Following Instructor Tora's advice, the cadets wasted no time in starting their search for the medicinal herbs. They moved cautiously through the forest, wary of the animals that roamed the mountain. Isaki, however, decided to take a different approach. Rather than rushing to gather the herbs, he continued along the winding path, heading deeper into the forest and ascending higher up the mountain. The climb was long, and his body began to tire, but eventually, he found a small clearing that seemed perfect for setting up camp.

After pitching his tent and preparing a simple meal, the sun dipped below the horizon, and the forest around him was quickly swallowed by the shadows of night. Isaki could feel the cold creeping in, but he wasn't worried. His ability to sense Aura gave him confidence that no immediate threat was nearby. The forest felt calm, the faint hum of life swirling around him, but none of it hostile. With that assurance, Isaki decided to rest for the night, saving his energy for the days ahead.

As the first light of dawn filtered through the canopy of blue and green leaves, Isaki packed up his camp and resumed his journey up the mountain. The higher he climbed, the more captivated he became by the strange beauty of the forest. The leaves, shimmering with hues of blue and green, gave the place an almost mystical atmosphere. It was unlike any place he had ever seen. He breathed in the cold, crisp air, his senses sharp as he began searching for the herbs on his list.

There were three herbs he needed to collect: the Bayna, a light-colored plant known to counteract snake venom; the Talisco, a small plant with yellow berries used to treat paralysis; and the Medis, a rare flower with purple petals that helped restore energy and reduce fatigue.

Isaki moved carefully through the forest, his eyes scanning the ground and undergrowth for any sign of the herbs. As the air grew colder, he suddenly sensed a shift in the Aura around him. He stopped, looking ahead, and there, standing proudly in the middle of the path, was a stag.

The creature was majestic, its body illuminated by the soft morning light. But there was something off about it. As Isaki drew closer, he noticed the strange, unsettling detail—it had two additional eyes on either side of its face. The extra eyes were closed at first, but as Isaki approached, they opened, glowing with an eerie light.

- I have to be careful.

Isaki's heart quickened. He had never heard of a stag with four eyes. The Aura coming from it was strong, and he immediately realized this was no ordinary animal. Without warning, the stag opened its mouth, revealing sharp, blade-like teeth. Its once graceful demeanor transformed into something feral and dangerous.

In an instant, the stag lunged at him, its jaws snapping, ready to tear him apart. But Isaki was faster. He dodged the attack with ease, his instincts honed from years of training. Drawing his sword, he called upon the first move of the Lunar Blade, a technique he had perfected during his time at the academy.

With one swift, clean strike, Isaki slashed through the air, and the stag's head separated from its body in a smooth arc. The creature fell to the ground. Isaki stood over the body, barely breaking a sweat. His skill with the Lunar Blade had grown to the point where such an opponent posed little challenge.

- I can finally use the first move of the lunar blade without difficulty.

Kneeling beside the carcass, he quickly skinned the stag, securing the hide before continuing his search for the herbs. Not long after, he spotted the Bayna growing near a cluster of rocks. He picked a handful of the light-colored leaves, tucking them into his pouch before moving onward.

Elsewhere on the mountain, the other cadets were making progress as well. Some had already gathered two of the three herbs, while others had managed to secure the hides of two animals. Balko and Jenia had each collected only the Bayna and a deer hide, while Riku had defeated a wild boar with a strong Aura and found the Talisco plant in the process.

Two days passed without incident. Isaki, determined to complete his task, continued to climb higher up the mountain. The air grew colder with each step, and the dense forest seemed to thicken around him. Finally, after hours of searching, he stumbled upon the Talisco plant, its small yellow berries hidden among the thick underbrush. As he bent down to collect it, he suddenly felt a strange presence nearby.

But when he looked around, there was nothing—only the quiet of the forest.

That was when a butterfly landed gently on his hand. It was unlike any butterfly he had ever seen—its wings were a vibrant shade of purple, shimmering in the pale light. Isaki's first instinct was to sense for any malicious intent, but he felt none. The butterfly's Aura was calm, almost guiding. It flitted off his hand, hovering in the air before slowly drifting ahead, as if beckoning him to follow.

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Curiosity piqued, Isaki followed the butterfly deeper into the forest. It led him through a series of twisting paths until finally, they arrived at the entrance of a dark cave, half-hidden beneath the roots of an ancient tree. The butterfly fluttered inside, its glowing wings fading into the darkness.

Taking a deep breath, Isaki stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and began to descend into the cave.

As Isaki ventured deeper into the cave, his eyes widened in astonishment. What lay before him was nothing short of magical. Hundreds of butterflies of different colors filled the cavern, their wings glowing softly, casting a warm, ethereal light throughout the space. Beneath them, a large, crystalline pool of water shimmered, surrounded by the towering stone walls of the cave. The butterflies danced above the water, their vibrant hues reflecting off its surface, creating an enchanting display of light.

