Chapter 26: Shadowless Flash! Departure to Forestwood Town

Xu Han shook his head and gestured politely for him to leave.

Qian Duo’s grin stretched ever wider, almost reaching the base of his ears. His smile grew increasingly bizarre, his features twisting grotesquely.

“Since you’re unwilling, Xu Han, I won’t insist,” he said.

With that, he slowly rose and walked straight out.

Watching Qian Duo’s retreating figure, Xu Han felt a vague discomfort in his heart. But he didn’t dwell on it. If the Abyssal Church dared to cause trouble, let them come. Perhaps he could even get some better equipment out of it.

Xu Han closed the door, then braised the meat of the Moonshadow Wolf. Soon, a rich aroma filled the room.

Because Moonshadow Wolf meat was lean, he added some skin and fat from the Ironback Boar. The Ironback Boar’s fat was especially fragrant, infusing the wolf meat with a mouthwatering scent.

He took a bite and chewed slowly. Though the wolf meat was all lean, it was tender and juicy, while the skin was tough yet elastic, delightfully chewy. With each mouthful, he felt power surge through his body.

A system notification chimed.

“Host has consumed Tier-2 Moonshadow Wolf meat for the first time: Strength +20, Agility +40.”

“Host has acquired the Moonshadow Wolf skill: Shadow Strike.”

Another new skill!

Xu Han opened his skill panel. At the very bottom, a new ability had appeared.

Shadow Strike LV.1: Transform into a fleeting afterimage, charging the enemy and inflicting damage. Cooldown: 3 minutes.

This was a surprise assault technique. With his current, terrifying attributes, he could take enemies by surprise and dispatch them with ease.

Like a whirlwind, he devoured the rest of the meat.

The system prompt sounded again.

“Shadow Strike is mutating…”

Xu Han’s heart skipped a beat.

Skill mutation triggered!

Soon, the system voice returned.

“Shadow Strike has successfully mutated into Phantom Flash.”

Xu Han opened his skill panel again to examine the new power.

Phantom Flash LV.1: Completely conceal your form and flash to the enemy’s side, launching a surprise attack. Cooldown: 5 minutes.

Shadow Strike was strong, but it still left an afterimage. If the enemy spotted it, they could locate him.

Phantom Flash, however, teleported him directly beside his foe—utterly unpredictable and nearly impossible to defend against.

The only downside was the slightly longer cooldown. But Xu Han didn’t mind. With constant use and skill leveling, the cooldown would gradually decrease.

He rested for the night, planning to visit Woodgrove Town, twenty kilometers from Donghai City, the next day.

Woodgrove Town had once been an ordinary place. But after the beast invasion, it fell and became a paradise for monsters. The average beasts there were level 20 to 25; some even surpassed level 30. In addition, the area was home to a few boss-level monsters. If luck was on his side, he might encounter several and collect a trove of equipment.

Many beast hunters from Donghai City liked to roam Woodgrove Town or the nearby abandoned towns.

Xu Han slept through the night.

The next morning, he packed his things and headed east from the city.

Compared to previous days, far fewer people were leaving the city. The college entrance exams had ended, and many classmates planned to rest for a few days—drinking, feasting, confessing their feelings to their crushes. Such activities were traditional after the exams.

Su Li had even invited Xu Han, but he wasn’t interested. His only thought was to level up!

Outside the city, many beast hunters gathered. Some exchanged intelligence—where boss monsters might appear, their levels, their strength. Others recruited teammates or sought to form parties.

“Level 15 and above healers wanted! Target: Blue Lake Town!”

“Looking for a level 25+ frontline class, B-rank or better!”

“Anyone need a level 20 hunter? Looking for a party!”

Hearing these shouts, Xu Han felt as if he were in an online game.

A middle-aged man with a scar across his face and a machete at his waist glanced at Xu Han, surprise flickering in his eyes.

“You just graduated from high school, didn’t you, kid?”

Xu Han nodded.

The man gave him a thumbs-up and chuckled, “Not bad. The exams just ended and you’re not slacking off—you’re already heading out to train. If my daughter were as diligent as you, she’d surely get into a top-tier vocational university. So, are you headed for Pinewood Village or the depths of the Shadow Marsh?”

Both Pinewood Village and the deeper Shadow Marsh had monsters around level 10 to 15—ideal for high school students to gain experience.

Xu Han smiled and replied, “I’m planning to check out Woodgrove Town.”

This answer astonished not only the man but also his companions.

“Kid, the monsters in Woodgrove Town are all above level 20. Are you going with someone?” the man asked.

Xu Han shook his head. “I’m going alone.”

The man exchanged glances with his friends, then said, “How about joining our Berserker Squad? We’ll take you with us—it’s safer in numbers.”

Xu Han felt a warmth in his heart. He could sense the man’s sincerity.

But he shook his head. “Thank you, sir, but I’m used to working alone. I won’t trouble you.”

The man sighed. “If that’s your choice, be careful out there. But let me warn you: when you’re outside, beware not only of monsters but of people too. Not everyone is trustworthy.”

Xu Han nodded solemnly. He was well aware of that.

He hurried toward Woodgrove Town, reaching its outskirts in just an hour.

The outskirts were a barren plain, but few monsters roamed here—mostly traces left by beast hunters’ camps.

Several tents were still pitched, their occupants clearly resting. Many hunter squads chose to camp here; returning to Donghai City every day wasted too much time.

Xu Han gazed at Woodgrove Town. It was vast, almost the size of a city district. Though it was called a town, its size rivaled that of small counties. It was the largest town in the vicinity of Donghai City.

From a distance, he could see high-rises within, crisscrossing streets, all overgrown with dark green vines. The roads were littered with abandoned, rusting cars, and the shop doors were all tightly shut.

A few wolf-like monsters prowled the streets, hunting for prey.

Step by step, Xu Han walked toward the town.

The wolf-beasts quickly noticed him, their emerald eyes glinting with greed. They crouched low, ready to spring.

In the next instant, their bodies shot forward like arrows, pouncing straight at Xu Han!