Prince and the Infernal Ape were locked in a battle so tight that no one could intervene. Their clash sent shockwaves that rustled the hair of all the monkeys.
Prince was going overdrive from the very beginning. He fully utilized his Dao, weaving and attacking precisely whenever he saw the opportunity. His body was on autopilot, just fighting, fighting, and fighting.
The Infernal Ape was just on another level. It deflected or blocked every trick Prince tried to throw at it, and counterattacked.
These counterattacks often caught Prince by surprise, leaving him stumbling and dazed.
The two were blurs as they streaked across the ground. Unlike the fight with the Goblin king, Prince and the monkey were as mobile as could be.
Prince managed to land a precise roundhouse kick right at the monkey's neck, which was similar to a riot bullet to the monkey.
Prince had finally caught the monkey off guard, as it seemed to stumble away.
Prince concentrated all of the water into his right hand, which was still a little sore. Most of his energy had already been consumed, and he was running low on whatever energy needed to use Phase Shift.
Prince deployed another thunderous palm, this time without any flashiness.
The monkey wasn't there, however. His attack had struck nothing but air.
Prince felt heat behind him.
Prince hurriedly threw his head to the side. Five, flaming fingers with wickedly sharp claws carved through the air where his head had been a moment ago.
Prince dropped to the ground, attempting a sweep.
The Infernal Ape leaped over the attack, jumping so high that it actually went above the canopy.
The world seemed to slow down. Prince stared up and felt his world go up in a blaze, as if he was staring at the essence of the sun god.
The monkey manipulated the flames so expertly and efficiently that Prince had to do a double take. It used Fire Essence better than the wolf used Wind Essence.
The monkey formed a dense ball of flame in its hands, flames curling off of it as it lined up the shot.
Just as the monkey reached the zenith of its ascent, it released the ball of flame.
Prince wished he could do the same thing. He could only augment his body, however, and he would always be behind actual mages.
Sweat dripped off his body as the fireball approached. Unlike the shaman, this fireball felt real- powerful.
Prince could've dodged. But he didn't want to. In front of these monkeys, that would show weakness.
Prince dropped his hands to the side, leaving them in fists. He stood still, his broad shoulders and muscular body facing an approaching fireball that seemed to get bigger and bigger casting an image the monkeys would not forget.
Prince's body was swarmed with water the next moment, most of it generated from his own sweat but then chilled significantly.
The fireball pressed against his impromptu shield. At the same time, Prince drew out his Essence and reinforced his body with it.
He got first-degree burns, but that was it. The fireball ran out of juice just in time, as Prince had run out of Water Essence. Steam curled off of him, and Prince couldn't see anything for a moment.
Then the steam cleared. The Infernal Ape's eyes widened in surprise seeing Prince still standing.
Prince stared right back at it. Then he smirked even wider, cheesing at this point. He chuckled.
"My turn."
Prince cocked his fist back. He immediately activated Warrior's Will, the air tinged a slight red around him. His power rolled off his body in waves.
While Titan Fist took a while, Prince was sure the monkey wouldn't dodge.
It would want to take the attack, just as Prince did.
Prince shortened the distance between him and the monkey in a few long strides, simultaneously activating Titan Fist.
The Infernal Ape got the image of a gigantic fist approaching it, while it was nothing but a bug to a titan.
The fist landed, power exploding off of it in a shockwave. The monkey was sent flying, its nose shattered. It slammed into a tree, breaking it.
Prince had launched the punch with his right arm, which had already been sore. Thankfully, however, his endurance had improved, so he only felt a major cramp in his arm. He hadn't broken any bones.
The monkey still wasn't dead. Prince was running low on energy, and he only had one Titan Fist left in the tank.
"It's not looking too good..." Prince whispered as the ape stood up from the wreckage site.
Blood leaked down its nose. It seemed to wobble, but each step was sure. Now the monkey wasn't pulling any punches- its fur was alight in flame.
It released an ape battle cry and darted toward Prince, running on all fours.
The monkey leaped up, delivering lightning-fast strikes toward Prince's head. Prince weaved out of the way of each one- only barely.
The monkey dropped to the ground again, and began throwing punches. Each punch, however, was extremely low. It was targeted toward Prince's abdomen, to which he had to block awkwardly.
The monkey then leaped onto a tree. It jumped sideways from that, attempting claw at Prince's face.
It worked, leaving five bloody lines on Prince's cheek.
