Nathan's gaze pierced the night. The surge of emotions still burned hot within him.

He had done it. In just over three weeks, he had accelerated like a racing car pushing its limits to breakthrough. There were still other formidable racers out there, but in this moment, he would embrace it fully, savoring every second.

His enhanced physique made [Better Vision] more potent. The moon's weak light no longer hindered his view of the scene before him. Fallen tree trunks, pools of cold blood, shattered boulders. He could clearly see the amber eyes looking at him with reverence.

Each breath he took brought greater clarity. It felt as though the volume of air he could inhale had increased significantly compared to before. This would help him maintain his stamina as essential gases were pumped steadily through his system. Most importantly, the ambient mana flowing in with the air would accelerate his energy recovery.

His ears picked up the minute sounds of distant creatures moving through the canopy, the rustle of dry leaves and breaking twigs, and the heavy breathing of animals observing the battlefield. These inputs didn't create confusion but rather arranged themselves in clear layers, allowing him to grasp the rough distance and structure of his surroundings.

He held his hand up before him for examination. Though he couldn't remember the horrific process he'd undergone, he knew well its pain. Even PsiLink had been severed from his mind during the transformation. This new skin gave him an odd sensation. As if it belonged to him, yet somehow didn't.

He tested his arm with a few swings. The resulting sonic booms and air displacement made him start. His strength had completely transformed. Like when he received [Titan's Descendant], he used a knife to cut his palm.

Nothing happened.

The skin only showed a faint, insignificant mark.

Smiling, he decided to test his limits. He knew the skin of Physical Cultivators changed significantly when reaching Tier 2. But being only in the early Phases, it shouldn't be too dramatic.

Yet the results left him speechless. He had to slash more than ten times just to break through the outer epidermis, and still couldn't cut any deeper. Only when he increased his speed did blood flow. And that was only when striking the exact same spot. If he changed positions while doing so, the old wound had already healed.

"H...a...ha...hahahaha!"

Nathan laughed like a child receiving Christmas presents. He jumped up and down in excitement at his development. The feelings of frustration, inferiority, and imprisonment from two years ago had all been compensated. When he thought he would have to halt his progress months ago, now he truly had the foundation to advance further.

For now, Moirath Forest wouldn't provide enough Tier 2 monsters to maintain this leveling pace. However, in the future, he could find other areas or rifts leading to pocket dimensions for farming. Once his Physical Cultivation was strong enough, he wouldn't have to worry about resources for Spirit Cultivation anymore.

Remembering this aspect, he looked at the Vermilion Apes still waiting around him.

His eyes lit up when he realized what this meant.

He took a step forward, and the monsters immediately stirred, eager to follow. Tilting his head in amusement, he launched himself in one direction.

This action sent him crashing into a tree trunk, leaving a human-shaped impression. Wincing at the dull ache, he pushed himself off to land. Due to his habit of using almost all his body's strength from before, he had forgotten to adjust for his new physique with its greatly enhanced capabilities.

The Vermilion Apes that followed scratched their heads, seemingly confused about what their leader was doing. Nathan feared the species difference might prevent them from understanding him. But remembering how the leader had spoken human language, he commanded the monsters when they were about to imitate him, ready to crash into trees.

"Stop!"

The monsters truly stopped.

Nathan grinned in delight.

"Do a backflip!"

None moved. Frowning but not giving up, Nathan issued another command.

"Jump!"

The apes all jumped up. Their lack of synchronization created a series of thuds of varying volumes around him.

"Clap!"

They raised their large hands and clapped them together.

"Clap for 10 times!"

The monsters began clapping as before. But the numbers were all over the place. Some clapped once and stopped, while others found it so enjoyable they wouldn't stop clapping.

"Stop!"

Nathan helplessly scratched his head, realizing these creatures only understood single-word commands. Just increasing the command's complexity a bit left them completely bewildered, their faces going blank.

Shaking his head, he returned to the main task. He used the recent collision to calibrate his strength.

Instead of having to coil his whole body to jump, he only needed to bend his knees slightly to launch forward. Letting out an exhilarated whoop, he tried jumping straight up. His push-off left a small ripple in the ground.

