A Moment of Life and Death, Proficiency Soars

The battle erupted in an instant.

Twelve Steel Tooth Rats, like arrows loosed from a bow, divided into four groups of three, pouncing precisely at the four individuals. Their attacks were no longer chaotic bites but tactical coordination—one attacked the upper body, one the middle, and one the lower, sealing off all escape routes.

"Careful!" Zhao Tie roared, sweeping his back-mounted saber at the charging swarm of rats.

Facing three Steel Tooth Rats, Lin Fan's mind was unusually calm.

On his status panel, the proficiency of [Basic Footwork] had risen to Mastery (687/1000) during the recent sprint, the 20% Speed bonus giving him room to maneuver.

The Steel Tooth Rat to his front left lunged straight for his face, its incisors glinting coldly. Lin Fan sidestepped, his short saber slashing upward as he moved, aiming for the rat's belly. But the Steel Tooth Rat twisted in mid-air to evade, its claws adding another bloody gash to his arm.

[Basic Saber Technique Proficiency +5]

[Health -8]

The pain stimulated his nerves, but Lin Fan's fighting spirit intensified.

The Steel Tooth Rat behind him seized the opportunity to bite at his ankle. He stomped hard, kicking up dust from the ground and momentarily stunning the rat. Lin Fan's right leg lashed out like a whip, the explosive force of his Minor Accomplishment-level fist technique projecting through his toes—

"Crack!"

The sound of the rat's skull fracturing was clear. The Steel Tooth Rat tumbled away, twitched a few times, and lay still.

[Killed Rank 1 Steel Tooth Rat, Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +10, Origin Energy +3]

[Combat Experience +5]

The third Steel Tooth Rat was already at his chest, its incisors only half a foot from his throat. Lin Fan had no time to retract his leg; his left hand shot out like a claw, five fingers gripping the rat's neck, and he twisted hard!

"Squeak—"

The pained cry was cut short as the Steel Tooth Rat's neck snapped, its body going limp.

[Killed Rank 1 Steel Tooth Rat, Basic Grappling Technique Proficiency +12] (New Skill)

[Origin Energy +3]

"Grappling Technique unlocked too..." Lin Fan thought, but there was no time to ponder. More Steel Tooth Rats were charging.

He fought and retreated, always staying within the circle of beast repellent powder. This safe zone was only three yards in radius. The four of them fought back-to-back, barely holding the line.

On the other side, Zhao Tie and the other two were under greater pressure.

The Rat King didn't attack directly. Instead, it squatted on a distant dirt mound, its scarlet eyes coldly watching the battlefield, occasionally emitting short squeaks. Each time it squeaked, the Steel Tooth Rats' attack rhythm would change.

"This beast is commanding them!" Skinny Monkey gritted out, his short blade piercing a Steel Tooth Rat's eye, but his ribs were also slashed open. "We have to take it down first!"

"Iron Shield and I will clear a path, you find an opening!" Zhao Tie said, panting heavily as his saber shattered two Steel Tooth Rats.

Iron Shield charged forward with his shield, like a tank smashing towards the Rat King. Three Steel Tooth Rats pounced onto the shield, their claws scraping loudly against the Iron Shield, but they couldn't break through.

Zhao Tie followed closely, his saber a whirlwind, carving a bloody path.

A flicker of mockery flashed in the Rat King's eyes. It waved its forepaws, and five Steel Tooth Rats outflanked them from the sides, attempting to cut off their retreat!

"Watch out!" Lin Fan saw this and rushed out of the safe zone.

He knew he wasn't strong enough to confront the Rat King head-on, but he could help clear out the lesser enemies. His short saber danced in his hand. Though his saber technique was unpracticed, the explosive force from his Minor Accomplishment-level fist technique was universal, imbuing each slash with penetrating power.

[Basic Saber Technique: Novice → Proficient (112/500)]

With consecutive kills, his saber technique proficiency surged, breaking through to the Proficient level! The 10% power bonus made the blade sharper, capable of cleaving through a Steel Tooth Rat's bones with a single strike.

"Squeak!"

A Steel Tooth Rat lunged from the side towards Zhao Tie's back. Lin Fan reacted quickly, his short saber flying from his hand!

"Swish!"

The blade pierced the rat's abdomen, pinning it to the ground.

