Chapter 41: Into the Forest

As soon as Levi used his blood energy, the feeling slowly faded. He turned towards Mary and asked.

His voice cracking a little from that feeling!

"What was that?"

"Pollution! We can it that. But in reality, it’s just a mixture of blood aura, killing intent, and a massive wave of spiritual energy."

"Our cities are safe because there is a thin protective layer of a Spirit Tree, but outside, it doesn’t have that."

"In a place full of monsters, it is normal. You have to get used to it here. If you leave the Outer Ring, it will get even worse."

Although she said it calmly, her eyes were fixed on her brother.

If Mike couldn’t adjust, she would take him back immediately. Even she had a hard time adjusting to this feeling.

The blood energy couldn’t negate it. In fact, the blood energy just heightened their senses, but it also blocked the pressure.

Without the pressure from the pollution, the rest was just like an intense smell.

It took them quite a while to adjust themselves. In this regard, Levi adjusted pretty quickly.

In fact, he even had time to notice something and check his system.

[Ding! Your body is facing killing intent and received 0.01EP]

[Ding! Your body is facing killing intent and received 0.01EP]

[Ding! Your body is facing killing intent and received 0.01EP]

[Ding! Your body is facing killing intent and received 0.01EP]

Looking at the string of notifications, he rolled his eyes. Since they were too low, the system didn’t reveal them until he checked the log.

But what surprised him was that he was getting 0.01EP per minute.

It meant that if he stayed here for twelve hours, he would earn around seven EP.

That wasn’t a lot, but considering he wasn’t doing anything, it was indeed passive earnings.

This was good news. This place was good news.

Levi looked at Mary and said.

"From here on out, you will be on your own. I know you are strong, but if something happens, don’t forget to call us."

He said while glancing at Mary’s watch. Levi, Sonya, and Mike were also wearing a similar watch.

Not only could it stay safe during battle, but it could also make calls and send messages, and it included a GPS tracking system.

This allowed the four of them to find each other with ease. But Levi, Sonya, and Mike weren’t gonna be separated.

Mary nodded and immediately picked up her pace, running farther away from them.

Meanwhile, Mike looked at Levi and asked,

"So, where do we hunt?"

Levi rolled his eyes and said.

"Of course, we go there."

He pointed at the nearest forest. He had read the map of the Outer Ring before coming here.

"The Outer Ring has a total of three checkpoints, each representing a certain forest. Two canals connected three forests, supplying monsters with water."

"The entire structure of the forest is made by putting stronger monsters behind the weaker monsters, similar to the MMORPG games."

Hearing that, Mike asked.

"Do you think they got the inspiration from those games?"

Levi rolled his eyes.

"Did you really forget about those history lessons? Even though humanity was almost destroyed, much of the knowledge was found."

"Even some comic books from today are just reimaginings of those from the past. Otherwise, why do you think none of those superhero comics’ main characters have a harem?"

"Because they were made for kids?"

Mike mumbled.

Levi shrugged his shoulders.

"Who cares? Anyway, we need to start from the first checkpoint. After fighting a few monsters, we will move to the second checkpoint."

"We will not delve deeper into any of those."

Although it was clearly stated that only Beast Cubs were placed in the Outer Ring, what if one of those Beast Cubs became a Beast Soldier?

"Good!"

Both of them had no objection to his idea. They also didn’t want to face some kind of powerful monster and end up dying.

Levi opened the bag behind him and took out the spear. Of course, he hadn’t stored the spear in the bag.

He just pulled it out of the inventory. This was a benefit of having a system spirit. He could just ask the system to place the spear in its previous place.

That previous place being the bag. Holding the spear, he looked at others and nodded.

As they made their way into the first checkpoint, they decided to be more cautious.

Levi made them walk close to each other while also observing both sides.

Soon, they made their way into the forest and immediately came into contact with an evolved beast.

This monster was nearly as tall as a car, with a large trunk like an elephant, a body like a crocodile, and eyes like a lion.

"Trunk Croc! A ferocious monster with an ability to extend its trunk."

Just as Mike introduced the monster, Levi immediately grabbed the middle of the spear and thrust it forward.

Thwack!

The collision between the trunk and spear was quite shocking. The spear didn’t manage to pierce the trunk, nor did the trunk manage to push the spear away.

Levi’s position was perfect. His feet and waist were bearing all the pressure as he kept pushing against the trunk of Trunk Croc.

Shrinnnn!

The blade released a deep hum as Sonya charged from the side. Her sword made a perfect arc in the air as it fell towards the trunk.

"Waagoo!"

The Trunk Croc released a weird noise before pulling its trunk from danger.

It instantly turned towards Sonya and attacked her with the trunk.

This surprised Sonya, but she quickly blocked it using her sword. Even though the edge of the blade touched its trunk, the croc didn’t panic.

It exerted more strength and instantly slapped the sword out of her hand.

Just when Sonya thought the trunk would hit her, the trunk croc instantly pulled back its trunk and struck the front of the trunk towards the spear.

[Starry Sky Thrust]

The spear moved so fast that it almost made a bullet look slow. But Levi lacked control.

The spear was trembling a bit, and while moving, it was making a lot of noise.

That noise was the reason why the trunk croc reacted so quickly.

But even it didn’t expect the spear to have so much power. It tore through the thick skin of the trunk, making it bleed with a single stab.

Splash!

Levi pulled back his spear.

[Resounding Thunder Fist]

Suddenly, Mike appeared in mid-air with his fist aiming straight towards the croc’s head.

Bang!

The previous injury made the croc unable to sense the danger until Mike’s punch landed on its head, slamming its neck into the ground.

It instantly moved its tail to strike Mike while he was still near, but Sonya appeared in time as she blocked the tail of the beast.

’Man! That cost me one-fourth of my blood energy, and it caused no damage?’

Mike jumped back, but his eyes showed a look of disbelief.

Although Sonya managed to block it, the trunk croc instantly overwhelmed her with its strength, pushing into the tree bark.

Thud!

"Cough!"

Sonya fell face first to the ground while coughing out some blood.

On the other hand, Levi took this opportunity and drove his spear straight into the neck of the trunk croc.

But just when he thought his spear had reached its neck, the trunk croc instantly swung its trunk and struck his spear with immense force.

Levi managed to hold it back but he quickly found himself in the losing side as his grip on the spear tightened but his hands were pushed aside.

At this moment, Mike shouted.

"Levi, it’s using its blood energy. We have to wait until it runs out of blood energy."

Hearing his words, Levi rolled his eyes.

Did Mike hit his brain when fighting this guy? How could a human compete against a monster in blood energy reserves?

"Mike, let’s attack from behind!"

Sonya, while injured, instantly approached Mike and whispered.

Mike shook his head.

"You need some rest. If that attack had been a bit more powerful, it would’ve broken your back."

Sonya glared at him and said.

"I am not some kind of glass cannon. I can handle this situation."

Although they were whispering, their voice still reached Levi, who spoke.

"Mike, Sonya, let me handle this first. Once you see the opportunity, you can participate."

Without giving them any chance to reply, Levi manipulated the spear between his arms, directing the power of the trunk towards the ground.

He rushed forward, trying to strike the trunk croc in its belly from the side when it quickly raised one of its rear legs and kicked Levi.

Of course, Levi activated the Willow Steps and Five Beasts Form to dodge the kick before he spun and slid underneath the trunk croc.

While the croc was busy moving its trunk, Levi grabbed the middle of the spear with both hands and activated his spiritual power.

The flaming hot blood energy burst out of his skin and ignited the spear in fire as he pushed the tip towards the belly of the croc.

Splash!