Isaki descended cautiously, his footsteps echoing softly as he made his way down the stone path toward the crater-like pool. His gaze shifted to the flowers growing near the edge of the water. Most of them were wilted, their once-brilliant blue petals now dull and lifeless. Only two remained in full bloom, their bright blue petals swaying gently in the cold cave air. These were no ordinary flowers—they radiated a soft light, and Isaki could feel their importance just by being near them.

As he knelt to gather the flowers, his hand hovering over one of the vibrant blooms, a sudden sound broke the silence—a faint, eerie hiss echoed from the shadows of the cave. Isaki's entire body tensed. Slowly, he raised his eyes, scanning the cavern. Then he saw it.

- What is that ?

Emerging from the darkness, a massive snake, easily twenty meters in length, slithered into view. Its scales glistened like polished obsidian, and its eyes, two piercing slits of yellow, locked onto him. The sheer size of the creature made the air around Isaki feel heavy, oppressive. Yet, strangely, Isaki couldn't sense any Aura coming from the serpent.

Was it because this snake was just an ordinary creature? Or was its Aura so powerful that it was beyond his ability to perceive? Isaki wasn't sure, but he knew one thing: this creature was dangerous.

Gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, Isaki slowly rose to his feet, every muscle in his body ready for battle. The snake stared down at him from its elevated position, its massive head towering above the crater. For a moment, it was still, as if studying him. Then, without warning, the serpent lunged, its jaws wide open, revealing long, sharp fangs dripping with purple venom.

Isaki leaped to the side, barely dodging the creature's attack. The serpent's fangs struck the ground where he had been standing, splattering the stone with venom that hissed and sizzled upon contact. - That venom... it's lethal, Isaki thought, quickly realizing he had to avoid even the slightest touch of it.

The snake coiled itself, preparing for another strike. Isaki knew he had to stay on the move, using his agility to keep his distance. But this was no easy fight. The serpent's sheer size and speed made it difficult to get close enough for an effective strike. Each time Isaki tried to advance, the serpent's head darted forward, forcing him back. It was relentless, its massive tail sweeping across the floor of the cave, narrowly missing him multiple times.

Finally, the inevitable happened. As Isaki attempted to strike from the side, the serpent's tail lashed out, catching him off guard. The force of the blow sent him crashing into the cavern wall, and in that moment of distraction, the snake struck. Isaki felt a sharp pain as the serpent's fang grazed his arm, injecting a small amount of venom.

Almost instantly, his vision blurred. The world around him seemed to spin, and his legs weakened.- Damn it, he thought, staggering backward, his breathing heavy. He could feel the venom coursing through his veins, its toxic effects rapidly taking hold. But he wasn't finished yet. Reaching into his pouch, Isaki quickly pulled out the Bayna leaves he had gathered earlier. Without hesitation, he chewed the bitter plant, the taste unpleasant but necessary.

Moments later, the effects of the Bayna took hold, slowing the venom's spread and restoring some of his clarity. Isaki steadied himself, but the serpent wasn't going to give him time to recover. It lunged again, faster this time, its jaws snapping inches from his face.

Narrowly dodging, Isaki knew he needed a new strategy. He couldn't win in a prolonged battle. The snake was too fast and too strong. His eyes scanned the cave, and an idea formed. High up on the cavern walls, there was a ledge—if he could get up there, he might have a chance to launch a decisive strike.

Dodging another venomous strike, Isaki sprinted towards the wall, his boots skidding on the rocky ground. He leapt upward, grabbing hold of a jutting rock and climbing swiftly as the serpent coiled below, watching him with those unblinking yellow eyes.

Reaching the top of the ledge, Isaki stood above the serpent, looking down at its massive form. The creature raised its head, hissing menacingly, its body writhing in anticipation. This was his chance. Taking a deep breath, Isaki drew his sword, focusing all his strength into a single strike. He steadied his mind, calling upon the second move of the Lunar Blade.

The serpent lunged one final time, its jaws wide, but Isaki was ready. He leapt from the ledge, descending through the air like a shadow. His blade gleamed in the light of the butterflies as he plunged it downward, aiming for the creature's head. With perfect precision, his sword pierced the serpent's skull, driving deep into its brain.

The impact was brutal, the serpent's massive body convulsing in its death throes. Isaki held on to the hilt of his sword as the snake writhed beneath him, then finally collapsed, its body slumping to the ground in a heavy thud. He had done it.

But the victory came at a cost. As soon as the serpent fell, Isaki's body gave out. The venom had weakened him more than he had realized, and now, after the intense battle, he had no energy left. His vision blurred once more as he fell to his knees, his breath ragged.

Exhausted and drained, Isaki collapsed onto the cold stone floor of the cave, his sword still embedded in the serpent's head. The last thing he saw before his eyes closed were the glowing butterflies, still fluttering peacefully above the pool of water.

And then, darkness.