21 Heading Deeper
''----''
''Quest Name: New Perspective''
''Quest Information: Your talent is teetering on the edge of advancing into the Earth Grade
as that happens certain changes within you shall take place. In light of this
you''ll also need to be rewarded to maximize the advantage''
''Objectives:''
''- 0/1 Reach Earth Grade (Low Tier) Talent''
''Rewards:''
''- Foundational Upgrade
Increased Essence Affinity
3 Demonic Essence Pellet.''
''Time Limit: None''
''"A Quest
Azridan?" asked Apollo as he looked at the window before him skeptically. It didn''t seem to be hard to complete this. After all
it was in line with his intentions.''
''[Indeed. However
don''t view it as one and just simply a reward. But it would seem I am unable to do that unless you complete things. I guess this is some type of restriction.]''
''''I guess so. Hmm... it kind of sounds like Azridan isn''t aware of everything pertaining to this system? Then... I wonder...'' mused Apollo as he continued to venture slightly deeper into the territory of the Spirit Beasts.''
''''I don''t need to worry about the Vantablack Knife
however
I do need to stay wary of possible Rank 2 Spirit Beasts. I don''t think I possess the current means to combat them
'' silently mused Apollo as his eyes surveyed his surroundings.''
''The trees were growing thick with dew as he entered deeper into the forest. It wasn''t long before Apollo noticed a gathering of wolves. They were the same type as earlier. The only difference was that their stages varied.''
''There were 4 Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves
and 1 Middle Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. Apollo''s expression turned solemn as he tightened the grip on his knife. One wrong move could be the end of him.''
''Calming his nerves
the events of the past year played in his mind. Although incomparable to Spirit Beast
he had dealt with numerous Mortal Beast teetering on the edge of becoming Spirit Beasts.''
''Raising the knife near his chin
Apollo waited for the opportune time. The advantage in numbers caused his thoughts to shift to a passive-aggressive approach.''
''''I''ll use counterattack in the situation.''''
''[Keen insight there
continue with these thoughts. When they overwhelm you in both power and numbers
use your brain to counteract adverse situations.]''
''Two of the Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves dashed toward Apollo causing his shift one of his feet back as his eyes dashed back and forth between them. His gaze was focused as he leaned back
twisting his body in return.''
''The knife entered one of the wolves'' eyes while his left foot kicked the other wolf''s jaw. Painful yelps and howls were heard. However
Apollo retaliated by stabbing them in the throat causing them to emit sputtering howls.''
''Blood splattered on his cheek
however
Apollo looked at the other wolves. He made quick work of these wolves by counterattack their vitals.''
''?System Alert! You have killed 2 Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?''
''?60 (30+ 30) Experience has been received.? x2''
''?Experience: 120/3
200.?''
''This was the method of striking he learned when he realized he was capable of causing more damage than the amount of Zuls of force his body could wield. It was similar to game mechanics
attack on vital areas caused criticals and beyond as did extreme damage in a small window.''
''However
this time all 3 of the remaining wolves pounced on him at once. But thinking quickly
Apollo struck the knife against the ground before grabbing a clump of dirt.''
''Weaving between two of the wolves
his movements were slightly lacking. His momentary faltering in finesse caused him to be nicked by the other one''s claw; he clenched his jaw as he tossed dirt in the eyes of the Middle Stage Twin Fanged Wolf.''
''''I''m still slow but...I don''t think I''ll lose.''''
''Compensating for the temporary wound on his left thigh
Apollo stamped his right foot whipping his arm slashing the jaw of Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolf. All the while
he remained wary of the Middle Stage Spirit Beast.''
''Compared to the other''s
its movements would definitely prove to be difficult to handle. Hence
Apollo stuck close to the Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolves to limit the activity of the leader.''
''''Hooowwwooo!''''
''Lifting its head one of the wolves made an abrupt howl. Taking this as an opportunity
Apollo''s eyes sharpened as he pounced on it. Holding the Vantablack Knife in a reverse grip
he stabbed and jaggedly dragged the knife through its throat
mutilating it.''
''Jumping
a swipe landed across that same wolf''s eyes. Its partners aimed at Apollo
however
their actions backfired; a pained whimper escaping the further damaged wolf. Stabbing its eyes
Apollo put an end to its misery.''
''?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?''
''?60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.?''
''?Experience: 180/3
200.?''
''Kicking off the wolf''s back
Apollo slashed the next Early Stage Twin Fanged Wolf eyes as he landed causing it to lose sight. Its wounds dripped with blood as it also held on by a thread of health. Slashing its throat Apollo ended this one as well.''
''?System Alert! You have killed an Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?''
''?60 (30 + 30) Experience has been received.?''
''?Experience: 240/3
200.?''
''Hiding under its body for a moment
Apollo sucked a mouthful of its blood as he then moved. Sprinting towards the last and largest wolf
his gaze sharpened once again. Retaliating
it dashed at an even quicker pace towards him. Noticing this small difference
Apollo began evaluating.''
''''It would be slightly more difficult to deal with if I wasn''t prepared.''''
''As the wolf swiped
Apollo slid under it. However
in the middle of this motion
he kipped up spitting the mouthful of blood into the wolf''s eyes and nose. The smells of the blood dulled its senses and the viscous texture took away it''s sight.''
''In this debilitated state
Apollo attacked its vitals one after the other. It took many more blows compared to the other as its increased small stage resulted in higher capabilities. Nonetheless
with a painful and reluctant howl
it soon died.''
''?System Alert! You have killed a Middle Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beast.?''
''?110 (55 + 55) Experience has been received.?''
''?Experience: 350/3
200.?''
''"Hmm
the increase in experience doesn''t seem to follow much of a pattern. The original value of Early is 30 while Middle is 55. I wonder about the Late and Peak Stages? Hmm…" pondering his own questions
Apollo began dealing with the corpses of the Spirit.''
''His luck wasn''t good at all. After harvesting the flesh and heart
searching the beasts'' innards he didn''t find any Essence Core. However
shrugging Apollo didn''t mind it. For one
he didn''t even know what it looked like nor what it did.''
''Retiring to his poorly made living area
Apollo prepared a fire as he began roasting the flesh. Unlike Mortal Beast
Spirit Beast''s bodies began to autonomously permeate the Essence that gathered in their body to their muscle equally. So unlike before
there was no need for Apollo to focus on ingesting the heart.''
''"Azridan
I have a question. Were you from this world
" asked Apollo as he bit down on a sizable piece of meat.''
''[No
I am not. However
this world is connected to where I''m from in a sense or that''s what I believe.]''
''"Oh
so how do you know so much about cultivation and such?" once again inquired Apollo with a slightly curious expression. Although he was becoming cold
that childish curiosity still existed.''
''[Ah
that''s a good question. Why do I know so much... perhaps I once walked this world before? Although... I''m not exactly sure if my words are correct. It all seems surreal so to speak. Don''t worry
in the future
we will come to understand the connection between my world and here. Perhaps we''ll understand more as the system continues to level up.]''