Chapter 35: A Worthy Opponent [1]

I kept pushing deeper into the forest. The Elite-rank beasts I’d fought so far were only in their initial stages, nowhere near the more powerful Elite-rankers that dwelled in the forest’s depths. They possessed only Common-rank bloodlines and presented no real challenge. I dove deeper into the wilderness, seeking worthier opponents. A few minutes later, I encountered a stronger adversary. While it was still technically Elite rank, this creature possessed an Uncommon bloodline, and its aura indicated it was significantly more formidable than my previous opponents. The beast was a massive wolf, larger than any I’d seen before, with menacing dark fur and eyes that glowed with intelligent malice. Its bloodline grade was apparent to me, it was easy to tell by looking at those sharper claws that gleamed like metal, and aura that marked it as a true apex predator rather than common forest wildlife. It circled me warily, recognizing that I wasn’t ordinary prey. This creature had survived long enough to reach this strength by being cautious and calculating rather than rushing blindly into combat. Still, I was too strong for it. The moment it lunged forward with supernatural speed, I activated my Blood Control trait. The wolf’s enhanced agility meant nothing when its own circulatory system became my weapon. I didn’t just disrupt its blood flow this time, I weaponized it. The creature’s blood clotted within its veins. Its impressive speed faltered as its internal system became a mess, my control wreaked havoc inside its body. The wolf’s eyes widened in confusion and pain as it realized something was fundamentally wrong. It tried to retreat, but I pressed my advantage. I didn’t need to use my blood enhancement trait to strengthen my sword. My sword made its way and in no time, the strike landed, ending the wolf’s suffering quickly and silently. Another Elite-rank creature defeated, this one providing slightly more soul power due to its superior bloodline. But even this stronger opponent had fallen within moments of engaging me. I was beginning to understand just how much my combination of traits, equipment and recent training outclassed conventional Elite-rank fighters. My second-order Blood Control trait, enhanced physique, and all other factors created a synergy that made me far more dangerous than my official rank suggested. To say that I didn’t feel a tinge of arrogance appearing in my heart would be a lie. With my current strength, I believed that I could fight Kyle Morrison on equal grounds. I no longer felt fear just by thinking about his name and powers. As I delved deeper into the forest, I wondered what it would take to find a truly challenging opponent at my current level without overburdening myself. ..... My answer came a few minutes later. I was about two miles away from the city now, starting to truly wander into dangerous territories. Only about a mile away from the place where my father and I had encountered that Transcendent-rank beast. But it didn’t matter, this would be my last fight of the day. The beast before me possessed a Rare bloodline! A Rare bloodline, and it was certainly no weakling within the Elite rank. In fact, it was very robust in its current tier. If given a year or so, it would certainly reach Transcendent rank. A smile erupted across my face as I felt the huge rewards already coming my way. The soul power and blood that I would collect from this creature was making me salivate with anticipation. I wanted to drink its blood, not just store it in a vial. I wanted to taste the blood of a beast with a Rare bloodline for the first time. I’d never experienced anything of that quality before. This time I didn’t wait for the beast to attack first. The creature before me was a panther, sleek and deadly, with matte-black fur that seemed to repel light. Two black jewels served as eyes that stared deep into my soul. The panther did not back down from my aggressive approach. Instead, it met my charge head-on without fear. Confidence radiated from its body like heat. We clashed in the middle of the forest clearing. My sword met its razor-sharp claws in a shower of sparks, and I clearly outperformed it in the initial exchange. The impact sent the panther sliding backward ten full steps while I remained firmly planted in our clash position, barely moved by the collision. The panther’s jewelled eyes widened in shock before anger erupted in its heart. Throughout its entire existence within the Elite rank, it had never been pushed back in direct combat. It had always prevailed against other Elite-rank opponents, yet somehow the human before it had accomplished what no other creature in this forest could manage. Its pride, honed through killing hundreds of beasts throughout its violent life, was cracked. The panther desperately wanted to regain confidence in its abilities and prove its superiority. I had no intention of fulfilling its desire to restore that confidence. I activated my Blood Enhancement trait, channelling crimson energy into both my blade and my Swift Step Boots. The familiar warmth of enhanced blood flowed through my equipment, dramatically increasing both of their affects. The increase in my speed and attacking power was immediately noticeable to me. I deliberately chose not to use my Blood Control ability this time. I wanted to test my pure offensive capabilities without relying on the second-order skill that had made my previous fights so one-sided Another reason was because I wanted to keep my blood control trait a hidden card in the academy. So, I wanted to understand where I currently stood in the academy hierarchy without my blood control trait. The beast before me would serve as an excellent testing subject. It had a rare bloodline and it was on the higher scale in the elite rank. My blood-enhanced blade clashed directly with the panther’s claws once again.