The moment the black panther's body vanished into his space ring, Mike could feel the tension rising in the forest around him. His instincts, sharpened through days of intense training, alerted him to the presence of powerful auras rapidly closing in. Predators, no doubt drawn by the echoes of his battle with the panther, were on their way. These were no ordinary beasts; the sheer weight of their energy made the air thick and oppressive, suffocating even from a distance.
Not wanting to test his luck, Mike activated the stealth formation on his Abyssal Armor. The dark silver patterns pulsed once before fading into an invisible cloak, blending him seamlessly with the surroundings. His movements were silent, almost ghostly, as he darted through the trees, the enhanced speed of his armor making the return to the cave swift and efficient. The oppressive auras grew fainter with every step, and soon enough, the mouth of the cave came into view. With a sigh of relief, Mike slipped inside.
The cave's familiar cool air greeted him like a protective shield, and once he was inside, he deactivated the stealth formation. He glanced down at his armor. The Abyssal Armor had taken a beating during the fight, its surface cracked and worn. But as chaotic energy pulsed through his body, he could feel the cracks healing, the dark iron regenerating with every wave of energy coursing through it. Within moments, the armor had returned to its pristine state. Mike grinned, admiring the craftsmanship and resilience of the Abyssal Armor.
"I really am a genius," he muttered to himself, still buzzing from the victory.
But what filled him with even more excitement wasn't just the armor or the victory—it was the thought of finally eating real food. Real meat. The memory of the grilled meats he'd enjoyed in his past life made his stomach growl, loud enough to echo off the cave walls. He chuckled softly to himself, feeling more like a human than a warrior for the first time since transmigrating.
He got to work. First, he gathered wood from a small stash he'd previously collected at the back of the cave. He arranged the pieces neatly in a pile near the stone slab where he meditated at night, close enough for warmth but far enough to avoid the smoke.
Mike raised his hand, summoning the chaotic energy within him, and with a focused thought, ignited a small burst of silver fire from his fingertips. The chaotic flames flickered to life with a soft whoosh, their silver hue casting eerie shadows on the cave walls. Mike took a step back, watching as the fire raged with an intensity he hadn't fully expected. The chaotic energy that fueled the flames was far more potent than ordinary fire, but he quickly adjusted its strength, taming the wild flickers to a steady burn.
Satisfied, Mike turned his attention to the panther's body. He summoned the Abyssal Gauntlet, its dark iron surface gleaming under the light of the silver fire. The intricate blood-absorbing formation engraved along the gauntlet's claws began to hum softly as he placed the gauntlet over the panther's corpse. A sharp, red glow emerged from the formation, like crimson tendrils slithering across the panther's body. Slowly but surely, the blood of the beast was drawn into the gauntlet, absorbed cleanly without a drop left behind.
As the blood drained, Mike could feel the faint strengthening of the gauntlet and the armor itself, each piece feeding off the absorbed blood. The Abyssal Armor pulsed, almost alive, as if it were drinking in the power of the defeated panther. His connection to the armor deepened with every drop absorbed, and a subtle yet unmistakable surge of energy spread throughout his body.
"Not bad," Mike said, flexing his fingers and feeling the slight increase in strength. "This could come in handy later."
Once the blood had been fully absorbed, Mike began slicing the panther's meat into clean cuts. The beast had been strong, its muscles lean and firm, perfect for grilling. As he sliced, the rich aroma of fresh meat filled the air, making his mouth water. His movements were careful yet swift, a skill born from both past life experience and his recent training. Soon, several thick cuts of meat lay ready next to the fire.
Mike carefully placed the meat over the silver flames, and soon enough, the sizzling sound of grilling meat filled the cave. The scent that wafted up was enough to make his stomach growl again. He could hardly believe his fortune: after days of nothing but fruits and water, he was finally about to eat something substantial. Something that would not only fill his belly but strengthen his body.
