— Eastern Badlands, Desolate Wilds
Two weeks later…
There was a heatwave in the moist but desolate air, with the sound of rippling water running in the distance. Ancient trees rose from the ground and blocked sunlight like so many giant hole filled umbrellas. Only a few spots of sunlight could be seen on the swampy lands.
The Desolate Wilds covered an enormous area. Some regions were barren with no vegetation and others were lush and green. There were dark energies present and many dead-looking trees. However, the entire area was closed in by tall ancient trees too thick to let the sunlight in. These wilds were dark and damp even in the day time. The Desolate Wilds was full of vicious beasts. Even desolate beasts and tricksters made their appearances deeper in the wilds. Some also reached fifth and sixth levels.
A level 6 Trickster30Trickstermonster clan beast with third rank lifeblood. when a level 9 vicious beast with god beast lifeblood reaches level 10 they evolve into low-level demi-god beasts possessing superior intelligence without their own complete demi-god physique. Due to their frail forms, they use their lifeblood powers to condense a cocoon or origin qi that takes on the form of other beasts. Tricksters fight to obtain the ‘life force’ required to condense a monster core by condensing enough god beast lifeblood. Condensing the monster core allows the trickster to upgrade its physique to that of one closer to a god beast and cultivate different lifeblood inheritances. Vicious beasts with a hint of origin god beast bloodline in them merely become higher level tricksters upon evolution, with a more complete true form. Tricksters are only born through the evolution of a vicious beast. Injuries received by tricksters in their true forms risk reducing their level since they must burn their lifeblood essence to recover and transform again. Level 1 Trickster = 1,000 BP Level 2 Trickster = 1,250 BP Level 3 Trickster = 1,600 BP Level 4 Trickster = 2 AP Level 5 Trickster = 4.5 AP Level 6 Trickster = 9 AP Level 7 Trickster = 14 AP Level 8 Trickster = 21 AP Level 9 Trickster = 30 AP had strength equivalent to 9 ap! This was the terrifying level of advanced power.
As the warriors, thieves, and trade caravans crossed the Desolate Wilds every day, they were aware that the high-level beasts only appear in particular areas. However, those at the lower levels were totally vagrant. Vicious beasts are animals that are able to absorb and refine the spiritual forces of the earth. As a result, they are far more powerful than the animals who can’t. Once a vicious beast’s strength surpasses level 9 they will evolve into either a trickster or a desolate beast.
In general, traders wouldn’t come across danger if they stuck to their routes. Unless they encountered thieves. However, the warriors and soldiers often dived into the dangerous areas looking for challenges, treasure, or lucky chances. As they say, go big or go home. Higher risk equals higher reward. Any warrior who managed to kill a desolate beast of the fifth or sixth level would immediately become a rich man once he sold their nascent demon cores. Each trickster or desolate beast had a nascent monster core inside its body, filled with the essence of their strength. The monster core was of great use to warriors, alchemists, and blacksmiths. Especially the masters.
As far as killing a trickster of that level to obtain their nascent god cores, or anything else, it was unlikely. Tricksters were far more challenging to deal with. When a level 9 vicious beast with an origin beast bloodline reaches level 10, they begin to evolve into low-level demigod beasts. These beasts possess superior intelligence, but they lack their own complete demigod physique. For survival, they are forced to take on the form of others to obtain the ‘life force’ required to condense a monster core by collecting enough of an origin beast bloodline.
On the other hand, vicious beasts who reach level 10 but don’t have an origin beast bloodline will be classified as desolate beasts. Desolate beasts possess comparable strength to tricksters, but not the intelligence. Instead of a magic god core, desolate beasts absorb death force to form a demonic core. Condensing a demonic core allows the desolate beast to change its physique into that of a demonic beast, bringing them one step closer to becoming a demon that’s able to cultivate Law4Lawthe rules and principles that create, govern, and maintain the energies of the universe. When laws come into harmony they form different systems naturally, with as many functions as the laws in harmony. For laws to enter a state of harmony, they must be compatible and have a proper conduit such as a star, or anything with its own unique Origin source law. With a good enough conduit it is possible to make incompatible laws reach a state of harmony, but in such a scenario there is a high chance of the force turning cancerous. The condensation of law energy produces what is known as Force or Qi.. energy.
