Absolute instinct

Darian said silently, his mind a storm beneath his calm exterior. The others were deep in concentration, working on their own evolution. Their faces mixed focus with resolve as they harnessed their vital force. Darian observed them from a distance, knowing that this short journey was one they each had to take alone. The process of awakening their potential was uniquely tied to their willpower and instincts, and Darian knew better than to disturb them. Yet, his mind sailed elsewhere.

Turning inward, he focused solely on refining his understanding of the vital force. His training had only scratched the surface of its true power. Today, he would push himself further.

With a quiet breath, he moved away from the group and found a secluded spot. His thoughts were sharp, focused. Slowly, he began to focus his energy on the weapon before him. His fingers curled around the hilt, and without hesitation, he funneled his vital force into the blade. It responded immediately, the energy wrapping itself around the metal, becoming an extension of his body.

But it wasn't enough.

His grip tightened, and Darian leaned forward, pushing deeper, more forcefully into the blade. He could feel the vital force coursing through his veins, but it wasn't fully realized, not yet. This raw energy, this power—he could use it, yes, but he knew it could be so much more. He wasn't satisfied.

"What if I focused more on one point?" he thought to himself, the idea beginning to take shape.

With quiet breath, he focused his concentration, pushing the energy deeper into the blade. This time, he concentrated solely on the tip, a pinpoint of intense power. The blade hummed with energy, the invisible aura around it thickening as he refined his focus. It felt different now—sharper, more lethal.

Satisfied, he decided to test his theory.

Darian stepped away from his training ground, moving to a nearby jungle. He had seen signs of mutated creatures nearby. These creatures had begun to evolve too—stronger and fiercer than the beasts he had encountered before.

As he ventured deeper into the woods, he soon spotted his target: a mutated beast, unlike anything he had faced before. It had the body of a giant wolf, but its eyes burned with an unnatural, intelligent fury. Its claws gleamed like razor-sharp blades, and its movements were swift and brutal.

The beast growled low in its throat, then charged at Darian with terrifying speed. Darian sidestepped the attack, his legs powered by the vital force, moving him out of the way. As the beast struck again, Darian reacted quickly. He moved smoothly, delivering a sharp blow to the monster's neck, his fingers glowing with the vital force.

The beast staggered back, the blow momentarily disorienting it. But Darian was already shifting his position, his mind working through the next step of his experiment.

As the beast roared in pain, Darian turned the blade in his hand. The vital force surged into the edge, and with a quick slash, he cut off one of its ears, watching as it fell to the ground, severed cleanly by the edge. He could see the power of the blade now, feel it in his hands. The tip had penetrated deep into the beast's flesh, and the edge had sliced through its body with ease.

Darian stepped back, admiring the effect. The power of the blade was undeniable, but it wasn't enough. He could feel the vital force still buzzing within him, waiting to be used. He thought about how the tip of the blade had pierced so cleanly, and how the edge had severed so effortlessly. What if he could use that same precision on his own body?

With a concentrated focus, he tried to coat his entire body with the vital force. He imagined it wrapping around him, like a protective armor. But it didn't work. The energy couldn't cover him completely. Some parts of his body remained weak, the energy scattered, unable to focus.

"No," Darian muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "Not enough."

His mind raced, searching for another solution. And then it clicked. What if he didn't try to cover his whole body? What if he focused it on specific areas, just like the blade?

Darian concentrated, focusing the vital force into his hands, his legs, his chest. He could feel the energy moving smoothly now, the vital force wrapping itself around his body in focused waves. The power was more concentrated, more refined. This was the way forward.

But just as he was about to test his new approach, the beast launched another attack. This time, Darian was ready.

With fluid movement, he sidestepped once again, the beast's claws swiping at the air where he had been a moment ago. Darian flowed with the motion, his hands already positioned to strike. He reached out and struck at the throat of the beast with his fingers coated in vital force, sending a shockwave through its body.

At the same time, with his other hand, Darian reached into the beast's chest, his fingers finding the core of its vitality. He pulled it out, the essence of the monster's life force, and held it in his palm. The beast gasped, its strength quickly fading as Darian held its essence in his hand.

He smiled, a knowing look on his face. With a swift motion, he thrust the beast's own essence back into its chest, sealing its fate. The beast collapsed, its body crumpling to the ground.

Darian stood over the fallen creature, breathing steadily, his expression one of quiet satisfaction. "So, that's how it's done," he murmured to himself.

The vital force, he knew, was more than just a weapon. It was a tool for creation and destruction, for growth and evolution. And now, as he stood over the fallen beast, Darian understood that he had only just begun to scratch the surface of its true potential.