A boulder whizzed past Nathan's right side, slamming into the ground with a bone-chilling thud.

More than ten Vermilion Apes pursued him. Half of them leaped and ran on the ground, hurling deadly boulders. The other half swung through the trees, launching branches they snapped off along the way. Fortunately, Nathan was equipped with his two shields. He had the Wood Wraith shield strapped to his back, while his free hand wielded the Armor Scarab.

Glancing back, he spotted a rock hurtling straight toward him. He pivoted, his right hand already swinging the shield through the air in a precise rhythm - four, six, and twelve. As the rock approached, he met it with the Armor Scarab shield, channeling all his strength and passive skills into the defense.

[Rebound] activated, completely nullifying the force. The boulder hung suspended for a fraction of a second, defying all laws of physics. When Nathan's counter-strike connected, it sent the rock flying back toward the Vermilion Ape that had thrown it. The creature snorted, flexing both arms as it raised them to catch the projectile without any apparent difficulty. Its feet left two long furrows in the earth as it was pushed backward. Overall, it remained unharmed. Then it gripped the newly reclaimed weapon, gathering strength for another throw.

Nathan shook his head in dismay at these monsters' capabilities. He accelerated, making the boulder sail past where he would have been had he maintained his previous pace.

He launched himself backward toward a Vermilion Ape. He skillfully dodged the sharp projectiles flying his way, while the remaining branches shattered against his back shield, sending splinters flying in all directions.

Jumping with all his might, he drew his blade to strike at the monster before him. It struggled to raise the rock in its hands to block. This defensive move appeared far too simple in Nathan's eyes. Rotating in mid-air, he inverted his body, using his shield to strike down hard against the rock, propelling himself into a flip behind the creature. He finished his movement with a slash that carved from shoulder to lower back. The monster collapsed with an agonized cry, blood pooling beneath it.

Nathan’s strategy was simple: eliminate one target to discourage the others from attacking recklessly, fearing they might strike their own kind. Yet, as he glanced upward, the reality was far from ideal. A storm of rocks and branches rained down, showing no concern for collateral damage.

Drawing in a sharp breath, Nathan planted the Armor Scarab shield into the ground, lowering his head to take cover while utilizing the Wood Wraith shell on his back. His legs tensed, bracing for impact. The rocks crashed against him with ear-shattering resonance, each projectile's force overwhelming, driving him deeper into the earth. His arms went numb from enduring more than six impacts. He could sense that the sturdy shield in his hands had warped, denting slightly. Indeed, even the Armor Scarab wouldn't survive such a devastating barrage.

What is wrong with them? Nathan wondered, bewildered.

While Vermilion Apes were known for internal conflicts, they possessed a strong instinct to protect their own kind. They typically wouldn't harm their companions when facing a common enemy. Yet before Nathan's eyes lay a Vermilion Ape, crushed to death in a horrific pose, its body broken and twisted, eyes rolled back in anguish. But that anguish didn't seem directed at its own kind—it was meant for him. It had willingly died in an attempt to drag him down with it.

Shuddering, Nathan realized he couldn't face this group head-on. If he wasted time here and reinforcements arrived, his fate would mirror that of the flattened creature before him.

As if to validate his thoughts, he heard howls from another direction in the forest. Deadly red shapes were charging through the foliage. Leaves trembled like an earthquake where they passed.

The day's last light vanished, space gradually descending from gray to pitch black. Nathan could only rely on PsiLink's directional guidance to run toward Storm Peaks. Even with [Better Vision] and [Improved Balance] working in concert, he couldn't avoid all ground obstacles. He tumbled over a roadside tree root, then a boulder crashed just to his left, sending up a shower of dust and earth. Another rock smashed against it, sparks flying as it ricocheted away. That momentary flash of light sparked a desperate idea.

Raising his waterskin to his lips, he carefully poured just one mouthful down his throat. The cold liquid flowed straight down his gullet. The moment before nothing happened gave way to Nathan suddenly doubling over, barely avoiding another hurled boulder. The Vermilion Apes continued their assault, but their accuracy diminished, now primarily relying on their prey's scent.

