Chapter 32 - A Mysterious Call

The wind was quiet, and so was the world around him.

Sid stood still on a cliff edge, staring into the endless horizon. His body felt light… but powerful — far more than anything he'd ever known. Yet, in that stillness, another realization crept into him.

He looked down at himself.

A mess.

His clothes were bloodied, crusted in grime and sweat. The stench hit him next — a pungent, acrid scent of impurities excreted during his tempering in the trial dimension. It clung to him like a layer of filth. The sight alone made him frown.

"…Tch. This won't do."

He turned around, breathing deeply, trying to get a sense of his surroundings. The world was quiet, but he could feel a faint flow of water in the distance — a nearby stream or river. Without hesitation, he moved, his steps surprisingly light despite the weight of exhaustion still lingering at the edge of his senses.

It didn't take long. A few minutes later, he found it — a wide, shallow river winding through polished rocks and green growth. The water glistened beneath the morning sun, cold and clear.

He stepped in without a second thought.

The chill shocked his skin at first, but it felt… good. Refreshing.

As he submerged himself, scrubbing off the filth, Sid finally took a closer look at himself. What he saw in the reflection left him stunned for a brief moment.

His body had changed.

Lean muscles carved with sharp definition traced across his torso and arms — not bulky, but precise, shaped for power and agility. His chest and shoulders had broadened slightly, and he noticed he'd grown taller as well — perhaps an inch or two, likely due to the tempering of his bones in the trial. His skin, once roughened by training, now looked smoother and more refined, almost too soft… yet each touch revealed its frightening resilience. It was like feeling a blade sheathed beneath silk.

He looked into the water.

Long black hair, now clean and flowing with the current, framed a face with sharp lines and natural elegance. Thick eyebrows, cold, piercing eyes with a gleam of clarity, a straight nose, and lips that held both calm and strength. He had always known he was handsome — but this? This was something else.

"…Hmph."

He gave a slight smirk, brushing his fingers through his hair before stepping out of the river. After drying off and changing into fresh clothes, he stretched his limbs and muttered, "Now then… food."

His stomach growled at the very mention. And so, the hunt began.

The forest was wide, and beasts roamed every corner of it. However, with each encounter, Sid's excitement faded.

A single punch.

A single step.

And they fell.

Whether it was a wolf, a bear-like creature, or even serpent beasts with hardened scales — none of them could withstand more than a blow or two. Even their life cores, once precious resources, barely gave him any noticeable improvement.

Too weak.

The new power within him had elevated him far beyond this realm's natural inhabitants. With every opponent he struck down, he realized how wide the gap had grown.

Still, he explored. Hunting, not just for food, but for a challenge.

Two days passed.

He ran, jumped, and tore across mountains and forests. His speed, especially when channeling energy through his legs, was terrifying. He could cover several kilometers in seconds, leaping from tree to cliff to plain like a blur in motion. And yet — no worthy adversary appeared.

Eventually, he stopped hunting entirely. There was no point. He left the beasts alone and let them be. This world could no longer offer him a fight worth his power.

That night, as dawn approached and stars shimmered in retreat behind the pink of the horizon, Sid sat by a small fire beneath a rock outcrop. His body rested, but his mind stirred.

He had eaten. Rested. Trained lightly.

And still, there was something…

A sudden breeze stirred the leaves. He felt it — soft, cool, passing through his skin like a whisper.

Then came the voice.

A whisper. Faint.

"Come to me…"

Sid blinked.

"…Huh?"

He looked around. The wind rustled again. Silence.

He closed his eyes. Maybe it was just the breeze. Maybe his mind was still disoriented from the changes.

But then… it came again.

"Come to me."

This time, it was clearer. Feminine. Melodic. Echoing slightly, as if spoken from a great distance — yet gently close to his ear.

His brows furrowed.

He stood up slowly, turning toward the direction he thought it came from. The wind had stilled, and the forest quieted once more. His eyes narrowed.

"…Who's there?"

But no answer came.

Only silence.

And yet, the words clung to his mind — like a thread gently tugging at his soul.