Chapter 5: Into the Deeper Woods

The forest grew denser as Kael ventured farther from the village, its trees rising like dark sentinels under the morning light. The air was cooler here, the ground uneven with thick roots and tangled underbrush. He had only been this deep into the woods once before, and that had been on a hunting trip with his father when he was younger. Now, he was here for a different purpose—a much more dangerous one.

His senses were sharper than before, thanks to the Sharp Senses (Spark) talent he had copied from the beast. The change was subtle but undeniable. The rustling of leaves was clearer, the distant sounds of animals moving in the brush easier to detect. His vision felt more focused, allowing him to spot movements that would have gone unnoticed before. It wasn’t a major boost, but it was enough to give him an edge in the wild.

But that wasn’t enough for Kael. He needed more. He needed to evolve.

‘Two of the same talent,’ he reminded himself, gripping the hilt of his sword as he moved through the forest. He would need to find another creature with Sharp Senses if he wanted to evolve it to the next level. And he needed to replace his weak Sword Talent (Flicker) with something stronger, something that would make him a more formidable fighter.

The memory of the system prompt played over in his mind. He had options—evolve talents by copying them twice or replace them outright by finding higher aptitude versions. The possibilities were endless, but it all depended on what he encountered out here. Every beast was a potential stepping stone to greater strength.

He moved cautiously, using his heightened senses to scan the area. The forest was quiet, but he knew that didn’t mean it was safe. Beasts had a way of hiding until they were ready to strike. Kael focused his mind, trying to activate God Eye again. The ability had worked back in the village when he had scanned the guard, and now he needed it more than ever.

A shimmering aura flickered across his vision, scanning the area around him. A few small animals darted through the underbrush, none of them powerful enough to register on his radar. But then, something caught his attention.

In the distance, a faint glow appeared—a beast, lurking near a fallen tree. Kael squinted, focusing his God Eye on the creature, and a new screen flashed before him.

Beast Identified: Forest Lynx

Essence Level: Aura (Rank 2)

Talents:

— Agility (Flicker)

— Sharp Senses (Spark)

Kael’s heart skipped a beat. Another beast with Sharp Senses. This was exactly what he needed. If he could defeat the lynx and copy its talent, he could evolve his own Sharp Senses to the next level. It was a perfect opportunity—but the lynx’s Aura (Rank 2) essence level meant it was stronger than the beast he had fought before.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He would have to be careful.

Kael crouched low, gripping his sword tightly as he approached the creature. The lynx was a sleek, predatory beast, its fur blending into the forest shadows as it prowled around the fallen tree. It hadn’t noticed him yet, but that wouldn’t last long.

His heart pounded in his chest as he positioned himself for the attack. This was no mindless beast like the wolf he had killed. The lynx was a predator, and it would be faster, smarter, and far more dangerous.

Kael took a deep breath, his muscles tensing. ‘I need to finish this quickly,’ he thought. He couldn’t afford to get into a prolonged fight with a creature that was more agile than him. He needed to strike hard and fast, using the element of surprise to his advantage.

He waited for the lynx to turn its back, then sprang into action.

With a burst of speed, Kael charged forward, his sword slicing through the air. The lynx reacted instantly, spinning around and leaping to the side with fluid grace. Kael’s blade narrowly missed, slicing into the ground where the beast had stood moments before.

The lynx hissed, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto him. Kael could feel its sharp gaze boring into him, and he knew that this would be a fight to the death.

The lynx lunged at him, moving so fast it was almost a blur. Kael barely had time to raise his sword before the beast was upon him. Its claws raked across his forearm, drawing blood, and Kael grunted in pain as he swung his blade in a desperate arc. The lynx leapt back, avoiding the blow with ease, its movements swift and calculated.

‘Damn, it’s fast,’ Kael thought, gritting his teeth. He couldn’t match the lynx’s speed—at least, not yet.

But he had something the lynx didn’t.

Kael activated God Eye, his vision sharpening as he focused on the lynx. He could see its movements more clearly now, the way its muscles coiled and tensed before each attack. The lynx was fast, but its patterns were becoming predictable. He just needed to time his next move perfectly.

The lynx charged again, its claws extended for another strike. This time, Kael was ready.

He sidestepped at the last second, swinging his sword in a wide arc as the lynx passed by. The blade connected with a satisfying thunk, slashing across the beast’s side. The lynx let out a pained yowl, blood spraying from the wound as it staggered back.

Kael didn’t hesitate. He pressed the attack, driving his sword into the creature’s chest with all his strength. The lynx let out a final, gurgling growl before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching once before going still.

Panting, Kael stood over the fallen beast, his heart racing and his arm burning from the shallow claw marks. He had won. The lynx was dead.

And then, just like before, the system prompt appeared.

[Beast Defeated: Forest Lynx]

Do you wish to copy the following talents:

— Agility (Flicker)?

— Sharp Senses (Spark)?

Kael didn’t hesitate. “Copy Sharp Senses.”

The moment he made the decision, another surge of energy shot through him, more intense this time. His senses flared to life, sharper than before, more attuned to the world around him. He could hear the rustle of leaves, the distant calls of birds, the faintest movement of the wind through the trees. It was as if the entire forest had opened itself up to him.

[Sharp Senses (Spark) copied.]

[Sharp Senses (Spark) evolved to Stream.]

Kael’s eyes widened. Evolved. His Sharp Senses had just reached a higher level—Stream. The world around him felt more vivid, more detailed than it had ever been. He could sense things he hadn’t even noticed before: the faint tremors in the earth, the subtle shifts in the air. It was a whole new level of awareness.

‘This… this is incredible,’ he thought, marveling at the changes.

He had done it. He had evolved his talent by copying it twice, just as he had suspected. And now, his Sharp Senses had become something far greater. With every fight, every victory, he could grow stronger. The potential was limitless.

Kael knelt beside the lynx’s body, wiping the blood from his sword as he caught his breath. The battle had been tough, but the reward had been worth it. His path was becoming clearer with each step he took. He would continue to hunt, to fight, and to evolve. Every beast he killed would bring him closer to the power he sought.

But the forest wasn’t the end. There were people out there, too—warriors with talents far beyond the creatures that roamed these woods. And Kael would need to face them eventually. When the time came, he would be ready to copy their talents, evolve his own, and surpass anyone who stood in his way.

For now, though, the forest would be his training ground.

Kael stood, his body still tingling with the effects of his newly evolved talent. He would push further into the forest, find stronger beasts, and continue to grow. And with each step, he was one step closer to breaking free of the limits placed on him by his Flicker aptitude.

The deeper woods awaited, and Kael was more than ready.