Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 134: Mental Strength

Kaiser carefully made his way between the dried trees. He was still clad in the Asura Vest, with the Deathstalkers strapped to his waist. The Virtuous Sorrow hung behind him, ready to be drawn at any moment.

"Should I be expecting another set of Bark Bats?"

To avoid being on the receiving end of a sneak attack, he cut off his hearing senses, only relying on sight and smell.

However, to his surprise, he didn’t find a single Bark Bat. The forest wasn’t as silent as the one he had previously explored. He could see vague silhouettes moving in the distance.

’Could it be that the bats found their natural predators and were wiped out?’

Although he had a slight interest in that case, it wasn’t enough to completely draw his attention. After all, why would he waste energy trying to find the reason for a Nirad Specie’s extinction?

"Mehh, not interested."

He stopped blocking his hearing, just in time to hear the sharp cry of a bird in the sky. He looked up, spotting a flock of pink-feathered birds perched on a nearby tree.

They uttered their cries one after the other, as if conversing. Kaiser paused, watching them curiously.

’They seem cute.’

He admitted without a change in expression. He knew what they were, and they were surely anything but cute.

"Harpies."

At the sound of his voice, the birds all turned their attention toward him. It felt eerie, seeing over ten pairs of beady eyes gaze at him.

However, this was merely the beginning. The birds shook their heads, transforming into warped human faces.

One of them stared into his eyes, then suddenly cried out, "Class-C! Class-C! Mayaaaaaa!"

Kaiser’s expression darkened. "A mere Awakened Monster dares to peek into my mind?"

Instinctively, he activated the Eyes of Sequence. The wheel in his eyes spun, and the creature cried out again.

"Ahh Ahh!"

Its disfigured human face became more twisted and unstable, with its sharp eyes suddenly bleeding heavily.

Kaiser’s expression showed no changes as he stepped onto a lower branch on the tree, and suddenly blurred.

He appeared at the top of the tree, stabbing one dagger into the targeted creature’s spine. The others immediately flapped their wings and fled. Kaiser didn’t pursue them since he lacked the means.

Instead, he kept the remaining one alive, then brought it back to the ground. He pinned it to the tree, then looked up at the slowly darkening skies.

’It’ll be night soon. I need to make some arrangements.’

Leaving the Awakened Monster stuck there, he cleared his surroundings, set some traps, built a bonfire, and made a makeshift bed high in the branches of another tree.

He returned to the ground, dragged the skewered creature to the bonfire.

"Now then, why don’t you peek into my mind again?"

He stared into the creature’s eyes, deactivating the Eyes of Sequence.

There was naturally a reason for this. Since a creature of this rank easily infiltrated his memories, then higher-ranked creatures would be able to do more.

’Perhaps even seal some of my memories?’

The thought of being vulnerable in some aspect made him feel uncomfortable.

’I can’t be susceptible to outside influence and claim I’m free, no?’

Therefore, he needed to train his mind using this creature. The method was raw and risky, but he didn’t have any other means at hand.

The creature ignored the pain it was feeling, and viciously attacked Kaiser’s mind.

’Ugh!’

He grimaced, feeling something vile slither into his mind. He had the urge to close his eyes shut. However, he restrained himself, then cooled his thoughts.

To fend off a mind attack, one needed to wield a similar force termed—Menthal Strength.

To be precise, it depended on how strong the victim’s mind was. However, this strength was raw and unrefined. It needed to be wielded, sharpened like a weapon and used effectively.

As the creature’s attack assaulted his mind, Kaiser felt a subtle sensation. It was like a ripple of intangible force, softly resisting the attack. Narrowing his focus, he grasped the feeling instantly.

’Feel it... direct it... control it.’

His mind suddenly felt sharper, and the mental assault became more vivid. Without hesitation, he lashed out, directly driving it back.

Before him, the Awakened Monster shivered as it sensed his resistance increase.

’Good. However... sharper, smoother...’

Kaiser wasn’t satisfied with just being able to wield this mental strength. He continued to refine it, deepening his synchronization with it.

Gradually, the creature began to tremble, its eyes shaking in fear. It faced greater resistance from Kaiser, and was even struck back a few times.

"Ah! Ah! Crazy!"

It screamed, flapping its wings as it tried to escape. Seeing as it could no longer help him train, Kaiser ended its life by snapping its neck.

[You have slain an Awakened Monster, Harpy]

He massaged his temples, feeling a slight strain in his mind and an ache in his eyes.

’As expected. Such raw method is sure to have drawbacks.’

Setting aside his exhaustion, he defeathered the creature and set it on the bonfire. It had been many days since he last ate, and he didn’t want to continue starving himself.

As the sky turned dark, his surroundings were illuminated by the bonfire and several Glimmerfin Swifts.

Those familiar creatures flew about like fireflies, subtly aiding his vision in the darkness.

Although he felt tired, Kaiser still brought out his runic formation manual, trying the Light Rune again.

He carved the runes into a thicker branch, channeling his essence through that specific pathway. Just like the first time, the branch lit up brightly.

The darkness surrounding him receded slightly, scuttling away from the sudden brightness. Even his autonomous shadow reacted slightly, shifting behind him with visible discomfort.

’Hm?’

Kaiser noted the change, but didn’t address it. Instead, he paid attention to the branch, waiting till it crumbled to ashes.

’It lasted two more minutes than my previous trial. Does that mean the rune needs a larger and firmer medium?’

He pondered quietly, staring at the ashes in a daze. Although he failed to get it perfectly, there was an improvement.

Settling on that thought, he climbed onto his makeshift bed on the tree. Resting his back, he closed his eyes and surrendered himself to exhaustion.

The next moment, his eyes snapped open.