The forest was dark and silent, an endless tangle of trees and shadows. Aurel moved through it like a specter, his eyes narrowed, his senses sharp. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, of decaying leaves, of the wild mana that hung heavy in the atmosphere. This place was alive—pulsing with energy and danger, a place where the boundary between the city and the unknown blurred.
He could feel it all. The thrum of life around him, the faint whispers of creatures moving in the underbrush, the way the air shifted when something approached. It was as if he was part of the forest now, his awareness stretching beyond himself, an extension of the shadows.
He was hunting again.
Another beast lurked nearby—a rabid dog-like monster, its growls echoing in the stillness, a low rumble that sent a chill down Aurel's spine. He had faced these monsters over and over—each time barely surviving, each time pushing himself further, forcing his body to adapt, to learn.
The first fight had left him broken and bloody, his Regeneration trait working overtime to mend torn flesh, shattered bone. The second fight had been the same—more pain, more blood, more exhaustion. But each time, Aurel had gotten faster. Stronger. His body learned from each encounter, his senses sharpened, the time it took to defeat them shortening.
Tonight, he was determined to push even further. To finally awaken what he had come here for.
Aurel stepped into a small clearing, the moonlight filtering through the treetops, casting faint shadows on the ground. He could hear the beast now, its breath heavy, its body moving through the underbrush, the snap of twigs under its paws. It was close—closer than any of the others had been before.
The beast burst into the clearing, a dark blur of muscle and fur, its eyes glowing with a sickly yellow light, its jaws open, teeth bared in a snarl. Aurel didn't flinch. He could see it—the way the creature's muscles tensed, the way its eyes locked onto him, the subtle shift of its weight before it lunged.
He moved, his body reacting before his mind even registered the danger. He sidestepped the lunge, his feet moving smoothly across the forest floor, his body twisting just enough to avoid the creature's claws. He could feel the air move as the beast sailed past him, the rush of its breath, the heat of its body.
Aurel spun, his eyes focused, his muscles coiling like springs. The world around him seemed to slow, every detail coming into sharp focus. The way the beast's legs folded beneath it as it landed, the way its head snapped around, its eyes locking onto him once more. He could see it all, every movement, every intention.
The beast lunged again, faster this time, its jaws snapping at his throat. But Aurel was already moving, his senses guiding him, his body flowing like water. He ducked low, his fist driving upward, catching the creature under the jaw. The impact sent a shockwave through his arm, but he didn't stop. He moved with the momentum, his other hand following, striking the beast's side, his legs driving forward.
The fight lasted less than a minute.
Aurel stood over the beast, its body crumpled at his feet, its eyes glazed, its breath shallow. He was breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest, but there was no pain this time. No fear. Only the steady thrum of power that filled him, the sense of being completely in tune with his body, with his surroundings.
He could feel it—everything. The forest around him, the presence of the mana that clung to the air, the life that pulsed in the shadows. His senses had expanded, stretched beyond their limits, until he could feel the world itself breathing.
Aurel took a deep breath, his eyes closing, his body relaxing. He could sense the danger now—sense it before it came, anticipate it, move with it. He had pushed himself to the edge, and in doing so, he had awakened something more.
The watch on his wrist beeped, the screen lighting up, the holographic display flickering to life. Aurel opened his eyes, his gaze shifting to the notification that flashed across the screen.
New Trait Unlocked: Sixth Sense (Rank: Epic)
Description: Grants the user an instinctive awareness of danger and movement. Allows the user to predict the actions of opponents, sense threats before they manifest, and perceive shifts in mana in the environment.
Aurel stared at the screen, his breath caught in his throat. Epic. It was an Epic-tier trait—something that only around 1000 people worldwide possessed. He could feel the difference, the way his awareness had expanded, the way his body moved with a new fluidity, each action guided by instinct rather than thought.
But that wasn't all. Another notification appeared, the screen flashing again, and Aurel's eyes widened as he read the words.
Trait Update: Regeneration (Advanced to Rank: Epic)
Description: Grants the user an accelerated healing ability, capable of rapidly regenerating wounds, injuries, and even severe damage. The effectiveness of this trait increases with mana reserves, allowing the user to recover from injuries that would be fatal to others.
Aurel let out a slow breath, a smile spreading across his face. His Regeneration trait had advanced—becoming something far more powerful, something that could keep him alive through even the worst of injuries. He could feel it now, the way his body thrummed with energy, the wounds he had sustained already closing, the pain fading to nothing.
He had done it. He had awakened the Sixth Sense trait, and his Regeneration had evolved. He had pushed himself to the brink, fought until his body had no choice but to adapt, and in doing so, he had grown stronger than he ever thought possible.
The watch on his wrist beeped again, the display updating, new information flickering across the screen. Aurel stared at it, his eyes narrowing as he took in the new addition.
Ability Tracker Update: Displaying Stats
Strength: 32
Agility: 41
Endurance: 45
Perception: 50
Mana: 37
Gene Locks Actualised: 1
Mana required to actualise next lock: 100
Aurel's eyes widened, his breath catching. Stats. He hadn't expected this to be given to him yet, this was something typically granted after the University exam. The system was displaying his stats, giving him a measure of his abilities, of how far he had come. His perception was the highest, no doubt a result of the Sixth Sense awakening, followed closely by his endurance, boosted by his Regeneration. His agility, strength, and mana affinity were all lower given they weren't supported by any traits.
Aurel looked down at the beast at his feet, its body still, its breath finally fading. He had faced it, defeated it, and grown stronger because of it. And there would be more—more challenges, more dangers, more chances to adapt.
He turned, his eyes scanning the dark forest, the shadows shifting, the night alive with mana. He could feel the presence of other beasts, other monsters lurking in the distance. He was no longer afraid. He was ready.
He moved through the forest, his footsteps light, his body relaxed, every sense heightened. He was in tune with the world around him, the forest an extension of himself, each movement fluid, each breath steady. He had adapted. He had become something more.
And as he walked, he knew one thing for certain.
He wasn't done yet.
The exams were still coming, and with every trait he gained, every stat that increased, he was becoming more than just a contender. He was becoming a threat—a force that would not be ignored.