Chương 28: Overwhelming Power

Three weeks after leaving Russia, Joe sat on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean, the sun warming his skin as waves lapped at the shore. A notification flashed before his eyes. Global System Message One hundred days have passed. Nine new City Pillars have now spawned at random locations across World 43. To claim a pillar is to seize power with your own hands. Anyone over the level of 30 can claim a Pillar. You have one year to claim all Pillars. Good Luck Joe had nearly forgotten about the pillars.

He wondered who would manage to claim one. A part of him hoped that one would appear in India, where Drishti, Esha, or Samira could claim it. They were the only people he had met in his travels that he could truly call friends. He wondered how they were doing. As he sat reminiscing, he spotted a boat approaching in the distance. It was time for a little sailing trip. His mind drifted to a memory from years ago, an animated movie he had watched six or seven years back.

In it, a boy, his mother, and his sister were stranded at sea. The mother had transformed into a boat, while the boy used his super speed to propel them forward. An hour later, a small, rocket-propelled boat crashed into the northern shore of Venezuela. Three men tumbled onto the sand, rolling before coming to a stop. Joe coughed up a mouthful of sand and sneezed. The landing needed some work, but overall, it was a successful trip. He had noticed during his sailing trip that the ocean was quiet and very safe.

He had half-expected giant fish or krakens to rear up and try to eat him, but nothing of the sort had happened. There were seemingly no Beasts in the ocean, which was a relief. If a Boss Beast had been lurking beneath the waves, how would he have even found it? Shaking off the thought, he dusted himself free of sand and set forth south into Venezuela. One reason he had chosen to take a boat instead of using Random Teleportation was simple: boredom.

His last few teleportations had not led to a Boss Beast or any exciting encounters. It felt like his luck had started to run dry, so it was time to try something new. Now, he just needed to find a city or large town and inquire around for any rumours of a Boss Beast. He had taken down three more over the last few weeks. As long as he killed at least one a week, he could clear the quest with plenty of time to spare. After talking to some locals, he discovered he was just east of the Capital, Caracas.

With that, he set off to see how the city was faring. The outskirts of Caracas lay in ruins, but the city's centre still stood. Some makeshift walls had been erected, but they were nothing like the well-maintained defences he had seen in more organised places. As Joe entered the city, he found most of its inhabitants in a dire state. Food was scarce, and defenders were few and far between. He was surprised that so many had survived under such harsh Conditions. So, he got to work.

He cleared out any Beasts lingering inside the city, then set about creating a secure zone for food and water. As word of his arrival spread, he soon found himself surrounded by hundreds of people, thanking him as they ate fresh fruit and swallowed restorative pills. He kept at it for over two days, planting crops to ensure a sustainable food source. Once that was done, he picked roughly twenty men and women who looked capable and began teaching them the basic footwork skill.

To his pleasant surprise, it only took five hours for everyone to learn the skill. He smiled, maybe there was hope for this place after all. He formed a party with his newly skilled fighters and led them out for power levelling. This mainly consisted of them watching him fight while he did all the hard work, safely boosting their levels considerably. Three days later, everyone in the group had surpassed level twenty-five, with two even breaking past level thirty.

They were stronger, healthier, and in far better condition than before. Satisfied, Joe bid them farewell and disappeared south, chasing a rumour he had heard. A bizarre Beast had been sighted south, near a small city, San Fernando de Apure. It took less than four hours to reach the city. His first stop was to speak with locals, asking if they had seen any large, high-level Beasts. Almost everyone described the same thing: Bigfoot. Or at least something that strongly resembled it. They called it Drok.

No one in the city was high enough in level to Identify its level or give an accurate gauge of its strength, but that didn't really matter to Joe. He had one job and would do it, regardless of the level. Speaking of levels…. Ding! Profession Nature's Custodian has reached level 42 - stat points distributed. Ding! Class Farmer has reached level 39 - stat points distributed. Exp penalty in effect due to failure to protect innocents. Joe truly hated that penalty message.