The essence exploded in Nathan's stomach. The unstable pure essence, lacking mana to temper it, felt like it was tearing his insides apart. This energy immediately distributed throughout his body, worsening the situation with needle-like pains in his flesh, muscles, and skin. Nathan nearly passed out from his reckless action when the lightning aspect in the essence erupted. His body became electricity incarnate, light radiating from within until his blood vessels showed clearly to the monsters. His skin flickered like a light bulb. Even [Living Resistor] level 2 couldn't help him in this situation. However painful, it served its intended purpose—he could now see the ground ahead.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, he channeled the Berserker cultivation method. His condition was severe because the essence from both the Cloud Deer and Lightning Strider remained unprocessed. Now, he had to maintain consciousness, focusing with the same intensity as when Keira Valaine attempted her breakthrough in the tournament semifinals. The silver lining was that [Titan's Descendant] provided superior physical attributes. His body devoured the essence like a starving man. Information passed through his blood from his ancestors.

A Titan grows stronger only through battle. The greater the peril, the greater the rewards—if one survives.

Nathan bared his teeth in a grin, sprinting forward at full force. His body, wreathed in dancing lightning, illuminated the path ahead.

The Vermilion Apes continued their pursuit, their target now the only bright thing in the darkness. They thought Nathan would be an easy mark, but their subsequent throws progressively lost effectiveness. Their hit rate dropped noticeably. Their quarry, who had previously struggled and occasionally needed to stop to defend, was now slipping away.

Through his agony, Nathan grinned widely. Indeed, consuming essence containing the lightning aspect according to the Berserker legacy did increase speed. With his body under assault, this effect intensified. Once the solution in his body was depleted, any speed improvements would become marginal at best. Darkan was right—Nathan was truly suited for the Path of Physical Cultivation. Without the Titan bloodline, no one would dare risk such bodily devastation. Not even Darkan. Break down, then rebuild.

Destroy to rebuild. Such was the creed of Physical Cultivation, and Nathan embodied it to the extreme. One who dared to try and could actually make it work.

His mind had no capacity to worry about anything else; Nathan just ran, timing his movements to alternately increase speed, slow down to dodge, or turn back to counter-attack when a Vermilion Ape got too close. A part of his consciousness maintained the cultivation process steadily. He could feel his Phase increasing gradually but had no time to check the exact number.

Halfway through the chase, moonlight began to emerge. Nathan had never thought he'd welcome the Lunar Shadow as much as now. If it appeared, the Vermilion Apes would flee in terror. Lunar Shadow had quite the appetite, after all.

But bad luck tends to arrive while good fortune rarely responds to hope. Nothing came to his aid. Even the nocturnal monsters seemed to be giving way to the Vermilion Apes' hunting campaign.

The essence in his body had begun to settle, but the aftermath left a wave of lethargy spreading through every corner of his being. The needle-like sensations in his skin and organs persisted rather than disappearing entirely.

Thanks to the combined speed of [Quick Feet] and the lightning aspect, Nathan had covered more than half the distance to Storm Peaks, faster than his usual daytime pace.

The pursuing monster pack was beginning to tire. They had assumed this would be a simple task assigned by their leader. Yet this human still stood strong, still moved. Though he had slowed, they had slowed even more than him. Activating their rage state now would be too late. They needed meat, needed energy.

Nathan noticed the distance between himself and the Vermilion Apes growing larger and let out a long breath of relief. Though his body was exceptional, it was now crying out in protest. He needed meat, needed energy.

Both sides shared the same thought. But only one side had a solution.

A Vermilion Ape in the trees launched itself down at its companion running below. The impact sent the ground-bound ape tumbling, its head cracking against a rock and drawing blood. It stood up roaring in anger at its companion. As it tried to rise for combat, a sharp wooden stake pierced straight through its chest, pinning it to the ground. It struggled to stand, but a barrage of punches rained down, leaving it dazed. A final blow knocked it unconscious, its head lolling to one side.

The attacking Vermilion Ape bent down, pulling out the wooden stake it had driven in, raising it to its nose to smell the blood with ecstatic pleasure. Then it bared its fangs, biting into its unconscious companion's chest. It sucked hard, blood flowing into its mouth like the finest delicacy. After one massive swallow, it threw back its head and roared. Around it, steam rose carrying a deep red hue, permeated with a metallic scent. Its eyes shifted from yellow to red, its fur changing from yellow-orange to deep crimson. The enraged state fully manifested.

The other Vermilion Apes responded to the call, beginning to do the same. They engaged in combat with their companions to demand blood, to gain strength. The defeated weren't killed, only knocked unconscious or rendered helpless. When prey was caught, they would be brought back to show their achievements to the pack leader.

