Several months have passed since Oliver's companions passed away, and Oliver now finds himself traveling with Maximus through a street, or at least what used to be a street. Over the last several months, the stubborn mist has finally cleared, revealing a dramatically changed world. The street has become overrun with new plants and trees that popped up like weeds, decimating the pavement with no remorse. However, the ruins of the street are still a more reliable means of travel when you have a map. The roads aren't the only thing that has been ruined; many houses were invaded by plants or some creature that made itself a new home.

"Hold on, Max, keep a lookout," Oliver said as he took out a folded-up map. He opened it up and checked his position against a street sign knocked over its side by a growing tree.

"We're almost there, just a couple more streets over," Oliver said.

"Arf!"

The changes weren't only with the environment; Oliver and Maximus have also gone through some noticeable changes themselves. Oliver was just above average fitness for a man his age, but now he has a strong athlete's physique. He has several faded scars of various sizes, including a small scar just above his right eyebrow. His hair, long and slightly greasy, now passes his shoulders. Attached to his side is a curved blade almost two feet long. Instead of metal, it looks like the claw of a creature that has been sharpened and crafted into a blade. He wore flexible-scaled armor protecting his torso and leather clothing from unknown creatures.

Maximus was always enormous; however, now his height is getting close to 7 feet tall. His horns curve backward before up and slightly forward, and two small horns have begun to grow between them. Maximus, like Oliver, has several scars of various sizes across his body.

"Alright, Max, this is it. You smell anything?"

Maximus approached the opening where the front door used to be and sniffed the ground. He looked back up and nodded to Oliver.

"Clear, huh? Okay, I'll look and try to grab what we need. Keep a lookout, like always.

"Arf!" Oliver barked in agreement.

Oliver took out his curved blade and strategically cleared the house. He used to trust Maximus's nose completely until one time, he was ambushed and still had the scar to show it on his left arm. Oliver almost lost an eye that day. Oliver cleared the house and took out a list from his pocket. It didn't take long for Oliver to find everything on his list and put it away in his bag. He found Maximus standing outside, scanning the surroundings.

"Alright, Max, let's go."

"Arf!"

Oliver and Maximus traveled considerably before encountering the first sign of trouble. A large feline-like creature with quills on its back and a crocodile-like snout prowled the woods looking for prey when it confronted Oliver and Maximus, thinking them easy prey.

Maximus bared his incredible teeth and released a monstrous growl.

"I got this one boy."

Oliver sprinted forward at full speed, narrowly dodging a swipe of its claws before slicing through its thick fur and skin, blade meeting ribs.

"Creee!" The creature screeched in pain. It backed away in pain and looked at Oliver with pain, fear, and anger. The creature's movements have changed; it's started to hesitate. Oliver burst forward again and noticed the creature's back contract and shake. He jumped to the left and narrowly dodged a couple of quills that pierced into the ground several feet behind him with astonishing speed. Oliver narrowed his eyes before suddenly disappearing in a flash of light. At least, that's how it looked like to the creature.

"Creee!" The creature screeched in pain, and its side suddenly erupted in a deadly wound. Oliver reappeared past the beast. The creature lost a tremendous amount of blood and was barely able to stand on its feet; it was only a matter of time before it died. Oliver walked to the creature as it collapsed to the ground. He stopped beside it, and his arm came down with a slash so fast it seemed like teleportation, leaving the creature's head separated from its body.

"Hmm, the quills are long and thick and sharp. They might make good arrows."

Oliver spent the next half hour removing the quills, teeth, and claws. He considered taking its hide before deciding against it; it would take longer than he felt it was worth.

"Hey guys, Oliver is here! Open the gate!" A guard holding a crossbow shouted from the top of a wall. The gate made of logs swung open as Oliver and Maximus approached, revealing the community inside.

"Oliver, it's good to see you back safe and sound! Have you any trouble?" a large and boisterous man said with a laugh.

"Nothing we couldn't handle. Thanks, Steve. Have you seen Samuel?" Oliver replied.

"Sam? Hmm, he could be overlooking the farm around this time. You could try to see if he's there or at his office."

"I'll check the farm then. See you later, Steve."

"I'll see you later, Oliver."

Oliver observed the town as he walked. Most houses sustained damage before being repaired by the townsfolk, and they looked significantly better than the overrun neighborhoods. They couldn't protect the roads. However, after the community started to form, they removed any trees and other large or mysterious plants they had grown in the way. It was only much later that Samuel, the same man he would meet, used Earth magic to harden the dirt and remove the broken pavement. Samuel made the Earth much more durable, which prevented a significant amount of plants from growing. While the foliage still multiplies, it's not nearly as crazy as it would be since the mana mist has disappeared.

Oliver passed several people on his way, many of whom avoided eye contact or avoided him altogether. However, a few people, especially the children, looked on curiously.

