Triopals
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Chapter 27
🕑 Added 2024-11-11 16:39:19 +0000 UTCThe sheer number of Vermilion Apes stunned Nathan. He was certain their numbers far exceeded the few dozen he'd encountered during his Blood Moss expedition. At this rate, he might have to use those materials to deal with these manic beasts rather than saving them for his confrontation with Lunar Shadow.
As their numbers continued to swell, Nathan chose the most viable option—the one he'd been defaulting to quite often lately. Run. He stuffed the Crystal Mauler's crystals into his clothes, slung the Ironbark Sentinel across his back, and set his course westward.
Launching himself like a bullet, he landed on another tree trunk, using it as a springboard before coiling his legs and leaping to the next. He weaved through the air, minimizing his exposure to the rocks being hurled in his direction. More terrifying still, the Vermilion Apes had abandoned their practice of throwing large branches that caused minimal damage. Instead, they now launched crude but deadly spears, their tips sharpened to lethal points. When one whistled past Nathan and struck a tree, it pierced clean through the trunk, quivering from the residual force.
With two shields on his back, Nathan wasn't overly concerned, but he wasn't foolish enough to let himself get hit if he could avoid it.
The pursuing Vermilion Apes split into groups—those in the rear hurled rocks and spears while those in the front focused on closing the distance. They entered their enraged state with disturbing ease, their speed and strength multiplying. Combined with their superior tree-swinging abilities, the human's silhouette was now tantalizingly close.
The Vermilion Apes employed their cooperative skills as before, hurling their companions toward their target.
THUD!
Nathan twisted his body, raising the Armor Scrab shield. Its sharp edge, combined with his striking force and momentum, cleaved the monster in two. Blood sprayed across its companions who landed just behind.
Another ape crashed down from above with a boulder, aiming for his back. He understood this attack pattern well, but at his current level, fear was no longer necessary. He spun around, both hands rising to catch the rock. The force drove him to one knee, pushing him backward. Once he'd nullified the momentum, he lifted the boulder—with the Vermilion Ape still clinging to it, trying to match his strength. With one decisive motion, he hurled it back at another ape swinging overhead. The impact against the tree trunk crushed both monsters.
Then he was off again. The combination of [Quick Feet] and [Adrenaline Boost] had him more alert than ever. Best of all, his fear seemed compressed into a corner of his mind, allowing his seemingly reckless actions to yield unexpected results.
The Vermilion Apes realized this human was no longer the same as reported in their intelligence. He had grown stronger. They moved and attacked more cautiously now. When charging their prey, they came in groups of five or six, taking turns lunging forward.
Nathan responded with masterful evasive maneuvers. He dodged left and right, launched himself upward, or ducked behind trees to avoid their attacks while maintaining his pace. He couldn't help but marvel at the organized way these monsters operated. They were nothing like the ones he'd fought at Storm Peaks. It was as if someone was coordinating everything.
The two sides continued their deadly dance, throwing the forest into chaos. Normal animals scattered in panic. Birds abandoned their nests temporarily. Lower-tier monsters trembled in fear. Burrower Herds curled into balls as the red army passed through their mining grounds. The cowardly Mist Eels pulled their fog along as they fled rather than joining the fight. Even a few Crystal Maulers wisely kept their distance.
Despite his best efforts, Nathan still took some hits. A rock hidden behind another struck his back, sending him tumbling forward. Taking advantage of this, the apes reloaded their spears by having those in the rear collect and launch projectiles in rapid succession. Several grazed him, drawing blood. One spear embedded itself deep in his shoulder, causing searing pain.
Once he regained his mobility, Nathan finally managed to pull out the crude spear. He sprang forward, his strength allowing his body to hover above the ground momentarily. Spinning backward, he hurled the spear straight through the skull of a Vermilion Ape. The sound of shattering bone cut through the howls and screams.
He applied the mixture he'd prepared earlier with Blood Moss to his wounds. The bleeding quickly stopped. He was relieved to feel the medicine accelerating his recovery.
