Our trek through the forest went by surprisingly well. We managed to travel for three hours before we decided to stop. There was a cave that led into a subterranean cavern that we decided to use as a base. Once everyone was inside I stepped out of my hiding place in a tree and followed.

"I am thinking that we should set up camp here for now. There is no guarantee that we will find anything better." I called out as Romulus and Paul walked over to me. "It's also pretty easy to defend even if one or all of us aren't here."

"I think you have a point but that leaves a rather important question. How do we handle leaving?" Romulus asked. His spear gently tapped against the ground.

"I want to go in search of Amahle early in the morning. After that, I am not sure it matters. As long as at least some of us stay close enough to defend the cave. As far as the treasures I think we can keep the original agreement. Paul, you are welcome to travel with me but you should be aware I plan on heading deeper into the continent."

He nodded his head and then looked back at the civilians for a moment. It wasn't hard to guess what he was doing. The risks and rewards were pretty obvious. "Same thing for you and Alexander." I turned to Romulus and then nodded to the large man. "Either of both of you are welcome to follow."

"We appreciate the offer but no thanks. We prefer to take care of ourselves and when wealth gets involved friendships tend to fade."

I nodded. "Alright. I don't exactly need to rest or at least nowhere near as much so I will take the first watch. I will try to wake you up in roughly eight hours."

"I am going to spend it cultivating," Romulus added. "If you need me feel free to wake me."

We went over a few more things before we all split up. I made my way outside and set up a spot about fifteen feet away from the entrance. I gave it an hour before I turned my focus to Psychic Mastery spell. The world turned monotone as the familiar guide took over. Energy condensation was difficult. Not in understanding but in practice. I started by forming a small ball in the space above my palm but then I tried to tighten it. I turned my energy into a string and tried to wrap it tighter and tighter around but it wasn't perfect.

The energy wasn't solid or liquid. The way it worked felt more like a putty than anything else. I thought the situation would be easier if I tried a different shape but that was very wrong. A square and a cube felt like trying to paint the Mona Lisa blindfolded. I even tried to wrap the energy around my hand. Using it like a toilet paper roll but that also didn't work. The moment the energy touched something not highlighted the training ended.

It wasn't all problems though. I managed to increase the amount of things I could create from two to three. Which would be huge in an actual fight. I hadn't managed to advance my mastery over the disappointing spell but I couldn't get everything rapidly. I conjured three blades in the air me and slowly rotated each of them. My control had barely improved, it was still a bit like flexing a limb I hadn't known I had. Outside of the minimal practice, the night passed by without much of an issue. I woke up Romulus and the others at the agreed-upon time and laid down to get some rest.

The next day I left a large portion of my food and water as well as the beast carcasses with the others. I didn't feel like carrying it all just in case I came across some important treasures. Nor did I need that much food or water. On the off chance I didn't make it back, it would be best used by them anyway. Once everything was taken care of I broke out into a dead sprint. The further I got away from the others the more my heart began to beat.

It was time for me to focus on what I do best. I activated Ethereal Convocation and formed a connection with both Amahle and Romulus. "I am headed in your direction now. If it's safe to do so have someone in your group unleash an attack into the sky every thirty minutes."

"Will do but be careful. I think something is stalking us." Her reply sent a chill down my spine but I didn't let it distract me. Ultimately it didn't matter, not until I was close enough to do something about it. Once I was far enough away from the cave I let my aura flood out of me. Proof of all the deaths I've caused flooded the forest around me like a tidal wave. It felt wonderful but a part of me recoiled. My journey had just begun and it was already this bad. How much worse would it get? My arrival didn't go unnoticed as two monkey beasts leaped out of the trees.

They were skinnier and longer than the apes from the city. It was almost like someone had taken their arms, put them on a stretcher, and then added two more elbows. They were also incredibly fast. I managed to avoid the first one only for the second to slam two fists into my chest. Despite its size, it hit me with the force of the Hulk. I shot backward and slammed through a tree.

I rolled just in time to avoid the second monkey's attack. This one split the ground where I had been. I unleashed three blades of psychic energy intending to take out the first monkey in one move. Instead, it nimbly flipped through the air. Before it landed its arms turned a deep forest green. Thick vines shot toward me faster than bullets. Psychic Aegis barely had enough time to form before they slammed into me.