Apart from the monster core, its fur, fangs, bones, flesh, and poison were all valuable to a greater or lesser degree. These beasts were basically walking treasures to experts! This attracted the bravest warriors and soldiers, and occasionally even nobles to adventure in the Desolate Wilds. Unfortunately, most of these people wouldn’t achieve their goals or gain benefits. Many people who have no prior experience underestimate the craftiness and strength of these beasts and pay for this mistake with their lives.
Deep in a valley of the wilds, five-year-old Jodye Trill was wearing custom black armor made of special materials that outlined his muscles, with a Seven-Colored Serpent design on the chest. His shoulder-length dreaded black hair was pulled into a ponytail at the back. Jodye was currently seated on a branch high in the trees. This branch was so thick that Jodye felt he could do a couple backflips and likely still not fall off.
Next to him, perched on the same thick branch, was a giant and indomitable looking man wearing the same kind of armor as Jodye Trill. This was the Left-Hand of the Frozen Night Master, Hughes Song.
Isis Trilleck was finishing up her assignment, so it was currently Hughes’ duty to oversee Jodye’s training. His primary priority, of course, was to prevent Jodye from recklessly endangering himself. Jodye was okay with this, as he didn’t like fighting in front of his mother.
Hughes observed his surroundings for a while and heard the sound of rapid footsteps in the distance. He spoke to Jodye in a voice full of deep bass, “Okay young master, your chance is coming. It’s two level 1 Earth Spirit Bears! Defeating these vicious beasts will be your next task.”
“Got it. Watch this, girly man!” As Jodye finished speaking, he hopped right off the branch into the dead bushes and grass 10 meters below. Hughes rolled his eyes at this obnoxious kid. He couldn’t pummel him anyway so he wouldn’t let his mind be affected.
Jodye Trill landed on the forest floor in a small cloud of dust. The pupils of his sapphire eyes went vertical as [Pharaoh’s Law] manifested on his head, and the [Cosmos Revolving Grimoire] appeared in a flash of purple light. The grimoire flashed open to the second page, and a magic circle lit up on the ground next to Jodye. A raging pillar of green and black fire rose up from the magic circle and became a three-meter tall wolf with metallic black fur.
There were serenity runes on both of its sides and a two-meter-long black angel wing on its right shoulder. Floating around the huge wolf was a pale golden celestial ribbon that looked surreal, like a hologram. There were runes for destruction and sky scattered all over the ribbon. This was Jodye Trill’s combat guardian, Sylvester Tricko, the Cosmos Devouring Sky Wolf47Cosmos Devouring Sky WolfCombat soul of Jodye Trill. True soul of Sylvester Sylknarius Tricko, heir to the great Sephiroth of Anubis Great World. Consciousness and true form unlocked.! Sylvester sat on his hind legs and stared straight ahead as if this entire world were beneath his notice.
Hughes’ eyes went wide looking at this big wolf! Hughes had been guiding Jodye’s practice for four days now, but this was the first time he had seen the boy summon his artifacts since he previously ranked up, “So that is the legendary Sky Wolf. Imposing indeed. Even scarier is that this kid can summon his combat soul to fight for him at the Sophomore rank. The ancient grimoire, the summoners path. Interesting…”
The trembling on the ground increased in intensity and two giant grey bears, with bulging muscles that appeared to be made of stone, and an earthen rune on each of their foreheads, pushed through the trees to peer down at the boy and sky wolf. These Earth Spirit Bears were standing on their hind legs at 12 meters tall, making Jodye feel like he had to fight a stone building and not a bear.
