Hadeon was sitting near a crack, a sea of Crimson flames emitting from the earth like a dragon’s breath.
From time to time, the flames would die down and be replaced by a gurgling sound.
Hadeon, after resting and digesting all the sap, had finally decided to move towards the core of the forest, as the flames no longer felt so hot after gaining Lvl.3 Heat Resistance.
’I should go deeper; I need to find a crimson fruit.’ He thought.
He had heard that eating a fruit of crimson Cacti brings more benefits than drinking the sap.
Not only could it boost his heat resistance, but it could also increase his innate spirit energy within his soul core.
But finding and securing one is going to be very challenging.
It’s said that only after absorbing the hottest of flames for a hundred years can a crimson fruit mature fully, ready to be consumed. Making it one of the rarest of all flame resources on planet Draven.
’I need to look for the fruit inside the deeper forest!’ He thought as he started to walk carefully.
After walking for a while, he found himself near a huge hole, a small hill of sand and ash on the side and remains of dried-up cactus and bones of all shapes, shattered around, some already half burnt to ashes.
The land around it was barren, with not a single crismon cactus, only ash covering the red ground.
The cracks were silent with no flames and gurgling sound.
A deadly silent looming over the place.
Hadeon silently entered the area, his gaze wandering around, finding any signs of threats.
*Squick*
*Squick*
Jolted by the sudden noise, he glanced behind him and saw four cat-sized moles running at him at full speed, trying to ambush him from behind.
"Shit!" Hadeon shouted.
Instinctively, He summoned an enhanced flame ball in his hands, and as he threw three of them in succession, his spirit deposit was half empty.
The ball of flames landed and exploded on the mole who was in the front, leading the other three, and it went flying, his red fur now caught on fire and a huge chunk of its face completely gone.
It tried to stand and show its two obsidian sharp teeth in aggression, but after a moment succumbed to its injury.
Crashing on the ash, as it finally died!
<You have slain a Lvl.9 Savage: Black Fang Mole.>
<No Spirit Gained!>
< Absorb the soul core to level up.>
A cascade of notifications rang in his mind.
Hadeon quickly dismissed the status as he looked at the other three moles; the three of them had invaded his skills successfully. Now, carefully looking at him, their eyes glowing red, locked onto him.
’One down. Three more to go!’Hadeon thought as he quickly equipped his stick, taunting the moles as he shouted on the top of his lungs.
"Come you, little bastards!"
Without another thought, he quickly charged at the small beasts as he swung his stick horizontally, aiming for the ribs of the closest mole.
The mole quickly dodged as it jumped and landed on its hands as it charged straight. Its sharp claws were ready to tear the face of the man who had just killed his friend.
Sensing the danger, Hadeon quickly ducked, his neck twisting back as it barely escaped the long obsidian claws of the mole by a thin margin.
Hadeon threw a punch at the mole with his left hand. The mole jumped off his right hand to evade the punch.
’An opening!’ He thought.
Seeing the mole defenseless in mid-air, he quickly called his flames and activated his skill; a ball of fire appeared on his left hand as he threw it at the mole that was still in mid-air.
"Enhanced Flame Ball!" He shouted.
The flame ball landed on its belly as it exploded, burning the thick red hide and flesh of the vermin, roasting its body inside and out.
*Thud*
What remained of the charred vermin fell on the ground with a sickening thud that echoed in the silent wasteland.
Smoke rose from the burning carcass.
Hadeon puked as the smell of burnt flesh and hair hit his nostrils.
His heart still pounding in his chest, the damn beast was so close to rip his head off this time.
’I have to be careful!’
He looked at his legs that were shaking from a near-death experience.
His body still couldn’t keep up with his mind.
’That was close.’ Hadeon thought.
Another message appeared in his mind.
< You have slain a Lvl. 8 Savage: Black Fang Mole.>
< You have received an ordinary grade Spirit Imprint.>
< Absorb the soul core for leveling up.>
He froze.
"I have gained a spirit Imprint?" A smile appeared on his face.
*Squick*
Another vicious noise came from the beast’s throat as they lunged forward, this time both of the vermin charging at him from two different directions.
Hadeon quickly dismissed his thoughts as he quickly summoned another flame ball, ready to throw any second.
Soon, a feeling of emptiness filled his chest.
"Fuck! My spirit energy is already empty?" He cursed as the brightness of his skill lessened slightly.
The orange flames now slowly turned yellowish.
The enhanced flame ball became an ordinary one because of the lack of extra spirit energy.
His spirit pool has been emptied!
The next second, the mole, which was the biggest of the two, charged straight at him aiming for his thighs. His black, inch-long incisors stuck out of its mouth as thick saliva dripped from it.
The smaller one was coming from his right side, speeding up with each passing second.
Hadeon quickly fired his skill on the bigger one as it exploded into his open mouth, tearing its lower jaw as it fell into the ash, fresh blood oozing from its wounds like a fountain.
*Ghwaakh*
A gut-wrenching sound escaped his mutilated mouth.
< You have slain a Lvl.8 Savage: Black Fang Mole!>
< No Spirit Gained.>
< Absorb the soul core for leveling up.>
A soft voice rang, notifying him of the beast’s death.
Hadeon quickly turned his attention to the smaller mole after seeing the gruesome death of the other.
The eyes of the vermin now glowed like embers filled with hatred, flames started to emerge from its legs propelling the beast like a rocket.
"Fuck! He has a skill!" Hadeon shouted.
The mole instantly covered a large distance, turning into a blurry image, leaving behind a trail of flames as it lanced forward with its claws wide open.