An unresolved Dimensional Rift in Blackburn Forest.
Just five kilometers from his apartment.
In this world, thick forests still sprawled across the land like ancient scars—untamed, unpredictable, and dangerous. Cities had long given up the idea of full control, learning instead to coexist with the unknown. Beyond the concrete and glass, wild zones thrived—home to monsters, soul beasts, and things that didn't belong in any natural ecosystem.
But what really caught Noah's attention wasn't the distance.
It was the classification.
—Skeletons.
He leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing.
"Skeletons, huh?" he muttered, fingers drumming softly against the wooden table.
The kind of enemy that most awakeners avoided. Not because they were strong, but because they were… annoying. Endless hordes. Fragile but relentless. And if not handled properly, they'd overwhelm even experienced teams.
He read a bit more.
Reports mentioned flickering blue flames inside the Rift. Low visibility. High density.
No confirmed boss yet.
He set the paper down and exhaled slowly through his nose.
A faint grin touched his lips.
"Sounds like a destiny."
He stood from the couch, the quiet creak of old floorboards trailing his steps. With a slow stretch and a roll of his shoulders, he made his way toward the bathroom.
Time to clean up.
Time to gear up.
Today's plan was already chosen.
Blackburn Forest.
---
Noah didn't head straight for the forest right away.
First, he made a quick stop at a roadside general store—a cramped little place wedged between a laundromat and a shuttered café.
The bell above the door jingled as he stepped in. The air inside carried the faint sting of spices and disinfectant, mingled with the warm aroma of cardamom and cloves. A typical, oddly comforting scent for a shop that sold a little bit of everything—detergent, dried goods, tools, and snacks.
A middle-aged woman, likely the shop owner, looked at him kindly from behind the counter.
"Looking for something in particular?" she asked.
"Yeah," Noah said without hesitation. "Five liters of vinegar."
The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the unusual request. "Five liters of vinegar? Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Oh, and if you have them, I also need small balloons. Around a hundred," he added casually.
The woman still looked confused, but eventually nodded. "Alright, give me a moment."
But before she could turn around to get the items, another voice chimed in.
"Do you sell thermal blankets?"
Her voice was soft and calm, yet there was a hint of firmness to it. Noah instinctively turned toward it.
A girl stood there. Her silver hair fell elegantly past her shoulders. Her bluish eyes looked calm yet sharp, radiating an aura that was hard to ignore. She seemed to be around his age, and Noah recognized her immediately.
Helen Celestia.
His classmate. One of the talented Awakeners who had awakened an S-Class ability.
"Yes, we do," the shopkeeper replied, her tone shifting ever so slightly—more attentive now.
"I'll take four," Helen said simply.
"Coming right up."
While waiting, Noah stole a few glances her way. She had the kind of beauty that drew attention without trying. Her face was flawless, with a cold expression that made her seem untouchable.
That frosty indifference, the unspoken you're not worth my time, was enough to keep Noah from even attempting a greeting. She'd never spared him so much as a passing glance before, and he saw no reason to break a pattern that was working just fine for her.
The shopkeeper returned moments later with five bulky vinegar bottles and a plastic bag full of colorful balloons.
"Here you go," she said, placing them on the counter with a light thud. "Thirty dollars even."
Noah pulled the exact amount from his wallet, slid it across the counter, and gave a short nod. "Thanks."
Just as he was about to leave, his eyes flicked toward Helen—just a passing glance.
But unexpectedly, their gazes met.
Crimson met deep blue.
Sharp and quiet.
For a heartbeat, time seemed to pause.
Then Noah looked away, breaking the moment, and stepped out into the street.
Helen's eyes lingered briefly on his retreating figure. She'd never given him a second thought before, but something in his demeanor—something in that look—felt… different.
Still, the thought slipped away as the shopkeeper broke her focus.
"That'll be 8 dollars."
Helen handed over a ten. "Keep the change."
The bell chimed again as she turned and left, the door swinging shut behind her.
---
Noah slipped into the narrow alleyway between two buildings—just enough space to work without drawing attention. He dropped his backpack to the ground and got to it, pouring vinegar into the small balloons one by one. The sharp, tangy smell quickly filled the air, clinging to his nose.
It was repetitive work, but he didn't rush. One balloon after another, until the empty bottles lay scattered at his feet. Exactly a hundred, just as planned.
About forty minutes later, everything was packed tight inside his bag, the weight solid against his shoulders.
A faint grin tugged at his lips.
"Time to go."