Hearing the agonized cries from the darkness behind him, Nathan's hair stood on end.

This isn't right, he thought once again, bewildered.

What had he done to make the Vermilion Apes hate him so intensely? He knew what they were doing. This internal fighting to exchange for combat ability typically only occurred in territorial disputes. No records showed hunting causing them to become this frenzied. Abandoning Nathan to hunt other prey would have been a more typical and logical choice. Yet the monsters behind him seemed to have abandoned their instincts just to kill him. Or capture him?

Terrified at that prospect, he fought through the pain to run faster, his hand ready with the water flask to trigger the lightning body state at any moment. He might never know why the Vermilion Apes targeted him, but he knew one thing for certain—they were now mortal enemies. It would end only in their death or his.

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Nathan maintained high alertness as he pressed forward.

The Vermilion Apes finished activating their berserk mode and charged ahead, leaving red shadows under the weak moonlight, flickering in and out of view between the forest's darkness. They had to close the distance their target had created with their new speed. According to PsiLink's calculations, the monster pack now moved thirty percent faster.

Seeing that analysis, Nathan grimaced and did what he desperately wished to avoid. He drained the remaining essence water. Again, that cool mouthful slid down his throat, followed by an explosion in his stomach that radiated throughout his body. His barely-rested form reactivated, glowing like a firefly in the night sky, lightning arcing across his skin like a web. His previous speed returned.

The Vermilion Apes shrieked and howled like madmen. Yet within that chaos, they coordinated with frightening precision. One rushed forward to grab its companion. With a spinning motion, it hurled its fellow ape through the air. With terrifying acceleration, the thrown ape landed directly in front of their target.

Nathan silently cursed, thrusting the Armor Scarab shield forward like a sword. The monster raised both hands to block, its hands instantly severed as it howled in agony. Nathan dodged to one side to run past, but another ape descended from above, its fist crashing down onto the Wood Wraith shield on his back. His vision went dark as he was driven deep into the ground, dirt and sand flooding his mouth and nose.

He sprang up, spitting out everything forcefully. Spinning his head as he drew the Blood Thirster blade, he slashed at the monster with fluid grace. Blood sprayed across his face as the cut left a deep wound in the opponent's chest. A third Vermilion Ape dropped down, both hands gripping a boulder as it smashed straight into Nathan's back with a thunderous crash, creating the first cracks in the Wood Wraith shield.

Once again, his chest slammed hard into the ground, sending out a shockwave around him. Blood spurted from his mouth, his concentration on the lightning aspect faltering as essence ran wild without control. But he couldn't stop to catch his breath.

He staggered to his feet, swinging his sword horizontally through the monster's arms to prevent another boulder strike. Then he struck it with the Armor Scarab shield. The wound penetrated to the creature's heart. Seeing this, the monster with the chest wound from earlier jumped in to assist. Nathan wearily raised the Blood Thirster blade in his left hand. The monster charged forward recklessly, using both hands to grab the jagged edge of the blade, gripping it tight as if possessed. Blood poured from its palms, but it wouldn't let go, its eyes fiercely challenging Nathan.

As he prepared to use the Armor Scarab to separate the monster, [Tingling Sense] warned of approaching danger. He dove to the side, abandoning the weapon that had accompanied him since the beginning. The monster raised the blade triumphantly, then threw it away, its arm muscles flexing as it prepared to rejoin the fight.

Discomfort surged in Nathan's chest, making him cough up blood mixed with sparks of electricity onto the ground. He had to plant the Armor Scarab shield as support, interrupting his plan to run. Before him, a punch from the monster that had lost its boulder came swinging in. With no time to think, he responded with his own punch, channeling everything he had.

Triggered [Amplifying Strike]. One credit given.

Triggered [Flowing Strikes]. One credit given.

Triggered [Internal Trauma]. One credit given.

Triggered [Rebound]. One credit given.

The initial collision resulted in a stalemate. But microseconds after impact, [Rebound]'s force sent the monster flying backward, crashing into its advancing companion. The effects of [Internal Trauma] drove the struck creature crazy, making it mindlessly attack its remaining companion.

Nathan used the chaos to escape. Another Vermilion Ape was already approaching.

