"Race: Voidling | Subspecies: BruteExpected Potential: F+ to E-on of choice: Pure Strength, Known weaknesses: No skin yer, slowed rea timeBrutes are known as one of many failed evolutionary subspecies. They are born thanks to the bination of two Voidlings that want to evolve into Cursed Juggernaut. Unfortunately, due to not meeting the requirements, the evolutionary process often fails, and Brutes are the oute. They share all characteristics of Cursed Juggernauts but to a lesser degree. Additionally, as failed evolution, there are no Apex Brutes."

  ~ry in Leo's Bestiary

  They didn't stop when the Crimson Mirage colpsed into dust; Leo never gave the trio a ce to bother him about it. Instead, he dashed forward, running across the roofs and through the Vetilim jungle uhe cover of stealth and his new cloak. They still had a destination to reach, and stopping to listen to Tyler's pints wasn't in his pns.

  Time flew by as they quered street after street, killing what they had to and avoiding what they could. Leo still did most of the job, spilling the blood of Voidlings in waves as he cleared the path for the trio behind him. Really, it was almost terrifying how easy this task had bee after just a week.

  Hell, thanks to the Mirage Ambush, Leo now felt like he was strolling through a park rather than a Void-ied city. They still had to avoid Maniacs roups of flying Voidlings, but dealing with normies, Runners, and even Crawlers was no longer a problem, just a mild annoyance.

  The newly strengthened e with his inner beast allowed Leo to use more of the hidden potential his body possessed. Add that to the power boost from another level, and now he ractically flowiween enemies like a raging tsunami. Untouchable and deadly, ready to strike whenever necessary.

  Not that many Voidlings even had the ce to face him. No, most of them hit the ground dead before they caught a glimpse of his cloak. They were all just too weak and too slow, and if it weren't for their sheer numbers, Leo would never have to fight them head-on. Not that it could even be called a fight anymore.

  With the step of synization over, Leo was genuinely beginning to feel like the body of the Prime Night Hunter was his own and not merely something that the System had pced his soul in. There were still moments when he would stumble or send a tail in the wrong dire, but now his inner beast was always there to help, to assist him in the hunt for more prey.

  The cooperatioween them eclipsed anything Leo had ever experienced. Which, in hindsight, wasn't a surprise. He might think of the beast as a separate entity, but in the end, it and he were one and the same. They just needed a bit more time to bee one for the Prime Night Huo be truly born…

  Their inplete state was only proved by the fact that no matter how hard Leo tried to reach out, he couldn't activate Focused Bloodlust. Oh, the boiling rage still flowed underh his skin, deep in his mind, ready to e out at a moment's notice, but this wasn't the same.

  Focused and normal bloodlust were two different things, even if the former used the tter to work. Or at least that was what Leo thought, as the System never expined how to activate the skill, and his inner beast knew as much as he did for now, which amouo pretty muothing at all.

  Probably have to figure it out on my own if I want to advance... Annoying but uandable. Leo's inner beast screeched in agreement. I really need a name for you. Calling you a beast when you obviously are nothing like the things surrounding me is just wrong.

  The beast didn't voice its opinion, but Leo k somewhat agreed. We will figure it out soon, I promise... For now, let's clear the area and wait for the others. We are close now.

  Not waiting for an answer, Leo desded from his per a tree, bdes slig through the heads of two Hounds on the ground. Barely wasting a moment, he dashed forward, the bck cloak stained in blood fluttering behind him.

  The single Cursed Human apanying the two Hounds never had a ce to react as Leo dht behind it and ss neck like a twig. Cws quickly followed, and the little Essence he lost due to True Stealth quickly trickled back like it never left.

  "And that's it for the backyard..." Leo muttered, his eyes settling on the single Void-ed house o him. "Maybe it will be empty?"

  Usually, Leo wouldn't care what was ihe building, but the old trainyard was only a few streets away, and it was time troup before they went any further. They had already left the city ter behind, and with it, the stant Void jungle made out of tall, ected buildings, Vetilim webs, and transformed trees.

  Here, while the Void still ruled, ing almost everything in sight, the buildings were too small and too far from each other. Void's living matter still tried to make es between them and the few trees here and there, but it was nothing like what Leo had growo ihe tral part of the city.

  Still, this residential area wasn't that bad. With only houses and a few other buildings here and there, the tall grass grew pretty much everywhere. Add to that the few transformed trees and some Vetilim webs, aill had plenty of opportuo sy Voidlings before they could act.

  However, he still missed being able to always stay above the battlefield.

  You 't have everything. Leed, sliding into the house through a destroyed backdoor.

  Void-cimed corridreeted him first, and Leo instantly fired off a pulse, information surging into his head. One signature somewhere to my left... Let's see. Carefully, steeping over a cracked shelf half ed by Vetilim, he let his senses guide him forward.