As the meat grilled, Mike found himself reflecting on the past few days. The fight with the panther, the strength he'd gained, and how far he'd come since waking up in this strange world. He wasn't just surviving anymore—he was thriving. And tonight, this meal would be a celebration of that progress.
"I've earned this," Mike thought with a grin. "And this is just the beginning."
He turned the meat over the fire, watching it char slightly from the chaotic flames. The silver fire gave the meat an unusual sheen, but Mike knew it was cooked thoroughly. His hunger surged, and for a moment, he forgot about everything else—the battles, the challenges ahead. All that mattered now was the feast before him.
Mike leaned back against the stone slab, savoring the grilled panther meat with a deep sense of satisfaction. Each bite was an explosion of flavor and warmth, filling him with an almost primal joy he hadn't felt in this world yet. It was his first real meal since transmigrating, and it felt like a luxury, as if every piece was rewarding him for his struggles. The meat was rich and tender, but more than that, it felt charged with a strange power.
As he ate, a subtle tingling coursed through his body. The chaotic energy within the panther meat flowed into his veins, strengthening his body with each swallow. Mike furrowed his brows, trying to understand. Was it the panther's innate energy, or had the chaotic fire he used for cooking somehow infused the meat with more power? Whatever the source, the energy was palpable, like an unseen force knitting into his muscles, enhancing his already strong body. He wasn't sure whether to attribute this to the panther's own energy or the effect of his Abyssal Armor's chaotic fire, but he decided not to dwell too much on it. He happily accepted the benefits.
Finishing his meal, Mike wiped his mouth and stored the rest of the uncooked meat back in his space ring. As the warmth of the meal settled in his belly, a strange sensation rippled through the cave. His body stiffened. It was faint at first—an odd pulse of energy—but it grew steadily stronger, coming from deeper within the cave. Mike sat up, the relaxing moment vanishing instantly, replaced by tension.
"What... is that?"
He stood up and activated his Eyes of Chaos, his vision shifting to reveal threads of energy snaking through the cave's walls. His heart raced as his gaze followed the threads to the teleportation array he had barely managed to fix earlier. It was still incomplete, unstable, but now... something was trying to activate it.
"Someone's coming through," he muttered under his breath, eyes wide. His mind raced with a hundred questions. Who could it be? Was it another human, lost like him? Or worse... was it an enemy? A demon, like the ones he had seen in the beast's memory?
Fear gripped him tightly, but at the same time, there was excitement bubbling beneath the surface. If it was an ally, maybe he wouldn't be alone anymore. Maybe there was hope to understand this world. But if it wasn't... his entire sanctuary could be in jeopardy.
His emotions swirled—anxiety, hope, dread, and anticipation. He didn't have time to think; the array was still damaged, and if he didn't act quickly, whoever was in the space tunnel might die. Or worse, they could arrive severely injured, unable to defend themselves. It was a chaotic mix of fear and curiosity, but Mike's instincts pushed him forward.
He approached the teleportation array cautiously, the glow of chaotic energy flickering across the lines of the formation. The flow was erratic, pulsing in and out like a heartbeat, but one that was out of sync, unstable. Mike's heart pounded in rhythm with it.
"If I don't stabilize this, they're done for," he realized.
He dropped to his knees beside the array and placed his hands on the markings, feeling the jagged flow of energy. His chaotic energy responded almost instantly, aligning with the formation. Slowly, Mike began directing it, pulling chaotic energy from his body and weaving it into the teleportation lines. The process was delicate, like trying to catch smoke with his bare hands. One wrong move, and the entire formation could collapse.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he concentrated. The energy was wild, but he was slowly gaining control. His eyes of chaos helped him see the weak points, the places where the flow was most unstable. With precision and care, he manipulated the energy threads, binding them into something more stable. The array pulsed again, but this time, the light was stronger, more focused.
"Just a little more," he muttered, feeling the pressure ease slightly. His chaotic energy poured out like a steady stream, reinforcing the formation.
