Squelch.
The sharp steel short sword, honed to perfection by Chuck, pierced the leopard's belly as easily as tofu. A roar of pain erupted in front of him.
Clang, clang. The bucket helmet rang with impacts, and the leather shoulder pads were hooked and pulled violently by claws.
Chuck kept his head down, chin tucked against his chest to protect his throat, and with his right hand, pulled out the short sword and stabbed again!
"ROAR!!!!"
Pain and injury completely ignited the leopard's ferocity. Its eyes turned bloodshot. Opening its crimson-stained jaws wide, it bit down hard on Chuck's unprotected arm.
Solid, deep pain shot through his muscles. The immense bite force made Chuck's entire arm lose sensation instantly, nearly snapping the bone!
"Damn beast!"
Chuck roared. [Bloodlust Control] exploded. The muscles in his bitten arm swelled instantly, forcing the embedded teeth out slightly. His superhuman body exerted sudden force, flipping the hundred-kilogram beast off him!
But once the leopard tasted blood, it wouldn't let go. Even flipped and stabbed in the belly, it clamped onto Chuck's arm, claws raking at him, as if determined to drag him down with it.
At the critical moment, a tooth-aching squelch sounded.
Chuck turned to see a steel javelin piercing the leopard's neck. The pressure on his arm vanished instantly.
Valentina had approached from an unknown direction, completely evading the leopard's senses—aided, of course, by Chuck engaging it. Her eyes were cold and ruthless. One strike wasn't enough; she pulled another javelin and stabbed again!
Thwack!
This one went straight into the back of the leopard's skull.
The biting sensation on his arm finally disappeared. The leopard twitched a few times and went still.
What an Amazon warrior.
Realizing the kill was successful, joy surged in Chuck's heart. But before he could celebrate, piercing pain made him grimace.
Gritting his teeth, Chuck used his other hand to struggle out of the bucket helmet, then pried the leopard's jaws open.
Finally free from the big cat's teeth.
But his bitten arm revealed several deep, bone-exposing holes, blood gushing out.
"No! Stop the bleeding!"
Valentina, initially immersed in victory, paled at the sight of Chuck's injury. She threw down her javelin, knelt beside him, and wrapped a prepared tourniquet around his arm.
"I'm fine. Don't panic."
Though an artery was severed and spurting blood, Chuck smiled and shook his head. A passive trigger notification appeared before his eyes.
[Detected: Host right arm artery ruptured, severe muscle damage, humerus fracture. Injury severity: Critical.] [Exclusive Passive Effect: "Outer Steel, Inner Soft" temporarily disabled.] [Exclusive Passive Skill: "Outer Soft, Inner Steel" triggered!]
Chuck deactivated [Bloodlust Control] on his arm muscles. As the screen appeared and his stamina drained rapidly, the bloody holes on his arm healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"This..."
The scene, like CG effects, froze Valentina mid-bandage. She stared, stunned as if seeing a ghost, watching the bite wounds turn into shallow scars within two seconds.
[Passive Skill — "Outer Soft, Inner Steel" complete. Injury recovery: 100%. Stamina consumption: 61.9%.]
Valentina was completely dumbfounded.
"I knew it... you have superpowers!"
She gripped Chuck's arm tightly, an excited smile appearing on her face.
If Chuck wasn't human, then the fundamental reason she couldn't beat him wasn't her inadequacy, but his abnormality!
"Hiss... gentle. Does this count as a superpower?"
Chuck winced at her grip, pulling his hand away. He stood up slowly, dusting off his butt, and stroked his chin while looking at her shocked face.
Though he hadn't intended to reveal his cheat, letting his only combat companion know his capabilities was necessary.
So Chuck continued.
"I'm indeed not an ordinary person. In fact, neither are you, now."
"...Me?"
Valentina froze, frowning, pointing at herself with confusion in her emerald eyes.
"That's right." Chuck nodded. "Haven't you felt your body become lighter and stronger than before?"
"?!"
Hearing this, Valentina's pupils quaked.
For the past two days, she had felt lighter and her movements sharper. She thought it was just good condition.
Now she understood. It was all under Chuck's control.
Valentina's worldview took a massive hit. She stared at Chuck in silence for a long time before trembling out a question.
"...Why?"
"Hard to explain specifically. Simply put, because of me."
"You?"
"More precisely, because of the stuff I shot into your belly."
"..."
Valentina looked at Chuck, her expression changing rapidly. Finally, she shook her head and sighed.
"Whatever..."
She couldn't fathom why Chuck shooting stuff into her belly made her stronger, but she didn't hate being strong, nor did she hate Chuck shooting stuff into her belly.
So if she couldn't understand the link, she'd just accept it.
Chuck liked Valentina's pragmatic personality. He pulled her up, and they walked to the dead leopard.
Valentina looked at the carcass, then at the scars on her abs. She pouted and kicked the leopard vengefully.
"Suka. Weak beast."
"Indeed, not as strong as imagined."
Chuck squatted, deftly cutting open the leopard's chest with his short sword to remove the glowing blue heart. Then he handed the knife to Valentina.
