasn't just about fighting; it was about capitalizing on the inevitable chaos and conflict of the Verge. It rewarded observation, patience, and the willingness to exploit the aftermath of encounters. His strategy solidified in his mind: Shadow the other teams, particularly the larger or more aggressive ones like Jaxon's had been. Let them be the spearhead, drawing out the local creatures, engaging them in fights.

When they inevitably fell , a grim certainty in this place or when creatures were slain and left behind, he would move in. He would assimilate the essence left behind: raw attributes and vital EXP from the beasts, attributes and potentially invaluable skills from the fallen recruits. It felt cold, calculating, bordering on parasitic, but it was undeniably the safest and most efficient path for him in these dangerous early stages. Low risk, high reward. Once he gained a few levels, accumulated more attributes, and hopefully acquired more versatile skills, he could transition to hunting solo more effectively and rely less on the misfortunes of others.

He cautiously moved away from the site of Jaxon's demise, circling back towards the general area where most recruits had initially dispersed. He observed from the periphery as the remaining aspirants finished forming tentative teams. Predictably, they clustered based on perceived Talent strength.

A group of four or five individuals boasting D and C-grade Talents formed the 'strongest' looking team, radiating confidence, led by a tall youth Daniel recognized as Darius Holt, known even pre-Awakening for his strategic thinking. Several smaller groups composed mainly of E-grades banded together, their focus clearly on mutual survival rather than aggressive hunting. And then there were the F-grades, looking lost and worried, forming larger, looser groups based more on familiarity from training than any real strategic advantage. Their minor Talents offered little comfort against the demonstrated lethality of the Verge.

As Daniel watched from the shadows of some colossal, crystalline trees, planning his next move, a figure detached from one of the nervous-looking F-grade teams and approached him cautiously. It was a young woman with wide, anxious eyes and an F-grade 'Steady Hands' Talent notification visible if he focused his interface scan. Useless in a fight, maybe helpful for field surgery if she had the training, which Daniel doubted.

"Hey," she called out softly, keeping her distance. "You're... Daniel Vance, right? You're alone?"

Daniel nodded slowly, remaining partially concealed.

"Look," she continued, wringing her hands, "our group... we're mostly F-grades. We saw what happened to Jaxon's team. It's terrifying out here. We were thinking... safety in numbers, right? Even if you're scouting solo, maybe stick close by? Share intel? We could watch each other's backs?" She likely assumed his lack of participation in the initial team formations meant he either had a weak, non-combat talent or was simply overwhelmed and hesitant.

Daniel considered it for a moment. Having allies, even weak ones, could provide early warnings or distractions. But it would also constrain his movements, compromise his scavenging strategy, and potentially draw unwanted attention if his actions seemed unusual. His SSS-Talent demanded operational freedom.

"Thanks for the offer," Daniel replied politely but firmly, keeping his voice low. "I appreciate the thought, truly. But I function better scouting solo for now. Different methods suit different people. Stay safe, watch your surroundings." He offered a small nod before melting back further into the alien flora, leaving the girl looking disappointed and even more anxious.

A chime rang out from everyone's Nexus Interface simultaneously, the one-hour mark. The shimmering Initiate's Wards surrounding each recruit flickered once, twice, and then vanished completely. A palpable wave of tension swept through the assembled teams. The safety net was gone. They were fully exposed to the dangers of the Astral Verge. Without hesitation, the newly formed teams began moving out, spreading cautiously in different directions, eagerness to score kills warring with the primal fear Jaxon's death had instilled.

Daniel watched them disperse, then picked a direction that paralleled the route taken by Darius Holt's 'strong' C/D-grade team, but far enough away to remain undetected. He became a ghost in the vibrant, dangerous landscape, his senses alert, waiting for the inevitable sounds of conflict.

He didn't have to wait long. Less than an hour passed, maybe forty-five minutes, before his Nexus Interface pinged with the grim, impersonal notifications that were rapidly becoming the soundtrack of this assessment:

[Recruit Liam Holt has Fallen. Location: 800 meters Southeast.]

[Recruit Sara Chen has Fallen. Location: 800 meters Southeast.]

Two notifications, same location, nearly simultaneous. Likely the same encounter. Liam and Sara... Daniel vaguely recalled them from training; quiet E-graders, usually sticking together. They must have wandered off or gotten separated from a larger group.

"Opportunity," Daniel murmured to himself, the word tasting like ash in his mouth, yet laced with the undeniable pull of potential power. He immediately changed direction, moving southeast swiftly but silently, his enhanced E-grade knife held ready, his steps careful on the strange, springy azure turf.

He arrived at the designated coordinates to find another gruesome scene, though less dramatic than Jaxon's demise. Two mangled bodies, Liam and Sara, lay near a patch of blood-splattered blue grass beside a cluster of pulsating red fungi. Their basic gear was torn, their wounds savage.

Nearby, panting heavily, whining softly, and licking at several deep, bleeding gashes on its flank and shoulder, was a wolf-like creature. Its fur was a startling crimson, and its fangs, wickedly sharp and slightly curved, seemed almost too large for its jaw. Daniel scanned it:

[Crimson Fang Hound - Level 1]

Stats: Moderate Strength, Moderate Vitality, High Agility (Currently Impaired by Injury)

Threat Assessment: Pack Hunter, Bleeding Attacks. Currently Injured (HP: <40%).

The Hound was clearly injured, and badly. Its movements were stiff, one leg favored heavily. Daniel quickly pieced together the likely scenario. Liam and Sara, probably already nervous, must have stumbled upon the injured beast. Instead of recognizing its weakened state as an opportunity, they likely panicked. Maybe they hesitated, maybe their attacks were poorly aimed, maybe they simply froze. The Hound, despite its injuries, would have lashed out defensively. Their fear, Daniel suspected, was what truly killed them. In the Verge, hesitation and panic were death sentences just as surely as any claw or fang.