Days slipped by quietly, one after another, marked only by the shifting light through the thick canopy and the steady rhythm of the waterfall's thunder behind Ren's camp. Despite the steady pull of the glowing path beneath his feet, the one that Seraphina had traced all the way toward Newvale, Ren did not move.
He could have left at any moment. The way was clear, the destination marked. Yet something inside held him back—an uneasy stillness, a quiet warning that whispered beneath the surface of his thoughts: You're not ready yet.
So he stayed.
Not out of fear. Not out of hesitation. But because the wild around him called for more than mere survival. It demanded mastery, a deeper understanding of the world and himself before he could face what waited beyond these woods.
The clearing near the waterfall became more than just a camp. It grew into a training ground, a forge for his growing strength and skill. The roar of the falls filled the air, steady and unrelenting, like the heartbeat of the forest itself. Here, Ren trained not just to live—but to thrive.
Between towering trees, he carved a path for his Dash skill—a narrow slalom course he would sprint again and again. At first, his bursts of speed sent him careening into bark and branches, bruising his arms and scraping his ribs. But every stumble refined his movement, taught him how to bend his body to the skill's raw power. His progress was tangible: his skill bar ticked upward, small but satisfying.
Dash now stood at level 4 out of 10—a solid improvement.
He moved next to magic. His fingers traced circles in the air, gathering the elements like threads of power.
Water Ball was his first experiment. A shimmering orb condensed above his palm, catching the sunlight with sparkling droplets suspended within. He aimed at a mossy stump and released it—a small explosion of water that soaked the target and sent a spray of droplets through the air.
Over and over, he practiced, honing the orb's shape, its speed, its trajectory.
Water Ball grew stronger, climbing steadily to level 3.
Wind Cutter was sharper, faster—an invisible blade slicing through leaves and branches. He felt the tension in his wrist, the careful control needed to send the wind speeding precisely where he intended.
Each successful strike deepened his understanding, and the skill rose to level 5.
Earth Stone proved trickier. It demanded willpower and focus to draw hard spikes from the soil. The crude but deadly shards he shaped were enough to impale small creatures or stop a charging beast in its tracks. He threw spike after spike at makeshift targets until the earth itself seemed to respond to his will.
Earth Stone climbed to level 4.
Lightning Ball fascinated him most. It crackled with raw, dangerous energy, a pulse of light and sound wrapped in a compact sphere. More difficult to control, but devastating when used right.
He watched the sparks dance on his skin as he launched it again and again.
Lightning Ball hovered at level 2, but every strike brought it closer to mastery.
A new system update flashed across his vision:
Skill Leveling System Updated
Skills now had levels from 1 to 10, each step gained through frequent, meaningful use.
More than damage increases, these levels unlocked hidden bonuses, reduced magic costs, and even hinted at future evolutions.
This new structure gave him a tangible sense of progress—something to strive for beyond mere survival.
With each passing day, Ren's confidence swelled. He no longer feared the creatures stalking the forest around him.
Dire Wolves—once terrifying—became hunting practice. He studied their movement, learned their pack tactics, and struck swiftly when opportunity arose. His twin daggers, coated with fire from Weapon Enchantment, slashed through fur and sinew with growing precision.
Stone Beetles, with their armored shells and heavy legs, were less agile but more durable. Earth Stone spikes cracked their shells, toppling them quickly.
Fang Lizards were dangerous—not just for their speed but the venom dripping from their fangs. Ren moved cautiously, applying Antidote quickly whenever poison found its mark.
Each kill was a lesson, each victory a step closer to mastery.
Using his Analyze skill, Ren collected detailed information about every creature. He cataloged behavior patterns, physical vulnerabilities, preferred habitats.
This knowledge fed into the Encyclopedia Seraphina had unlocked for him—a living archive growing richer with every new discovery.
The Encyclopedia was like nothing Ren had ever seen.
It contained vast categories:
— Creatures: from tiny insects buzzing in the underbrush to massive beasts that haunted the forest depths.
— Plants & Materials: herbs for healing, fibers for crafting, rare stones shimmering with latent power.
— Terrain & Environment: detailed notes on the climate, soil types, and hidden dangers of the region.
— Tools & Items: descriptions of crafted weapons, armor pieces, and survival gear.
— World Lore (Restricted): cryptic tales and myths hinting at the hidden history of this world.
