The following day unfolded like a mirror image of the previous one, as Mava continued to push Leo to his limits, boiling water until he teetered on the brink of exhaustion. Grace, on the other hand, arrived earlier than usual. While she granted him brief reprieves during his grueling exercises, there was no respite from the relentless training.

Amidst an exercise meant to enhance his durability, Grace abruptly halted him. “Is that object next to your bed a sword?” she asked, her voice cutting through his strained breaths.

Leo struggled to muster a deep, strained “yes” as he maintained his strenuous position. Grace made her way to his hut and spent close to ten minutes examining the sword. When she emerged, she remarked, “It’s a very fine sword. Who gave it to you?”

Leo explained that it was a gift from a friend but chose to remain silent about his past.

“Enough durability training for today,” Grace declared. “Retrieve the sword and practice your swordsmanship. If you can master that heavy sword by the end of the month, I’ll take you on a monster hunt.”

Her words piqued Leo’s interest; the prospect of battling monsters instead of endlessly swinging his sword was a welcome change. He hastily retrieved the stone sword and began practicing, but his initial hope of achieving mastery quickly dissipated as he struggled to control the sword’s movements. Despite his persistent efforts, he eventually set the sword aside and headed to the dining hall.

As Leo walked along the dirt road, he noticed movement further ahead, immediately raising his guard. He continued forward cautiously, prepared for a possible ambush. Upon reaching the spot where he had seen movement, he encountered black bloodstains splattered across the surroundings. The trail of blood allowed him to discern its direction, and he decided that it was imperative to eliminate any potential threats near their military base. He began following the bloodstains.

Navigating through the forest proved challenging as dense vegetation obstructed his path. After persevering for over twenty minutes, he contemplated turning back. However, just as he was about to give up, he stumbled upon a clearing. In the center of the clearing, he found a massive hole resembling a gigantic rabbit burrow with a two-meter diameter, leading diagonally into the dark depths beneath the planet’s surface. It was evident that the creature he had been tracking had entered the hole.

His first thought was whether he should discuss this discovery with the other soldiers before venturing further. Yet, he weighed the odds and determined he was able to handle a weak wounded monster so he went inside.

The first ten meters were shrouded in darkness, but soon, faint, eerie blue lights began to illuminate the muddy walls. These dim blue orbs barely provided enough visibility, but Leo pressed on, the lingering scent of blood still thick in the air. His footsteps echoed eerily in the tunnel.

Suddenly, a deafening growl shattered his concentration. Further down the tunnel, a colossal beast blocked his path. A chill ran down his spine as he realized the creature was larger than him, a wolf-like beast known for their ferocious attack powers.

Their eye contact remained unbroken, and then the beast let out a deep growl. Leo stood there, weaponless, praying that it wouldn’t pounce on him. But the monster’s mouth opened, and it charged forward with startling speed. Leo dove beneath the creature, narrowly avoiding certain death. Now, they had swapped positions, and the tunnel exit was blocked.

Every instinct screamed at Leo to run, but he knew that fleeing would lead to his demise. Summoning every ounce of courage, the creature opened its mouth again, ready to strike. However, this time, Leo was prepared. He sidestepped its deadly charge with the grace of a seasoned dancer, narrowly avoiding the lethal assault.

As the creature sailed past him, Leo’s outstretched hand brushed against its fur, and a rush of mana surged into his very being, like a torrent of liquid starlight. His only chance of survival lay in finding a suitable weapon and defeating this formidable foe.

Searching his surroundings, Leo spotted the only possible “weapon” within reach—a dried-out tree root sticking out of the muddy wall beside him. He pulled out the stick and got into his attack pose. “Truly a formidable sword, isn’t it?” he muttered to himself.

Leo prepared to strike as the beast realized he was trying to attack. It tried to turn around and attack him, but fortunately, the wound on its side hampered its movements. Leo started to gather mana in his muscles, a feat only possible because he already possessed both mana and neva. After fully absorbing everything he could, Leo charged forward with otherworldly agility.

The moment he was within reach to launch an attack, the beast successfully turned around. Leo could feel strength gathering in the tip of his so-called sword. When it touched the wolf’s skin, it surged forth as a coruscating, radiant beam of energy, ethereal and graceful. The wolf howled in agony as the mana struck its eyes, a searing, blinding light that disrupted not just its vision but its very essence. Blood spurted from its eye sockets, and the furious beast flung him away with a forceful swipe of its paw. Leo landed on his knees, the impact feeling like hell.

