Chapter 17: Aftermath
Alex returned to the forest, exhausted and wounded. Monsters attack you head-on, but humans—humans stab you in the back. That's why Alex sought refuge back in the forest, his safe zone where he'd lived for over three years.
He climbed the tree near the river in the yellow zone, the spot he always used, and leaned back against the trunk, closing his eyes.
His thoughts swirled around the massacre caused by the monsters in the outer zone. The most shocking part was that no one made any effort to protect the weak. They left them to die. What's the point of having strength if you can't protect those who need it?
Alex's mind snapped back. Who am I fooling? I'm not strong enough myself.This is a cruel world—if you're not strong, it will eat you. Stop thinking about it,he thought.
He hadn't made much progress in his cultivation of dark and wood elemental powers. He was still stuck at 3 circles in dark elemental and 2 circles in wood elemental. What was going on? He had even gone to the cave again and spent some time there, but there was no progress. The only thing he had mastered was controlling the poison in his dark elemental power.
He had been practicing the spear for three years, but it felt like there was a wall he couldn't break through with just practice.
I need to join the Elemental Excellence Academy to become stronger, like my father once said.
The Great Sage's secrets are ancient, but they don't seem enough to make significant progress.
But to join the academy, he'd have to step into enemy territory. He needed to be careful. First, I should gather information about the exams and the academy. I'll visit the city in two days.