The jungle thickened with every step Jace took, the trees closing in around him like silent sentinels. The air grew warmer, humid with an almost suffocating density, as though the environment itself sought to challenge him. His boots crunched against the soft soil, his movements steady yet deliberate.
The System remained quiet, offering no new alerts. That silence unsettled Jace more than any warning. He had learned by now that in this world, the absence of immediate danger often signaled the presence of something far worse lying in wait.
He adjusted his gear, his hand brushing against the pouch containing the Shadow Core. Its energy still pulsed faintly, a reminder of the Black Mirage Panther's defeat. That victory had cost him, leaving his reserves depleted and his stamina worn thin. Rest would have been ideal, but the deeper parts of the jungle demanded urgency.
The landscape began to change, the trees giving way to massive, thorn-covered vines that twisted like serpents through the air. The ground beneath him turned spongy, sinking slightly with each step. A faint, acrid smell drifted through the air, stinging his nostrils.
The System's voice finally broke the silence.
"Environmental hazard detected: Toxic Fungal Spores. Prolonged exposure will result in vitality loss. Recommendation: Evacuate or neutralize source."
Jace scanned the area, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the source of the warning. Clusters of glowing mushrooms sprouted from the base of the vines, their caps pulsing with a sickly green luminescence. The spores they released hung in the air like a faint mist, swirling lazily in the breeze.
"Neutralize it is," Jace muttered, his hand tightening around the Blade Panther claws.
Approaching the fungi was easier said than done. The spongy ground made his movements unsteady, and the air grew heavier the closer he got. Jace's breaths came shorter, and he activated Frost Resonance to form a thin veil of ice over his skin, hoping it would shield him from the worst of the spores.
When he reached the nearest cluster, he slashed at it with precision, the claws tearing through the fibrous stalks. A burst of spores exploded into the air, but the frost barrier held firm, repelling most of the toxic cloud.
"Toxic exposure reduced. Vitality stable."
Jace smirked grimly. "Good to know."
One by one, he dismantled the clusters, working methodically to clear the immediate area. The glowing mushrooms hissed and wilted under his assault, their light dimming until the jungle returned to its natural darkness.
With the hazard neutralized, the oppressive weight in the air lifted slightly. Jace took a moment to catch his breath, leaning against a vine. His body was drenched in sweat despite the frost shielding, and the toll of constant vigilance was beginning to show.
The System chimed again, its tone colder this time.
"Incoming threat detected. Approximate distance: 50 meters. Classification: High-Risk Predator."
Jace's head snapped up, his eyes darting to the shadows. The jungle was alive with movement now, the subtle rustling of leaves and snapping of branches a prelude to whatever was approaching.
He readied his weapons, his senses sharpening as he stepped back into a defensive stance.
The predator emerged with a slow, deliberate gait. It was massive, towering over Jace by at least two meters. Its body resembled a hybrid of reptile and insect, covered in chitinous plates that gleamed in the dim light. Its six legs moved fluidly, each one tipped with razor-sharp claws. The creature's head was serpentine, its eyes glowing with an eerie blue light.
"Venom Warden. Capture Level: 32. Abilities: Paralytic venom, enhanced agility, and armored defense. Weakness: Extreme cold."
Jace's grip tightened. "At least it's got a weakness I can work with."
The creature hissed, its segmented tail whipping through the air as it closed the distance between them in a blur of motion. Jace barely managed to dodge its initial strike, the venom-coated stinger burying itself into the ground where he had stood moments before.
The fight was brutal, the Venom Warden's agility pushing Jace to his limits. It moved with terrifying speed, its claws and tail striking in a relentless barrage. Jace countered with Frost Resonance, using the ice to deflect its attacks and slow its movements.
The jungle floor froze beneath them as he activated Glacial Domain, the temperature plummeting sharply. Frost spread across the Venom Warden's legs, hindering its ability to maneuver. Jace seized the opening, driving the Blade Panther claws into the creature's side.
The chitin cracked under the force of his attack, but the Venom Warden retaliated with a screech, its tail lashing out and catching Jace across the chest. The impact sent him sprawling, pain flaring as he hit the frozen ground.
He struggled to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The Warden was slowing, its movements less precise as the frost took its toll. Jace pressed forward, unleashing a flurry of strikes that shattered its defenses.
With one final blow, he drove the claws deep into the creature's head. It let out a low, guttural hiss before collapsing, its massive body crashing to the ground.
The System's confirmation was immediate.
"Target defeated: Venom Warden. Rewards: 120 Evolution Points, Chitin Armor Plating (Material), Venom Core (Consumable)."
Jace sank to his knees, exhaustion washing over him. The icy terrain of the Glacial Domain began to thaw, the frost melting away as the jungle returned to its natural state.
He picked up the Venom Core, its dark, viscous energy swirling ominously within.
"Venom Core detected. Consumption will enhance resistance to toxins and unlock paralytic venom traits. Confirm action?"
"Later," Jace muttered, pocketing the core. His body couldn't handle another transformation yet.
As he leaned back against a vine, the jungle around him seemed to settle, the tension easing as the immediate threat passed.