The dawn greeted James and his companions with a pastel sky, the sun casting a soft glow over the dense, verdant expanse of the Everglades. As they stepped out of the resort, the air hung heavy with moisture, the symphony of wildlife calls echoing around them a powerful contrast to the silence of their abandoned shelter.
Mr. Julian led them on a path that wound through the marshes and mangroves, his steps confident and sure. "The Everglades," he began, his voice magically reaching them over the morning chorus of birds and insects, "is a unique ecosystem, not just in terms of biodiversity, but also in its mana distribution."
He paused to let them absorb the beauty around them - the light filtering through the canopy, the water's surface mirroring the sky, and the vibrant hues of green that stretched as far as the eye could see.
"This reserve," he continued, "is essentially a vast dungeon, or more accurately, a network of interconnected dungeons. The mana here forms a singular cloud, enveloping the entire area, but there are pockets of varying density within it."
Lauren looked around, trying to sense the mana he described, but evidently found it elusive and huffed in annoyance. James, however, with his sensing abilities, could feel the subtle shifts in the power currents, a gentle ebb and flow that danced on the edge of his perception.
There is a weird feeling that I couldn't explain. There must be several points where mana congregates around here, not just one like in regular dungeons. I wonder what it is that makes this place so different.
As they ventured deeper, Mr. Julian led them to a clearing where the water expanded into a wider basin. There, they witnessed a spectacle that defied description. A massive Anaconda, its size rivaling that of a Blue Whale, moved languidly through the water, its scales shimmering with a faint magical sheen. Surrounding it, a flock of flamingos stood in the shallows, their feathers alight with tiny flames, yet the snake paid them no mind.
"The mana's unique distribution here allows for such anomalies," Mr. Julian explained, watching their awe-struck faces. "Creatures of vastly different strengths coexist more harmoniously than they would in a typical dungeon. The dense mana pockets empower the weaker, while the more powerful must navigate areas of diluted mana, needing to conserve their strength and thus balancing the ecosystem in an unusual way."
James and Lauren watched silently as the Anaconda drifted away, disappearing into the thicker reeds, leaving only ripples in its wake. The flamingos, unbothered by the giant's passage, continued to sift through the water, their flames undiminished by the moisture.
"This imbalance," Mr. Julian continued as they resumed their walk, "makes the Everglades an ideal training ground. You'll find challenges here unlike any other place. Some monsters you encounter that would regularly kill you on the spot might be weaker than expected, their strength diminished by the mana's spread. Others, normally manageable, might surprise you with enhanced abilities."
Lauren asked curiously. "Doesn't that make it more dangerous, not knowing how strong an opponent might actually be?"
"In a way, yes," Mr. Julian conceded, scanning the path ahead. "But it also teaches you to be prepared for anything, to assess and adapt quickly. That's an invaluable skill for an Awakener, despite most being focused on just earning more levels."
For someone at the pinnacle like him, our obsession with leveling up must look like pure inexperience. To think so, he must not have felt the cold bite of powerlessness for a long time.
Despite James's uncharitable thoughts, the lesson the old man was trying to impart was clear: the Everglades, with their beauty and danger, reflected the situations they were preparing to face. In a world where strength could be deceptive, survival depended on more than brute force.
As they ventured further, the environment around them shifted subtly. The trees grew denser, their roots sprawling into the water, creating intricate patterns of life and decay. Large birds of vibrant colors flitted through the branches, their calls adding to the cacophony of sounds that filled the air.
Mr. Julian pointed out various plants along the way, each with its own adaptation to the mana-rich environment. Flowers that glowed with soft light, ferns that shimmered with a metallic sheen, and moss that sparkled with dewdrops, each droplet encapsulating a tiny rainbow. "That one," the old man said, pointing to the moss, "can kill you if you touch it. Better to avoid going anywhere near it because the spores it releases are so toxic I don't know if I could save you in time even with an elixir."
James made sure to impress the moss’ appearance in his memory. He gave it a wide berth, having no intention of tempting fate.
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"The Everglades are a reminder," Mr. Julian said, pausing to let a family of E-rank otters cross their path, their fur glistening with moisture, "of the world's resilience and adaptability. Just as these creatures have evolved to thrive in this mana-infused landscape, so must we adapt to the changing realities of our existence."
The lesson was abruptly interrupted by a sensation that prickled at the back of James's mind. A hostile presence, subtle but unmistakable, began to close in on them, moving with impressive stealth. James tensed, his psychic senses flaring out to gauge the threat. He was about to alert Mr. Julian when the older man raised a hand for silence, a knowing smile on his face.
Moments later, the tranquility of their surroundings was shattered as a massive iguana-looking monster burst from the waters. Its scales were a dark, mottled green that shimmered with an inner light, and its mouth was a horror show of hundreds of serrated teeth. The creature launched at Mr. Julian with a speed that belied its size, aiming to take a chunk out of the man who stood in its path.