He felt himself nearing complete collapse. Perhaps drinking the second mouthful of essence water had been a mistake. He knew without the speed it provided, he wouldn't have countered so smoothly. The final result left him uncertain whether he had made the right decision.

His legs felt like they were on fire, sustained only by mental fortitude and innate stubbornness. When he finally had time to adjust, the essence was being gradually absorbed. The destructive energy of the lightning aspect remained present. He ignored it. As long as he survived today, he would recover from any injury. The Titan bloodline wouldn't fall to such trivial matters.

Rocks and trees continued to rain down toward him. At times, he even used the momentum of airborne boulders to propel himself forward. The result of enduring the pain was an ever-increasing distance and a back shield that was nearly shattered. Most importantly, the smell of burning and ozone had begun to fill his nostrils.

Storm Peaks lay directly ahead.

Using every last drop of adrenaline and energy remaining, he sprinted even faster than before, breaking through his own limits.

With a crazy idea in mind, he leaped to intercept a massive flying boulder, simultaneously lowering his Wood Wraith shield slightly.

Triggered [Butthurt]. One credit given.

Even though he had reduced the force, the pain still made him wince. The positive side was that the new momentum helped him fly forward faster.

The pursuing Vermilion Ape pack was down to seven. They gradually had to abandon the tree branches to chase on all fours on the ground. The branches here were too brittle, breaking at the slightest excess force. Lightning bolts tore through the night sky, making them flinch. Thunder rumbled, causing their enraged state to waver slightly.

Noticing the change in the monster pack behind him, Nathan breathed a sigh of relief. The reason Storm Peaks had few monsters like Vermilion Apes was precisely because of the lightning and dry environment.

Nathan smiled as a lightning bolt struck him directly. Though he bore the title of Living Resistor, the lightning aspect inside would force him to be the highest conductor.

Receiving new energy, the existing lightning in his body devoured the bolt like the hungry Vermilion Apes. He had to use essence to contain it. But the stability was insufficient. He needed to hurry.

Halting his forward movement, he turned to face the Vermilion Apes who were moving close together out of fear of Storm Peaks. He launched himself skyward using his skills, drawing an arc through the night sky, leaving afterimages of lightning in his wake, crackling sounds burning through the air as he aimed for the center of the monster pack. He lit up into a magnificent sight.

The red eyes of the Vermilion Apes only saw that brilliant blue-white light flash once before everything ended. Electricity from the explosion created by the human coursed through them, stopping their hearts, boiling their blood, burning their skin into black patches. They didn't even have time to register what happened, convulsing to death just like that.

Nathan fared little better. In the moment the lightning released from his body, he thought he would die from that explosive energy. His body went rigid, his heart stopping for several seconds, blood standing still in his veins. Only a thread of consciousness remained.

Triggered [Self-Emotional Support]. One credit given.

But through sheer stubborn will, fear forced his body to produce adrenaline. His heart gave one powerful beat. He jerked awake, gasping in deep breaths of life. His bodily functions recovered slowly.

His skin felt charred black, hair standing on end, eyes and mouth parched dry. But he was still alive. More importantly, the essence flood from seven Vermilion Apes was rushing toward him.

Without time to reflect on what he'd been through, Nathan forced himself through the pain to sit cross-legged, immediately implementing the Berserker cultivation method. With the lightning aspect gone from his body, everything became much easier. Essence flowed through his bloodstream, entering each cell. Breaking down then rebuilding made everything more durable, more flexible, more robust.

His body's core was in such chaos that he had no idea how far he'd progressed in cultivation since drinking the essence water. He only knew he hadn't stopped.

"Still too slow," he whispered. At this rate, the hard-won essence would slip away into nothingness.

Having gone this far into madness, he might as well go all the way. He concentrated intensely, doing something even more reckless. He accelerated the essence absorption rate. This was strongly discouraged. But Nathan's logic was that this applied to others whose physique couldn't handle such extreme training. With [Titan's Descendant], he could do it. Taking advantage of both his regenerative ability and the Physical Cultivation benefits his bloodline provided, the frequency at which his cells and body parts could accept essence increased dramatically.

The results proved him right. He encountered no obstacles in conducting essence at higher intensities. He even berated himself for not thinking of this sooner. If he had, he could have faced the Vermilion Apes without fear.

Without further thought, Nathan returned to focusing on cultivation.

A Vermilion Ape had returned to report to the leader.

