Chapter 12: Bipedal Raptors!
The alien jungle blurred past as Daniel fled the basin of slaughter, putting as much distance behind him as he could.
He moved with purpose, his enhanced Agility carrying him effortlessly over the uneven, springy azure terrain.
The encounter with the mysterious woman had shaken him, but also solidified his resolve. Caution was essential, yes, but so was relentless progress. Stagnation in the Verge meant death.
He found a secluded spot beneath the interwoven branches of several colossal, bioluminescent trees that cast shifting patterns of purple and green light on the ground below.
Checking his surroundings thoroughly with [Aura Sense] and finding no immediate threats, he allowed himself a moment to consolidate his recent gains.
He reviewed the two new skills acquired from Darius's fallen teammates.
[Quick Dodge (F-Grade):] Perform a short, instantaneous burst of movement in a chosen direction (approx. 1 meter). Minor stamina cost. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
[Power Strike (D-Grade):] Channel kinetic energy into a single melee attack (fist or weapon), increasing its impact force by 100%. Moderate mana cost. Cooldown: 30 seconds.
[Quick Dodge] was basic, but its near-instant activation and short cooldown made it a potentially useful tool for micro-adjustments in close combat or escaping sudden grabs.
[Power Strike], however, felt significant. A flat 100% increase to impact force on demand was a substantial boost to his offensive capabilities, especially combined with his already high Strength and his enhanced E-grade Vibro-Knife.
He practiced the mental activation, feeling a surge of kinetic energy gather in his fist, ready to be unleashed. It felt potent, capable of turning a solid hit into a bone-jarring blow.