Lyra sat on the bench just outside The Modern Haven, staring down at the steaming cup of noodles in her hands. The idea of "instant" food still seemed bizarre to her. Adventurers didn't have time for fancy meals—they ate whatever could be carried and preserved on long, grueling journeys. And here she was, holding what amounted to soup in a cup, prepared in less than a minute by some contraption in a shop run by a nervous shopkeeper.
Two silver coins for this? she thought, poking the noodles with the thin wooden chopsticks that came with the cup. It didn't look magical, and it didn't smell magical either. She couldn't sense any obvious enchantments. Yet, the kid behind the counter seemed so confident about how "special" it was.
With a small sigh, she twirled the noodles around the chopsticks and took a bite, expecting blandness or some odd flavor she couldn't place. But to her surprise, the noodles were... good. Really good. A savory, rich broth paired with soft, flavorful noodles that had just the right amount of chewiness.
She blinked in surprise, taking another bite. Then another.
"This… isn't bad," Lyra muttered under her breath. Compared to the usual rations she ate on the road—tasteless dried meats, stale bread, and bland porridge—this was practically a feast. The warmth of the broth spread through her chest, and the noodles left her feeling oddly satisfied.
As she slurped up the last of the noodles, her initial skepticism began to fade. Maybe it wasn't worth two silver coins, but it was certainly better than anything she'd had recently. She leaned back on the bench, letting the warmth of the food settle in.
That's when she felt it.
It started as a subtle tingling sensation in her arms, then quickly spread to her chest, her legs, her entire body. Her muscles tightened and flexed, her fatigue melting away as though she had just downed the most powerful stamina potion known to man. The aches and soreness from days of adventuring vanished, replaced by a surging energy coursing through her veins. She clenched her fists, feeling her strength build.
Lyra stood up slowly, blinking in astonishment. Her body felt lighter, stronger, as though she had just finished a week's worth of rest and training. She rolled her shoulders, testing the new sensation, and was met with an overwhelming sense of power.
"What the…?" Lyra muttered, looking down at her hands. She flexed her fingers, watching the muscles in her arms bulge slightly under the leather of her bracers. This was no ordinary feeling. No potion, no food, not even the best-crafted magical item had ever made her feel like this.
She glanced back at the shop, where Evan was sitting behind the counter, completely unaware of what had just happened. That kid has no idea what he's selling, she thought, smirking to herself. But if this Ramen could do this—give her this kind of strength—then it was more than just food.
It was a weapon.
Without hesitation, Lyra strapped her sword tighter to her back, her heart racing with excitement. "Let's see what this power can do."
The Great Forest loomed in the distance, its dark canopy casting long shadows over the town's outskirts. She had planned to rest before heading back into the forest, but now, that idea seemed laughable. Why waste time when she felt stronger than she had in years? Stronger than she had ever felt.
With a grin, Lyra set off toward the forest, her steps lighter than before. Every muscle in her body felt charged, ready for action. There was no doubt in her mind now—this wasn't just some cheap meal. Whatever that shop was selling, it was more powerful than any potion she had ever come across.
And she was going to test it.
As she neared the edge of the forest, the familiar dark, towering trees rose up to greet her. This part of the Outer Grove was usually a safe zone for beginner adventurers, full of lesser monsters like Horned Rabbit and Wild Boars. But Lyra wasn't interested in the small fry.
No, with this new surge of power coursing through her, she was going deeper. The Elder Thicket was where the real challenges lay—the monsters that made even seasoned adventurers think twice before going in alone. She would find something worthy of this strength, something that could push her to her new limits.
I could take on anything right now, she thought, her confidence swelling with every step.
She gripped the hilt of her sword as she entered the forest, her senses sharper, her steps more deliberate. The trees closed in around her, their gnarled branches forming a thick canopy overhead. The deeper she went, the darker it became, the light from the sun barely able to penetrate the ancient wood.
And then she heard it—a low growl in the distance, rumbling through the trees.
A grin spread across Lyra's face. "Perfect."
She drew her sword, the weight of the blade feeling light in her hands. The growling grew louder, closer, and soon she spotted the source—a massive Razorclaw Bear, lumbering through the forest, its iron-like claws carving deep grooves into the ground as it stalked its territory. It was a beast that normally required a full party of adventurers to take down. But today? Today, she was more than ready to face it alone.
Her heart pounded with excitement as she prepared to face the beast. The rush of strength from the Ramen surged through her again, and she felt invincible.