In his past life, humanity had developed 66 Forbidden Techniques to fight off the demonic beasts. They were divided into six tiers of side-effect. The first tier put a significant strain on the body but was nothing to worry about: warriors and mages alike used those techniques all the time during high-level fights.

The second tier would leave the user bedridden or extremely exhausted. People used to deploy those techniques to deliver a killing blow or in desperate situations.

The third tier would cripple your body if overused. Only people in great danger would ever think about using those.

The fourth tier would cripple your cultivation base after a few uses and leave the body unusable for months.

The fifth tier would kill most users on the spot or leave them like cripple them for life. Only in a situation that would result in almost assured death would people even consider using them. More than one fight had ended with both parties dead after one of them had used a Forbidden Technique belonging to the fifth tier.

The sixth tier side-effect was death. The only thing that changed was how painful the death would be. It was rumored that the most potent Forbidden Techniques in the first tier would also destroy your soul and condemn your spirit to eternal damnation. Not even against the Black Dragon, Jacob had used one of those. And very few humans could activate one.

He stared at the giant wolf. Alphas were almost three times the size of an ordinary Demonic Wolf, and they were also ten times the trouble. Not only were they sturdier, but their instincts were far deadlier compared to their inferior kin.

They were incredibly fast and did not have the same weak fur as a regular Demonic Wolf. As a result, only Qi-infused blows would hurt them.

Jacob finally realized why so many people had died when the change hit St. Peter in his past life. An Alpha would be tough to put down, even with guns.

He clenched his tiny fists and swore at his powerless body.

If I only had a few more days…

However, fate had something different in mind for him. There would be no chance to train before facing a full-blown Demonic Beast. If the Demonic Wolves were just a bit more dangerous compared to ordinary wolves, the Alpha was a real Demonic Beast, capable of ripping them apart like paper with his claws, teeth or just by tackling them hard.

He felt a rush of adrenaline in his veins while his body once again met a desperate situation in combat.

It’s time to show this wolf what the greatest fighter of humanity is capable of.

He exhaled and calmed himself, focusing only on combat. Thanks to his supernatural instincts, the scene in front of him slowed, even without using Time Magic.

Forbidden Technique 43, Great Realm Leap, Third Tier

Jacob pressed a thumb slightly below his navel and activated the technique. He suddenly felt a rush of fiery energy through his body, as if he was already in the Intermediate stage of the Cockroach realm.

Usually, Jacob should have reached only the Inferior stage. However, his tremendous expertise and skills allowed him to bring the technique's full potential out while minimizing the side effects.

“GET DOWN!” Jacob shouted to his friend.

He could finally activate the inferior version of one of his Great Techniques by infusing some Magic in his legs' meridians.

Accelerate

It was not the ultimate form he wielded in his past life, but it would be enough for that little puppy.

Francis, the idiot, had just dropped his branch. The kid panicked. Jacob would be able to fight the Alpha now, but the other Demonic Wolf was still more than happy to capitalize on that chance and rip his friend to shreds.

They were past their comfort zone. It was time to control the damage.

With a swing of the branch, Jacob put a shallow gash on the Alpha, that backpedaled immediately.

With his other hand, while on top of Francis with one foot, he palmed the snoot of the different beast.

2-Revolutions Palm

It was the weakest technique he could use, but it still did massive damage to the Demonic Wolf. It had been like two sets of heavy palms just slapped the monster on his weak point. The beast looked unsteady on his legs and started swaying.

Both beasts looked confused and Jacob, like a true apex predator, sprinted toward the Alpha.

The massive beast tried to bite his head off as soon as he moved in his close quarters. However, entire Millennia lived battling Dragons had made Jacob way tougher than a simple oversized dog.

This is what humanity is capable of.

He abandoned the branch and palmed the throat of the huge wolf, sending some Qi inside his enemy’s body to wreak havoc. Instantly, the Qi shot up and penetrated the Alpha’s brain.

Jacob turned his back on the massive monster and focused on the smaller one. He felt blood trickle from his lip, and his consciousness started slipping.

One more hit.

He jumped over the smaller one and crushed his skull with a Qi-infused stomp.

Right after, he doubled over and started puking blood. It was like a dam had just broken: red was pouring out of his stomach in terrifying quantities.

For all his control was incredible for his age, he was not even in the Cockroach realm, and his body was too frail to hold the power he had just used. He could feel that he had torn many Meridians to save Francis from the monster. His muscles and bones were bruised to the point that his own body would go into shock and die if he didn’t do anything right now.

He sat cross-legged while ignoring the bloody vomit soaking his t-shirt and started cultivating in full swing.

Jacob began by gently pushing Qi into his badly torn Meridians, sewing them back together a little. He let the energy softly touch his muscles and bones while trying to reduce the swelling. The damage he had just sustained would put him out of commission for a while, but if he managed to quell it, he would at least survive.

He could feel his mind going blank and his body swinging back and forth. In the end, he couldn’t keep himself straight anymore, even while sitting.

Jacob felt hands shake him while he fell. Someone was calling—no, yelling his name. He imagined Helena’s face standing right in front of his while trying to fight off the sleepiness.

In the end, his body had been too weak to keep going anymore, and he fell asleep.

Before the darkness completely enveloped him, the last thing he dreamt of was Helena’s beautiful face kissing him and smiling.