Re-Awakening: Cannon Fodder With Strongest Talent-Chapter 126: Apex Mane

My fire versus their fire. Let's see who burns brighter.

The battle became a contest of elemental mastery. Their D+ grade flames met his F+ fire in spectacular collision, creating steam clouds that obscured the battlefield entirely.

Yet Gold-rank power proved decisive.

His rank overwhelmed their talent-rank superiority, his flames consuming theirs through sheer overwhelming intensity.

But as they battled, Ethan began adapting and learning how to use his fire talent more effectively. He was learning from the superior techniques he encountered.

The salamanders' advanced flame manipulation techniques integrated into his own capabilities as the battle progressed.

Where before his fire had been some what crude, now it carried more control.

The first salamander died as wind blades carved through its superheated form, but not before its death throes taught Ethan some valuable control lessons.

The second fell to his flames.

The third salamander attempted retreat, recognizing the change. It's companions had died in front of its eyes. But its escape only delayed the inevitable, its death.

Three down. And significant advancement opportunity confirmed.

He collected their cores before beginning the devouring process.

The familiar surge of power coursed through him as he absorbed their abilities.

<You have devoured the Inferno Salamander>

<You have evolved the Fire talent: F+ → D->

'Progress. Continue.'

The second salamander provided similar results, pushing his fire capabilities toward the evolution threshold he desperately needed.

<You have devoured the Inferno Salamander>

'One more should trigger the major evolution.'

The third corpse delivered exactly what he'd hoped for.

<You have devoured the Inferno Salamander>

<You have evolved the Fire talent: D- → D>

<Talent evolution threshold achieved!>

Fire magic flowed through his enhanced physiology with unprecedented power.

What had been crude flame projection transformed into sophisticated elemental manipulation that rivaled the salamanders' natural abilities.

'D-rank Fire talent confirmed. Three major talents now evolved.'

The advancement felt substantial—not just numerical improvement, but qualitative transformation that opened entirely new tactical possibilities.

Fire, Water, all operating at D-rank created combination attack options beyond his current arsenal.

'Steam generation through Fire and Water coordination…The possibilities multiply exponentially.'

But time constraints pressed against exploration of his enhanced capabilities. Each moment spent in enemy territory represented risk that had to be balanced against advancement potential.

'Continue deeper. More opportunities await discovery.'

The jungle remained with promises of additional creatures whose abilities could push his remaining talents beyond their current limitations.

Advancement through targeted hunting—the path from desperate survival to dominance.

His senses detected movement ahead, something large crashing through undergrowth with the confidence of an apex predator.

'Major threat incoming. It must be powerful, at least peak-silver rank.'

The creature that emerged from concealing vegetation exceeded his expectations.

Feline in basic structure but magnified beyond natural possibility, the beast stood shoulder-high to a grown man while stretching nearly four meters from nose to tail.

Its coat showed the distinctive golden striping of a tiger, but each stripe seemed to be covered in aura.

Muscles rippled beneath fur that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Eyes like molten amber fixed on Ethan with intelligence that went far beyond the previous ones.

This wasn't just another monster—it was clearly an apex predator. It was Ethan's strongest opponent so far.

'Ferocious Beast: Apex Mane'

'Rank: Mid-Gold'

'Strength Talent: C Grade'

The status information hit Ethan like a physical blow.

Mid-Gold rank placed the creature on a higher

footing than his own capabilities, while its C-grade talent represented advancement beyond anything he'd encountered in this realm or the real world.

'Mid-Gold rank. This battle will be very difficult to deal with. I'm not sure if I could deal with it. It looks quite powerful. This beast is higher ranked than me, and it has a stronger talent, which means its strength must be through the roof.'

But more importantly, the talent grade offered possibilities that made his heart beats quicken with anticipation rather than fear.

C rank Stength talent was something that Ethan lacked. Killing the Apex Mane would grant Ethan a powerful ability ready for devouring when possible, and a golden core for some stats gain.

'I haven't gotten any stats ever since I reached gold rank. This would be my first one.'

His current collection consisted entirely of D rank and lower abilities.

The Apex Mane studied him with predatory gaze, its intelligence recognizing a threat frim a mile away. Here stood another apex predator in its territory—not prey to be hunted, but competition to be eliminated.

'It knows I'm dangerous. Good. Mutual respect makes for better combat.'

The creature's Physical Enhancement talent activated with visible effect.

Muscles swelled beyond their already impressive proportions while its natural weapons extended into claws that could shear through steel plate.

'C rank enhancement…This is what true power looks like.'

Power radiated from the Apex Mane like heat from a forge, its presence warping the very air around its enhanced form. This wasn't just another Silver-rank obstacle to overcome—it was genuine threat that could end his advancement permanently.

'Finally. A real challenge.'

Ethan's own talents activated in response to the threat assessment.

Enhanced Speed, Crystal Hardening, Wind manipulation, flowing together into coordinated preparation for the most dangerous combat he'd faced since arriving in this realm.

'Everything depends on the next few minutes.'

The Apex Mane's growl resonated through the jungle with harmonic frequencies that made trees tremble.

Is it threatening me to back away? I thought it would want to attack me…why is it not attacking?

Maybe it's trying some psychological warfare. It's trying to break my nerve before physical combat begins.

But Ethan had faced impossible odds before and emerged victorious through superior strategy rather than just overwhelming force. The creature's C rank talent made it formidable, but not invincible.

'Gold-rank versus Gold-rank. Let's see who is stronger.'

The standoff stretched for heartbeats that felt like hours.

Two apex predators sizing each other up, calculating odds and tactical approaches while preparing for violence that would determine survival.

Environmental factors favored the Apex Mane—this was its territory, its hunting ground where every advantage lay with the native predator.

But Ethan's diverse talent portfolio provided options that pure physical enhancement couldn't match.