James braced for the impact, his mind racing to predict the fallout of this encounter. Despite the iguana's intimidating appearance, he sensed its strength hovered around D-rank - a formidable opponent for him and Lauren but hardly a match for Mr. Julian. True to his expectations, the old man didn't flinch. Instead, with a nonchalance that spoke of his vast experience, he simply smacked the iguana out of the air. The monster rapidly collided with a tree twenty feet away, leaving it dazed and injured but still alive.
Mr. Julian stepped back, turning to face James and Lauren with an expression that was equal parts challenge and expectation. "Now, it's your turn. Deal with it."
The surprise of his command barely had time to register before the two young Awakeners sprang into action. James extended his telekinetic abilities to keep the iguana at bay, creating invisible barriers to thwart its attempts to charge. Meanwhile, Lauren conjured spears of darkness, hurling them with lethal precision. The iguana, however, proved more resilient than their usual foes. The first spears inflicted damage, finding purchase in its belly, but the creature's sheer vitality meant it was far from defeated as the wounds were shallow.
The second volley of spears clanged against its magical scales, sparks jumping wherever they hit. The iguana screeched its anger, refocusing its attention on the new enemies. It charged forward, bashing against the barriers, easily breaking through, and closing the distance rapidly.
With a mental heave, James pushed back.
The iguana was sent flying, the crunch of bones resounding clearly. It rolled to a stop, and for a moment, James hoped it would stay down, but that was dashed as it picked itself up with little trouble. The monster gingerly tested its left anterior leg, finding it weakened but still strong enough to hold its weight, and shook its whole body, cracking and popping.
It took James a moment, but he realized that the creature was already healing from the injuries they had inflicted. It seemed like it was possessed of a fantastic regeneration beyond its horrifying appearance, powerful bite, and ridiculous resilience.
Realizing physical attacks alone wouldn't suffice, James switched tactics. He focused his psychic energy, weaving it into a more direct assault on the iguana's mind. It was a technique he seldom used, preferring the mana efficiency of his telekinesis. Still, the situation demanded it, and he had the energy to spare, thanks to his new Title.
The mental attack slammed into the unprotected creature with great force and immediately bore fruit, sowing confusion and pain within the monster, slowing its movements and dulling its aggressive instincts.
Lauren capitalized on the opening, her dark spears becoming more targeted, aiming for the weakened spots in the iguana's scales where Mr. Julian had struck it. She crafted spinning arrows of darkness, thanks to the time his attack afforded her, and cast them with glee. This time, she was more successful. Three arrows impaled the iguana, disappearing soon after and leaving freely bleeding wounds.
The iguana let out a roar of pain, which reverberated through the dense foliage, causing a momentary silence in the Everglades' usual cacophony. It turned its baleful gaze toward Lauren, recognizing her as the more immediate threat, but James quickly intervened, using his telekinesis to lift it slightly off the ground, rendering its charge ineffective.
Despite its strength, the iguana was clearly struggling against the combined might of James's psychic powers and Lauren's shadow magic. Yet, its resilience was astounding. The flesh around its wounds bubbled and hissed as it used its significant mana reserves, knitting flesh and bone back together with a speed that was visible to the naked eye.
James and Lauren realized that this was not a battle they could win through attrition. The creature's regenerative abilities, fueled by the dense mana James could feel within it, made it nearly invulnerable to sustained attacks. They needed to end the fight quickly.
Understanding the necessity of a decisive blow, Lauren concentrated her energy, her hands glowing with an intensity that had James momentarily worried about her well-being. She formed a single, massive spear, larger and more solid than any she had conjured before, and hurled it with all her might.
The spear struck true, embedding itself deep in the iguana's side. For a moment, it seemed as though even this would not be enough, but then James amplified the attack with a psychic push, driving the spear even deeper, targeting the monster's core where its mana was most concentrated.
The iguana's regeneration faltered, its body convulsing as the combined forces overwhelmed it. Seeing an opening, James intensified his mental assault, delving deeper into the iguana's mind, seeking to crush its will to fight.
The effort was significant, taxing even for James's expanded reserves, but he could feel the creature's resistance waning. With one final, concerted effort, he unleashed a psychic spear in a mental surge that left him gasping for breath.
The iguana finally went limp, its life force extinguished by the relentless assault. As it collapsed, its body finally stopped regenerating, leaving the gaping wound in its side open. It bled out shortly after.
James and Lauren shared a high five in triumph. They had defeated a monster a whole rank above them. “Fuck yeah!” The rogue yelled.
And I got a level out of it. It isn't a lot, but with the old monster's presence so close to us and the fact that he injured the iguana first, it's more than I would have expected. I’m getting very close to level 200.
Mr. Julian clapped in approval. "Impressive," he said, his voice carrying a note of genuine respect. "You've both grown stronger since I’ve last seen you. This will serve you well in the days to come." Then he continued, bringing them back to reality. "Forget about the stone. You'll find many better ones soon enough if you survive." It was a reminder that their training was far from over, and greater challenges lay ahead.
James and Lauren, their energy spent, could only nod in understanding. They had survived their first real test in the Everglades, but the old man's words left them more than a bit worried about what was to come.
As they followed Mr. Julian into the depths of the swamp, James couldn't help but smile. It would be a grueling month, which was inevitable given how it started, but the results would be worth it.