NOVEL NEXT Chapter 412: Encounter
As the Origin Mana flooded into his body, the World Tree Sapling hungrily absorbed its share of energy, growing visibly taller by several inches.
The sapling's gentle green glow brightened distinctly. Orion felt an unexpected but welcome sense of comfort radiating from this mysterious bloodline, subtly calming his restless soul.
In less than half an hour, the previously abundant Origin Mana Pool had been utterly emptied, drained entirely by Orion's insatiable bloodlines.
The pool's shimmering glow had faded completely, leaving only a hollow stone basin behind.
Exhaling deeply, Orion opened his eyes once more, a satisfied smile curving upon his lips as he carefully examined himself.
His cultivation was now firmly and thoroughly solidified at the Seventh Level, the Ascendant Stage. His mana flowed smoother and denser than ever before, and his body brimmed with vitality and strength.
Standing up slowly, Orion flexed his muscles, testing his freshly enhanced physique. A surge of invigorating strength and agility filled him, causing him to nod appreciatively.
Yet, amidst this newfound satisfaction, a faint trace of contemplation and uncertainty lingered in his heart.
"Now only my Soul Path is remaining to breakthrough," Orion murmured quietly, his expression turning thoughtful.
"I wonder just how long this strange metamorphosis of my soul will continue. No matter how many treasures I've used to nourish it over this past week, everything seems to disappear into a bottomless abyss."
Lumi, hearing Orion's uncertain voice, gently reassured him,
[Master, whatever is happening to your soul is surely not something ordinary. Perhaps this change will lead to an even greater evolution than expected. We need to wait and see where it goes.]
Orion nodded slowly, accepting Lumi's words. He knew better than anyone else that his path had always been extraordinary, filled with mysteries that even he himself couldn't fully comprehend yet like the thrones.
Perhaps the only thing he could do now is to wait patiently.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Orion shifted his attention back to his current situation.
He glanced around the now-empty chamber, feeling the lingering oppressive aura still emanating from deeper within the maze. The labyrinth's core seemed both close yet far, while the danger seemed to be steadily increasing.
***
Orion stood quietly in the dim corridor, his figure concealed by the Shadowveil Band wrapped securely around his wrist.
Activating its powerful concealment ability, his entire presence blended seamlessly with the surrounding shadows, rendering him virtually invisible.
In the past three days, this had become his favorite tactic, allowing him to ambush mana beasts efficiently.
The band had proven invaluable, significantly improving his survival odds as he delved deeper into the increasingly perilous maze.
Yet, despite his progress, Orion knew well that caution was paramount. Just a day prior, he had narrowly emerged victorious from a fierce battle against a weaker Tier 9 beast, a battle that had demanded everything he had, pushing his limits to the brink.
During that life-or-death clash, Orion had finally grasped the intricacies of Advance Grade Thunder Sword Aura. The profound comprehension was still fresh, pulsing steadily through his mind like lingering sparks of lightning.
Despite this breakthrough, however, victory had not come easily. Even with the newly comprehended Advance Grade Thunder Sword Aura, the beast was not one to be outdone.
Ultimately, Orion had been forced to rely upon the mighty Soulpiercer Sword, exhausting nearly every shred of mana he had to defeat it.
This encounter made it undeniably clear, though he could now challenge beings at the ninth tier, defeating them was another matter altogether.
Orion exhaled softly, pushing the distracting memories aside. He quietly continued moving through the labyrinthine corridors, his senses heightened and vigilant.
The oppressive aura emanating from the maze's core felt increasingly intense, pressing heavily upon his shoulders like a warning of dangers yet to come.
Suddenly, Orion's steps halted, his keen perception catching something unusual, a presence markedly different from any mana beasts he'd encountered so far.
The aura radiating ahead felt distinctly organized, disciplined, and surprisingly familiar in some ways. His heart quickened slightly in anticipation as curiosity stirred within him.
Quietly and carefully, Orion moved forward, stopping at a corner before cautiously peeking around the bend.
His gaze immediately locked onto a group of four figures advancing steadily in his direction. Orion's eyebrows rose in mild surprise. They were Wolfkin, three males and one female, each around twenty years old, their humanoid forms accented by clear wolf-like features.
Sleek fur in various shades covered their arms and legs, while their alert eyes glinted sharply in the dim lighting. Each carried weapons clearly forged by skilled runesmiths, their auras calm and deep.
'Fuck, I encountered Beastkin before the people from the Noble houses.' He cursed his own bad luck as battles break out each time individuals of different races meet in such conditions.
He remained motionless, concealed by the Shadowveil Band's magic, as the wolfkin conversed casually among themselves. Their voices echoed softly yet clearly in the ancient stone corridors.
The female wolfkin, with silvery fur glinting in the dimness, spoke with enthusiasm, her tone vibrant and energetic, "This labyrinth truly lives up to Elder Kaelen's words. With the treasures we've found, our strength is growing rapidly. But how long until the space crack closes?"
The wolfkin at the front, clearly the group's leader, replied in a calm voice, "We still have several weeks before the rift seals itself. Our tribe wants us to use this chance to temper ourselves thoroughly. The Wolfclaw Tribe can't afford to fall behind the others in the Eastern Beastkin Zone, otherwise Lionkin, Tigerkin and others will rule over us if we become weaker like the Rabbitkin and other weaker Beastkins. We must return stronger than our current level."
Orion's interest piqued sharply at those words. The Wolfclaw Tribe, he recognized the name instantly as one of the major wolfkin tribes from the Beastkin Zone, an expansive territory occupied by beastkin races similar to the Human Zone.
Like the human kingdoms and empires of Zorathal, these tribes were powerful factions that continually vied for supremacy among themselves, maintaining complex alliances and rivalries. But the Beastkin Zone was far bigger than the Human Zone and their competition was far more brutal.
Another male wolfkin chuckled, his tone lighthearted yet respectful, "True, Brother Rokar. We've already grown stronger from battling the beasts here. Once we return, even those arrogant guys from the Bloodfang tribe won't dare underestimate us!"
The last male wolfkin nodded thoughtfully, adjusting the heavy spear on his shoulder. "Still, we must remain cautious. There are beasts here whose power even surpasses yours, Rokar. If we become careless, it could end in tragedy."
Rokar's expression sobered slightly, and he nodded, "You're right, Tolan. We can't be careless here. I also heard some other tribes have arrived here but one of the teams was directly destroyed by an enraged beast above the Ninth Tier. We should move more carefully."
Orion listened quietly from the shadows, his mind rapidly processing their conversation. Their appearance meant the spatial distortion of the labyrinth was broader than he'd initially assumed, reaching even into distant areas like the Beastkin Zone.
Their mention of powerful tribes and their purpose for being here revealed much about the broader world outside the human domain.