The morning light filtered through the canopy of leaves, dappled and golden as Avi pressed forward through the dense underbrush. His boots crunched over twigs and fallen leaves, each step bringing him deeper into the forest's winding path. The area was different from where he, Ken, and Emily had first scouted—the northern region leading to what they believed was the entrance to the school. Now, he was following the trail left by whoever took his comrades, a trail that seemed to grow fainter with each step but felt somehow charged, as if every twist in the path whispered an answer, taunting him with the promise of finding them.
The fire in his chest, the anger that had consumed him when Alex had barred him from the mission, had begun to simmer down. Avi's sharp eyes drifted to the emerald canopy above, where shards of sky peeked through the gaps. He realized, with a surprising bit of self-awareness, that he'd let his rage overrun him—blinding him to the true intent behind Alex's decisions. The harsh words, the sudden isolation, all had been reactions to fear, Alex's and his own. Deep down, Avi knew it wasn't a matter of betrayal or disregard; it was a measure of protection. That much was clear now, with the knowledge that Alex was only trying to shield him from the unknown dangers outside the castle, concerned at his "supposed" battered condition.
A sigh escaped him, the weight of his thoughts pressing down as if to squeeze the truth out of him. "I'm just... too much of a drama queen sometimes," Avi muttered under his breath, the words wrapped in a hint of bitter humor. But as soon as the thought surfaced, another one followed like an echo: Was it really me, or is the system just amplifying my emotions?
Avi's brow furrowed, and he shifted his gaze to the sky again. The system, the mysterious force that had reawakened mysterious skills within him, had been a constant in his life since the very beginning. He couldn't deny that, lately, it seemed to be pushing him past his limits—shoving him into scenarios that demanded more than he thought he could give. And yet, the results were undeniable. No matter how fierce the battle or how uncertain his circumstances, he always emerged sharper, more precise. The system had become his silent teacher, a force that amplified his emotions, making them fuel for the trials ahead.
With a sigh, he checked his stats, the familiar digital interface appearing before him in the air, as if conjured by the system itself:
Avi Eques (Level 5)
Strength: 18.241 → 21.072
Defense: 11.630 → 13.109
Stamina: 10.008 → 11.994
Agility: 15.067 → 18.740
Intelligence: 8.784 → 9.325
Skills:
|Clairvoyance|
|?a??k?t|
(Synchronization: 3%)
|Battle Instinct| Predict certain enemy moves. Fighting proficiency enhanced based on stats.
|Dagger Arts| Complete grasp of dagger arts.
|Aura| Coats body or weapon with a glow that strengthens it. Can be activated or deactivated at will. Consumes mana or stamina when in use.
He ran his hand through his hair, thinking back to his wild rush through the forest the other day after seeing Ken's message in the comrade system. His frantic pursuit of the signal had left him surrounded by a myriad of hostile creatures that became nothing more than obstacles to push past from, nothing but training dummies in the twisted forest of his newfound reality. It had been dangerous, reckless even, but the surge of strength that followed, the leap in his stats—there was no denying the system's influence.
He knew the system was no benevolent ally; it had no interest in his happiness or comfort. But it did seem to know what he needed most, even when he didn't. And though he feared the consequences of trusting it, of what it would push him to become, he couldn't help but feel elated at his growth. The battles, the sweat, and the bruises—each trial felt like a sculptor's hand shaping him into something more formidable. It was a strange, twisted path to growth, but growth nonetheless.
His thoughts was cut short by a rustling in the brush behind him. His heart thumped harder as he pivoted, his senses sharpening. The forest fell silent, as if holding its breath. Moments later, a blur shot from the underbrush—a flash of green that whipped past his face. He dove back, landing on his feet in a crouch, eyes locked on the creature now slithering toward him.
A lizard. No, not just any lizard—this one was at least four feet long, with sleek green scales that glistened under the light. It was joined by six others, each a different hue, with jagged thorns jutting out of their elbows and whip-like tails that lashed the air. Their eyes, gleaming with malice, were fixed on him.
"Buy one green lizard, get six more in an exclusive, not-for-kids, demon-family pack. What a bargain," Avi muttered, barely containing his irritation. He drew his shadowfangs, the twin blades glinting with a dark, hungry glow as he surveyed the lizards.
[lvl 1 Lixx]
The second strike came with the speed of a snake. Avi spun, rolling to his feet as the green lizard's tongue lashed the air where his head had been moments before. The force of the strike sent a spray of leaves flying, but he was already in motion, a dance of deft footwork and swift counters. His shadowfangs cut the air, parrying and slicing with the ease of an experienced fighter.
Lizard tongues shot at him like whips, some striking home and forcing him to block with a tight spin of his daggers. The wood cracked under the force of the strikes, and the sickly-sweet scent of the forest mingled with the sharp tang of battle. Time lost meaning as he fought, his body responding to every dart, twist, and turn with an almost otherworldly precision.
The fight was quick but not without its challenges. The Lixx were agile, their six legs propelling them forward in quick bursts that made them hard to track. Avi's daggers were an extension of his own will, precise and relentless. His movements, more fluid than they should have been, echoed the same practiced elegance as the young knight from his dreams—an unsettling realization that gave him pause for a moment before the next threat emerged.
[lvl 2 Kroxx]
Avi let out a short, ragged breath, his pulse pounding in his ears. Just as the tension began to melt, the forest erupted once more, new figures emerging with the fluidity of a well-practiced show. Three new adversaries, bipedal lizard men with lean builds and makeshift spears, stepped from the shadows, their reptilian eyes glinting with the thrill of a challenge.
"Is this your little brothers?" Avi quipped, spinning one of the dead Lixx's spears in his hand before hurling it towards the nearest of the new arrivals. The blunt end connected with its scaled chest, sending it stumbling back. The Kroxx, as he would soon learn they were called, hissed, their hostility a crackling force that fueled them into an assault.
One spear shot forward, aiming for his heart. Avi dodged, weaving sideways with a fluidity that echoed an old, practiced grace. The spear missed, but its owner wasn't done. Avi turned, the moment of battle slowing for him as if he had a bird's-eye view. He met the Kroxx's eyes, a flash of recognition—a challenge he could not ignore. He let out a breath and stepped forward, the movement as deliberate as a dancer's flourish, activating his |Aura| a blue shimmer wrapping around his daggers, making the blades burn brighter with each swing.
The fight unfolded as a well-rehearsed performance: the |Aura| enhancing each precise strike, slicing through scales and wooden shafts. He cast glances around, noting how the system's influence had pushed him to a level of control and mastery that left him amazed. This is what you needed, isn't it? The realization tugged at him as he finished the last Kroxx, its lifeless form hitting the ground with a thud.
The final one fell, and silence draped itself over the battlefield, heavy and sudden. But just as he prepared to lower his guard, Avi sensed the faintest flicker of movement in the trees above. His instincts kicked in, and before he had time to process it, he launched the blunt end of the fallen spear at the shadowed observer perched in the foliage.
The figure tumbled from its perch, landing with a muted thud. Avi was there in an instant, shadowfangs at the ready.
"Who are yo-!?'
To his surprise, his gaze met that of a young girl, looking barely even seven, with teary eyes and hands holding a red bump forming on her forehead as she fought the urge to cry.
Avi's brows furrowed in surprise, then softened. "Great. I hope I remembered my speech for when the police arrive," he muttered, the tension in his muscles melting into reluctant humor as he stared down at the child, the search in the forest just became even more confusing.