Just outside the temple, Edward decided to focus on honing his essence connection. He figured it was better to train now, rather than walking without knowing if he'd even make it to the academy in time. Besides, he couldn't afford to encounter another monster while still being powerless.
However, Edward had no clue how to establish a connection with his essence, and it didn't seem like the system was going to offer any guidance. Left with no other choice, he decided to wing it, relying on whatever scraps of knowledge he could remember from the novel.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Edward tried to recall what he'd read. The advice was always the same: feel your essence. But how was he supposed to feel something so intangible, something purely spiritual? And since it was a novel, there hadn't exactly been a visual guide to show what essence was supposed to look like.
Edward dug deeper into his memories, piecing together more fragments of advice from the novel. Among them one line stood out: "When you feel it, you can see it. If you see it, you can touch it. Once you touch it, you can wield it."
All the information Edward had gathered emphasized the importance of focus. Trusting in that advice, he poured all his effort into concentrating. Minutes turned into hours, yet Edward remained motionless, his body still and his breathing steady, as if he had entered a trance-like state.
Within his consciousness, Edward's spiritual body floated amidst a vast expanse of countless shining lights. As his hand reached out and touched one, a surge of connection coursed through him, as though it was an extension of his very being. In that moment, he finally understood the true meaning of feeling his essence.
Edward opened his eyes from his trance like state and could feel a familiar power within him.
However, essence was merely the source of one's power, not the fuel. To actually wield abilities, one needed mana. Fortunately, everyone in this world possessed a mana pool within their body. The size of this pool, however, varied from person to person. Yet, it wasn't fixed—like a muscle, it could expand as one grew stronger.
"Let's give it a shot."
Edward muttered to himself. Closing his eyes once more, he focused on utilizing his passive ability, Existence Sense. Almost instantly, he felt his awareness expand outward, enveloping an area roughly 20 meters around him. It was as if his senses had stretched beyond his physical body, giving him a clear perception of everything within that range.
Sensing no living presence nearby, Edward let out a sigh of relief. With nightfall fast approaching, he decided to spend the night in the safety of the temple. His stomach growled in protest, a reminder that he hadn't eaten anything all day. Driven by hunger, he used his Existence Sense, this time focusing on finding any edible fruits or plants in the surrounding area.
Thankfully, a passive ability doesn't consume any mana, allowing him to use it for as long as he needed without worry.
After a night of much-needed rest, Edward set out at dawn. His goal for the day was clear: to leave the forest behind and reach the nearest town or village. He knew that getting out of this dense wilderness would be the first step toward regaining his bearings.
With the help of his Existence Sense, Edward remained vigilant of his surroundings, constantly aware of any nearby threats. His careful movements paid off, as he successfully avoided running into any monsters during his journey through the forest.
After hours of walking, with the sun beginning to set, Edward finally emerged from the dense wilderness. Before him stretched a vast, open plain, and in the distance, he spotted the faint outline of a small town. A sense of relief washed over him—he was finally close to civilization.
"Yeah! I'm finally out of the forest!" Edward shouted, his voice filled with joy and excitement.
Overwhelmed with excitement at the sight of the town, Edward broke into a run, eager to reach it as quickly as possible. However, in his haste, he let his guard down. Just when he least expected it, a monster emerged, blocking his path and snapping him back to reality.
It was an F-rank monster known as a Plain Rover. The creature resembled a sleek, feline predator, standing about three feet tall at the shoulder. It's lean, muscular body was covered in short, sandy-brown fur adorned with faint, dark stripes that blended seamlessly with the surrounding grasslands. It's vibrant amber eyes glowed faintly, exuding an intimidating aura, especially as dusk began to fall.
Running along it's spine were short, sharp quills, dark brown at the base and fading into a golden hue at the tips. It's long, whip-like tail ended in a cluster of retractable spines, twitching as if ready to strike at any moment. Edward froze in place, his excitement quickly replaced by the chilling realization of the danger he now faced.
However, unlike before, Edward wasn't as powerless as he had been.
"There's no helping it now," Edward muttered under his breath, his heart racing as he watched the Plain Rover unsheathe it's claws, preparing to launch itself at him with deadly speed.
Edward managed to dodge the Plain Rover's attack, though it took more effort than he anticipated, his body narrowly avoiding the sharp claws. His heart pounded as the beast's speed and power became evident, and he realized the challenge ahead—he had no weapons, only his own body. He knew that to survive, he'd have to wait for the perfect opening, a single moment when the creature left itself vulnerable.
Landing gracefully after it's failed attack, the Plain Rover became even more hostile, it's amber eyes burning with fury. Without hesitation, it used its ability Sprint Slash, propelling itself toward Edward with even more terrifying speed.
"Ugh!"
Edward let out a painful grunt as the Plain Rover's claws raked across his thighs. The sharp pain shot through him and blood dripped from the deep gash, making him gritt his teeth in pain but he knew he couldn't afford to panic. The wound was severe, but it wasn't a fatal blow—yet.
The Plain Rover lunged again, its claws slashing through the air. This time, they sank deep into Edward's arm, leaving a jagged wound that burned with pain. Blood poured from the gash, and as the pain seared through him, Edward's mind raced.
'I can't take any more of these attacks or I will die by blood lose'.
Existential Manipulation.
Edward quickly used his second ability, which allowed him to alter his presence within certain limits. He could make his presence faint, blending into the environment, or vibrant, making himself more noticeable. In that moment, he decided to shift his essence to it's faintest form, using it as a stealth tactic to slip away from the Plain Rover's line of sight.
The monster stood confused, unable to locate Edward. Seizing the moment, Edward punched it in the face with all his strength.
The blow sent it flying back, but it quickly regained it's footing, clearly not enough to finish it off. Edward prepared to strike again.
Panicked by the previous attack, the Plain Rover quickly used it's another ability Quill Burst. It's sharp, metal-like quills shot out in all directions.
Edward immediately raised his arms to shield his face, but the sharp quills pierced his body, embedding themselves in his arms and legs. Pain coursed through him, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on. The Plain Rover couldn't use Quill Burst again for a while, giving Edward the opening he desperately needed.
Edward pulled out a handful of the sharp, needle-like quills from his body. With a swift motion, he drove them into the Plain Rover's throat.
The Plain Rover roared in pain from the surprise attack, slashing wildly with it's claws. One of the strikes grazed Edward's chest, leaving a shallow wound. But Edward wasn't finished, he jumped onto the creature's back and wrapped his arms around it's throat, choking the remaining life out of it. The monster thrashed and struggled for a few minutes, but eventually, it's movements slowed, and it succumbed to it's end.
Ha, ha
Edward collapsed beside the carcass of the Plain Rover, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to catch his breath. Every part of his body ached from the battle, the pain from the wounds and exhaustion overwhelming him. Despite the victory, he could barely move, his body screaming for rest.
After some time, when his breath steadied, Edward pushed through the pain and forced his body to rise. He glanced at the now lifeless monster.
"I guess I will try it now."
Blessing of Shifter.
Edward activated the Blessing of Shifter, and the lifeless body of the Plain Rover began to glow with a vibrant green light. The light swirled and condensed into a small orb that floated toward him. With a soft hum, the orb merged with his body, disappearing into him.
[Plain Rover has been added to morph]
A notification from the system appeared before Edward. However, Edward didn't feel any change within himself.
Edward pushed the matter aside for now, his focus shifting to his immediate needs—food and rest. He hoisted the Plain Rover's carcass onto his shoulder and began making his way toward the town, but this time, he remained on high alert, cautious of his surroundings as he moved forward.