Midway up the tree trunks, a human figure appeared flailing. Laughing loudly, he flipped back toward the ground. The impact from falling from such a height didn't cause him any soreness or pain.

He looked up with a face beaming with pride. Before, he could only jump about a third of the tree height, then had to rely on various movements to climb up using the branches. Now, he could leap more than twice that height.

Keeping the euphoria in his heart, he bounded into the night, using this time to adjust and familiarize himself with his new capabilities.

His new speed made the monster group behind struggle to keep up. They could match Nathan's previous pace by swinging through trees. Now they couldn't even catch their leader's shadow. They could only follow his scent.

Ignoring the situation of his red-furred retinue behind, Nathan jumped from tree to tree, his feet never resting as he moved. With his significantly improved velocity, it took just over an hour through Moirath Forest's rough terrain to reach his destination. Previously, it would have taken until dawn to see the clearing where he had gathered Blood Moss. And by his calculations, that day was what sparked everything leading to the war.

The dying words of the Vermilion Ape Leader had left an impression on Nathan. The monster he had cruelly skinned, taken the heart from, and divided into small pieces must have been its kin. If it were him, going berserk would be the least of it - he would punish anyone who harmed his family with the most cruel methods humans could devise. Or at least, that he could devise. So the anger the leader held for him was completely understandable. However, understanding didn't mean he felt particularly remorseful about the matter.

This forest was no different than a miniature version of the world. The constant struggle for survival was inherent, was fundamental. Either you die or I die. It was simply these two extremes. If that Vermilion Ape hadn't chased after him, none of this would have happened. And even without that incident, one day when he grew stronger and needed higher-grade materials, the Vermilion Apes would still become hunting targets. The strong prey upon the weak - that's how it was. These very monsters had hunted other species too. This time, they had simply met someone stronger.

And now the stronger one had come to claim the losers' most precious possession.

The Crimson Lotus.

He walked closer to the pond housing this treasure. Around the pond, the Vermilion Apes had created a small cage from tree trunks and vines, with gaps large enough for sunlight to shine through. On one side was a curtain that could be drawn aside for entry. Inside were natural rock formations protruding from the pond's surface, clearly the resting place of the Vermilion Ape Leader as the rock surfaces were free of moss or algae.

The Crimson Lotus raised its petals above the pond's surface in solitude. Its crimson lines reflected the moonlight in sparkles. The flower's pistil released tiny red particles into the surrounding air. The lotus seeds were missing a few, with only six remaining. It swayed gently in the wind like a sacred existence amid the forest's wilderness. The still water below reflected the beautiful, harmonious image above, creating an aesthetic painting.

Nathan stood there admiring the scene until the Vermilion Ape group caught up with him a few minutes later. They landed with exhausted pants. Fighting all day without eating and then traveling such a distance had left them drained.

Nathan turned to see the apes had brought back their fallen comrades' bodies. From his knowledge, these monsters weren't savage enough to consider them food for the coming days. Rather, they would give them careful burials. If any monster species had self-awareness about the forest's circumstances and absurdity, the Vermilion Apes would be first. They could be blinded by hatred, but once absolute power and recognition were established, they would move on. After all, not every monster species would accept Nathan as their leader - others would readily devour their entire tribe once their leader fell.

Seeing this, Nathan casually commanded.

"Rest!"

The monsters immediately obeyed, dispersing to find patches of earth near tall trees or spaces wide enough to dig graves. Rest could wait.

The three High Vermilion Apes approached to stand around Nathan. They stood at attention like the most trusted royal guards, awaiting orders.

This was also why he hadn't mutilated the Vermilion Ape Leader's corpse. It would have been truly strange to live among these monsters wearing their kind's skin.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Being slightly more intelligent, the three High Vermilion Apes dispersed when Nathan waved them away.

Turning back to the Crimson Lotus, Nathan hesitated about immediate consumption. The crucial issue was that he had just broken through - eating more would meet resistance from his body, leading to reduced effectiveness.

That's if I use it for Physical Cultivation, he thought silently.

