Hunt for Unranked Crystals

Aaron followed closely behind Adrian as they ascended the stairs leading to the rooftop. Their footsteps echoed through the empty hallways, and the tension between them was palpable. A group of bullies trailed behind, their faces twisted into sneers and grins of anticipation.

As they reached the rooftop, Adrian turned to face Aaron, his eyes blazing with anger. The other bullies lingered by the door, watching with morbid fascination.

"You think you're a big boy now?" Adrian whispered harshly, his voice dripping with malice. "I made you my bitch for years, but now you're pretending to be a different person? You probably haven't even started cultivating yet, or you're just a first realm."

Aaron's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, his expression stoic and unreadable. If this had happened a couple of hours ago, he would have been angered by Adrian's words, but now he felt calmer. With the Exploration option, he had not only killed many beasts but also died multiple times. He never used the full hour before dying to something, and he managed to restart the hunt over four times.

The two boys stood in silence for a moment, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills. Finally, Adrian broke the silence, hurling insults and taunts at Aaron in an attempt to provoke a reaction. But Aaron simply stood there, his eyes fixed on Adrian, his demeanor cool and collected, at least on the surface. The things Adrian said did indeed anger him slightly, especially with the memories he had of the old Aaron.

The other bullies looked on eagerly, waiting for the violence to erupt. But as Adrian lunged forward, throwing a punch at Aaron, he evaded him with a graceful movement, his body flowing like water as he dodged the attack.

Adrian's eyes widened in surprise and frustration as he tried again and again to land a blow on Aaron, but the other boy was always one step ahead, his movements fluid and precise.

Reaching the third realm of Feline Steps in such a short time was absurd, but the figure in Aaron's mind's eye had managed it. Although Feline Steps was only a basic level technique, it was still of a higher realm than the fist technique Adrian was using.

Despite his superior cultivation base, Adrian was unable to penetrate Aaron's defenses, and soon he began to tire, his breathing ragged and labored.

"You slippery bitch!" Adrian spat out. "I swear I'll break you!"

Aaron's chest tightened as he turned around, the bullies by the roof door scattering like frightened mice. He couldn't shake off the feeling of frustration that gnawed at him, like a persistent itch he couldn't scratch. The fight with Adrian had been a letdown, and he knew he couldn't take him on right now, not with his family's limited finances.

But he couldn't just sit back and watch Adrian grow stronger, fueled by the abundant resources at his disposal. Aaron clenched his fists, feeling the tension building up inside him. "I need to find a way," he muttered to himself, his eyes darting around the empty rooftop. The wind whistled in his ears, carrying the distant sounds of traffic and the faint scent of freshly cut grass. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts.

The Academy was his only chance to level up and gain access to more resources, but that was still a couple of months away. Adrian, on the other hand, had enough Crystals to overpower him in no time. Aaron's jaw tightened as he scanned the horizon, searching for a glimmer of hope. He couldn't afford to give up now, not when

***

Aaron slumped on the couch, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to enter a Genesis gate right now, and he needed Unranked Crystals to improve his cultivation. There was no way he could earn enough money while juggling school and other responsibilities.

But then he remembered reading about a group that reported on Demonic Beast outbreaks, both past and present. With a newfound determination, Aaron quickly searched for the group's website and registered with them.

"If I can find a nearby outbreak, I could kill a Demonic Beast and get some Unranked Crystals," he thought, feeling a glimmer of hope.

It was a dangerous plan, but he had no other choice. With his resolve strengthened, Aaron began scouring the group's reports for any signs of a nearby outbreak.

***

With a determined look on his face, Aaron picked up the old sword that he had purchased with his limited funds. He knew it was a risky move to attempt to hunt Demonic Beasts with such a flimsy weapon, but he had no other options. That's why he had also invested in a Basic Spirit Energy manipulation guide, which he had to scrape every last bit of his savings together to afford.

As he flipped through the pages of the guide, Aaron realized that mastering Spirit Energy manipulation would be crucial for his plan to succeed. It would allow him to infuse his weapon with a powerful energy that could damage even the toughest Demonic Beast hides.

But mastering this technique was easier said than done. The guide was filled with complex diagrams and equations that made Aaron's head spin. He spent days sitting at his kitchen table, staring at the book and practicing the techniques described within. He even set alarms for himself at night so he could wake up and continue training while the rest of the world slept.

Despite the challenges, Aaron was determined to succeed. His dedication paid off as he slowly began to feel the Spirit Energy flow more easily through his body. He practiced on the old sword until it glowed with an ethereal energy that hummed against his skin.

Now that Aaron had a better understanding of the Spirit Energy Manipulation Technique, he wasted no time in utilizing the [Training Time] option to continue mastering the skill. He repeated this for another day until he eventually realized that he could no longer improve the skill any further. It became clear to him that this was a basic skill with limited depth.

With his Feline Steps honed to the 4th Realm now, Aaron felt confident in his abilities to take on Unranked Demonic Beasts. He knew he had only ten minutes of Spirit Energy to work with, but that would have to be enough. He was ready to put his training to the test and see if he could survive the hunt.

[Feline Steps : 4th Realm]

[Spirit Energy Manipulation : 5th Stage (Peak Mastery)]