"Please handle the rest. Skin and bone it, keep what's useful. I'll look around."
"Okay."
Ventilated, Valentina nodded briskly. Taking the knife, she squatted down but looked up again, frowning.
"Chuck, don't go too deep. Watch out for that thing."
"I know. Don't worry."
Chuck waved, leaving the carcass to her, and headed deeper into the plains.
...
The leopard's strength hadn't exceeded expectations. With Valentina's help, Chuck killed it without much trouble.
Objectively, the leopard was stronger than the black bear—similar strength but vastly superior speed.
But compared to when he fought the bear, Chuck had improved too much.
Enhanced stats, better gear, improved skills, and a partner made the battle seem too easy.
But Chuck wasn't naive.
Despite the quick kill, the leopard had inflicted severe damage.
Without Kaede's healing bonus, Chuck would have had to trek back through the jungle with a mangled arm, facing infection risks and weeks of recovery.
If a leopard bite did that, what about a tiger bite?
Forget an arm; a leg bone would likely snap like a twig—instant amputation.
And Chuck doubted [Outer Soft, Inner Steel] could regenerate limbs.
So before challenging the true ruler of the plains, Chuck had much preparation to do...
At least, digest the leopard's loot first.
Searching the outskirts of the plains with full perception, Chuck finally found a cluster of [Other Shore Flowers] in a dense thicket.
Three blue, one red. Surrounded by bones and leopard dung.
Clearly the leopard's lair.
Seeing the flowers, Chuck was exhilarated.
Three blue, one red—same as the bear. Four flowers!
Meaning the leopard's strength was indeed comparable to the bear's.
But obtaining these four was the easiest yet.
It felt like... a supply drop before the final boss.
Chuck shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He picked the flowers and synthesized them with the heart in the workbench alchemy panel.
Moments later, four potions appeared.
Chuck swallowed them all without hesitation.
The power spread through his limbs and brain. His body burned again; the world became clearer.
Getting stronger by popping pills—what a wonderful thing!
[Potions Consumed: Red x1, Blue x3] [Congratulations! Your physical stats increased by 10%! Total bonus: 120%!] [Red Potion Exclusive Evolution — Bloodlust Control (LV.1). Next level requires Red Potion x1.] [Congratulations! Your mental stats increased by 30%! Total bonus: 130%!] [Important Notice: Your mental stats have undergone an unconventional evolution!] [Blue Potions consumed reached standard. Evolution Upgrade!] [Blue Potion Exclusive Evolution — Perception Mastery (LV.2): Your mental stats have surpassed human limits, granting control over perception. You can focus perception into one of the five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch) to increase sensitivity. The boost is adjustable, maxing at 20%. Next level requires Blue Potion x3.]
Perception Mastery!
Reading the screen, Chuck, immersed in the potion's rush, grew even more excited.
Like Bloodlust and Essence Mastery, Perception Mastery was a directional buff, starting at LV.2 immediately.
With this, Bloodlust, Essence, and Perception Mastery—all three exclusive evolutions were unlocked!
As the screen faded and the rush subsided, Chuck looked up at the distant lake.
He focused his mind, gathering perception into his eyes.
Perception Mastery: Activate.
In the next second, his vision seemed to upgrade from 720p to 1080p!
With a 20% perception boost plus a 30% mental stat increase, Chuck's vision rivaled binoculars. Plus the reduced distance...
The lake scene was laid bare before him.
Chuck could clearly distinguish the animal herds around the lake.
Water buffalo, wild deer, boars... even wild chickens!
The more he looked, the colder he felt.
The livestock resources were incredibly rich, but were these massive herds prepared for just one carnivore?
How strong was that tiger?
Yet despite searching, like with the leopard before, he couldn't find a trace of the tiger.
He had to withdraw his gaze.
Enough for today. The harvest was plentiful. He should explore the surroundings...
But just as Chuck turned to leave, a majestic, almost earth-shaking roar erupted from the direction of the lake!
Chuck's pupils contracted instantly. His muscles stiffened uncontrollably, freezing him in place. Goosebumps covered his entire body.
Despite surpassing human physical limits, the roar of a king triggered primal instincts deep in his genes.
Hard-controlled for two or three seconds, Chuck gasped like a diver surfacing after holding his breath.
He turned immediately, looking toward the lake again.
The herds scattered in panic from the roar, revealing the epicenter and the source...
On a huge rock by the lake, previously empty, a tiger covered in golden fur and stripes now sat, staring at Chuck from afar.
Explosive muscles, terrifying size, and golden vertical pupils shining with chilling ferocity.
The true King of the Jungle, the strongest terrestrial predator.
Chuck clenched his fists tighter than ever.
Why did it roar now?
Perhaps it sensed the leopard's death and was demonstrating power—or warning him.
Though it was Chuck's speculation, the roar carried emotions not typical of a beast.
Combined with the island's mysteries, Chuck had reason to judge that this tiger likely...
Possessed intelligence.
Chuck breathed rapidly, cold sweat on his forehead. A smile curled his lips, and unprecedented fighting spirit flashed in his eyes.
So...
This must be the so-called "Lord-Class" beast?