It's time!

'I'm screwed!'

'What even made me come back to this forest? I didn't even gain anything!' Kyle cried internally as he began to ponder,

'Running further won't help, so I'll have to take it on! Though that'll be stupid I'm left with no other choice.'

Kyle halted and turned to face the beast. The beast was confused at his sudden change.

"Hey, are you gonna watch me all day? I don't have much time to spare. So let's get this over with," Kyle taunted, perfectly hiding his fear.

The beast, angered, pounced at Kyle. Reading its attack, he easily sidestepped to the left allowing the beast to fall on the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, Kyle used his katana to slash at the exposed skin of the beast.

Slash!

"Well, won't say I wasn't expecting that," Kyle said with a tense look, embarrassed of his unfutile attack, 'At least I tried.'

"It was nice playing with you, kitty! Have a nice day!" Kyle said shamelessly as he turned around to flee, this time, out of the forest.

Just before Kyle could transverse 10 meters, he saw the beast at his front, its face radiating rage!

Growl.

The beast once again pounced on Kyle, giving him no time to dodge and pinning him to the ground.

Kyle was already bleeding from the beast's claws, "Am I really going to die like this? I didn't even get to learn magic," Kyle questioned after realizing his hopeless situation, "No, I refuse."

Kyle forcefully tried to free himself from the beast's paw without success, the beast withdrew an arm to slash at Kyle, giving him the chance to wriggle out.

Kyle immediately grabbed his dropped katana and took a stance, not bothering to try running.

The beast once again approached Kyle, its body enhanced with flames! This time it was serious.

Kyle raised his katana high and slashed,

"CUT!!"

Kyle cried out.

Once again his eyes shone white as his sword released a white line which cut the beast in two, slaying it!

[Congratulations!]

[You have slain tier 1 mana beast: flame tiger!]

[Rewards will be obtained when the status is unlocked]

[You've obtained mana core!]

Kyle relaxed his head, trying his best to not pass out, "Woah! System, you're still there?" Kyle asked with sarcasm.

'The power, it came again! Hmm, is it because my life was under threat.?I managed to kill a tier 1 beast, with a slash!' Kyle pondered.

"But first, I need to find Riya!" Kyle immediately began searching for Riya, fortunately he didn't encounter any other beast as he retraced his steps.

Moving towards the point where they separated, Kyle encountered Riya; already with her bow and was searching for him.

"I'm glad you survived! What happened with the beast?" Riya asked after meeting Kyle.

"I slayed it!" Kyle replied with a grin.

"Stop kidding and tell me what happened," Riya asked with an annoyed expression.

"I did slay it. You know that stuff that happened when we first trained? It came again and I managed to kill it with a strike!" Kyle added, shocking Riya even more.

"A strike?!! That's not possible! Let's head home first!" Riya said, still pondering on what he said.

"We didn't buy the clothes," Kyle reminded.

"True, we'll do that," Riya replied.

Kyle and Riya arrived home after their 'little' adventure.

Grace already back from work, sat at the front of the house, cultivating as usual.

"Kyle, Riya, you're back!" Grace called out, opening her eyes.

Kyle who was still about 20 meters away from her said internally, 'She's aware.'

They both came closer before greeting her.

"How was your adventure? Was it fruitful?"

"Today was one hell of a day!" Kyle exclaimed before he began to recount the event.

"Thank God you two are alright!" Grace said after listening to Kyle's tale. "I don't need to tell you you're not going back there."

"Of course! Maybe after awakening my magic," Kyle replied.

"I prepared dinner," Grace reminded.

They hurriedly ran inside as they were starving. After which they immediately went to bed.

'This is my second day here, and I killed a mana beast. I wonder how things are going at Yurigur,' Kyle said to himself.

Suddenly, Kyle remembered, "System, what did you say I obtained?"

[You obtained kill rewards; to be gotten after unlocking status]

[You obtained 1 mana core; check inventory!]

"Mana core?? Never heard of that before."

"Inventory!"

Kyle saw a virtual game-like inventory, only one item was displayed, the mana core.

As he thought of how to bring out the mana core, it immediately appeared on his hand, except its color—red, it looked exactly like the one he had seen Grace use. It was about the size of a small stone and was warm—It felt alive.

"What's this for?" Kyle wondered, he already had a clue that it was used for replenishing mana.

[Yes, the mana core can be used for cultivating and replenishing mana]

[It is made up of concentrated mana and located in everything capable of wielding mana]

"Since this was obtained from a mana beast, why isn't there a 'Qi crystal' from Qi beasts at Yurigur?"

[Any beast at the Qi core formation stage has a Spirit stone]

"Qi core formation?? I'm very sure this isn't my strongest kill. Assuming I don't have you, how does one obtain the crystal?"

[It's located within the body of a beast]

"Now it makes sense! I never really ate the Qi beasts so there was no point in dissecting it!"

I'll be questioned on how I dissected the beast if I reveal the crystal; I'll be with it for now.

"System, thank you! Good night!" Kyle said as he laid down to sleep.

[...]

~

In the heart of a celestial realm, a palace stands. Towering spires of crystalline material reach towards the heavens, shimmering with an inner light that reflects the colors of the sky above.

The walls are crafted from seamless white marble with veins of gold, and grand archways open to gardens where otherworldly flora bloom in a perpetual spring. Waterfalls of liquid silver cascade into tranquil pools, and the air is filled with the soft harmony of divine music.

At the center, a throne room with a floor of cloud-like mist houses a throne, carved from a single, massive gemstone that radiates an aura of power and rage.

Getting up from the throne was a towering figure adored in robes that radiated power, his eyes seemed boundless like the void itself.

"It's time," he said, directing his message to a yellow-skinned old man.

"Send my message to the other gods; The peace treaty is about over."

"Yes, my lord," the old man said with a slight bow before teleporting away.

Shortly after the old man left, a girl appeared in the room, she wore a white gown and had green hair. Her face looked like it was made of Jade, which gave her unparalleled beauty. Her amber eyes contrasted with her hair, which was already reaching her waist. One wouldn't know she was divine from her appearance; her aura was gentle and warm, giving all who came around her a welcoming presence.

"Father, your people aren't ready enough. Do you still wish to go on with the war?" She asked with a frown.

"Elysia," Pyrrhus called out with a chuckle. "What's with you and these humans? Remember, they do not matter in the grand scheme of things."

Elysia's heart thumped on hearing her father speak; she knew how much he had warned her against harboring feelings for the humans.

Pyrrhus on noting her sudden change quickly said, "Don't worry, I left them with a little help."

"Go on, tell Caelum to begin the training," Pyrrhus said, quickly ending the conversation.

'I have to take things into my own hands.'

Elysia threw one last look at her father before disappearing just as she had appeared.

"Once I conquer their galaxy and obtain the core of infinity; I'll be able to transcend once more!" Pyrrhus smiled, sitting on his throne once more.