The Dreamer's POV

The massive tough mass of flesh and energy came spinning at me. My senses were at their peak, and I swiftly sent forward my rocks at the thing. I had them spinning as well, and this time, I coated them with black flames, for I realized that the longer I waited this thing out, toying with it, the more likely I was going to exhaust all of my energy, and possibly even lose.

The Gorilla combat ability was nothing to scoff at, and I could see. I could see it adapting to my moves, choosing the best way to come at me. It was intelligent, and it was bent on destroying me and getting the shard that was with me, when I however, wanted the shards on its chest and mouth.

The spinning balls struck each other, causing a powerful shockwave from the spot, and shifting both the rocks, and the gorilla of course.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

My grand rocks drifted to the side and crashed on a couple of trees before I could gain control of them once more and call them back to me. The spinning gorilla however went slamming to the muck below, that seemed more of its fate in our encounter.

'I could end this.' I thought, watching the gorilla slowly get back up. My advanced grand rocks hovered beside me and I could have rushed down a barrage of attacks, it was open right now, and I could take the opportunity. However, for no other reason than to prolong my enjoyment, I let it be.

It turned to me, but this time around, its signature red energy wasn't coating it, and with a look with <Absolute Appraisal> active, I saw that it had greatly exhausted its energy.

I could see its black chest heaving up and down, it was exhausted, meanwhile, I hadn't broken a sweat yet.

I was surprised, its stats weren't greatly lesser than mine, and we had comparable combat ability. I didn't think that the disparity between our powers was this huge.

I watched as it took a deep breath, looked to the muck below and right at me, its eyes totally red like the energy that had encompassed it earlier.

I felt my head feel slightly hazy, and I could tell that it was using a mind attack on me, but it was much too weak. Too weak to break through my mental resistance, too weak to break through the wards that protected my mind.

It then changed the position on which it stood. Previously, it stood like a typical gorilla, long arms, with hands touching the ground. Now, both its arms were raised, and it seemed like it was tiptoeing, though I wasn't certain with the muck below.

One thing was certain however, it had changed its approach at fighting me, and I realized that, as rocks jutted out from below, becoming spikes ready to impale me.

I quickly activated <Haven>, and the piercing rocks crumbled on contact. Yes, this wasn't going to do anything.

'Best I end things.'

I sent my rocks at it. The first struck its shoulder, stunning it, and it cried out in pain, standing sideways. Just as it looked at me, one struck strongly on its face, and I felt its bones crushing, and its flesh breaking apart.

The rock went through its head, creating a gaping hole around the area of its nose and mouth.

Just before it fell, I sent the other rocks to hit different areas of its body, its abdomen, feet, chest until it fell without wailing. There I knew, I had defeated the Jungle's apex predator, I had triumphed, and it was easy.

[System Notification]

[You have defeated the Emoni Jungle Gorilla]

[Your opponent has dropped items]

[You have received Golden shards x 3]

"Ohh, three shards. Quite generous"

Continue reading on empire

I expected more items, but none came, however, I did receive a title.

[Lord of the jungle]

It seemed a little out of my style, but it wasn't too bad, it was only fitting that I got the title, I defeated an actual Lord of the jungle, making all that he ruled mine.

I watched as its corpse crumbled away to fleeting black threads that soon disappeared to nothing.

It was incredibly huge. I stood by its side, and I felt it was a little insane that a person as little as I was could defeat something that was so stupidly huge. The gorilla was about thirty times my size, and it had the power behind such size.

I was patient, and I watched as every part of its body crumbled away. Then, I focused on the golden shards that were given to me, I knew there had to be something to them, but I hadn't figured it out.

The three that I got from my opponent hovered by my shoulder, and I summoned the one that I had found earlier, and soon as I did. The four began drifting to each other, I absolutely had no hand in what happened.

The other three fitted into place, making a satisfying sound of metals fitting into each other, and then the last fell in place.

A bright light shimmered from the piece and I had to close my eyes and look away.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw an incomplete circle of gold, there was only a piece missing, and I needed to find it. The golden thing was about the size of my hand, and it hovered by me, and from its center where there was a rectangular hole in place, light emanated, seeming to point somewhere.

"Ohhh…"

Not only did it shine, it began slowly drifting as well, and I had a feeling that it was moving to find the last piece, and so I followed, quite eager to see what this thing would become.

It drifted through bushes, above branches and leaves and I was right behind it, with <Haven> on.

We were moving further into the forest, and I could see that it was getting darker and darker. The trees in this part of the jungle had even larger canopies.

The round incomplete gold thing stood, and I saw where the light projection ended.

Right in front of me, meters away, was a serpent coiled around a tree branch and asleep, and I saw as the light highlighted the golden shard that was in it.

I would have to tear through the serpent to get it.