Every time his Class levelled up, it was like a slap to the face. Shaking off the irritation, he set out in search of Bigfoot. The people in the city had been puzzled by the Beast's behaviour. It didn't kill unless provoked; if someone attacked first, it retaliated. Otherwise, it simply ignored them as if they were beneath its notice. That worried Joe. It meant only one thing: this was an intelligent Beast, like the Lycanthorus. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

No matter how well he masked his emotions, he couldn't hide the truth from himself. The thought of fighting another highly intelligent Beast unsettled him. He was far stronger now than he had been back then. He had Nature's Grace and Nature's Harmony at his disposal, and a ton more levels. Even so, the possibility of facing a Beast with unknown skills was terrifying. He took a long, slow, deep breath. Shaking off his hesitation. It didn't take long to locate the Beast.

It roamed the forested areas north of the city, moving with slow, deliberate steps. Perched atop a tree half a mile away, Joe observed, studying its movements. He needed to read the way it walked, how it carried itself, before making his move. The Beast was huge. Joe could clearly see its massive, muscular, fur-clad frame even at this distance. Its gigantic hands could grasp a tree trunk like a fork. Its feet left huge indentations in its wake. Its well-trodden trail was clear to all who passed it.

Without warning, it stopped. Its head turned. Its gaze locked onto him. To Joe's credit, he didn't flinch as he met its gaze. He simply stared back. They remained like that for a long time, locked in a silent battle of wills. He couldn't read anything from its expression until it smirked and walked away. A Chill ran up Joe's spine. He was frozen. What the hell is that thing? He thought. The urge to run overwhelmed him. Every cell in his body screamed at him to flee, to get as far away as possible. You lose.

The thought struck like a hammer. Sweat dripped down his face. He blinked. What was he doing? Why wasn't he running? He turned, ready to jump from the tree and head south, but he stopped. His heart thundered like war drums. Ba-bum, Ba-bum, Ba-bum, Ba-bum. A step forward. That's all it would take. Just one step, and he would be gone. No. This wasn't right. He couldn't run. Not here, not now. Because if he did, it would be over. If he fled now, he would never recover. The fear would consume him.

He wiped the sweat from his face and clenched his fists. His claws appeared, forming a sharp reminder of what he was meant to do. He took a deep breath. Then another. And then he screamed.

"AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!" The cry shattered his paralysis. Fear would not break him. He was not afraid. He turned north and stopped. Silence had fallen. Jet-black, iris-less eyes stared into his soul. The Beast stood no more than ten feet away. To his surprise, he didn't run. The fear had vanished. His body felt calm as he gazed at those empty eyes. His muscles relaxed, steady. He smiled. The Beast smiled back.

"Well done, Human," Drok spoke.

"You have impressed me. Are you this world's champion?" Joe nodded.

"Pity, I was hoping for stronger," Drok said, disappointment clear in its voice.

"I am a champion, not the champion. There are others stronger than me," Joe replied.

"Good." Drok's growl was deep, cutting through the dense jungle air.

"Otherwise, this world will be a very boring new home." Joe clenched his fists as the Beast gestured toward him, its massive, fur-covered hand moving with eerie precision. Towering over him at well over seven feet, Drok radiated sheer dominance.

"I hope you can last more than a few seconds, Human. Now, entertain me." The air around Joe rippled as time seemed to slow. Joe's senses sharpened as adrenaline surged through his veins. He activated Mana-Coating, the familiar feeling enveloping his body, shimmering faintly as he pivoted sharply to his right. Drok moved with startling agility, its massive leg sweeping toward Joe's midsection. Joe twisted out of the way, barely.

The sheer force of the kick sent a powerful gust rippling through the trees, rattling the jungle around them.

"Good," Drok rumbled, eyes glinting with excitement.

"Maybe this will entertain me… for a little while." The Beast attacked again. Joe leapt back, narrowly avoiding another strike. Sweat poured down his body, every fibre of his being strained to keep up with Drok's movements. Nature's Grace footwork carried him, his steps guided by primal instinct. Yet that felt stretched to its limit. Another attack. Another near miss. The wind from Drok's movements alone sent waves crashing through the surrounding foliage. Joe gritted his teeth.

