Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!

After a while, Vincent could already see the towering shape of Mad Ape Mountain Forest. It was so massive and intimidating that, if he hadn't upgraded his stats significantly, he might as well have given up entirely on finding the elusive 'Shadow Monkey.' The sheer scale of the forest made it evident that this would not be an easy task.

At that moment, Mochi, who was munching on an origin crystal with unrestrained enthusiasm, suddenly voiced her thoughts. "Is this where your home is?" she asked, her tone curious but playful.

Vincent glanced at her, utterly speechless.

"Are you trying to say I'm a monkey?" he retorted with a mix of amusement and annoyance. Without hesitation, he swiftly snatched the origin crystal she was munching on.

Mochi froze for a moment, her small body stiffening as she realized what had just happened. A second too late, she cried out, "Give me back my food!"

She leaped up in an attempt to snatch it back, but Vincent simply raised his hand higher. Her short, stubby limbs were no match for his height.

The corners of her eyes began to glisten, as though tears were about to fall. "Give me back my food…" she whimpered softly, her voice laced with pitiful desperation.

As always, Vincent sighed in defeat. He couldn't bring himself to refuse her. Handing the origin crystal back, he said, "Alright, I apologize. Here's your food, my 'Oscar Awardee' rabbit."

Mochi's face instantly brightened, and she accepted the crystal with a delighted giggle. "Thank you, monkey."

Vincent chose to ignore her playful jab and instead turned his attention to the task at hand. He equipped his Shifting Visage mask and stepped into the dense, foreboding Mad Ape Mountain Forest.

The moment Vincent entered, his heightened senses came alive. He immediately detected the faint presence of low-level primals scattered around the area. These creatures lurked in every corner—tiny insects hidden under leaves, crawling along the rugged tree trunks, or burrowed just beneath the soil under his feet.

Thanks to his sharpened perception, nothing escaped his notice. Every living thing in his vicinity was clearly within his awareness. However, he paid no attention to these weaker primals, knowing they wouldn't yield any valuable experience points.

As Vincent proceeded deeper into the forest, he kept a steady pace, scanning his surroundings for signs of 'Shadow Monkeys.' A few moments later, something unusual occurred. Mochi's long, fluffy ears perked up sharply, twitching in response to a sound or presence. At the same time, Vincent's senses detected multiple presences in the distance.

Unlike before, Mochi remained silent. By now, she had come to understand just how strange and mysterious her master was. There was no need to alert him, as she trusted he was already aware of their surroundings. He possessed an arsenal of abilities and skills that defied the limits of what a Tier 1 Origin Warrior—and a human—should be capable of.

Her fragmented memories told her that humans were among the weakest races in the universe. Yet, meeting Vincent had thrown her beliefs into disarray. Her master's existence contradicted everything she thought she knew. Time and again, he shattered her understanding of what was possible, leaving her in awe.

Without hesitation, Vincent activated a high-grade stealth skill and moved soundlessly toward the distant presences. His movements were calculated, each step as silent as a whisper.

Bang! Bang!

Roar!

As they drew closer, the sounds of an intense battle filled the air. Explosions echoed through the forest, accompanied by the enraged roars of a primal beast and the clash of weapons.

Vincent leaped onto a sturdy tree branch, his masked face concealed as he observed the scene below.

With a single glance, he assessed the situation. Three humans—a man and two women—were locked in fierce combat with a massive, three-meter-tall Stone Arm Ape. The beast, a Tier 2 (3★) primal, lived up to its name. Its thick arms and parts of its chest were made of hardened stone, making it a formidable opponent.

The man, dressed in an azure silk martial robe adorned with intricate designs, wielded a thin, sharp sword with remarkable skill. His strikes were swift and precise, each aimed to exploit the ape's vulnerabilities. The two women, clad in matching pink martial robes decorated with lotus flower motifs, wielded similar weapons and moved in perfect synchronization with their senior brother. Together, they formed a coordinated team, parrying the ape's powerful strikes and supporting one another seamlessly.

"Now, Senior Brother!"

The short-haired woman called out as she blocked one of the Stone Arm Ape's massive arms, her voice steady despite the intensity of the battle.

