As the figures drew closer, emerging from the dense foliage, Vincent's eyes narrowed in recognition. Two towering Thrygians, each standing nearly three meters tall, their purple skin glistening with an otherworldly sheen, stepped into view. Their massive frames dwarfed the surrounding vegetation, and the ground seemed to tremble beneath their heavy footfalls.
Vincent's jaw clenched as he recognized them as the duo accompanying Grarik earlier. Their hostile intent was palpable, radiating off them in waves that made the air feel thick and oppressive.
The larger of the two, Taruk, brandished a massive sword that looked more like a slab of metal than a refined weapon. His bare, muscled chest heaved as he fixed Vincent with a predatory gaze.
"We have finally found you, insect," Taruk growled, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the forest. "You really made us search, huh?"
The second Thrygian, Farek, stepped forward, cracking his knuckles ominously.
"You were fortunate that we were inside the sanctuary earlier," he sneered, baring sharp teeth.
"You won't be so lucky this time!"
Vincent's expression hardened, his mind working furiously to understand how they had managed to trace him. He had been meticulous in covering his tracks, donning a mask and venturing deeper into the forest. Yet here they were, having hunted him down like bloodhounds.
Despite the worry gnawing at him regarding the Thrygians' strength, Vincent steeled himself for the impending confrontation. His face remained impassive, betraying none of the tension coiling within him.
"Go, let's kill him already!" Taruk roared, his patience clearly at its end.
"We have wasted so much time looking for this insect!" He raised his enormous sword, the metal catching the filtered sunlight and gleaming ominously.
With a battle cry that shook the leaves from nearby trees, Taruk charged at Vincent. The ground trembled under his feet, small pebbles bouncing with each thunderous step.
Vincent, however, didn't flinch. In a fluid motion born of rigorous training he had in his academy and newly acquired skills, he gripped his daggers tightly and chose to meet the attack head-on.
As Taruk's massive sword came crashing down, Vincent raised his daggers in a cross-guard. The clash of metal on metal rang out through the forest, a discordant symphony of battle.
Clang!
"What?!"
Taruk's shocked voice cut through the reverberations of the clash. His arms numbed from the impact, his sword bouncing back unexpectedly.
Vincent, despite successfully parrying the attack, couldn't help but furrow his brow in confusion.
'Aren't they supposed to be stronger?' he thought, recalling the infamous reputation of Thrygian strength.
Farek, seeing his companion's attack repelled, let out a roar of frustration.
"What the hell are you doing, Taruk?!" He charged forward, massive fists raised for a devastating punch.
But to Vincent's enhanced perception, the attack seemed to move in slow motion. With a grace that belied his recent transformation, he sidestepped the incoming fist. In the same fluid motion, he counter-attacked, his dagger finding purchase in Farek's left ribs.
Slash!
"Ugh!" Farek groaned, more in surprise than pain.
Vincent pressed his advantage, not allowing his opponents a moment to recover. He darted in again, his daggers a blur of motion as they traced crimson lines across Farek's purple skin. With a final, powerful kick, Vincent propelled himself backward, executing a perfect vertical flip to create distance.
Taruk's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Farek! Fall back!" he called out, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"There's something wrong with him!"
As Farek stumbled back, clutching his wounds, Taruk's mind raced. This human, who had been paralyzed by their young master's mere presence hours ago, was now moving with the speed and precision of a skilled warrior.
It didn't make sense.
"Isn't he a newbie?" Farek gasped, voicing the confusion they both felt.
"How come he's this strong?!"
Unbeknownst to the Thrygians, Vincent had activated his C-rank talent: Origin Power Enhancement the moment they attacked. This not only amplified his already enhanced movement speed but also sharpened his senses by 30%, giving him a significant edge in the battle.
Taruk, grasping for an explanation, called out to his companion.
"He might be using a special or forbidden skill. He probably won't last long. Let's buy time!"
Farek nodded grimly, "Alright!"
The duo adopted a new strategy, attacking in tandem with coordinated movements. Slashes from Taruk's massive sword were followed immediately by Farek's powerful punches, leaving little room for error.
But Vincent, emboldened by his earlier success, met their assault with growing confidence. He weaved between their attacks, his daggers flashing as he countered with precise strikes. Each movement was calculated, each dodge followed by a counterattack empowered by the Stinger skill.
As the battle wore on, a look of understanding passed between the two Thrygians. With a synchronized nod, they prepared to unleash their race's innate ability.
Twin roars of fury echoed through the forest as the Thrygians' bodies began to change. Their already impressive muscles bulged grotesquely, veins standing out like corded ropes beneath their purple skin. The spikes adorning their bald heads and the sides of their faces elongated and sharpened, giving them an even more fearsome appearance.