Finally, the array shone with a bright, steady light. The air around him hummed with energy, and the unstable pulses vanished. The teleportation array was stable, and the flow of energy smoothed out.
A sense of relief washed over him, but it didn't last long. As the array solidified, the energy shifted again. This time, the space in front of him began to warp. His heart raced as a portal-like tunnel began to form. At first, it was just a shimmer in the air, but slowly, it expanded, widening into a shadowy passage. The energy was thick, like a fog hanging in the air, swirling in chaotic patterns.
And then he saw it—a shadow. A figure, vague and distant, moving through the tunnel toward him.
Mike's breath hitched. His emotions swirled again. Who was this? Was it friend or foe? He felt a lump in his throat, both anticipation and fear clawing at him.
The shadow in the tunnel grew closer.
The shadow finally passed through the teleportation formation. Mike swiftly closed the array, careful not to damage it further. As the distortion of space faded, the figure in front of him became clearer. He stared, momentarily frozen.
Before him lay a girl, but not just any girl. She was a vision of beauty, with long, flowing black hair that cascaded down her back like a river of midnight. Her skin was pale, smooth like the finest porcelain, and her figure was the perfect balance of slimness and gentle curves. Her clothes were torn in places, revealing glimpses of her soft, unblemished skin. Despite her current state, her beauty was undeniable, and Mike couldn't help but feel stunned.
Her eyes were closed, her breath uneven and shallow. It was clear she was injured, but as Mike activated his Eyes of Chaos, the full extent of her injuries became apparent. Her aura was chaotic, showing signs of a recent fierce battle. The wounds weren't deep, but the exhaustion on her face told him she had been fighting for her life. Yet, something else caught his attention.
"Celestial Guardian," he whispered in awe, realizing the girl's cultivation level.
That level of strength was equivalent to a 7th Rank Earthly Beast—strong, yes, but not invincible. He remembered the panther in its berserk state and how he had defeated it. He had already surpassed this girl in power, but it still surprised him that someone so strong had ended up in such a weakened state.
His initial instinct was to investigate her further, perhaps see more of her internal state with his Eyes of Chaos, but he stopped himself. A flicker of guilt and decency held him back.
"She's injured... and she's a girl."
He took a step back, feeling it would be indecent to probe her too deeply. His attention shifted to the teleportation array. The cracks running along its edges frustrated him. It had already been in the process of healing, but this new use had damaged it further.
"Great," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "It'll take at least another year to fix this thing."
He sighed, but then his gaze returned to the girl. Her beauty, though overwhelming, faded to the background as concern filled him. In her current state, she was no different than a mortal, and without immediate help, she could die from her injuries. He bent down and, as gently as he could, scooped her into his arms. Her body felt so fragile, despite the strength he knew she possessed. It was strange—someone so powerful, reduced to such vulnerability.
Carefully, Mike carried her over to the stone slab where he usually meditated. He laid her down gently, making sure she was comfortable. For a moment, he hesitated. He needed to help her heal, but his chaotic energy wouldn't be compatible with hers. It was too different, too volatile. Her energy was pure, spiritual, the complete opposite of his chaotic power.
"Spiritual energy…" he muttered, thinking quickly.
He turned to his space ring, summoning several high-grade spiritual stones. Their radiant glow illuminated the cave faintly, their dense energy ready to be tapped into. He held one in his palm, feeling the pulsating energy within. As much as he wanted to use chaotic energy to heal her, he knew it might do more harm than good. This pure spiritual energy was what she needed.
Taking a deep breath, Mike carefully arranged the stones around the stone slab where the girl lay. He placed them at strategic points around her body—one near her head, two by her sides, and another at her feet. The spiritual energy inside the stones hummed softly, waiting for activation.
Satisfied with the placement, Mike knelt beside the stone slab and began tracing a formation on the ground. His hands moved with precision, drawing thin lines of spiritual energy directly from the stones. His fingers glowed faintly as they weaved through the air, creating intricate symbols and patterns. He started with the outer layer, an absorption array designed to draw the energy from the stones and direct it toward the girl.