Nathan had no idea how long he'd been moving, but as fatigue began to set in and his wounds accumulated, the sun tilting toward evening, he calculated he'd taken down over twenty Vermilion Apes. If he'd been free to counterattack, that number would have been much higher. But he wasn't sure if his strength would hold out if he stopped even briefly. Especially since he was increasingly certain these monsters had a leader. Add that and the group of High Vermilion Apes still searching for him, and he wasn't foolish enough to take unnecessary risks.
His next destination lay right before him. The air's scent gradually changed to just like the burning smell and ozone when entering Storm Peaks. The surrounding space carried an indescribable sweet scent, unstable, shifting from one flower to another. Breathing it too long made one's head spin. The benign monsters gradually disappeared. The surrounding vegetation transformed into more exotic and strange varieties. Familiar brown trunks gave way to tall green ones, some covered in slimy layers. Flowers lost their elegant beauty, taking on a deadly allure with thorny branches and blossoms.
Nathan halted at the border of Life Spring. He looked back, his face grimacing in hope that those accursed apes would stop pursuing him. But facing him still was a wave of enraged red dots, twisted faces, hooting and screeching, accompanied by a merciless rain of sharpened spears and boulders.
He raised his hand in a wave, angrily cursing.
"See you again, bitches!"
With that, he crossed Life Spring's barrier, plunging into Moirath Forest's newest danger zone.
The Vermilion Ape horde seemed poised to maintain their frenzied state and charge into Life Spring. Then, as if receiving a signal, they uniformly halted, either swinging in the trees or dropping to all fours, awaiting orders.
Only after Nathan's silhouette had vanished for ten minutes did their leader appear, followed by a guard of High Vermilion Apes. The collar around its neck clinked as it landed, moving close to Life Spring's border. Even its regal face couldn't hide its disgust at the air's stench. Its offspring might not understand the dangers of the forest ahead, but as their leader, it couldn't rely on instinct alone.
The alpha stood there for a moment, then raised its spear, pointing around to direct its army. If they couldn't charge in, then they would surround the area.
The Vermilion Apes dispersed around the perimeter. They formed an arc to prevent Nathan's escape. They couldn't form a complete circle—Life Spring was too vast. More importantly, going too far would mean encroaching on other monsters' territories. After all, Vermilion Apes weren't the strongest creatures in this forest.
Seeing everything in place, the alpha snorted once, finding a place to sit and wait. This war would be long, but its child's death demanded vengeance. How could time compare to its grief?
Nathan popped an anti-poison candy into his mouth as he ventured deeper into Life Spring. Everything around became greener, but it was an eerie green. The vegetation here was far less friendly than in other areas. They often had membranes or solutions that caused varying degrees of poisoning. Usually, even the worst wouldn't kill outright, but being unconscious long enough to be devoured by monsters wasn't much different.
Nathan's skin began to itch from the microscopic particles floating in the air. He quickly applied the cream to reduce the irritation. Physical Cultivation would help him build resistance, but it required training and exposure. The main issue was that prolonged exposure would affect his nervous system in his current state, so he had to let his body adapt gradually.
The sky had fully darkened by the time he entered this area. Life Spring, living up to its reputation as one of Moirath Forest's most dangerous zones, welcomed him by sending out a few Gale Foxes. These monsters, with their green fur and vine-woven tails, emerged from their resting places to observe him. Rather than baring their teeth aggressively, they mainly circled around with curiosity. It was rare to have visitors from outside, so they wanted to play a bit.
A Gale Fox swished its tail, wind propelling it forward. Mid-air, it pranced through the air as if on invisible platforms, similar to Lunar Shadow's movement style. Its trajectory aimed straight for Nathan.
He dodged to the side, well aware of the foolishness of letting the invisible wind surrounding the Gale Foxes cut him. Like the microscopic particles in Life Spring's air, the Gale Foxes' wind carried powerful paralyzing toxins that were nearly invisible. Their techniques were sharp enough to slice flesh, so prioritizing defense and evasion was optimal.
The monster that had targeted him bounced on its front paws playfully, as if it had been anticipating this. Three or four other foxes, seeing this, let out a cry and used their wind-gliding skills to rush at Nathan.