The reason he was still in a voracious state was because of Spirit Cultivation. And this clearly stemmed from the system not responding to Physical Cultivation.

Skills that could still level up like [Amplifying Strike], [Flowing Strikes], [Internal Trauma], or [Martial Art Mastery] hadn't unlocked their next progression paths. By Nathan's analysis, there was only one possible explanation: to obtain level 3 skills, he needed to reach Tier 2 in Spirit Cultivation.

With passive skills always yielding good results, he truly hoped to continue pressing the level-up button for them. Thus, looking at the Crimson Lotus seeds made him salivate. Unlike the essence water from Thunder Crystal Frogs, Crimson Lotus was a rather benign natural medicine. Not only did it contain essence, but it also possessed a large amount of mana after spending up to a year absorbing it from the air. Both these crucial elements were of superior quality compared to essence water, forming the basis for its evaluation as suitable for Tier 2 cultivators. If he could collect and sell it, Nathan would receive a hefty sum for this natural treasure. Of course, eating it raw wasn't the best way to absorb it due to the energy explosion. But he was different - using the Berserker's starved absorption method would help him consume it without too much waste. The obstacle was that after eating and absorbing it, the toxins from the Crimson Lotus would reign in his body, requiring time to digest before he could eat again. This poison would interact with a second seed, causing severe poisoning even for Cultivators.

Eventually, Nathan convinced himself to celebrate his victory by hopping onto the rocks in the pond to get closer to the Crimson Lotus. The flower's fragrance wafted into his nostrils. A gentle stream of essence flowed into his body. This explained why the Vermilion Ape Leader chose to stay near the Crimson Lotus. Absorbing this essence day after day, it would have been strange if it hadn't grown stronger.

Nathan gently traced the contours of the delicate, cool petals. The green stem and leaves swayed beneath his touch. Using knowledge from [Cooking], he carefully flicked one lotus seed into his palm, leaving five behind. The seeds would regenerate, though it would take considerable time for such a cycle. With proper nutrients like fresh blood, the development process would accelerate. This was why Crimson Lotus often grew near Vermilion Apes. With their combative nature leading to constant fighting, this flower species never had to worry about nutrient deficiency.

Returning to sit on a rock outcropping, Nathan popped the seed into his mouth, then closed his eyes to practice the cultivation method from Verdant Spire Sect. He focused on the energy convergence point on his shoulder. He gradually regulated the mana and essence as they merged. Without the help of harmonizing compounds, the process became significantly more difficult.

Nevertheless, when it ended, he had advanced further.

Spirit Cultivation Tier 1, Phase 4.1.

The bright point on his right shoulder was complete. A small point formed on his remaining shoulder.

He swung his arms in joy at his progress. Two years to reach 2.5. And about two months to reach 4.1. He felt truly grateful for having the system. And also thankful to Darkan for accepting him as a disciple. If the Physical Cultivation path hadn't presented itself, even if he had made it into the inner sect now, he would still be struggling at the bottom levels, desperately seeking an escape route. But now, he no longer had to worry about that. As long as he continued strengthening his body, resources for Spirit Cultivation wouldn't be lacking.

Suddenly he felt a chill at the base of his skull. He looked up at the sky with a wry smile. Surely someone was warning him about not using the Crimson Lotus for Physical Cultivation. And even using the Berserker's absorption method to boot. He only bowed his head in gratitude to the strange presence.

By the time everything was finished, dawn had broken. He didn't feel sleepy at all, still remaining alert.

Following through on his thoughts with action, he tidied up a bit, preparing to leave.

"Stay!" Nathan said to the Vermilion Apes when they started to follow.

Their faces immediately showed fear, thinking he would abandon them. Being without a Tier 2 power's protection would be very difficult. Seeing this, he pointed to the three High Vermilion Apes and beckoned them forward. Then he gestured to the remaining group and commanded again.

"Stay!"

This time, the monsters were reassured and stopped their cries.

After leaving their new shelter a short distance, Nathan heard a long wolf howl. Smiling with excitement, he ran toward that direction with his three red-furred attendants pursuing behind.

