Chapter 42: Arrival of the XAO InspectorsBAM!The sheer weight of the bloodwolf sent the towering tree crashing to the ground, splintering bark and scattering leaves in all directions.Max Vale stood amidst the chaos, his breaths steady despite the ferocity of the battle. His golden-brown eyes glowed faintly in the dim moonlight, locked onto the beast. He had deliberately struck its head first, knowing that its unnaturally elastic hide would make a prolonged battle difficult. A precise, powerful blow was his best chance at swiftly ending the fight.But the bloodwolf was far from finished.With a guttural snarl, the beast staggered upright, shaking its head to dispel the dizziness from Max’s previous assault. Its dark red eyes flashed with renewed aggression as it planted its claws into the dirt."Awooo!"The beast’s howl echoed through the night as it lunged at Max with renewed ferocity.Slash! Slash!Its razor-sharp claws lashed out in rapid succession, carving through the air with

Chapter 44: Collection Plan The neighborhood had been in an uproar since the battle against the Bloodwolf. The news spread like wildfire—Max Vale, the quiet and often unnoticed young man who lived alone, had single-handedly taken down the rampaging beast. At first, many were skeptical, dismissing it as an exaggeration. But after seeing the bloodstained pavement and the claw marks left behind, they could no longer deny the truth. The respect Max received from the community shifted almost overnight. People who barely acknowledged his presence before now gave him approving nods or whispered among themselves when he passed. Even the XAO Inspectors who had been dispatched to investigate had questioned him extensively. They had also spoken to Angy, as she had been directly involved. However, once their inquiries were done, there was little else they could do. The Bloodwolf had been a serious threat, and Max’s intervention had prevented fur

Chapter 46: invitation Max stood in the quiet dojo, his muscles taut from training. A flicker of amusement crossed his face as he sensed the presence of others outside the door. The muffled voices seeped through the wooden panels, laced with tension and hushed urgency.'Finally grew the nerve to show up, huh?' Max mused inwardly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Without hesitation, he strode toward the door and slid it open, revealing the figures waiting outside.Four individuals stood at the entrance—two boys and two girls, all seemingly around his age. He recognized two of them from the crowd that had watched his fight against Aurora, their expressions now a mixture of apprehension and forced confidence. The other two girls, however, were unfamiliar.The moment the doors opened, the conversation among the group came to an abrupt halt. The girl with streaks of black and purple in her hair eyed Max with skepticism before leani

Chapter 48: Hash Disgrace Yura Kaelis remained on the stage even after her victory, standing firm with her piercing gaze fixed in a singular direction.A hush fell over the spectators as they followed her line of sight, curiosity flickering in their eyes before realization settled in. She was staring directly at Max Vale.“Max, I challenge you to a duel!” Her voice cut through the tense silence like a blade, sharp and commanding.Max met her gaze with an unreadable expression, his face composed and distant. Yet, beneath that stoic facade, an amused smirk played at the edges of his thoughts.‘So, she finally decided to make her move,’ he mused inwardly, his arms loosely crossed as he observed her.Murmurs erupted among the gathered students.“She’s challenging Max?”“Oh, this is going to be good.”“I’ve been waiting to see him in action again.”Excitement crackled through the air. Though m

Chapter 50: Research Max's gaze locked onto the list of skills displayed before him, his breath hitching slightly as he waited for their descriptions to appear. He was particularly eager to review the details of a newly discovered ability—one that had remained inaccessible to him until now.Within moments, lines of text materialized beneath each skill, outlining their functions and parameters. Most of them were already familiar to Max, but as his eyes trailed downward to where "Recreation" was listed, his expression shifted dramatically."What...?" His pupils dilated in shock as he absorbed the information before him.---[Skills and Abilities]» Dash - Level 4 (Enhances current speed by 25 points for twenty seconds)» Sprint - Level 3 (Multiplies current speed by 2.2x)» Regeneration - Level 3 (Recovers from injuries at a rate twenty times faster than normal)» Morph - Level 3 (Bloodlin