He had become like a cat teaser toy for the foxes. Just as they were about to pounce, he would dodge, never letting them make contact. He knew this was a more favorable outcome than combat. Gale Foxes were unpredictable creatures. Sometimes they were vicious, other times quite friendly. The only data to predict their behavior came from whether they had eaten that day or not.
The fox monsters increased their speed, leaving blurry green afterimages where they passed. Nathan's eyes and mind had to work at full capacity to observe and predict their movements. Though they weren't truly attacking, he felt like he was dancing a deadly dance. The whooshing sounds near his ears acted like misdirection, as the foxes made their final jumps in complete silence. As a result, he still got cut by the wind blades surrounding the Gale Foxes.
He could run, but that would only increase the danger. The foxes would stop seeing him as a toy and switch to predator mode. At that point, a few more would make things very troublesome, especially since he still didn't know the area's terrain well. So even though he was wounded and his head was starting to feel dizzy, he considered this an acceptable outcome.
Play eventually tired them out, and the Gale Foxes, after thoroughly chasing and pouncing at Nathan, returned to their resting spots beside tree roots and grass clusters. They inhaled the surrounding toxic air like nutrition. Their eyes looked at Nathan with acceptance, as long as he would play with them again later.
Their target shuddered. He really didn't want to indulge them at all. But for now, this was the best he could manage.
Switching out his candy as the one in his mouth started to smell, Nathan moved deeper, passing through the guard of Gale Foxes.
The sky had become completely dark, and Life Spring's scenery captured his mind entirely.
Instead of being shrouded in complete darkness, Life Spring burst with life in an ethereal glow. Mushrooms growing around the area released small spores that floated upward. They glowed in the air thanks to their ability to absorb daylight and release it at night, similar to phosphorescence. Not just mushrooms, but transparent stones also emitted their own light. Green, blue, red, and yellow lights illuminated everything around them. Monsters with translucent bodies like jellyfish or fish jumped through the air. The moss under his feet, contaminated with mushroom spores, gave off its own colors. Small streams of water flowed through the tree lines, tinted with rainbow hues.
Nathan felt as if he'd stepped into a scene that could only exist in films. He knew deadly toxins surrounded him, but this beauty compelled him to continuously capture everything through his PsiLink.
He crouched down to examine the blue phosphorescent mushrooms, no larger than his palm, actively contracting and expanding as they lit up the night. Considering their utility, he plucked several unopened mushroom caps and added them to his basket. They would prove useful for future endeavors.
Following the tree lines, he finally found the plant he sought. Spirit Mushrooms, with their plain brown stalks, stood out conspicuously amid the surrounding impossible colors. After gathering these, he stumbled upon another precious variety—Blue Cap Mushrooms. These were medicinal ingredients that enhanced body recovery when properly processed, especially when combined with Blood Moss. Without hesitation, he collected a batch for future use.
He pressed onward, methodically exploring different areas while gathering necessary materials. All the while, he took moments to marvel at his surroundings.
At midnight, he found a relatively safe rock ledge where he could sit without fear of toxins seeping through. He drew out the Ironbark, spending considerable effort to bend it into a more ergonomic shape. Then, he took the crystal shards shot from the Crystal Mauler's mane, meticulously using tree sap to bond them lengthwise. He attached this to the Ironbark to create an outer layer. His initial plan had been to create protruding crystal spikes for both defense and offense, but for now, he needed the crystal as defensive coverage for his encounters in Life Spring.
Replacing both his mouth candy and skin coating, Nathan continued moving. Neither would last forever, so he had to time his departure from Life Spring carefully. Training Physical Cultivation with [Titan's Descendant] increased his resistance, but it wasn't absolute. Breathe enough of this air, and he'd still collapse. Unless he breakthrough to Tier 2 right now, Life Spring would remain a deadly playground.
