After giving the checkpoint one last look, I turned and ran back to Logan. My mind kept circling around the sheer number of hounds gathered there. I could have taken on the Level 10 hound in a one-on-one fight, but the lower-level ones were too many, they wouldn't let that happen.
That left me with only one real choice: find a way to either thin out the lower-level hounds or take them all on at once.
I reached Logan soon enough and quickly explained what I had seen at the checkpoint. After asking him to keep watch, I climbed a tree, settling onto a thick branch before closing my eyes in meditation.
I needed to explore my options.
The first was the most straightforward: hunt the stragglers, level up to 10, and then take my shot at the checkpoint.
The second was riskier but could be worthwhile, try increasing my talent to Level 2 and hope it unlocks something useful.
And finally, the last option… use Essence in a way I hadn't tried before.
After considering all my options, I decided the best approach would be to level up to 9, raise my talent to Level 2, and experiment with Essence to see if I could do something useful.
I was on a tight timeline, I had no idea how long the pillar and its lightning defenses would hold against the hounds. If they managed to snatch whatever Arkas had left on it, that would be a serious problem.
Keeping my eyes closed, I focused on the Essence swirling in my heart.
Then, I activated [Essence Manipulation], separated a chunk of Essence, equivalent to one unit and guided it through my body, starting from my left side and moving to my right. I continued circulating the Essence throughout my body for another hour, letting it seep into every muscle and fiber.
Once I was done, I stood up and climbed down to Logan. The sun was still bright, past noon. I wanted to hit Level 9 before nightfall. After explaining my plan to him, I took him along, I'd need as much help as possible when it was time to target the checkpoint.
Our goal was simple: hunt whatever we could find. I knew finding high-level prey wouldn't be easy, but with the hounds moving toward the valley checkpoint, we could intercept them along the way and maybe squeeze out a level from the hunt.
Soon, we were moving through the forest, careful not to attract too much attention. A pack of five hounds came into view, heading toward the checkpoint. I gave Logan a nod and gestured for him to take on the two Level 3s while I handled the other three—all Level 5s.
Normally, a single punch would be enough to burst their heads, but I wanted to experiment.
I whispered.
"Power Up."
The Generator roared to life.
I activated [Essence Manipulation], channeling chunks of Essence into my legs. The moment I did, I felt them ignite with power—muscles contracting, compressing, hardening.
My constitution could handle this much Essence with ease. I dug my bare feet into the soil and launched forward, faster than my normal burst speed.
The first Level 5 hound was within range.
Shifting the Essence from my legs to my fist, I backhanded the beast across the jaw. I felt the bone crack and dislocate as the hound was sent flying into a tree, smashing against it with a dull thud.
The other two lunged at me.
I redirected the Essence back to my legs and focused entirely on evasion. My perception sharpened, and I weaved between their attacks with precise, fluid movements. They weren't fast enough to keep up.
But something felt… off.
They were too weak.
A sigh of disappointment left me as I ended the fight, crushing their heads with ease.
After checking my reserves, I still had 3/5 Essence left. I glanced at Logan, he had already finished dealing with his hounds.
I stared at the ground, deep in thought.
If I wanted more energy, I needed a tougher fight.
If I wanted to refine my skills, I needed a tougher fight.
If I wanted to level up, I needed stronger enemies… or a lot more weak ones.
Either way, I needed a challenge to progress from here.
Logan approached me, excitement written all over his face as he grinned.
"Let's keep going. I feel like just a couple more kills, and I'll level up."
I stared at him, lost in thought.
"Billion?" He waved a hand in front of my face.
"Huh? Oh… yeah." I snapped out of it and took a deep breath.
"Actually, Logan, there's a change of plans. You want to level up? I'll help you with that, but first, I need your help with something."
***
I sat cross-legged on a branch, watching the hounds snarl and crash into each other. Their numbers had grown to around 50 or 60, and I spotted a few at Level 8 and Level 9 among them.
I had returned to the checkpoint for one reason, I needed a real challenge to level up and push my use of Essence in a brutal fight.
I exhaled slowly.
Now, it all came down to courage. Arkas had assured us that he wouldn't let anyone die in the first month. To me, that felt like an open invitation to charge headfirst into danger without fear of death.
I grinned.
And if my theory was wrong? Well, that would be a lesson learned the hard way.
I stood up and took a deep breath.
Jumping down from the tree, I started walking toward the cluster of hounds surrounding the lightning-coated pillar, each step measured and steady.
A few of them caught my scent, their heads snapping in my direction as they snarled.
I checked my Essence reserves, 5/5, back to full. I had spent the last hour recharging before coming here.
"Power up," I muttered. My heart thrummed as the generator roared to life.
I activated my skill, [Essence Manipulation], and channeled a surge of Essence into my legs.
I exhaled, steadying my breath as I rushed forward. My heart pounded in my chest, my talent converting every ounce of motion, every impact, into raw energy. Essence swirled inside me, building, waiting to be unleashed.
The first hound, a Level 7, lunged from my left, its jaws snapping toward my ribs. I pushed Essence into my legs, my muscles compressing, tightening like coiled springs. I shot to the side, barely dodging its fangs. Before it could recover, I shifted the gathered Essence into my arm and twisted my hips, throwing a sharp punch right into its skull.
Crack!
The beast crumpled before its body even hit the ground.
Another Level 7 closed in, claws swiping for my throat. I bent backward, feeling the sharp wind of its attack graze past my face.
My perception stretched, every movement of the hounds sharpening in my mind. The second my feet touched the ground, I channeled Essence into my right leg and kicked upward. My knee met the underside of the hound's jaw with a sickening crunch, sending it flying.
No time to stop.
A Level 8 darted in next, faster, more aggressive. It lunged for my thigh, claws extended. I twisted my body, skimming just past its attack, but another Level 8 was already leaping from behind. I had no room to fully dodge.
'Absorb.'
The moment its claws raked across my shoulder, I let the kinetic force surge into my core, converting it into more Essence. My wounds stung, but the pain barely registered. Instead, I redirected that newly generated Essence straight into my arms.
I grabbed the Level 8 by the tail before it could land and slammed it into the dirt.
The horde was growing restless.
More hounds were closing in Level 6s, Level 7s, some Level 8s weaving through the chaos. The smarter ones circled me, waiting for an opening.
I inhaled sharply.
I had no choice but to move faster.
Essence surged into my legs, the raw power making my muscles feel explosive. My feet barely touched the ground as I weaved through lunges, jaws snapping shut just inches behind me.
A Level 6 blocked my path, I crushed its skull in one strike. Another Level 7 swiped at me, I ducked under its arm and countered with a sharp elbow, Essence amplifying the impact, sending it sprawling.
Then the Level 9s moved.
I felt their presence before I even saw them. Heavier steps. Sharper movements. A different kind of hunger in their glowing eyes.
One of them charged straight at me, its form blurring. I barely managed to twist out of the way. That thing was fast.
I couldn't fight them head-on.
I had to keep moving, keep dodging, kill what I could while staying just ahead of them.
A Level 8 lunged. I sidestepped and sent an Essence-empowered fist through its skull. Another hound pounced from above, I rolled forward, feeling its claws barely skim my back. My breathing grew heavier, my body aching from every close call and the continuous use of Essence. But I was still in the game.
Absorb.
Generate.
The cycle repeated, each second sharpening my control over the Essence flowing through me.
One wrong move and I'd be torn apart. But I wasn't planning on making any.
Not yet.