Kailen's gaze lingered on the night sky for a few breaths, with a wide smile plastered on his face. His shadow creatures disappeared, returning to the shadow expanse.
''I really would have died huh... yet it was a thrilling battle, and I survived... But why did this wicked time dilation artifact give me a boost?''
Ignoring the time dilation artifact's usual silent response, he stood, his gaze lingering on the gory scene of the beheaded corpse before him.
''I might need a psychiatrist after all. All these headless corpses could make me start dreaming about headless horsemen" His sarcastic remark was met with his own ephemeral laughter, his eyes further widening in shock.
His feet carried him towards the headless corpse, his gaze lingering further on insignia on the corpse's chest.
''Interesting. Sunset guild. To think the guilds didn't take it well that I rejected their offers. I should probably pay the sunset guild a visit when I get back. Perhaps, I could use them to teach the other guilds a lesson that I'm not to be trifled with. I should focus on increasing my strength as soon as possible" A look of coldness and anger flashed Kailen's dark eyes.
Reaching into the pockets of the corpse, his hands brushed past the slightly cracked surface of an object he had been trying to find.
''Should be really expensive to sustain such small cracks. Possibly gifted to him by some S ranked awakened'' He muttered, then tapped the screen of the phone.
''10 days huh. 4 days left and if this quest is not completed, I'm screwed. Too bad the system boost was just temporal though''. Just as Kailen was about to venture into the forest to try his luck at finding opportunities to increase his strength, a holographic notification popped up before him.
[Head deeply into the valley. There's something worthwhile there]
''Oh, finally decided to help me out?''
[Tsk]
Ignoring the cursory response of the system, Kailen hesitated no more, gliding past the terrains of the valley with swift speed into the deeper regions of the valley.
There he saw it from a distance. Nestled beneath a tree, was a crystal ball the size of a soccer ball.
''Of course...An A ranked diabolic creature, again. There has to be some sort of trouble whenever this system is involved."
Kailen scoffed. Around the crystal ball, a ginormous cheetah about 4 meters lay asleep, radiating an intense aura of barbarity.
[It's pregnant. What you see over there is an energy orb, a crystal formed from the natural condensation of worldly natural energy]
''Read about them, energy orbs. But I certainly don't have the nerve to offend an A ranked creature. Of course, if you are willing to give me another temporal boost, things will play out differently''
The system ignored his words, then responded [It's in it's final stages of pregnancy, rendering it extremely weak, vulnerable and immobile. The creature has remained in that posture for the past week]
An excited glint flashed past Darkhaven's eyes . What the system hinted at was that he could just snatch the energy orb from the creature without having to go through the trouble of having to face it's wrath, since it was extremely immobile, pregnant and weak..
Another selfish thought flashed Kailen's mind, however he dismissed it. ''A weakened A ranked diabolic beasts is still an A ranked diabolic beast. Let's just snatch the energy orb. Also I would have nothing to gain even if I managed to kill it, since I don't have any slots left for creating shadow creatures at the moment. I should just focus on stealing the energy orb to increase my strength.''
Kailen also considered the fact that he had only 4 days left to complete the system's mission.
''Even though it's extremely weak according to the system, I can't take the risk of waking up an A ranked creature. I've already earned the ire of a wyvern I'm yet to settle scores with after all, can't have too much on my plate at the moment. It's quite fortunate that energy orbs are not heavy'' .
A cacophony of shadows stirred to life, assuming an obsidian shape of two normal sized forearms. Defying gravity, they nestled on the air for a while, then stretched endlessly with swift speed towards the location of the energy orb.
Finally wielding the energy orb, the obsidian forearms retracted backwards, shooting towards Kailen with swift speed.
As soon as the energy orb landed in Kailen's hands, the shadows dissipated and Kailen turned around , summoned Avarice, sat on the shadow creature's shoulders and quickly left.
''One can imagine how angry that creature will be when it wakes up... It was certainly absorbing the worldly natural energy undulating from the energy orb slowly to increase it's strength. Very sorry, Miss Chee... '' Kailen dismissed his random musing, having located an empty cave where he could focus on his breakthrough without the threat of any harmful creatures.
''Caves huh, the last one didn't leave that much of a good impression on me'' He examined the cave for any uncertainties; however, the cave was relatively normal.
But didn't the last one look pretty normal too?
It actually did, except that this cave was on the ground, was not located atop a mountain peak and did not have a couple of ginormous threatening beasts navigating it's exterior. Kailen further reminisced.
''I've had one dramatic ride. Well, let's see what this energy orb can help me accomplish''
Avarice, Feral and the 3 unnamed C ranked dark fiend shadow hounds stood guard at the entrance of the cave, inasmuch as Kailen had created a shadow wall to seal the opening of the cave.
A man could not be too careful after all.
Creating a shadow with an extremely sharp edge, Kailen made a tiny cut on his right finger. A droplet of his blood brushed the round exterior of the energy orb. He followed the process of initiating the absorption of worldly natural energy from energy orbs, just as he remembered having read.
Soon, he was proven to have engaged the process correctly, as he felt a strong wave of worldly natural energy than he felt before permeating his being.
The process of attempting a breakthrough, had begun.