Chapter 5 - Gain after Fight
"Pant, pant, pant," Zaboru gasped, his body trembling after his first kill. He had just ended Oswald's life to ensure there would be no complications later. Besides, sparing a bastard like Oswald wasn't worth the risk. At least his first kill didn't weigh too heavily on his conscience. 'There you go, my first kill... sigh, I hope I never get used to this. I just killed a real person, not some NPC in a virtual game.'
Zaboru quickly used the Relaxing Breathing Technique to steady himself, regaining some of his stamina and strength. Then he moved toward Oswald's room door and locked it from the inside. The magical locks on the door couldn't be opened by normal means, ensuring the guards wouldn't interrupt him.
Grinning faintly, Zaboru turned to Oswald's lifeless body and began looting. He stripped off the enchanted leather armor and slipped it on. It was slightly loose, but it would suffice for now. As he adjusted the armor, he immediately noticed how much lighter and faster he felt. 'Nice!' he thought with satisfaction. Then, he eyed Oswald's enchanted axe and picked it up. But as soon as he held it, the weapon's power noticeably diminished. It was his trait, Reject Weapons, Embrace Your Body, in action.
"Sigh... look at that. This weapon's actually pretty good, but I can't use it. Never mind, I'll just sell it in town later," he muttered.
Continuing the looting, Zaboru found three accessories: two rings and a necklace. The necklace had a minor enchantment to keep clothes and skin clean. One ring enhanced mana control, while the other boosted barrier magic effectiveness. 'Oh? A barrier magic boost? That explains why his barrier was so tough. Too bad Oswald was an idiot who only knew how to deploy one spell. This ring could be insanely valuable in the right hands—like Barrierock's.'
Barrierock. The name stirred memories of Zaboru's old friend—and rival—in Rising Live. Barrierock had been a mage player obsessed with barrier magic, pushing its potential to astonishing heights. Though respected for his ingenuity, his other spells were so mediocre that it was almost comical. Also that guy always shouts "BARRIEROCK!" After he cast a spell , overall he is a madman. 'Hah, I kinda miss that guy,' Zaboru thought. 'Anyway, I can't use this ring, so better to keep it for later.'
The necklace was useless to him, but the mana control ring caught his attention. Despite his low mana reserves, his trait Mana Anomaly Type 2+ gave him a significant edge: while his mana pool was tiny, his regeneration was extraordinary. 'This could work. I know a breathing method that uses mana to strengthen the body. Sure, one fireball would probably drain 99% of my mana, but it regenerates quickly enough. Besides, I only need mana for support and enhancement. My main energy source is Chi.'
Mana and Chi were the two most common energy types in this world, though others existed. Mana, produced by the heart, was largely determined at birth. While some methods to increase mana capacity existed, they were rare and difficult. Chi, on the other hand, was vitality energy that could be gathered and strengthened through meditation and physical training. With enough dedication, anyone could amass significant Chi reserves.
'Alright, that's everything on Oswald. Time to check the rest of his stash.'
Zaboru searched the room thoroughly. He found a pile of documents, including mine contracts and employee records, along with several potions: five for health, two for mana, and three for stamina. Most notable was a pouch containing 100 gold coins. 'Figures. Oswald must've hoarded most of his wealth in a bank. This is probably his pocket change. Sigh.'
He packed everything into a skin bag he'd found in the room, including the mine entrance and cell keys. Finally ready to leave, he considered the situation. 'The 13 guards I took down are probably still unconscious, and the other 12 should still be asleep in the barracks. It's far enough that they likely don't know what's happened yet. Time to move.'
Zaboru approached the miners' cells, tossing the keys through the bars. "Here's your chance. Whether you escape or not is up to you," he said without lingering. Then he made his way to the mine entrance.
Standing before the massive door, he inserted the key. The lock clicked open, and he stepped outside for the first time in what felt like ages. A cool, gentle breeze brushed against his face, and the silence of the night greeted him. Above, the moon hung high, surrounded by a canopy of stars. Zaboru grinned. 'Finally, I'm free. From here, my story begins!'
