Barbaric shouts in the orcs' crude native tongue echoed through the forest.

Thud! The orc chieftain, over two meters tall, swung his massive iron hammer and slammed Jiang Xiang to the ground.

"Ow! Ow!" Jiang Xiang cried, clutching his bleeding chest. His face was bruised and battered, unrecognizable—worse than yesterday, with injuries all over.

If he hadn't awakened as a Barbarian with a tough hide and boosted his defense with Spirit Energy, he'd have died multiple times.

Jiang Xiang rolled down a slope after falling. Scraped but alive, he fled as the Spark Level One orc chieftain led seven or eight orcs shouting down the hill.

Both at Spark Level One, orcs were naturally stronger than Jiang Xiang. Even unawakened orcs could each take on three burly men.

Now, Jiang Xiang was badly hurt and nearly out of Spirit Energy. He'd gotten separated from his followers while chased by Jackalmen. The map was with Zhang Da. Lost in the forest, he'd stumbled into patrolling orcs and almost been smashed to pulp.

Awakeners could absorb external Spirit Energy, but slowly. A night's sleep restored only thirty to forty percent. Jiang Xiang's reserves were almost gone.

Jiang Xiang spat out bloody teeth, covering his face as he cursed, "Damn it! My luck's terrible! Jackalmen this morning, now orcs. Ow..."

Cursing only made his jaw ache worse, unbearable pain.

Shouts in the orcs' native tongue echoed from the slope again.

"Why won't these orcs give up!"

Jiang Xiang dragged his injured, hefty body, fleeing desperately, lungs burning.

He didn't know he'd strayed into orc territory.

Like humans on plains, forest monsters had territories—Jackalmen clans here, orcs there. Territories overlapped at different levels, but equally powerful monsters kept separate domains.

Jiang Xiang's group had luckily escaped Jackalmen territory earlier. The Jackalmen weren't hungry, so they didn't chase. But he'd accidentally entered orc lands.

"If I'd known, I'd never have taken that bet! Hunting? Just surviving is a win!" Jiang Xiang thought desperately as he ran.

"It's all Lin Luo's fault! He knew it was dangerous and set me up! Lin Luo, you wait—I'll make you pay when I return!"

Thwack! An orcish dart hit Jiang Xiang's head. Clutching it, he sprinted, begging, "Orc brothers, spare me!"

...

Golden threads of sunlight filtered through ancient, gnarled trees, illuminating the deep purple robe of the female mage. Her face was slightly flushed, her holy, ample bosom heaving beneath the fabric.

Han Lianfei spread her jade-white hands. Faintly shimmering blue crystal specks danced around her.

After awakening, ancient arcane knowledge flooded her mind, including spell-reading skills. Her magic book, once incomprehensible, was now clear.

Following its teachings, Han Lianfei practiced basic element perception and manipulation.

"Elementalist? Not a mage?" Feier asked, confused.

The Holy Maiden, well-versed in otherworldly lore—even seeing through Goblins—explained, "An Elementalist is a mage subtype. They have higher element affinity, excel at attack magic, and are formidable spellcasters."

Lin Luo nodded inwardly. Her sources were dubious, yet surprisingly accurate.

"Feier, what is your god like?" You Xun asked, eyes hopeful.

"God? What god?" Feier replied, puzzled.

"Huh? Awakeners are chosen by gods. A deity guides your consciousness. Even Jiang Xiang has a Barbarian God!"

Feier frowned. "No god appeared?"

"How? Are you truly awakened?"

Feier was unsure, but water elements swirling at her fingertips answered silently.

Lin Luo, who'd grasped the universe's origin, knew little of basic awakening details. He couldn't resolve You Xun's doubt.

"Feier, eat this fruit now."

Right after awakening, the body was most receptive—perfect for absorbing the forbidden fruit's effects.

Han Lianfei's breathing hadn't calmed. A ripple from her lower abdomen, her spiritual core's location, still lingered.

Her gaze toward Lin Luo seemed different now.

Han Lianfei flushed slightly, gave Lin Luo a radiant smile, and elegantly extended her palm.

As Lin Luo reached to hand her the fruit, she pulled back, clasped her hands behind her back, leaned forward, and opened her mouth with an "Ah..."

"Huh?" Was she asking him to feed her? This sudden warmth flustered Lin Luo; his face reddened too.

"Feier..." You Xun murmured, embarrassed from the side.

To hell with it.

Lin Luo grabbed the egg-sized fruit haphazardly and stuffed it into Feier's widely opened mouth.

"Mmm... mmph..." Feier hadn't expected his roughness, making a strained sound. Juice imbued with incredible magic flooded her mouth.

Amidst panting, Han Lianfei felt her body change—lighter, less fatigued. Her element perception leaped qualitatively.

Before, only water elements flickered like scattered stars. Now, closing her eyes, she sensed wind, water, fire, and earth drifting around her like a sea of colorful stars.