[Basic Throwing Technique Proficiency +8] (New Skill)

[Killed Rank 1 Steel Tooth Rat, Combat Experience +3]

Now unarmed, Lin Fan felt even more uninhibited. He unleashed his Minor Accomplishment-level fist technique with full force, each punch carrying the explosive force of his collapsing power. Any Steel Tooth Rat hit was either dead or crippled.

[Basic Fist Technique: Minor Accomplishment (1182/5000)]

[Basic Footwork: Mastery (734/1000)]

[Origin Energy: 82/170]

Proficiency was skyrocketing, and Origin Energy was slowly recovering through combat (killing Demonic Beasts granted Origin Energy rewards). However, stamina was depleting faster—after continuous high-intensity combat, his stamina had dropped to 28 points.

"Almost can't hold on..." Lin Fan felt his legs go weak, his breathing rapid.

Just then, the Rat King seemed to sense his weakness and let out a piercing shriek.

Four Steel Tooth Rats abandoned their assault on Zhao Tie and the other two, all turning their attention to Lin Fan!

"Lin Fan, watch out!" Iron Shield roared, wanting to help but entangled by three Steel Tooth Rats.

Four Steel Tooth Rats lunged from four directions, sealing off all escape routes. Lin Fan's pupils contracted—this was a death trap!

In the split second between life and death, his mind became exceptionally clear.

His status panel flashed before his eyes: [Basic Fist Technique: Minor Accomplishment, Explosive Force Characteristic] [Basic Footwork: Mastery, 20% Speed Bonus] [Stamina: 28 points, Origin Energy: 82 points]...

"I have to go all out!"

Instead of retreating, Lin Fan charged forward, meeting the Steel Tooth Rat directly in front of him. He gathered all his Strength into his right fist, unleashing the full power of his minor-accomplished fist technique, the explosive force penetrating the enemy—

"Bang!"

The Steel Tooth Rat was sent flying back like a cannonball, crashing into a tree. Its internal organs shattered, and it died.

[Killed a 1st Tier Steel Tooth Rat, Fist Technique Proficiency +10] [Cross-Tier Combat (1st Grade vs. Elite led by 2nd Tier Demonic Beast), Proficiency +10 extra] [Combat Experience +8]

But the other three had already reached him!

The one on the left lunged for his arm. Lin Fan bent his elbow and struck fiercely, the explosive force blasting through his elbow and shattering the Steel Tooth Rat's skull.

The one on the right attacked his lower body. He raised his knee to collide, deforming the rat's body and sending it flying.

But the last one—the one lunging from behind—its claws were already raking towards his back!

No time to dodge!

Lin Fan gritted his teeth and leaned forward, trying to minimize the damage. The claws tore through the skin and flesh on his back, exposing bone. Blood splattered.

[HP -25] [Status: Back Laceration, Bleeding Effect, -1 HP per second]

The intense pain made Lin Fan's vision go black, but he didn't fall. Instead, he used the momentum of his forward lunge to roll away, creating distance.

Three Steel Tooth Rat corpses lay on the ground, but the danger wasn't over—the bleeding effect continued to drain his HP.

He quickly took out a hemostatic bandage and haphazardly wrapped it around his back. He sprinkled powder onto the wound. The stinging made him gasp, but the bleeding slowed.

[Hemostasis Successful, Bleeding Effect Removed]

Temporarily safe.

But this round of fighting had taken a huge toll. He only had 15 Stamina left, 62 Origin Energy, and his HP was down to 47 (out of a maximum of 100). If he were surrounded again, he would surely die.

Lin Fan panted, looking in the direction of the Rat King.

Zhao Tie and Iron Shield had already reached within ten paces of the Rat King, but they were being held back by eight Steel Tooth Rats. Skinny Monkey had disappeared at some point—he must have used some stealth technique, preparing for a surprise attack.

The Rat King remained crouched on the dirt mound, its eyes glinting with cunning. It didn't seem to be in a hurry, merely wearing down the four of them in terms of stamina and willpower.

"This won't do..." Lin Fan felt a sense of urgency.

He scanned the battlefield. Dead Steel Tooth Rat corpses were scattered everywhere, at least forty or more. But the Rat King still had a dozen elites around it, and it was a 2nd Tier Demonic Beast itself, its strength equivalent to at least a 2nd Grade Martial Artist.

