His expression turned slightly strange when he saw the bronze treasure chest floating in front of him.
Among all treasure chest grades, Bronze was the lowest.
The worst.
Low drop rates for high-quality items, limited effects, and, in most cases, rewards that were barely useful to someone at his current level.
If this had been earlier—back when he was weak—he might have been satisfied.
But now?
After silver chests that gave him the Crimson Eclipse Sword, Teleportation Card, and other powerful tools…
A bronze chest felt almost insulting.
Zayen exhaled softly, rubbing his forehead.
"So I risked my life against a special monster… for this?"
He didn't bother hiding his thoughts.
Still, he knew better than to completely dismiss it.
No matter how low the grade, a treasure chest was still a treasure chest.
And in this dangerous forest, even the weakest reward could sometimes hide an unexpected surprise.
Zayen stepped forward, crouched down, and placed his hand on the bronze chest.
"…Let's see if you have anything good."
With that, he reached out and opened it.
"What a beautiful fruit."
Looking at the snow-white fruit in the treasure chest, Zayen couldn't help but praise it.
The fruit was snow-white, smooth, and flawless, as if it was carved from a snow-white jade. Faint silver patterns naturally formed along its surface, and a gentle cold aura radiated from it, causing the surrounding air to feel slightly refreshing.
The moment Zayen took it into his hand, a cool sensation spread through his palm and into his arm.
.....
[System Identification – Consumable Item]
[Name]: Frostheart Spirit Fruit
[Type]: Natural Treasure / Consumable
[Effect]:
• Permanently increases Speed and Attack by 10 points.
• Grants Minor Cold Resistance
• Slightly enhances reaction speed
[System Notification]: This fruit can only be consumed more than five times.
...
Zayen stared at the system panel for several seconds.
His earlier disappointment vanished completely.
A permanent stat increase—even if small—was never something to scoff at. Speed, in particular, was one of the most valuable attributes in combat. It decided who struck first, who escaped, and who lived.
Not to mention the added cold resistance and reaction boost.
"For a bronze chest… this is already pretty decent."
He rolled the fruit lightly in his palm, feeling the faint chill seep into his skin.
"It's incredibly quiet here, and there's no one around. Why not refine it right here?"
Looking around, Zayen's eyes lit up. What a great place!
He then sat down cross-legged and swallowed the Frostheart Spirit Fruit.
in one gulp.
The Frostheart Spirit Fruit
The fruit melted instantly upon contact with his tongue, transforming into a cool, refreshing energy that flowed straight down his throat. The cold didn't feel unpleasant—instead, it spread through his limbs like a gentle breeze, sharpening his senses.
Zayen's entire body also turned completely red.
"So… so uncomfortable."
Zayen's face contorted. He felt as if ants were crawling all over his body.
Crack—crack—!
Faint, bone-deep sounds rang out as his muscles tightened and his bones resonated under the tempering energy. The unbearable itch and pain reached their peak, making Zayen's entire body tremble uncontrollably.
Veins bulged along his arms and neck. Sweat poured down his face like rain.
Boom!
At this moment, Zayen only felt a huge sound coming out of his body, as if something had broken open.
The burning heat faded, replaced by a refreshing coolness that spread outward from deep within his body, calming his meridians and soothing his flesh.
....
[System Notification: Frostheart Spirit Fruit fully refined.]
[Body refinement completed.]
[Attack +10]
[Speed +10]
[Minor cold resistance stabilized.]
[Reaction speed slightly increased.]
.....
Zayen slowly exhaled, a faint stream of white mist escaping his lips.
The lingering chill within his body gradually settled, merging seamlessly into his muscles and blood. Compared to the violent pain earlier, the sensation now was indescribably refreshing—like plunging into icy water after enduring scorching heat.
Zayen stood up and clenched his fist.
Crack.
A crisp sound echoed as his knuckles tightened. Zayen could clearly feel the difference—his movements were lighter and sharper. Even his breathing felt smoother than before.
"Comfortable."
At this moment, Zayen's face was filled with enjoyment. He felt that his entire body was now clear and transparent, having entered a wonderfully marvelous state.
If the previous him was compared to an old man nearing his end, then the current him was a robust young man.
A powerful aura suddenly erupted within his body, as if he had inexhaustible strength.
After a while, Zayen happily closed the system panel, gave the cave one last glance, and turned away.
Stepping out, he continued deeper into the jungle.
The magic beasts on the outer edge had already lost their appeal. The experience they provided was far too little to be worth his time.
With his current strength, Zayen was confident—
Level 8 magic beasts, and even higher, were no longer out of reach.
As he moved forward, he encountered plenty of Level 1 and 2 magic beasts along the way. Some peeked out from behind trees, others froze the moment they sensed his presence—but Zayen didn't slow down for any of them.
The moment he activated [Voidbound Flash Step], his figure blurred like a phantom.
To those low-level beasts, he was nothing short of a calamity.
Terrified by his speed and the oppressive aura surrounding him, the Level 1 and 2 magic beasts instinctively scattered, keeping as far away from him as possible.
Before he even realized it, Zayen had crossed the entire jungle.
The dense trees suddenly thinned out.
Ahead of him stretched a small grassland, bathed in pale sunlight. The wind brushed gently across the tall grass, making it sway like waves on water.
And beyond the grassland—
Another jungle loomed in the distance, darker and denser than the one he had just left.
Zayen's eyes narrowed slightly.
He could already feel it.
That the aura coming from that jungle was completely different.
[System Notification]: You have exited the Beginner Magic Beast Zone and are about to enter the Advanced Magic Beast Zone.
[System Warning]: You are approaching the boundary of the Advanced Magic Beast Zone.
Magic beasts in this area are significantly stronger and more aggressive.
Death risk greatly increased.
Zayen didn't hesitate. A golden dagger appeared in his hand, and he hurled it toward the jungle ahead. A few seconds later, Zayen's figure suddenly disappeared from his position.
When he appeared again, he was already standing at the edge of the forest.
As soon as he entered the Advanced Magic Beast Zone, a system notification appeared in front of him.
As soon as his figure appear at the Advanced Magic Beast Zone, a system notification appeared in front of him.
.....
[System Notification]:You have entered the Advanced Magic Beast Zone.
Magic Beast Level Range: 7–10
[Danger Level]: High
[SystemWarning]:Magic beasts in this area possess stronger bodies, higher intelligence, and lethal abilities.
Solo survival difficulty greatly increased.
[System Suggestion]:Proceed with extreme caution.
.....
Zayen glanced at the panel calmly, then closed it with a thought.
He didn't continue wasting time just by standing there doing nothing.
Zayen's desire to become stronger also became more intense.
After closing the system panel, Zayen did not use the [Voidbound Flash Step].
Instead, he chose to walk forward, slowly entering the Advanced Magic Beasts Zone.
The environment here was clearly more dangerous than the Beginner Magic Beasts Zone, especially under the cover of night.
Zayen remained extremely cautious.
This feeling… it was exactly the same as when he had first appeared in the Endless Forest.