David walked the familiar, cracked paths back toward home, his mind already leaping ahead to tomorrow. The midday sun hung high, beating down on the third-level district with relentless heat that turned the air thick and shimmering.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his enhanced body handled it better now—vitality from the physique keeping fatigue at bay, his steps light despite the weight of his thoughts.
The black market visit had been sobering: Grade 1 blades started at over a thousand coins, far beyond their current means.
A new weapon was essential; his old mortal blade would shatter the first time he channeled real qi through it. They needed coin, and fast.
Hunting was the only way.
He pondered solemnly as he walked, weighing options against risks.
Night Wolf Peak to the northeast—that was out for now. They had barely survived hunting a Tier 2 Star Wolf pack there recently, the memory of claws and howls still fresh.
Going back so soon, even with his breakthrough, wasn't worth the risk.
One Tier 2 was manageable with luck; a pack would overwhelm them.
South lay Annihilation Gorge—a jagged, mist-shrouded scar in the earth teeming with beasts above Tier 3. Legends spoke of ancient horrors lurking in its depths, ones that could annihilate entire squads with a single strike. Out of the question entirely.
They weren't ready for that level of nightmare.
East were the Red Plains—vast grasslands dotted with roaming herds of Tier 1 beasts, mostly below Stage 8. Safe, reliable hunting grounds where they'd gone many times before. Low risk, steady gains.
But the payouts were meager: Stage 1-7 beasts fetched 50-150 coins per full body after splitting parts. Tier One Stage 9 beast materials averaged 200 coins per full body—better, but still slow for their needs.
At that rate, affording a Grade 1 blade would take a month or more of daily hunts—exhausting, time-consuming, and leaving them vulnerable to taxes, thieves, or ambitious guards.
No. To earn quickly, they needed higher-value targets. Tier 1 beasts above Stage 7, or better yet, occasional Tier 2 encounters like the Snake Tree they'd felled last time.
His thoughts fixed on Beast Core Valley to the northwest—a rugged valley riddled with caves and streams, known for richer energy veins that attracted stronger beasts. Tier 1 Stage 8-9 were common, and occasionally, a Tier 2 wandered in searching for cores or herbs.
Riskier, yes—deeper wilderness, potential for packs or territorial monsters—but the rewards matched. A single Stage 9 carcass could net 200-300 coins. A Tier 2? Up to 1000 or more if sold whole. Two or three good hunts, and a blade was within reach.
Beast Core Valley at dawn tomorrow, he decided. To tell Mom the plan tonight. Prepare gears, set traps for safety.
The thought brought a grim smile. With his breakthrough, they had an edge now. He'd reveal just enough to ease her worries.
As home drew near—their rundown shack at the end of a narrow alley—commotion reached his ears. Shouts, crude laughter, the thud of boots on packed earth.
David's blood ran cold.
He broke into a run, heart pounding.
Rounding the corner, he saw them.
William Johnson stood in front of their door, his broad frame blocking the way like a living barricade. Six guards flanked him, smirks on their faces, weapons drawn but casual—spears and blades glinting in the sun.
A small crowd of neighbors watched from safe distances—curious whispers, but no one daring to intervene.
Anna faced them alone, spear gripped tightly, posture low and ready. Her eyes burned with defiance, but David saw the tension—the knowledge they were outnumbered.
William's voice carried, mocking and loud.
"Come on, Anna. No need for the cold shoulder. I'm just here to congratulate your boy. Word is he's finally crawled into the cultivator world. About time the trash grew a backbone."
David's vision tunneled with rage. His fists clenched, qi surging instinctively. But he forced it down. Control. Rushing in blind would endanger Anna.
He strode forward, stepping between William and his mother, facing the captain directly.
William towered over him, but David's new height closed much of the gap. Their eyes locked—William's filled with cruel amusement, David's burning with barely restrained fury.
"Why are you here, William?" David asked, voice low and steady, each word edged like a blade.
William's mocking smile widened as he took in David's transformed appearance—the taller stature, refined muscles, piercing dark-gray eyes.
"Well, well," William drawled, crossing his arms. "Look at you. All grown up overnight. Heard you caused a stir at the black market entrance. Took down Big Toro with one punch? Impressive for someone who couldn't even gather qi a few days ago."
David's control strained, but he held firm. He still didn't know his full potential—the abilities were raw, unpracticed. No mastery yet. But he wouldn't step back.
"Answer the question," David repeated coldly. "Why are you at our home?"
William leaned in, aura flaring slightly—Seventh Stage pressure testing.
