Even without advancing a sublevel or major level, an individual absorbing mana to increase their rank would grow stronger every day. This was because the evolving body was becoming a better version of itself.
Atticus could feel that his strength had increased. For the change to be so visible would mean that he wasn’t too far off from reaching the bottleneck to the next rank. Atticus was ecstatic!
He made his way into the water and through the hole he had come from, covering it and marking it so he would be able to locate it later on.
Afterward, he moved slowly towards the surface of the water. Atticus used the water molecules to swim, so he could be as silent as possible.
Bringing his head slowly out of the water, Atticus saw that there was not a single living creature in sight.
‘The darkness creatures must have fled, or other beasts came for them.’
Atticus decided to be careful and never let his guard down. He observed the surroundings for a while longer, and when he saw that the coast was clear, he brought himself out of the water.
His clothes weren’t wet because he could control the water around him; however,
‘I should wash them when I get back,’ he thought.
They were smelly. Considering his heightened senses, they were like torture to him.
Atticus held his katana tightly and moved forward. There was a row of large black trees with red leaves in front of him, blocking his view of the other area.
‘I should search for a better vantage point first,’
He maintained absolute quietness and used the air molecules to fly upwards while keeping his body very close to the tree, making sure he wouldn’t get spotted.
Atticus reached the top and hid within the large tree branches. Then he gazed forward.
For the first time since entering the chasm, Atticus saw the true nature of it. It was like he had entered another world.
The tree he was on was uniquely taller than the other trees, giving him a good view. Just below him was an expansive forest. Each tree was enormous, with black, thick, and gnarled trunks and blood-red leaves, making the whole space look like a sea of blood.
However, his eyes were drawn to the beasts roaming around the crimson forest. They were as ginormous as they were fearsome. He could also catch sight of multiple predators and prey hiding out at the tops of the trees, waiting and stalking, and multiple large flying beasts in the air, each circling and searching for prey.
Amongst everything, one thing immediately pulled, literally, all his attention away.
In the far end of this forest was a high peak. Its distance from Atticus was undoubtedly far, but he could still see it because of its high altitude.
‘Why are you calling me,’
Atticus stared at the peak with narrowed eyes. The pull he had felt since he left the cave was apparently coming from that peak, or instead, it was calling to him.
‘I have to pass this forest to reach there, a fucking death wish. No thank you!’
Atticus shook his head to snap out of it, then he planned his next course of action. If he had to be honest, he felt slightly uncomfortable. Seeing this whole new world from this high vantage point reminded him of the fact that he was basically all alone here. The dangers were real, and he wouldn’t have any help whatsoever.
‘I need to get food, but I can’t afford to attract any significant attention to myself. I have to search for a secluded prey,’
Atticus’s eyes turned and landed on the water he had emerged from. An idea appeared in his head.
‘All living beings must drink water. I only have to wait, and one should come.’
Instead of coming down, Atticus chose to give this a try first. However, instead of waiting, he moved through the row of trees and down the river so he wouldn’t miss any beast that came from down the river.
Atticus was patient, a virtue that soon paid off. His eyes lit up as he saw a beast approaching the water from the forest.
It had a body shape and size similar to a large elephant; however, it had a yellow shell covering its head and back. Its teeth protruded from its maw, and its eyes were completely black. Although it appeared big, Atticus got the sense that it was also agile.
He waited for it to let its guard down first. The beast approached the river; however, it didn’t immediately move too close to it.
It stood at a safe distance while observing the water and its surroundings carefully. The beast even went as far as kicking multiple pebbles into the water and simply watching.
‘For an obvious predator, it sure is careful,’
Atticus mused while watching the beast from his hiding spot. He couldn’t help but laugh seeing the level of its cautiousness. Watching such a massive beast being that careful was funny.
But as he thought about the swiftness of the tail of the monster he had killed a week ago, Atticus could understand the sentiment.
However, seeing as nothing happened even after a while, the beast finally neared and started drinking from the river.
This was Atticus’ moment.
‘I have to be precise,’
Atticus focused on the earth beneath the beast, and an earthen spike erupted and pierced its neck from under, a fountain of blue blood gushing out.
The beast shook violently, trying to raise its head, but the earthen spike was firm and long, immobilizing it as the life left its eyes.
Atticus switched his focus and used the water to envelop the beast before immediately freezing it and controlling it to hang just at the edge of the water. Then he waited.
While he waited, Atticus couldn’t help but laugh at his actions. He had been laughing at the overly careful beast, and here he was, being even more careful.
After making sure the incident hadn’t attracted any attention, Atticus dived silently into the water and dragged the beast back to his cave to continue training.
And just like that, two weeks passed in the blink of an eye.
