Chapter 12: The Long Road to Power

John soared above the vast forest, his wings casting a dark shadow over the treetops. His eyes scanned the dense, twisted landscape below, seeking out his next prey. It had been months since he first entered this forest, and with each passing day, he grew stronger. Now a **Tier 5** creature, he knew the climb to **Tier 6** would be even steeper. At **Level 15**, he had made significant progress, but the gap to **Level 160** felt like an eternity.

His mind replayed the numbers over and over. "100,000 experience points for every single level… That's insane," he muttered to himself, feeling both frustrated and excited. The **exp bar** seemed like a massive mountain to climb, but John wasn't one to back down from a challenge.

His wings flared, and with a powerful flap, he gained more altitude. From this vantage point, he could see the deep, dark regions of the forest where even more dangerous monsters lurked. He had been holding back from entering those depths, remembering the time he had almost been killed by a **Tier 6** creature.

But now, things were different. He was stronger. Much stronger.

"System, show me my current stats," he commanded as he glided through the sky.

The familiar interface materialized in his vision.

[**Current Level: 15**]

[**Experience: 35,000/100,000**]

[**Tier: 5**]

[**Length: 12 meters**]

[**Wingspan: 24 meters**]

[Strength: 600]

[Agility: 520]

[Endurance: 680]

[Abilities: Flame Breath, Abyssal Roar, Shadow Claw]

John grinned, his massive wings cutting through the air with ease. His body had grown considerably since reaching **Tier 5**. Now, at 12 meters in length with a wingspan of 24 meters, he dwarfed most of the beasts he encountered in the forest. His muscles were packed with raw power, and every flap of his wings felt effortless. But he knew that raw strength alone wouldn't be enough. To face the monsters in the deep forest, he would need to continue mastering his skills.

The battles over the last few months had taught him that while brute force could win fights, strategy and skill were just as important. His **Flame Breath** was powerful, but it lacked the precision he needed to deal with faster, more agile foes. His **Abyssal Roar** could incapacitate enemies, but it drained his energy faster than he liked.

"I need to get better at using what I already have," John said, his mind focused. "If I keep relying on brute force, I won't survive the monsters in the deeper parts of the forest."

As he flew deeper into the dangerous region, the trees below became gnarled and twisted, their trunks blackened as though scorched by some ancient magic. The ground was cracked and barren in places, signs that powerful monsters roamed these lands.

John spotted movement below and descended silently, his large frame barely making a sound as he landed on the forest floor. He stalked forward, his eyes locking onto his next target.

A massive **Ironhide Basilisk** slithered through the shadows. Its scales were a dark, metallic gray, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent light. The creature's body was at least 10 meters long, and its thick, armored hide would make it difficult to damage.

[**Ironhide Basilisk – Tier 5**]

[Strength: 550]

[Agility: 450]

[Endurance: 750]

[Abilities: Petrifying Gaze, Hardened Scales]

John smirked, recognizing the challenge before him. "Another Tier 5, huh? Let's see how well you stand up to me."

The basilisk turned its head, sensing John's presence. Its eyes began to glow with an ominous light as it unleashed its **Petrifying Gaze**. The air around them crackled with energy as the beast attempted to freeze John in place with its stare.

But John was ready. His eyes glowed with dark energy, countering the basilisk's gaze. He launched himself forward, his claws slicing through the air as he brought them down on the creature's armored hide.

The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, but the basilisk's scales held strong. It hissed angrily, whipping its tail toward John with blinding speed. He dodged, his wings carrying him up just in time to avoid the deadly strike.

"Those scales are tougher than I thought," John muttered as he circled above, his mind racing. He needed to find a weak spot.

The basilisk slithered forward, its gaze never leaving John as it attempted to petrify him again. But John wasn't giving it the chance. He dove down, flames erupting from his maw as he unleashed his **Flame Breath**. The black fire washed over the basilisk, its scales glowing red from the heat. It screeched in pain, but the damage was minimal. Its armored hide was built to withstand powerful attacks like this.

"Alright, fine," John growled. "Let's try something else."

He landed behind the basilisk, his claws glowing with dark energy as he activated **Shadow Claw**. With a single, precise slash, he aimed for the joint between the creature's armored plates. His claws dug deep, slicing through the weaker scales beneath.

The basilisk let out a howl of pain as blood poured from the wound. John didn't let up. He struck again and again, each blow aimed at the creature's vulnerable spots. The ground shook as the basilisk thrashed, but it was too late. John's claws were too fast, too precise.

With one final slash, the basilisk collapsed to the ground, its body twitching as life drained from it.

[**Ironhide Basilisk defeated.**]

[**Experience Gained: 40,000.**]

[**Experience: 75,000/100,000.**]

[**Next Level: 25,000 Experience Needed.**]

John exhaled, his wings folding against his back as he surveyed the fallen creature. "Not bad," he said, satisfied with the fight. But it wasn't enough. He needed more. A lot more if he was going to reach **Level 160** and evolve to **Tier 6**.

He flared his wings, preparing to take off again when a sudden movement caught his eye. From the shadows, a group of **Fang Skulks**, fast-moving wolf-like creatures, emerged. Their eyes glinted with hunger as they circled John, each one snarling and ready to strike.

[**Fang Skulk – Tier 4**]

[Strength: 300]

[Agility: 600]

[Endurance: 400]

John smirked. "Tier 4? You're not even worth the effort."

Before the wolves could attack, John unleashed his **Abyssal Roar**. The dark energy radiated from him in waves, sending the creatures flying into the trees with bone-crushing force. They whimpered, trying to retreat, but John wouldn't allow it. He charged forward, his claws making quick work of the remaining wolves.

[**Fang Skulk Pack defeated.**]

[**Experience Gained: 20,000.**]

[**Experience: 95,000/100,000.**]

[**Next Level: 5,000 Experience Needed.**]

John's eyes gleamed as the familiar rush of experience surged through him. He was getting closer. Only 5,000 more points to reach the next level.

"One step closer to Tier 6," he muttered to himself, his determination burning stronger than ever. He could feel the power within him growing, but the real test lay ahead. In the deep forest, monsters of unimaginable strength waited for him.

And John was ready.

**To be continued...**