— Artifacts (Locked): secrets awaiting discovery, locked behind puzzles or quests yet unknown.
"Seraphina," Ren joked one morning as he traced the scrolling list, "this thing is better than the internet."
Her voice was soft, almost amused.
"The data it stores is limited only by your own exploration and experience."
"So it's like the internet, but with effort."
He hadn't yet unlocked all the skills costing under 100 points—there were just too many—but he carefully crafted his build for combat versatility.
His main skill levels were:
Water Ball – Level 3
Lightning Ball – Level 2
Earth Stone – Level 4
Wind Cutter – Level 5
And passives:
Magic Affinity, enhancing the power and control of all magic.
Magic Mind, reducing MP cost by 10% and improving spell precision by 15%.
Weapon Enchantment at level 2, allowing him to imbue his twin daggers with elemental magic.
"I'm basically a walking elemental disaster," Ren grinned, flipping through his spells and imagining himself as a one-man storm.
His camp transformed too. What had once been a crude shelter became a fortress of survival.
Ren fashioned clever traps to guard the perimeter—boulders rigged to crash down from hidden branches, designed to crush any creature foolish enough to approach unseen.
His bedding and cloak, crafted from dire wolf hides, kept him warm against cold nights and damp mornings.
A chimney made from stone and clay vented smoke from his fire safely above the treetops, while racks made from bent branches hung strips of drying meat, preserving food through the harsh nights.
The path to the river, well-worn and smoothed by constant use, marked the steady rhythm of his days.
"All I need now is a mailbox and a doorbell," he joked one night, sitting beside the fire as stars pierced the dark.
"I do not believe those exist here," Seraphina replied flatly.
"Yet," Ren smiled, staring upward.
One evening, as dusk folded over the forest, the usual chorus of birds and insects abruptly stopped.
The air grew heavy. The leaves stilled.
Something was coming.
The unmistakable presence: Red Bear.
Ren didn't panic.
He calmly activated Search at level 4, scanning through the dense brush until the massive form emerged, silhouetted against the fading light. The beast was enormous—easily five meters tall, fur matted and clumped with dirt, claws sharp enough to rend stone.
He prepared for the fight.
Weapon Enchantment (Level 2) blazed to life, coating his twin daggers with fiery magic.
The beast's roar shook the ground.
Ren moved swiftly, dashing around its flank with practiced ease, narrowly avoiding a lethal swipe.
Twin Slash (Level 6) cut arcs of fire across its ribs, igniting patches of fur.
The bear screamed in pain but retaliated fiercely.
Ren ducked and rolled, then unleashed Water Ball (Level 3) at its knee. The impact staggered the beast, slowing it momentarily.
Wind Cutter (Level 5) sliced across its snout, disrupting its senses.
With a final burst, Ren leapt and drove both daggers deep into the bear's lower spine.
Critical hit.
The beast crashed with a mighty thud, the fight over.
[Red Bear Defeated. EXP Gained.]
[Level Up x3 – Attributes +15 | SP +750]
[Skills Improved:]
— Twin Slash → Level 7
— Weapon Enchantment → Level 3
— Water Ball → Level 4
— Wind Cutter → Level 6
— Dash → Level 4
— Search → Level 5
Panting, Ren looked down at the massive, steaming carcass.
"Alright," he said breathlessly, "who's next?"
That night, sitting beside his fire, he opened the Encyclopedia and reviewed the Red Bear's entry.
Red Bear – Tier 2 Beast
Weak Points: Underarm ribs, Lower spine
Strengths: Skull durability, powerful knockback claws
Drops: Red Core, Beast Bone, Thick Hide
"Seraphina," he asked quietly, "if this world's got this much depth already, how big is it really?"
Her voice was calm but serious.
"That answer… would overload your short-term memory."
Ren chuckled softly, staring into the flickering flames.
"That bad, huh?"
The fire crackled, sending a cascade of sparks into the night air.
He leaned back against his fur-lined mat, the weight of exhaustion settling over him, but beneath it a simmering excitement.
"…I think I'm almost ready."
A pause.
"Then tomorrow," Seraphina said softly, "you walk the path."
And so the days melted into preparation, mastery born from trial and fire. Ren stood on the edge—not yet a traveler, but no longer just a survivor. He was something new. Something stronger.
He was ready.