This Beast was on a completely different level. Joe had fought powerful enemies before, but nothing like this. Drok's strength was overwhelming, its speed relentless. The way it flowed from one movement to the next left no room for error. It also shimmered with a black glow, its body wrapped in mana. Joe didn't even remember when he activated his mana sight. He tried to identify it, failed. Its level was too high. Drok's predatory grin widened as if sensing Joe's internal struggle.

It charged, a blur of fur and raw power. Joe ducked and weaved, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. Every dodge brought him dangerously close to Drok's fists, each one grazing past with terrifying force. He struck back. His Mana-Claws shot forward, shining in the sunlight, only for Drok to block effortlessly. The Claws unable to puncture its protective barrier. A sharp jolt shot through Joe's arm. His eyes widened. His guard was broken. Then came the blow. It was like being struck by a falling meteor.

Drok's fist slammed into Joe's chest, and the world around him blurred. He felt the breath torn from his lungs as agony erupted through now broken ribs. His head roiled with disorientation as he crashed backwards, impacting against a tree, which exploded from the force of his body smashing into it. He tumbled head over foot, no idea how to control or stop his flailing body. What the hell was that? His chest burned with pain, sharper than anything he'd ever felt before.

He slid across the dirt, crashing against a broken tree trunk. His breath hitched as he struggled to stand, clutching at his chest. Somehow, it hadn't caved in. How was this Beast so strong? Fear clawed at him as he watched Drok's slow, deliberate steps, which crushed foliage underfoot. The grin from before had vanished, replaced by a look of boredom.

"Weak," it spat, its voice dripping with disappointment. Joe tensed, his instincts screaming at him to move. As Drok lazily lunged at him, he ducked beneath its sweeping arms and sprang to the side. His hands shot out, releasing a barrage of Mana Blasts mid-dodge. The explosions lit up the jungle, slamming into Drok's broad chest to no effect. The Beast didn't even flinch. Without a chance to process his failure, Drok closed the gap. Its powerful leg shot forward in a devastating arc.

Joe raised his arms just in time, but the impact still sent him sprawling. Immense pain consumed his mind again, leaving his arms numb. He rolled instinctively as he was forced to his feet, narrowly avoiding Drok's outstretched hand, which tried to grasp his leg. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Gritting his teeth, he scrambled to the side. His breaths came in ragged gasps, every muscle screaming for rest and relief.

Drok's movements slowed to a lazy trawl as it approached. Panic flared within Joe, and his thoughts turned to Uriel's Light, the one ace he hadn't used yet. But something stopped him, a gut feeling, deep and insistent. He had to find another way… He dodged, barely avoiding the lethal strike that threatened to sever his arm. His heart thundered as he leapt back, desperate to create some space to escape the pursuing beast. But Drok was relentless. No matter how he manoeuvred, it closed the gap in an instant.

He gritted his teeth, focusing on Nature's Grace, willing his movements to stay smooth despite the chaos. Mana Blasts erupted from his hands, but Drok swayed effortlessly, mocking his efforts with every dodge. It wasn't just fighting him; it was playing with him. Frustration flared into desperation. He hurled everything he had at the Beast: Rapid Strikes, frenzied barrages of Mana Blasts, even last resort seed flicks. Nothing worked.

As he dashed and twisted to avoid deadly blows, he scattered seeds behind him with every touch of dirt. Doubling back with his manic rush, he triggered Seeds Will Grow. Thick vines shot from the ground, reaching for Drok like grasping hands. It didn't even pause. It sidestepped the attacks with maddening ease, dismissing them as though they were nothing. Joe unleashed his full aura in a roaring Aura Shout in a final, desperate gamble. The power rippled outward, forcing Drok to step back, just for a moment.

