Daniel moved like a ghost, his low-level [Ghoststeps] skill silencing even the faint sounds of his steps on the mossy ground and loose rocks.
Triple his enhanced Agility made him incredibly swift, yet he forced himself to move deliberately, exploiting every shadow and piece of jagged obsidian the basin had to offer as cover.
His full attention was split: one part tracking the methodical movements of the leather-clad woman dissecting the Spike-Backed Ravagers, the other focused on reaching the two fallen recruits from Darius's team.
The newcomer seemed utterly engrossed in her task, her twin daggers flashing with surgical precision as she harvested claws, teeth, and what looked like internal glands from the Ravager carcasses.
Her focus was absolute, a predator processing its kill, seemingly oblivious to the lesser spoils nearby.
Daniel reached the first body, the recruit felled early by the [Spine Volley]. His grey fatigues were shredded, his chest a mangled ruin.
Daniel averted his gaze from the grisly wound, kneeling swiftly beside the corpse. The cold calculation warred briefly with a surge of revulsion, but the grim necessity of survival and growth in the Verge won out. He focused his intent, the familiar mental command forming: Assimilate.
A surge of energy flowed into him, weaker than the creature assimilations but carrying distinct traces of the recruit's latent potential and final moments of panicked struggle.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Fallen Awakened: Recruit NAME_PENDING_1 (Talent: Enhanced Reflexes - D Grade).]
[Warning: Residual Consciousness Echo detected. Adaptability check passed. Minimal psychological imprint.]
[Gain: Agility +0.1]
[Gain: F-Grade Skill - Quick Dodge]
[Skill: Quick Dodge (F-Grade): Perform a short, instantaneous burst of movement in a chosen direction (approx. 1 meter). Minor stamina cost. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (8/10 Remaining).]
A minor Agility boost and an F-grade evasion skill. [Quick Dodge] seemed less potent than [Ghoststeps] but offered a potentially faster, reactive evasion for sudden close-range threats, complementing his primary movement skill. Every tool added to his arsenal increased his odds.
He immediately shifted towards the second body, Marcus, the speedster recruit crushed against the rocks. He lay twisted, his C-grade [Burst Step] Talent silenced forever.
Daniel knelt again, initiating the assimilation just as the leather-clad woman finished with the last Ravager carcass. She stood up, wiping her bloody daggers clean on a piece of discarded Ravager hide.
Hurry! Daniel urged himself, pouring his focus into the assimilation. The energy flowed, carrying impressions of rapid movement, kinetic bursts, and the final, shattering impact.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Fallen Awakened: Marcus NAME_PENDING_2 (Talent: Burst Step - C Grade).]
[Warning: Residual Consciousness Echo detected. Adaptability check passed. Moderate psychological imprint detected - Echoes of kinetic trauma. Spirit check passed. Imprint suppressed.]
[Gain: Agility +0.2]
[Gain: Strength +0.1]
[Gain: D-Grade Skill - Power Strike]
[Skill: Power Strike (D-Grade): Channel kinetic energy into a single melee attack (fist or weapon), increasing its impact force by 100%. Moderate mana cost. Cooldown: 30 seconds.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (7/10 Remaining).]
Another Agility boost, a tiny Strength gain, and a D-grade offensive skill! [Power Strike]! This was exactly what he needed , a way to significantly enhance his melee damage output beyond his base Strength and the E-grade knife's stats.
Doubling the impact force could turn a non-penetrating blow into a crippling one, especially against tougher creatures.
The 'Moderate' psychological imprint warning was slightly more concerning than the previous 'Minimal' ones, suggesting a stronger lingering resonance from Marcus's violent death, but his Spirit and Adaptability seemed sufficient to handle it without ill effect for now.
He had his prize. But as he rose silently, preparing to melt back into the shadows, the newcomer's head snapped up!
Her creepy sharp gaze swept across the basin, lingering for a fraction of a second on the two human corpses Daniel had just interacted with.
Did she sense the faint energy residue of the assimilation? Or was it just the natural caution of an apex predator scanning its surroundings after a kill?
Daniel froze, every muscle tensed, ready to trigger [Ghoststeps] and flee instantly. The woman's eyes, cold and calculating, seemed to pierce the shadows where he stood partially concealed.
He could feel the weight of her scrutiny, the palpable sense of danger radiating from her. She shifted her stance slightly, her grip tightening on her crimson-pulsing daggers. The air crackled with unspoken tension.
For a heartbeat that stretched into an eternity, they remained locked in that silent standoff. Then, with an almost imperceptible shrug, she seemed to dismiss whatever suspicion she might have had.
Perhaps the residue was too faint, or perhaps she simply didn't care about the fate of fallen recruits or the scavengers who might pick over them. Her focus was likely on higher-value targets and resources.
She turned away, retrieving a small, metallic cylinder from her belt. With a final glance around the bloodstained basin, she activated the device.
A low hum filled the air, and a shimmering distortion, like heat haze, enveloped her figure. Then, with a faint pop, she vanished. Teleportation? Or some advanced cloaking technology?
Daniel remained hidden for several long moments after she disappeared, his heart pounding a heavy rhythm against his ribs.
His [Aura Sense] confirmed her signature was gone, not just masked, but completely absent from the immediate area. He let out a slow, shaky breath. That was far too close.
The encounter was a stark reminder. He might be growing exponentially faster than his peers, wielding an SSS-grade Talent, but there were others in the Verge , perhaps recruits from other academies, seasoned Vanguards operating deeper in, or perhaps something else entirely , who possessed terrifying levels of power and skill.
That woman moved with speed rivaling his enhanced [Ghoststeps], possessed strength capable of shattering Ravager skulls with bare fists, and wielded technology or abilities far beyond standard Vanguard issue. He was a rapidly growing fish, yes, but the ocean was vast and contained sharks he couldn't yet fathom.
He quickly scanned the remains of the Ravagers the woman had harvested. She had taken specific parts, leaving the bulk of the carcasses. Could he still assimilate something from the leftovers? He approached the nearest one, focusing his intent.
[Target Essence Heavily Depleted. Insufficient Residual Energy for Full Assimilation.]
[Attempt Partial Assimilation? (Yields minimal attribute fragments, consumes full charge)]
Minimal fragments for a full charge? Not worth it. She had been thorough, likely taking the parts containing the most potent Verge energy or biological essence. He wouldn't waste his precious charges on scraps.
He quickly checked the gear on the two fallen recruits. Standard F-grade vests and interfaces, nothing of value compared to his enhanced E-grade equipment or the potential of his Assimilation charges. Looting felt pointless and unnecessarily morbid when his Talent offered far greater rewards elsewhere.
With a final glance at the carnage, Daniel turned and ascended the rise, melting back into the alien wilderness.
He had gained valuable skills, boosted his attributes further, and received a crucial, humbling lesson in the true power dynamics of the Astral Verge.
He needed to get stronger, faster. Level 2 was no longer just an assessment requirement; it was a survival imperative.
The hunt continued, but now with a renewed sense of urgency and a sharper awareness of the shadows that watched from the edge of the light.