Without looking back, he sprinted toward the nearby forest. He had no idea where he was. 'Sigh... I don't recognize this place. In the game, this mine was on the edge of Renkonan Island. But things are different here. If I'm right, the nearest town is Ragnack. If I can make it there, I can start fresh. I know some hidden spots in Ragnack—assuming the town is similar to the game. If not... well, I'll figure it out. Also i've been exiled from Renkonan family , so i can't use the name Zaboru Renkonan anymore, but it's fine i have another name that's fit!, Zaboru Bonisegna! haha!, well it sounds mouthful , lets shorten it with Zaborn!, yeah Zaborn sound good''
Hope and determination filled him as he dashed through the forest, his journey truly beginning under the light of the moon.
After an hour of running through the dense forest, Zaboru came to a sudden halt, his sharp gaze falling upon a grim sight: a deer's mangled corpse sprawled across his path. Its torn flesh and deep claw marks painted a clear picture of its fate. He crouched low, his muscles tensing as he scanned his surroundings.
'A claw mark... long and deep. Rock Bear, probably,' he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. Rock Bears, one of Renkonan Island's deadliest predators, were slow but brutal hunters. They relied on their ability to fire rock projectiles, crushing prey from a distance before moving in for the kill. With their hides infused with Rock Mana, they were almost impossible to harm without any specials abilities.
'Goddamn Rock Bear. Of all things… I can't take it down as I am now. If it spots me, I'll have no choice but to run.'
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sharp whistle slicing through the air. Zaboru turned just in time to see a rock projectile barreling toward him with terrifying speed. Reacting instinctively, he channeled internal energy into his fist and struck the rock mid-flight, shattering it into fragments. The impact reverberated up his arm.
'Damn! The bear's here. Where is it? No time to look—RUN!'
Without hesitation, Zaboru darted into the forest, his feet pounding against the uneven terrain as he dodged trees and leaped over roots. Behind him, the ominous sound of heavy footfalls grew louder, and more projectiles crashed into the trees around him. Most missed, but his luck didn't hold for long.
A sudden, sharp impact struck his left waist. The force staggered him, but he pushed forward, his teeth gritted against the pain.
'AGHHH! , GODDAMN! I can't stop—I have to keep moving!'
For fifteen grueling minutes, he ran, maneuvering through the forest with every ounce of speed he could muster. Finally, the sounds of pursuit faded, and no more projectiles came his way. He slowed, collapsing onto a knee, his chest heaving with exhaustion.
'Pant… pant… I think I got away. Damn, this wound is bad!'
He glanced at his side. A deep gash bled steadily, but his body's natural resilience kept it from worsening.
'A health potion… No, I better save it. This wound isn't life-threatening. Two hours with the Relaxed Breathing Technique should be enough to patch me up.'
Zaboru stumbled onward, searching for a safe place to recover. After a few minutes, he spotted a massive boulder beside a flowing river. Rivers, he knew, were neutral zones—predators rarely attacked here, adhering to the unwritten law of the jungle that all creatures could drink in peace.
He leaned against the boulder, his body sagging with relief. Cupping his hands, he scooped up the cold river water and drank deeply. Then, he reached into his pouch and retrieved the peaches he had picked earlier in the forest. He ate three in quick succession.
'Not enough, but it'll do for now. I'll have to hunt for meat later. For now, I need to focus on resting. Stamina first, then the wound.'
Settling himself against the boulder, Zaboru closed his eyes and began the Relaxed Breathing Technique. His breathing slowed, his focus sharpening as his internal energy circulated through his body. Warmth spread from his core to his limbs, easing the throbbing pain and accelerating the healing process.
The sound of the river and the rustling of leaves offered a fleeting sense of peace, but Zaboru's mind remained sharp.
'Two hours. I'll recover enough to move by then. But I can't stay here too long. This island has no mercy for the careless.I don`t know which side forrest i`am now hopefully i found a road to Ragnick or human settlement'