I realized something important during my meditation: each time my mana core expanded, my mana limit grew along with it. That should've been a good thing—a sign that I was getting stronger. But for some reason, I couldn't shake this uneasy feeling. It was like a knot twisting in my chest, a growing tension that I couldn't ignore.
That's why I stopped meditating. Something was off. My mana core, nestled within my heart, was growing—too quickly. It had already expanded to the size of a large ball, almost pushing the limits of my chest. If it kept growing, it might reach the maximum size my heart could contain, and I had no idea what would happen then. The thought alone was enough to pull me out of my trance.
Two weeks had passed since I started living in this cave. The Wolf King's meat had been my only source of food, but now it was all gone. The cave, once a place of rest and recovery, felt like a temporary refuge that had served its purpose. I couldn't stay hidden forever. I had to move on, find civilization—people who could help me understand this world better.
I ventured out from the cave, surveying the forest for any signs of life beyond the monstrous creatures and towering trees. But after days of searching, there were no traces of towns, villages, or even roads. Just endless wilderness. The only inhabitants seemed to be the beasts, their distant roars and growls echoing through the dense foliage.
One day, I suddenly noticed my hair was growing longer, and to my surprise, cyan streaks had begun forming on the right side. I tried washing it off by the river, but no matter how much I scrubbed, the color stayed. At first, I thought maybe it was some sort of evolution, like in the stories from anime and novels. But then, as I looked closer, I realized the cyan glow on my mana core matched the exact shade of my hair.
Maybe due to the awakening of the wind element, my hair color started changing gradually without me even realizing it. Now, it falls to my shoulders, though it used to be only half that length. My face has taken on an ethereal, with smooth, pale skin and striking, vivid blue eyes same as in my previous life. My slim, arched brows are soft.
My right hand still hasn't healed, though the rest of my body's wounds have fully recovered. It might be because there's not enough magic to regenerate my arm. It's a bit difficult, but I can still manage with my left hand—I just need more practice. In this jungle, though, I don't even need my hands to eat. I can get by just using my mouth.
"I don't know when I'll finally see the town. It's been days since I started wandering through this forest, and I haven't found a single trace of civilization. My chest feels heavy, and my mana core has expanded to its maximum size. Even without meditating, my mana keeps growing at an alarming rate. I need to find a town soon and get this checked out."
Just as those thoughts crossed his mind, a distant sound reached his ears—a girl's scream.
The sound came from straight ahead, and from the intensity of the scream, it was at least a mile away. Levi bent down, feeling the wind rise around his legs. He was barefoot, without any shoes, but that didn't matter. The wind wrapped around his feet, swirling faster. With a sudden push, he shot forward, dashing through the forest with remarkable speed.
Levi raced through the forest, weaving between the trees with agility. He kept low to the ground, moving swiftly over roots and underbrush. The wind at his feet propelled him forward, allowing him to glide over obstacles effortlessly.
Despite my mana being rapidly depleted, he still had enough source of mana to reach her. He estimated that he would have about 20% of my original mana left after this sprint.
As he approached the source of the scream, he noticed the branches overhead parting, letting in slivers of sunlight that illuminated his path. He maintained a steady rhythm, his focus sharp as he closed the distance.
When he finally broke through the thicket, he saw the girl ahead. She was cornered by a creature, its dark shape looming over her. Levi's eyes narrowed as he saw the girl who looked like she was in her 20s, he needed someone from this world to navigate him to a place where there were humans.
But first, he took a moment to relax, allowing his mana to recover. The Wind Dash move had drained nearly all his energy to reach this spot, and the creature before him still hadn't harmed him. He closed his eyes, focused on his breathing, and steadied himself. After a brief moment, he steeled himself and dashed toward the monster.
The creature resembled a massive wild boar, its bulk nearly matching that of the Wolf King, but it lacked any smaller boars like the wolf's pack. Its bristled fur glistened with moisture, and its dark eyes glowed with fierce intelligence. The ground beneath its hooves rumbled slightly, a clear sign that this beast wielded earth element defenses.
With a flick of my wrist, I opened my palm and summoned a sword of swirling wind. The blade crackled with energy as I gripped it tightly, feeling the familiar rush of mana surge through me. "Gale Blade!" I shouted, channeling my remaining strength into the weapon.
The boar charged, its massive frame barreling toward me, tusks bared. I sidestepped just in time, swinging my wind sword in a wide arc, the blade slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. The attack grazed the boar's side, but it quickly regained its footing, stomping the ground in defiance. The earth trembled, and a wall of stone erupted from beneath it, creating a barrier that absorbed the impact.
"Ohh, this is the first time I saw a magic beast," I muttered, seeing the magic boar. The boar clearly aware of its surroundings. It was no mindless beast; it was calculating and strategic.
As the creature turned for another charge, I focused again, my grip tightening around the wind sword. "Wind Slash!" I shouted, sending a concentrated wave of wind toward the beast. The attack struck the boar with force, but it summoned a thick layer of dirt and rock around itself, absorbing the blow and reducing its impact.
The boar charged at me again, this time with more speed. I raised my wind sword just in time, bracing for impact. The boar collided with my blade, and I felt the jolt travel through my arms. I pushed back against its weight, struggling to hold my ground as it pressed forward.
With a quick pivot, I swung the sword low, aiming to knock the creature off balance. The blade met its legs, and the boar stumbled, throwing its weight to one side. But it quickly regained its balance and stomped the ground, causing a shockwave that nearly knocked me off my feet.
Just as I regained my footing, the boar charged again, its massive tusks aimed straight for me. I prepared to strike, but I miscalculated its speed. It closed the distance faster than I anticipated.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the edge of the clearing. "Watch out!"
I turned just in time to see the boar barreling toward me. In my panic, I stumbled back and lost my footing, crashing into a nearby tree with a painful thud. The world spun as I tried to collect my thoughts.
As I shook off the dizziness, I could see the boar preparing for another charge, the earth trembling beneath it. I had to get back on my feet. With a grunt, I pushed myself up, grabbing my wind sword once more.
"What the hell is this magic boar? It's fuc*king hella strong for my current level. Even though I have that skill, I can't use it. If I use it, I'll just end up in danger again. I only practiced my sword skills when I was in the cave, but my skills haven't even reached a certain level. I think I have no choice. The moment I release this skill, I need to take that woman and run."
I took a deep breath and steadied my stance. "Typhoon Blades!" The moment I opened my palm, a small typhoon of wind blades began rotating at high speed. I directed the powerful vortex toward the boar.
As soon as I released the typhoon, I turned and sprinted toward the girl. Without hesitation, I scooped her up, holding her like a prince carrying his bride. Together, we dashed into the forest, the sounds of the raging typhoon echoing behind us.
"Hold on tight!" I urged, pushing through the underbrush as I raced away.
The boar, watching the entire scene unfold, was momentarily struck with shock. It observed as the typhoon grew larger and larger. For the first time in many years, the massive creature felt true fear.