The seconds it took the rodent monster to die felt like they stretched on for years. Freddy was pleased to note the effects his anticipation was having on making him feel actually alive. But even that was put to the back of his mind as he watched the creature bleed out, his heart hammering in his chest.Freddy’s soul construct had always been one of the unsung heroes of his tool kit. It was hard for him to imagine life without it. Essence management was notoriously annoying, and for most, it was the most important factor in deciding their long-term growth.Having access to more essence meant more practice with one’s abilities, which also meant less need to put oneself into danger to grow. More essence meant more money, and more money meant more resources, which usually compounded into other ways to recover and develop.But all of this applied to recovering essence outside of combat.If the effect of the Cycle Scythe worked as he thought it would, it might let him do just a little bit more than that.After an excruciating wait, the creature finally relaxed, releasing the air in its lungs in a quiet whisper of death.And, as usual, Freddy recovered 1% essence for the kill. He took a long moment to observe his soul, but that was it. Just 1%. Nothing about it had changed, and from what he could tell, there were no other effects on his soul.His left his ethercosm with a pang of disappointment, and then immediately noticed (...)