The village wasn't prosperous, yet it wasn't completely rundown either. A cluster of stone and wooden houses stood close together, narrow dirt roads weaving between them. Faint sounds hinted at the beginning of an ordinary day—thin smoke rising from a few rooftops, people moving slowly as if they had grown accustomed to the same rhythm for countless years.
I didn't linger.
The village itself wasn't my destination… what lay beyond it was.
I approached one of the locals—a middle-aged man with an axe resting on his shoulder—and asked him about the path to the forest.
His expression changed instantly.
It wasn't outright fear, but hesitation. He looked me up and down, then spoke in a low voice:
"Valsmeer ?"
I nodded.
He let out a slow breath. "Head east. You'll find a narrow trail. No one uses it except hunters… or fools."
I didn't comment.
I thanked him and continued on my way.
The farther I moved from the village, the quieter it became, and the air itself began to change. The scent of damp earth and old leaves grew stronger, accompanied by a faint sense of pressure. It wasn't a direct threat… more like a constant presence, as if the forest were watching those who entered.
At the edge of the forest, I stopped.
The trees were dense, their trunks thick, branches intertwining overhead like an irregular web. Light struggled to pass through, shadows swallowing the spaces between each step.
I stepped inside.
---
Less than ten minutes passed before something moved.
It wasn't a clear sound, but a change in the air itself. My instincts reacted before my eyes did. I shifted a step to the side, and at that exact moment, a small creature lunged out from the bushes.
An E-rank monster.
Its body was thin, claws long, eyes gleaming with raw hostility. I didn't allow it to get close. One clean strike of my sword ended the encounter before it truly began.
I didn't stop.
I kept moving forward.
A second. Then a third.
Different monsters, similar levels. They weren't strong—but their numbers… weren't normal.
I fought without recklessness.
Measured strikes. Short movements. Minimal mana usage.
I knew this was only the beginning.
After an hour, I lost track of their number.
Monsters emerged from between the trees, from the roots, sometimes even dropping from above. There was no coordination between them, yet they didn't stop. The deeper I went, the denser they became.
Sweat gathered on my brow. My breathing grew heavier.
Not because the fights were difficult… but because they were relentless.
One tried to attack from behind. I turned at the last moment, used my body instead of my sword, slammed the creature into a tree trunk, then finished it with a short thrust.
I stepped back.
And looked around.
The ground was littered with signs of battle—dark blood, bodies beginning to lose their warmth, broken branches. And yet… the forest itself looked untouched.
As if it swallowed everything in silence.
I moved on.
---
As time passed, I began to feel true exhaustion.
My mana was still flowing, but no longer with the same smoothness. My body responded, though with a slight delay. A delay beginners wouldn't notice… but one that was obvious to me.
Another group appeared. Five monsters at once.
I didn't use any advanced techniques. I relied on movement, timing, and minimizing waste.
Thrust. Dodge. Side strike.
They fell one by one.
But I didn't rest.
I knew the rule: stopping here was a mistake.
After a while, I paused only long enough to catch my breath.
Their number had exceeded forty. Maybe more.
I'd stopped counting.
I lifted my gaze upward.
The light had changed.
It was no longer early morning. The sun had risen higher, its rays piercing the branches more strongly. Daytime had arrived… without me realizing it.
"So… this much time has passed."
I took a step—and felt it.
Something different.
Not an attack.
But emptiness.
As if the forest had suddenly fallen silent.
No movement. No sounds. Even the wind had softened.
I stopped, my grip tightening around my sword.
Two seconds. Three.
Then another E-rank monster appeared—but it was weaker than the ones before. I dispatched it quickly.
After that… nothing.
I exhaled slowly.
The exhaustion was clear now. Not dangerous, but real. My shoulders ached, my arms felt heavier than they should, and controlling my mana required more focus.
I sat for a moment on a fallen tree trunk.
I wasn't pleased.
Nor was I annoyed.
This was exactly what I wanted.
Valsmeer wasn't a test of strength… it was a test of patience.
I stood up again.
"This is just the entrance."
I looked deeper into the forest.
The path ahead was still long.
And the most dangerous part… hadn't appeared yet.
I continued forward, this time accompanied by daylight.
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