Zephyr's stomach growled loudly, reminding him of how hungry he was. He needed to eat something, and his best bet was fishing. After the chaos of the day, Zephyr felt he deserved at least one good meal. But given the terrain, fishing seemed like his most realistic option.
Determined, Zephyr got to his feet and approached a tree on the nearby hill. Using his Water Blade, he cut a sturdy branch from the tree. He plucked off all the leaves and attempted to sharpen the branch using a Water Jet, but his lack of control caused the water to cut right through the wood.
"I shouldn't get ahead of myself; my control is still far from perfect," Zephyr muttered, shaking his head. Resigned to manual labor, he picked up a nearby stone and painstakingly polished the edge of the branch by hand. After what felt like an eternity, his makeshift spear was finally complete. Zephyr inspected his creation and nodded in approval, a small smile of pride spreading across his face.
He descended the hill cautiously, pausing frequently to scan the surroundings for any signs of monsters. "It seems like this area has relatively low monster activity," he noted, relief evident in his voice. Upon reaching the base of the hill, Zephyr stopped again, surveying the terrain and the river ahead. He mentally mapped the area, ensuring he wouldn't lose his way.
As he ventured into the forest, he was struck by its dual nature—both comforting and unsettling. The cries of birds echoed around him, and the faint glow of the moon filtering through the canopy added to the forest's mystique. "The forest is even lovelier at night than during the day," he remarked, his voice tinged with awe.
Zephyr experimented with his abilities as he moved. One attempt involved using Water Blades to accelerate himself forward. It ended in near disaster—he lost control and almost slammed headfirst into a massive tree. "Yeah, let's not try that again," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Soon, the sound of rushing water grew louder, signaling his proximity to the river. But just as he was about to step closer, a rustling bush caught his attention. Zephyr quickly increased the brightness of his levitating fireball, illuminating the scene.
What he saw shocked him.
A bloated, dead bird lay on one side of the bush, and on the other crouched a scrawny goblin. The goblin pounced on the bird's corpse, sinking its teeth into the flesh, feathers spilling from its mouth. The grotesque sight made Zephyr's stomach churn, but he composed himself. This was the first time he'd encountered a monster so close.
Zephy panicked but quicley composed himselft, Zephyr then scanned the area to ensure no other goblins were nearby. Satisfied he was alone, he formulated a plan to kill the creature. Quietly, he crept toward the goblin, gripping his spear tightly.
With a burst of strength, Zephyr lunged, aiming to pierce the goblin's skull and kill it in one strike. But the goblin was faster than expected. It screeched in rage and rolled backward, its sharp, guttural cries echoing through the forest. Zephyr's failed ambush had clearly enraged the creature, which now charged at him with terrifying speed.
Zephyr stood his ground. As the goblin closed the distance, its movements suddenly faltered. A split second later, its head separated cleanly from its body, and it collapsed mid-charge.
In Zephyr's palm, a shimmering ball of water flickered briefly before vanishing. He looked down at the goblin's lifeless form, surprised at how effective the Water Blade had been. "I didn't think it would work this well," he admitted, a mix of relief and pride washing over him.