There was no chance of winning through a direct confrontation.

He had to find a way to break the stalemate.

Lin Fan's gaze fell upon the dirt mounds. The Steel Tooth Rats' nests... If the nests were destroyed, would the rat swarm fall into chaos?

A dangerous thought emerged.

He looked at Zhao Tie, signaling towards the dirt mounds with his eyes. Zhao Tie was stunned at first, then understood and nodded vigorously.

"Iron Shield, cover me!" Zhao Tie roared, his saber attacks intensifying.

Iron Shield slammed his shield heavily onto the ground, emitting a deafening roar that drew the attention of most of the Steel Tooth Rats.

Lin Fan seized the opportunity and charged towards the nearest dirt mound.

The Rat King sensed his intention and let out a series of sharp squeaks. Three Steel Tooth Rats broke off from the fight and lunged straight at Lin Fan.

But Lin Fan was prepared. He pulled out the last item from his embrace—not a weapon, but a tinderbox and a small jar of lamp oil.

He had bought these from the general store, originally intending to start a fire in the wilderness, but now they had a new purpose.

"Get lost!"

Lin Fan punched away a lunging Steel Tooth Rat and reached the dirt mound. The mound was made of soft earth, with rat holes beneath. He poured the lamp oil onto the mound, struck the tinderbox, and threw it.

"Boom!"

Flames erupted, spreading rapidly. Terrified squeaks came from the rat holes beneath the mound as several Steel Tooth Rats scrambled out in panic.

It worked!

Lin Fan repeated the process, igniting the second and third mounds.

Amidst the raging flames, the entire nest area was engulfed in thick smoke. The rat swarm began to stir. Some Steel Tooth Rats, ignoring the Rat King's commands, instinctively ran towards their nests to put out the fire.

"Now!" Skinny Monkey's voice came from behind the Rat King.

A shadowy figure leaped out from behind a dirt mound, a short blade aimed at the Rat King's nape!

The Rat King reacted extremely quickly, turning sharply and baring its teeth like blades at Skinny Monkey. But Skinny Monkey's attack was a feint; the real killing blow was in his left hand—another short blade slid out from his sleeve, stabbing towards the Rat King's eye!

"Screech—!"

The Rat King shrieked as its left eye was pierced, blood gushing out. It thrashed its head wildly, flinging Skinny Monkey away.

"Skinny Monkey!" Zhao Tie's eyes bulged with rage as he swung his saber with all his might towards the Rat King's neck.

The Rat King was injured, but its strength as a 2nd Tier Demonic Beast remained. It used its incisors to block the cleaver, sparks flying. At the same time, its front claws swept out, knocking Zhao Tie back several steps.

Iron Shield charged forward, shield slamming into the Rat King. The beast staggered from the impact, but its tail whipped out like a steel whip, striking the shield with a loud clang. Iron Shield retreated three steps before stabilizing.

At this moment, Lin Fan also arrived.

He had only 12 points of Stamina left, 55 points of Origin Energy, and 43 points of Health. His condition was dire, but his eyes were sharp as knives.

The Rat King's single eye glinted with malice as it stared intently at Lin Fan—it was this person who had destroyed its nest and killed most of its kin.

"Squeak—!"

The Rat King abandoned Zhao Tie and Iron Shield, lunging straight for Lin Fan!

The Speed was too great!

Lin Fan didn't even have time to react before the Rat King was upon him, its incisors like two scimitars, aimed directly at his chest!

At the brink of life and death, time seemed to slow down.

Lin Fan could see the blood vessels in the Rat King's single eye, smell the foul stench from its mouth, and feel the chilling aura of death emanating from its incisors.

He couldn't dodge.

But he didn't close his eyes and wait for death. Instead, he gathered all his Strength, all his Origin Energy, all his will, into his right fist.

Minor Accomplishment level fist technique, with the Collapsing Force characteristic, empowered by 170 points of Origin Energy...

"Break for me...!"

He threw a punch, simple and unadorned, yet filled with an unyielding resolve.

The moment his fist collided with the incisors, Lin Fan felt the bones in his entire arm cry out. But the Collapsing Force surged through like a tide, transmitting along the incisors into the Rat King's skull.

"Crack, crack..."

Faint cracking sounds came from within the Rat King's skull.

