The forest had grown quiet again after the battle.
Kai walked steadily through the trees, the body of the Silverblade Fang left behind where it had fallen. The air was cooler now, the wind drifting slowly through the branches above. Shafts of sunlight slipped between the leaves and painted the forest floor in patches of gold.
Hybrid Vision Eyes remained active.
The faint energy currents flowing through the forest were clearer now after the upgrade. Every creature left a trail—some bright, some fading. Kai could see where predators had passed hours earlier, where smaller animals had fled, and where the Silverblade Fang had patrolled its territory.
But something else caught his attention.
Several weaker beast signatures appeared nearby.
Kai moved toward them cautiously.
Two creatures stepped out from the underbrush—lean, reptilian beasts with jagged scales along their backs. Their bodies were low to the ground, and their claws scraped softly against the dirt.
Kai recognized them immediately.
Stoneclaw Runners.
Intermediate predators, but far weaker than the Silverblade Fang.
The creatures spotted him and hissed.
Kai adjusted his grip on his sword.
This fight wouldn't be difficult.
The first Stoneclaw Runner lunged.
Kai stepped sideways, letting it pass just inches from him. His blade flashed downward, cutting cleanly across its spine.
The creature collapsed instantly.
The second Runner attacked immediately after.
Kai blocked the strike and countered with a quick thrust beneath its jaw.
The beast dropped beside the first.
The fight lasted less than ten seconds.
Kai stood still for a moment.
The system appeared.
Crystal Detected
Absorb Crystal?
YES / NO
Kai selected YES.
The crystal dissolved instantly into his hand.
Warm energy flowed through his body.
The system updated.
Crystal Absorbed
+50 XP
+8 RP
Kai blinked.
Only fifty?
That was… strange.
Just yesterday the Silverblade Fang had granted far more experience.
He frowned slightly but moved on.
Further ahead, another beast moved between the trees.
This one was bulkier.
A thick-furred predator resembling a large hyena stepped out from behind a fallen log.
Its teeth glinted as it growled.
Kai stepped forward.
The creature lunged immediately.
Kai met it head-on.
His sword cut across the creature's shoulder.
The beast tried to bite, but Kai pivoted smoothly and drove the blade through its neck.
Another quick fight.
The creature collapsed.
Kai waited for the system again.
Crystal Detected
Absorb Crystal?
YES / NO
He confirmed the absorption.
The crystal dissolved like the others.
The system updated again.
Crystal Absorbed
+50 XP
+10 RP
Kai stared at the numbers.
Again.
Fifty XP.
That couldn't be coincidence.
He looked at the fallen predator.
This beast was clearly stronger than the Stoneclaw Runners.
But the system rewarded the same amount.
Kai walked slowly through the forest, thinking.
Hybrid Vision Eyes traced faint movements further ahead.
Two more beasts were approaching.
A pair of large cat-like predators with thick claws and muscular bodies.
They circled carefully.
Kai stepped forward calmly.
The first cat lunged.
Kai blocked the attack and slashed across its ribs.
The second predator attacked from behind.
Kai ducked beneath the strike and spun, cutting across its leg.
Both creatures staggered.
Two quick strikes finished them.
The beasts collapsed.
Kai absorbed both crystals.
The system appeared again.
Crystal Absorbed
+50 XP
+11 RP
Crystal Absorbed
+50 XP
+9 RP
Kai stood still.
Four fights.
Four victories.
And every single one had granted the same experience.
Fifty XP.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why fifty?" he murmured quietly.
Hybrid Vision Eyes scanned the forest again.
The beasts here were weaker than the Silverblade Fang.
But not weak enough to give such a small reward.
Something had changed.
Kai sat down on a fallen tree trunk and opened the system interface.
The status screen appeared.
System Status
XP: 1,372
Reward Points: 334 RP
Abilities:
Hybrid Vision Eyes (Upgraded)
Crystal Assimilation
Combat Instincts
Kai studied the numbers carefully.
He remembered the earlier battles clearly.
Before today, intermediate beasts had granted far more XP.
Now everything was capped at fifty.
He opened the system shop.
The interface expanded slightly, revealing additional items that had appeared after his recent battles.
System Shop
Combat Instincts Upgrade II — 150 RP
Advanced Sword Control — 120 RP
Endurance Boost — 100 RP
Perception Amplifier — 160 RP
Hybrid Vision Analysis Module — 200 RP
Kai leaned back slightly.
The system wasn't reducing rewards entirely.
It was still giving Reward Points.
In fact, he was gaining RP faster than before.
But XP had slowed dramatically.
Why?
He stood again and continued walking.
Maybe stronger beasts would give more.
Hybrid Vision Eyes scanned deeper into the forest.
A large signature appeared near a rocky ridge.
Kai moved quickly.
The creature waiting there was massive—another Ironhide Boar.
Larger than the one he had fought earlier with Marcus and the others.
Its tusks carved deep marks into the soil as it pawed the ground.
Kai approached calmly.
The beast charged immediately.
Kai dodged the tusks and slashed across the creature's side.
The Ironhide Boar roared and turned sharply.
Kai struck again.
Three precise blows weakened the beast's legs.
A final strike drove the sword deep into its neck.
The creature collapsed.
Kai absorbed the crystal.
The system appeared.
Crystal Absorbed
+50 XP
+14 RP
Kai exhaled slowly.
Even this beast.
Still fifty.
Now he was certain.
Something had changed in the system.
He walked slowly toward the ridge overlooking the deeper forest.
Hybrid Vision Eyes scanned the distant terrain.
Several stronger signatures appeared far away.
Much larger beasts.
Much more dangerous.
Kai watched them for a long moment.
Then the realization came quietly.
"Stronger prey," he said softly.
The system wasn't rewarding these fights anymore because they weren't challenging enough.
He had outgrown them.
Kai smiled slightly.
It wasn't frustration.
It was a puzzle.
And puzzles had solutions.
If the system wanted stronger enemies—
He would find them.
Kai turned back toward the academy as the sun began to set.
The forest behind him returned to silence.
His progress had slowed.
But his understanding had grown.
I understand