Sinu moved swiftly through the dense jungle, his movements fluid as he jumped from branch to branch.
The thick canopy of leaves provided him cover as he navigated the dangerous terrain with ease.
Finally, he reached a sturdy tree and settled on a wide branch, letting out a deep breath. He ran his fingers through his sweat-dampened hair, his thoughts racing.
"I didn't expect to find the Sword Clan's runaway elder here," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves. "But how did someone like Lord Jordan manage to stay hidden in this small village for so long?"
His lips curled into a sly smile as he considered the implications. "The branch family elders have been under tremendous pressure to locate him. This information will guarantee me a promotion."
Sinu leaned back against the tree trunk, his gaze shifting toward the distant horizon. He imagined the recognition he would receive upon delivering this crucial piece of information.
A sense of pride swelled within him. With renewed determination, he leapt from the branch and resumed his journey, darting from one tree to another at an incredible speed, heading back to the Sword Soku Clan's base.
Meanwhile, Jordan pressed forward through the jungle, Adam slung over his shoulder like a fragile bundle. He moved with practiced ease, his footing sure even as he traversed precarious branches high above the ground. Despite his steady movements, his mind was restless.
"They'll know where I am now," he thought grimly, his brow furrowing as the realization sank in. "It's only a matter of time before they come after me."
Reaching a particularly sturdy branch, Jordan paused and set Adam down carefully against the tree trunk.
The boy remained unconscious, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Jordan knelt beside him, his weathered face lined with concern as he studied the child.
Looking at Adam, Jordan's thoughts grew heavier. "Why did I expose my location for this boy?" he wondered aloud, his voice barely a whisper. "What was I thinking?"
His gaze lingered on Adam's face as memories from a few days earlier surfaced unbidden in his mind.
Jordan recalled the quiet afternoon when he had been hunting deep in the jungle. The forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls.
Suddenly, an intense wave of mana surged through the air, making him freeze mid-step.
His instincts flared, and he quickly scaled the tallest tree nearby, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. On the other side of the mountain, dark storm clouds were gathering unnaturally fast.
"What in the world?" he murmured, narrowing his eyes.
Lightning erupted from the ground, striking upward and charging the clouds with an electric fury.
The crackling energy spread like veins of light across the storm, and the sight sent a chill down Jordan's spine.
"That's no ordinary storm," he said, his tone grave. "It's a magic spell. But who could cast something so massive out here?"
Jordan wonders if there's a magician following him.If that is the case, then Jordan will have to kill the magician so that the magician cannot reveal his location to anyone.
His mind raced as he debated his next move. The sheer scale of the spell suggested immense power—power that couldn't be ignored. "I can't let this go unchecked," he decided. "If someone's targeting this area, I need to find out why."
Jordan is able to understand from seeing that magical spell that the magician is extremely powerful because casting such a large scale magical spell is no joke for an ordinary magician.
Jordan is able to understand from seeing that magical spell that the magician is extremely powerful because casting such a large scale magical spell is no joke for an ordinary magician.
Without wasting another second, Jordan leapt from the tree and sprinted toward the source of the disturbance. The jungle blurred around him as he pushed himself to move faster, his senses sharp and alert.
After minutes of relentless running, he emerged from the dense forest into an open field. The transition from shadowy jungle to sunlit grassland was jarring. In the distance, nestled at the base of the mountain, he spotted a small village.
Jordan gets very surprised seeing this scene and he stands at one place and watches this scene carefully.
"I've lived near these mountains for years," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. "How did I not know there was a village here?"
Jordan thought that there was no human being within miles of where he was living, but after seeing this village and this Grassland, he was very surprised and started thinking that why there are so many monsters.
Jordan thought that there was no human being around the place where he was living, but after seeing this village and this grassland, he was very surprised and started thinking, how did such a village get settled where so many monsters exist and how are humans able to live here?
Before he could ponder further, the storm clouds above dissipated as suddenly as they had formed, leaving the sky clear and calm. Jordan closed his eyes, focusing on the lingering traces of mana in the air.
"It's faint now," he murmured, "but there's no doubt about it. Whoever cast that spell is nearby."
He moved cautiously, following the trail of mana as it led him closer to the village. Crossing a shallow river with a graceful leap, he landed on the opposite bank and continued toward an open grassy area.
There, under the shade of a solitary tree, a group of children sat talking and laughing. Among them were Adam, Eric, Yami, Sophia, and George, their faces glowing with youthful joy.
Jordan froze, his eyes locking onto Adam. A strange sensation rippled through him—faint but unmistakable. The boy exuded a quiet yet powerful mana, a presence unlike anything Jordan had felt in years.
"This child," Jordan whispered, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Why does he feel so different?"
He stood there for a moment, torn between disbelief and curiosity.
The children's laughter carried on the breeze, oblivious to the watchful figure hidden at the edge of the clearing. Jordan knew one thing for certain—he would have to keep a close eye on this boy.
With that thought, he stepped back into the shadows, his mind already racing with possibilities as the chapter concluded.
Jordan moved silently through the village, keeping his presence completely concealed.