Smiling at that distant prospect, Nathan could only shake his head. The twenty Vermilion Apes he'd killed had only raised him by 0.1 Phase, bringing him to 7.1. This reinforced what he knew about the Berserker cultivation method—always facing stronger opponents, always fighting. Only under dire circumstances could one unlock the potential of each body part. That explained why Darkan said without choosing the Berserker path, his chances of defeating Alaric would have plummeted dramatically. The only alternative was using natural treasures like the Crystal Thunder Frog's essence water. But gradually, even those lost effectiveness since Crystal Thunder Frogs were Tier 1 monsters, limiting their essence water's quality. Better advancement items had appeared that he currently couldn't access, namely the Crimson Lotus, the Vermilion Apes' treasure.
Lost in his thoughts, Nathan finally reached an area noticeably hotter than its surroundings. The vegetation here showed less green, yellowing from the heat. At its center lay a cave descending into the earth. Nathan crouched forward, approaching a cave entrance just tall enough for him to enter. Of course, he wouldn't be foolish enough to venture inside. He tiptoed, minimizing noise as he approached the red-leafed plants before him. Close enough now, he could hear heavy breathing emanating from the dark depths. The heat made him feel like he'd been thrown into a volcano. Without hesitation, he plucked several Lesser Dragon Breath plants and fled immediately.
The cave definitely housed a Heat Basilisk, a creature with a touch of dragon’s blood in its lineage. Its appearance resembled a Komodo dragon but larger, more muscular. Its heat-radiating skin and toxic coating made it dangerous to any Cultivator. When necessary, this Tier 2 monster could even spew green flames that were nearly impossible to extinguish—not only did they burn persistently, but inhaling their fumes would drive one mad.
Nathan remained anxious throughout his journey to his final destination—a small pond with yellowish-green vegetation floating on its surface. His spirits lifted; he'd finally found Spirit Algae. Combining it with Spirit Mushroom would accelerate wine fermentation and improve the final quality, which was why he'd sought it rather than relying on a single ingredient.
Cautiously approaching the pond's edge, Nathan perked his ears to listen to his surroundings. The night sounds in this area were eerily quiet, with only distant insect calls and swaying vegetation. None of the creatures he'd passed earlier were visible.
He lowered himself slowly, one hand reaching toward the still pond surface. Beneath the water, patches of vibrant green pulsed with life, as if another Life Spring existed underwater.
Just as his hand was about to touch the floating algae, a green mass below moved. It burst from the water with incredible speed.
As he extended a hand toward the algae, a ripple stirred below the water’s surface. Nathan pulled back instantly, leaping away as a creature lunged out—a long, serpentine body flashing emerald scales in the moonlight. The creature spread small, leathery wings, hovering above the pond with a sharp hiss. The disturbance triggered other rustlings in the water, and soon Nathan found himself surrounded by a dozen or so of these Winged Vipers.
Winged Vipers were ambush predators that lurked to hunt creatures carelessly entering their territory. Whether in ponds, trees, or rock crevices, they waited. After killing their prey, they would share a feast. Tonight's meal seemed especially enticing—a creature that didn't carry Life Spring's scent.
Nathan counted the Winged Vipers. Nine. Still manageable. Gripping his shield tightly, he prepared for their attack. He needed to resolve this quickly before Life Spring's guardian arrived. The moon had risen high, and time was running short. Having avoided the Heat Basilisk, he wanted to avoid that other troublesome monster too.
True to their aggressive nature, the Winged Vipers spat venom toward their prey.
Nathan responded by raising his shield. The venom streams struck the outer crystal layer, running off like water through the grooves to drip to the ground. However, the portion that contacted the Ironbark hissed and sizzled, releasing acrid white smoke.
Seeing their ranged attack fail, the Winged Vipers beat their wings once, bodies undulating through the air as if slithering, lunging forward with bared fangs. Nathan processed the information before him, his right hand tightening on the Ripple Hunter fang knife. He chose his moment with precise, elegant, and subtle timing, so when he swung his weapon forward, the strike cleaved through three Winged Vipers. The result also cost him the fang knife. The snake monsters' blood coating its surface turned the white exterior black, bubbling before shattering.
