A Month After the Heist..
Inside a certain Underground Cave of Marus Forest Dan is practicing Yoga. He is been following Legacy's schedule for the past month and Training like crazy. The Once Frail looking Boy.. Nothing but a Bag of Bones turned into a Fine, Masculine Young man in just a span of Month.
He is been practicing Martial arts, Exercising and Fighting with Dread Spawns on a regular basis. According to "wise" Legacy, Training can make you Stronger but Fighting against real opponents makes you "Your strongest".
After the Heist Nothing Noteworthy Happened.. Except some Rumours about How Hesta stole something from the Othersiders.. and is now a public Enemy of the whole Marus Forest. It has nothing to do with Dan Though. After all.. He is not Hesta.
Yeah. Everything is going well for him. Not only he made Considerable Improvement in his Martial arts, He just completed His 4th Transformation yesterday. Today he will initiate his 5th Transformation as well.
Dan sat down on the Ground and took a deep breath.
"Stats" Dan said telepathically in his mind and a Dark Blue Panel appeared before his eyes.
[] STATS []
HEALTH: 791/834 STAMINA: 216/442
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STRENGTH: 168
ENDURANCE: 153
INTELLIGENCE: 163
PERCEPTION: 189
AGILITY: 171
No matter how many times he saw it.. It is Always so satisfying to see his Progress. These Increasing Numbers boosted his Thirst for power. No one would believe this guy used to be a pathetic weakling a month ago.
"Dan: Sweet. A little more and all my stats would be in 200s." Dan admired the Numbers on the panel.
"Legacy: It is not that easy. You are already reaching the limits of this level. Stretching your limits too much is not a good thing. Let's take 2 days off. Training is not complete without proper Rest." Legacy suggested in a sagely voice.
"Dan: A Break huh? I Don't mind, But You said I am reaching the limits of this level right. What is my power compared to others?" Dan asked ignoring Legacy's voice change. He has grown accustomed to Legacy's Voice mimicking this past month.
"Dan: Thanks to my Reformation your power exceed your level. If we Compare your power to Hesta.. You are 3.5x times stronger than him, Even Though he used to be in the same level as you." Legacy Explained.
"Dan: But I am still lacking compared to that man named sir Alex, right?" Asked Dan.
"Legacy: Don't underestimate Yourself too much. He can.still Break you like a twig.. But, If it was before you would be dead a million times over. An Evoker is on a completely different level than you." Legacy said in a mocking tone.
"Dan: No need to be so Annoying. I will.. definitely have that kind of power.. someday." Dan determined his resolve.
Dan stood up and collected his equipments and his hunts. He put everything in Inventory and left the Underground Cave. Time to Increase his Dagger Mastery..
Few minutes later.. On top of a tree Dan stood quietly with his eyes shut. He remained in that state for sometime and abruptly opened his eyes and smirked.
"Dan: I Sense a 5th stage Dread Spawn in that Direction. Approximate distance is 150 meters." Dan said telepathically pointing towards a certain Direction.
"Legacy: Well done. You are Finally using your senses to their full extent. Now let's move." Legacy complimented.
4th Transformations is [Sense Enhancement]. Dan's proficiency in sensing others could not be underestimated. He is been trying to master this power since he initiated 4th Transformation.
Dan streched his limbs, took a deep breath and jumped. He jumped from one tree to another with Swift movements and headed towards the Dread spawn he sensed.
Few seconds later he landed in front of a boulder.. Actually it was not a Boulder. That Toad like Creature faced Dan and made a hissing sound. Dan recognized this Creature. It is one of the Deadliest Creature in this place. It is a Grunrog. They are very strong but.. very slow.
Dan smirked and took his stance. He made a taunting gesture towards the Ugly Creature. 5th stage dread spawns are fairly Intelligent. That Creature of course understood Dan's taunt.. and didn't like it.
That Creature hissed again and his large potbelly opened like a mouth. Eight dark green tentacles shot towards Dan, But Dan evaded all of them. Those tentacles didn't stop though, they changed their direction mid air and chased after Dan.
Two Obsidian black Daggers appeared out of nowhere in Dan's Hand. No light could be reflected from the Blades surface.. Giving those Daggers a serene vibe. Dan stopped and confronted those tentacles. He cut two tentacles that approached him and slid through the Barrage of others.
The Grunrog hissed angrily. Those tentacles wiggled, slithered, whipped and did everything to catch that slippery miserable rat.. But ultimately Failed. That Grunrog watched painfully as Dan cut his tentacles one after another.
Cutting off its last tentacle Dan approached the Dread spawn. The Creature watched helplessly as Dan impaled it's Brain and ended his life. Dan removed his blade from the Creatures corpse and with a Swing he removed the Blood and fluids from the Blade.
"Dan: That was easier than expected. Let's check my Improvement." Dan said and opened the [Skills] panel with some hope. But his Hope Completely got crushed though.
[] SKILLS []
* CHEF [MASTER](31%)
* HUNTING [EXPERT](78%)
* DAGGER MASTERY [EXPERT](99%)
* THIEF [ADEPT](46%)
"Dan: What is wrong with this? Why my Dagger Mastery Proficiency isn't Increasing anymore?" Dan asked Legacy.
"Legacy: That's because you have hit a bottleneck. You need an opportunity to Breakthrough. Don't worry, it's Normal. Everyone face this wall.. crossing the line between Expert and Master isn't that easy." Wise guru Legacy Explained.
"Dan: An opportunity? Where can I find such thing, oh! wise guru?" Dan asked teasingly.
"Legacy: I don't know. It wouldn't be called an opportunity if it could be encountered as you wish. You will get your chance.. Eventually." Legacy stated.
"Dan: So you don't have a clear Answer. Fine.. I will think about it later. Let's return for now." Dan said. He left the Dread spawn Body there and sprinted towards the 7th settlement. He is pretty deep into the Forest, where no one comes, so nobody knows about his real Powers yet.
Dan reached the 7th settlement around Noon. He could see the Menacing Black wall of 7th settlement. Solemnly protecting everything like a unmovable Mountain.
"Dan: Legacy seal my Powers." Dan ordered Legacy. The moment Dan said those words.. He felt strength leaving his body. he felt very very Weak.
Sealing one's Power.. This is a very efficient way to train one's limits. It is a also a very effective, when it comes to hide someone's power. In this state most of Dan's most of Dan's physical powers is sealed. All of his stats dropped to 30, which is equivalent to a ordinary 3rd Transformation Warrior. It is uncomfortable but In this state nobody could guess his real Powers.
Dan's been keeping his Powers secret. On the outside he is just one Ordinary boy.. Inside he is One of the strongest in the whole Marus Forest. Dan endured this uncomfortable feeling and entered the settlement. Nothing changed in this Place. Same old Boring survival for the next day.
But, For the 1st time in a month he saw something out of ordinary. Dan saw carriages after carriages are lined infront of the Peacekeepers Headquarters. Men around the Same age as him, are loitering around the perimeter.
Like a bunch of Hooligans they are causing trouble here and there. But, No one.. No one dared to voice out a thing and endured their resentment.
Dan could guess very well.. who might be these people. what he couldn't guess that why they are here? Could it be Finally his chance? His oppertunity Legacy talked about? Dan is not sure.
Do you know the most difficult part about an oppertunity.. Although Many might encounter them in your life but.. very few can grasp it. Do you know why..
As they say.. FINDING a OPPORTUNITY is a Matter of BELIEVING it is there.