Struggling to his feet, his body and mind now attuned to the mana coursing through him, Leo faced the wolf, writhing in agony. It couldn’t fathom the transformation that had overtaken him. It didn’t afford him any time to recover and launched another attack. Leo managed to block its biting assault with excellent reflexes, but it was a mere feint to conceal a vicious kick from its powerful hind leg.

The blow struck Leo’s core, sending him crashing into the tunnel wall. His consciousness began slipping away, and all he wanted was a moment’s rest. His body ached from the relentless exercises, and blood pooled around him.

“This is the end, isn’t it?” he thought, despair welling up within him. Was he to die without putting up a good fight? No, he couldn’t allow this monster to live after what it had done to him. Leo still had one chance to take it down, even if it meant facing an unimaginably painful death. He had one trick up his sleeve: gathering all the mana he had stored deep within his heart, he channeled it into his two arms and legs, the magic swirling around him like a tempestuous storm. Slowly, he stood up, his eyes alight with a fierce golden light that mirrored the very mana that now coursed through him.

The beast charged at him for the third and final time, its jaws gaping wide in a vicious assault. As the creature’s maw approached, Leo grabbed both sides of its teeth, his hands now infused with an overwhelming amount of mana.

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With a roar that echoed with the fury of a wild beast, he unleashed a torrent of mana into the creature’s maw.

The mana-infused energy surged through the wolf’s body, shattering its very soul. The once-menacing maw fell to the ground, lifeless, and the beast collapsed to the ground, defeated by the overwhelming power of Leo’s final efforts.

Leo stood there, victorious in his own right, though the term hardly fit the situation. “Victorious,” Leo muttered aloud, his chest burning with pain and his body pulsating with mana. He fell to the ground, his vision blurred by the intensity of the battle, and his consciousness slowly slipping away.

“Is he awake?” a weak, distant male voice echoed through the cavernous tunnel. It gradually grew closer and more familiar, tinged with genuine concern. “Hello, Leo, can you hear me?”

“Leo!” Leo woke up, groggy and disoriented, his vision swimming as he opened his eyes. Hovering over him were both Mava and Grace, their faces etched with a mixture of relief and worry. “Ah, you’re awake, finally,” Grace exclaimed. “You were out for half a day, or should I say the entire night. Do you feel pain anywhere?”

With pain coursing through his body, Leo managed to respond, his voice weak and raspy, “I… I feel like shit.”

Mava gazed at him with a loving glint in her eyes and said, “Good, that’s how it should be, my dear. You are quite lucky, you know. Mr. Rourke heard a loud battle cry while going to dine. He ran inside the tunnel and carried you to me so that I could heal you.”

Grace, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern, leaned closer and asked, “Leo, what happened down there in the tunnel? And how were you able to beat a white Sabrefang?”

Mava nodded in agreement, her eyes searching Leo’s for answers. “Yes, please tell us. We were so worried when you didn’t return, and we found you in such a dreadful state. What did you encounter in that place?”

Leo proceeded to explain what had transpired in the tunnel and how he had ended up there. After recounting all the details, Mava issued a stern warning, “NEVER try pulling out the mana from your heart, as it has a high chance of disabling you or, worse, killing you.” She then placed her hand on Leo’s forehead, and a blue light enveloped him, causing him to fall asleep once again.

In the realm of dreams, Leo found himself standing amidst a serene and ethereal landscape. The sky above displayed mesmerizing shades of purples and blues, while the ground beneath his feet felt soft and inviting. Before him stood a colossal, ancient tree, its branches adorned with light blue leaves reaching high into the heavens. At the tree’s base, a polished stone pedestal cradled a gleaming and ornate sword. The blade shimmered with an otherworldly radiance, casting an iridescent glow upon everything around it.

As Leo approached the sword, his fingers brushed its hilt, and an immediate connection coursed through him. It was as if the sword recognized him as if they were bound by fate. A golden feeling overtook his body, one that seemed intrinsically tied to the sword.

With a sense of purpose, Leo drew the sword from its pedestal. The moment the blade left its resting place, the dream world around him transformed. The tranquil landscape shifted into a vast, open arena, grandstands filled with spectral onlookers whose cheers and applause echoed through the air.

He gripped the sword tightly, feeling its weight and balance in his hands. Leo knew this was a dream, yet the sword felt tangible as if he were genuinely standing in the arena, prepared to face an opponent.

