Rogue Villain-Chapter 345: Anima

It took a while, but thanks to Mio’s efforts, the bird’s intelligence, and Ackster’s ability to read their expressions and gestures, Ackster quickly understood the bird’s source of power.

The bird didn’t communicate in words the same way humans or other intelligent species did. So, it was up to Ackster to decide on a name or what to call the source.

*Anima sounds good, right?*

Mio nodded frantically. It was much better than any of the other suggestions Ackster had come up with. It also suited the source quite well since the source was an expression of animalistic survival and struggle.

It was slightly similar to vitality in several areas. But the main differences were the intensity and the fact that not all beasts had it.

All living beings, even plants, had vitality. It was just a part of being alive. Some could train until they were able to utilize their vitality more freely. Others had an innately powerful life force that made them stronger, healthier, and more long-lived.

Anima, however, was something the beasts of this secluded world acquired after struggling.

Through the bird and Mio, Ackster found out that ever since the miniature world’s creation, there had been a constant battle for survival and resources. Somehow, it was always maintained and balanced so that no one beast would rule everyone else and create a long-lasting dominion. Something also ensured that the whole world didn’t go under.

But after generations upon generations of beasts fighting for the continued survival of their race, most beasts had evolved into experts at survival and fighting. It was a boiling pot of predators continuously feeding on each other, ensuring that only the strongest lived on to the next era before continuing the cycle.

Through that process, the beasts in this mini world had ignited their vitality and seemingly unlocked a new source that, at first glance, surpassed vitality.

If vitality was the source of life—of being alive—Anima was the source of living and fighting to live. It showed that every day was a battle for survival.

That was why it was more powerful and explosive than vitality. It had to have killing power when its reason for existing was a world where you had to kill if you wanted to delay the day when you were killed. There was no killing until you were on top and then dying of old age. You killed until you were killed.

That was the basis of Anima. That was also why Anima wasn’t as geared toward recovery and strength of life as vitality was.

’Sounds perfect.’

Ackster liked the thought of Anima. He couldn’t wait to see what it did when combined with his martial arts or Ichor.

Ackster furrowed his brow. There was just one problem.

He didn’t know how to acquire Anima. He wasn’t the product of countless generations of progressive, battle-oriented evolution. His body wasn’t made to unlock Anima.

Or was it?

Ackster looked at the bird.

*Do you care about the rest of this place?*

The bird tilted its head as it looked at Ackster. After a while, it shook its head.

*Good.*

Ackster looked at his surroundings. It was almost a shame, considering how beautiful and ancient this primeval world was. The Alchemist had also put a lot of work into ensuring its continued operations. Who knows? Maybe in a few million years, the world would have produced an apex predator that could overturn the Alchemist’s preparations.

But the world would end before that could happen unless Ackster were strong enough.

So, even if it was the destruction of an incredible legacy, Ackster had to do it. He had to eat as many of the beasts in this place as possible.

Although the bird was one of the few beasts who had unlocked Anima, all the currently living beasts had lasted through multiple eras, each generation of descendants strong enough to survive and grow even stronger. Most of them should have the potential to develop Anima sometime in their lives.

Ackster needed that potential.

It was a long shot. But Ackster knew how to get his hands on it.

Monster Muncher was the key. Even now, Ackster had eaten several of the stronger beasts. He had even eaten one that had unlocked Anima, even if it couldn’t compare to the eight-winged bird’s.

He couldn’t rule out the possibility that he could already unlock Anima after some time.

But Ackster couldn’t take that chance when he didn’t have enough time to waste training something that he didn’t know would bear fruit. And if he could confirm in the future that it wouldn’t work, it would be too late to come back and munch all the beasts.

Ackster took a deep breath and sharpened his senses, spreading them throughout the miniature world. It was bigger than he had expected, but not by much. The jungle stretched on until it reached two other habitats, a desert, and a swamp with a lake in the center.

He didn’t waste any more time. Ackster pumped his body full of his sources, except Ichor, since it was still busy, and took off at a speed that tore the bark off the trees. Mio stayed with the bird and kept it from fleeing, not that there would be a place to flee to when Ackster was done.

Ackster rushed through the jungle, grabbing, killing, and eating any beast strong enough to be worth it. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Monster Muncher didn’t even bother trying to get anything from weak beasts, so Ackster ended up sparing the younger generations. There was hope for the future.

But Ackster still culled the miniature world, leveling the place’s strength and harnessing it all for himself. He looked at the sky when he reached the other end of the world.

If there really was a power source up there, it would most likely be mana. It wouldn’t be a sun or something.

It would surely be a great treasure others would kill for, but Ackster didn’t want it unless it was useful to him, which it wouldn’t be if it were just a mana generator of some kind.

Ackster looked back where he had come and started on another run.