The top canopies tried to block the morning sunlight, but it still made its way between the gaps, energizing the lifeless grass growing beneath the tall trees.
Falcon Wilderness was filled with such trees, which had diamond-shaped petals. However, the wilderness had much more to offer than just these trees.
At one part of the Falcon Wilderness, Arthur was busy harvesting the lives of Low-Stage Tier 1 Abyssal Creatures, gaining more and more Soul Fragments. The number was minimal, but he knew he needed to do this. After killing, he also collected the Soul Cores and stored them away in his backpack. He would use the night to absorb the Soul Fragments.
'I did bring a Night Simulant, but I don't know if I'll last seven whole days.'
Arthur extracted the Soul Core of a dead mantis-like Abyssal Creature and thought. After searching around the whole body, he clicked his tongue. "I shouldn't have expected a Soul Shard from these wrenches."
He then looked at his status and sighed.
[Name - Arthur Stark]
[Age - 18]
[Rank - Novice]
[Level - 1]
[Soul Fragments - 22.5/100]
[Path - ]
[Skills - ]
[Artefacts - Abyss Destroyer.]
It was then he heard the sound of grass rustling, which made his ears perk up as he gripped the Abyss Destroyer tightly. He turned his head and looked in the direction the sound came from.
In the distance, the bushes were kicked aside as a heavy limb landed on the grass, flattening it. A figure wearing steel armor from head to toe came walking toward Arthur.
Bright red eyes burned like an endless fire in the visors of the helmet as the figure dragged a heavy longsword on the rugged terrain, creating a gash in it.
Arthur tensed up before relaxing as he thought, 'I thought it was Noah for a second. Phew, I almost jumped to escape. Don't want to meet that bastard so early.'
The mutilated corpse of the Abyssal Creature was kicked aside by Arthur as he walked toward the armored figure, remembering some pieces of information.
'Abyssal Zombies, huh.'
The Void Army not only brought terrifying Abominations to Earth but also carried the corruption with them. The Abyssal energy was strange, and every member of the Abyssal Creature Army used it to empower themselves.
It also had a peculiar corrupted nature that turned most of the animals on Earth into Abyssal Creatures, just like what Arthur had encountered before. Surprisingly, though, it only worked on Awakened humans when they died. It was as if the System Core protected them from the corruption brought by the Abyssal Energy.
Unfortunately, mundane humans were not immune and often succumbed to the calls of corruption.
What Arthur was seeing was an exception. The Abyssal Zombies were dead human bodies revived by the overflowing Abyssal Energy in an area. The System Core could only protect them while they were alive.
That was the reason humans had begun to burn the deceased, following the old customs of some countries before the Cataclysms.
"I don't really want to kill you, mate."
Arthur sighed as he crouched down, positioning the black sword behind him. He then kicked the ground and shot toward the Abyssal Zombie at an inhuman speed.
The Abyssal Zombie finally detected the approaching danger, but it was already too late. A sword came slicing upwards at its neck, intending to end the fight in one blow.
However, the Abyssal Zombie raised the heavy longsword it was carrying just in time to block the black sword, but Arthur suddenly changed direction as the Abyss Destroyer plunged deep into the rusted steel armor, coming out from the other side.
"Well, I meant I didn't want to kill you because you won't give me any Soul Fragments."
[Congratulations on Killing Abyssal Zombie, Low-Stage Tier 1]
"I know, I know. You don't have to remind me."
Arthur rolled his eyes as he watched the armor drop to the ground, ash billowing out from various parts.
He lingered there for a while, looking at the ashes before turning his head away. He sighed, "Am I only going to encounter these weaklings? I should just go and hunt those big guys. But if I go there, other big guys will hear and come for a feast."
Arthur contemplated as he walked randomly, but then he suddenly jumped away and rolled on the ground, coming to a halt. He heard the sound of something heavy smashing to the ground, and his lips twitched.
He raised his head and saw what he didn't want to see. Around fifty meters away from him stood a three-meter-tall black monkey, with its red eyes completely focused on him.
It had the trunk of a broken tree in its limbs as it growled and threw it at Arthur with all its force. With a sonic boom, the trunk shot at him and was almost upon him in a matter of seconds.
Arthur put away his sword in his System Core and dashed away, running at full speed. He felt the ground tremble as the heavy trunk smashed to the ground behind him. But he didn't turn around to watch the aftermath.
"Fuck! Why does this terrible luck of mine also get regressed with me? Hey, whoever did this, please take it. I don't want it."
Arthur almost wanted to cry, but he didn't have time for even that. He could only run away as fast as he could. After all, a High-Stage Tier 1 Abyssal Creature was attacking him.
If he wasn't careful, he would be turned into meat paste by the monkey. After all, it was basically at Level 8-9 for him. Even with all his experience, he couldn't just beat someone of much higher levels.
"Phew! It probably didn't chase a bug like me. Good monkey!"
Arthur had just sighed in relief when he heard a loud howl behind him, which made him sprint at top speed.
"Aghh! Fuck my mouth...wait! No! Someone just kill me...not even that..."