Back in the dark recesses of the dungeon, Lord Victor''s demeanor had changed dramatically.


    The casual amusement that usually flickered in his expression had faded, reced by a stone-like mask of emotionless focus. His hands were crossed tightly over his chest, his posture stiff, but his eyes gleamed with a sharpness that suggested deep contemtion.


    He no longer saw Lyerin as just a brat in a survival game—there was something more at y here, something that demanded his full attention.


    He watched the magical hologram intently, tracking Lyerin''s every movement with scrutinizing eyes.


    The images flickered as Lyerin, covered in mud and filth, dispatched the st Ape guards with rming efficiency.


    The brat''s attacks weren''t just random strokes of luck; they were cold, calcted strikes. Lord Victor''s brows furrowed as he began piecing things together.


    "The brat can read breathing," Lord Victor mumbled under his breath. He clenched his fists as Lyerin maneuvered around thetest st Ape guard.


    The little Borgias Lyerin has not relied on brute force.


    No, his strategy was much deeper than that.


    The young man had somehow deduced that the ape had just returned from a session of mating, exhausted from its time with the females.


    It was a gamble that should have gotten that little mutt killed, but it didn''t.


    The only exnation was that Lyerin had read the guard''sbored breathing, catching the subtle signs of fatigue that would have been imperceptible to most.


    "If he hadn''t noticed that," Victor continued to murmur, "he would be dead right now. No mana, no raw power. All he has is his wits." His voice dropped to a whisper,ced with intrigue. "What drives him? What''s his goal?"


    Victor''s eyes remained fixed on the hologram as Lyerin continued his deadly work.


    The teenager''s explosive seed had been the perfect weapon to manipte the guard''s rage.


    Lyerin had used the ape''s anger against it, provoking the creature to act without thinking.


    The resulting st had killed the guard before it could even sound the rm.


    "But can he still survive the heavily guarded ones?" Victor questioned aloud, his voice filled with doubt. "The leaders? What does he desire from them? What is his true goal?"


    ---


    Lyerin moved cautiously through the dense foliage, his expression calm, yet a fire burned deep within his eyes.


    This… this was it.


    The exhration of battle, the thrill of life and death hanging in the bnce.


    It was like he had been reborn.


    The memories of his past life felt slowly merging with his current body, but this time, instead of pain, there was a refreshing rity. It was as if the jungle had stripped away theyers of his old self, leaving him new, raw, and alive.


    The young man allowed a small, almost imperceptible smile to touch his lips as he tucked the explosive seeds away into a hidden pocket. He had bigger ns for these. But first, there were things to take care of.


    He moved silently back to the teenage st Ape, which had just begun to stir, its body twitching as it regained consciousness.


    Lyerin crouched low, observing the ape''s slow, drowsy movements. It hadn''t fully recovered yet. With a fluidness, Lyerin struck the ape''s neck again, his hand slicing through the air with a precision that would make any warrior proud.


    Thud!


    The creature slumped, unconscious once more.


    Satisfied, Lyerin stood up and began to move again. He passed by one of the headless adult apes he had killed earlier, its massive body sprawled out in the underbrush.


    Lyerin nced down at it, his face still and unreadable, though inside he felt a slight pang of regret.


    "Pity," Lyerin mumbled to himself, crouching down next to the corpse. "If only I had the mana to carry your body and throw it at your leader''s feet." He gave a small shake of his head and stood up again. "But I can''t… and Lord Victor is watching. I can''t take any risks."


    He sighed softly, and continued on his way, making sure to cover his tracks as he moved through the jungle.


    Lyerin was careful to stay in the shadows, avoiding any unnecessary noise or movement. Thest thing he needed was to attract unwanted attention.


    As he moved through the undergrowth, Lyerin came across a patch of berries he had seen earlier before he entered the st Ape''s territory.


    They were small, round, and a deep, rich purple.


    Their skin glistened in the dim light, and a faint, intoxicating smell filled the air around them. The berries were known to have a peculiar effect on anyone who ate them, inducing a state of intoxication and confusion.


    "Perfect," Lyerin whispered as he plucked a handful of the berries and stuffed them into a small pouch at his side.


    He continued moving, eventually making his way back to the river where the remains of his Cragar''Throm n mana beastpanion were hidden beneath the water. He crouched down by the water''s edge and tugged gently on one of the vines he had attached to the creature''s limbs earlier.


    Slowly, the massive head of the dead mana beast emerged from the water, its eyes wide open and unseeing, its mouth twisted in a grotesque grin.


    Lyerin''s expression softened for a brief moment as he gazed down at the creature''s lifeless form. He had asked for forgiveness before, and now he did so again.


    "Forgive me," Lyerin whispered softly. "This time, I promise… this will be thest."


    He took a deep breath, calming the storm inside him.


    This was why he had tied the vines to hispanions'' limbs earlier—he needed their bodies as part of his n. He had let go of some of the vines when the st Apes attacked, using the other limbs as distractions, but he had made sure to hold on to at least one of the heads. And now, it would serve its purpose.


    Lyerin gently detached the head from the vine and carried it with him as he moved back to the teenage st Ape.


    The ape was still unconscious, lying on its side in the undergrowth.


    Lyerin crouched down next to it and gently lifted its head. He ced the intoxicating berries next to the ape''s mouth, nudging them closer until the creature instinctively began to eat them, even in its unconscious state.


    The intoxicating smell filled the air, and soon the teenage st Ape began to stir again, its body swaying slightly as the effects of the berries began to take hold.


    Lyerin watched patiently as the ape''s movements grew sluggish and disoriented, its eyes zed over with the drunken haze induced by the berries.


    Satisfied, Lyerin took the head of the Cragar''Throm n mana beast and carefully ced it over the ape''s head, adjusting it until it fit snugly.


    The dead eyes of the mana beast stared out from the crude mask, giving the teenage st Ape a grotesque and fearsome appearance.


    Lyerin stepped back, a small smile ying at the corners of his lips as he watched the creature stumble to its feet, its movements clumsy and awkward. But it was walking, and that was all that mattered.


    He led the creature silently through the jungle, keeping it on a tight leash as they moved toward the heart of the st Apemunity. The air grew thicker with the scent of the apes as they drew closer, the sounds of grunting and growling growing louder with each step.


    Finally, they arrived at their destination—the area where the leaders of the st Apes resided.


    The leader''s nest was heavily guarded, with massive, hulking st Apes standing watch at every corner. Their eyes gleamed with intelligence and power, their bodies radiating strength.


    But Lyerin wasn''t worried. He had a n.


    He positioned the drunken teenage ape near the entrance to the leader''s nest and stepped back into the shadows, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    The ape stumbled forward, its grotesque mask making it appear as though a Cragar''Throm n mana beast was leading the charge.


    Lyerin smiled darkly, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched the scene unfold. The st Ape guards would have no idea what hit them. And when the chaos began, Lyerin would strike.


    "Let''s send this ce to heaven," Lyerin whispered to himself, his smile widening as the first of the guards turned to face the stumbling ape.