[Would the host like to activate Breakthrough Mode?]
"Breakthrough Mode?" Rune wondered.
[In this mode, the host will not be able to feel anything in the external world and will focus entirely on the breakthrough. It is recommended to have a guardian for the host to avoid incidents that may lead to a failed breakthrough.]
"I won't be able to feel the external world? Does it have some benefits?" Rune wondered.
He turned to Dovos and said, "I won't be able to feel the external world during my breakthrough. I'll rely on you to protect me."
Dovos gave him a scrutinizing look, surprised. He had been acutely aware of the external world during his breakthrough, so he didn't understand why Rune wouldn't be able to. But he simply nodded.
What's the worst that could happen?
After Rune finished preparing, he ordered the system: "Activate Breakthrough Mode."
Immediately, Rune fell into a state resembling sleep, losing all sensation of time and space. He felt his extraordinary understanding increase several times, and his focus was entirely on his body.
In the external world, Dovos sat still, contemplating his newfound strength without any excitement.
But after two minutes, he suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a serious look. He began scanning the surroundings with a strange focus.
Within his perception range of 300 meters, he noticed unusual distortions in the energy.
The energy kept fluctuating, and then it began to boil.
Dovos felt that the spiritual energy was taking a specific form, like it was shaping into a giant vortex.
He felt an imminent danger, initially thinking he was at the center of the vortex, but after a quick examination, he realized it wasn't the center... it was Rune, who was still in the breakthrough state.
Inside Rune's consciousness, the place was eerily quiet.
Just as he was about to breakthrough, he felt a sudden enlightenment.
"What if I created a new breakthrough method instead of the traditional one?" Rune thought.
In reality, it was a ridiculous idea.
The current method was the result of millions of years of cultivation, trial and error, and the work of countless geniuses who had refined it.
There was only one breakthrough method for humans, not because it was the only one, but simply because it was the best.
Nevertheless, Rune wanted to create a new method from scratch, just because he felt the traditional one... was too traditional!
"What if I created an energy network instead of just a single thread?" Rune thought.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
"No, this method has too many flaws. The energy might interfere with each other and cause violent explosions during intense battles."
The ultimate goal of a newly breaking cultivator was to reach a stage where energy transfer became almost instinctual.
A cultivator should not be preoccupied with directing their energy during a fight—just one second could decide a battle between experts.
In fact, the "energy network" was already used, but it only manifested when breaking through the fifth stage.
Fifth-grade experts were beings who had lived for thousands of years, and their control over energy required only a thought. They had gone through many stages of mastering the energy flow.
First stage: The cultivator creates a single energy thread along their bones.
Second stage: Several energy threads are created along the muscles, typically 5–7 lines, but geniuses can create 10 lines.
Third stage: The energy thread stretches along every tendon in the body.
Fourth stage: The cultivator becomes an expert, creating curved and intricate energy lines within their internal organs.
Fifth stage: The cultivator creates a complex energy network along their skin and blood vessels. Despite the difficulty in controlling it, these old masters found ways to solve the problem through deep meditation.
Rune knew this because he had spent some of his soul points to buy the breakthrough method for the fourth grade for 10 soul points, purely out of curiosity about how the system store worked.
Once purchased, the information flooded his mind as if it had always been there. He felt a slight euphoria and decided to buy the fifth grade as well for 20 soul points.
After a moment of thought, he said to himself:
"Alright, I can create energy scars connected along the skeleton..."
But he quickly discarded the idea.
"No, this method is too complicated. It could turn into pure chaos."
Rune continued to think rapidly, and even though only a second had passed in the external world, it felt like a long time.
After about half a minute, he realized his mistake.
"I can't create a brand new breakthrough method from scratch in such a short time... But what if I improved the current method?"
He pondered this idea, and after another half minute, he internally shouted:
"I've got it!"
"I can use this breakthrough method, creating fine threads of energy along the skeleton, connected to a single central thread!"