Prince leaped away, using his pure strength to land on a branch and make some distance. The other monkeys didn't seem to mind.
But the Infernal Ape was on Prince like glue.
Prince raised his head to see the Infernal Ape right in front of him, suspended by nothing.
The ape did some sort of spinning kick move with its sharp toenails, sending Prince plummeting from the tree and leaving a bloody wound across his chest.
While Prince was still falling, the monkey plummeted too. It was falling face first, its right claw pulled back as flames streaked off of it.
The ground isn't coming fast enough. Prince thought, raising his arms to block the incoming attack.
But Prince was midair. He had no leverage, no force. He was sent crashing down to the earth, creating a few inches deep crater.
Prince blacked out for a second. A second.
Then he opened his eyes, rolling out of the way just in time for the monkey to descend where his head had once been.
"Damn," Prince coughed. The world was slowing again. Prince was in the zone. He was ready. Everything came so easily. He could see the Infernal Ape's martial arts now. "Just die."
Prince absorbed every single drop of moisture in the air into his hand. Where there was moisture, there was Water Essence.
He cooled the Water Essence until it was chilly.
No, even further than that. Until it froze.
Water Essence was Water Essence. Water Essence was not Ice Essence. Water Essence could not be turned into Ice Essence.
It wasn't a simple matter of temperature, for that was fire's domain. It just shouldn't have been possible. It wasn't cold enough for there to be Ice Essence in the air.
What Prince had just pulled off was a stunt so advanced that most C-Grades struggled to do. It wasn't a matter of strength- it was a matter of comprehension. One would have to grasp the fragment of the true essence of water.
And Prince had done it, however rudimentary, subconsciously.
Phase Shift (I) has evolved into Phase Shift (II)
Phase Shift (II) (Active): Augment your body with any Essence element nearby. Further control is granted. Requires one to have no affinity to use.
His hand was now a blade of ice that emitted a deathly chill. The Infernal Ape took to standing temporarily.
Prince was already there, bringing his hand down in a diagonal karate chop.
Prince left a giant gash in the monkey's chest. It released a monkey gasp. The wound was already freezing, digging deeper into its wounds unnaturally- even more so since it was fire-augmented.
Prince turned his hand into a fist.
The monkey's eyes widened, even as it seemed to fall away.
"One more time, eh?"
Prince launched a Titan Fist with all his power, aided with ice. A boom sounded from the point of impact, like a bullet. Prince felt his muscles constrict painfully, the monkey a blur as it streaked through the forest.
But still, Prince stood. His right arm was once again unusable. He was used to it.
But finally, he had conquered the dungeon.
You have leveled up! You are now level 21.
You have leveled up! You are now level 22.
You have leveled up! You are now level 23.
You have leveled up! You are now level 24.
You have leveled up! You are now level 25.
Dungeon Malevolent Mountain has been conquered.
You have conquered a dungeon- solo. As a result, you have received the following title: Solo Leveler
Prince walked back to the clearing, where all the monkeys were staring at him. They all leaped down.
Prince stared at all of them, wondering what they would do.
A monkey came to the front and bowed respectfully. Prince examined it.
Infernal Ape - Level 23
Seems like he'll be the next leader.
A monkey dropped down and handed him a firanana. Prince thanked it. It seemed these monkeys appreciated strength more than anything.
Prince finally felt a huge weight fall off his shoulder. Then another notification alerted him.
Dungeon is ending in 1 minute. All monster groups are vanishing. Add monster group to your faction?
"Yes!" Prince said. He didn't want the Flaming Monkeys to disappear. "Flaming Monkeys!"
Error. No faction. Would you like to create one?
00:32
"Yes!"
00:29
Faction Name?
Prince just said whatever name came to mind. "Towering Peak!"
00:14
Faction created. Add dungeon to territory?
00:04
"Yes!"
Monster group added under Faction Pets. Dungeon is now Towering Peak's territory.
Territory has been converted into a Safe Zone.
Nexus Crystal has been created.
Next moment, a blue crystal materialized before Prince. It was large and heavy, and simply floated in the air.
Prince decided to let it do its own thing.
A whole new System screen appeared before Prince showcasing numerous things.
Buildings, ranking system, allies, faction members, territory, and a whole list of things that Prince didn't want to deal with right now.
He exited out of the screen with a sigh.
Well, that was a little stressful.
Prince at his firanana as he contemplated his next course of action.
First, he would eat some Essence Fruits.
Then?
He would go check out the nearest city.