?A figure dashed through the forest. The trees blocked the moonlight, yet one could faintly see the features of the figure. He was charming, handsome, dashing, cool.... wait let me check more adjectives…. He was elegant, captivating, alluring, fascinating. The darkness couldn''t hide the figure''s devilish attractiveness.


    Moonlight shined on the figure and revealed his identity. It was me!


    I know. All of you must be saying that I didn''t praise myself enough. But what can I do? Words weren''t enough to describe my greatness!


    While I was praising myself to heavens, my right foot got entangled in a root protruding out of the ground.


    …I tripped. And nearly fell face first into a tree.


    ''My handsome face was almost scarred.''


    A cmity has been avoided! Rejoice!


    ''But aren''t scars also cool?'' I scoffed. ''Heh, everything is cool if it''s used by me!''


    The forest was thick and overgrown. It made visibility practically zero. The moon hiding behind the clouds wasn''t helping, either.


    Three hours had gone by when I entered the forest. I have been advancing nonstop since the beginning. I was tired. But Varnish had given me the perfect chance to grow stronger, I couldn''t waste it.


    ''What a good guy you were chimpanzee. I won''t forget to reward you handsomely.''


    I knew Varnish was going to make a move today. It was why I ate outside when I had never left my carriage previously before today. To let Varnish ''force'' me into entering the forest and reach Lake of Purity. This was why I didn''t punish Varnish along with Matthew.


    Varnish had a strong-with-weak and weak-with-strong mentality. Before I couldn''t do anything to him and he bossed me around. But he now saw me behaving differently and feared that I would punish him next.


    I had three goals for manipting Varnish. First was to get an excuse to enter the Forest of Silence. The second reason was to bring Charlotte to my side. By next week, Charlotte would see me in apletely different light. Thest reason was to confirm my suspicion. It was rted to why Varnish could resist Lumine''s charm.


    ''I should forget about everything and focus on my first goal. The other twoester.''


    Lumine was staying behind with the convoy. It was dangerous to leave her alone, but I couldn''t bring her with me. Stray monsters from the forest oftentimes attack the travelers who use roads near the Forest of Silence. As our convoy was going to stay in the same ce until I returned, it had a high chance of being attacked.


    I had repeatedly instructed Lumine to hide her strength, but without a guaranteed assurance I couldn''t help but worry. After all, hiding her strength was necessary for the future.


    Two hours went by in a simr fashion. I took a quick break and tried to understand the forest''s physiology to pass the time.


    ''I can''t hear anything besides my own breathing and footsteps. The wind isn''t too strong or weak, but there is no noise of rustling of leaves.''


    The silence was noisy.


    Forest of Silence got its name from its eternal silence. Inside the forest, you can''t hear the noises created by trees. Even if you havepanions, if the distance between you and them is more than 30 meters, you can''t hear them too. The monsters were no exception.


    To ovee this restriction, the monsters of the forest have adapted in different ways. Strong sense of smell, infrared vision, or simrly sensory abilities aremon in monsters belonging to the Forest of Silence.


    Five minutes passed. It was enough rest. I continued my journey in silence. Nothing of note happened, other than me dropping a few baby tarant cards.


    An hourter, a change urred.


    Rustle—!


    A faint noise emerged from my vicinity. I wouldn''t have been able to notice it under normal circumstances. But inside this silent forest, the noise was too loud.


    I pulled Gylothyn from its scabbard and vigntly scanned the surroundings. At the same time, my hand unconsciously went toward the cards inside my robe. However, I decided against using my summons to fight.


    Originally, I had 30 Great Boars, 40 Daisies, and 40 Baby Tarants in my deck. Out of those, I left five baby tarants with Lumine and the daisies weren''t forbat - they were my emergency magic power potion.


    ''This is the best chance to use my skills in realbat. Besides, the monster should be 1st Mortal Awakening. It is weak. I sh–''


    Swoosh—!


    Bang!


    Suddenly, a brown fur shed before my eyes. Something grazed my cheek and struck the tree behind me. A drop of blood trickled down from the fresh cut on my right cheek.


