The forest around Jack lay in silence, but his new ability—to see energy rings—warned him of approaching danger. Two red circles, like pulsing beacons, were moving toward him. Two F-ranked monsters were on the hunt, and this time, they were coming in pairs.
Jack stood his ground, observing their approach. He felt adrenaline surge through his body. Now that he had absorbed the energy from previous monsters, his confidence had grown. His strength had increased significantly, and his skills had sharpened thanks to his training and the parasite's guidance.
The first monster emerged from behind the trees—a massive creature resembling a wolf with a spiked back and razor-sharp fangs. Its yellow eyes gleamed in the dim light. The second creature looked like a giant rat with an armored hide and a long tail ending in a spear-like bone. Both monsters moved swiftly, preparing to attack.
Jack tightened his grip on his knives, ready for battle. He knew that this fight would be more challenging, but it was his chance to test his new abilities.
"Focus. You're strong enough now to handle them," the parasite's calm voice echoed in his mind. "Control your movements, aim precisely."
The first wolf-beast charged at him with incredible speed. Jack reacted instantly, dodging its claws that would have ripped him to pieces. In the same instant, he struck with his knife at the creature's side, but the blade merely slid off its tough hide.
"Try attacking it from behind; it's unarmored there!" the parasite advised.
The wolf lunged again, but Jack now knew how to respond. He dodged to the side, rolling over his shoulder to land behind the creature. With agility he hadn't possessed before, Jack plunged his knife into the unprotected area at the base of the monster's spine. The wolf-beast howled in pain, but Jack didn't stop—he struck again, and the creature fell to the ground.
Jack barely had time to catch his breath before the second monster—the rat with the spear-tail—charged at him. The creature circled rapidly, using its tail to strike. One swing came dangerously close to Jack's head, forcing him to dive to the ground to avoid injury.
Jack realized he was facing a cunning opponent. The rat moved with incredible speed, its tail slicing through the air in deadly arcs. But Jack had learned to adapt to threats like this. He focused, waiting for the moment the rat would make a mistake.
"Use the knife as a shield. Block the tail, and counter-attack at the same time," the parasite advised, observing the battle.
When the rat lunged at him again with its tail, Jack was ready. He raised his knife, blocking the strike, and at the same moment stepped forward, attacking the monster from another angle. His knife plunged into the soft flesh under the rat's neck, and within seconds, the creature collapsed lifelessly beside the wolf.
Jack's bloodied knives trembled in his hands, but not from fear. It was victory. He felt his muscles burning from exertion, but inside, there was a strange sense of satisfaction. He had taken down two monsters at once.
"Not bad. You're beginning to understand how to control your power. You're becoming quite the little bug," the parasite said with a hint of mockery. "By the end of today, you'll reach the minimum threshold for an E-rank. Your efforts are paying off."
Jack only sighed, feeling the adrenaline slowly fade, leaving his body weary but filled with pride. He quickly pulled out his knife and set about extracting the crystals from the monsters' bodies.
Once he had removed the crystals, his mind remained focused on the fight. These crystals had become a true source of strength for him. With each one he gave to the parasite, his body filled with new energy, his senses sharpened, and his reflexes became faster.
He sat down under a tree to rest a bit, letting his body recover from the battle. His muscles ached, his breathing slowly evened out, but a single thought hammered in his mind: just how far he had already come. He felt that each new fight made him stronger, and the crystals he gathered brought him closer to the next level of power.
But his rest didn't last long. Suddenly, he heard the parasite's alarmed voice in his mind.
"Run now! A massive monster is here!"
Jack sprang to his feet, his heart pounding. He looked up and saw a giant creature descending swiftly from the sky. It was the size of a truck, with massive wings and gray, scaly skin, resembling a lizard with enormous claws and a massive maw. It was hurtling straight toward Jack at terrifying speed.
"You have ten seconds!" the parasite warned sharply.
Jack threw himself to the side just in time to avoid the blow. The monster landed with a deafening crash, leaving a massive indentation where Jack had just stood. The ground shook under its weight, and all of Jack's senses screamed of danger. This was a creature he had never faced before—its size and power were terrifying.
"If I grant you the power to kill this monster, your body might explode. You're not ready to withstand such strength," the parasite said, concern evident in its voice.
Jack gritted his teeth, realizing that defeating this opponent was nearly impossible. But he knew that if he didn't fight, he had no chance of survival.
"I'll have to manage on my own," Jack muttered, eyeing the enormous creature.
He began sprinting through the forest, using trees as natural obstacles to slow the monster down. But each of his steps was accompanied by explosions as the beast smashed through the trees one by one. Every second felt like an eternity, and Jack knew he couldn't keep running for long.
He felt fear rising in his chest, but within him remained a spark of determination. This was his fight for survival, and he couldn't lose it without giving his all.
Jack ran as fast as he could through the forest, relying on every word the parasite said to guide him in the right direction. He felt his strength waning, but the monster didn't tire. The pounding of enormous paws shattered trees, while its wings whipped up gusts of wind, making it seem as if the forest itself was challenging Jack.
