The next day arrived, marking the end of the fifteenth year after the catastrophe.
Julian had been sleeping lightly after a brief session of meditation, while Mondrik, ever restless like a relentless beast, continued absorbing cores without pause—so intensely that he almost drained them all.
As Julian woke and prepared to leave the cave, Mondrik called out to him.
When Julian approached, he found Mondrik seated, eyes fixed on him as if weighing his every move.
"You no longer need to hunt monsters," Mondrik said calmly, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "You are weak, and the amount you gather barely matters. Instead, I have a new target for you."
Julian's eyes widened slightly at the sudden shift. Mondrik continued, locking eyes with him.
"Follow Jumble and his group. Have him guide you to the areas where wind-element monsters are most concentrated. Go there. Gather a few followers to help you collect their cores and increase your strength. Do you understand?"
Julian blinked, startled by the orders. He had barely begun hunting seriously, and now he was being sent on a completely new task.
"I understand… but why do you want me to grow stronger?" he asked cautiously.
Mondrik's eyes narrowed slightly, a look of mild frustration. "Do you not wish to become stronger?"
"I do," Julian said hurriedly, "but… what about you, my lord? How will you gather cores for yourself?"
Mondrik let out a low, amused chuckle. "Boy, do you think I cannot collect them myself? I usually hunt in the Great desert , but since your arrival, I've had to tend to you a little."
They fell silent for a moment, their gazes locked, until Mondrik finally shouted, "Why are you still standing there? Go now!"
Julian hesitated. "But I don't know where they went."
"West," Mondrik replied with a slow breath. "You can catch up to them in a single day if you give it your all."
With that, Julian bowed briefly and departed.
He took up his sword, donned his usual cloak, and stepped out to the cave's mouth. The direction of west was clear—sunrise had revealed itself brilliantly, spilling light across the cave's entrance. Julian simply moved against it, heading in the opposite direction.
Using his wind mana, he scaled the massive mountain outside the cave. Its peaks disappeared into the clouds. He propelled himself in leaps, supported by swirling gusts, and from the summit, the view stretched out even more breathtaking than before.
Descending the mountain proved far more challenging than climbing. Here, high jumps offered no advantage. The terrain was a sharp slope, not a sheer drop like the cliff in front of the cave. Julian paused for a moment, then focused his wind mana to stabilize his balance, preventing himself from plunging onto the jagged rocks and protruding stone spikes below.
Finally, he moved, running down the slope with tense precision. Each step was a battle to maintain control. When jagged rock formations threatened to tear him apart, he leaped with wind-assisted agility, narrowly avoiding them.
After navigating several treacherous stretches, Julian finally completed the descent. His constant use of wind mana had drained him considerably, his body burning with effort.
Yet the journey was far from over. Ahead rises another mountain, smaller than the first, yet still an obstacle to be overcome.
For nearly an hour, Julian continued—leap after leap, constantly channeling wind mana to maintain balance, his breaths ragged, his body pushed to the limit, until he felt like a wild, untamed animal.
At last, he paused, taking a moment to rest, gather his strength, and prepare for the next stage of his journey to the west.