Led by Sophie the group pulled away, from the crowd of other contenders entering a forest teeming with strange pulsating plants.
They did not run away; instead they proceeded with pace that expressed strong determination rather, than nervousness.
The air felt heavy filled with the scent of earth and a strong sugary fragrance. Every rustling leaf and snapping twig seemed amplified in the stillness.
Ragnar led the way his frame offering a reassuring sense of security.
In his hands he clutched a found fragment of sharpened metal resembling a toy gripping it so tightly it appeared to squeeze the blood from his skin.
Sophie glided with the elegance of a dancer her movements soft and silent her keen eyes scanning around noting every detail of their unusual environment.
Bran, pale and clearly disturbed remained close, to Ragnar as if the mans presence gave him a feeling of safety.
Daniel shut the group his senses keenly focused.
He appeared as an ant. Was actually a god and the performance was exhausting.
They journeyed for what felt like hours the excitement of stepping into the Verge gradually giving way to a growing feeling of unease.
The forest was beautiful, but it was a lethal beauty, like that of a venomous flower.
"Wait " Sophies voice was a whisper.
She remained still her body crouched low, to the ground. She reached out a finger toward a gap ahead. "Target."
Daniel and the others knelt down gazing through the vegetation.
In the middle of the clearing, a creature sprouted from a glowing root.
Its size was comparable to a dog, with six delicate thin legs and a scaled body resembling that of a reptile.
Its skull was narrow and threatening its jaws filled with teeth that dripped a green fluid onto the silver blades of grass.
Daniel locked his gaze and his Nexus Interface immediately scanned the creature.
[Glimmerfang Crawler - Level 1]
Stats: Moderate Strength, Moderate Vitality, High Agility.
Risk Assessment: Pack predator, bite. A solitary individual poses a threat.
"One, among them " Ragnar snarled, his voice low. "Sophie what do your eyes perceive?"
Sophie's eyes appeared to shimmer with an inner radiance as she unleashed her gift.
Its skin is durable. There is a vulnerable area. A bunch of nerve endings located beneath its front leg.
A powerful strike should disable it.. It's fast. We'll get one opportunity.
Daniel nodded as the strategy quickly took shape in his thoughts.
Alright here's the strategy. Ragnar you lead. Create a commotion. Draw its attention.
An untamed smile spread over Ragnars face. "That's my specialty."
"Sophie " Daniel went on "hold off until Ragnar attacks. When it's concentrated on him you strike at the point.
Bran, remain near me. Watch over Sophie carefully. If she faces any threat trigger your defense to shield her. Understood?
Bran took a breath his fingers gripping a rock tightly. "I've found it."
"Lets begin " Daniel said, his voice dropping into a growl. "On my cue."
He stopped watching the Crawler tear off another chunk, from the root. "Now."
With a roaring snarl breaking through the forest Ragnar burst from the underbrush. "Hey, ugly! Dinner's ready!"
The Glimmerfang Crawler raised its head abruptly its reptile- eyes fixed on the approaching giant.
BOOM!
It let out a piercing shriek. Lunged ahead a flash of glistening scales and green poison.
"Stoneskin!" Ragnar shouted. A surge of energy enveloped him his skin toughening, into a rough rock-like surface.
SKREEECH!
The Crawler's teeth clashed against his forearm with a metallic scraping sound, like metal grinding on stone.
The fangs glided away without causing harm failing to pierce his skin.
The creature spat fiercely its spit crackling as it struck Ragnars skin.
While the Crawler was entirely concentrated on the barrier that was Ragnar, Sophie burst out from her concealment.
She moved like a murmur her feet scarcely grazing the earth as she shortened the gap.
Her eyes gleamed gently locked onto her target.
However the Crawler moved quicker than they had expected.
As it pulled back, from Ragnar, its strong tail swung in a sweep taking Sophie off guard.
She tried to leap. The tail caught her leg making her tumble face-first onto the floor.
