Goblins again. But this time, a bit taller and muscular. But the most problematic thing. Their numbers. There were at least 50 of them.

But Leon’s heart didn’t falter anymore. It only grew excited. "This time, I will surely break through to the sixth stage of body refinement."

Clutching his club tight, Leon sprinted forward and started his slaughter again. The goblins weren’t just bigger. They were stronger and faster. And most importantly, it was as if they had at least some brains because many of them tried to dodge.

But Leon had already changed his previous club with a bigger one this time. And he had picked up a dagger, too.

The club continued to shatter bones while the dagger tore through green flesh without any mercy.

One!

Two!

Five!

Ten!

Twenty!

Goblins fell one after another. Leon wasn’t unscathed. He had received injuries. Bloody ones, painful ones. But nothing stopped him from pushing forward.

And soon....

Every goblin lay motionless. Dead.

Leon didn’t wait for the system’s congratulations. He collected the cores and started eating them.

[You have absorbed Qi

Qi: 22,500/80,000]

"Each core is giving 2500 Qi this time." He mumbled.

As he picked up the 24th core, he stared at it before throwing it in his mouth as well.

"That’s it. This one will help me break through again."

He tossed it up and swallowed it as it fell.

[Congratulations, Host.]

[Qi: 80,000/80,000. You have absorbed enough qi for a breakthrough.]

[You have reached the 6th level of Body Refinement Stage.]

Leon’s lips curved up into a satisfied smile as his power surged higher.

He ate the remaining monster cores as well.

[You have absorbed Qi.

Qi: 77,500/1,60,000]

Leon didn’t waste time and jumped to the next layer immediately.

And the moment his feet touched the ground, the next wave of monsters emerged from the shadows. It wasn’t a goblin this time. But Jackals. Not in its typical animal form, though. These jackals just matched in shape. But their skin colour was red. Claws looked metallic. Their growls alone sent a clear message to Leon. They weren’t to be trifled with. Leon could tell that these ones were stronger. Far stronger than the bigger goblins.

Thump! Thump!

Leon could hear his own heartbeat rising.

"With my current strength, I won’t be able to kill them all." While saying that, Leon’s grip tightened around his weapons. Both daggers this time. No more clubs.

And then it started.

The pack of jackals lunged toward Leon at once.

Leon jumped, dodged one hungry maw and slid his dagger through the underside of its jaw.

Schlk! Blood splattered, and the jackal didn’t move anymore.

Leon kept weaving between the monsters. What he didn’t notice was that his moves were getting professional. Slowly but surely. Like he knew how to dodge, how to fight. He wasn’t learning it. But remembering it.

Amidst the struggle, whenever a corpse started to fade and left behind a monster core, Leon quickly collected it and popped it in his mouth.

[You have absorbed Qi.

Qi: 81,500/1,60,000]

[You have absorbed Qi.

Qi: 85,500/1,60,000]

Just as he was about to pick up the next monster core while fighting, one jackal bit his forearm.

"Arrghhhhhhhh!" He let out an agonizing scream.

He thrust the dagger in his opposite hand from the side. It pierced the jackal’s mouth. Blood splattered again, this time it splashed on Leon’s face. The blood and the pain. They made him look like a hungry predator.

He gritted his teeth, somehow suppressing the pain. And without delay, he finished what he was doing. The monster core went to his stomach.

The fight raged on. Blood stench filled the air. Screams echoed. Amidst the chaos, Leon finally popped in the last core needed for his next break through.

[Congratulations, Host.]

[Qi: 1,61,500/1,60,000. You have absorbed enough Qi for a breakthrough.]

[You have reached the 7th level of Body Refinement Stage.] 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The injuries in his body healed. His strength surged higher. The doubt he had earlier about whether he could defeat them all on his own vanished. It was replaced with calm confidence.

"Come." He said, his eyes sweeping over the remaining monsters. "I know you all are going to help me reach the next level, too." His lips curved into a smile. A glint flashed in his eyes.

The next moment. He shot forward.

A dagger slash. One jackal’s head slid open.

Leon jumped and came down with a punch.

The jackal cratered into the ground.

With his increased strength, they weren’t his opponents anymore.

After 10 minutes...

Leon sat over a round boulder. He was gasping for air. His wet clothes clung to his body tightly.

Notifications continued to shimmer in the panel.

[You have absorbed Qi.]

[You have absorbed Qi.]

[You have absorbed Qi.]

.....

.....

.....

[Congratulations, Host.]

[Qi: 3,21,500/3,20,000. You have absorbed enough Qi for a breakthrough.]

[You have reached the 8th level of Body Refinement Stage.]

The injuries and tiredness vanished again. Leon’s strength took another leap.

"How many layers are there? What level can I achieve when I finally leave this gate? But before that, can I really clear it all?" Leon asked himself. There was no one to answer. Not even the system showed any new messages.

’Whatever. I will just keep pushing forward. I can’t wait to see what will happen when another curse is lifted from my body.’ With that thought, Leon jumped to the next layer.

As expected...

New monsters started to emerge from the shadows.

This time, they had massive, hulking bodies. Their bodies were covered with thick fur, but most of it was hidden beneath layers of metal armor. Their shoulders, chest, and arms were wrapped up by them.

Their snouts were broad with sharp tusks jutting outward. Their small eyes looked bloodshot, filled with killing intent.

Each one was carrying a heavy chain. Massive spiked maces at the end of those chains were being dragged across the ground with a metallic scrape.

Humanoid boars. 20 this time.