    In the next second, a powerful force struck my abdomen. I was thrown off my feet.


    A monster about seven feet tall on two powerful hind legs that end in wed, three-toed feet stood a few meters away. The monster''s body was hulking and muscr, with a wide chest and massive shoulders that sloped down to a narrow waist. Its arms were thick and powerful, withrge, round fists at the end of each arm.


    ''…Which idiot said 1st Mortal Awakening monsters are weak? It was a straight knockout if I wasn''t prepared!''


    I swiftly stood back and held the ck sword with both hands. The bipedal monster covered in fur was punching empty air, as if taunting me. I looked below. My clothes were torn and a small brown armor could be seen inside.


    That''s right! I was wearing thin bracers, shin guards, cuirass, and a tasset inside my clothes! I came prepared!


    I wasn''t anywhere near the Lake of Purity yet. Here, only monsters of 1st mortal awakening roam. Yet, I couldn''t react to thest attack.


    My heart was thumping heavily inside my heart. I was excited!<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Swoosh!


    The monster punched with its right arm. Shifting my weight, I rolled to the right. At the same time, I kept my eyes peeled open to look for openings.


    ''It has thick legs, which means it should be fast. It can also stretch its arm to attack at long range.''


    The fists struck me 3 times. But they weren''t fatal hits, as I always dodged at thest second.


    ''It has a 5 meter attack range. A two second gap is created before it can attack with the same fist. But the monster alternates between the two fists while attacking to punch. It covers for its gap in this way.''


    Throughout the battle, I kept my distance while dodging and, when possible, reflecting the attacks. Even at the same ranks, monsters are stronger than humans. However, it doesn''t mean humans can''t win. Unlike monsters, we humans can think and that gives us the advantage over mindless monsters who are controlled by their instincts.


    ''I got it.''


    ραпdα n?νa| сom Waiting for the next attack, I pulled the other sword out. I was now duel wielding.


    The fist shot in my direction. Shifting my leg, I narrowly dodged the punch. I tensed my muscles at the same time and swung the sword at the monster''s elongated arm!


    The monster howled and without pulling its 1st punch attacked with its other fist.


    Not wasting a moment, I threw the other sword at the monster and dashed toward it. The monster''s 2nd punch changed direction and struck the sword away. But I was already in the range!


    Putting my strength into the grip, I powerfully shed!


    Schwing!


    ''You''ve got to be kidding me…''


    The de passed through empty air. The monster jumped into the air at thest second. While it was yet to fall down, the monster pulled its punches and rained its fists.


    Just as I dodged twice, its attack finally connected.


    ngg!!


    The force almost brought me to my knees.


    Landing on the ground, the monster tried to retreat. It couldn''t fight in closebat and needed to create distance to throw punches. But I didn''t let it do that. Kicking the ground, I bolted behind it!


    Bam!


    The monster''s arm stretched and shot at me. Yet, I didn''t dodge! Under the monster''s confused gaze, I grabbed its arm and pulled!


    It lost its bnce and fell! In the vulnerable position it couldn''t attack properly! Yet, when I swung my sword, it attacked the de blindly!


    Schwing! x3


    Three arcs attacked from different directions! It was a gamble. Even I couldn''t tell if the monster would block this attack or not. The chances of sess were only 1/3!


    ng!!


    The metallic echo rang! My arm shook, and the de flew away!


    Hurriedly standing up, the monster kept its eyes on the flying de and then looked at me. It was about to attack…


    Spurt!


    However, another sword pierced through its heart! It was the sword that I had thrown at the beginning!


    The monster had fallen next to the sword that I tossed to distract it before. It was because of this that I took the gamble with only 1/3 chances of sess. If the monster blocked my original attack, it would be rxed and use that time to stand back. My goal was to use the gap and finish it with the other sword on the ground!


    Thud—!


    The monster''s eyes gradually lost their radiance. Its lifeless body fell to the ground.


    And a string of notifications appeared in my eyes.


    <<You have in Wind Fist Kangaroo, 1st Mortal Awakening>>


    A smile appeared on my face.


    <<You have received….>>