The forest seemed alive, its ancient trees whispering secrets to one another in a language he couldn't understand. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down his spine. Wu Chen froze, his hand tightening around the jagged spearhead he carried.
He knew that sound—it was the same growl he had heard before encountering the demonic wolf.
"Not again," he muttered under his breath, his heart pounding like a war drum. But this time, something was different.
Wu Chen knew that absorbing the Demonic Core was very risky and not something people usually did. However, he couldn't resist the temptation because he believed the system had offered him the ability to absorb it.
And since the system is his ability, his powers.
He thought it might be safe, and it could make him stronger. Surprisingly, after absorbing it, his strength increased by 50%, even though his cultivation level stayed the same.
This kind of power boost while your energy level stayed the same was something no one had ever heard of. The system also notified him that his power level was now stabilized.
The power he had gained from absorbing the demonic core pulsed within him, a steady thrum of energy that filled him with a strange, newfound confidence.
He was no longer the helpless boy who had barely escaped with his life. He was stronger now.
The growl grew louder, reverberating through the trees like a warning. From the shadows emerged a pair of glowing eyes, burning with malevolent intelligence.
A demonic panther, larger and more menacing than the wolf he had faced before, stepped into the moonlight.
Its fur was a deep, inky black, and its muscles rippled with predatory grace.
Wu Chen could feel the creature's power radiating from it, a palpable force that made the air around him feel heavy and oppressive.
And from its Aura it seems much stronger than the demonic wolf of before.
Wu Chen planted his feet, his mind a whirlwind of calculations. He couldn't afford to make a mistake. The creature lunged at him with terrifying speed, its claws slashing through the air like blades.
Wu Chen dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
He could feel the wind from the creature's claws as they passed inches from his face, close enough to make his skin crawl.
What followed was a dance at knifepoint. The panther's assaults came in blurs of obsidian fury, each swipe capable of shearing bone. But Wu Chen had evolved since the wolf fight. Now, his body moved with instinctual precision—each dodge, each lean, each half-breath adjustment guided by razor-sharp cognition.
'Predict. Adapt. Survive.'
No
'Predict. Adapt. Kill.'
The battle was fierce, the panther's strength and speed pushing Wu Chen to his limits.
He dodged and weaved, his body moving with a fluid grace. The creature's attacks were relentless, but Wu Chen's determination was unyielding.
He fought not just for survival, but for something greater—a purpose he was only beginning to understand.
And Then, the tide turned.
The panther's rhythm fractured. Its lunges grew sloppy, its coordination unraveling like frayed wire. Wu Chen's enhanced perception caught the tells instantly.
The creature's movements were becoming erratic, its attacks less coordinated, It's weakening.
Why?
He has no Idea
It was as if the creature was losing control, its power waning with each passing moment.
No matter. Opportunities were weapons too.
In the split-second between heartbeats, he struck—spearhead angled upward, following the lethal geometry his mind had mapped. The jagged metal found its destiny in the panther's throat, punching through hide, muscle, and artery in one brutal motion.
A guttural death-roar shook the trees as the beast collapsed, its massive frame convulsing in final defiance.
Wu Chen stood over the fallen beast, his chest heaving with exertion. He had done it—he had defeated another powerful foe.
But before he could catch his breath, the familiar voice echoed in his mind once more.
[System Notification]
[You have slain: Special Mortal Creature (Level 2 Low Tier) - "Demonic Panther"]
[ Do you wish to absorb the Special Demonic Core? - Y/N ]
Indeed he was right this one is stronger than the wolf.
But Wu Chen hesitated, his mind racing. He had just absorbed a demonic core, and the power it had granted him was undeniable.
But he also knew the risks—the potential for corruption, the danger of losing himself to the demonic energy.
Yet, the thought of gaining even more power was tempting. It called to him, a siren song of strength and dominance.
After a moment of contemplation, Wu Chen made his decision. "Yes" he willed.
A black smoke rose from the creature's corpse, swirling around him before being absorbed into his body.
The surge of energy was even more intense this time, and Wu Chen felt his strength increase exponentially. His muscles bulged with power, and his senses sharpened to an almost supernatural level.
[ Demonic Core Absorbed. ]
[ Power Level Increased: Mortal 1 Mid Tier. ]
Wu Chen's eyes widened in surprise. He had advanced to the next level of Mortal energy. The realization filled him with a sense of accomplishment, but also a growing awareness of the challenges that lay ahead.
And it seems he even skipped the beginner level.
If he continued to absorb demonic cores, he would grow stronger, but he didn't know if the power would be enough to face the enemies he would encounter in the future.
As he stood there, basking in the afterglow of his victory, Wu Chen's thoughts turned to the future. He knew that he couldn't stay in the forest forever.
He needed to find a way out, to complete the trial and uncover the secrets of the Trinity Palace. But first, he needed to gather more information.
He noticed the spear head he was using was broken from a spear, was it just a coincidence?.
Do the Trial placed objects randomly in the Trial ground Or was it once a weapon of a Human.
And Wu Chen is leaning towards the Later theory if it's from a human, which means they maybe people here.
Or Are they also Contestants of the trial just like him?.
or part of the trial?
Would they help him?, or be his enemies?.
Wu Chen decided to explore the forest further, hoping to find clues that would lead him to crucial information.
As he walked, he noticed that the trees were beginning to thin, and the ground was becoming more uneven. The air grew colder, and a faint mist began to creep in, obscuring his vision.
Suddenly, he heard a faint sound—a voice, barely audible over the rustling of the leaves. Wu Chen strained his ears, trying to make out the words. The voice grew louder, and soon, he could hear it clearly.
"Help... please... help me..."