Chapter 30 - The Great Toad

Kyle understood that forests were all different from each other. The forests all were in the positioned in the northern side of the continent. That is why the animals in the forests were more savage and much more tough in a direct confrontation, just like the animals of the earth's north.

If as an example, Kyle was in the southern regions, he would have had to deal with spiders, snakes and much more dangerous and cunning beasts. Those that relied on cheap trick and trickery to get their enemy down. This to a person who didn't know all possible dangers, was the same as death. That is why Kyle was glad to be fighting wolfs and boars instead of spiders and pythons.

As Kyle went deeper into the forest, the enemies started to become stronger and stronger. This was, in particular, true for the appearance of the beasts. At first, the beasts looked exactly the same as the beasts on earth, but very quickly, some of the features started changing drastically.

The wolf would have an additional claw hidden under the fur of its leg. A boar would have a horn that it would use to pierce in the direct attack. A fox that had spiked knives on the tail to instantly kill anything that came close.

After countless fights and absorptions, it was finally night time, and Kyle retreated into the tent to rest. On his way back he has marked one of the trees with a cross so that he knew how far he went the very next day and to try to go further.

This carried on for at least a week, and now Kyle was fully versed with the idea of meeting a level 1 beast. On the 3rd day, Kyle was unlucky enough to meet a huge toad the size of 3 metres. It was sitting on the island in the middle of the pond and looking into the forest. Kyle didn't want to fight it just yet, but seeing a level 2 beast really opened up his eyes to the world.

After 7 days of exploring, Kyle sorted through some of the items and decided to go into the forest to where he saw the toad. If he understood correctly, every beast of high level would claim a particular area and become the ruler of that area, that is why it was nearly impossible to find multiple high levelled enemies at the same time. That, of course, was great news for Kyle. But the beast could claim a territory for a reason.

As an example, the toad had a natural advantage near water, and he was most likely faster in moving in a swampy area than others. That is why he was able to take control of the pond area.

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The next morning Kyle ignored most of the beasts that attacked him and rushed straight through the forest to the pond area. The Lightning Step has improved drastically for Kyle and channelling qi, together with particular stepping pattern, allowed Kyle to boost his speed by at least 50%.

Kyle arrived at the pond after an hour and saw the toad, sitting there just like before, not moving even a little bit.

Kyle got ready with the wolf fang in one hand and a new sword that he got from killing a peak level 1 boar. It was a combination of its bones and some of the claws of other animals that he had in the storage space.

He adjusted his breathing. The qi circulation inside of his body, reaching the maximum he rushed towards the toad.

The water was not deep, but it was full of dirt and sand mixed together into a quicksand, pulling Kyle down very fast. If Kyle didn't have a Lighting Step technique, he would have been pulled down already. Even though Kyle was slowed down, he was still very fast. He wanted to use this opportunity before the Toad spotted him as he was attacking from it's back. Kyle stopped for a second and with a pullback threw one of the swords, that he bought from the village, with unbelievable strength at the toad.

When it was just about to reach and slice its back, the toad jumped up and neatly evaded the sword. The toad now turned towards Kyle and was looking at him with its big eyes. It was looking with a gaze that said 'Why did a mosquito want to bite me?'

Now Kyle stopped and had to think of ways to approach this. Even though the toad was around 15 metres from him, his Wave of Conviction couldn't reach the toad just yet. Also, he didn't know the toad's attack pattern and skills.

Kyle had 2 choices now, run away or rush straight ahead. Running away was not an option as this was a tempering event for Kyle, where he wanted to learn. While rushing straight ahead was not Kyle's style of fighting, but he couldn't see there anything else that he could do. He also couldn't stay still because of the quicksands that below the ponds water.

He rushed straight ahead, and with qi in his hand, he shot the Wave of Conviction. If it landed, it would have pierced straight through the toad's skin, but the toad was fast. Too fast, in fact, for Kyle. Kyle only started to get experience in battles. That is why some of the skills were still very much lacking.

The White line spread for 2 metres, and the toad easily evaded it at this distance and retaliated with its tongue. This was what Kyle was afraid of.

Toads were very well known to use the tongue as weapons and many games that Kyle played, had toads that could poison as well. As Kyle couldn't evade the attack, he prayed that it is not poisonous.

The tongue struck Kyle on the stomach, and it felt as if a hammer was used to strike at full force. The tongue was red in colour but was as strong as steel. Kyle flew for 10 metres before dropping to the water. Kyle quickly stood up and spit a coughed up blood ball. His insides were damaged by this, but not too much, Kyle could still fight.

The toad in all of this time still stayed on the island and looked at this as if some performance was happening in front of it to relax and enjoy.

Kyle was getting mad, 'I have to increase my range somehow. I am still unable to use more than 5 spots on my palm to increase the range or the power of the Wave of Conviction. Suddenly Kyle remembered about a remark that he heard. The Wave of Conviction can be used through the weapon to achieve a different shape, length and power levels of the wave. With this thought in Kyle's mind, he gripped the sword in one hand and started channelling the qi through it.