The creature noticed its opportunity. It spun with its jaws agape as it lunged toward the collapsed Sophie.
"Bran, immediately!" Daniel yelled.
Bran's look was a conflict, caught between dread and duty. For an instant he froze. Then seeing Sophie in danger something awakened inside him.
"Stay back, from her!" he shouted, as a subtle glow surrounded Sophies figure the moment the Crawlers teeth darted towards her neck.
The fangs hit the shield the force pushing Sophie back while shielding her from the sting.
The Crawler screamed in rage furious, at the defiance.
It ignored the girl who had collapsed and redirected its attention again to Ragnar preparing to leap forward.
This was the moment. The chaos Daniel had been expecting.
"It's my turn " he murmured gently. He let out a grunt, a bit of the act for his squad. "Boost!"
He avoided utilizing his D-Grade skill. Instead he accessed a perceptible fraction of the immense power lying inactive, inside his spirit.
It felt as though drawing one drop from a sea.
A surge of fierce potent energy flooded his muscles overwhelming them completely.
Daniel propelled himself ahead with a speed that seemed unbelievably quick.
He wasn't merely running he was a flash of movement a ghost darting through the space.
While the Crawler readied itself to jump at Ragnar Daniel burst out from, behind the trunk of a tree using it as a springboard.
He launched himself skyward twisting his body in a gravity-defying coil.
BOOM!
His heel struck the side of the Glimmerfang Crawlers head in a fierce flawlessly performed kick.
The collision was gruesome a moist, bursting snap echoing across the clearing.
The beings head twisted sideways at a bend.
It never got the opportunity to cry out. Its body fell to the ground its legs twitching momentarily before going still.
A profound silence descended, broken by the labored breaths of his comrades.
[You have vanquished: Glimmerfang Crawler (Level 1)]
[EXP Gained: 12 EXP]
[Level 0: 12/50]
The notification showed up on his display a victory known only to himself.
Ragnar gaped with his mouth hanging the Stoneskin effect fading from his skin. Sophie raised herself her eyes wide, with astonishment. Bran simply stared, his mouth wide open.
"Holy…" Ragnar finally breathed out. "That 'Attribute Enhancement' you have… it packs a punch."
Daniel touched down gently deliberately making himself falter a bit, as though regaining balance after effort.
"I warned you " he gasped, faking exhaustion. "It's a burst. Still it gets the job done."
He approached the body his heart pounding in his chest.
The falsehood was effective. The craving to understand the full scope of his strength was an intense desire.
He then squatted beside the Crawler pretending to inspect its teeth.
"Be careful " Sophie warned, her voice still a bit shaky. "The toxin might remain powerful."
"Just trying to figure out what we're facing " Daniel said, turning his back to them.
Beneath the shield of his body he concentrated his thoughts his determination voicing a wordless order.
Yes.
A chilling thrilling surge of power streamed from the being, into him.
It was a feeling, unseen by others yet to him it resembled sipping from a chilled stream, on a blazing afternoon.
The entitys essence, its strength, its fundamental nature was blending into him.
A fresh batch of alerts, vivid and important, than before illuminated his Nexus Interface.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Glimmerfang Crawler (Level 1)]
[Gain: Strength +10]
[Gain: Vitality +10]
[Gain: Agility +10]
[Assimilation Charges Consumed (9/10 Remaining).]
He noticed a transformation. His muscles felt tougher his body more robust with energy circulating through his veins.
Ragnar smacked him on the back nearly forcing him to faceplant onto the floor. "Great job, Daniel! You truly saved Sophie's skin there!"
Daniel forced a smile as he stood up. "We each played a part. That was teamwork."
He gazed upon his friends noting their reassured expressions.
The falsehood seemed biting and stifling than at any other moment. He had experienced power, for the very first time a force vastly surpassing anything they could possibly understand.
And he knew with certainty that this was only the beginning.