  The living room was in a state simir to any other, ied by the Void but still with some signs of the old world. Not for long, though, if the spreadiilim had anything to say about that…

  Sighing, Leo shook his head and delved deeper into the house, passing a few open rooms. It wasn't until a very low screech finally reached his ears that he sped up, almost flying into the room farthest from him.

  Only there was o hurry.

  Leo snorted as his eyes fell upon the single Cursed Human g this house as its domain. The monster y on the floor, its lower half hiddeh Vetilim, which for some reason, decided to almost bury the creature alive.

  Now that's depressing. Leo noted, watg the ugly creature fil around like a worm. Holy, with how slow the thing moved, even a Sger could kill it.

  Alright, let's put you out of misery.

  With a sirike, the monster's head rolled to the side. However, Leo didn't even notice that as a quite partiotification appeared before him.

  Cursed Human (LVL: 2) sin | No experience gained | her awarded

  Eyes widening, Leo made sure that he read the message correctly. The creature's level was a surprise alone, but the part about the experiend Ether raised even more questions.

  I guess I bme the level on its state. But why no experience, or hell, eveher? System? Identify? Leo called out, and to his further shock, another notifierged.

  Please hat enemies who are siderably weaker than you will grant almost no experiehe amount is so negligible that the System decided to dispy it as 'No experience gained.' Ether follows a simir rule, but have no fear, User. As long as your target is at least level 35, oher will always be provided.

  Leo's eye twitched. Level thirty-five? Oher? How is that supposed to make me feel better? Of course, the System did not answer.

  Fug fantastic. Leo huffed, dismissing the notification. At least now he khat he couldn't endlessly kill weak Voidlings and hope for the best. Well, they still give me experience, but if it's as bad as the System says, then there is no point…

  This ehing still left open an important question. Just what did 'siderably weaker' really mean? Ten levels? Twenty? Did levels even matter at all?

  Maybe Nikra will have an idea. Once she decides to wake up, that is…

  Shaking his head, Leo fired off another pulse and lowered his hood as the feedback rushed into his head. Finally… I knew I didn't leave them that far behind.

  For most of the journey, Leo kept a close eye orio, but ohey were close enough to the trainyard, he decided to go a bit further ahead. At this point, they didn't really need him to babysit them stantly, and besides, he left a rail of bodies for them to follow.

  Let's get this over with... Leo sighed and stepped bato the corridor, his legs carrying him toward the living room once more. Hushed whispers already filled the house, so he dropped True Stealth and called out.

  "I'm ing in."

  Just as Leo had expected, the momeepped into the room, all ons were poiraight at him. Even the usually uanding Dyn raised his pistol slightly, ready to be used if necessary.

  "Peace," Leo lifted his hands, almost hugging the wall far away from the trio. "Gd you found the pce."

  "You left us behind," Tyler almost spat.

  Refraining from rolling his eyes, Leo nodded as his hands fell. "I did, but I still cleared the path for you, didn't I?" Getting no answer, he tinued. "Besides, it is not like you needed me. Voidlings in this area a joke."

  "Aye, we noticed there were barely any levels six on the way," Dyn nodded slowly. "Doesn't ge the fact that you could've waited and traveled with us the rest of the way."

  This time Leo couldn't stop the snort from esg. "Please... We all know that you don't want me around. 't even bme ya for that."

  Dyn moved to open his mouth, but Leo stopped him with a raised hand. "No, really, it's fine," he chuckled, and it wasn't even bitter. "There was no e to stay a part of yroup after I evolved. Fuck, it's a miracle we even got this far, but I guess desperation make people ignore some things, eh?"

  Laura flinched a bit as Leo caught her gaze, but Tyler just grunted, his eyes still narrowed.

  Shouldn't have expected anything else from you... Though it seems I was wrong about you, Laura... Ah, whatever, it doesn't matter anyway.

  Shrugging, Leo turo the only person capable of normal speech. "As we pnned before, you three will wait here while I scout ahead. It shouldn't take me lohan half an hour. If there is anybody alive out there, I will find it."

  "I re you won't be tryin' to tact 'em?" Dyn asked, knowing the answer all too well.

  "Fuo. I will leave that to you three... Though, I guess I will cash in that favor you spoke about. Don't worry; it won't be anything big, and after that, we might not see each ain."

  Dyn looked like he wao say something, but in the end, he just nodded, giving Leo a strained smile.

  "Alright then," he muttered, Esseirring to activate True stealth again. "I will be back soon. Try not to die."

  With a burst of speed, Leo dived for the exit, never giving the trio a ce to answer. In the blink of an eye, he stepped into the light of the red Sun, taking in a deep breath.

  Let's find out if this was all for naught or if there really is a bigger group here.

  Throwing his hood on, Leo dashed towards the tall trees separating him from areet. It was time for the final part of this jouro begin.

  Chaos65