Vincent's eyes narrowed as he recognized the transformation. He took a cautious step back, reassessing the situation.
"Die!" The Thrygians bellowed in unison, their voices deeper and more guttural than before.
The battle resumed with renewed intensity. Despite their increased strength, the Thrygians found themselves still outmatched. Vincent's higher cultivation level, combined with his Origin Power Enhancement, allowed him to maintain his edge.
Taruk, frustration evident in his voice, shouted between swings of his massive sword, "How are you this strong, human? What kind of forbidden technique are you using?"
Vincent did not respond and kept dodging. He would never dare to get distracted during a fight.
Farek, launching a flurry of punches, growling.
Vincent parried a blow, his daggers leaving a thin line of blood on Farek's arm.
As the fight dragged on, the effects of Vincent's Stinger skill became increasingly apparent. The Thrygians' movements grew sluggish, their purple skin taking on a sickly pallor as poison coursed through their veins.
Taruk, his breath coming in ragged gasps, locked eyes with Vincent.
"You... You are not a newbie. Who are you really?"
Vincent ignored his words. He does not give a fuck about their thoughts.
As the Thrygians weakened, their attacks became desperate, fueled more by fear than strategy. Taruk, his massive frame swaying, made one last attempt to reason with Vincent.
"Wait... please," he gasped, his sword drooping. "We were just following orders. We have families... children..."
Vincent hesitated for a moment, his daggers poised for the final strike. In that instant of doubt, Farek lunged forward with a roar, aiming a poison-weakened but still deadly punch at Vincent's head.
Instinct took over. Vincent's daggers flashed, and Farek fell, his final words a gurgle of disbelief.
Taruk, seeing his companion fall, let out a howl of anguish.
"You monster! You're no better than the worst of us!"
With the last of his strength, he charged at Vincent, his sword raised high.
Vincent, his face a mask of grim determination, met the charge head-on. In a flurry of strikes, Taruk's massive form crumpled to the ground.
As the light faded from Taruk's eyes, he whispered, "Remember this day, human. Remember... the lives you've taken."
Finally, exhausted and overwhelmed, the two Thrygians collapsed. Their massive bodies shimmered and dissolved into specks of digital light, leaving behind only their dropped items and glowing orbs.
System notifications flashed in Vincent's mind:
You have successfully killed a Tier 1 - 2★ Thrygian!
You have successfully killed a Tier 1 - 2★ Thrygian!
You have received 3 exp!
You have received 3 exp!
Talent Activated!
+ 60,000 exp!
As the adrenaline of battle faded, the reality of what had just transpired hit Vincent like a physical blow. He stood frozen, his daggers still gripped tightly in his trembling hands.
Taruk's final words echoed in his mind, mingling with Farek's taunts about never belonging.
He had killed for the first time in his life, he had taken the lives of sentient beings. Even though the Thrygians weren't human, they were close enough to make the act feel monumentally significant. And they had spoken of families, of children…
Vincent's mind reeled. Just two months ago, he had been a normal, struggling adult on Earth. Now, he stood in an alien forest, his hands stained with the essence of creatures he had only recently learned existed. Creatures who, despite their hostility, had lives and loved ones of their own.
The weight of his actions pressed down on him, threatening to overwhelm his maintained composure.
Vincent clenched his fists, acknowledging the weight of his actions.
When it suddenly dawned on him.
"What the hell am I thinking? They are still alive though they won't be able to enter the Origin World for the rest of their life.." he thought, remembering the rules of Origin World. The killing felt so surreal that he thought of his actions.
Having gathered his thoughts and reaffirmed his determination, Vincent turned his attention to the items left behind by the fallen Thrygians.
Taruk's massive black sword, nearly two meters in length, lay on the forest floor. Beside it, a brown pouch had spilled open, revealing pieces of broken, colorless crystals. Two orbs of light, one white and one blue, hovered nearby.
Vincent approached cautiously, first reaching for the broken crystals. As his fingers brushed against them, he felt a faint pulse of Origin Energy.
You have received 300 Origin Crystals!
"So these are Origin Crystals," Vincent mused, carefully pocketing the valuable resource.
Next, he picked up the white orb. It collapsed into a shower of digital lights before reforming as a transparent vial filled with a vibrant red liquid.
You have received a common recovery potion!
A small smile tugged at Vincent's lips.
"Nice! Another life-saving item."
Finally, he reached for the blue orb. As his hand made contact, the light dissipated, leaving behind a blue book that seemed to hum with latent power.
Vincent's eyes widened in recognition. "Another skill book?!" he exclaimed, his earlier emotional turmoil momentarily forgotten in the face of this unexpected boon.