Beside a small stream, the Spine Wolves were dividing the carcasses of their recent hunt. Among them was a thick-skinned, meaty Crystal Mauler, enough to feed the pack of over twenty. Among the lean wolves stood one taller and larger than the rest. Its fangs were razor-sharp and its skeleton protruded like vicious spikes along its back.

The Great Spine Wolf raised its head from the Crystal Mauler's belly, blood and entrails dripping to the ground from its whiskers and fur around its mouth. When it saw Nathan's group, it bared its teeth, growling threats.

In response came the chest-beating of three High Vermilion Apes. To their combative nature, such threats were child's play. As they were about to engage, Nathan shouted.

"Stop!"

The three ape monsters halted their tree-climbing motion, still very obedient to him.

He pointed at the Great Spine Wolf, saying.

"Mine."

Then gestured to the twenty smaller wolves.

"Yours."

The three attendants nodded as if understanding the order, turning to look at the wolf pack with excitement. This was their chance to prove their strength to their new leader. Only then could their position near the Crimson Lotus be secured, allowing them to grow stronger day by day.

Without another word, he launched himself toward the Great Spine Wolf.

His kick shattered the tree bark, the entire trunk seeming to tilt in that instant, leaves raining down.

In the blink of an eye, he was before the Great Spine Wolf.

An uppercut smashed into its muzzle. A small explosion rang out. Followed by the sound of breaking bones. Blood and saliva sprayed into the air. Its head slammed into the ground. All four limbs pointed skyward. It rolled several times into the stream, causing water to splash everywhere before stopping.

Nathan stared at his raised fist in astonishment. His new strength still hadn't ceased to amaze him. Three weeks ago, even landing a punch would only make the monster tilt its head. And that would have been difficult given the Great Spine Wolf's considerable speed. The clash with Lunar Shadow was still fresh in his mind.

A lower-ranked Spine Wolf lunged to bite him but caught his fist instead. Before he could look over, the monster's corpse had exploded into tiny pieces, flying backward.

"Damn," he exclaimed just as the Great Spine Wolf pounced.

Its massive blood-stained jaws seemed ready to tear off his head.

Nathan raised both hands to grip the fangs on either side of its mouth. He planted his feet, pushing back. The monster was immediately held in place, unable to close its mouth or advance. He could feel it trying to use its strength, but the result it desired didn't materialize.

The remaining monsters tried to attack to help their leader but one High Vermilion Ape jumped in, grabbed a wolf by the neck and slammed it into the ground. The other two High Vermilion Apes leaped into the Spine Wolf formation, attacking with confidence and power. After all, most Spine Wolves were only Phase 3, maximum Phase 4. Against a Phase 9 monster, the outcome was predetermined.

Ignoring his new recruits' play, Nathan focused on the Great Spine Wolf. Its strength was still considerable, as Nathan's maximum force was just enough to keep the monster from advancing. In this position, he couldn't use his passive skills for additional support. Just as he was planning to lower himself to use his body weight to wrestle the monster, it channeled mana, coating its four fangs with a sharp layer, forcing him to release his grip.

His palms weren't cut thanks to his Tier 2 physique. But if held longer, it would have certainly caused wounds.

The monster stood up, sniffing irritably at Nathan. It lowered itself, using all four legs to leap high, its back facing the enemy. With a grinding of teeth, four sharp bone spikes shot toward Nathan.

With [Martial Art Mastery]'s ability to sense opponent movements for prediction, Nathan easily avoided them with light movements. He noticed a significant change in his movements. The synchronization speed between thought and body had become much faster. Whether through sight or hearing, he could almost instantly execute his desired actions. Unlike before, when sometimes he could see but his body couldn't react.

Four more bone spikes were fired at him. Similar results occurred, with the spikes embedding themselves in the ground around him like small pillars.

Grabbing one spike, he spun once, throwing it back at the Great Spine Wolf as it landed from its attack. The monster tilted its head to dodge. When a second bone spike tip approached, it bared its fangs to block. The collision resulted in victory for the Great Spine Wolf. Shattered bone fragments scattered at its feet. The monster licked its lips once, its teeth wobbling slightly but remaining firm.