The incisors snapped, the ferocity in the Rat King's eyes froze, then quickly dimmed. Its massive body slumped softly, kicking up a cloud of dust.

[Killed 2nd Tier Demonic Beast Steel Fang Rat King, Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +100 (Tenfold reward for killing an opponent of higher level)]

[Combat Experience +50]

[Origin Energy +20]

[Unlocked Achievement: Overlord Slayer (First time killing a Demonic Beast leader of a higher level)]

[Achievement Reward: Skill Points +1]

The system prompts flashed wildly, but Lin Fan could no longer see them clearly.

He knelt on the ground, his right arm hanging limply, at least three bones broken. His chest was also cut open by the broken incisors, a wound deep enough to see bone, blood gushing out.

Health: 9/100, Critically Endangered.

His consciousness began to blur.

"Lin Fan!" Zhao Tie's shout sounded as if from a great distance.

"Quick, hemostatic agent! Rejuvenation Powder!" Skinny Monkey's voice.

"Hold on, kid!" Iron Shield's large hand steadied him.

Lin Fan felt something being shoved into his mouth, a bitter liquid flowing down his throat. A warm current rose from his stomach, spreading to every limb and bone, and his Health began to slowly recover.

[Consumed Mortal Grade High-Quality Healing Medicine 'Rejuvenation Powder', Health +30, Bleeding Effect Removed]

His consciousness returned somewhat.

Lin Fan opened his eyes and saw Zhao Tie and the other two surrounding him, their faces filled with concern and shock.

"You... killed the Rat King?" Skinny Monkey's voice was hoarse.

Lin Fan nodded with difficulty and looked at the Rat King's corpse. The 2nd Tier Demonic Beast was completely dead, a section of its skull beneath the white fur on its forehead caved in—the internal damage caused by the Collapsing Force.

"Minor Accomplishment level fist technique, plus the Collapsing Force characteristic..." Zhao Tie examined the Rat King's wounds and gasped, "Your punch, its power is already close to a full-power strike from a 2nd Grade Martial Artist. No, maybe even stronger."

Iron Shield silently patted Lin Fan's shoulder, everything understood without words.

"The nest is destroyed, the Rat King is dead, and the remaining Steel Tooth Rats have scattered," Skinny Monkey stood up and surveyed the surroundings. "We... won."

Yes, they had won.

But the cost was heavy.

Lin Fan was severely injured, his right arm fractured, and the wound on his chest needed stitches. Skinny Monkey had an injury under his ribs and had lost a lot of blood. Zhao Tie and Iron Shield also had several minor injuries and were completely exhausted.

Most importantly, healing medicines like Rejuvenation Powder were expensive. Zhao Tie had used his spare bottle on Lin Fan, a significant favor.

"Let's collect the spoils and leave quickly," Zhao Tie said. "The smell of blood will attract other Demonic Beasts, we can't stay here long."

The four forced themselves to gather the Demonic Cores.

The Steel Tooth Rats' Demonic Cores were in their skulls, soybean-sized and gray. The Rat King's Demonic Core was walnut-sized, dark gray with white stripes, and worth at least ten times that of a normal Demonic Core.

Lin Fan counted. They had killed a total of fifty-three ordinary Steel Tooth Rats, plus the Rat King, making fifty-four Demonic Cores in total.

As agreed, Lin Fan acted as bait and received a base share of 20%, with kills calculated by quantity. He individually killed nineteen Steel Tooth Rats and the Rat King, accounting for over a third of the total.

"You killed the Rat King, so its Demonic Core is yours," Zhao Tie said fairly. "You take twenty common Demonic Cores, and the three of us will split the remaining thirty-three. Any objections?"

Skinny Monkey and Iron Shield shook their heads. Without Lin Fan, they might have all been wiped out today, let alone kill the Rat King.

Lin Fan thought for a moment. "I'll take fifteen common Demonic Cores. I'll keep the Rat King's Demonic Core. Deduct the cost of the Rejuvenation Powder from my share."

"That won't do," Zhao Tie waved his hand. "The medicine is for saving lives, it doesn't count as money. We'll split it as we agreed."

After a brief argument, they settled on the following: Lin Fan would take the Rat King's Demonic Core and eighteen common Demonic Cores, while Zhao Tie and the other two would each take eleven or twelve.

