After arguing for about an hour on how to do home expansion the group finished up the meeting achieving most of their objectives. This left Urist free to finally do the thing he wanted to do two days ago.

Walking into the civilization room he muttered under his breath. “What skills should I get to face Volt? I had a list already made, but guess I’ll make sure before deciding.”

With his mind made up, he reached the armament stone to place his hand on the sharp crystal.

Here goes nothing… I hope I’m not jelly-like the last time I updated my skills.

---

Exiting the gate Valkus turned to Reaver, “Scout. Ahead.”

With a nod Reaver ordered her tigers to spread out and look for threats then report back their location. With soft growls, the twelve tigers dashed out in all directions and not waiting around the dwarfs spread out a tad and headed into the lush forest.

The group of dwarfs was silent giving no small talk under Valkuses orders. He and Blink with spears in hand took the lead silently moving through the forest like predators heading north to scout the area.

Making slow and steady progress it took twenty minutes before one of the tigers came to the group. The group wasn’t startled by its approach thanks to it making a curtain growl. Moving over to Reaver it sat down and presented her forehead.

Reaver than reached and touched the tiger's forehead a small glow happened before she opened her eyes. She then turned to the waiting Valkus, “Velvet here says that in that direction is a strange creature in a tree with an eye on its chest. It has legs, hands, golden fur and about three sizes bigger than us. It also has great muscle definition meaning it should fight physically, but the eye in the chest weirds me out.”

Hearing the report Valkus nodded, “Lets. Hunt.”

With the target in mind the hunter squad headed in the direction where the creature was spotted. It took them ten minutes to spot the creature hanging in the tree. The golden furred creature currently was snacking on a boar as its jaws crushed flesh and bone alike.

Valkus rolled his shoulders at the sight of the prey, he turned to his fellow hunters, ‘Formation. C.”

Under his command, he, Brick, and Arben took vanguard position. Rytar and Emu took the left flank with Acar and Cero the right. Brink and Reaver took up support positions from behind to help anyone in danger.

The group approached fearlessly towards the weird ape. When they got close the ape noticed their presence and in a rage ripped the boar body in half.

So it has great physical strength we’ll have to be careful when we get into melee.

“Freeze,” Valkus said before charging the ape head-on. Rytar and Acar followed the command sending a ball of frost straight at the Ape.

In response, the Ape static converged around towards its chest eye and began shooting short bursts of lightning at the frost balls. Energies clashed causing an explosion finishing off both dwarven magics, but the vanguard wasn’t scared as they rushed right behind Valkus.

“Support.”

Under orders, the mages began casting spells to trip up the Ape as the vanguard entered melee range. In a rage, the Ape kept sending out thunder at the magic aiming at him while charging straight at Valkus intent on ripping him limb from limb.

With a snort Valkus armed his spear at the Apes chest hoping to impale it. With a savage grin, the Ape closed his hands between the spears head as it began charging up a beam of thunder to hit Valkus.

Lack of hesitation, Valkus let go of his spear and pulled out his battle knife gaining a burst of speed and strength as he pushed into the ground. His movement was fast as he passed by the startled ape digging his knife through its chest causing its intestines to fall out.

Enraged the gorilla let go of the spear intent on grabbing the one who gutted him only for Blink and Arben to land a free attack on its turned back. With his bronze sword, Arben had cut an arm clean off and Blink managed to sink his knife deep in the spine before twisting it.

Like a puppet cut from its strings, the Ape falls powerlessly as its spine is severed. Unable to roar before Vaklus plunged his battle knife into its neck twisting it.

Blood gushes out of the ape’s throat as the light in its eyes slowly fades away. When there are no signs of life the hunter converge on the body. And after a round of prodding and poking, they deem the corpse safe to pick up.

“Good. Support.” Is all Valkus could say before nearby a roar is heard charging towards their location.

“Plan. B.”

---

Back at base a few hours later Urist is laying down in the training room. Sweat flows down his body as he breathes deeply. His face having a hint of confidence as he stares at his outstretched hand closing and opening it.

Position: Civilization Leader

Age: 29 Days

Exp: 72

Knowledge: Otherworldly(Tier 2) (Tier 5 - locked), Survival(Tier 5), Forging(Tier 3), Planting (Tier 3), Cooking (Tier 4), Fishing (Tier 2), Seven Strike (Tier 1)…”

Skill Slots:

Head: [Origin Flame(Tier 2)], [Map (Tier 1)],[Mana Seed (Tier 2)], [ (Increased Senses Tier 2)]

Body: [Dwarven King Bloodline (Tier 3)], Rat King Bloodline(Tier 2)], [Strengthening (Tier 2)], [Berserker's Fury (Tier 2)], [ (Flame Body Tier 2)]

Legs: [Explorer (Tier 1)], [Forest Feet (Tier 1)], [Quick Burst (Tier 2)]

Available skills:

Head: Abyss Water, Quick thinking, Energy Control, Leadership, ...

Body: Stone Skin, Iron Fingers, Shadow Body, Hardening, Bladed Body, ...

Legs: Air plates, Weight Control, Flexibility, Heroic Leap, Earthquake,...

With this amount of power, I should be able to beat Volt tomorrow and with his added strength we’ll have an easier time with expansion. And before the Primal stone event hits, we'll be able to capture the river by then. Hopefully this time I’m strong enough to protect everyone…

Amid his thoughts, he heard the patter of feet heading towards his direction turning his head in that direction he saw Unicy. Her expression was nervous but wasn’t all that scared.

Forcing himself to sit up Urist waited for Unicy to speak before saying anything.

“Boss, the hunters are back and brought quite a strange haul. Valkus’s second Blink would like to speak to you about their findings in the meeting room.”

Dusting himself off Urist stood up, “Very well tell them I’ll be there in a few minutes.”