But the reprieve was fleeting. It closed the gap the instant the shout faded, its confidence unshaken, its stance unyielding. It was unstoppable. The fight wasn't a contest. Joe's body was reaching its limit. His movements slowed, his breathing had turned to gasps, and for the first time, he stumbled. It was all the opening Drok needed. With a sickening crunch, its massive fur-covered hand slammed into his arm, the snap of bone echoing like a gunshot through the jungle.

Joe's anguished yell tore through the air as he fell back, but the pain barely registered before Drok was on him again. He dodged two flowing swings, adrenaline overriding agony, before Drok's foot slammed into his gut with brutal force. The kick sent him hurtling backwards, his body crashing into the ground in an eruption of dirt and mud. Blood poured from his mouth in a crimson torrent as he lay sprawled, every breath a struggle. Panic gripped him; he could not move a finger; pain was the only thing that existed.

Drok loomed over him, its shadow swallowing him whole. Its foot came down with a shocking casualness, shattering his shin. White-hot agony exploded through Joe's body. He clenched his teeth to prevent another scream from ripping free from his throat.

"Pity, you are so weak human. Now die," Drok growled, its voice a low rumble. It raised a hand, ready to deliver the final blow. Joe's eyes darted to his mana bar, and a sliver of hope flickered. He had just enough left for one last desperate move. Without another thought, he activated Random Teleportation. He vanished instantly, leaving nothing behind but a faint shimmer in the air. __ Drok stood, gazing at the empty jungle before it, the faint shimmer gone from its gaze.

"Teleportation," it muttered as it looked around. It closed its eyes and spread its senses. Nothing. The human was gone. Drok sighed.

"Weak," it muttered as it turned and returned to its boring life on this boring, dull world. __ Joe awoke in a haze of agony, sprawled on cold, rocky ground. Every breath felt like fire, but he forced himself to move, dragging his battered body into the shelter of a nearby cave. He had passed out moments after teleporting, the desperate escape barely saving his life. Shaking hands, fumbled as a healing pill appeared.

He slipped it into his mouth, and a faint warmth spread through his shattered frame, dulling the worst of the pain. But the relief was fleeting. You lose. Joe was now drowning in an indescribable emptiness. He closed his eyes, letting the cave's darkness swallow him as his ragged breathing filled the silence. Minutes passed, or maybe hours, he couldn't tell. The sound of padded feet and low growls broke the stillness. Joe's eyes snapped open. A Beast emerged from the shadows, its hungry gaze fixed on him.

Adrenaline surged, but his body betrayed him. He could barely move with one shattered arm, and his mana bar was nearly empty. The creature lunged. Instinct took over. He clenched his remaining fist, summoning a claw of pure mana. With a desperate strike, he skewered the beast through the skull. The effort left him trembling and drenched in sweat. He grunted, forcing himself upright enough to lean against the damp cave wall.

His body began its slow, agonizing mending process, but the emptiness lingered, gnawing at him in the quiet. An hour passed, and the cave floor was littered with the bodies of ten Beasts, their blood pooling around where Joe sat. His clothes were soaked, his body trembling from exhaustion. All he wanted was to close his eyes and escape, to leave this place, this pain, this weakness. But he couldn't. His eyes burned with a fierce, unrelenting glow.

If you looked closely, you might catch the faintest spark, a glimmer of defiance refusing to die. Two hours passed, and Joe sat at the cave's centre, his chest heaving with laboured breaths. The cave entrance was choked with bodies now, a grim barricade of the fallen. Blood and gore coated everything: the walls, the floor, and Joe himself. The metallic stench was suffocating, the air thick with the odour of death. The Beasts didn't stop coming.

More and more poured in, drawn by the cacophony of battle and the smell of bloody flesh. Joe was drenched from head to toe, his blood mingling with that of the Beasts. Without the protection of Mana-Coating, every splatter and spray seeped into his skin and clothes, but he had no mana to spare for defence. Another Beast wriggled through the narrow gap between the mound of corpses and the cave's entrance. Its low growl rose to a snarl as it charged. Joe didn't move until the last moment.