"Faster, just a bit more! The monster is close—you're almost at your destination!" the parasite urged him on.
Each step resonated in his chest with a heavy beat; every tree piercing the forest seemed to become an enemy, blocking his path. Jack felt his body was reaching its limits. His muscles burned with exertion, but he couldn't afford to stop. Behind him followed a creature that could obliterate him with a single blow.
Finally, a clearing appeared through the trees. Jack burst onto it, sensing that another creature lay ahead, no less dangerous than the last. His attention was immediately drawn to the powerful body of a black panther, whose coat gleamed in the night. She stood motionless, like a shadow, her eyes tracking every movement around her.
— It's her. A rank D panther. She'll be a worthy opponent for your pursuer. Lead them to each other, — the parasite's voice echoed again.
Without wasting any time, Jack veered sharply to the side, heading for the far edge of the clearing. The clash of the two monsters could give him a chance to escape, but he knew he shouldn't linger when they began to fight.
At that moment, the monster chasing Jack broke into the clearing. A flying lizard crashed into the ground with a thunderous roar, scattering dirt and leaves. The panther noticed its approach and immediately assumed a threatening stance. Her muscles tensed, her gaze focused and sharp like a blade.
With a roar, the lizard rose onto its hind legs, spreading its massive wings, which blocked out half the sky. It prepared to attack. Without hesitation, the panther sprang forward, her body gliding across the ground like a dark river rushing towards its target.
— Perfect. Now they'll be occupied with each other. Run as far as you can, — ordered the parasite.
Jack didn't hesitate. The monsters engaged in a brutal battle, and the sounds of their fierce strikes echoed throughout the forest. Trees shattered, the earth split, and the roars of both creatures made Jack's heart beat faster. But he didn't look back. This was his only chance—to flee while they were busy with each other.
He ran, using the last of his strength, until he reached a safe distance. Leaving the sounds of battle behind, Jack stopped and breathed heavily. He knew the fight could end at any moment, but for now, he had the chance to continue his journey.
— These beasts are merely weak representatives of this world. But soon, you'll be able to defeat creatures like them on your own. You just need more power. We're close to our goal, — the parasite said, his voice once again cold and confident.
Jack felt a desire growing within him. A desire to become stronger, so that no one and nothing could ever threaten him again.
— I want more power, — he said, his voice firm but filled with inner thirst.
— You'll get it. But for that, you need to continue the hunt. Go on, destroy your enemies and absorb their energy. The more you kill, the closer you come to perfection, — the parasite reminded him of its plan.
Without wasting time, Jack moved on, plunging deeper into the forest. He knew this battle was just the beginning. He needed to find new opponents and take their strength to reach his goal.
Jack didn't stop until he found his next prey. He continued the hunt, tracking weaker monsters of rank F to increase his power. His instincts were sharp, and the vision given by the parasite allowed him to spot targets before they could see him. In a few hours, he had slain three monsters, each weaker than the last, but their energy was still necessary for his growth.
The first monster, resembling a giant bat with sharp claws, attacked Jack from the dense bushes. However, thanks to his enhanced vision and reflexes, Jack managed to fend off its attack and swiftly deliver a fatal blow with his knife. The monster fell to the ground, and Jack, wasting no time, extracted its crystal.
The second monster—a large creature resembling an armadillo with spikes all over its body—was quickly dispatched as well. Despite its thick armor, Jack found a weak spot under its neck and, with his speed and precision, defeated the enemy. Another crystal came into the parasite's hands.
The third monster was the fastest. It moved with incredible speed, resembling a snake, and could have been a serious threat were it not for Jack's improved reflexes. Using agility and his new skills, Jack wore it down, then dealt a decisive blow, plunging his knife into the creature's head.
After gathering the third crystal, Jack felt the energy within him begin to surge, filling every cell of his body. He sat on the ground, feeling the strength seeping into his muscles and every movement. Something inside him had changed.
— That's it. Do you feel it? You've finally reached rank E, — the parasite's voice echoed in his mind, now tinged with approval. — Each new level enhances the quality of your power. You've doubled your strength now, Jack. You're becoming stronger than ever.
Jack closed his eyes, immersing himself in the sensation. Inside, a small explosion of energy surged through him, as though his entire body had been recharged, brimming with new power. He felt his muscles grow stronger, his reflexes improve, and his mind become clearer.
— You've doubled your strength, but this isn't the limit yet. Now, you're a true rank E. Your speed, strength, and endurance have increased significantly. But remember, even stronger foes lie ahead. Only we can become the strongest in this world, — the parasite spoke with smug satisfaction, knowing Jack depended more and more on its power.
Jack took a deep breath, feeling each cell in his body pulse with new power. He knew this was just the beginning of his journey. Now, with his new strength and rank E, he was ready for even greater trials.
— Now we're ready for the next stage, — Jack said quietly, rising from the ground and heading further into the depths of the forest.