Neil stood at the edge of the camp, eyes sweeping the clustered figures. The elves moved with fluid grace—silent steps and sharp eyes, their every motion wrapped in a quiet intensity. Around them hummed a soft, constant pulse of energy. Not chaotic like the beasts he had fought, but steady, alive—a subtle hum beneath the forest canopy.
He focused his senses, letting his Core reach out and brush against their auras. It was an intricate web, a gentle weave of fluctuating energy signatures. Most were Awakened—strong compared to the wild creatures Neil had battled, but far from Coreforged or Bone Reinforcer ranks. The elf he had saved, and the one who had greeted him, were just above the rest, both at the Coreforged level, but still below his own Muscle Sinew rank.
A quiet confidence settled in Neil's chest.
They were no threat.
But something else caught his attention.
The elves' energy signatures all shimmered at a similar strength and intensity. No one seemed to be hiding or suppressing their aura. It pulsed almost constantly, as if they were all revolving their Core energies in a steady rhythm—perhaps a training or meditation practice.
Neil reflected on this. He knew from his own experience that controlling Core energy wasn't just about power. It was also about finesse—the ability to increase, decrease, or even mask the energy you gave off. A skilled user could cloak their presence, modulate their strength, or conserve power by restricting flow.
But these elves... they seemed unaware or unable to control the volume of their energy output. Theirs was a broad, open signal, unfiltered, a steady glow that broadcast their presence to anyone who might be near.
That gave him an idea.
He decided to experiment.
Over the next few hours, Neil began to revolve the Core energy within himself deliberately, pushing it outward in controlled pulses, then pulling it back inward. He tried to raise his energy signature to match theirs, feeling the warmth of the Core pulse stronger in his muscles.
Then, he tried to suppress it—drawing the energy tight and low, shrinking the aura until it was barely a flicker, just enough to keep his body fueled but without radiating.
It was harder than he expected.
His body resisted the tight containment, as if Core energy naturally wanted to breathe and expand.
But with patience, he found a rhythm—like learning to breathe in a new way.
Sometimes he would flow the energy through his arms, watching the subtle glow shift there, then pull it back.
The sensation was intoxicating.
Power so close, yet controlled by will.
He realized that his ability to vary his aura was an advantage these elves might not possess. It made him less detectable, more unpredictable.
It could be the difference between life and death in this world.
He caught a few curious glances from the elves nearby, but none seemed alarmed. To them, Neil was simply a newcomer—interesting, perhaps, but not threatening.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Neil froze mid-step.
Something—far in the distance.
A pulse. Faint. But unmistakably strong.
Stronger than anything he'd felt in days.
He closed his eyes, honing his senses.
It was distant enough not to be a threat. Yet.
But it unsettled him.
It was a pressure in the air, like thunderclouds before a storm.
He didn't know what it was—beast or being—but it radiated confidence. Power. Intent.
His gut twisted slightly. How long until something like that wandered close?
How long until the danger wasn't distant?
Neil clenched his fists unconsciously.
He wasn't afraid. Not yet.
But this world was changing.
Stronger and stronger creatures were appearing.
And while nothing he'd encountered yet had been beyond his ability to handle… how long would that last?
A sound snapped his attention back.
From the forest edge, a figure emerged.
Long blonde hair caught the fading light, fluttering like a banner.
She moved with measured steps, strong but cautious.
Her bright blue eyes scanned the camp, and Neil noticed a slight limp.
She carried the carcass of a large boar over one shoulder—muscular and heavy, the creature's size marked it as a high-level Coreforged beast, impressive for any hunter.
She wore no visible weapons.
Neil immediately sensed her strength.
She was at the Bone Reinforcer rank—just below his own level.
Stronger than most here, clearly.
As she drew closer, the camp's energy shifted subtly. The elves looked up, some offering nods or quiet greetings.
Neil could tell she was respected, though not a leader.
The woman's gaze met Neil's briefly.
Her eyes held something sharp, assessing.
Despite her injuries, there was no weakness.
Only the hardened focus of a seasoned warrior.
Neil stepped forward.
He studied the boar's heavy form, the marks of battle on its hide.
No weapons meant she had relied on raw strength and Core energy to bring down the beast.
He admired that instinct.
The female hunter approached the small group surrounding Neil and the elf he had saved.
Her voice was soft but firm—a melodic tone that felt both foreign and familiar.
Though he didn't understand the words, Neil sensed the intent: inquiry, concern, perhaps relief.
The healed elf translated through gestures and simple sounds, their communication basic but effective.
Neil found himself explaining, as best he could, what had happened with the wolves, the fight, and his arrival.
She listened carefully, nodding.
Neil caught glimpses of her story in the broken language—a lone hunt, a dangerous pursuit, and a narrow escape.
He noticed the faint bruises along her ribs and a shallow cut on her forearm.
Clearly, she had pushed her limits.
Despite her condition, she was here, unbowed.
Neil felt a subtle respect for her resilience.
But he was still pondering the energy differences.
Watching her aura, he noted she seemed to emit energy constantly—like the others—but with moments of stronger pulses, perhaps from exertion.
He tried again to modulate his own energy signature, hiding and revealing, testing how closely he could match or evade their perception.
The practice was new to him but felt natural.
Something deep inside urged him to master this subtle control.
As the night crept in, the camp settled.
Fires burned low, and the soft murmur of voices drifted through the air.
Neil sat quietly, feeling the Core pulse within, a steady beacon in the darkness.
He looked at the female hunter again.
Her name began with an E—Elara, or something close.
A name he would remember.
In this world of mystery and danger, she was a new thread—a possible ally, a fellow warrior, a glimpse into a society he still barely understood.
And Neil knew this was just the beginning.