Then, with deadly precision, he brought his clawed hand crashing down onto the creature's skull, slamming it into the ground with a sickening crunch. Two more savage punches followed, and the beast went still, its blood pooling around his feet. You have slain Rabid Tasmanian Devil level 33 Ding! Class Farmer has reached level 40 - stat points distributed. Exp penalty in effect due to failure to protect innocents. Skill Mana Wave(Uncommon) Obtained. Joe swung his hand and activated his new skill.

A mana wave burst from his hand, sweeping all the bodies before him out of the cave. He popped a mana pill into his mouth. Two more Devils appeared and charged him. He raised his hands and swung. Another hour passed before the Tasmanian Devils finally ceased their relentless assault. Joe dragged himself to the mouth of the cave, collapsing just outside its shadowy confines. His mana bar had replenished enough to activate Flourish for thirty minutes. When it faded, exhaustion overtook him.

He stumbled back into the blood-soaked cave and sank to the ground. Sleep claimed him almost instantly, and for the first time, he didn't care if another Beast came to snuff him out while he lay defenceless. It took Joe a while to loot the hundreds of dead bodies. When he had finished, he sat down and created pills for a few hours.

Eventually, he stood up and tried to practice Nature's Grace, but with one broken arm and his leg still fractured, he stopped; he couldn't complete the movements very well, so he decided to do another hour of pill-making before he stopped and meditated. His arm and leg, slowly healing. It was two full days before his body returned to working condition, which was very good considering. He now stood, tenderly practising Nature's Grace on a beach near the cave. He had no idea where he was; he didn't care.

A Fire burned behind his eyes.

"Weak," he mumbled, the first words from his mouth since coming here. Now that he had recovered, he wasn't disheartened by his second loss since the system had taken over his life.

"You learn more from failure than you do success," he told himself. He wished failure didn't include breaking so many bones, though. That was not a fun experience. He looked down at his arm. He was currently not wearing a shirt, as the one he had was soaked in blood, so he destroyed it with mana. He wore the shorts he had picked up in India. He sat down and looked up into the sky. He thought about Veda. He missed her pulses of communication. He felt truly alone, a lone man on a beach, on an island somewhere.

Two more days passed before Joe stood on the beach and readied himself. It was time to return to the world. With a new drive, he activated Random Teleportation. __ Just north of Columbia in Missouri, in the middle of the United States, three people approached the City Pillar that had spawned there. They were Malcolm, a level fifty-six Divine Swordmaster; Felicia, a level fifty-one Solar Priest; and Alice, a level fifty-two Beast Tamer. These were three members of the United States Elite Squad.

"Anything, Alice?" Malcolm asked.

"Nothing nearby," Alice responded. She was currently using her beast-eye skill to scout the area.

"All clear, we should have no issues going forward."

"Stay alert. Be ready for anything unexpected," Malcolm added as they resumed closing in on the Pillar. The trio carefully approached, with Malcolm in the lead; he stopped abruptly and raised his right hand. He flicked two fingers, signalling to his companions. They halted. After a moment, Malcolm pointed down and pulled the shield from his back onto his left arm, strapping it tightly. At the same time, Alice knelt, placing a hand on the ground. Felicia raised her staff.

"Incoming in three, two….. Now!" Alice called out. Three things happened simultaneously at that moment. First, Malcolm raised his shield and activated the Divine Shield skill; a massive golden translucent shield formed in the air before him. At the same time, Felicia raised her staff and cast.

"Solar's Blessing!" Her two companions became enveloped in a golden light, and their bodies expanded massively, boosting all stats. Thirdly, a giant worm burst from the ground before Malcolm; its bulbous body slammed into his shield, which jolted but held fast, absorbing the impact. Malcolm used Divine inspection on the Beast. Divine Inspection: Beast, Grade F, Overgorged Helminth (Class B) level 56, non-sapient, 0 Skills"Class B. Alice, engage," Malcolm commanded.

He adjusted his stance, and the golden shield was absorbed into the one on his arm. It expanded, tripling in size, glowing faintly as he braced himself. The Beast reared up and charged. Boom! It slammed into the now massive shield. Malcolm absorbed the impact and held firm. Alice approached from the side, riding atop a Mountain Lion. Her longsword slashed out, carving into the Beast's flesh while her mount tore into it with fangs and claws.

