I had to leave this part of the forest if I wanted to feel safe. Right now, my biggest concern wasn't the Red Apes at all—it was the black leopard. Its presence was too intimidating for me to stay here idly.
"To think that there was a rank 4 beast here…"
This was ridiculous on so many levels. A monster of this caliber, appearing at the very beginning of my second life—was I really that unlucky?
Regardless, I had to get out of here quickly. The Red Apes were no longer my primary worry; my only concern was the black leopard.
"If it's a rank 4 beast, does that mean it could…"
A rank 4 beast had the ability to transform into a humanoid form. In other parts of this world, they were called divine beasts, and here I was, casually encountering one in this forest. Divine beasts could give even small to medium-sized countries a headache due to their abilities and sheer destructive power. I had no business being in the presence of such a creature at the start of my journey.
"I have to leave."
Hoisting the dead deer into a makeshift bag I'd crafted from sticks and straw, I left the small cave.
[Crafting learned]
Ignoring the notification, I leapt away from the cave and broke into a sprint.
[Strengthen]
Applying my Strengthen skill to my legs, I doubled my speed, breaking through the sound barrier.
[Stealth]
I activated Stealth to hide my presence from other beasts, just as a precaution to avoid unnecessary fights.
[Magic Sense]
I layered on Magic Sense, sharpening my awareness of the surroundings in case of an attack.
"I have to be careful."
As I sprinted through the forest, I could feel all sorts of life energies from the area around me. Some were massive, others small. There were even a few presences that shocked me—though none as much as the black leopard—but they were still stronger than me.
"This forest is more dangerous than I thought…"
Every moment revealed new surprises.
---
I had been running for at least two hours and was nearing the end of my stamina. I couldn't manage top speed for long distances, so I had to slow down frequently. In places I sensed danger, I'd turn and find another route, which made the journey even longer. Eventually, I reached a point where I felt a safe enough distance away.
"Damn, I hope I've gotten far enough."
Now, I just needed to find a place where I could lay low, survive, and start building up my strength. Reaching rank 3 quickly was essential. Six months to a year would be ideal, though it could take longer. With a combination of cultivation, hunting beasts, and using the evolution system to track my progress, I felt confident I could level up fast.
"No need to get overconfident. I should take it slow."
"Maybe the Red Apes think I'm dead by now."
There was no need to hide from the Red Apes anymore, as I was far enough from their territory that I didn't have to worry about them.
My focus was clear: I needed to reach at least rank 3 within the next year. By grinding through monsters, cultivating, and refining my skills, I was sure that I could reach the point where I could at least survive in this forest.