Chapter 9: Deep in the Forest
After finishing my meal, I smiled and bid the maids farewell.
With nothing else to do, a surge of restlessness stirred within me. I decided it was time to test my strength—really test it. Slipping out of the mansion unnoticed, I stepped into the sunlight and took a deep breath.
Something was different. My body felt lighter, stronger... faster.
Without much effort, I leapt upward—and nearly flew. I soared over the outer wall in a single bound, landing with a roll in the open field beyond. The sheer height of that jump made my heart race. I wasn't just stronger—I was evolving.
Before me stood a vast forest, thick with trees and untamed life. It was the perfect place to train without drawing attention. Without hesitation, I dashed forward, weaving between trees, pushing my speed to the limit. My feet barely touched the ground.
But caution kicked in. I couldn't afford to be reckless. Slowing down, I raised a barrier around my body—then another. Layer after layer, I reinforced them, carefully fusing them together with mana. I had no idea how many I could stack, but I felt nearly invincible.
Still, I knew there were limits. If I kept adding barriers without pause, I'd run out of mana too fast. The power was exhilarating, but dangerous.
I delved deeper into the forest, marking trees as I went to avoid getting lost. The further I ran, the denser the foliage became. That's when I saw it.
A massive bear, nearly the size of a carriage, stood ahead, its coarse fur bristling. Its sheer presence radiated menace. The beast had to be as strong as a mid-level 2-star.
It locked eyes with me and roared—an earth-shaking sound that echoed through the forest. I'd clearly invaded its territory.
With a single swipe of its paw, a tree was reduced to splinters. My pulse quickened.