### Chapter 20: The Forgotten Training Ground
The sun was low in the sky as Adam set out from Jade Leaf Town, the map Lia had given him tucked neatly into his bag. The air outside the city was cool, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers and damp earth. For a moment the world seemed silent—very silent.
His steps were steady but careful, his senses sharper than ever. The system had warned him of the dangers that awaited him, and he was not about to let his guard down.
< **System warning: Host is entering a high-risk area. Threat scanning. .. ** >
The vague outlines of nearby creatures, most of them small and harmless, were visible. But further away, near the edges of the forest, the system detected a faint golden glow.
---
< **Threats Revealed**:
- **Best 1**: Ironfang Wolf (lowest level spirit beast).
**Brute Power**: 18
**Spirit Power**: 5
**Rating**: 2 Star Chance
- **Beast 2**: Ironfang Wolf Alpha (mid-level spirit beast).
**Brute Strength**: 30
**Spirit Power**: 10
**Rating**: 3 Star Chance
---
Adam frowned, gripping the blade at his sides. Spirit animals were rare near the city, but the training camp's remote location made it the perfect habitat for such creatures.
"Looks like the warming up is starting soon," Adam muttered.
---
The path narrowed as he entered the forest, the tall trees casting long shadows that danced in the fading light. The sounds of rustling leaves and distant screams brought him to his senses, but he pressed on, his senses listening for every movement around him.
It wasn't long before the first wolf appeared. The iron wolf emerged from behind a clump of bushes, its silver fur glinting slightly as it bared its teeth.
Adam's grip tightened on his blade. "Okay, let's see what I've learned." »
The wolf lunged at its opponent, its powerful paws propelling it forward with surprising speed. Adam stepped to the side, his movements sharper and more precise thanks to Lian's training. The blade in his hand whipped through the air, grazing the wolf's arm as it passed.
The creature growled, blood staining its silver fur as it turned for another attack.
< ** System warning: Improve combat effectiveness. Target weakness: The neck. ** >
Adam adjusted his stance, waiting for his next move. wolf. When he lunged again, he struck with precision, his blade digging into the creature's neck. The wolf collapsed with a final grunt of pain, its body shaking before coming to a halt.
---
< ** System Warning: Opportunity Used. **>
**Loot:**
- **Iron Hide (2 Stars):** Durable crafting material.
- **Beast Core (Low Quality):** Contains traces of spiritual energy.
---
Adam wiped the sweat from his forehead, his chest heaving as he picked up the bolt. The Beast Core pulsed faintly in his hand, a reminder of the rewards that came with every victory.
But there was no time to rest. The Alpha was still there and Adam could feel its presence approaching deeper into the forest.
---
The path led to a small alcove where the Alpha waited, its massive form dwarfing the smaller wolves around it. Its eyes glowed with a pale red light and its teeth were longer and more sharper than those of a normal wolf.
Adam's system began to function, scanning the creature and providing vital information.
---
< **Alpha Ironfang Wolf** >
**Cultivation Level**: Medium Beast Spirit Level
**Powerful Brute**: 30
**Spirit Power* * 4 **Threat Level* *: High
**Weakness**: Hind legs (less armored).
---
Adam took a deep breath, his hand removing the Seasoned Spirit Elixir from his inventory. he had saved it for an emergency and it seemed like the right time.
"Okay," he muttered, pulling out the vial. "Let's do it. »
He swallowed the elixir in one go, the burning liquid running through his body.
< ** Temporary Active Boost: Spirit Power +15 for one hour. ** >
The Alpha growled, ears flattened as he prepared to attack. Adam steadied his breathing, his blade raised as the wolf charged.
The battle was wild and chaotic. The Alpha's power was overwhelming, each strike from its claws forcing Adam to dodge with all the speed he could muster. Its blows landed with precision, but the creature's thick hide absorbed most of the damage.
The system's guidance was invaluable, highlighting the wolf's weak points and calculating its attack patterns.
< ** System Warning: Use the target's momentum in your next attack. Counterattack with maximum force. **>
Adam waited, his muscles tense like springs. When the Alpha lunged at him again, he dodged at the last moment, driving the blade into the back of its hind leg. The creature let out a deafening howl, its movements staggering as it struggled to stand.
Seizing the opportunity, Adam moved in for the final blow. His blade tore through the Alpha's neck, cutting through muscle and bone as the creature fell with a dull thud.
---
< ** System Warning: Guaranteed Opportunity. **>
**Loot:**
- **Alpha Ironfang Hide (3 stars):** Premium crafting material.
- **Beast Core (Medium Level):** Contains moderate spiritual energy.
---
Adam dropped to one knee, his chest heaving as his adrenaline began to subside. The clearing was now silent, the wolf pups fleeing after the loss of the Alpha.
He quickly retrieved the bag, his hands shaking as he entered the Core Beast into his inventory.
" Dy "Lost battles," he muttered, his voice strained, "We hope the training camp is worth it
When Adam reached the ruins of the land, the sun had completely left the forest." Immersed in darkness The crumbling stone walls and overgrown courtyards speak of a cult that had flourished here, its legacy now reduced to whispers and shadows.
The system beeped softly as Adam entered the court.
< ** New feature