His steps were deliberate, his movements blending seamlessly with the surroundings. In his hand, he clutched a glowing stone—a tool he used to mask himself from detection.
After a moment, he slipped the stone into his pocket, its faint glow vanishing instantly, and continued to follow Adam and the children from a safe distance.
As he advanced deeper into the village, he observed Adam and his friends speaking with a local villager.
Jordan's sharp eyes scanned their faces and body language, noting every detail. Moving with practiced precision, he climbed onto the wooden roof of a nearby house.
Crouching low, he positioned himself to have a clear view of the group below.
From his vantage point, Jordan's keen senses caught something unusual. He noticed subtle bursts of energy emanating from beneath Adam's feet.
The pulses rippled outward, faint and nearly imperceptible to the untrained eye. His experienced gaze locked onto Adam.
Jordan has seen this type of energy before when he fought a magician in Pest and he understands what type of spell it is.
Jordan has seen this type of energy before when he fought a magician in Past, and he understands what type of spell it is.
"Is he using a spell?" Jordan whispered to himself, his tone a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. "He hasn't spoken a single incantation or performed the standard gestures. How is this possible?"
He knows how spell casting is done because he has fought with magicians for many years, so he knows many details about magicians and their spell casting
He knows how spell casting is done because he has fought with magicians for many years so he knows many details about magicians and their spell casting.
His mind raced as he continued to observe. Adam's movements seemed casual, as though he was entirely unaware of the magical energy emanating from him. Jordan frowned. "No ordinary person can cast a spell without vocalizing or focusing mana consciously. This boy is… different."
Jordan followed Adam discreetly, watching every step the boy took. The faint energy pulses continued, spreading from Adam's feet with each movement.
The other villagers remained oblivious to the phenomenon, but Jordan's trained senses allowed him to perceive what others could not.
After some time, Adam and his friends parted ways. Jordan trailed Adam alone as the boy walked toward his home. As Adam entered the house, Jordan moved back, staying hidden in the shadows.
Minutes later, Adam emerged from the house, his expression visibly frustrated. He carried a small lunch box in his hands, though Jordan couldn't discern its contents from his distance.
"He's upset," Jordan muttered, narrowing his eyes. "What's troubling him?"
Maintaining his invisibility, Jordan resumed his pursuit. Adam's steps led him to a nearby field, where he sat beneath a large tree.
The golden light of the setting sun bathed the area in a warm glow, casting long shadows across the ground.
Adam appeared deep in thought as he leaned against the tree. A farmer, likely from the village, approached and sat beside him. Jordan crouched a short distance away, ensuring he remained hidden as he continued to observe.
From his concealed position, Jordan detected another spike in magical energy. His sharp senses immediately honed in on Adam. A faint glow began to form at the center of Adam's forehead, a clear sign of magic activation.
Jordan's eyes widened. "He's casting another spell," he whispered, his tone now tinged with amazement. "But again, there's no chant, no preparation… How is he doing this?"
Jordan is very surprised when he sees that Adam has cast a very advanced level magical spell and there are very few magicians in this world who can cast such a magical spell.
As the glow intensified, Jordan's mind raced to identify the type of spell Adam was using. The energy emanating from the boy was unlike anything he had encountered before, even among highly skilled magicians.
"He doesn't even appear to be focusing," Jordan thought. "Yet this energy… it's strong. Far too strong for a child."
Suddenly, Adam's body stiffened. The glow at his forehead faded, and he collapsed forward, his breathing ragged. A thin stream of blood trickled from his nose, staining the ground beneath him.
Jordan's expression shifted from amazement to concern. "Mana exhaustion," he muttered. "He's pushed himself too far."
He considered stepping forward to help but decided against it, choosing instead to remain hidden. "I can't let him see me yet," he reasoned.
Jordan's thoughts churned as he pieced together what he had witnessed. "How does this boy have such incredible power? And why does he cast spells so differently? There's something about him…"
His gaze lingered on Adam's unconscious form. The farmer who had been sitting nearby rushed to check on the boy, panic evident on his face. Jordan watched the scene unfold, his mind grappling with questions he couldn't yet answer.
"This boy is no ordinary child," Jordan concluded. "But if he truly is a Chosen One, how can that be? There was already a Chosen One not long ago. How could another exist so soon?"
The uncertainty gnawed at him, fueling his determination to uncover the truth. Jordan quietly retreated from the field, leaving Adam and the farmer behind.
Under the cover of twilight, Jordan made his way to the edge of the forest. There, he found a large tree with thick branches and set up a temporary shelter among its limbs.
Using branches and leaves, he constructed a small hidden platform, ensuring it was well-camouflaged from both animals and humans.
As he settled in, his thoughts returned to Adam. The boy's unique abilities and his connection to mana intrigued Jordan deeply.
"I need to keep a close watch on him," Jordan resolved. "Whatever secrets he holds, they might explain everything."
Despite the pressing questions weighing on his mind, Jordan allowed himself a brief moment of rest.
Tomorrow, he would return to the village and observe Adam again. One way or another, he would uncover the truth about this extraordinary child.
With that thought, Jordan leaned back against the tree trunk, his eyes scanning the darkened forest as the chapter concluded.