His adversary materialized before him—a formidable, shadowy figure cloaked in darkness. The figure’s eyes gleamed with an unsettling crimson light, and it wielded a blade of equal splendor.

With a fierce battle cry, Leo charged forward, every movement guided by instinct and training. The clash of swords reverberated through the arena as he engaged in a mesmerizing dance of steel. In this dream, his swordsmanship was close to perfection. He executed flawless strikes, parried with precision, and moved with grace and agility. Every swing of his sword was an expression of mastery borne from relentless daily training.

Time seemed to stretch and warp as Leo and his opponent dueled, their movements blurring into a symphony of skill and technique. He faced moments of adversity, narrowly avoiding devastating blows, and summoning reserves of courage he never knew he possessed.

As the dream battle raged on, Leo felt a profound connection to the sword in his hands. It wasn’t just a weapon; it was an extension of himself, a manifestation of his deepest desires. Finally, with a masterful stroke, he disarmed his opponent, sending the shadowy figure’s blade clattering to the ground. The dream world dissolved around him, leaving Leo standing alone once more.

As he woke from the dream, the sensation of wielding the sword lingered in his muscles and bones. Leo realized that the dream had shown him a possible outcome if he continued to train diligently.

He awoke in the late evening, most of the pain gone, but his muscles still fatigued.

“You’re up, little rascal?” a calm male voice said, breaking the stillness of the room. Leo looked around and saw a well-built man sitting in the sturdy wooden chair situated in his hut. His presence was imposing yet oddly welcoming. It was a new face that he hadn’t seen before, a stranger with an air of authority about him. The man had brown hair and a mighty beard covering half of his face, giving him an aura of rugged wisdom.

“I’m here to propose something to you, and I believe it would be a good offer for both me and you,” the man continued, his voice carrying a sense of confidence. “But first, let me introduce myself. My name is Averon, and I’m the lieutenant of platoon four. We are a very famous platoon here in the capital, as we place fourth out of fifty in terms of strength. I want to ask you to join my platoon, though, of course, this is when you have gained the title of soldier. But I don’t think that will take very long.”

It was a sudden proposal, and Leo knew he couldn’t make a decision of this magnitude without understanding all the implications. “You say it’s a good deal for both of us,” Leo replied, his curiosity piqued. “Can you explain?”

Averon nodded and leaned forward, his eyes focused on Leo. “Well, you see, I get a very promising soldier. Your potential is undeniable, and having you in our platoon will certainly boost our image and fame. In return, you’ll get a unique opportunity to enhance your own reputation and skills. You’ll also receive a significantly higher wage, three times that of a beginning soldier. Furthermore, when you reach the age of sixteen, we’ll grant you our only academy recommendation that’ll even get you into Servan.”

Leo raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the offer but still seeking clarity. “Servan? What’s that?”

Averon smiled, realizing Leo’s need for information. “You don’t know? I thought it was famous enough that everybody knew it on this continent. Servan is a very competitive school where only the best of the best talents are able to get into. If you’re able to graduate from Servan, then you’re already set for life because you’ll be accepted almost everywhere. It’s also one of the only schools that accepts all three races—humans, elves, and dwarves.”

Leo absorbed this newfound knowledge, contemplating the weight of the proposal. “I think it’s an acceptable deal, but I’ll need sufficient free time, as I have to train both mana and neva.”

Averon nodded in understanding and quickly jotted down the terms on a piece of paper he pulled from his pocket. He handed the contract to Leo, who carefully read through it once more before signing his name.

“Then I’ll take my leave, Leo,” Averon said with a satisfied smile. “I’m looking forward to working with you, and I believe you’ll be a valuable addition to platoon four.” With that, he stood up, his powerful presence a testament to his leadership, and departed.

As Leo contemplated the path he had just chosen and the potential opportunities that awaited him in Platoon Four, an unexpected sound pierced the night. A distant, bone-chilling howl echoed through the forest, sending shivers down his spine. It was a sound unlike anything he had ever heard before, a haunting cry that seemed to carry with it an omen of darkness.

Averon, who had just left Leo’s hut, froze in his tracks, his eyes widening with alarm. He turned back to Leo, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and urgency.

“We’re not alone in these woods,” Averon muttered, his gaze fixed on the forest’s edge. “And whatever it is, it’s coming for us.”

The realization hung in the air, thick with foreboding. Leo’s heart raced as he and Averon exchanged a glance, knowing that they were about to face a threat unlike any other.