With each stroke, Mike infused a small amount of chaotic energy into the symbols to stabilize them, ensuring they wouldn't crumble under the intensity of the energy flow. His movements were steady, but his mind was racing—he had to get this right. One wrong symbol, one misstep, and the formation would be useless, or worse, dangerous to the girl.
After a few minutes, the formation was complete. Mike stood back and admired his work. The glowing lines connected the spiritual stones to the girl, with a gentle flow of energy beginning to circulate. The spiritual energy pulsed softly, flowing from the stones, through the formation, and into her body.
"That should help," Mike said, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.
The energy moved slowly at first, like a stream trickling down a mountainside. But as the formation stabilized, the flow quickened, and soon, a steady stream of spiritual energy was pouring into the girl's body. Mike watched her carefully, ensuring the energy was being absorbed properly. Her breathing began to steady, and her face lost some of its earlier pallor.
With the formation now in place and doing its job, Mike walked to the other end of the cave, his mind still racing. He leaned against the cool stone wall, sighing deeply. He reached up and tapped his helmet, retracting it back into his Abyssal Armor. He didn't want to frighten the girl when she woke up. His armor, while a tool of immense strength, had a menacing appearance—especially now, with its dark metallic sheen and sharp edges. He looked more like a demon than a human when fully armored.
As he leaned back, resting against the stone, Mike couldn't help but glance back at the girl. Her soft breathing was a sign that she was stabilizing, but his mind remained unsettled. Who was she? How had she ended up here, in his cave, injured and on the verge of death?
"Celestial Guardian," he repeated quietly, the words echoing in the chamber.
That was a realm few could hope to reach, yet she had been brought so low. He wondered what kind of battle she had been through to end up like this. His instincts told him she had powerful enemies, and he worried about what that might mean for him. Still, she needed help, and for now, that was all that mattered.
"Whoever you are," Mike thought, "I hope you're not more trouble than you're worth."
Mike sat against the cave wall, his gaze steady on the soft glow emanating from the energy absorption formation. The rhythmic hum of spiritual energy coursing through the chamber filled the air with a serene calm, a stark contrast to the storm of questions swirling in Mike's mind. Who was this girl, and how had she ended up in his cave, injured and unconscious?
The questions lingered, but for now, he had to focus on ensuring her safety.
The high-grade spiritual stones arranged in a precise circle near the unconscious girl glowed faintly, releasing threads of pure spiritual energy into the formation. Mike had crafted the array carefully, directing the flow of energy to stabilize her condition. Her once-shallow breaths had become deeper and more even, and her pale skin was regaining some of its color.
Mike's Eyes of Chaos shimmered faintly as he observed the energy threads weaving into her body. Even in her unconscious state, her cultivation absorbed the spiritual energy with ease, confirming his earlier suspicions—she was powerful. At the Celestial Guardian level, her strength was nearly comparable to the Dark Panther at its peak before it entered its rage state.
He exhaled softly, leaning back against the stone wall, and deactivated his Eyes of Chaos. Though curious, he refrained from probing deeper into her energy, sensing that it would be improper to do so while she lay unconscious and vulnerable. Her cultivation intrigued him, but he didn't want to invade her privacy.
He glanced down at his Abyssal Armor, which had recovered from the battle, the dark iron gleaming in the dim cave light. His helmet had retracted into the armor, revealing his face—a decision he made to appear less menacing when she eventually woke. Though his armor was intimidating, without the helmet, he hoped his human features would seem less frightening. After all, he didn't want her waking up to the sight of a devil-like figure towering over her.
Mike's gaze flickered toward the chamber where the teleportation array lay. It had been damaged when the girl arrived, and he still couldn't understand how she had managed to activate it while it was incomplete and healing. The damage was severe now, and it would take him at least a year to repair it properly.
