Goodbye

The jungle was a vibrant tapestry of life, bursting with lush greenery, towering trees, and a symphony of sounds. Birds of myriad colors flitted through the branches, their songs mingling with the rustling leaves.

The river, a ribbon of crystal-clear water, wound its way through the heart of the forest, its surface reflecting the azure sky above.

Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor.

Near the riverbank, a man with long, unkempt hair sat on a smooth rock, sharpening his knife with steady, practiced strokes.

His beard, now thick and wild, was a testament to the months he had spent surviving in this untamed wilderness. His eyes, once filled with the uncertainty of a novice, now gleamed with the sharpness of a seasoned warrior.

It was Roland.

Roland had changed in these two months. His face, tanned and weathered by the sun and elements, bore the marks of countless battles and hardships.

His body was leaner, muscles honed by constant exertion. The forest had transformed him, molding him into a more mature and resilient version of himself.

As he finished sharpening his knife, Roland dipped it into the river to clean the blade. The cold water sent a shiver up his arm, but he welcomed the sensation. He splashed some water on his face, feeling the refreshing coolness wash away the grime and sweat. Then, with careful precision, he began to shave his beard, the blade gliding smoothly over his skin.

While he worked, his mind wandered over the events of the past months. The battles he had fought, the creatures he had encountered, and the skills he had honed. Each challenge had been a lesson, each victory a step towards mastery.

The forest had been both his adversary and his teacher, pushing him to his limits and beyond.Finished with his task, Roland rinsed his knife once more and stood up, gazing at his reflection in the river.

The face staring back at him was still his, but the changes were undeniable. He was no longer the same person who had stumbled into this world. He was a warrior, a survivor, and a master of his own destiny.

It was the time for the next round of the tournament.

A few days ago, Daisy had informed him that the next round would start soon.

Though no information had been given yet about what it would entail, Roland knew he had to be ready for anything.

"Daisy, are you sure there's no hint about the next round?" Roland asked, securing his gear and checking his supplies.

"None whatsoever," Daisy replied, her voice as cheerful and mechanical as ever.

"The organizers have kept everything under wraps this time. "Roland nodded, though the uncertainty gnawed at him.

The first two rounds had been brutal tests of his skills and resilience. There was no telling what the third round would demand.

For the last time before leaving he asked daisy to show his status:

Name : Roland

Profession : Hunter

Title : Regional Lord(temp) experience+ 20% All stats +20%

Level : 3( Duke realm) exp :

1200/30000

Strength: 169

Mana : 185

Agility: 180

Health : 210

Luck :17( points cannot be added)

Remaining points : 0

Skills : Camouflage, night eyes, ambush, fire blast, meditation, fire arrow. Thunder burst, wind slash, lava swamp, ice spear, magic water projectile, earthquake.

He reflect on the past two months of his journey as he have now reached level of duke. Which massive increase in his attributes. Bought new skills by competing his missions. All this bought him more confidence for the next round.

He looked around the jungle that had been his home and training ground. It had shaped him, taught him, and now he had to say goodbye. He felt a mixture of nostalgia and anticipation.

The forest had molded him, but the tournament was where his fate would be decided.

He bowed deeply towards the forest, a gesture of respect and gratitude. "Goodbye, old friend,"

he whispered. "Thank you for everything. I will see you again someday" he was informed by daisy that it was his last time at the forest and won't be returning again.

As the familiar sensation of teleportation began to take hold, Roland's thoughts turned to his friends. He hoped they had all grown stronger and were ready for whatever awaited them.

A troubling thought crossed his mind—what if he encountered his friends as enemies in this round? The bond they shared was unbreakable, but he didn't know what he would do if forced to fight them.

"I hope we don't meet as enemies," he muttered under his breath.

"I don't know if I could handle that."The world around him shimmered and blurred, the jungle fading from view as the teleportation took him to his next challenge.