A red-furred cat floated in the sky, screaming in pain. A blue light enveloped it, seemingly the source of its agony. The cat's body bulged as if being squeezed, and then—boom! It exploded into bits of meat.
Dread-Fire Cat Defeated!
Reward: +2 Stat Points.
"Huff! Huff! I'm all squeezed out…" Ethan gasped.
"Hiss…" Angitia echoed his exhaustion.
Both lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for air after two grueling days of relentless training and battles. They had fought fiercely against the Silver Rank beast, which was a level above them. Despite being worn out, Ethan felt a sense of accomplishment; he had survived and triumphed.
In their recent encounters, Ethan had relied solely on his Telekinesis, having no weapon or protective gear since his Weapons' Constitution had been sealed. Over the course of their battles, he had taken down numerous beasts, feasting on some and using specific body parts for cultivation. He discovered that willpower stemmed from experience, but his Telekinesis was still too weak to crush larger opponents easily. The Dread-Fire Cat had pushed him and Angitia to their limits, forcing them to work together to defeat it.
With the timer nearly up for their stay in this treacherous place, they decided to take a break. Ethan's clothes were in tatters; he looked like a wild man, disheveled and covered in dirt.
Soon enough, a portal appeared, whisking them back to his room on Earth. The portal spat them out unceremoniously.
Exhausted, Ethan discarded his torn clothes and climbed into the tub with Angitia. Though he was too fatigued to clean himself, the soothing cold water worked wonders, easing his tense muscles and fatigue.
"Sigh! I didn't know you were that stupid. I underestimated you," Zark mocked.
Ethan's face twitched in confusion. "You!"
"Just check your storage. Sigh!"
Feeling insulted, Ethan complied and opened his storage. His face flushed with shame as he spotted the energy suit—a custom-made piece of armor designed for protection. If not for the system and the resources in the Beast Plane, he would have been left scarred and injured. His body had managed to heal thanks to the herbs, but his clothes had not survived the ordeal.
"No wonder you mocked me. I've been an idiot," he mumbled to himself.
Not long after, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep right in the bathtub.
Ethan awoke in a meditative pose in the training room, eyes closed, while Angitia coiled comfortably around his neck. Items ranging from pens to chairs floated around them, bathed in bright blue energy. They were training Telekinesis, with Ethan controlling half and Angitia the other.
- Rank: Novice (Nearly Peak)
- Affinity Energy: 60/60
- Current Form: [Mixed Human]
- Race: Psyche-Eyed Serpent
- Rank: Bronze (Nearly Peak)
- Affinity Energy: 60/60
Ethan's Intelligence stat had transformed into Willpower to reflect their shared growth, and their Affinity Energy indicated the amount of mänə they had absorbed. Unlike typical awakened beings, Ethan and Angitia shared everything, ensuring neither could outpace the other. This unique bond prevented Ethan's level from advancing further until Angitia caught up.
After several minutes of focused training, Ethan felt his mänə dwindle, causing the floating items to drop. Angitia uncoiled and slumped to the ground, both of them drenched in sweat. They had managed to hold their Telekinesis for nearly an hour—a clear sign of progress.
While lying on the floor, Ethan accessed his system out of boredom. Browsing through the missions and quests, he couldn't help but click his tongue.
- Time Limit: 1 month.
- Penalty: Backlash Of Your Mage Rank At The Time.
- Reward: Gift Box (Random)
- Create Martial Arts!
- Use Pointers From The System To Create Your Own Martial Arts.
- Time Limit: 1 Week.
- Develop And Upgrade Martial Arts To Advanced.
- Time Limit: 3 Years.
His martial arts creation quest had shifted to a mission with 50% progress, likely due to the recent quest completion. After resting for 20 minutes, he headed to the cafeteria for lunch. There, he met Trevor, and they shared a meal, discussing light topics to take his mind off the training.
Later, he received a call from Miss Carmen, inquiring about his progress. Following Zark's advice, he lied, keeping his advancements a secret until he could ensure there wouldn't be any complications.
With the day winding down, Ethan returned to training, taking short breaks in between sessions. As night fell, he prepared to re-enter the Beast Plane, determined to continue his growth.