Chapter 40: Night Vision
A few minutes later, Raven spotted three more goblins in the distance. Unlike before, he noticed they were in a battle with a wild wolf.
Before they could detect his presence, he slipped behind a tree trunk and patiently waited for the right opportunity.
Each goblin held a sharp bone knife and encircled the wolf from three directions.
Unlike the goblin looter, these three seem less experienced, Raven observed, noting their clumsy footwork and haphazard coordination.
The goblins lunged at the wolf with crude, bone-made knives, but the wolf fought back fiercely, snapping with sharp fangs and slashing with claws. The skirmish was chaotic. Raven saw an opening.
Gripping his spear tightly, he crept forward, his movements masked by the sound of the ongoing struggle. He targeted the goblin closest to him and prepared to strike.
In one swift motion, he thrust his spear toward the goblin's neck. But just as it was about to hit, the goblin shifted slightly, avoiding a fatal blow. The spear sliced the air with a sharp whistle, landing only a shallow cut.
The goblin stumbled from the sudden attack. The wolf seized the chance and leapt at the injured creature, sinking its jaws into its neck and tearing it apart.
The goblin collapsed with a loud cry and a dull thud. The other two goblins, still locked in battle with the wolf, turned at the sound, stunned by the new arrival.
Raven didn't waste the moment. Despite the earlier mistake, he stayed composed and moved swiftly.
Like a shadow, he closed the distance to the second goblin and struck it down. The third turned to face him, only to meet the same fate.
Now free from its attackers, the wild wolf cast Raven a wary glance before retreating into the forest's depths.
With the danger gone, Raven examined the fallen goblins. He cut off their left ears and extracted their bloodline essences.
…
[Bloodline Devourer System activated!]
[Goblin Warrior's Bloodline Essence has been found!]
[Analyzing the purity of the Bloodline Essence...]
[Calculating...]
[The corpse has 0.1% purity of a Rank-1 Goblin Warrior's Bloodline Essence.]
[It is possible to absorb a part of the Goblin's Bloodline Essence and its abilities.]
[Would you like to use 'Bloodline Devourer Ability'? Yes/No.]
…
Raven clicked Yes, as he had done before.
…
['Bloodline Devourer' ability commencing!]
[Due to lower purity, 'Bloodline Ability Extraction' has failed!]
[Proceeding to absorb the Blood Essence!]
[Host has absorbed part of the Goblin's Blood Essence!]
[Spirit increased by 0.08]
[Vitality increased by 0.03]
[Strength increased by 0.02]
[Agility increased by 0.02]
[Host's body is undergoing a mutation process!]
…
"So, I can't extract abilities from goblins with low bloodline purity," Raven muttered, nodding to himself as he moved to the next corpse.
Though the attribute gains were small, he didn't feel discouraged. Instead, he pressed on with determination.
As he ventured deeper, he encountered more goblins, kobolds, and wolves.
The first few battles were rough—he made mistakes and nearly got injured. But each fight taught him something. He adapted and grew sharper.
After a few more encounters, his movements became precise and calm.
He didn't forget to extract bloodline essences, steadily enhancing his strength.
Time passed quickly, and the sun began to dip below the horizon. Dirt and sweat covered him, and by now, Raven had collected around twenty goblin ears, twelve kobold ears, and three wolf ears, earning a total of 53 points in the exam.
He had used two strength and one agility potion during a tough fight with three wolves, but overall, he was satisfied with the results.
He placed the ears in a separate leather bag and tied it to his waist.
Then he checked his status and was stunned by the improvement.
…
[Name: Raven Sillalus Jorvot]
Age: 15
Nationality: Zenith Empire
Title: 66th Prince of the Zenith Empire
Level: 1
Class: Acolyte Warlock (0th Circle)
Soul Rank: Mortal (Soul damaged: 84%)
Life Pathway: Beginner Alchemist
Health: Fatigued
Attributes:
Strength: 1.5Agility: 1.67Vitality: 1.56Luck: 1.5Spirit: 8.6
Bloodline Spells:
Regeneration (Incomplete)Fortuitous Finder (Completed)
Additional Skills:
Past FinderInstant Memorize
Affinities:
Life: Low
…
Wow! My body has already surpassed the mortal stage. No wonder my movements felt so composed, Raven thought.