As he pondered this, a faint vibration rippled through the air, sending a cold chill down his spine. It wasn't the calm hum of spiritual energy—no, this was something else.
His eyes narrowed as he turned toward the teleportation chamber. A low, ominous crackle echoed from within, and Mike's heartbeat quickened. The array—someone was trying to activate it again.
His body tensed immediately, and he surged to his feet, moving swiftly toward the teleportation chamber. His Eyes of Chaos flared to life once more as he peered into the chamber's center, where the array flickered dangerously, unstable energy swirling within its damaged structure. Someone—or something—was attempting to force their way through the incomplete teleportation array.
A mixture of panic and frustration surged within him. The array wasn't ready for another teleportation, and if whoever was trying to pass through succeeded, the formation could collapse entirely. Even worse, if the teleportation failed midway, the person attempting to teleport would be severely injured, possibly killed.
"Not again," Mike muttered under his breath. His heart raced as conflicting emotions flooded his mind. Was it another ally of the girl? Or someone hunting her down? The thought of an enemy finding their way into his cave unsettled him.
He wasted no time. With a deep breath, Mike focused his chaotic energy and channeled it into the array, pushing against the incoming force. The formation groaned under the strain, silver and red sparks flying off its edges as the unstable energy within threatened to tear it apart.
Mike's control over chaotic energy allowed him to forcefully stabilize the formation, temporarily preventing it from collapsing. His Eyes of Chaos revealed the chaotic currents swirling wildly within the array, a dangerous mix of spiritual energy and disorder. His brow furrowed in concentration as he worked to block the teleportation from completing.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he continued to push back against the surge of energy. Whoever was on the other side wasn't giving up, but Mike wasn't about to let them through—not with the array in this condition. With one final burst of chaotic energy, he severed the connection, causing the teleportation array to sputter and die out.
The chamber fell silent. The array had been blocked, and whoever had been trying to come through was no longer a threat—for now.
Mike exhaled a long breath, the tension in his body slowly easing. His mind raced with thoughts about who had tried to teleport into his cave. Was it an ally of the girl? Or perhaps another pursuer? He couldn't know for sure, but the fact that someone had found his cave twice in such a short time left him uneasy.
With a frustrated sigh, he turned his attention back to the unconscious girl. Her breathing had remained steady throughout the ordeal, her body absorbing the spiritual energy from the formation he had crafted. Despite the damage to the teleportation array, she seemed to be stabilizing.
He knelt beside her, checking the pulse of her energy flow. It was smoother now, her injuries gradually healing. She was still weak, but no longer in danger. He allowed himself a moment of relief before returning to his position against the wall.
Mike's mind wandered, wondering how long it would take for her to wake up. His instincts told him to remain cautious, but for now, the threat had passed.
That was, until a faint movement caught his attention.
Mike's gaze snapped to the girl. Her fingers twitched, and her eyelids fluttered as if she were waking from a deep sleep. His Eyes of Chaos caught the last wisps of spiritual energy weaving into her core, signaling that the healing formation had done its job.
Her breathing deepened, and slowly, her eyes fluttered open.
Mike froze, his breath catching in his throat. Her eyes—large, almond-shaped, and the deepest shade of black he'd ever seen—blinked a few times as if adjusting to the dim light of the cave. She gazed up at the rocky ceiling, confusion etched on her delicate features.
For a brief moment, Mike was captivated by her. Her long, flowing black hair spread around her like a dark halo, and despite the injuries she had suffered, her beauty was undeniable. Her figure, though slim and graceful, had an undeniable strength, a warrior's body with soft curves.
She shifted slightly, her hand moving weakly across the stone slab. Her gaze slowly moved from the ceiling, taking in the surroundings before finally landing on Mike, who stood in the shadows, watching her intently.
Her eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to still.
Mike didn't move. He didn't know what to say or how to approach her without startling her. He simply stood there, waiting, uncertain of what the next moment would bring.