'So this is the Body Refinement Realm,' Malik said to himself as he laid there with no plans on getting up for now. His temperament, aura had changed... Even his hair had grown slightly longer, though one couldn't be sure if that was among the features of the game.
'I can sense Qi scattered in my body as it gathers around my heart... I can feel my bones have grown stronger... My senses are now sharper. Without even looking, I could sense the two Beta Wolves — something I couldn't do before.'
'My HP has returned to full, and this time, it has increased significantly. Even my attributes have changed. I feel like I can even take on the two Feral Horned Beasts at once.'
"Well... I wouldn't know if I didn't try," Malik mused as he slowly rose from the floor, stepping out of the debris. His every step was as light as a feather, yet each one screamed danger to the beasts nearby.
"He grew stronger from just one battle. His wounds healed, and he's back to his peak state. He is definitely a genius. We're going to work together this time, Junior," the Elder Wolf transmitted to the other.
"I've no objection, Elder," the latter replied, sensing a threat that made him regret not killing this human earlier when he had the chance.
"I thought Elder said I'm a weak human and you don't want it to look like you're ganging up on me. Aren't you going back on your word with this latest action, Elder Beta?" Malik asked in a sarcastic tone, causing a frown to form on the Wolf's face.
"I said those things based on my earlier evaluation, but now, my view of you has changed. It's only natural that we attack you together," the Elder Beta Feral Horned Wolf retorted.
"Oh, is that so?" Malik arched his brow as a slight grin tugged at the corners of his lips. "Then what are you waiting for? Come at me together."
Malik's sudden confidence infuriated the Junior Beta Feral Horned Wolf, and it didn't waste a second as it lunged at Malik.
So, just because Malik had increased his power now, he thought he could be overbearing? The beast was going to put him in his place. It was going to finish what it started.
HORN CHARGE!
Boom! The beast roared as it bent its head low and launched itself forward, its horn aimed straight at Malik's chest like a battering ram. Despite being a Level 2 player, Malik had every chance in the world to dodge the attack — but he didn't. He chose to take it head-on, determined to test the defense of a Cultivator.
CRACK!!
The horn slammed into his chest, penetrating just a few inches deep before stopping abruptly. No matter how much force the Feral Horned Wolf mustered, it couldn't drive it any further.
Malik looked up at his HP — it had only decreased by 50. For someone with 800 HP, this was nothing but the tip of the iceberg.
The Elder Beta Feral Horned Wolf's eyes narrowed as he realized his Junior was in danger. Before he could transmit a warning....
WHAM!!
Malik grabbed the horn with one hand and slammed his fist into the back of the beast.
The Feral Horned Wolf let out a piercing cry — ARRRGH! — the sound echoing across the area like a screeching banshee. The cry spurred the Elder Wolf to action as it dashed toward Malik.
Yet Malik remained calm, almost eerily so. He disregarded the Elder Wolf entirely, smashing his fist once again against the Junior's body.
BAM!
His fist shattered its defenses despite the horn still embedded in his chest.
The Elder Feral Horned Wolf swiped its claws at Malik, but he twisted his body at an unnatural angle, narrowly avoiding the strike. The twist inadvertently dislodged the Feral Horned Wolf's horn from its head, pulling out its silver eyes and brain, which were still connected.
The beast died without even understanding how, bursting into a pile of rubble, leaving behind its loot while the Elder Wolf froze in momentary shock.
Malik, seizing the opportunity, launched a decisive strike at the Elder Feral Horned Wolf. In a flash, he stabbed its left eye with the horn of its fallen comrade causing it to go berserk.
Its body swelled with fury, growing larger as its HP doubled.
But Malik wasn't fazed. This wasn't the first time he'd come across such a situation. He knew this state wouldn't last long — a temporary burst of strength followed by a weakened state.
All he needed to do was stall for time.
With fluid agility, Malik danced through the battlefield, dodging every attack the Elder Feral Horned Wolf threw at him.
swoosh! swish! whoom! His movements were unpredictable, chaotic yet controlled.
When the beast finally fell into its weakened state — panting, trembling, unsteady — Malik ended it with one fatal punch — BOOM! — reducing it to nothing but rubble and leaving behind its loot.
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SQP: 250/8000
"I'm now at Level 3," Malik said, tightening his fist in satisfaction as he quickly opened his status window — but then another series of notifications appeared.
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"Wow... this is fantastic," Malik said excitedly, checking out his fists. To think he'd unlock such a technique just by fighting bare-handed. He completely forgot about his status page and rushed over to the loot dropped by the two special common monsters.
All the loot from the Common Feral Horned Wolf was just common coins and materials. He was hoping to see something better here.
The first thing that caught his eye was a pair of black pants dropped by the Feral Horned Wolf.
He quickly used Appraisal on it.
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Feral Pants
Rank: Fine Gold
Effects:
— +30 Strength
— +80 Endurance
— +50 Agility
Bonus: Absorbs 10% of physical damage dealt to the body.
Description: A material found by the Elder Feral Horned Wolf, which he planned to gift to the Alpha.
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"Fine Gold..." Malik nearly pissed his pants as he stared at the item in front of him. At this stage of the game, even Silver-rank equipment was a dream — talk less of Fine Gold. Unfortunately, it was just a material and not a weapon, or it would've been heaven-defying.
Still, it was exactly what Malik needed. He quickly swapped out his torn pants for the Feral Pants, and once again, his aura shifted — denser, heavier, more oppressive.
The rest of what the Elder Wolf dropped was just common coin. After taking everything, Malik walked over to the loot dropped by the Junior Wolf, only to spot a pair of black boots glinting on the floor.
At a glance, Malik knew these boots had to be Silver rank. He slipped them on instantly and used Appraisal.
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Feral Boots
Rank: Secret Silver
Requirements: 100 Agility
Description: Crafted from the hide and horn of a Feral Horned Wolf. Increases Agility by 30% when activated.
Bonus Skill: Unknown
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Thanks to the Feral Pants, Malik's Agility now sat exactly at 100 — allowing him to equip the Feral Boots. His stats were now outrageously high for a Level 3 player.
He walked toward the closed door, a new and profound aura surrounding him, as he pulled up his status page.
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[Player Status]
Name: Malik
Class: Body Refinement Realm Cultivator
Stage: 1
Level: 3
HP: 1000/1000
QP: 100/100
SQP: 250/8000
[Attributes]
STRENGTH: 47 +30
AGILITY: 50 +50
ENDURANCE: 30 +80
INTELLIGENCE: 25
[Skill Bar]
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Description: Deals damage by 20%
Physique: Primordial Chaos Physique
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"With these stats, I should have no problem defeating the Boss," he said as he pushed the door open — disappearing into the Boss Room.