Chapter 80: A Surge in Close-Combat Experience

Across the vast expanse of the Nether Wilds, countless jagged hyenas gathered in packs, some roaming restlessly, others sprawled lazily upon the ground, basking in the sun. Such a formidable array of creatures was not something anyone dared provoke lightly—not even those who had reached the Gold tier of evolution.

On the outskirts of this immense herd, a few solitary hyenas prowled, ever on the hunt for prey.

Six or seven kilometers away, a lone jagged hyena was locked in fierce combat with a figure clad entirely in black. The hyena moved with astonishing speed, launching frenzied attacks, claws slashing, jaws snapping, intent on tearing the shadow before it to shreds.

The figure, though battered and seemingly always on the brink of death, relied on extraordinary agility and reflexes to narrowly evade each lethal strike, transforming peril into survival with every desperate dodge.

The battle raged for nearly ten minutes.

Bang!

At last, a gunshot rang out. The hyena howled in agony as flames erupted across its body. It collapsed, writhing and rolling wildly in an attempt to extinguish the fire. But then—bang, bang—two more shots followed, intensifying the blaze. Minutes later, the creature ceased its struggles, charred and lifeless within the inferno.

The black-clad figure gasped for breath, heart pounding like thunder. Only after a long moment did he let out a deep sigh, a satisfied smile crossing his face.

He glanced about and realized not only was he dressed in black, but a hood and mask concealed everything but his eyes.

Ensuring no one was nearby, he approached the fallen hyena and touched it. Instantly, the two-meter-long, scorched carcass vanished without a trace.

The figure dropped to the ground, regulating his breath and calming his nerves. After some time, he exhaled again.

“Continue!” he murmured.

Scanning the area, he quickly spotted another solitary jagged hyena. Now armed with experience, he steeled himself and advanced.

...

Close-quarters combat proved far more effective than he had imagined. Every second adrenaline surged, every heartbeat quickened. Fang Mu was enveloped in a sensation entirely new—a thrill so addictive it bordered on obsession.

But progress proved more elusive than he’d expected.

He had fought battle after battle, from dawn till dusk, always tense, adrenaline flooding his veins at rates far exceeding his norm—

Yet he still hadn’t advanced.

Fang Mu couldn’t help but sigh—

Advancement was truly difficult.

On reflection, it made sense. If a single fight could elevate one’s rank, then high-tier evolvers would be commonplace.

Despite the era of evolution, with nearly everyone striving for advancement, the true secrets of evolution remained shrouded. The notion that adrenaline was a catalyst on the path to evolution was mere conjecture. Perhaps it was a catalyst, but certainly not the only one.

The human body was a marvel, especially when it came to genetic transformations and the evolution of primal energies. Even those capable of surviving in the vacuum of space dared not claim complete understanding.

For they, too, were still journeying along this endless road.

Or perhaps, this road had no end at all.

Of course, for Fang Mu, such considerations were still far beyond reach. At present, he was little more than “scrap iron,” stuck at the threshold of Bronze, unable to advance. If the path of evolution were a highway, he was still checking in at the toll booth. Pondering such grand topics was tantamount to speaking of legends.

As night fell completely, Fang Mu felt a fatigue unlike any he had known.

He had fought more than ten battles today, slain over a dozen jagged hyenas. Even with his robust primal genetic energy, he was significantly drained.

Most crucial was the unprecedented intensity of adrenal stimulation, leaving Fang Mu with a sense of utter exhaustion, his mind weary.

He decided to stop for the day and continue tomorrow.

Turning away, he sought a safe place to spend the night.

At dawn, he returned once more to the Nether Wilds, embarking again upon his path of battle.

...

Days slipped by, one after another.

Fang Mu began his relentless journey of close combat.

At first, facing a single jagged hyena was a struggle—he was tense, clumsy, and even injured.

But after only three days, Fang Mu found that a lone hyena could no longer keep him in that state of heightened excitement.

For his progress was extraordinary!

Three days of battle had deepened his understanding of his body. Coupled with rapidly accumulating combat experience, Fang Mu now evaded a hyena’s attacks with ease.

The adrenaline rush he had felt at first was hard to recapture.

So, gritting his teeth, Fang Mu began provoking two jagged hyenas at once.

As expected, the pressure multiplied.

These hyenas had immense combat experience and, being pack creatures, possessed innate coordination. Fang Mu’s first attempt nearly ended in disaster!

Fortunately, he remained calm. The battles of the past three days had begun to instill a fighting instinct, enabling him to dodge lethal strikes by a hair’s breadth.

Thus, the long-missed surge of adrenaline returned!

The battles continued—from initial chaos and desperation, he gradually found ease and confidence, even faster than he had with just one opponent.

Because before, Fang Mu had no close-combat experience.

But after days of uninterrupted battle, his experience soared.

The challenge of facing two was only temporary; soon he easily found gaps in their rhythms, and fighting became effortless once again.

Yet advancement remained elusive.

Fang Mu was determined to achieve evolution through close combat, and the effects were remarkable—his primal genetic energy felt ever more turbulent.

So, gritting his teeth, he increased the number of hyenas from two to three...

In the blink of an eye, nearly a month passed.

...

“Something’s not right. Why are there so few jagged hyenas lately?”

Within the Nether Wilds, several evolvers found themselves puzzled by the sudden drop in hyena numbers.