Chapter 21: The Quiet Edge

Morning came with no noise, just light filtering through the trees and the steady crunch of footsteps as they left the shelter behind. The path ahead had already been mapped in Arden's mind, through zones they hadn't explored yet, deeper than before, and places that promised harder battles and better rewards. Just how he liked it. They moved through the outlands like they belonged there. Arden's senses stretched ahead of him, life energy flowing from his body like a net cast wide. He didn't just walk into a fight, he chose them. Every beast in they hunted was dealt with before it even got a chance to roar. Zephyra stalked at his side, her form low and fluid, deadly without needing to be told. They didn't speak much, never had to. Nyra watched them move, half in disbelief, half in awe. The way they hunted, tracked, and struck, it was like a rhythm only the two of them could hear. She kept walking, but the thoughts didn't leave her. Just how strong were they? If Zephyra hadn't been trying to shield her back then, would there even have been a fight? Or just a total clean-up? The longer she watched, the clearer it became, these two weren't normal. And the gap between them and her felt wider with each passing day. But Arden noticed. He always did. The shift in her mood was quiet, but it tugged at his senses just the same. "You're thinking too much," he said casually while cleaning blood off his sword after gutting a wild beast. "I told you, I've got a plan for your training. We just need the right place." Nyra looked at him and nodded once. She didn't say anything, but the flicker in her eyes shifted from doubt to hope. The group kept moving. And the days blurred as they hunted across the zone. Arden didn't just fight, he sharpened his instincts. And with each kill, his power grew. The first beast of the day after was a Stone-Bound Howler. A hulking beast that moved slow but hit like a crumbling mountain. Arden kept low, dodging wide swings, then closed the distance and landed a clean, heavy strike to the beast's core. Like always the system interface chimed signifying his rewards. Life energy absorbed: Gained Life signature: Core Pressure Mantle Effect: A mantle of compressed energy builds around him, reducing knockback, resisting blunt force, and making each of his strikes hit heavier than they should. The next was a Mistshade Courser, a slippery beast that darted through fog, its real body hard to trace. Arden played its game for a while, using his own movement to bait its illusions. One quick step through the mist and a silent kill followed. Chime- Life energy absorbed: Gained Life signature: Mistshade Echo Effect: Briefly replicate your aura, footsteps, or voice to throw enemies off—perfect for setting up counters or slipping through without a fight. The third was more aggressive—a Stormcrown Raptor that burst from above in a storm of wings and crackling air. It was fast and struck with sharp limbs that sparked with lightning, but Arden was faster. He timed his evasion perfectly, weaving through the chaos until one sharp strike ended the fight. Life energy absorbed: Gained Life signature: Static Edge Bloom Effect: Every fifth movement triggers a lightning buildup that shocks his next strike, disrupting focus and making spellcasters stagger. Then came the Windspire Antelope, graceful and quick. He didn't kill it out of hate. It was just in his way of strength. And It left him his gift all the same. Life energy absorbed: Gained Life signature: Gale Vein Flow Effect: His body felt lighter in open ground, reaction time smoother, jump higher, landings softer. made for surviving swarms or wide-space combat. Piece by piece, his strength kept growing. He chased power, And It just came with the path he walked. Then one afternoon, they reached a wide clearing. Grass swayed gently in the wind, and just beyond it, a cave mouth yawned like a gate to something deeper. The area was quiet—too quiet. Which meant one thing. Something strong was nearby. Arden stepped forward, his hand resting lightly on Zephyra's back to hold her still. He closed his eyes and let his energy stretch inward, flowing carefully into the cave. There it was. A dense, unmoving life presence, deep inside. It didn't shift or flinch. It just waited. "Big one," he muttered. "Doesn't look like it's sensed us just yet." Zephyra growled low, ready. But Arden shook his head. He moved ahead alone, slow and deliberate. "Stay back. I'll check it out." And with that, he slipped into the cave, disappearing into the dark. The cave air grew heavier the deeper Arden moved, cold and thick with something that didn't belong. He didn't need light, his life sense guided him well enough. Still, the moment he rounded a bend, he stopped. There it was. A massive, scaled beast lay coiled across black stone, its body low and pulsing like a dark heart. Smoke-like mist oozed off its rough skin, and the shadows in the cave bent toward it unnaturally. Its head was crowned by pale ridges and streaked with glowing purple veins that pulsed slowly, its slit eyes barely open. The system pulsed in his mind. Name: Gloomvein Basilisk Rank: Peak C-Rank Affinity: Umbral Poison Traits and Abilities: Shadow Miasma Field: Emits a poisonous shadow fog that dulls spiritual senses and eats away energy over time. Veinbind Lash: Tail strikes inject necrotoxins that disrupt energy flow and cause painful feedback. Piercing Gaze: Direct eye contact can paralyze briefly and scramble internal energy rhythm. Burrow and Ambush: Can phase through rock or walls under shadow cover for sudden flanking strikes. Arden tilted his head slightly. "You're a little too proud for something hiding in a cave." The moment he spoke, the basilisk's eyes opened fully, burning with violet light. The shadows around it thickened, and a low, bone-rattling hiss filled the cave. Arden smiled. He stepped out of cover, cracking his knuckles. "Alright. Let's make this worth the trouble A/N: Please send Powerstones, and Engage by leaving comments and Reviews Thanks for the support