A month had passed since the death of the wandering cultivator, and Kailash had changed, both physically and mentally.
Gone was the boy who wandered aimlessly, while doing nothing with his life.
Now, every day was filled with purpose.
He had thrown himself into his cultivation, determined to make something of himself in this world.
5 Qi points.
It had taken a month of hard training, but he had gotten there.
The Foundational Qi Absorption Technique was finally paying off as well as controlling his Qi.
His body had toughened up and his Basic Swordsmanship had improved, but calling it "basic" felt like an overstatement.
It was more like, "Don't Cut Your Own Leg Off Swordsmanship."
But Kailash was determined to prove himself.
He could feel the difference when he trained. His movements were quicker, his strikes more precise, and his grip on the sword was steadier.
The villagers had started to notice the change too, even if they didn't fully understand it.
"What's that boy up to again?" one of the older farmers, Jyoti grumbled, watching Kailash practice his sword strikes near the well. "Swinging that sword around like he's expecting a battle. He'll cut himself before he cuts anything else."
"Maybe he's trying to impress someone," Maasa had joked, leaning on the well with a sly grin. "Though I can't imagine who."
Kailash ignored them. He didn't need their approval. He just needed to get stronger.
But soon the peace was broken and trouble started when a beast came too close to the village.
The spiritual beast had been terrorizing the nearby farms for weeks, but now it had gotten bolder.
The latest attack had left one farmer's herd scattered, the ground stained with blood and claw marks.
That was when Old Man Haran had gathered a group to hunt the creature before it could come closer to the village.
Naturally, Kailash volunteered.
"You sure you're up for this?" Ajit asked, raising an eyebrow as Kailash strapped his sword to his side.
"Of course I'm sure," Kailash said, tightening his grip on the hilt. "I've been training for a month. I'm not the same kid I was before."
Ajit shook his head, grinning. "Yeah, well, let's hope that training pays off. I'd hate to see you get eaten by a giant wolf because you spent too much time meditating and not enough time learning how to dodge."
Kailash chuckled, though his mind was already racing ahead.
He wasn't going into this fight unprepared.
The newbie pack the system had given him a month ago had provided a few surprises, pills that could boost his abilities.
He hadn't used them yet, but this was the perfect opportunity.
As the group of seven men, including Haran, Ravi, Ajit, and a few other villagers prepared to head into the forest, Kailash pulled out the Strength and Agility Pills from his pocket.
"What's that?" Ajit asked, noticing the small capsules.
Kailash popped one of each into his mouth, feeling the pills dissolve quickly.
Almost immediately, a warm rush flooded through his body.
His muscles tightened, his reflexes sharpened, and the world around him seemed to move just a little slower.
"Let's just say I've got a few tricks up my sleeve," Kailash said, grinning as he stretched his arms
Ajit blinked. "Wait... did you just... are you glowing?"
Kailash laughed. "Not glowing. Just... feeling better than usual."
Ajit stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, whatever you took, just make sure it doesn't get us killed."
The village of Kalith wasn't large, but it was close-knit.
Everyone knew everyone's business.
The idea of a spiritual beast creeping closer to the village had people on edge.
As the hunting party set out, villagers stood at the edge of the square, whispering amongst themselves. Maasa crossed her arms and watched with a skeptical look.
"You really think that boy's going to help? He's been swinging that sword around like he knows what he's doing, but this isn't a game."
"Let him go," Old Man Haran said, his voice gruff. "We need all the hands we can get. Even if they're just good for distracting the beast long enough for someone to get a real hit in."
The group walked through the village, passing the fields that stretched out toward the Yantara Forest.
Beyond the forest lay Yantara Village, and further still, the towns of Tethar and Rose Town.
These places were bustling with activity, much larger than Kalith, but to Kailash, they were like distant stars visible, but not quite reachable yet.
Still, those towns were the kind of places where real cultivators passed through.
If he ever wanted to leave Kalith behind, that's where he would need to go.
But first, he had to survive today.
The Yantara Forest was dense, the trees towering over them like silent sentinels.
The ground was damp underfoot, and the air felt thick with moisture and tension.
The group moved cautiously, Haran in the lead, his spear gripped tightly in his hands.
"Stay sharp," Haran muttered as they moved deeper into the forest. "The beast has been getting bolder. It knows we're coming."
Kailash could feel the Qi in the air, more concentrated here than back in the village.
It made his skin prickle, the energy swirling around them, feeding into the very earth beneath their feet.
"This place gives me the creeps," Ajit muttered, scanning the trees with wide eyes.
"You think everything gives you the creeps," Ravi grunted, swinging his club onto his shoulder. "Try not to scream when we actually see the thing, alright?"
Ajit snorted. "I'll scream if it's the smart thing to do. I've got a lovely voice when I'm terrified, you know."
Kailash smirked but kept his focus on the path ahead.
His body was buzzing from the pills, his muscles primed for action.
The Strength Pill made him feel like he could lift a tree, while the Agility Pill heightened his senses, making every sound in the forest seem sharper, more distinct.
As they walked, Haran pointed to a set of tracks in the dirt. "There. It's close."
The tracks were massive, clawed prints sunk deep into the ground.
The beast was large, and based on the spacing between the prints, fast too.
Kailash's pulse quickened.
This was no ordinary animal.
This was something much more dangerous.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees.
"That's it," Haran whispered, his grip tightening on his spear.
The growl grew louder, more menacing.
The group stopped, everyone tensing as they scanned the forest around them.
And then, it appeared.
The beast was huge, its fur black as night, its eyes glowing red.
It moved with an unnatural speed, its muscles rippling under its thick fur.
This was a spiritual beast, no doubt about it. It had absorbed enough Qi to mutate into something far more dangerous than any wild animal.
"Oh... we're dead," Ajit muttered, gripping his spear like it was the only thing keeping him from running.
"No one's dying today," Haran growled, stepping forward. "Stick to the plan. No heroics."
The beast let out a roar and charged.
Kailash's instincts kicked in, his muscles responding before his brain had time to process what was happening.
He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's claws as they slashed through the air where he had been standing.
"Kailash, watch it!" Ajit yelled, jabbing his spear toward the beast, though he clearly had no intention of getting too close.
The beast was fast, faster than Kailash had expected.
But thanks to the pills, he was faster too.
He swung his sword, catching the beast's side with a glancing blow. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to get the creature's attention.
The beast snarled, turning its glowing eyes on him.
For a moment, Kailash's breath caught in his throat. The beast was massive, its presence overwhelming.
But he didn't back down.
"Over here!" he yelled, waving his sword to keep the beast's attention on him.
It worked. The beast charged at him, jaws snapping, claws tearing through the dirt as it moved.
"Oh no, no, no!" Kailash muttered, barely dodging to the side as the beast's teeth snapped inches from his leg.
But the pills were working.
He could feel the strength in his legs, the speed in his movements.
His sword was lighter, his reactions quicker. He slashed again, this time catching the beast on the shoulder.
It howled in pain, but it wasn't enough to slow it down.
"Haran! Now!" Kailash shouted.