He glanced at the leather bag, satisfied.
This should be more than enough to pass the graduation exam.
Still, he knew surviving until morning was crucial for success.
"I need to find a safe place to sleep," he muttered, scanning the surroundings.
Soon, he came upon a breathtaking sight.
In the heart of the Mirror Woodlands stood a magnificent Eldertwine Tree, towering 200 meters high. Its colossal branches sprawled outward, forming an intricate canopy that embraced the forest.
Its bark was a rich, deep brown, dotted with glowing mushrooms that pulsed with ethereal energy.
"Luminescent Mooncaps!" he gasped, hurrying to inspect the mushrooms clinging to the bark.
"If I'm right, there should be one or two with rainbow-colored buds." Though not rare, these mushrooms were key ingredients for the 'Dawn' Spirit Potion.
"And the best part—no wolves, goblins, or kobolds will come near, thanks to the tree's unique smell." He began searching around the trunk and soon spotted a single rainbow-colored mushroom.
Nearby, he also discovered a small, cave-like hollow beneath the massive roots.
Perfect for shelter.
He cleared out dry leaves, stones, and branches, turning the hollow into a makeshift hideout. Then, he camouflaged the entrance with tree branches, fully concealing it.
Night had fully fallen by now, and the forest was shrouded in eerie darkness. Howls and screeches echoed from all directions.
Peeking out through a small gap, Raven watched for a while before lighting a candle with a match.
The soft yellow glow illuminated the cavern's interior. Tangled roots formed a dome above his head, resembling coiled snakes.
Creeping insects, spiders, and ants crawled through the shadows, filling him with unease.
"Can I sleep here safely?" he murmured, doubt creeping into his mind.
He shook his head and retrieved a glass vial filled with a black liquid.
Taking a deep breath, he downed it in one gulp.
Instantly, a sharp itching sensation prickled his eyes, and he reflexively reached to rub them.
[Don't rub your eyes. Keep them closed and let the mutation occur.] Zera's voice halted him.
Minutes passed. Drowsiness washed over him.
Unaware, Raven slipped into a deep sleep.
…
Sometime later, a sharp pain jolted him awake.
"Argh!" he gasped, scratching his left hand. A red ant scurried away. He slapped it dead with a swift motion.
"Damn it. I fell asleep without realizing." He glanced around.
The candle had gone out—but to his surprise, he could still see, not in light, but in green-tinted vision.
"So this is the effect of the 'Night Vision' skill?" he muttered, furrowing his brows.
Then, glowing notifications appeared before his eyes.
…
['Dawn Night Vision' potion consumed!]
[Spirit increased by 0.5]
[Feral Eye Crystal essence detected—eyes undergoing mutation!]
[Mutation completed!]
[Host has obtained 'Night Vision' skill]
[Due to high spirit level, 'Spiritual Scan' unlocked!]
[Current Range: 0.5 meters]
…
"Spiritual Scan?" Raven whispered.
He suddenly sensed the tiny movements of ants, worms, and spiders along the roots. Every motion felt vivid, distinct.
Is this the spiritual scan? I can even sense a small rat hiding underground, he thought.
He lowered his head, focusing on the ground, and noticed a subtle vibration.
Very faint, but present.
He placed his ear to the earth, trying to analyze it more clearly.
Aunt once said that ground vibrations usually signal a large monster's approach, he recalled, remembering Shirley's lessons about the Mirage Woods.
[Normally, Wizards and Walkers unlock the Spiritual Scan ability at Rank 2. But due to your increased spirit power and the 'Night Vision' skill, you've unlocked it early. It has enhanced all your senses—enough to detect even faint vibrations in the ground.] Zera explained.
At that moment, the golden hexagonal structure in Raven's mind pulsed and began to emit a strange energy.