David had spent the last three days hunting relentlessly, pushing himself deeper into the heart of the forest where the beasts grew stronger and deadlier. The usual creatures that roamed the outskirts—the mid-tier Gold beasts—no longer posed a threat. He had faced them so many times that their tactics were predictable, their weaknesses clear. But deeper in the forest, where the trees grew darker and the air heavier with danger, the low-Platinum beasts lurked. These were the creatures that would give him the points he needed.
He had to prepare for the Abyssal Terror.
The forest was a labyrinth of danger, but David navigated it with an expert's eye. His Bestial Synchronization skill allowed him to tap into the passive advantages of his forms without fully shifting. He moved with the speed of the Storm Raptor, his reflexes sharp and lightning-fast. His enhanced senses from the Shadowbane Wolf kept him aware of every movement around him, every shift in the underbrush. But even with all these abilities, the beasts in these deeper parts of the forest were far from easy prey.
On the second day, David encountered a Crimson Serpent, a low-Platinum-tier beast whose venom was enough to melt through even the strongest defenses. It had struck without warning, coiling itself around a tree as it lashed out with its fangs. David dodged the first strike with Darkstep, disappearing into the shadows before reappearing behind the beast. His Dragon's Might sword, newly bonded to him, gleamed as he slashed at the serpent's thick hide.
The serpent hissed, its scales shimmering like blood under the faint moonlight. It countered quickly, its tail snapping like a whip, catching David across the chest and sending him tumbling backward. Pain flared through his ribs, but he gritted his teeth, activating double layered Earth Shield and Mana Shield just as the serpent lunged at him again. The shield absorbed the brunt of the strike, but the force still sent tremors through his arms.
David knew he had to end it quickly. The longer the fight dragged on, the more dangerous the serpent's venom would become. With a surge of energy, he activated Phantom Strike, teleporting directly above the beast. His sword descended in a flash of lightning, cutting deep into the serpent's flesh. The serpent writhed in agony, its body twisting violently as it tried to shake him off, but David followed up with a second strike, channeling Elemental Infusion through the blade. Lightning crackled down the sword's length, surging into the serpent's body and causing it to convulse.
Finally, with a hiss of defeat, the serpent collapsed, its massive form coiling lifelessly on the forest floor.
David took a moment to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. The fight had been tough, but the points he earned from the kill were worth it. He sold the serpent's body to the system store, knowing that its venom could be useful later on, he decided to store some in his storage space. He also replaced the Darkscale Stalker in favor of the Crimson Serpent.
The next day, David faced a Stonehide Golem, a lumbering, hulking beast that towered over him, its body covered in thick slabs of stone-like armor. The fight was brutal and exhausting. Each time David managed to dodge the golem's massive fists, he would strike at its joints, hoping to find a weakness in its rocky hide. But the creature's defense was overwhelming. Even his most powerful attacks barely left a scratch.
The fight dragged on, the golem relentlessly pounding the ground in an attempt to crush him. David used Darkness Aura to lower its sensory abilities, but the creature seemed to rely more on brute strength than sight. In a desperate move, he shifted into his Duskhorn Wyrm form, wrapping his serpentine body around the golem's arm and channeling Shadow Surge into it, layering Darkness Rending on top of it. The dark magic seeped into the cracks between the stones, weakening the creature from within.
With a final, shuddering roar, the golem collapsed, its stone body crumbling to pieces.
David knelt beside the fallen golem, his body trembling with exhaustion. The fight had taken more out of him than he expected, but he was getting closer to his goal. The points he had earned from the last three days were piling up, and with every kill, he felt his confidence growing. But he knew that all of this was just preparation. The real test lay ahead.
By the time the third day ended, David had accumulated 80,000 points—enough to make a significant purchase from the system. He opened the System Interface, his eyes scanning the list of available skills and abilities. He didn't need something flashy or overwhelming; he needed something that would give him an edge over the Abyssal Terror. Something that could level the playing field.
He hesitated for only a moment before selecting the ability he had been eyeing since the beginning of his hunt. The system's confirmation message blinked into view, and a surge of newfound confidence coursed through him as the new ability settled into his mind. He didn't have time to test it, but he trusted that it would be exactly what he needed.
Now, it was time.
Night had fallen again by the time David made his way back to the cave. The energy fluctuations were stronger than ever, pulses of dark power radiating from within the cave like a heartbeat. The air was thick with tension, and every instinct screamed at him to turn back. But David ignored the fear gnawing at his gut. He had come too far to back down now.
As he approached the entrance, he saw the familiar hulking form of the Abyssal Terror. It stood at the mouth of the cave, its obsidian scales gleaming in the pale moonlight, its eyes glowing like burning coals. It had sensed him long before he arrived, and now, it stood between him and whatever secrets the cave held.