The worm bucked, its massive body twisting violently, but Alice was faster; she disengaged in time, avoiding a counterattack. Seizing the opening, Malcolm pushed forward, driving his shield into the Beast's side, knocking it off balance. Felicia pressed the advantage, striking again and again with blasts of fire, her relentless assault deepening its wounds. Blood poured from the Beast's body, its strength beginning to wane. Malcolm raised a single finger. Felicia responded instantly.

She lifted her staff and chanted.

"Solar Corrosion." Golden light flared across the Beast's form. Its body cracked as if burning from within. Malcolm shouldered his shield, unsheathed his sword, and charged. Every slash of his blade extended outward in brilliant golden arcs, striking with precision. Sparks flew as he carved into the glowing cracks, widening them, blood spraying from the ruptured wounds. The battle raged on for ten more minutes. The Beast staggered, its movements slowing, exhaustion overtaking it.

Malcolm pulled back, stepping away from its head. Alice rode forward, now flanked by three Mountain Lions. With a final decisive strike, she finished it off. You have slain Overgorged Helminth level 56 Ding! Class Divine Swordsman has reached level 57 - stat points distributed.

"Well done, team. Another easy kill," Malcolm said, flashing a satisfied smile at his companions. Felicia shook her head.

"I'm pooped." Without another word, she ran over to one of the resting Mountain Lions, flopped onto it, and curled up against its warm fur. Within seconds, she was out cold. Alice stomped over and punched her lightly on the shoulder. Felicia didn't even stir.

"Malcolm, wake her up. She always falls asleep when it's time to skin the kill," Alice huffed.

"We both know nothing will wake her for at least an hour." Rolling up his sleeves, Malcolm started removing his plate armour.

"I'll help. We'll get it done quickly." Alice crossed her arms.

"You are waaay too soft," she muttered, but she didn't argue as they got to work. Twenty minutes later, Malcolm stood before the City Pillar and placed his hand on it. System Message Do you want to claim the City Pillar Y/N Global System Message World 43's second City Pillar has been claimed 2/10. __ Somewhere in the Hubei region in central China, a woman sat atop a fast-moving cloud, skimming effortlessly toward a newly located City Pillar.

She wore a long, flowing white Cheongsam, its raised side slits allowing for greater movement. Black embroidered patterns traced the fabric, depicting her family lineage. Her long black hair billowed behind her as she zipped through the air, eyes locked on her destination. As she neared the Pillar, her gaze caught movement. A shadow circling it. She activated Identify. Identify: Alpha Kinidsnapper, level 60 She leapt from the cloud, which vanished as she descended gracefully. The Beast stopped in its tracks.

Two hundred metres away, it locked eyes with her. It roared and advanced. The woman brought her hands together, then raised them towards the sky.

"Arena of flowing water." Her Mandarin chant resonated through the air. Four massive waves erupted from the ground, encasing them inside an arena of swirling water walls.

"Water Elementals of Destruction." Two colossal water elementals surged up on either side of the Alpha Kinidsnapper. They immediately launched their assault. The Beast snarled, turning to face the new threat, fangs snapping, claws slashing, but it was useless. Its attacks passed harmlessly through their fluid forms. The elementals struck back. Each crushing blow hammered the Beast, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena. Water surged and crashed around them as she watched, arms crossed, unmoving.

Ten minutes later, the alpha Kinidsnapper lay in a bloody, broken heap. She stepped forward, raising a single hand. A final blast of water magic ended it. You have slain Alpha Kinidsnapper level 60 She cursed. Still no level-up. She had reached a bottleneck in her levelling and had no idea how to break through. For three months, she had been stuck at level 70, and she was very, very angry. Maybe claiming the City Pillar would help. Perhaps it would finally trigger a quest for guidance.

She placed her hand on the Pillar. Global System Message World 43's third City Pillar has been claimed 3/10.