In near-perfect coordination, the second monkey appeared from behind and slammed both fists into my barrier. The bubble shuddered but held. I took a moment to catch my breath as excitement built inside me. I wasn't sure how they avoided triggering my danger sense nor did I really care. Grey mist billowed out from me in all directions as I activated Realm of Consciousness.

The influx of mental energy told me both my targets were within range. I grinned as I activated both Psionic Rain and Psychic Blast. Both attacks rained down on their targets like a judgment from heaven. Before either monkey had the chance to react I appeared. Spiritual energy surged into my fist just before I slammed it into the closest one's chest. The expected sight of the monkey's rib cage caving in or being launched through the air didn't happen. Instead, it used the momentary contact to grab hold of my shield and screeched.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what was coming next. Three blades of mental energy formed above the monkey in front of me. All three slammed into its head just as the second monkey slammed into me like a cannonball. Psychic Aegis cracked just as I received my kill energy. I tossed the corpse of the first monkey aside and unleashed **Psychic Blast** in its beam form into the chest of the second monkey. It was nowhere near fast enough to avoid it that time.

It tried to retreat into the mist but how could I allow it to be that easy? I ended Psychic Aegis and whipped my hand forward. I held its wrist with one hand and conjured three new psychic blades. All three embedded themselves into its head and the battle was over. I ended my domain and surveyed the forest around me. My thirst for another fight urging me forward. Unfortunately, there was nothing else.

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"That was fun." I placed the pair into my ring and started off again. Those monkeys weren't much of a threat in a group but if enough gathered Amahle and the others might be in trouble. Despite that, I couldn't be more excited. How long would it take me to get to level forty? How long to get to level fifty? The possibilities were limitless and I couldn't wait. I was attacked four more times before the first signal skill went up. Fortunately, none of these other beasts could ignore my danger sense. Dealing with them only took me a few minutes.

"We have a problem." Amahle's mental voice came across as strained which only put me on alert.

"What's happening." I pushed energy into Apportation as I waited for her response.

"We are being attacked by something." I could almost physically feel the irritation in her voice.

I stepped through the portal and then exited to the sounds of battle. Screams of pain as well as attacks of fire and earth rang out in the distance. I pushed spiritual energy into the soles of my feet and shot forward through the trees. My aura exploded in response to my desire for battle.

I crashed through a tree and arrived in the middle of the storm. I couldn't tell if they were being attacked by a single monster or an army of smaller ones. There was a massive pitcher plant that dripped a viscous black and blue liquid. It smelled of corpses which only made the scene more chaotic. People and monsters fought each other to get closer to it only to be grabbed by vines as soon as they got within a few feet.

Before I could decide what to do Intellect Fortress activated. The spell caused me to freeze just long enough for one of the researchers to pull out a gun and shoot me. Fear shot through me but the metal hit my robes before I started moving again. I barely felt it. I laughed. "I am Luke Cage motherfuckers." I wasn't sure what was going on but I was starting to piece it together. The plant was hypnotizing people and I needed to deal with it.

First I activated Realm of Consciousness. I hoped that it would be enough to deal with the weaklings if not break the spell on them. Next, I leaped into the fray. I unleashed psychic blades on every monster in the area while punching each of the humans in the gut. I did my best to control the strength I put into it but it was like trying to punch ceramic. The closer I got to the plant the fiercer the fighting became. To make the situation worse Amahle stopped responding. It wasn't until I was within ten feet of the plant that I figured out why.

The young woman stood over the plant, her fingers and face covered in whatever it was. "Amahle?" I called out but the pervasive sense of danger made it clear that she was gone. Instead of responding she turned and raised a curved sword. In the next moment, she disappeared. I leapt back just as she reappeared her sword shooting for my throat. My Tao field expanded to meet her attack. Sparks flew as her weapon met an indomitable wall.

That attack was just the first in what was rapidly becoming an onslaught. She lacked the force to cut through it but the sheer number of attacks was weakening the field. Like a thousand soldiers slowly grinding down a city gate. I activated Psychic Aegis and pushed away desperately trying to create space. I wasn't sure what the fuck I was supposed to do here. I didn't have any nonlethal ways of taking her out. Just as I was piecing together a plan of attack another blade slammed into the aegis from behind.

