Chapter 13: Into the Forest of Monsters
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Sitting on his bed. Kent scrolled through the World Alliance forum on his phone, then he lazily lay on his bed.
The forum was abuzz with posts about spiritual energy's effects on the world. His eyes skimmed past flashy titles like:
"Awakened Individuals Ranking Contest!"
"Best Cultivation Techniques for Beginners!"
"Breaking News: Evolved Monsters in the Wild!"
The last one caught his attention.
Thread Title: Evolved Monster Sighted Near Metro City's Forest
Author: SkyHawk99
"Confirmed reports say a strange creature has been sighted in the forest near the border of Metro City. Witnesses claim it's stronger, faster, and far more dangerous than any normal animal."
"Experts believe it's an evolved monster created by the resurgence of spiritual energy. Stay safe!"
Kent's eyes widened as he sat up. "Evolved monsters, huh? Looks like spiritual energy isn't just making people stronger— it's affecting animals too."
He scrolled down further, reading comments filled with wild speculation:
"It's probably a giant wolf or something!"
"Maybe a spirit tiger? I heard one was spotted near the northern mountains!"
"Whatever it is, no normal person should go near it!"
Kent chuckled. "No normal person, huh? Good thing I'm anything but normal."
Kent tossed his phone aside and stood up, cracking his knuckles. "I've got two days before the special class starts. If I'm gonna keep up with Nima and those muscleheads at school, I need to practice."
He glanced at his reflection in the dusty mirror. "What better way to test my new powers than by taking down an evolved monster?"
The thought sent a rush of excitement through him. He stretched his arms, loosening up his muscles.
"Alright, time to hunt a monster."
Before leaving, Kent made a quick stop in the kitchen, tossing a few essentials into a small backpack—water, snacks, and a flashlight. He paused for a moment, staring at the glowing system screen hovering before him.
"Let's check the store," he muttered, swiping through the items.
The shop menu was filled with all sorts of things: cultivation fruits, low-level tools, and even beginner spiritual techniques.
But everything cost SP—SP he didn't want to waste just yet.
"Nah, I'll manage with my fists," Kent decided, closing the system.
I need to save my SP for level up only. At least for now. Otherwise Nima will cross me in cultivation soon…....!!!!!!
He called out to Nima, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, playing with a cockroach soul wisp.
"I'm heading out for a bit. Don't burn the house down while I'm gone."
"Where are you going?" Nima asked, not looking up.
"To... uh... train," Kent replied vaguely.
Nima raised an eyebrow. "You're not running off to fight something, are you?"
Kent froze for a moment. "Me? Fight? Pfft. Don't be ridiculous."
The sun was setting as Kent walked toward the edge of the city. The towering skyscrapers gradually gave way to smaller buildings, then fields, and finally the dense forest that bordered Metro City.
The forest was eerily quiet, its towering trees casting long shadows across the ground. Kent took a deep breath, feeling the faint hum of spiritual energy in the air.
"So this is what a spiritual energy-infused environment feels like," he murmured. "Kinda spooky, but I like it."
As he ventured deeper into the forest, he noticed subtle changes in the wildlife. The trees seemed larger and more vibrant, their leaves glowing faintly in the dim light. It's like the trees also evolved.
Strange noises echoed through the woods—low growls, rustling leaves, and occasional screeches.
"Looks like the animals and trees here are already evolving," Kent muttered, tightening his grip on his backpack.
Suddenly, a low growl rumbled through the air. Kent froze, his eyes darting around. The growl grew louder, coming from the shadows ahead.
A pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared, followed by a sleek, muscular form stepping into the moonlight.
It was a wolf— but not an ordinary one. Its fur shimmered with a silvery glow, and faint wisps of spiritual energy emanated from its body.
Its teeth look far larger and sharper than a normal wolf. Sylvia were dripping 💦 down from it's mouth into the ground.
Dip! Dip!
"Whoa," Kent breathed. "A evolved wolf."
The wolf snarled, baring sharp teeth as it crouched low, ready to pounce.
Kent smirked. "Alright, buddy. Let's see what you've got."
The wolf lunged forward with incredible speed, closing the distance in a blink. Kent barely dodged to the side, feeling the rush of air as the wolf's claws grazed his jacket.
"Fast!" Kent exclaimed.
The wolf turned, growling louder as it prepared for another attack. This time, Kent didn't dodge.
As the wolf leaped, Kent met it head-on, his fist glowing faintly with energy.
"WHAM!"
His punch connected with the wolf's side, sending it flying into a nearby tree. The impact cracked the bark, and the wolf yelped before collapsing to the ground.
Kent stood over it, panting slightly. "Not bad for my first fight with a monster, huh?"
Ding!
+50 SP From spiritual wolf (Fear).
So this thing is called spiritual wolf. Is it because it can absorb spiritual energy?
"I guess that's the reason." but my system is sometimes useful. I can easily know people, animals or any other things names which have conciseness and a little bit of intelligence.
The wolf growled weakly, struggling to get back up. Kent raised his fists, ready to finish the fight, but paused when he saw the fear in the creature's eyes.
"Eh, you're not worth it," he muttered, lowering his fists. "Go on, scram."
The wolf hesitated for a moment before limping back into the shadows.
Kent continued deeper into the forest, his confidence growing with each step. The fight had been short, but it gave him a taste of his enhanced strength and max physique.
"If that's what an evolved wolf can do, I can't wait to see what else is out here," he muttered.
The forest grew darker, the spiritual energy thickening in the air. Kent felt his heartbeat quicken, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the trees, shaking the ground beneath his feet.
Kent grinned, his fists clenching. "Now THAT sounds like a real challenge."
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