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[Peacemaker]: Show mercy to an enemy. +2 VIT

Sun Tie looked at the two points he had earned after letting the two foolish brothers go their way. He was unsure about his feelings. Sun Tie had read once that mercy should be given whenever possible unless it might bring terrible consequences. The young master didn't see how letting the two men go after their thoughtless actions could lead to such outcomes, but he also couldn't stop thinking about himself.

Sun Tie felt satisfied in granting the two men another chance. Still, he also recognized the missed opportunity for gaining levels and potentially acquiring some equipment.

With a sigh, the young master continued his journey through the jungle, choosing not to dwell on matters beyond his control. The vegetation grew thicker around him. Sun Tie sensed he was nearing the forest's core but believed that, in time, it would thin out again. Eventually, he would see the light at the end and find his grandfather awaiting him. I hope the old goat will be in a good mood by then.

[2 days, 17 hours 25 minutes remaining.]

Time was flying in Sun Tie’s eyes. He'd been walking for what felt like half a day, and for the most part, he felt good. He started thinking it might be time to look for some enemies to take on. He could hear wolves in the distance and birds flying above the tree canopies. Sun Tie knew he could handle it if he ran into another jaguar.

With thoughts of encountering foes, Sun Tie began to pay closer attention to any signs, searching for footprints on the ground. He might not be as skilled a tracker as Cole, but he wasn’t foolish either. Before long, Sun Tie noticed tracks veering off to his left, pulling him away from his direct route to the font of power. The marks on the ground looked a lot like swine tracks.

Maybe the fire boar? Can I win against it? It will probably be as strong as the giant snake, and the Gods know Cole was essential in the fight—stupid old fool.

Sun Tie chose to follow the trail of the creature. It could be a different species, perhaps an easier target. But even if it was a fire boar, Sun Tie was prepared to take it on with his potions and [Echo Strike].

After nearly an hour of tracking, he stumbled upon a barren clearing reminiscent of land scorched by an intense blaze. Dominating the space was a massive orange slab of rock. To Sun Tie, it appeared more like something placed there rather than a natural feature of the jungle. For all I can tell, everything here is fabricated.

Sun Tie made his first step into the clearing and received a message.

You found a [Challenge]!

The fire boar presented itself as a mighty foe for all creatures in these forests. You’ll have the chance to fight it to the death.

Rewards: EXP and an Uncommon Loot Box.

Do you accept the challenge?

[Y/N?]

Sun Tie thought for a couple of seconds. It would be difficult, but he trusted his instincts. He could win. He was sure of it. Yes, he thought, and the ground started trembling. The young master took a couple of steps and saw the trembling increasing.

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He then realized the ground was moving up, slowly ascending to the skies. The system was certain no one would run from the fight. It would be a Do or Die situation.

A cold sweat formed on Sun Tie's palms as he tried some quick stretches and light jumps to get his blood pumping. He needed every ounce of adrenaline to face the powerful beast.

A glance confirmed his health and mana were at their peak, thanks to the system's restorative powers.

After five minutes, the ground stopped moving. Sun Tie was above the trees and could clearly see the font of power on the horizon. Little dots were flying in the air. Cultivators… Why we didn’t see any of them already? They could be defeating every beast in this damn jungle.

Behind him, a peculiar purple and orange mountain seemed to draw in the very air around it. A chill crept down Sun Tie's spine. That had to be Umbreheim. Every time the name crossed his mind, he was haunted by the memory of the bat's bite on his neck — the twisted mix of dread and euphoria it had evoked. He wasn't eager to find out what lay beyond those mountains, but if the need arose… he would face it in full power.

He scanned the horizon for signs of the survivors' camp led by Leigh, but it was nowhere in sight. Just as he was about to turn away, a distressed cry rang out. An unseen force hoisted The beast into the air before being cast into the makeshift arena.

In a futile attempt to resist, the creature struggled against its invisible captor, but its efforts were in vain. With a resounding THUMP!, it landed on the ground, then proceeded to dash erratically, seemingly trying to strike the unseen entity. Saliva flew from its mouth-- turning into sparks in the air as it roared in frustration. Its evident rage wouldn't make things any easier for Sun Tie.

As the beast set its eyes on Sun Tie, it didn't hesitate and charged straight toward him, its fur growing redder with every stride. It was as if the creature's anger was feeding its power. While Sun Tie had never directly faced off against such a creature, he'd heard enough from the mouths of better hunters about its tenacity and combat prowess. In Sun Tie's mind, the smartest move would be to try and push this raging beast off the platform and below the canopy of trees.

Getting ready, Sun Tie set his feet apart and took a defensive stance. His fists were tightly closed, and his arms at the ready. He steadied his breathing, and the system didn’t chime in about cultivation restrictions. More and more, he was learning to function without leaning on his cultivation. Those days were long gone for now.

The beast reached him, trying to hit his legs with its massive fangs. A trail of fire was behind the monster. Sun Tie dodged to the side and waited, activating his [Mana Seer] ability. The world became blue, and a yellow pool appeared in the beast’s belly.

Sun Tie turned off the ability without wanting to deplete his mana unnecessarily. He now had the information he needed.

As the beast charged at him again, Sun Tie, aided by his dexterity, dodged and, seizing the moment, landed an [Echo Strike] on the creature. It reeled back, a growl of pain escaping its jaws.

A thought struck Sun Tie. He could use his Identify skill to determine how much life this beast had left.

[Fire boar - lvl ???]

The green health bar of the creature showed a significant reduction. The number of HP it lost wasn't displayed, but Sun Tie estimated it to be around 20%. If his assumptions were correct, he'd need only about five or six more [Echo Strikes] to take the creature down. With his mana potion on standby, it seemed manageable.

However, the beast wasn't going to make it easy for him. Instead of the anticipated charge, the creature launched into the air at the last moment. As he was thrust to the ground, a haunting crack rang in his ears, and the world around him faded into an ominous void.

The blow would be fatal if the System weren’t healing Sun Tie. With great effort, he took a deep breath and tried to roll away, aiming to strike the beast's weak spot. But his fist missed its mark.

Sun Tie felt the back of his head hanging off the platform's edge when the rolling finally ceased. Panic surged through him as he felt the heat from the flames licking at his robe.

“I just got this robe, you stupid animal!” Sun Tie bit back a cry, delivering blow after blow to the beast, his fists blurring. When he finally landed a punch on its mana pool, the creature recoiled in pain, releasing its grip on him.

Holding his abdomen with both hands, Sun Tie could feel the slow process of his wounds mending, yet the pain persisted. With effort, he rose to his feet and distanced himself from the edge, watching as the creature readied itself for another assault.

Anticipating the beast's move, Sun Tie steadied himself. When the creature lunged, he swiftly ducked, pivoting to deliver a powerful uppercut directly to its underbelly. If I had a sword, this devil would be already dead…

The monster released a pain-filled scream, the air heavy with its evident despair. Sun Tie quickly snatched and drank his mana potion and waited. But the beasts didn't rush in this time.

The beast ran to the other end of the platform, and its breath came out fast, sending plumes of smoke into the air, enveloping and hiding the creature. The more it breathed, the more the platform filled with smoke. Sun Tie could only pinpoint the monster's position because of the orange sparks its breath released, twinkling amidst the haze.

Then, the creature halted its smoky exhalations. If Sun Tie couldn’t spot it, dodging would be impossible. The last attack had nearly cost him everything. Now, he felt certain of his impending doom.

Stepping back, Sun Tie tried to buy some time to think of a way out, but all he found was the platform's edge.