"Yes! This method will drastically increase the speed and efficiency of energy storage and transfer.
Furthermore, advancement through the grades will be faster and easier in the future, and it's also simple to implement!"
Immediately, Rune asked the system: "What do you think?"
[Alright, you can also modify this part…]
The system began analyzing the technique and adding some adjustments.
After another minute, Rune felt satisfied with the analysis and the modified technique.
[Success rate: 94%]
He could have requested a completely new breakthrough method from the system, but that would cost him his precious soul points. The simple modifications... were free... mostly.
"Alright, let's begin the breakthrough!"
Rune felt a tremendous energy surge through his body as soon as he started his breakthrough, but he didn't know its source, and he didn't care. He quickly immersed himself in his focus, fully absorbed in his breakthrough.
[The host has started the breakthrough]
[??????? Is reacting]
[Activating the host's protection mode.]
In the external world, Dovos stood with a strange expression on his face, watching Rune sitting silently, devoid of any emotion, as huge amounts of energy flooded into his body.
The energy flowed into Rune's body without any fluctuations or resistance, as if he had turned into a black hole, crazily devouring everything.
Even when Dovos went through his breakthrough, the energy around him fluctuated violently, but with Rune, it was completely different.
Another noticeable change appeared; blue energy bands started to appear around Rune, eerily calm, which piqued Dovos's curiosity. He didn't know what these bands were or their purpose.
He decided to scan his surroundings again, expanding his perception range to 300 meters, only to find that the energy was still forming into a massive vortex, crazily flowing toward Rune.
He had a strange feeling that this vortex was much larger than he realized.
In fact, Dovos wasn't mistaken. The diameter of the giant vortex was nearly 100,000 miles, and within every inch of it, the spiritual energy boiled and surged madly toward Rune.
The sky was filled with thick black clouds, and the air was oppressive with a dangerous atmosphere.
Amidst this surge of energy and oppression, Dovos felt several auras approaching rapidly.
He gripped his massive sword and stood firm.
After a moment...
The first creature appeared—an albino rabbit with large fangs, sharp eyes, and vicious demeanor. It was approaching rapidly, as if it saw nothing but Rune.
With a single strike, Dovos swung his sword lightly, easily splitting the rabbit in half.
But soon, five more rabbits followed.
Dovos planted his feet and began dispatching them one by one, not allowing any of them to get too close.
He knew well that allowing any creature to cross this distance and reach Rune could disturb him, causing his breakthrough to fail, or possibly even injure him severely and can't breakthrough any more.
After dispatching the last rabbit, Dovos stood upright, driving his sword into the ground, with a calm expression on his face.
But before he could catch his breath, his expression turned sour.
He suddenly sensed dozens, then hundreds, of ominous auras rapidly approaching from all directions!
As Dovos prepared to face the incoming wave of monsters, the first to break his vision barrier was a wolf-like creature, covered in dark fur, with long ears, but no eyes. It wasn't alone—there were three of them, charging at an insane speed!
"Night Wolves..." Dovos's expression changed drastically.
These wolves were some of the deadliest nocturnal creatures in the forest, with incredible speed and relying on their sense of smell and vibration detection during hunts.
They were the kings of nocturnal hunting and could not be underestimated.
Without hesitation, Dovos drew his sword and prepared to face them.
The wolves lunged from two different directions with terrifying speed, heading straight for Rune!
As the first wolf neared, Dovos skillfully spun his body and swung his sword, slicing the wolf in half with a single strike.
But that wasn't enough.
"This is bad..." Dovos thought quickly, directing his gaze at the remaining two wolves.
Without delay, he hurled his sword into the air with great force, sending it flying quickly to cut the second wolf in half!
At the same moment, Dovos leaped high, attempting to crush the last wolf with his foot.
But...
The wolf was faster than him!
It bypassed Dovos and was mere moments away from reaching Rune!
"Nooooooooo!"
Dovos landed heavily on the ground, his eyes wide with rage and despair, watching the wolf rapidly approach Rune...