Spirit Fang Beast

Fueled by the bear's retaliatory strike, Devin seized the opportunity to evade and swiftly maneuvered behind the bear, utilizing the devastating Origin Annihilation technique. The attack finally managed to pierce the bear's tough hide, causing it to bellow in agony. Unfazed by its own injury, the bear charged at Devin, who braced himself for the impending clash.

As Devin removed his protective domain and engaged in a head-on confrontation with the enraged bear, he unleashed his newfound brute strength. Surprising the bear with his force, Devin managed to push it back, only taking a single step backward himself while causing the bear to stumble two steps away. A grin of satisfaction spread across Devin's face, confirming the effectiveness of the potion and the tempering of his physical abilities.

Regaining its composure, the bear charged at Devin once more, relying on its size and weight to overpower him. However, Devin had been patiently waiting for this moment. Utilizing his spiritual powers, he transformed them into tiny needles that struck the bear's head. The bear let out a painful shriek as blood poured from its eyes, nose, and mouth – evidence of internal bleeding caused by Devin's attack.

Without wasting any time, Devin swiftly pierced the struggling bear's chest, causing it to roar one last time before collapsing to the ground. Exhausted but filled with excitement, Devin recognized that he could now wield his spiritual power at will, a newfound ability that brought a gleam to his eyes.

Witnessing Devin's successful battle, the other two were inspired, seeing it as a personal challenge to also solo a high-level monster in the future.

[Congratulations to the player for killing a level 31 brown back bear. You gained 200 Exp]

Devin rolled his eyes at the meager experience points awarded for his accomplishment. "Only 200 Exp for killing a level 31 monster. That's why completing quests in Oasis is better than simple hunting," he muttered in frustration. Disappointed by the lack of valuable items in the bear's territory, Devin stored the bear's body for future use.

Feeling a mixture of pride and exhaustion, the group continued their journey, eager to face new challenges and overcome the trials that awaited them in the forest.

Continuing their quest, the trio took turns battling high-level beasts, each honing their combat skills and gaining experience in the process. Their proficiency improved with every encounter, as they pushed themselves to their limits.

Eventually, they arrived at the area where Alex had found the coveted red lotus. However, before they could proceed, they had to pass through the illusion mist.

Alex confidently entered the mist, unaffected by the illusions as the effect is only the first time. This left only Devin and Muriel to face the challenges presented by the mist.

Entrapped in the illusion, Devin found himself reliving his past fight with Jekyll. However, this time, the seed had no power to aid him. Helplessness washed over him as he witnessed Jekyll torture and eventually kill Alex. Overwhelmed by sadness and anger, Devin unleashed all the skills at his disposal, driven by a single thought - to exact revenge on Jekyll. His strikes with the sword were relentless, without giving Jekyll even a moment's respite. In a sudden twist, Devin unconsciously added his spiritual power with his aura that made his sword style change, splitting into two images that simultaneously targeted Jekyll's vital points, carrying the force of his spiritual power.

As Jekyll's illusion disintegrated, Devin emerged from the illusionary mist. Grateful for the mental and physical training provided by the mist, he contemplated the combination of his spiritual power and aura, realizing that the split in his sword could go even further. Naming it the Sword of Emptiness, Devin found joy in his newfound creation, no longer solely reliant on the power of the seed but taking control of his own destiny.

Excited by this breakthrough, Devin couldn't wait to experiment further with his evolving sword style and continue pushing the boundaries of his abilities.

As Devin emerged from the mist, he realized he had been inside for an entire day. Despite the time spent, they agreed that it was worth it for the mental and physical training the mist provided. The only downside was that the mist would no longer have any effect if they were to enter again.

Curious about the origins of the mist, Alex had spent his time searching the area but came up empty-handed. It seemed to be one of the natural phenomena of the forest, something that couldn't be easily explained. Devin, giving up on finding its secret, shrugged and accepted that some things were beyond their understanding.

On the topic of their search, Alex revealed that he had scouted the area and found an empty cave where they could rest before proceeding to the hill where the red lotus awaited. However, he also mentioned something intriguing - that he had encountered one of his old acquaintances, an enemy that had hurt him in the past.

Intrigued, Devin asked about the level of this old acquaintance. Alex's response, level 50, indicated that the creature was indeed powerful and dangerous. Devin realized that escaping from such a monster had been a stroke of luck for Alex.

Understanding the risks involved, Devin suggested waiting for Muriel before taking on the powerful monster. However, Alex, eager for revenge and with confidence in their abilities, proposed facing the monster alone, with the option to retreat if things became too overwhelming.

Feeling a sense of excitement and determination, Devin agreed, eager to put his new sword style to the test. The two headed towards the territory of the powerful monster.

Upon encountering the beast, Devin was surprised by its appearance. It was a spirit fang, a creature with sharp fang-like teeth and claws protruding from its mouth. What made it unique was that it only resided in areas with pure spiritual essence.

Devin explained to Alex the unique traits of the beast. "There must be something, a pure spiritual essence around here that is not affected by the murky dark forest," Alex pondered.

Realizing that attacking the monster wouldn't be wise, Devin suggested monitoring it instead, hoping that it would lead them to the source they were looking for.

For hours, the duo observed the spirit fang monster, trying to discern its routine and patterns.

Finally, the moment came when the monster stood up and began walking majestically through a secluded side of the forest, leading to a hidden cave. Devin, utilizing his stealth abilities, trailed behind the monster. Equipped with a cloak that rendered him invisible and shielded his aura, he silently followed the creature.

The monster entered the cave, and Devin waited for a moment before cautiously entering as well. Inside, Devin discovered that the cave was larger than it appeared from the outside. He noticed fruit shrubs growing nearby, with deep green glossy leaves and blackish berries adorning them.

Curiosity piqued, Devin observed as the monster approached the shrub and began to eat the blackish berries. Suddenly, the creature started to groan in pain, rolling on the ground in agony. After a few minutes, the groaning ceased, but its movements became weak as it moved towards a nearby pond. The monster drank from the pond first before immersing itself in the water, finding solace in its depths. Surprisingly, the water in the pond remained clear and untouched, as if it had a self-cleaning quality.

Despite his curiosity, Devin refrained from touching the shrub, deciding to observe the beast as it lay in the water. There was still much to learn about this mysterious creature and the spiritual essence it seemed to seek in the forest.

The beast eventually left the cave after spending two hours soaking in the pond. Devin seized the opportunity to use identification magic on the shrub adjacent to the pond.

The analysis revealed that it was Hetz berry, a magical plant that had the potential to aid in evolution. While consuming the raw berries was poisonous, they could be utilized in the creation of a potion that would be consumable for humans. Devin couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement and satisfaction. This discovery was like a heaven-sent substitute for the first-level gene evolution potion he had been trying to create. Additionally, if their original intention had been solely to kill the beast for revenge, the beast now had added value.

As Devin approached the pond, an eerie chill ran down his spine. Thanks to his Temporal perception ability, he was able to swiftly move away, evading an attack from an unseen source. The monster, finding nothing there, surveyed the cave once more before finally departing. Holding his breath and remaining still, Devin waited until he was certain the creature wouldn't return before cautiously leaving the cave. He knew that the pond held great potential and was unlikely to disappear from its location.

Returning to where Alex and Muriel were waiting, Devin signaled for them to leave, as the vigilant nature of the monster deemed it unsafe to linger any longer. The trio then entered the cave that Alex had previously discovered, and Devin began to recount the findings he had made within the mysterious cave.