Adding the military mission reward (10 points per kill), Lin Fan would receive: Rat King Demonic Core (market price at least 150 Credit Points) + eighteen common Demonic Cores (market price 270 Credit Points) + mission reward 180 Credit Points, totaling over 600 Credit Points!

This was enough to buy his sister a month's worth of medicine and improve their living conditions.

"It was worth it," Lin Fan smiled, then winced as he moved his wounds.

After packing up, the four of them helped each other leave. The burning earthen mound was still smoking, and Steel Tooth Rat corpses littered the ground; the nest was ruined.

About a mile out, Lin Fan suddenly stopped.

"Wait."

"What is it?" Zhao Tie asked, looking around warily.

"It's not a Demonic Beast," Lin Fan pointed to the woods on their right. "There's... something glowing over there."

They all looked and indeed, deep within the woods, a faint blue light flickered intermittently.

"Could be Glow Grass, or some other spiritual material," Skinny Monkey's eyes lit up. "Should we go take a look?"

Zhao Tie hesitated. "We're all injured. If we run into more danger..."

"I'll go take a look," Lin Fan said. "You guys wait here. If there's any danger, I'll signal."

He was the most severely injured, but curiosity drove him—the blue light gave him a strange feeling, unlike ordinary spiritual materials.

He cautiously entered the woods, and the blue light grew clearer. At the roots of an ancient tree, Lin Fan found the source.

It was a small, palm-sized blue grass with three leaves. Each leaf had silver patterns and emitted a soft glow. The ground within three feet of the grass was barren, as if claimed solely by it.

"What is this..." Lin Fan recalled the contents of the Basic Spiritual Material Illustrated Guide Old Man Li had given him. "Moonlight Grass? No, Moonlight Grass is white... Could it be a mutation?"

He crouched down to observe it closely.

The blue grass seemed to sense his approach, its light flickering slightly, as if breathing.

Lin Fan reached out and gently touched a leaf. His fingertip felt a cool sensation, and a prompt popped up on his status panel:

[Discovered Special Spiritual Plant: Star-Patterned Blue Fluorescent Grass]
[Grade: Mortal Tier Supreme (Mutated)]
[Effects: Direct consumption can greatly enhance spiritual power, aiding in the cultivation of soul-related techniques; can be used in medicine to refine 'Spirit Awakening Pills']
[Growth Conditions: Requires over ten years of growth in an area with abundant moonlight and converging ley lines; extremely low chance of mutation]
[Market Appraisal: 800-1200 Credit Points]

Eight hundred to twelve hundred!

Lin Fan's heart pounded. The value of this grass was higher than the Rat King's Demonic Core!

He carefully dug up the Star-Patterned Blue Fluorescent Grass by the roots, wrapped it in oiled paper, and put it in his怀.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed something else beneath the tree roots—a palm-sized gray stone slab, half-buried in the soil.

He dug it out and saw that the slab was covered in dense text, but it was severely worn, and he could only barely make out a few characters: "...moonlight essence... focus spirit... visualize..."

"A fragment of a cultivation technique?" Lin Fan's heart stirred.

He pocketed the stone slab as well and quickly returned.

"Find anything?" Skinny Monkey asked.

"A mutated Glow Grass, worth some money," Lin Fan didn't mention the stone slab. "Let's get going, it's getting dark."

The four continued on their way and finally reached the west gate of Jiangnan City before nightfall.

When they submitted their mission, the military staff were stunned by the fifty-four Demonic Cores (including the Rat King's). After triple-checking, they processed the paperwork: 540 Credit Points were directly deposited into each of their identity cards.

As they parted ways, Zhao Tie clapped Lin Fan on the shoulder. "Kid, you're a tough one. If you want to team up again in the future, come find me at the guild anytime."

"Definitely," Lin Fan nodded.

Skinny Monkey tossed Lin Fan a small cloth bag. "Here's some Trauma Powder. It's better than hemostatic powder. Consider it a gift."

Iron Shield silently handed Lin Fan a wooden token engraved with the character "Shield." "If you need anything, find me."

Lin Fan accepted them all and thanked them sincerely.

Although these three were just temporary teammates, they had good character and could be deep friends.

By the time he returned to the slums, it was completely dark.

Lin Fan, dragging his exhausted and heavily wounded body, pushed open the courtyard gate. Lights were on inside.