The man, referred to as Senior Brother, reacted instantly. His long, jet-black hair flowed behind him as he dashed forward, positioning himself beneath the ape's exposed belly. His sword emitted a faint white glow, buzzing as he infused it with energy. With a low grunt, he delivered a powerful upward slash.

Slash!

Roar!

The Stone Arm Ape let out a thunderous roar of pain as a deep, diagonal wound appeared across its belly. The beast staggered backward, waving its heavy arms in a desperate attempt to push its attackers away. Blood dripped from its wound, staining the forest floor.

Despite its injuries, the primal didn't charge recklessly. It hesitated, its sharp eyes scanning the area as though calculating its next move. After a moment, it locked its gaze onto the man. Its glare was filled with fury and determination, as though memorizing his face. Then, without warning, it turned and leaped into the trees, attempting to flee.

"Don't let it escape!" the senior brother shouted urgently.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The group wasted no time, chasing after the primal with unwavering determination. However, the Stone Arm Ape abruptly changed direction. Instead of fleeing deeper into the forest, it turned and headed straight toward Vincent's position.

Vincent remained motionless. His Phantom Veil was an epic-grade stealth skill, rendering him completely undetectable. However, he hadn't accounted for one factor: Mochi. He wasn't certain if his stealth extended to her as well. Before he could verify, the Stone Arm Ape let out a furious roar—not at him, but directly at Mochi.

Mochi, who had been peacefully nibbling on her origin crystal, jolted in surprise. She tightened her grip on Vincent's hair and cried out in a panic, "Quick! Quick! Run!"

But Vincent didn't budge.

Meanwhile, the trio chasing the ape noticed Mochi for the first time. To their astonishment, the plump rabbit seemed to be floating in mid-air, perched invisibly on Vincent's shoulder.

"Senior Brother Jiang, look!" Lu Mengmeng, the short-haired woman, shouted, pointing toward Mochi.

Jiang Hao, the senior brother, had already seen the rabbit. His eyes gleamed with greed. He recognized the creature as a Primal Pet, a rarity highly coveted by the wealthy. While these creatures held little value in combat, their rarity and cuteness made them status symbols among noble families.

In Jiang Hao's eyes, Mochi wasn't just a rabbit—she was a treasure worth a fortune. Forgetting the Stone Arm Ape entirely, he commanded his junior sisters, "Leave the ape! Don't let that fat rabbit escape!"

"Yes, Senior Brother!" The two women responded in unison, immediately changing course.

At that moment, the Stone Arm Ape also shifted its focus. It wasn't fleeing anymore. Its movements indicated it was targeting Mochi.

"Don't you dare touch my money!" Jiang Hao thought, surging forward with incredible speed to intercept the primal.

However, before his blade could strike, a masked figure appeared out of thin air. Jiang Hao froze in shock as he watched Vincent's arm transform into a stone-like appendage. With a casual motion, Vincent delivered a casual punch to the incoming ape.

"That's it?" Jiang Hao thought, bewildered by the seemingly simple attack.

But what happened next left him speechless. A massive shockwave erupted from Vincent's punch, sending the Stone Arm Ape flying through the air. The force was so immense that it also pushed the trio back, forcing them to shield their eyes from the swirling dust.

Bam! Tremble!

The Stone Arm Ape crashed heavily onto the ground, causing a faint tremor.

When the dust settled, the trio turned their gaze toward the ape's lifeless body. Its massive head was caved in, and a pool of blood spread beneath it.

The beast was dead.

"Killed in one shot?!" Jiang Hao and his junior sisters exclaimed, their voices filled with disbelief.

On other hand, Vincent, who had shot dead the Stone Arm Ape, heard the system's confirmation.

You have killed a Tier 2 (3★) Stone Arm Ape!

You have received +150 experience points!

Talent Activated!

+1,500,000 experience points!

It once again filled his experience bar. However, instead of feeling joy, he frowned beneath his mask.

"Why is it only 150 experience points…" he wondered.

Because it doesn't make any sense. He killed a Leafscorcher Tyrannosaurus which only was a Tier 2 (1★) but it yields him 200 experience points.

So, why did he gain fewer experience points when he killed a stronger primal?

Thoughts ran through his mind and he could only assume that it was probably connected to what Mochi had told him.