“Marcus,” he called out. “Gather the command staff.”

The head archer approached with Jack, Jacoub, and the newest addition—Lyra, whose magical expertise could prove crucial for territorial defense.

Time to brief them on the plan.

“I’m heading into enemy territory for reconnaissance and resource gathering. Estimated return time: seven hours maximum.”

Jack frowned immediately. “My Lord, is solo infiltration wise? Their territory hosts hundreds of enemies.”

Concern for my safety. Their loyalty is genuine.

“Their numbers mean nothing if I avoid direct confrontation. I’m gathering intelligence and eliminating isolated threats, not assaulting their main base.”

Lyra stepped forward, elemental energy flickering around her staff. “What if they discover your activities and retaliate early?”

Valid concern.

“Don’t worry, even if they do, I will make them follow me in another direction to mislead them.”

Marcus nodded understanding. “Should we accelerate construction projects in your absence?”

“Continue current timelines.”

Ethan activated his Enhanced Speed talent, reality blurring as power flowed through his enhanced physiology. The jungle beckoned with promises of danger and opportunity in equal measure.

Time to see what their territory really contains.

Behind him, his subjects watched their Lord disappear toward hostile wilderness with expressions mixing concern and confidence. They’d witnessed his capabilities firsthand, but infiltrating enemy territory alone remained an intimidating prospect.

He’ll be back, Marcus thought, adjusting his bow strap. He always comes back.

The morning sun climbed higher as Ethan crossed the boundary between desert and jungle, leaving safety behind for the sake of future victory.

…

Sometimes the best defense is overwhelming offense.

The hunt was about to begin.

…

The jungle’s humid embrace welcomed Ethan as he crossed from desert sand to forest loam.

His enhanced senses immediately detected familiar scents—the metallic musk of steel wolves, their territorial markings fresh against tree bark and stone formations.

It’s the same species as yesterday. They have auite the consistent population density.

Movement in his peripheral vision announced approaching company.

Six steel wolves emerged from concealing vegetation, their metallic fur gleaming like chainmail in the dappled light.

These specimens showed the characteristic coordination of pack hunters, their formation suggesting experience with group tactics.

<Ferocious Beast: Steel Pack Wolf>

<Rank: Mid-Silver>

<Iron Hide Talent: D Grade>

Another pack. That makes three encounters in this general area.

“There’s definitely a spawning point around here for these wolves,” Ethan muttered, studying their approach patterns.

“Otherwise I wouldn’t be encountering them this often.”

Quick elimination of the pack would be efficient, but finding the source could yield better long-term results.

The wolves maintained respectful distance, their pack intelligence recognizing threat levels beyond their capabilities.

But territorial instincts demanded investigation of the intruder, creating a standoff that couldn’t last indefinitely.

Ethan dispatched them casually—wind blades eliminating the pack before they could coordinate their enhanced defenses.

Their iron hide talents proved useless against his Gold-rank overwhelming force.

Six cores collected. Time to find their source. It will be a good resource go my city.

He expanded his search in a strategic pattern, his senses sweeping a one-kilometer radius around the encounter site. Rock formations, trees.

Natural clearings. But no spawning point emerged despite thorough investigation.

Either it’s deeper in their territory, or these packs range farther than expected.

I need to carry on. More opportunities await for me to explore.

The jungle trail continued deeper into the wilderness, winding between increasingly massive trees whose ages defied easy calculation.

His hearing detected new movement ahead—different footfalls suggesting lighter creatures with aquatic adaptations.

Water-based monsters. Interesting variation.

A small pond appeared through the vegetation, its surface reflecting sky through canopy gaps.

Five creatures basked on smooth stones around the water’s edge, their scaled forms radiating contentment in the humid environment.

<Ferocious Beast: Pond Lizard>

<Rank: Mid-Silver>

<Water Talent: D>

<Drop rate: 0.5%>

Ethan’s eyes lit up as he absorbed the information.

D Grade Water talent. Finally, something I can devoure.

His current Water talent ranked at F grade—whilst it still drowned his enemies to death, it was merely dus to his full powe.. But devouring multiple D grade specimens could trigger evolution to D- rank, providing genuine tactical capabilities.

Five lizards. More than enough for talent advancement.*

The pond lizards sensed his approach, their natural instincts recognizing predatory intent despite his humanoid appearance. They rose from their basking positions with fluid grace, water beginning to swirl around their forms as defensive talents activated.

Aquatic specialists. They’ll try to control the battlefield.

The largest lizard opened combat by manipulating pond water into pressurized streams aimed at his vital points. The attacks carried enough force to punch through steel plate, their precision suggesting significant combat experience.

Impressive technique. Useless against overwhelming power disparity.

Ethan’s Speed talent activated, reality shifting into slow motion as his perception accelerated beyond normal limits. The water streams appeared sluggish, their trajectories easily readable and avoidable.

He sidestepped the aquatic assault with casual ease, closing distance while the lizards attempted to coordinate their defensive formation. But Silver-rank reflexes couldn’t match Gold-rank overwhelming superiority.

Time to end this.

Wind blades materialized around his position, compressed air sharpened to cutting edges that sliced through the humid air. The first lizard died before its water shield could fully form, bisected cleanly through its torso.

*One down.*

The remaining four tried to retreat into the pond, their aquatic environment providing theoretical advantages against land-based predators. But environmental benefits meant nothing when facing absolute power superiority.

Fire magic ignited the pond’s surface, turning their refuge into a boiling cauldron. The lizards’ screams echoed across the jungle as superheated water overwhelmed their defensive capabilities.

Four more dow, and it’s sweep.

Steam rose from the now-scalding pond as Ethan collected his prizes. Five Silver cores joined his growing collection while five lizard corpses entered his spatial storage for processing.

Time to see if this yields the advancement I need.

He began the devouring process immediately, curiosity driving him to test the talent evolution mechanics.

<You have devoured the Pond Lizard>

<You have evolve the Water talent to E+>

Progress. Continue.

The second lizard provided more power to his talentz

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep