The vigor and excitement that spread through his entire body when the flood of energy surged through every cell of his body was highly addictive.

Michael felt like cheering loudly and focusing on digesting the energy influx he obtained from killing the Black Bear, but he couldn't do that just yet.

The battle was not over, and the Frenzy Deers were not yet dead!

When the Black Bear smashed on the ground lifelessly, the remaining Frenzy Deers surrounded their dying leader. They wanted to protect their leader even on death's bed.

To their misery, Michael and his group didn't allow that to happen. The Hardwood Bow and the Return arrow returned to the War Rune while Tigerfang manifested in front of him once again.

Michael grasped it tightly and charged straight ahead. He infused a large amount of energy into Tigerfang to enhance its sharpness and sturdiness while doing the same to the Boots of Taran. The Swiftness enchantment was fully unleashed, further accelerating Michael's fast speed.

He may only be at the Late stage of Tier-0, but he had powerful Artifacts bound to his War Rune, enhancing his strength drastically. With his Eagle Eyes activated, Michael could also faintly predict the movements of his opponents. The precise details he saw with his enhanced eyesight provided Michael with enough information to put himself in an advantageous position in a battle.

Michael could evade the attacks of the exhausted Frenzy Deers easily and deliver a killing blow with one or two strikes. Meanwhile, the other members of his group weren't doing bad either.

The Archers and Aero Crossbowmen focused on the same target. They killed a Frenzy Deer with a single volley of their arrows and bolts before they diverted their attention to another target. Meanwhile, the Water Elemental Mage fought on her own. She used water bullets to minimize the consumption of her energy and kill the Frenzy Deers with a single but deadly shot simultaneously.

As for the rest, their teamwork was impeccable, especially with Tiara charging at the front. She was the only actual Tier-1 warrior, and she was in possession of several Artifacts that enhanced her power even further. She could inflict more damage than the Water Elemental Mage and kill more opponents than Michael due to her swift and decisive movements.

Tiara moved through the battlefield like a Valkyrie. It looked elegant, yet merciless and brutal as blood and brain matter splattered everywhere around her.

At one point near the end of the battle, the huge Frenzy Deer bleated loudly. In response, the exhausted Frenzy Deers seemed to have gained a sudden surge of energy. They regained their full power and charged at Michael altogether.

Michael was a little bit stupefied at that point, but the number of Frenzy Deers left alive had decreased to less than a dozen. A barrage of arrows and bolts was enough to kill one of the energetic Frenzy Deers, while another one was killed by a water bullet to its head before it could even cross five meters.

The remaining Frenzy Deers were full of energy, but so were Tiara and the other melee fighters. Everyone charged forward while their Links of Loyalty within Michael's War Rune seemed to be going wild.

They hacked and slashed at the energetic Frenzy Deers, killing one after another in no time.

Meanwhile, Michael appeared in front of the dying leader of the Frenzy Deers. He knew that the Frenzy Deer had never attacked him, but the same applied to the Black Bear.

They never attacked him first. It had been Michael who started attacking both the ferocious monsters. However, in the Untamed Jungle, and everywhere across the Origin Expanse, only strength mattered.

As long as you had the necessary strength, you could do anything.

Michael understood that individual strength, connections, and wealth were the pillars of true power, whether inside or outside the Origin Expanse.

This was something he had experienced often enough, and he knew that he couldn't stay the weak and merciful coward he had been in the past. If he did not become shrewd and tactful, Michael would be faced with death much sooner than he thought.

A single mistake was all it took.

With those thoughts rampaging through his mind, Michael lifted Tigerfang high in the air. He turned it upside down and looked deep into the dark eyes of the Frenzy Deer's leader before he pierced it into the beast's flesh.

Michael grit his teeth as Tigerfang's tip cut through the Frenzy Deer's neck. He twisted the longsword in the monster's neck and pulled downward, cutting the artery.

Warm blood splattered on Michael's face as he kept staring at the big black eyes of the huge Frenzy Deer. It stared right back at him until the last moment when the life in its eyes finally dispersed. Its huge body twitched two more times before it stopped moving altogether.

What followed was a powerful surge of energy, which flooded Michael, and thunderous cheers that rang through the entire clearing and the area around.

Michael sighed heavily. He retrieved Tigerfang and put it back inside his War Rune while continuing to stare at the huge Frenzy Dear.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind and a fresh doubt of uncertainty surfaced on his mind.

However, before the seed could bury itself and grow roots, Michael grasped it and pulled it out.

He had always known that being a Lord in the Origin Expanse meant that one would have to become stronger and kill all probable future opponents or get killed eventually.

The Untamed Jungle was dangerous. Preparing for the worst-case scenario meant that he had to make use of all opportunities at his disposal.

'The Black Bear would have killed the Frenzy Deer today, either way. How much longer would it have taken until the Black Bear would have found my territory and targeted me?' Michael asked himself at this point.

'I did the right thing by hunting down the Black Bear.'

That thought was deeply imprinted on his mind.

It allowed Michael to divert his focus and take a look at the grand picture.

He had killed two Tier-2 Monsters, and their corpses in addition to more than a hundred Tier-1 Frenzy Deers were waiting for him to be claimed and looted!

Michael's hand began to glow brightly as golden streams manifested all around them.

It was Extraction time!