The remaining ones either missed their attacks or struck his shield. Pulling back, they attacked again. One slithering on the ground trying to strike his blind spot died first from a stomp to the head. Yanking his foot back decisively to avoid the Winged Viper's toxic fluids, he kicked upward, his force exceeding that of his Crystal Mauler strike, sending the monster flying, its body splitting mid-flight.
Sacrificing two more knives, he dispatched the remainder with two masterful strikes. When certain no more lurked in ambush, he quickly scooped up the Spirit Algae. The strands woven together like threads felt sopping wet in Nathan's hands. Without time to think, he placed them in his basket and slung it over his shoulder. His other bags were already full of materials. With this, he had gathered enough for wine fermentation.
Now, what he'd feared arrived. From across the pond, a faint light flickered into view, like a miniature sun moving through the trees. It grew brighter, its glow so intense it dimmed the surrounding bioluminescent flora. Creatures retreated at its approach, a few even trailing in its wake with reverent obedience.
The air changed with its appearance. Everything became thicker and heavier. This meant the toxin concentration was increasing.
Nathan immediately spat out his candy, cramming the remaining ones into his mouth. He used all his remaining coating solution on his entire body without hesitation to save any. Facing the Sovereign Wisp required no reservations or half-measures.
Life Spring's classification among Moirath Forest's most dangerous zones stemmed from this monster. Not only was it Tier 2, but it also possessed a rare ability among monsters—environmental manipulation. With just a thought, Life Spring's air, water, and monsters would obey its commands. This power's origin supposedly came from how Wisp-type monsters were born from the environment itself. In other words, the Sovereign Wisp was a guardian created by Life Spring to protect its ecosystem.
Nathan's Life Spring excursion ended here. He'd calculated his path to deviate to one side so that when retreating, he'd avoid the spot where he'd entered in front of the Vermilion Apes.
Fully prepared, Nathan departed at his maximum speed. The air friction against his skin produced hissing sounds. The candies in his mouth rapidly turned bitter and foul. To conserve them, he sealed his sense of smell, using mana to fuel his body. This way, he only needed to breathe once every five minutes.
The Sovereign Wisp appeared because of him and continued pursuit. It had no clear form, floating through the air. It commanded a group of Great Gale Foxes, their long tails creating winds to propel it forward.
The surrounding space maintained its toxic intensity, so Nathan knew he was still being pursued. He'd anticipated this situation, as well as predicting another natural guardian would join the fight.
Thornweave Ancients suddenly expanded their tree trunks, launching sharp thorns at their target. Nathan remained safe with three shields covering him. Seeing this, these tree monsters didn't give up, releasing another volley of thorns. But this time, instead of embedding in the ground, they exploded mid-air, creating a blue-green poison mist where Nathan was moving.
He held his breath, charging straight through the mist. His eyes checked his leather bags. Fortunately, they remained intact thanks to the coating solution he'd applied to them. The problem was his clothes were visibly disintegrating. Even his Wood Wraith shield showed signs of corrosion.
Decisively tearing off his clothes, Nathan was left with just his undershirt and half-remaining pants fluttering in the night air. He clutched the rag bundle that had once been his proud inner sect uniform and continued moving.
Unlike previous times when Moirath Forest had played tricks on him with unexpected surprises, this time Nathan had prepared his plan, and it unfolded smoothly. He reached Life Spring's border in excellent condition. No tatters, no panic like before. This was largely thanks to his new cultivation level—his endurance and explosive power were completely different now, giving his base speed a significant boost. Combined with his passive skills, each kick off the ground sent dust clouds flying, propelling him like wind, rivaling the Gale Foxes.
He discarded his Wood Wraith shield as its wooden fibers were falling apart like termite-eaten wood, rendering it useless. Before charging out of Life Spring, he took time to breathe and perform one of Physical Cultivation's basic techniques. He drew in a deep breath, inflating his body like a balloon. His pores opened, and with a short hiss, a thin mist dispersed around him. Then, he immediately closed his sweat glands. His body now emitted minimal scent.
As he ran, he gathered dirt to smear across his body, disguising his scent further.
As the Sovereign Wisp drew closer, he had already crossed Life Spring's boundary, returning to where trees didn't glow, mushrooms seemed asleep, stones were just stones, and dust didn't sparkle with wonder.
