"Alright, young man, this is the parting of our ways. You've reached your destination. You may walk this base freely." The caravan master said as he prepared to move his horses to the area where the merchants temporarily stored their rides.

Moon had already registered at the base as an awakener transferring from the previous settlement. His identity was verified through the Association's network, his A-rank badge checked, and he'd passed through without any issues. The administrative process had been smooth, likely because Nathaniel's letter had included official documentation.

Moon bid Garen farewell, nodding to the other passengers and guards he'd travelled with, then headed straight back out through the gate he'd just entered.

He'd come into the base purely to get the bureaucratic necessities settled. Now that his registration was complete and his status confirmed, he needed to make good use of his remaining time.

The Bronze Skin skill had yet to be mastered.

Losing it now, at only fifty-seven percent proficiency, would be a waste of all the effort he'd put in over the past four days.

Moon needed to push the proficiency as high as possible before the timer ran out.

He made his way past the outer perimeter of Ironpeak Base, heading toward the nearby hunting zones marked on the map Nathaniel had provided. The territories around major bases were better documented than those around smaller settlements, with clear designations of which areas contained which level ranges of beasts.

Moon aimed for a zone marked as containing level fifteen to eighteen creatures. Higher than what he'd been fighting during the caravan journey, which meant stronger attacks and faster proficiency gains.

Although he'd wanted a slightly higher hunting ground, this was the closest hunting ground that fit his needs and time. He didn't want to waste hours travelling to a more powerful hunting ground, whilst he could use that time to hunt and train his skill.

The skill wasn't a powerful skill to begin with, so it wouldn't need anything too powerful to understand.

The forest thickened as he moved deeper into the forest, and further away from the Ironpeak base.

Moon's senses remained alert, scanning for movement, listening for the telltale sounds of creatures moving around, looking for prey.

Within twenty minutes of arriving in the vicinity of the hunting ground, Moon found what he was looking for.

A territorial dispute between two beasts, a level sixteen Scaled Lizard and a level seventeen Saber Cat, both snarling and circling each other over what appeared to be a fresh kill.

Perfect.

Moon activated Bronze Skin, feeling the familiar sensation of his skin hardening, his internal organs reinforcing themselves against impact. Then he stepped into the scene, deliberately positioning himself between the two hostile creatures.

Both beasts immediately forgot their dispute and turned toward the new intruder. They both recognised that the man before them was dangerous, and they needed to take care of him before continuing their fight.

Moon simply smiled at the scene; he had wanted this scenario to begin with. Hence, the reason he flared his aura was to show how dangerous he was to both beasts.

Moon raised his staff defensively but didn't attack. Although he was powerful, that didn't mean he could take on two powerful beasts with his body alone. He needed the staff with him in case he needed to block any dangerous or fatal attack. He wasn't one to underestimate beasts, especially ones in a new territory that he had just begun exploring.

The Saber Cat lunged with its claws extended for the killing blow.

Clash!

Moon blocked with his staff first instead of dodging, gauging the strength between the Saber Cat's claw attack.

The attack rattled his body slightly, but didn't pose any significant harm. A smile formed on his face as he blocked the next attack with his forearm instead of dodging.

Pain flared through his body, but he was able to block the attack without any issues.

[Bronze Skin proficiency increased to 58%]

The Scaled Lizard attacked from its other side, its tail whipping around with devastating force. Moon turned into the strike, letting it impact his ribs.

Bang!

The blow drove air from his lungs and would have cracked bones without the skill active, but his reinforced internal organs withstood the impact.

[Bronze Skin proficiency increased to 60%]

Moon continued the grind, deliberately taking hits from both creatures. He blocked the truly dangerous attacks, those aimed at his eyes, throat, or other vital points that even Bronze Skin couldn't fully protect. But everything else, he allowed to land, using his body as a training ground for the defensive skill.

The beasts grew increasingly frustrated as their attacks failed to bring down their prey. Moon occasionally retaliated with minor fire blasts or earth spikes, keeping them engaged but not killing them outright. He needed them alive and aggressive to continue training.

Time passed by quickly, but not comfortably. Constantly being attacked by monsters, without retaliating when you had the ability to turn them to ash, was quite a difficult thing to do.

[Bronze Skin proficiency increased to 89%]

The Saber Cat finally landed a particularly vicious combination. A claw strike followed immediately by a bite aimed at Moon's shoulder. Both attacks connected, the cat's teeth sinking through his skin, letting blood flow.

Moon gritted his teeth against the pain but felt satisfaction as the notification appeared.

[Bronze Skin proficiency increased to 75%]

[Bronze Skin proficiency increased to 95%]

Almost there, just a few more attacks. Moon thought with gritted teeth. The damage was accumulating, and it started to take a toll on his body and mind. Health potions were no longer enough; he was tired.

Moon shifted his strategy slightly, allowing the Scaled Lizard to land a full-power tail strike against his back.

The impact drove him forward several steps, his spine screaming in protest despite the protection.

[Bronze Skin proficiency increased to 98%]

The Saber Cat lunged again, this time managing to rake both sets of claws across Moon's chest in rapid succession. Four parallel lines opened across his torso, blood flowing more freely than previous wounds.

[Bronze Skin proficiency increased to 100%]

[Bronze Skin has reached maximum proficiency!]

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