Dayal stared at the pile of rusted swords near the bushes. These were broken weapons thrown away by the sect. To others, they were junk. To Dayal, they were a gold mine.
"Devour!" he muttered.
[Ding! Devouring 5 Rusted Iron Swords...]
[Progress: 20%... 50%... 100%!]
[Gained 100 XP!]
[Your body strength has increased. Your skin is now as tough as Bronze!]
Dayal felt his muscles tighten. His skin gained a faint metallic glow before returning to normal. He felt he could break a tree with a single punch.
"Who's hiding there? Come out!" the senior disciple, Rohan, shouted. He stepped into the clearing and saw Dayal.
Rohan laughed loudly. "Oh, it's just the trash again. How did you survive the Spirit Rat? Did you crawl in the dirt like a worm?"
Dayal stood up slowly. He didn't look afraid. His calm eyes made Rohan angry.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Kneel down and beg for mercy!" Rohan barked. He raised his hand, glowing with Level 3 energy, and swung a heavy punch at Dayal's face.
In the past, this punch would have broken Dayal's jaw. But now, Dayal didn't move.
BAM!
The punch hit Dayal's cheek. But instead of Dayal falling, a loud metallic sound rang out. Rohan's face turned pale. It felt like he had punched a solid metal wall.
"Is that all?" Dayal asked in a cold voice.
"What?! How is your skin so hard?" Rohan stepped back, terrified. "You... you are using some demonic magic!"
"I am just using what the world gave me," Dayal replied. He used his new skill, 'Iron Grip'.
He grabbed Rohan's wrist. Crackle! The sound of bones shifting filled the air.
"AAARGH! Let go!" Rohan screamed.
[Ding! Host is in contact with a Level 3 Cultivator.]
[Do you wish to Devour his Qi (Energy)?]
Dayal hesitated for a second. If he did this, Rohan would lose his cultivation forever. But then he remembered the years of pain and insults.
"Yes. Devour!"
A black whirlpool appeared in Dayal's palm. Rohan felt his energy being sucked out like water down a drain. He became weaker and weaker until he fell to his knees, gasping for air.
[Ding! Devoured Level 3 Qi. Gained 200 XP!]
[Level Up! You are now Level 4!]
[Warning: The Sect will notice a disciple losing his power. You must leave this area immediately.]
Dayal looked at Rohan, who was now unconscious and powerless. Dayal didn't feel pity. He felt free. He turned and vanished into the shadows of the forest.
He knew this was only the beginning. The Sect would come looking for answers. He needed to become even stronger—and he needed to do it fast.