The Start of Academy Arc
Kenta stood at the edge of the rebuilt village, watching as the grateful villagers waved their goodbyes. The sun was setting, casting a golden light over the horizon, but his mind was elsewhere. He knew this wasn't the end of his journey—he had a mission, a purpose. He needed to become stronger, to protect the helpless and rebuild the broken. But most importantly, he needed to be prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.
"I'll be leaving now," Kenta said, turning to the village elder, who had tears in his eyes.
"Thank you, young warrior," the elder replied. "You've given us more than we could ever repay."
Kenta shook his head, smiling humbly. "No need for thanks. Just take care of this village, and make sure it thrives."
The elder nodded, watching Kenta take his first step toward the dense forest that stretched before him. The path was uncertain, but Kenta's determination burned brighter than ever.
As Kenta walked deeper into the forest, he opened his system interface, a transparent blue screen appearing in front of him, listing his current stats, points, and available skills.
"Alright, let's see what we've got," he muttered to himself, scanning through the options.
System Notification: Points Available – 700
He had gathered a good amount of points from the recent battles and objectives completed. But now it was time to upgrade. He navigated to the skill shop, where countless abilities and powers were listed, ranging from basic to ultimate levels.
"System, show me the strongest warrior skill available," Kenta commanded, eager to take his abilities to the next level.
The interface flickered, and a new option appeared:
Skill: Strongest Warrior
Description: Grants the user unparalleled physical strength, enhanced speed, and mastery of all melee weapons. The ultimate warrior skill.Cost: 500 Points
Kenta's eyes widened as he read the description. This was it—the skill that could propel him into the realm of the strongest fighters. Without hesitation, he selected the skill.
System Notification: Skill purchased – Strongest Warrior. Points remaining – 200.
As soon as the purchase was complete, a surge of power coursed through his body. His muscles tensed, and he could feel his reflexes sharpening instantly. It was as if his body had been fine-tuned to perfection. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw strength in his grip.
"Whoa..." he whispered to himself, flexing his arms. "This feels... incredible."
He swung his arm through the air, and the speed of the movement created a gust of wind strong enough to rattle the nearby trees.
"Time to put this to the test," Kenta said with a grin, his confidence surging.
Weeks turned into months as Kenta journeyed deeper into the forest. The terrain became more treacherous, and the trees thicker, blotting out the sun. The path was hardly visible, but Kenta pressed on, his senses heightened by the Strongest Warrior skill.
During his travels, he encountered beasts of all shapes and sizes, each more dangerous than the last. But he was no longer the same Kenta who had fought for survival in the village. He was faster, stronger, and deadlier than ever before.
One day, as he trekked through a particularly dense part of the forest, the ground trembled beneath his feet. The air filled with a low growl, and Kenta immediately tensed, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
From behind the trees, a massive creature emerged—a wolf-like beast, its fur dark as night, with eyes that glowed crimson. It towered over Kenta, easily three times his height, its fangs bared.
"Finally," Kenta smirked, "a real challenge."
The beast lunged at him, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from Kenta's face. But with his new speed, he easily sidestepped the attack, moving with a grace and fluidity that surprised even him.
"Build: Sword," Kenta muttered, and in an instant, the weapon materialized in his hand, forged from the earth below.
With a swift motion, Kenta slashed at the beast, aiming for its legs. His blade connected with a sharp clang, but the creature's fur was tougher than steel. It barely left a mark.
"Tougher than you look, huh?" Kenta said, his grin widening.
The wolf snarled, its tail whipping through the air as it tried to swat Kenta aside. But Kenta leapt over it, landing behind the beast with ease. He tightened his grip on his sword, then raised it high above his head.
"Strongest Warrior skill... let's see what you can really do!"
With a mighty swing, Kenta brought the sword down with such force that the ground beneath him cracked. The blade sliced clean through the beast's leg, and the wolf let out a howl of agony as it collapsed, its blood staining the forest floor.
But the fight wasn't over. Even on three legs, the creature was still formidable. It lunged at Kenta again, this time with its claws aimed directly at his chest. Kenta dodged to the side, but one of the claws grazed his arm, tearing through his sleeve and drawing blood.
"Tch... that was close," Kenta muttered, glancing at the wound. It wasn't deep, but it stung. "I can't afford to be careless."
The wolf growled, lowering its head and preparing for another attack. But Kenta was ready.
"Build: Spear!"
A spear materialized in his hand, its tip gleaming with a sharp, deadly edge. Kenta hurled it at the wolf with all his might, and the weapon flew through the air with the speed of an arrow. It pierced the creature's chest, embedding itself deep within its flesh.
The beast let out one final, blood-curdling howl before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
Kenta wiped the blood from his arm and took a deep breath. "That was tougher than I thought," he admitted. "But still... no match for me."
He looked down at the fallen creature, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Each battle was a test, a way to measure his strength, and so far, he had passed every one.
Kenta continued his journey through the forest, the days blending together as he fought off more beasts and monsters. Each victory brought him more points and honed his skills further. But it was the nights that tested his resolve.
In the quiet darkness of the forest, the weight of solitude pressed on him. He was alone, with no one to share his victories or his struggles. But he knew this was the path he had chosen, and there was no turning back.
One night, after weeks of travel, Kenta sat by a small fire he had built, staring into the flames. He opened his system interface again, checking his status.
System Notification: Points Available – 800
"Not bad," he muttered to himself. "But I need more if I'm going to face whatever lies ahead."
He closed the interface and leaned back, gazing up at the stars through the gaps in the trees. The forest was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. But even in the quiet, Kenta's mind was restless.
"I've gotten stronger," he thought, clenching his fist. "But it's not enough. I need to keep pushing forward."
Months passed, and the forest began to thin out. The trees were fewer, and the air was clearer. Kenta knew he was nearing the edge of the forest—his journey was far from over, but this part of it was coming to a close.
One afternoon, as Kenta walked through the last stretch of dense woods, he noticed something strange. The ground beneath his feet was no longer rough and uneven. Instead, it was smooth, almost like a road.
He followed it, and soon, the trees gave way to an open field. In the distance, towering over the landscape, was a massive structure—a kingdom, its high walls gleaming in the sunlight.
Kenta's eyes widened as he took in the sight. "A kingdom... I've finally made it."
He took a deep breath, the thrill of anticipation coursing through him. This was just the beginning. Whatever awaited him in the kingdom, he would face it head-on.
To Be Continued...