Chapter 8: Farming and Evolution

The Ravager lunged again, but Arden stepped aside, calm and precise. He moved like someone who had done this a dozen times, and he had. The last few days had been filled with the same routine. Hunt, strike, finish. He dodged the beast's swipe and drove a imbued fist straight through its neck. No struggle, no panic, just a clean end. The body dropped, and Arden exhaled as if he'd just finished a warm-up. "These things are getting predictable," he muttered, brushing blood off his arm. Then came the familiar chime. Life energy absorbed Gained Life Signature: Ember Core Pulse Fragments x50. 50 fragments reached Fuse to evolve Ember Core Pulse – Confirm? [Y/N]. He blinked, taken off guard. "So that's what the fragments were for..." Excitement stirred in his chest, and for a moment he just stared, a slow grin creeping onto his face. He didn't waste time. "Yes." The moment he accepted, a wave of heat rushed through him, not painful, just overwhelming. His muscles tensed and relaxed all at once, like his body was remembering something it had never experienced but somehow knew. The old version of the signature was gone, replaced with something deeper. Another chime followed. Evolution successful. Ember Core Pulse → Ignition Vein Surge New Effect: Channel a low-grade heat flame into your muscles and strikes. When taking damage, your body releases a reactive pulse of life energy through the wound, triggering a temporary boost in speed, strength, and life energy flow. Arden stood still, staring at the message, trying to process what had just happened. A flame flickered at his fingertips—tiny sparks dancing along his skin. He clenched his fist and watched the fire fade. "...I could get used to this." The boost wasn't just in strength. He felt sharper. Everything about his body felt more in sync, like the energy now knew how to move on its own. His veins pulsed faintly, and a warmth lingered in his core, not just physical, but something deeper. "So that's what this system really does," he said, almost to himself. "Gives you the power... and teaches your body how to use it." He tried again, and the flicker returned- hot, wild, and thrilling. A laugh escaped him. Not loud, but real. "This is it. This is what being overpowered feels like." And just like that, he turned, ready for more. Because now he wasn't just surviving the Outlands. He was starting to own them. Arden couldn't sit still. Now that he knew what the fragments were truly for, his blood was boiling with excitement. His mind immediately turned to the Blazetail Lynx, the first beast he ever fought in this world, the one that gave him the Ignition Reflex. He already had six fragments. And now, he wanted more. "I need to see what the evolved version looks like," he muttered, already moving. He didn't waste time. Heading toward the Lynx's territory, he didn't let anything slow him down. Cinderfang Ravagers still roamed the area, but now they were little more than warm-up drills. He dealt with them easily, using his new ability to drive heat through his limbs and strikes. He barely flinched when they attacked. The Ignition Vein Surge made him faster, stronger and more dangerous. The system still chimed with new fragments of the Ember Core Pulse, but he didn't stop to care. He didn't know how many were needed for the next evolution, and right now, his focus was elsewhere. He picked up the pace. Not long after, he found a lone Blazetail Lynx crouched near a thicket. It hadn't noticed him. That was all he needed. He didn't hesitate. Like the first time, still no weapon in hand, but he had his fists and the energy running through them. He burst forward like a flash of heat, closed the distance, and landed a clean blow to its flank. It yelped, tried to counter, but Arden ducked low and drove his elbow into its neck, slamming it to the ground. "Too slow," he said under his breath, standing over its twitching form. He didn't feel anything from the kill-not pride, not excitement. This was business now. He moved on, looking for the next. The cycle repeated. He hunted through the day, slaying Lynx after Lynx, and when the sun dipped low, he returned to the cave. The cub was always waiting, sometimes dozing, sometimes pretending not to care. But it always sat close when he brought food. Nights were quieter. He shared meals with the cub and sat cross-legged, focusing on the life energy flowing through him. His control was better now and his core stronger. The energy no longer slipped from his grasp as easily. It moved when he called, not perfectly, but with promise. Days passed like that. Then, something changed. The Lynx started showing up less and less. He noticed the trail marks fading, the familiar patterns gone. He took a breath and shifted gears. Time to test something new. He sat on a ridge and placed his palm on the ground, channeling life energy downward, just like he'd been practicing. He let it spread, searching, linking. A pulse came back. Faint but clear. There. A cluster of life signatures, just a few kilometers out, packed tightly in one spot. "What's going on there?" he wondered aloud. He made his way toward it, quiet and curious. As he neared, he slowed his steps and crouched, peeking over a brush. Blazetail Lynx. A whole group of them. He frowned. "They usually move alone," he said, whispering to himself. "Maybe in pairs, at most." But here they were, bunched together, clearly tense. And it wasn't camaraderie, this wasn't a pack. They were growling at one another, tails low, like they were circling something... or fighting for it. Arden's eyes narrowed. Something had caught their attention. Something worth fighting over. Whatever it was, he wanted it. He leaned back, eyes scanning the group. The Lynx weren't coordinated, and their attention was split. A perfect setup for someone who knew how to pick apart chaos. "Alright," he whispered with a smirk. "Let's play." He started sketching the fight in his mind. He'd thin the strays on the edge first, move in quietly, and then work his way toward the center. Whatever they were guarding, he was going to take it. With a devious grin and the flicker of flame at his fingertips, Arden went hunting, not just for beasts, but for answers. A/N: Please Engage, Drop Comments and Reviews Don't Forget to Motivate the Autho