The next morning, Ronan left the temple, his steps resolute as he set out to find the elusive Luminis Drake. He scoured the vast wilderness from dawn till noon, traversing dense forests and rocky outcrops, but the creature remained elusive. Frustration tugged at the edges of his patience, but he quickly composed himself.
"I should find a quiet place and absorb the essence of those Soul Siphon Deer monster cores," he mused.
Spotting a high hill with a clear vantage point, Ronan ascended, his Keen Eye ability sweeping the area. The heightened perception revealed no threats, allowing him a brief respite. Satisfied, he settled under the shade of a towering tree, its branches swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. He withdrew a glowing orb from his storage ring and placed it in front of him. A shimmering shield enveloped him, casting a faint luminescence around his resting spot.
Taking out the two Soul Siphon Deer monster cores, he positioned them between his palms and closed his eyes. A deep breath steadied his focus. Slowly, thin white threads of energy emerged from the cores, winding toward the centre of his chest and sinking into his very being. The process was slow and meticulous, lasting nearly two hours. When it was over, Ronan opened his eyes, flexing his fingers as he examined himself.
"No physical changes," he murmured, rolling his shoulders. "But my perception feels sharper... and my range has expanded. This is really good."
With renewed determination, Ronan resumed his search for the Luminis Drake, but luck was not on his side. Days passed with no sign of his target. However, he refused to let the time go to waste, hunting other monsters and gathering their cores along the way. Each night, he made camp on elevated ground, igniting a fire and activating his protective orb. The soft glow of the barrier became his familiar companion as he roasted fresh meat on the flames. After each meal, he absorbed more monster cores, steadily strengthening himself.
This routine persisted for a week.
On the seventh day, his patience was rewarded. At last, he spotted the Luminis Drake pack—ten Rank One, five Rank Two, and one Rank Three creatures. He crouched in the underbrush, observing their movements with narrowed eyes.
"I can't take them head-on," he thought. "I'll have to wait for the right moment."
Days passed as he trailed the creatures, waiting for an opportunity. Finally, his patience bore fruit. One of the Rank Two Luminis Drakes strayed from the group. Ronan wasted no time. With a swift and decisive strike, he eliminated the beast, collecting its valuable monster core.
Later that night, he rested on a hill near a tranquil fountain. The protective barrier flickered faintly around him as he examined the Luminis Drake's core in his palm.
"Even if I absorb this, it won't help me much. But Kairos…" A small smile played on his lips. "Kairos has the Light element. He'll gain a lot more from this than I ever could. I will hunt a few more before returning to the academy."
Standing, he approached the fountain, splashing cool water onto his face. A sharp sting radiated from his eyes as he blinked against the dryness.
"I've been using Keen Eye non-stop for days… My eyes feel like they're burning."
Exhaling deeply, he returned to the campfire and leaned against the tree, staring into the flickering flames. The warmth reminded him of something… something he had lost. A memory surfaced—of a time when he sat alone before a fire, a small orb of flame emerging from his chest. It used to respond to his will, drawing in fire from his surroundings. But after his battle with the man at the Eldergrove, it had ceased to respond. No matter how much he called upon it, it remained dormant.
Determined, he shifted into a meditative posture, crossing his legs. He focused on the fire before him, willing its essence toward him. Wisps of flame flickered and danced, drawn to his chest. He felt a faint pull, an old familiarity returning. Hours passed, and the fire gradually dimmed until only the moon and the faint glow of the barrier remained.
Exhausted from the day's battles, Ronan leaned against the tree and allowed sleep to claim him.
A sharp gasp tore through the silence.
Ronan jolted awake, his body tense with an unfamiliar fear. His breath came in ragged bursts as his Keen Eye ability activated involuntarily. A searing pain erupted in his skull, forcing him to clutch his head. His vision blurred, his perception erratic.
"What the hell…? Why won't it stop?!"
Desperately, he tried to suppress the ability, but each time he succeeded, it would reactivate against his will. Minutes of agonising struggle passed before the skill was finally deactivated. He barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief before it flared up again—but this time, only in his left eye.
"What the hell is going on?" he whispered, his pulse pounding in his ears.
Then, he heard it.
Faint at first, but growing louder.
Crying. A chill crawled down his spine as the distant sounds of men, women, and children weeping reached his ears. The wails carried an eerie, sorrowful weight, their words indistinct yet filled with despair. His instincts screamed at him, a deep, primal fear warning him to stay put. And yet, something else—a sense of duty, of courage—compelled him forward.
"Is there a village nearby?" he murmured, trying to rationalise what he was hearing. "Why can I hear so many people crying… but I can't make out their words?"
He shut his right eye, focusing solely on the vision granted by his left. The cries became clearer, drawing him toward a specific direction. His heart pounded in his chest as he made his decision.
Steeling himself, Ronan stood, his muscles taut with anticipation. His grip on his weapon tightened as he sprinted toward the source of the voices, into the unknown.
The moon hung high in the midnight sky, its silvery light casting eerie shadows through the dense forest. Ronan's breath was steady yet cautious as he weaved through the towering trees. The sound was distant yet persistent, tugging at his instincts.
After several minutes of relentless pursuit, he arrived at the supposed source—but there was nothing. Just an endless stretch of trees swaying gently in the nocturnal breeze. Frowning, Ronan conjured a small fireball, the flickering glow illuminating his surroundings. Yet, even under the fire's light, he found nothing. No creatures, no signs of life, just the whispering leaves and the oppressive silence between the cries.
"Where are these cries coming from?" he muttered under his breath.
He deactivated his Keen Eye ability to clear his mind, but the moment he did, an unbearable pain surged through his left eye and head, forcing him to wince. Instinctively, the skill reactivated, as if refusing to be suppressed. His vision sharpened once again, but still, nothing appeared out of place. This was beyond bizarre.
Growing more uneasy, Ronan unsheathed his flying sword, stepping onto it and hovering above the trees. From his elevated vantage point, he scanned the area, but the mystery only deepened. "There's nothing here… then where—?"
A sudden glow in the distance stole his attention. His pulse quickened. "What is that?"
Descending swiftly, he landed on the forest floor, his senses on high alert. But the instant his feet touched the ground, an unseen force rushed toward him at terrifying speed. Ronan barely had time to react before something struck him with immense power. He instinctively raised his arm to block, but the impact sent shockwaves through his bones. Agonising pain erupted in his limb as he was hurled backwards, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.