Nathan clapped once in appreciation. If everything was too easy, he wouldn't be able to test the extent of his new strength.

The Great Spine Wolf snorted angrily. The bones on its back were growing back rapidly thanks to mana consumption. It charged at Nathan. Its back curved and stiffened at an angle, turning itself into a wheel. The sharp bones became like saw blades.

Nathan no longer had his cherished shields, choosing to leap aside to dodge. Just as he landed, he shot forward, launching a kick at the monster's side.

The Great Spine Wolf's attack was instantly interrupted. After seeing its entire body lift off the ground, it used its claws to scrape the ground for balance. The pain in its flank prevented it from howling. It realized the human before it was too strong, reminding it of the red-furred group's leader. It was the Vermilion Ape Leader who had prevented its tribe from growing strong. Spine Wolf hunts always occurred at fixed times. This Great Spine Wolf couldn't count how many times it had been defeated and forced to flee. With the limited mind of a Tier 2 monster, it still recognized that Nathan must be the new leader. Meaning he had defeated the one it couldn't overcome. So it could only run, abandoning its offspring being slaughtered.

Nathan laughed loudly, realizing what the monster was planning. For the first time after days of mental tension, he didn't need to run, but could advance. This exhilarating feeling was truly intoxicating.

Not letting the monster have its way, he jumped high into the air. With his new strength, he could use techniques provided by [Martial Art Mastery]. Originally meant to be fully utilized at Tier 2 Spirit Cultivation, but with his new power, he calculated he could manage to some degree.

Spreading his hands, he struck the air as if there was a wall behind. Combined with [Amplifying Strike] and [Flowing Strikes], his strikes created a force field strong enough to propel him forward, similar to how Zahra performed her flips. Another strike backward sent him flying so fast the monster was forced to stop. It once again fired four bone spikes into the air.

Nathan spun like a tornado, swinging his arms to deflect the bone spikes. But hidden among them was a stronger spike, wrapped in the last mana the monster could project. It exploded on contact with his hand, becoming small fragments that pierced various parts of his body. But his new skin proved its superiority by only showing red marks without being penetrated.

Laughing loudly, Nathan delivered a kick straight into the monster's back. The impact at his foot didn't hurt as [Rebound] activated.

The Great Spine Wolf seemed to fold in half. Its ribs shattered from the impact. The ground beneath sank as it lay writhing. Its eyes nearly popped out. Its mouth could only manage weak whimpers.

Nathan grabbed the bone ridge on its side, then threw it high.

He jumped up following the flailing body with its broken ribs. When he was higher than the monster, he raised both hands. Ignoring the monster's panicked eyes, he struck down hard.

The severely wounded Great Spine Wolf only had enough awareness to know its body was falling fast. It tried to move its body, hoping to use its proud bone-covered back for defense. But only the upper half responded, while the lower half remained stiff. As a result, it crashed down, impaled by the bone spikes it had shot at Nathan earlier. Its lower body was pierced through the thighs and belly. The upper body was protected by the bone layer. However, a tilted bone spike had pierced through its neck.

The monster let out a groan, its eyes rolling. Its offspring had been completely destroyed. Their blood and fur flowed with the stream. They could have run but perhaps trusted it would protect them and stayed. Yet the Great Spine Wolf had truly planned to abandon them to save itself. The end result was death by the bone spikes of its own making.

Grinding its teeth one last time, head lolling to one side, the monster perished.

Nathan approached the monster, smiling at his achievement. The Great Spine Wolf wasn't a particularly strong Tier 2 monster, which was why he had truly hoped to encounter one for combat before. Then the Vermilion Apes' interference had forced him to change plans.

The essence provided by the Great Spine Wolf wasn't nearly as abundant as the Vermilion Ape Leader's. Even after defeating and absorbing it, his essence reserves weren't full.

The three High Vermilion Apes with minor wounds approached, hooting excitedly at their leader.

Nathan smiled, raising his fist in the air to encourage them.

The three monsters imitated him, though not understanding why.

He cut open the Great Spine Wolf, collecting the monster core for later use. Most importantly, he gathered the monster's fur.

Cold winds had appeared today. Winter seemed to be approaching.