The Star Heaven Valley had once again descended into a battlefield of death.
On one side, a brutal war between beasts had erupted, while on the other, Ji Hoon followed Layla's instructions precisely. Sitting cross-legged inside a narrow crack between two massive stone pillars, he tried to form a connection between his Core World and his Mind Core by awakening his meridians.
However, the deafening sounds of the battlefield made it nearly impossible for him to stabilize his mind.
Even so, Ji Hoon did not give up. Following Layla's guidance step by step, he shifted his focus inward. His soul body mirrored his physical posture, seated cross-legged deep within his consciousness. Explosions, roars, and shockwaves constantly tried to distract him, but slowly—very slowly—he began to regain control over his thoughts.
He no longer remembered much about his past. He didn't know the truth of this world, nor the origin of his own existence. Because of that emptiness, his mind did not wander too deeply. He simply observed.
Still, his face darkened slightly, a sign that the process was far from smooth.
Night had already fallen, yet faint remnants of light still lingered across the battlefield. The sky was filled with circling vultures, while many had already descended to feast upon fresh flesh. Wherever traces of light remained, the beasts continued to heal, while new carcasses were created as predators tore open bodies to fill their hunger.
At one corner of the battlefield, a high-level elite Asura Wolf clashed violently with a low-level elite Lightning Mirage Fox. The fox was thrown aside after only a few exchanges. In the distance, several elite beasts launched coordinated attacks on the Asura Wolf, pushing the battle to an extreme peak.
On one side stood a single high-level elite beast. On the other, three elite Lightning Mirage Foxes faced it head-on—three against one.
The light continued to fade, but in one area, a massive circular glow still revolved around a beast drenched in radiance. This was no ordinary light—it resembled divided starlight, like countless micro-stars falling from the heavens, granting life and recovery to all they touched.
Both sides were severely injured.
The Asura beast had suffered heavy wounds, yet due to its terrifying skills, it regenerated at an astonishing speed. Meanwhile, the Lightning Mirage Foxes were still healing under the starlight.
This battle was far more intense than before. Previously, only two low-level elite beasts had fought. This time, countless high and low-level beasts clashed simultaneously, creating overwhelming distractions.
Inside the crack, Layla's voice echoed calmly.
"Ji Hoon, stop trying to forcibly control your thoughts. Let them flow freely. Allow them to move in one direction, then slowly calm them. This is your first step."
Ji Hoon nodded slightly.
"I understand."
He focused on only one thing—what was happening on the battlefield above, and how he could become stronger. With almost no memories weighing him down, his thoughts revolved only around power and survival. Occasionally, fragments of his past or Layla crossed his mind, but gradually, his thoughts began to align, becoming clearer and steadier.
Still, every sudden explosion shook the ground, disrupting his focus and rattling the stone pillars around him.
Outside, near a shattered rock wall, an injured fox slowly rose to its feet, dust falling from its body. Before it stood a gigantic wolf, as large as an elephant. Its fur shimmered under the faint light, its teeth as long as fingers, and its claws dug deeply into the earth, gripping the ground with terrifying strength.
Its face carried a fierce brilliance—like that of a lion.
Two more beasts rushed forward and positioned themselves in front of the injured fox, as if protecting it. They released deafening roars, openly challenging the Asura Wolf.
Seeing this, the Asura Wolf entered a state of pure rage.
It did not roar back.
It simply charged forward.
Without fully activating its Rage Mode, its body vanished from its position in an instant. On the opposite side, another wolf lay severely injured, while the two beasts stood fearlessly before it, guarding it with their lives.
Suddenly, a terrifying aura exploded across the battlefield.
The entire ground trembled violently as the Asura Wolf unleashed its pressure. With its full power released, it surged forward, tearing apart every beast in its path. Bodies were ripped apart and thrown aside as it advanced like a living catastrophe.
Inside the crack, Layla warned urgently.
"Ji Hoon, be careful! A terrifying aura is splitting this entire battlefield. It's coming from the strongest beast here. Secure your main body immediately. If a massive explosion occurs and debris falls on you, it's over."
Ji Hoon snapped out of his meditative state instantly.
The air around him thickened, as if the oxygen density had suddenly increased. Energy surged violently, creating a tsunami-like aura that flooded the space. In that moment, Ji Hoon broke through—becoming a Half-Ranker.
His perception expanded.
He could finally sense what was truly happening around him.
He stood up inside the crack and raised his arms, positioning his body defensively to block any falling stones.
Outside, the Asura Wolf continued its advance, ripping through the battlefield with its aura alone. It hadn't even activated a skill, yet its presence alone crushed everything in its path.
Like a streak of light, it rushed forward.
The two Lightning Mirage Foxes stepped ahead, shielding the third fox behind them. These were no ordinary weak beasts—they activated their full power, standing firm in their strongest combat forms.
Then—
The beast charged.
Inside the crack, Ji Hoon's eyes widened.
"This aura… it's doubled."
He instinctively assumed a defensive stance. Layla warned again, her voice tense.
"Stay alert."
Across the battlefield, countless low-level beasts fled in terror. The Asura Wolf rampaged forward, devouring anything that crossed its path with its massive jaws. In mere seconds, it closed the distance and arrived before the two foxes.
And then—
A massive explosion erupted.
A strange, overwhelming aura swept across the battlefield. The collision produced a deafening sound, powerful enough to tear the land apart.
This was the clash of one high-level elite beast against two elite-level beasts—
An explosion capable of wiping out the entire battlefield.
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