Through grunts and growls, the leader understood everything. It stood up, its height towering over the others. It slowly walked forward, both hands lifting up its son's skin from its subordinate's hands. Its face contorted in grief, eyes flickering between yellow-orange and red then back again. Two white streaks on its cheeks hid two drops of tears. Then its nose wrinkled as it exhaled forcefully. The time for mourning was over.

It grabbed the spear leaning against nearby rocks. A crude weapon with a crystal-forged spearhead. The High Vermilion Apes behind it fitted it with rings and a helmet. The rings were made of fearsome fangs. The helmet with its distinctive fur showed everything was crafted from Crystal Mauler.

The Vermilion Ape Leader roared, a red imperial light radiating outward. Red dots appeared on the foreheads of all present Vermilion Apes. Upon receiving it, they knelt down with cries of worship.

The Vermilion Ape Leader jumped up, its hands swinging through tree branches.

This time, it would take the field itself.

Its army roared once, following behind.

Darkan had been alert since Nathan was ambushed by the Vermilion Ape pack. The inner sect elder initially thought it was a trivial matter. But when Nathan recklessly drank the essence water and the monsters acted completely outside their normal patterns, he was forced to sit up, eyes intently studying everything below. He stood ready to intervene at any moment.

However, Darkan's style, like that of his master before him, was to rescue only when death was imminent. That's why Nathan's suicidal action of swallowing the second mouthful of essence water had frightened him somewhat. He had never heard of anyone enduring such devastation twice. Moreover, taking a lightning strike before releasing such a terrifying energy field—that strike could rival a Tier 2 cultivator wielding the lightning aspect.

When Nathan's breath vanished, Darkan had bent down to rush forward. Then a powerful heartbeat made him stop, blinking in disbelief. Through Storm Peaks' cloud layer, he watched Nathan sit up. Not only that, but the youth dared to sit in the open ground to cultivate.

His heart involuntarily quickened as he realized the cultivation speed of the disciple he had taken in.

“A genius, through and through,” he laughed with satisfaction to himself. “A madman too, but aren’t they often the same?”

If they brought Nathan to meet the Berserker’s predecessors, they would surely be shocked. This thought made Darkan cheerful, and he made an exception by waving his hand to create a protective field around Nathan so the youth could level up peacefully.

"A small reward for your efforts," Darkan proudly muttered.

He had unearthed a monster.

In another part of the forest, Lunar Shadow raised its head upon hearing echoes from the Vermilion Apes' dwelling, its jaws clamped firmly on a Night Panther. When night returned to silence, it went back to savoring today's victim.

Not far away was another pack of Vermilion Apes. This pack also had its own leader. Initially, Lunar Shadow had no intention of attacking. But the noise from that other group irritated it, interrupting its delicious dinner.

Perhaps it would deal with this pack before seeking the other one.

But not tonight. Time was long—why rush?

Nathan remained unaware of everything, immersed in his cultivation state. He hadn't opened his eyes since entering meditation, so he was unclear what level he had reached.

As dawn broke, a satisfied shout rang out. Nathan thrust out his chest as he finished cultivating. Unlike previous times, this breakthrough generated a shockwave that sent dust and earth flying around him.

He opened his eyes, their glow carrying absolute confidence. He excitedly jumped forward to punch a nearby tree trunk. Since trees in Storm Peaks weren't as sturdy as in other areas, it not only broke but flew a considerable distance.

Smiling, Nathan tested his strikes against a boulder. His punch produced an ear-splitting crack, leaving a hand-shaped impression deep in the rock.

Nathan examined his hand like a precious treasure. He barely felt pain from the recoil despite lacking [Rebound], just a slight numbness. Darkan hadn't lied to him—Physical Cultivation could improve his physique enough to launch consecutive strikes. The next step of the One-inch punch had opened up. Once he increased his attack speed further, three consecutive strikes would become possible.

Nathan stood up. His clothes were in tatters, but they couldn't hide his imposing presence. His back straight, chest high, eyes determined, with a hint of anticipation as he gazed toward the sprawling green forest ahead.

He would counterattack the Vermilion Ape pack.

He felt he now had enough strength to try.

Nathan Reed (24 years old – male)

Spirit Cultivation Level: Tier 1 (Initial), Phase 3.8.

Physical Cultivation Level: Tier 1 (Refining), Phase 7.0.