Global Awakening: Starting With Ten SSS-Rank Talents

He withdrew the branch, stabilized his stance, and put the entire weight of his body behind the second thrust.

CRUNCH!

The sharp, durable end of the ironwood stake pierced directly through the soft tissue of the Hyena’s throat. Blood sprayed from the wound, coating Jet’s face and hands in warmth.

Jet roared, driving his palms against the base of the branch, pushing with every ounce of physical strength his Eight-Armed Asura rune could provide. The wood punctured straight through the interior of the throat, fracturing the upper jaw bones, and drove directly into the base of the skull, destroying the central nervous system.

The Hyena’s movements stopped instantly. Its crimson eyes dilated, the light fading from them completely as its heavy, muscular body went entirely limp, hanging loosely between the two giant roots.

Jet let go of the branch, stepping backward as his knees buckled. He collapsed heavily onto his haunches, his chest heaving violently as he tried to catch his breath. His hands were covered in dark monster blood, and his body was maps of burning pain from the numerous claw scratches.

He stared at the dead predator, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.

He had survived his very first encounter in the Beyond.

The red system interface dropped down smoothly in front of his face, clearing away the darkness of the forest.

[ You have killed the Black-Fang Hyena. ]

[ You have received one Lesser Monster Core. ]

A small, dark crimson stone, roughly the size of a marble, materialized in the air above the beast’s corpse before dropping cleanly into Jet’s open palm.

It felt cold, dense, and radiated a faint, primitive energy that made the tattoos pulse in recognition.