Noel didn't wait. The cave was secure, the traps in place—enough reason to move. He stepped out into the forest again

The air was sharp and cool, though sunlight already broke through the canopy in fractured beams. Mist drifted between the trees, curling around roots and jagged rocks. Noel stretched once, rolling his shoulders. 'Still plenty of daylight left. Might as well get started. No sense wasting the system's generosity.'

It didn't take long. The undergrowth rattled ahead, then split as a Stonehide Boar stormed into view. Tusks like curved blades, jagged stone plates across its back, and eyes burning a dull red. The beast lowered its head and roared before thundering straight at him.

Noel stood his ground until the last moment. Then he flickered into shadow—Shadow Step carrying him to the side as the boar tore past, confused and skidding across loose earth.

"Fire Arc."

The blade of flame curved outward, searing into its plated hide. The armor cracked, smoke hissing from the fissures. Noel was already moving, Revenant Fang flaring with heat. A clean slash cut through the beast's neck. It hit the ground with a squeal and a dull crash, twitching once before going still.

The system's cold text blinked into view:

[You have slain Stonehide Boar (Common – Adept). You received 0.05%.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.88% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel exhaled slowly. 'Alright… 0.05% a kill. Not bad. Maybe the system's finally playing nice.'

The forest thinned as Noel moved deeper into the slope. The air grew warmer, charged, until a shrill screech split the sky. His eyes snapped upward just in time to see a massive shadow diving—wings wide, feathers burning at the tips like embers.

A Crimson Talon Hawk. Rare-class. Its talons glowed molten red, leaving scorch marks as it skimmed past branches. Then its beak snapped open, releasing a cone of fire that swept across the ground.

Noel darted sideways, cloak singed at the edge. "Flamethrower!"

A stream of fire roared from his palm, colliding with the hawk's blaze midair. The two flames clashed, exploding into a shockwave of heat that whipped through the trees.

The hawk screeched, circling higher, wings beating gusts strong enough to strip leaves from branches. Its talons flashed again as it dove, faster than before.

"Voltage Needle."

A spear of lightning shot upward, piercing through the air. The hawk twisted, avoiding a direct hit, but the needle grazed its wing, sending sparks skittering over its feathers. It shrieked, body jerking mid-flight.

Noel's gaze sharpened. 'Sloppy dodge. That's my opening.' He vanished into shadow—Shadow Step—reappearing on a higher ledge just as the hawk swung around for another pass.

"Ignition Surge."

Revenant Fang flared with fire, edges glowing white-hot. As the hawk dived again, Noel launched forward with "Stormpiercer!" Arcs of lightning wrapped his body, propelling him in a streak of blinding speed.

The collision was brutal. Revenant Fang tore across the hawk's breast, fire and lightning ripping through flesh and bone. The beast gave a strangled cry, wings spasming before it crashed violently into the trees below, sending branches snapping in every direction.

The system chimed coldly:

[You have slain Crimson Talon Hawk (Rare – Adept). You received 0.10%.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.98% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel smirked faintly, wiping soot from his cheek. 'Now that felt good.'

Noel pressed deeper into the mountain's shadowed paths, the forest growing eerily quiet. Too quiet. His grip on Revenant Fang tightened as a low rumble echoed through the undergrowth.

The ground split as something massive barreled through the trees—an Ironjaw Ravager. Its body was hulking, layered in jagged metallic scales, its jaw lined with fangs that gleamed like forged steel. Each step cracked stone beneath its claws.

It bellowed, a guttural roar that rattled Noel's chest, then lunged forward.

Noel vanished into shadow—"Shadow Step."—but the Ravager's claws slammed down where he'd been, shattering rock. The shockwave still sent Noel skidding across the ground.

"Fireball!"

The sphere of flame detonated against its chest, but the scales absorbed most of the impact, the beast only staggering slightly before charging again.

"Tch." Noel's eyes narrowed. 'Tough bastard.'

The Ravager's jaw split open, energy crackling in its throat before a torrent of concussive force erupted outward. Noel threw up a quick "Frost Wall!" The barrier of ice cracked instantly but held long enough to stop the blast. Shards of ice sprayed around him.

"Alright… let's go big."

He sheathed Revenant Fang in fire again—"Ignition Surge!"—and dashed forward, weaving between the monster's swipes. The Ravager swung its tail like a hammer, but Noel dropped low, sliding under it, sparks flying as claws scraped stone.

"Chain Flash!"

Lightning arced from his hand, striking the beast's flank, then branching across its body in three sharp jolts. The Ravager howled, muscles seizing. Noel took the chance—his blade carved up into its throat in a single brutal strike.

The beast collapsed with a crash, shaking the earth around it.

The system's voice cut in, cold and final:

[You have slain Ironjaw Ravager (Elite – Adept). You received 0.15%.]

[Current Core Progress: 7.13% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel smirked faintly, exhaling. 'Stingy or not, this hunt's paying off.'

The cliffs loomed higher, jagged edges biting into the fading light. Noel froze when the rumble came—low, guttural, and too heavy to belong to anything small. The ground shook as a massive Duskwraith Ape pulled itself into view, fur black as coal, eyes glowing with a sickly red gleam.

It roared and hurled a boulder the size of a carriage. Noel Shadow Stepped aside, dust blasting across the ledge where the rock hit. He straightened slowly, Revenant Fang humming faintly at his back, his eyes fixed on the monster.

"Alright… let's end this quick."

He raised his palm. Dark fire swirled, condensing into a sphere so dense it warped the air around it.

"Dark Sun."

The orb burned black, a miniature collapse of flame and gravity. The drones circling above turned sharply, lenses whirring, mana hum intensifying—they hadn't missed it. The ape snarled and charged, but the sphere pulsed, sucking in air and light.

The impact was silent at first. Then the world split open in a burst of implosive fire. The Duskwraith Ape didn't even scream—its body folded inward, devoured by the crushing heat, and when the light dimmed, nothing remained. Just scorched stone and drifting ash.

The system's text appeared cold and absolute:

[You have slain Duskwraith Ape (Elite – Adept). You received 0.15%.]

[Current Core Progress: 7.28% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel lowered his hand, sweat trickling down his temple. The Dark Sun had left the air burning, the ground fractured.

He smirked faintly, thinking, 'System's being generous today. Haven't seen numbers move like this in a while.'

Above, the drones hummed, recording every second.

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