The Sovereign Wisp halted. Its responsibility was protecting Life Spring. Leaving this area would immediately weaken its power. Above all, it could sense another entity of equivalent strength nearby. Since it had already dealt with the trespasser, there was no need to risk further conflict.
Nathan melted into the night, tossing his clothes into a corner. Then, he moved through the thickets with minimal sound, his eyes constantly alert for Vermilion Apes.
The foolish Vermilion Apes had been distracted by the light emanating from the Sovereign Wisp, missing Nathan. Only when a patrol in the treetops caught the enemy's scent did it howl to alert its companions. They raised their noses to sniff, gathering around Nathan's torn clothes on the ground. Just a minute later, the alpha arrived, discovering its subordinates' carelessness and stupidity. It roared in anger, shredding the clothes the despicable human had left behind, then impaled five Vermilion Apes with its spear. With a dominating roar, it pointed in Nathan's escape direction. It was intelligent enough to distribute several apes to form a second ring. Howls and screams passed between the Vermilion Apes through the night. The red army that had barely rested had to move out again.
Triggered [Tingling Sense]. One credit given.
The system's notification had flashed several times, but Nathan couldn't pinpoint its source. No monsters appeared on his path, none launched surprise attacks. But he'd rather trust the system skill than his own eyes. If no monster had emerged to strike him down, then one or several must be tailing him, maintaining distance and understanding how to move without catching his eye.
Ignoring them, Nathan focused on executing his explosive running steps. He imagined if he returned to Earth, no running record would stand against him.
Passing through where he'd fought the Crystal Mauler, he saw the Ironbark Sentinel had risen and departed. The Crystal Mauler hadn't been so lucky. Atop a moonlit rock outcrop lay its remains, reduced to bones. Claws, mane, flesh—all had been harvested. No need to guess who was responsible.
Sparing a moment to mourn the monster, Nathan quickly gathered the Burrower Herds fragments and never stopped again, running straight for Storm Peaks.
The pursuing Vermilion Apes, a beat too late, couldn't catch him. Even the High Vermilion Apes struggled to keep track of Nathan's location. Deep down, they felt resistant to seeing the human's strength. But their alpha's pressure forced them to grit their teeth and follow orders.
When dawn broke, Nathan finally reached the edges of Storm Peaks. His face broke into a wide grin as he saw the familiar cliffs and peaks rising before him, feeling a sense of strange comfort in the smell of charred earth and crackling energy.
"I'm home," Nathan shouted with pure joy.
Among the scorched trees, Nathan felt oddly safe.
Standing amid the lightning bolts crackling back and forth, he stopped, turning to face the red shadows.
The Vermilion Apes, some swinging through trees, others dropping to the ground, howled to express their anger and mock Nathan's cowardice. A few who charged forward either died by his hand or were electrocuted to a crisp.
At last, Nathan saw the leader of the Vermilion Apes emerge. It strutted out from the tree line, walking among subordinates clearing its path. Its tall, muscular frame exuded authority. Its amber-orange eyes narrowed as it regarded its sworn enemy. The spear in its hand raised, pointing straight at Nathan.
"Human..." its voice rumbled hoarsely, unpleasant to hear. "Coward."
Nathan's eyes widened at hearing it speak. This wasn't Planet of the Apes either. The monsters in this world could all speak, but usually only when reaching Tier 4 or above. Or in special cases.
The PsiLink records had never mentioned a speaking Vermilion Ape Leader. This meant Nathan was either lucky or, more accurately, unlucky to encounter such a specimen.
Nathan raised his middle finger toward the monster horde, shaking his head with a laugh as he turned away.
The monsters seemed to understand this insulting gesture, roaring and beating their chests thunderously. But Nathan didn’t look back; he walked calmly forward, unbothered by their fury, striding through the crackling lightning of Storm Peaks. Each step grounded him, and the arcs of electricity became a familiar, almost comforting sensation on his bare skin.
The Vermilion Apes had to wait two whole weeks before Nathan returned. His eyes brimmed with amusement.
It was time for war.
