Chapter 2: Concentrated Power

Within the same forest where mushrooms thrived, synchronized footsteps resonated through the area. The furious snarls of the Bloodtusk creatures reverberated as they closed in on the man who was desperately running. Renxian, who had yet to demonstrate his capabilities, decided to evade their attacks.

"Hey, why isn't this working?" Renxian shouted as he sprinted, tracked down by a bunch of Bloodtusks.

[You must focus your strength on a single spot.]

"How?" his terror rose as he observed the colossal Bloodtusk approach. "Oh, seriously!"

As he saw the monster draw closer to thrust its tusks upward straight at him, Renxian accepted the strike and sent it soaring into the air, crashing into a tree with a robust trunk in a thunderous impact. The hurt was real, dispelling any doubts that this was a mere dream.

[Channel all the force within your soul into a single direction, feel the flow.]

"What are you talking about?" Renxian replied in bewilderment as they assembled and charged back at him. "How can I sense that flow?"

Once more, he deftly evaded the frenzied strikes from the diminutive Bloodtusk, causing them to slam into the towering tree as he darted and leaped about to escape their relentless advances. The sheer multitude of foes left Renxian inundated, setting the stage for yet another forceful collision.

His groans echoed once more. He had been tossed around like this several times, and this time was even more severe. He landed on damp, watery ground, caked in dirt, and he attempted to rise with an immediate complaint, "Come on, why did I have to land right here!"

[You need to clear your mind to sense the force.]

"Really? In a situation like this?" Renxian whined as he fought to regain back on his feet, his watch locked onto the Bloodtusks converging on him – with their leader at the helm.

[Take a breath. Feel them.]

Renxian made the daring choice to heed the system's guidance, although he found it challenging to maintain full concentration amidst the unrelenting assault. He continued his nimble dance, evading the Bloodtusks with growing finesse, almost as if he had become a seasoned acrobat overnight.

He couldn't help but marvel at this strange development. His body felt weightless, allowing him to leap and dodge with remarkable speed. The attacks of the Bloodtusks seemed to pass through him as if he were a wisp of smoke, a masterful entertainer in a surreal circus.

Performing nimble mid-air somersaults, he landed deftly and took a moment to assess the situation. The once formidable load of Bloodtusks was now at a considerable distance, encouraging Renxian to focus on the arcane flow within himself.

[Use your sword. Channel all your inner strength.]

As the slow footfalls of the Bloodtusks expanded nearer, an eerie silence enveloped him as he closed his eyes. The sensation was beyond anything he had ever encountered; was this the enigmatic realm of the subconscious?

[Slice with precision, without error, without deviation.]

Renxian comprehended his mission. He harnessed the flow within him, directing it to a single threshold within his hand, firmly clutching his katana. When he reopened his cerulean eyes, a lone Bloodtusk charged before him.

With a single, flawlessly executed strike next to the Bloodtusk, he thrust himself forward at blinding speed, almost like a blink of an eye. He cleaved through the beast, leaving it sprawled lifeless with crimson ichor seeping out.

"What was that?" he murmured in utter disbelief, struggling to come to terms with the incredible feat he had accomplished.

[You've recovered Renxian's skill a bit. Be confident with utmost caution!]

"A bit? You mean that slash is a bit of his full strength?" He questioned his newfound power, which sounded both extraordinary and terrifying.

[Yes. He's called Beast Hunter for a reason.]

Renxian offered a thin smile, straightening his stance as he realized that the once-fearsome bunch of Bloodtusks was no longer as relentless. They began to slow down, glancing back and forth at each other as one of them fell.

"So, it's like that," Renxian said as he moved toward them, sowing fear among those who hesitated to retreat. "Let's see if that title is true."

Renxian dashed toward the oncoming Bloodtusks, his sword a blur of steel in his hands. With a mesmerizing blend of acrobatics and sword skill, he sliced through the air like a streak of spark, leaving behind an artistic impression of tension in the dark fungal forest.

His heart raced with the surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins as he systematically dismantled the Bloodtusks, never breaking his relentless assault. Each strike found its mark, requiring but a single precise blow, and he moved with such speed that he seemed to slip away from their ineffectual counterattacks.