----
Another ten minutes later, Noah stepped out of the taxi and onto the side of the bridge.
His stride was easy, almost casual, but his gaze was razor-sharp—taking in the scene before him, the kind of view that always managed to stir something deep in his chest.
On one side of the bridge stretched the towering metropolis—bustling, bright, full of noise and life. But on the other side, Blackburn Forest awaited like the gaping jaws of a giant, dark and wild. The border between these two contrasting worlds always made him feel like he was standing between dimensions.
It wasn't his first time here. And yet… it still felt strange. Soul Beasts occasionally emerged from the forest and rampaged into the city. Experts said it was due to the fluctuations from the Dimensional Rift. Something within the Rift corrupted their minds, like alcohol to a human brain.
At the edge of the bridge's railing, Noah stood, looking down. Fifty meters? Maybe more.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
His body fell.
He could feel the wind rushing past, tugging at his clothes.
And then—FWOOOSH!
Twin plumes of crimson flame burst from his feet, controlled and precise, slowing his descent. Heat shimmered in the air, the grass below already wilting under the Starflame's touch before he landed with a clean, almost soundless thud.
Noah nodded in satisfaction. Starflame was truly special. Not only could it burn, but it could choose what to burn and what not to. His clothes remained intact, and even his hair only fluttered slightly, not scorched.
But one question still lingered: was he immune to other sources of fire?
His gaze turned to the forest—Blackburn. It looked no different from any other forest: dense.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Alright… time to begin."
With that, he pushed past the underbrush and disappeared into the forest's shadows.
---
As usual, the outer edge of the forest was eerily silent. Not even birds could be heard.
Szzzz!
A hiss shattered the silence. Noah turned quickly and saw a cobra—large, its dark gray scales glinting as its tongue flicked through the air—hissing in his direction.
Strangely, though, the snake turned away and slithered off.
"Heh," Noah smirked, flames blooming in the palm of his hand. "You're not getting away that easily."
He hurled the fireball at the creature. Flames devoured it in an instant.
But the smell of burning flesh never came. Instead, the snake's body trembled… then turned to mist and vanished like a mirage touched by reality.
Noah approached, a confused expression on his face. "What the hell…"
Starflame was hot—very hot. But to instantly vaporize a living creature? Impossible… unless it wasn't a living creature in the first place.
His eyes scanned the scorched ground. A realization began to creep into his mind. Someone else was here. Another Awakener. And that illusion… it was too clean for a common monster.
He sharpened his senses, staying alert. This might not be a friend. It could be an enemy far more dangerous than a Soul Beast.
Then—click!
Something stood before him. A humanoid figure, made entirely of bones, with deep violet light glowing from its hollow eyes.
A skeleton.
Noah only smiled. "Finally."
He reached into his backpack and pulled out a small balloon filled with a clear, slightly yellowish liquid.
As soon as the skeleton stepped into throwing range, he hurled the balloon swiftly.
Splash!
Vinegar splashed across the white bones, but the skeleton showed no reaction. It raised its rusty sword and attacked.
Its movements were clumsy, easy to dodge. Noah danced around it, deliberately not fighting back, waiting.
Because he knew. That balloon wasn't for nothing.
Minutes passed. As the skeleton prepared to attack again, its body began to stagger. Its knees wobbled. The bones seemed to lose their cohesion, and—crack!—its form collapsed into a pile of skeleton remains.
"It works!"
Noah stepped closer, chuckling softly.
He'd read about this in the Awakener Library back in the capital. Vinegar, or any acidic substance with low pH, could disrupt the magical bonds that held undead together. Scientifically, acetic acid could soften bones with enough exposure. But for creatures from the Dimensional Rift, the effect worked like a poison that corroded their very foundation.
The skeleton's glowing eyes were still lit, but dim. There was no power behind that gaze anymore.
Without hesitation, Noah raised his hand.
Starflame!
Flames roared forth, reducing the bones to black ash. Nothing remained.
"There are many ways to kill you," he muttered. "But I prefer the efficient ones."
[Starless-creature eliminated. +1 Skill Point]
Noah nodded. Not bad. Even a creature without a rank gave him a reward.
"Let's keep going," he whispered.
He dashed deeper into the forest, the wind tousling his hair and cloak. On his back, his backpack full of vinegar balloons bounced with each step.
It might seem pointless to bring so many vinegar balloons when he had Starflame, which could simply burn anything.
But this was a forest filled with death and mystery. And in a war against the unknown—one extra variable might be the only thing that saves your life.