“Listen, kid, if we both use your origin energy, you won’t be able to sustain the summon for more than an hour,” came Sylvester’s indifferent voice to Jodye’s mind via telepathy.
“Do I even need to use origin energy?” shrugged Jodye Trill. He stomped his leg and shot forward!
“Reckless pup,” snorted Sylvester under his breath. The Cosmos Devouring Sky Wolf then released a golden aura as various light spheres begin to form from the origin phenomena, “Tsk, still weak.”
Before the phenomena could finish forming, the Cosmos Devouring Sky took a step forward and disappeared into the void with a small ripple, like the space in front of him was a pool of water. When he appeared again, he was hovering in the sky above the shoulder of the Earth Spirit Bear on the left, catching the Earth Spirit Bear totally off guard! Sylvester spat out Sky Fall Flame43Sky Fall Flamethe nirvanic flame of Sylvester Tricko, inherited from his mother who is an Infinity Black Phoenix. This nirvana flame has perfect yin and yang harmony and is fused with Sylvester's soul. from his maw like a flamethrower. A wave of green and black flames impacted the Earth Spirit Bear and sent it tumbling through the mud and the trees. The beast’s howls of pain caused the few birds remaining in the area to flee.
Hughes was shocked when he saw the gold aura surrounding the Cosmos Devouring Sky Wolf and the 28 light spheres. He could see that 13 of them were white and 15 of them were pink and blue, and they were in the shape of a crescent moon. This was clearly Jodye’s atmosphere! However, those flames were far more intimidating then fire should be at that level.
“The combat soul can already use the strength of his host’s origin energy? Is this the effect of the heavenly grimoire? However, it seems Joseph expects to be able to fight at the same time? Overestimating himself.”
Crash!
Meanwhile, Jodye Trill dodged the deadly huge stone claws, and fierce chomping of the opposing Earth Spirit Bear, as trees were ripped to shreds and the land was damaged. Jodye swiftly jumped and dodged in every direction, infuriating the Earth Spirit Bear into stomping on the earth with a pale khaki force. Huge earth spikes burst up from the ground aiming to impale little Jodye! Hughes paled and was ready to take action. This young master was too reckless! This Earth Spirit Bear had developed the perfection level nascent concept, it had the strength of 45 bp! However right before Hughes was about to act, sheer force momentum burst out from Jodye’s body. This momentum was so strong it shocked Hughes into inaction.
“Momentum…? How in the…?”
In reality, Jodye had yet to feel pressured! With both [Pharaoh’s Law] and his seven astral points active, Jodye Trill’s senses and reaction speed were bestial. His physical strength backed by astral might had far surpassed this level 1 vicious beast! It almost felt like things were moving in slow motion. Jodye sidestepped an emerging earth spike and jumped on to it as it rose in the air. Circulating the Titanic Rage Law, Jodye noticed a mysterious ripple in his seven astral points. He could now recognize that this felt like a force! His body was producing its own energy thanks to practicing the Titanic Rage Law!
Combat force!
Jodye now possessed the combat force of the ancient Titan Clan, his body radiated with titanic rage force momentum. Force momentum was the accumulation of energy around an expert that forms a type of shield and also boosts attack power. Only real experts could possess it! The angrier he became, the fiercer his force momentum! After the earth spike reached two meters, Jodye leaped and shot himself like a slingshot into the Earth Spirit Bear’s abdomen with the Fist of Might!
Bang!
Crash!
The Earth Spirit Bear was foaming at the mouth as it stood to shudder in place, a huge bloody hole steaming in the middle of its body. Due to the Earth Spirit Bear’s hard exterior coating, the other third of its body had made a crater a few meters away.
“This is…?” Hughes could tell that Jodye wasn’t using origin energy in last that attack. If anything it seemed like he used the purest and fiercest strength possible! Not even some saints could punch like that.
