Leaving Without Being Seen
I wasn't stupid.
If Seria or Freya noticed me leaving, I'd never hear the f*cking end of it.
So, I waited until the dead of night.
✔ No students were roaming the streets.
✔ Guards were focused on patrolling the academy.
✔ Seria wasn't lurking around for once.
I pulled up my hood, led my horse through the quieter roads, and slipped out of town unnoticed.
"Tch. Too easy."
With that, I was finally on my way.
---
The First Destination – The Mountain Pass
The town I was heading to?
It wasn't an easy place to reach.
Between here and there was a massive mountain range.
✔ Harsh terrain.
✔ Dangerous monsters.
✔ No settlements for miles.
It was the fastest route—but also the riskiest.
I grinned. "Perfect."
The sword hummed in my mind. "You really like taking the hard way, huh?"
I smirked. "I like the way that gets me stronger."
---
First Wave of Monsters – Time to Get More Abilities
It didn't take long before the first set of monsters appeared.
✔ Shadow Wolves – Fast, silent killers.
✔ Mountain Serpents – Camouflaged and deadly.
✔ Rock Golems – Slow, but tough as hell.
I gripped my sword. "Alright, let's make this quick."
---
Hunting and Absorbing New Powers
✔ A wolf lunged—I dodged and took it down with a clean strike.
✔ A serpent tried to ambush me—I crushed its skull under my boot.
✔ **A golem swung at me—I danced around it and sliced through its core.
One by one, they fell.
And with each kill—I got stronger.
---
[NEW ABILITIES ACQUIRED!]
✔ Shadow Step – Short-range teleportation in darkness.
✔ Serpent Reflexes – Enhanced reaction speed.
✔ Stone Skin (Minor) – Slightly boosts defense against physical attacks.
---
I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders.
"Damn. Not bad."
The sword hummed. "So… what exactly are we looking for again?"
I smirked. "An artifact. One that fuses with its wielder permanently."
The sword paused. "Huh. Sounds like a pain in the a."**
I chuckled. "Maybe. But if it's as powerful as the legends say? It's worth it."
The blade sighed. "Fine. Just don't die before we get there."
I grinned. "Not a chance."
With that, I urged my horse forward, heading deeper into the mountains.
This was just the beginning.
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To Be Continued…