The night had passed quite quickly. As the sky started to brighten, he woke up earlier than most. This was a habit he had from his days back in the real world. The others still who were still asleep were under beneath torn blankets and makeshift beddings.
Solen sat a little apart from them, his eyes half-closed. The faint glow from his lantern had dimmed through the night because it was now empty, because the six souls he'd stored within it were gone. He had devoured them all.
He exhaled slowly. His body still buzzed faintly with power, like a current flowing beneath his skin. The world around him felt sharper and clearer. He felt not only much stronger but also much more energetic.
'Six souls..... and I already feel this strong.'
It made him think, by his progress he could not only easily complete his trial but also live a decent life after returning.
According to his system status, all of his physical attributes had risen by a sub minor rank. From G- (Low) to G- (Mid).
And still… he had not faced any sort of backlash. No pain, no distortion of mind, no madness attacking at his sanity.
'Maybe it's because they weren't human' he thought, his gaze drifting toward the lantern resting beside him. The system did say I won't feel much backlash from the devouring of non-human souls, but still I had thought it would still be harsh.'
It comforted him — for now. But somewhere deep down, he knew it wouldn't last. Right now, there was no need for him to devour humans. there was a line between devouring humans and non-human souls that shouldn't be crossed. But one day, when he stepped into a difficult situation that line would blur. Monster or man — it wouldn't matter. Their souls would all sound the same.
Solen closed his eyes, the faint hum of power in his veins slowly steadying. He then murmured to himself, almost in disbelief. "Guess I really am changing."
A voice broke through the quiet. "Talking to yourself again?"
He looked up. Borin stood a few steps away, accompanying him was the women they had been talking to before the attack had happened, Mera.
"Couldn't sleep?" the old man asked.
Solen shook his head. "Slept fine. Just… woke up earlier than the others."
Mera looked at him. "Maybe you're just restless. It was the same with me. Happens after narrow escape from death."
Solen didn't reply immediately. "Maybe," he said quietly. "Or maybe it's something else."
Mera raised an eyebrow. "Something else?"
Solen hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Just… feeling stronger, that's all."
Mera didn't reply too this, but Borin laughed. "Hah! That's what youth's supposed to feel like! Stronger every morning, eh? Enjoy it while it lasts."
It was clear that they didn't take his words seriously. He thought, 'Who would? Even I wouldn't have, if the situation were to be reversed.'
If only those two knew. But he had no intention of telling them.
Mera then changed the topic and started talking.
"I heard we'll be moving again in a few hours," she said, her voice steady but her face drawn with fatigue.
Borin, looked up at this sharply. "So soon? Most of the lads are still half-battered. Most of them barely survived the last wave."
Mera gave a small shrug, her tone almost resigned. "Don't glare at me, old man. I'm just repeating what I heard. Apparently, the orders came from Sir Garran himself. He wants us out of the desert before nightfall."
Borin grunted. "Out of the desert? Hah. We're still far from the end of the western stretch of Saharan- 'out' isn't exactly a morning walk." He poked his foot against the ground, frowning. "We should let the men rest, not drive them to exhaustion."
Mera crossed her arms. "They say we can rest once we reach Kinoya. After we get out of the desert, it's just a day or two's walk. Let's just hope nothing goes wrong."
Borin scoffed under his breath. "And when has nothing gone wrong out here?"
That earned him a faint, tired smile from Mera. "You're not wrong. But orders are orders. You know how Garran is."
Borin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Aye. Cold as a steel blade, that one. He doesn't bend, doesn't break—just cuts through everything in the way."
While they were talking, Solen just listened quietly, his eyes flicking between them. He didn't say anything. He wasn't sure what kind of man this Sir Garran truly was, but the tone in their voices told him enough—someone dangerous, someone decisive.
The conversation dwindled as Mera went to check her equipment again and get ready to start marching again. Borin stayed beside Solen, muttering, "Well, lad, looks like our rest is over already."
Solen nodded slightly, his expression unreadable. "Guess so."But in truth, he didn't mind. Rest or no rest, he could feel that he was already much stronger than last night and as long as the monsters are not any stronger than the monsters they had faced before, he could not only just survive but become even stronger by devouring their souls.
The more battles he fought, the more were his opportunities to get stronger and he wasn't going to waste any of them.
'I am sure that this is not the end of trial, if it were just killing some monsters not nearly that many people would have failed the trial. There must be much more ahead.'
And as he moved to get his stuff ready along with Borin, he made a promise to himself, "No matter what lays ahead, I will be ready. I will survive."