"Curiosity, boy. Last time we met, you were mortal trash—couldn't gather qi to save your life. Stuck in Body Tempering forever, entertainment for me on boring days. I'd watch you fail, hide behind your mother's skirts, and laugh.
Kept me sane while I've been grinding this damned stage for years. Core Formation' meaning getting promotion to second level, real power, better everything. But bottlenecks… they drag. You were my little distraction. Weak. Pathetic."
He laughed, but there was no humor in it—only bitterness. William's cultivation had stalled years ago, trapped at the peak of Foundation Establishment, one bottleneck away from Core Formation.
That breakthrough would mean promotion to second-level access, better resources, real power. But it eluded him, a constant thorn. Tormenting weaklings like David had been a distraction, a way to vent frustration. But now? Now the rat had teeth.
David felt the pressure bearing down, knees buckling slightly. His qi resisted, but he was no match yet. He pushed back anyway, refusing to kneel.
"You think you're special?" William sneered, stepping closer. "A lucky breakthrough doesn't make you my equal. I've crushed dozens like you—upstarts who think one spark makes them a fire. You're still trash, boy. Just trash that learned to crawl."
Anna stepped forward, spear raised. "Enough talk. Leave, or we'll make you."
William's eyes gleamed. "Oh, Anna. Always the firebrand. That's what I like about you. Come on—accept my offer. Be mine, and this ends. Your boy lives comfortably. You get protection. Or keep resisting, and I break him in front of you."
David snapped.
"You don't touch her," he growled, lunging forward, fist flying without qi enhancement only raw physical power from the physique.
The fight erupted.
William sidestepped lazily, countering with a palm strike. It connected and the Seventh Stage force cracking David's guard, sending him staggering, ribs protesting with sharp pain.
Anna joined instantly, spear thrusting like lightning. William parried with his gauntlet, laughing.
"Good! Make it fun!"
Guards swarmed. Two on David sides blades slashing.
He dodged with pure reflexes his enhanced body moving faster than before, Counterpunch landed, guard reeling.
Anna weaved through three, spear inflicting scratches only shallow cuts drawing blood. A blade grazed her arm—scratch, minor, barely bleeding.
David pressed William, punches flying. Landed one on the arm—grunt from the captain. But retaliation—a kick to David's side, cracking bone.
Pain flared. Blood in mouth. Regeneration siphoned from nearby weeds—mending slowly, but he held back full activation, no conscious Death Consumption.
William's eyes widened slightly—surprise at the resilience, then delight.
"You heal fast. Interesting toy."
He toyed with them but blows were measured. Killing is normal in base, but in public? Higher-ups valued image. Rampant murder tarnished records and might delayed promotions. Core Formation is close and second level beckoned. No outright kill here; witnesses would report.
David was entertainment but former weakling now fighting back. Stagnation frustration vented. But a rising threat? Needed to be eliminated, subtly.
"You're fun, rat," William taunted. "But toys break."
Anna flanked, spear drawing blood and scratch on William's thigh.
He snarled, elbowing her—bruise, no deep wound.
David charged again, fist to gut. William blocked, countering with punch to chest.
David flew, crashing into wall. Bones cracked, blood flowing.
Anna cried out, covering.
Crowd murmured with excitement, bets whispered.
David rose, regeneration pulling from dying grass and his wounds knitting slowly.
William laughed. "Stubborn. I like it."
Fight dragged—William prolonging, public eyes restraining full kill.
David injured deeper were cuts, bruises, cracked bones. Anna scratches, light wounds.
William unscathed mostly few minor scratches that are healing slowly.
Entertainment turned calculation.
The rat rose too fast. Threat.
Needed to be eliminated—quietly later.
For now, end show.
"Enough," William growled, aura crushing.
David stood defiant, qi burning but unused in abilities.
Not broken.
Yet.
As the brawl wound down—William pulling back with a final, mocking salute, his guards retreating and the crowd dispersed, whispering of the slum boy who held against the captain.
William walked away, his men trailing.
Once out of sight, around a corner and heading to the watch post, he turned to his closest henchman, voice low and cold.
"That boy… David Wilson. He's no longer entertainment. He's a threat. Rising too fast—from mortal trash to this in days. Healing like that? Taking hits and getting up? He's hiding something big. Can't have him growing. Eliminate him. Quietly. No witnesses. Accident in the wilderness, or a knife in the dark. Do it soon—before he becomes a problem I can't squash easily."
The henchman nodded, eyes gleaming with greed or perhaps a reward.
William's smile returned, cruel.
"Core Formation's close. Second level waiting. Can't have rats nipping at my heels."
Back home, David leaned on Anna, injuries aching but mending.
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