As the first wave of Bloodtusks neared defeat, the colossal leader of the center began to stir. Renxian, still involved in his bout, noticed the figure and shifted his focus toward this formidable foe. The monster charged with tremendous momentum, with that size, Renxian must struck in exact time.

With fearlessness and newfound confidence, Renxian dispatched one of the Bloodtusks, his combat abilities on full exhibition. As he turned his stare toward their leader, his cerulean eyes burned with determination, and his hold on his weapon tightened.

He stood there, biding his time, waiting for that moment when the colossal Bloodtusk loomed mere inches from him. In that heartbeat, he executed a fast slide to the side of the massive beast, fluidly twisting his body as he unleashed a slashing blow.

The strike landed on the creature's legs, causing it to howl in distress for a moment. But this was not the end of it. The Bloodtusk turned, its momentum building as it charged back with astonishing speed as if some hidden reservoir of fuel had been tapped.

Renxian, who had regained his composure, found himself taken aback as the monstrous opponent reappeared right beside him. His eyes widened, and he reacted quickly, moving with a frenetic and unpredictable dance to escape the relentless onslaught.

Renxian, who had been valiantly avoiding the assault, eventually succumbed to the overpowering charge of the colossal Bloodtusk. There was a distinct change in the creature, now faster and stronger, leaving Renxian bewildered.

The impact of the Bloodtusk's attack was so immense that it tore through the area, inadvertently causing collateral damage, and even taking out some of its own kin. Renxian was flung haphazardly to the earth and worked hard to regain control over his battered shape.

"What the hell?" Renxian exclaimed, his breath labored as he wrestled with his damages.

[It has evolved into a Rage Bloodtusk. Its speed and destructive power have increased.]

Renxian fought to rise again, his eyes locked on the approaching behemoth. The sheer of its movements made the monstrous creature a terrifying spectacle, exuding an aura that left Renxian petrified. Was it his slaughter of the smaller Bloodtusks that had triggered this furious transformation in the beast?

[Immobilize its movement. You will win this battle.]

Renxian assessed the situation, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Moments later, he had fallen into silence, the footsteps and the beast's vibrations faded. The flow became discernible, spreading through his core, which he now focused on channeling into his hands – directing it to his sword.

With a quick, lightning-fast movement, he darted forward just as the Bloodtusk loomed before him. His strike was so swift that it couldn't be captured by the naked eye, eliciting a resonating sound in the area.

This time, the strike was unlike before. It was deadlier and instantaneous, to the extent that Renxian left a trail of steam in his wake. The strength not only cleaved through the Bloodtusk's shanks but also through the side of its head, creating a moment where time seemed to stand still.

A split second later, a thunderous roar reverberated, and a deafening howl escaped from the beast's mouth as it collapsed, kicking up swirling dust and crashing into one of the massive trees. The impact broke the tree and struck the monster with devastation that obscured the location.

The remaining Bloodtusks scattered in confusion, their cries fading into the distance as they were left behind by Renxian. He remained in a knelt stance for a moment, his katana still pointed to the side. Then, he rose to his feet and sheathed the blade.

"Oh, God! I'm on fire! I'm incredible!" Renxian couldn't contain his satisfaction, his eyes gleaming as he looked up. "I took down that Bloodtusk!" His face was radiant and he chuckled.

The black-haired man, intrigued by this remarkable display of domination, chimed in, "This can't be just a small fraction of Renxian's abilities, can it, system?"

In an unusual turn of events, the AI robot didn't respond immediately but took a brief hesitation before delivering a surprising revelation.

[No. This is but a small fraction of Renxian's strength. You see, the Bloodtusk is categorized as a Tier C of Mystical Beast.]

[Even intermediate-level cultivators can defeat this monster.]

[But, your evasion skill is something else. And you shouldn't be disappointed with that.]

Renxian's eyes widened in disbelief. The incredible showoff he had wrestled with wasn't a trivial ability; it was in the league of skills that was capable of defeating a common Mystical Monster. A frown crossed his face as he sensed something more unusual at work.

"Hold on, did you try to console me?"