"Brother!" Lin Xiaoyu rushed out. Seeing Lin Fan covered in blood, tears instantly welled up. "What happened to you? Who hurt you?"

"It's nothing, just a superficial wound," Lin Fan forced a smile. "Brother... made a lot of money today."

He took out his identity card, and then the Star-Patterned Blue Fluorescent Grass.

Lin Xiaoyu didn't understand their value, but seeing her brother alive was enough for her.

After simply cleaning the wound and applying Trauma Powder, Lin Fan felt much better. The Rejuvenation Powder continued to work, his HP had recovered to 65, and his fractured arm was splinted.

After dinner, Lin Fan returned to his room and took out the gray stone slab.

Under the oil lamp, he carefully identified the text. It was fragmented, but he could piece together the general content:

"Moonlight Spirit Condensation Technique... Visualize the bright moon... Draw moonlight into the sea of consciousness... Temper the soul... Mortal-tier top-grade... Incomplete..."

It was indeed a cultivation technique for the soul. Although it was an incomplete Mortal-tier top-grade technique, it perfectly matched the effect of the Star-Patterned Blue Fluorescent Grass.

"Could this be a set?" Lin Fan mused.

He tried to follow the incomplete incantation on the stone slab to visualize, but without the complete technique, the effect was minimal.

However, a new entry appeared on his status panel:

[Cultivation Technique: Moonlight Spirit Condensation Technique (Incomplete)]
[Current Progress: Uninitiated (1/100)]
[Effects: For every circulation, Mental Strength +0.1, Soul Strength slowly increases]
[Status: Incomplete, Cultivation Efficiency -80%, Risk of Qi Deviation]

There was a risk, but it was worth trying. After tomorrow's exam, he could study it properly.

Lin Fan put away the stone slab and opened his status panel to check his day's gains:

[Character: Lin Fan]
[Realm: 1st Grade Martial Trainee (Tier 1)]
[Lifespan: 100 years]
[Strength: 13] (+3)
[Defense: 10] (+2)
[Speed: 11] (+2)
[Mental Strength: 13] (+1)
[Comprehension: 15]
[Root Bone: 18]
[Origin Energy: 190/190] (+20)
[HP: 65/100]
[Skill Points: 1]
[Cultivation Techniques]
- Basic Breathing Technique (Proficient 688/1000)
- Moonlight Spirit Condensation Technique (Incomplete, Uninitiated 1/100)
[Martial Skills]
- Basic Fist Technique: Minor Accomplishment (1292/5000)
- Basic Footwork: Proficient (791/1000)
- Basic Saber Technique: Adept (145/500)
- Basic Grappling Technique: Uninitiated (12/100)
- Basic Throwing Technique: Uninitiated (8/100)
[Combat Experience: 89]

After a day of fighting, his strength had improved by at least thirty percent! Especially his fist technique; although it was still far from Grandmaster level (5000 points), at this rate, he could break through within a month.

The most precious gain, however, was that 1 Skill Point.

"A Skill Point can be exchanged for 100 proficiency points..." Lin Fan pondered how to use it.

Using it on his fist technique could accelerate his breakthrough to Grandmaster level. Using it on his footwork could help him reach Minor Accomplishment level quickly. Or he could save it for when he acquired more advanced cultivation techniques or martial skills later.

After a moment of hesitation, Lin Fan decided to keep it for now. Skill Points were too valuable to be used carelessly.

The moonlight outside was like water.

Lin Fan sat down cross-legged and began circulating the Basic Breathing Technique to heal his injuries. Origin Energy flowed through his meridians, nourishing his damaged body, and his HP slowly increased.

His consciousness gradually sank into a state of cultivation.

But just then, the Star-Patterned Blue Fluorescent Grass in his embrace glowed faintly, and a trace of cool energy seeped into his body, flowing along his meridians into his mind.

[Nourished by the aura of Star-Patterned Blue Fluorescent Grass, Mental Strength +0.5] [Moonlight Spirit Condensation Technique proficiency +3]

Lin Fan's heart trembled, but he didn't stop cultivating.

The moonlight shone on him through the window lattice, intermingling with the glow of the Star-Patterned Blue Fluorescent Grass. A strange sensation began to stir in his sea of consciousness, as if something was awakening