"Fuck me. They shouldn't be able to see or even think straight." Horror dawned on me as I figured out what they were doing. Or rather what the plant was doing. It was using Amahle like a beacon to guide the puppets. I drew my aura in not wanting to risk killing anyone with it. Next, I let Psychic Aegis collapse. If I was going to win this fight I would need to do it barehanded.

Amahle reappeared nearly as soon as the barrier was gone. It was as if she knew when it would go down. Instead of retreating I imbued my first with the Tao of Adamance and intercepted her sword. Her blade barely nicked me but as soon as it did the pressure on my mind doubled. Intellect Fortress began draining spiritual energy at a rate comparable to half of what Psionic Rain cost. I gritted my teeth and was about to push forward when a familiar sensation filled my mind.

A gentle caress passed over me and a new idea formed. I leaped back to avoid her next attack. Before I landed I put my new plan to work. Instead of imbuing mental energy with the Tao, I conjured a blade of Tao. It took me several seconds to get the hang of it. Seconds that the shield on my robes paid for but when it worked. A new blade floated above my shoulder.

In truth, it wasn't that different from the Psychic energy one. This one was clearer, white, and looked less solid. I was forced to bring my attention back to the battle when Amahle appeared in front of me. I re-expanded my Tao field and unleashed my blade. It passed right through her sword and into her forehead.

She collapsed like a doll with its strings cut and I grimaced. I half expected a surge of kill energy but none came. I was only allowed to wait a few seconds before more attacks came out of the mist. Thankfully without Amahle, they weren't as well-aimed. I didn't bother to reactivate Psychic Aegis nor did I use my Tao. The rest of the fight devolved into a series of punches and kicks which was much less fun. Once I was sure I had dealt with all of them I ended Realm of Consciousness. I slowly approached the plant expecting one final act of defiance.

A blast or plant zombie body but there was nothing. I wasn't even sure if the thing was still alive. I still decided not to approach and just unleashed Psionic Rain on it. Once it was dead I turned my attention the Amahle and her group. "I found Amahle but she's injured. Pretty badly as well. Furthermore, the rest of her group is down. They were attacked by some kind of plant."

"Do you want us to come and help you?" Romulus asked and I had to consider it for a moment. The extra hands would be amazing but they would have to risk getting here. A process that would likely take several hours.

"No, no stay where you are. I am going to give them a few hours to wake up. If they don't I will just slowly carry as many as I can back and forth. I am going to see if I can find a safe place near here."

"Let us know if you need anything. I am going to take a few people out to try and hunt in the surrounding area. A couple of researchers wanted to grab a level or two."

I shrugged at that and decided not to question why I wanted to do it while I was there. It wasn't my business and it was possible the last day of walking convinced them of the need. Either way, there wasn't much I could do about it. The question was what should I do now? I did a quick scan of the forest but there was nothing that could work as a safe place so that was out. I squatted down and slowly collected the corpses. Which turned out to have a hidden benefit.

Living things couldn't be placed into the bag. I quickly went around and tried to add every person to my bag and none entered. I decided not to think about the implications of carrying around a literal ring filled with corpses. Though it did mean beast necromancer was a potential path. A morbid one but it was an option. Once I was finished with my experiments I gathered everyone together and gently released the Tao of Adamance over everyone. I didn't think it would heal them but it just might help them wake up faster. I considered doing the same thing for Lucidity or my killing intent but decided against it. One I wasn't confident in not killing the lower-level people.

Two I wasn't sure if Lucidity would make the problem worse. I still didn't understand what it did but the last thing I needed was to give everyone brain damage. Thankfully I wasn't kept waiting for too long. After an hour most of the low-level people were awake and by the second-hour mark, everyone except Amahle had returned to the waking world. "I am not sure how much you all remember but we can't stay here for too long."

"Um, you are that Amari guy right?" A young man with dirty blonde hair and a white lab coat asked.

"I am. We will need to leave in about fifteen minutes. Please help each other walk. Don't worry about any monster attacks. I will deal with them."

"No offense dude but that's what that woman said and well here we are." This time it was a tanned-skinned older woman with short blonde hair. I wasn't sure if she was a researcher or just a wandering muscle and I didn't care.

"Yeah but that was then this is now. You are welcome to try leaving by yourself but I have my group a few hours away. Romulus is taking care of them so I want to get you all in one place so I can go searching for more people. No one has to come with me. Make your choice."