Author Notes:
"I have decided to provide a bonus chapter today as a thank you to [DaoistcnP8My] and [sloZz], who became the first to support me through Power Stones.
Your support means a lot, and I truly appreciate it! It would be amazing if you continue supporting me like thisâit motivates me to keep writing and bringing you more exciting chapters. đâ¨"
***
Ash decided it was best not to return to the inn. With his appearance so drastically altered, no one would recognize him now. He looked like a completely different person.
He bought a knife, cut his hair to a much shorter length, and once he was satisfied, he pulled out a mask and secured it firmly in place.
Afterward, he drew Shadow Cutter, his trusted weapon, and ventured deeper into the forest in search of the elven swordsman.
As he walked, he tried to match the landscape around him to the descriptions from the novel, trying to pinpoint a familiar spot.
Just as doubt crept in, he remembered something crucialâhe had two chances to create a skill. One would be used now, and the other saved for the future.
The concept of controlling runes was still foreign to most, including the protagonist and even the demon king.
But Ash had read the novel and learned the potential of the runes. Now, with his own set of runes, he had an opportunity to try something new.
With both the Rune of Stability and the Rune of Balance coursing through his body, he wondered: Could he combine them into a single skill? A skill that would allow him to control the runes and perform feats beyond the impossible. This was his chance to experiment. Without wasting time, he began the skill creation process.
'Skill Creation'
[Which skill does the host want to create?]
'A passive skill using the Rune of Stability and Rune of Balance as a base to perform movements: acrobatics, flawless maneuvers through rough terrain, and even combat techniquesâall without losing balance. I should be able to balance on a single finger and execute complex moves effortlessly.'
[Initializing...]
[Initializing...]
The runes seemed to respond to his desire, their energy coiling and swirling in the air around him. The Rune of Stability pulsed with steady power, while the Rune of Balance flickered, vibrating with potential.
Together, they resonated, their energies intertwining to form something new. Ash could feel the runes assisting with their authority, guiding the process.
A surge of energy flowed through him as the runes pushed their limits, crafting the skill with their combined strength.
{ Skill Creation Successful }
[Harmonic Convergence]-(Passive)
Description: A passive skill that fuses the primal energies of the Rune of Stability and the Rune of Balance, granting the user unparalleled mastery over both their body and the environment. Harmonic Convergence enables flawless movement, allowing the user to traverse even the most treacherous terrain with effortless grace.
***
Ash burst into laughter, a sound so wild that it seemed to echo through the forest. His grin stretched wide, fueled by the thrill of his newly acquired skillâHarmonic Convergence. He had just fused the power of ancient Runes to create something spectacular, and the feeling was electrifying.
This skill didn't just give him control over the terrainâit made every movement an expression of effortless grace. He could dodge attacks, perform complex stunts, and move with such fluidity that it felt like he was defying the laws of motion. It was beyond anything he'd ever imagined.
Not wasting a moment, Ash willed his mana to flow through his body. Thanks to his growing mastery in mana manipulation, now at level 4, his body responded instantly. His legs, chest, shoulders, and eyes all pulsed with energy.
It was no longer the clumsy use of mana from his earlier daysâhe was a beginner, yes, but his control was beginning to feel almost seamless. His body now moved with an effortless rhythm, as if his every step was choreographed by the very energy flowing within him.
Running through the forest, he felt lighter, like a shadow darting between the trees. His mana-enhanced movements gave him a new perspective on the world around him.
He wasn't so fast that everything around him turned into a blur, but each step felt deliberate and graceful, like he was dancing across the landscape. Ash jumped from rock to rock, tree to tree, and for a moment, it felt like the forest was his playground.
He didn't have any grand planâhe was simply running, his mind lost in the thrill of his new abilities. It wasn't long before he realized he had wandered far off course. He wasn't following any particular destination; he was just running wherever the wind took him.
And yet, by chance, the path led him straight to a location mentioned in the novelâthe very place he had hoped to find.
When his mana began to dwindle, Ash slowed to a stop, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. Taking a water flask from his bag, he took a long gulp.
He had been so caught up in his newfound power that he'd almost forgotten his purpose for entering the forest. But then, as he looked up, the sight before him made him forget everything else.
There it wasâa majestic waterfall, its waters cascading down in shimmering silver ribbons. The twin moons above cast their light across the scene, bathing the world in a surreal, ethereal glow.
The larger moon bathed the waterfall in soft silver, its light transforming the water into a curtain of sparkling gems. Each droplet shimmered as it fell, leaving behind a trail of light that seemed to slow the flow of time itself.
But there was more. The smaller moon, with its fiery crimson hue, added a fierce contrast to the serene scene. Its light kissed the edges of the waterfall, painting them with a deep ruby-red glow. The two moons seemed to be engaged in an ancient, silent conversation, their light merging to make the waterfall feel aliveâpowerful, yet graceful.
Ash stood there, wide-eyed, captivated by the beauty before him. The water pooled at the base of the waterfall, reflecting the twin moons above with perfect clarity. The entire scene felt timeless, as though it existed in a world apart from his own.
Behind the waterfall, a massive tree stood like a silent guardian, its roots deep in the earth and its branches stretching toward the sky. Its bark shimmered with a silver sheen, and its leaves, bathed in moonlight, glowed faintly green. This was no ordinary tree; it was alive with magic, home to the elven swordsman, who was surely nearby.
A sense of peace washed over him, but it was more than thatâthere was an energy here, ancient and powerful. The mountains surrounding him felt alive with a hum of magic, and Ash knew deep down that this was a place filled with Nature's mana just like the world tree
But as Ash was about to move toward the mountains, a sudden voice cut through the peaceful stillness, pulling him out of his reverie.
"Ahem."
The old man's voice was raspy, like a branch snapping in the quiet forest. Ash froze, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't noticed anyone nearby.
He turned, only to find an old man standing before himâhis sudden appearance as baffling as the silence that had surrounded him. The old man's long robes fluttered slightly in the wind, his weathered face almost blending with the shadows of the forest, his eyes sharp and knowing.
"Who are you?" the old man asked, his voice a strange mixture of curiosity and authority.
Ash froze, his gaze locked onto the figure before him. How had the man gotten so close without him noticing? It was a stark reminder of the gap between a seasoned veteran and a mere novice.
The old elf stood tall, his presence both calm and commanding. Despite being 150 years oldâancient by human standardsâhis face bore no wrinkles, a testament to the elves' lengthy lifespans.
Dressed in simple clothing layered with a green robe, his short light-green hair contrasted with Ash's own. He had a muscular build, unusual for an elf. Perhaps, Ash mused, the man had focused on physical strength after losing his magic.
To Ash's young eyes, the elf still looked oldâwell, relatively. At six years old, anyone over twenty seemed ancient. Yet the elf's lean, powerful frame and barely graying hair defied his true age.
'Alright, here goes nothing,' Ash thought, steeling himself. He took a deep breath, bent into a sharp 90-degree bow, and spoke with as much conviction as his small frame could muster.
"I am Ray Dawson," he said firmly, his voice steady despite his nerves. "I'm here to ask you to take me in as your disciple and teach me how to fight as a swordsman."
***