The forest around Floki was a battlefield of shadows and blood. The heavy scent of death hung thick in the air, suffocating and unyielding. The Alpha Beast, a towering creature with glowing red eyes, snarled as it circled him. Muscles rippled beneath its dark fur, every movement exuding deadly intent.

"You think you're the apex here?" Floki taunted, his sharp grin cutting through the tension. His voice was cold, laced with malice and amusement. "Let's see who really rules." The Alpha lunged, claws slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Floki ducked, rolling to the side as his blade slashed at the creature's exposed flank. The weapon bit deep, and the beast roared, shaking the very trees with its fury. Black, steaming blood sprayed from the wound, hissing as it hit the cold air. Seizing the opportunity, Floki darted forward, his movements quick and calculated.

"Bleed, beast," Floki hissed, his tone mocking. "Show me you're mortal." The Alpha swung its massive paw at him, but Floki anticipated the move, ducking low to avoid the blow. With a sharp thrust, he drove his blade into the beast's underbelly, earning another deafening howl. The Alpha staggered back, its glowing eyes dimming as fury and desperation twisted its features. Its massive frame trembled, the fight draining from its body with every passing second. Floki smirked, wiping blood from his face as he stood tall over the creature. "Done already?" he jeered. "I expected more."

In a last, desperate effort, the Alpha lunged at Floki, its jaws snapping at his throat. Floki sidestepped, spinning fluidly as he drove his blade deep into the beast's neck. A final, earth-shaking roar erupted from the Alpha before it collapsed, its body convulsing as life fled. Floki stood over the fallen creature, his chest heaving and blood dripping from his blade.

"Looks like I'm the apex after all," he sneered, his voice dripping with triumph. From the Alpha's corpse, a faint glow began to rise, forming into a pulsating spirit core. Floki grabbed it without hesitation, feeling its raw energy radiate through his fingers. Around him, the battlefield was littered with smaller cores and remnants of cultivation resources.

Herbs, shimmering fragments, and stones lay scattered among the carnage. "A treasure trove," Floki muttered, tucking the resources into his pouch with swift efficiency. He knew the value of these items, especially in a world where power was currency. "Let's see what this world's currency can do for me."

Returning to the garrison, Floki’s bloodied clothes and sharp grin drew wary glances from the soldiers. He walked with purpose, exuding a predatory aura that set him apart. At the quartermaster’s station, he dropped a heavy pouch filled with spirit cores and other resources onto the counter. "What can you give me for these?" he asked, his tone cool but expectant.

The quartermaster's eyes widened as he sifted through the haul. "This... this is worth a fortune. Where did you—" Floki raised a hand, cutting him off. "Does it matter? Just give me what I need."

Nodding quickly, the quartermaster gathered refined spirit stones and rare items, placing them on the counter. Floki pocketed a handful of Mid-Tier Spirit Shards, carefully selecting what he needed for his cultivation. He kept the highest-grade cores and essences, leaving the lower-tier resources behind without a second glance. Every shard glowed faintly, a tangible representation of this world's power.

After finishing with the quartermaster, Floki wandered deeper into the garrison market. He had plans—big ones—and he needed supplies and a better weapon to execute them. The air was thick with the scent of incense and heated metal, blending with the constant hum of merchant chatter. It was a chaotic symphony, but Floki moved through it with purpose.

A grizzled merchant with a patch over one eye waved him over, his voice booming. "You there, warrior! You look like you’ve seen a fight. Need weapons to match that spirit?" Floki raised an eyebrow, casting a skeptical glance at the merchant’s wares.

"Anything sharper than your sales pitch?" he quipped, his tone dripping with sarcasm. The merchant barked a laugh, clearly amused. "Good tongue on you, I’ll give you that. This here’s a Spirit-Infused Saber. Perfect balance, cuts through armor like butter."

Floki picked up the blade, testing its weight in his hand. The energy humming from the weapon was impressive, but it wasn’t quite what he needed. "Nice," he said, setting it back down. "But not for me. I prefer my own tricks."

He moved on, finding a stall selling cultivation herbs and pills. A young woman behind the counter greeted him nervously, her hands trembling slightly. Floki scanned the colorful jars, his sharp eyes searching for something specific. "Do you have anything to replenish energy quickly?" he asked, his tone calm but firm.

The woman nodded, holding up a small vial of shimmering liquid. "This is a High-Spirit Elixir," she said. "It restores energy and stabilizes the spirit well during breakthroughs." Floki considered her words, then placed a few Spirit Shards on the counter. "I’ll take it."

As he walked away, he muttered to himself, "Might need this when I’m outsmarting whoever comes next." That night, Floki sat cross-legged in a quiet corner of the garrison, his collection of resources spread before him. Their faint energies glowed in the dim light, promising strength and growth.

He began to meditate, drawing the energy from the resources into his spirit well. The process was slow and grueling, his mortal body straining against the surge of power. Sweat dripped down his face as he fought through the pain, refusing to stop. Bit by bit, his spirit well expanded, the faint flicker within growing stronger and more stable.

Hours passed, and Floki opened his eyes, his spirit well casting a faint glow over his face. "Normal capacity, finally," he muttered, a triumphant grin splitting his lips. "Step one complete." As he stood, a sudden pulse of energy coursed through him, catching him off guard.

Floki froze, his eyes widening as a strange sensation spread through his body. He raised his hand, watching as faint tendrils of light flickered around his fingers. Before him, a glowing interface appeared, filled with symbols he couldn’t immediately decipher.

"What in Hell’s name is this?" he murmured, waving his hand experimentally. The interface shifted, responding to his thoughts with eerie precision. Memories from the borrowed body surfaced, but none hinted at anything like this.

"This shouldn’t exist," Floki said, a sinister grin creeping across his face. "Looks like I’ve got a cheat code in this world." As he explored the interface, he discovered its astonishing abilities. It could track his cultivation progress, analyze resources, and even map energy pathways within his spirit well.

"This changes everything," Floki whispered, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "A system that no one else has? Oh, this will be fun."

The next morning, Floki strode confidently into the market, his newfound energy drawing stares. He approached a blacksmith’s stall, the heat of the forge warming his skin as he studied the wares. "You look like you’ve got something special," he said, gesturing to a row of intricately carved staffs.

The blacksmith grunted, gesturing to the weapons. "These are Spirit-Channeled Staffs. Perfect for precise strikes, but not cheap." Floki picked one up, feeling the hum of spiritual energy coursing through it.

"I’ll take this one," he said, tossing a few Spirit Shards onto the counter. Gripping the staff tightly, Floki felt its power pulse in his hands. "No need to bargain. This one speaks to me."

The blacksmith nodded, his expression a mix of surprise and respect. Floki left the market with his new weapon in hand, his mind racing with possibilities. "They have no idea what’s coming," he muttered, his grin sharp and unrelenting.