Oliver passed the ranch on the way to the farm, admiring the tamed animals they managed to find. The Giant Cows were just that, giant cows. The giant cows are three times bigger than they used to be, with a powerful body and thick skin, and altogether, they can create a considerable amount of milk. Thankfully, the Giant Cows still have the same temperament and diet. The chickens, on the other hand, look a bit more different. They seem to mutate in a different direction than most animals, able to blend in with their surroundings and stay quiet more easily. While slightly more prominent than before, their flying ability has increased, so they have a decent ability to remain hidden or fly away if needed.

"Oliver! When did you get back!" A man shouted, coming in the direction of the farm.

"Samuel. I've completed the job. Give me my payment so I can go home."

"Sheesh, always straight to the point. Alright, it's in my office. We can go there now."

"Alicia will appreciate this," Samuel said as he opened a drawer and started taking out a considerable amount of coins, roughly the size of a quarter but with a single ring in the middle, identifying its value. The coins were made of iron and were a new kind of currency they made last month with their only smith. They've made a few different coins, identified by the number of rings it has on it.

Zero rings would be equivalent to a dollar, now called a Rai; one ring is equivalent to ten Rai, two rings are equivalent to twenty Rai, three rings are equivalent to fifty Rai, and four rings are equivalent to one hundred Rai.

"I was just doing another job," Oliver replied, counting the coins as he put them in his bag.

Ten coins, so two hundred Rai. It's all here.

"These kinds of jobs matter to many people, and this isn't a job anyone would accept. It's way too dangerous for one person, and we can't afford to lose the manpower to send a larger group of items that only have sentimental value."

"I'll take any job for the right price. Do you have any other jobs for me?"

"Hmm, I did get some reports about strange sightings in the southern forest by the hunter group. How about this? Would you accept another job like this one?"

"Again? I'm tired of these retrieval jobs."

"This one is personal, and I'll make it worthwhile. Your standard rate for these jobs was two hundred Rai, and you'll have to travel much forward since it's on the other side of town, so I'll pay four hundred. How's that sound?"

"Hmm, where is it?"

Samuel pulled out a map and opened it on his desk.

"Let's see... it's right here."

Oliver looked at the map, and a frown grew on his face. He abruptly turned around and walked out without a word.

"Huh? What? Oliver? Where are you going? Does this mean you refuse?!"

"I knew you guys were here, and I just couldn't take it anymore," Isabella said. "I think Sam is dead, and I feel like I'm going crazy."

"Who is Sam?" Sophia inquired.

"He's my husband," Isabella said. "I haven't seen him since this all started. I'm scared to think about what happened to him. I haven't seen anyone since the first day. It was a horrible nightmare."

It can't be.

Samuel's voice could vaguely be heard as Oliver left the building, rejoining Maximus at the entrance. Oliver squinted in the bright light, more of a habit than anything, considering his body had been changing in tiny but noticeable ways.

"Arf!"

Maximus sensed something different with his master and tilted his head as he followed. Oliver didn't say a word, and everyone avoided him even more than usual, a mother going as far as grabbing her child and changing directions. Oliver does not care about the actions of the townspeople; he walks with purpose.

"Open the gate!" Oliver demanded one of the guards.

"Huh?" The startled guard said. The guard turned around to find Oliver and the large, intimidating Maximus standing just a few feet away.

"I—uh—well," the guard stammered nervously, avoiding eye contact and taking a nervous step back.

"Forget it; let's go, Maximus."

Oliver looked up at the 15-foot tall wall and sprinted towards it. Oliver jumped to the wall, placed a foot against it, and, to the guard's eyes, vanished in a flash of light before soaring clear above the wall of sharpened logs.

"Oliver?! You can't just- Hey!" Steve's voice shouted.

Oliver landed with a roll and smoothly jumped back to his feet. Maximus landed next to him with a loud thud. Oliver looked at Maximus as he brushed dirt off his clothes; the loud voices of the guards sounded behind them.

"Let's go home."

After a short walk, Oliver finds himself home and back in the comfort of his favorite recliner chair. One advantage of the apocalypse is that everything you see in the wild is yours for the taking. Maximus takes his spot in his dog bed; it's a queen mattress in the middle of the living room since he's so huge. He clears his mind as he watches the green glowing moss in his fish tank. Oliver doesn't know how it gets all the energy, but it's proven useful as a light source at night.

Feeling at peace, Oliver closes his eyes and controls his breathing. Soon, he senses the power flowing throughout his body and surrounding him every minute. His body slowly absorbs the surrounding mana, replenishing and purifying his reserves.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Three months ago, Oliver reached a breakthrough and, for the first time since the train, vomited a rancid black sludge from his body following intense, painful tremors. Luckily for Oliver, he was walking through the woods with Maximus when it happened and was not already in combat. Oliver could barely stand on his own two feet immediately after but quickly regained his strength while Maximus protected him. Soon, he felt reborn and stronger than ever.

Oliver didn't understand what was happening at the time. However, he has slowly learned more about his body through meditation. The black sludge that he vomited must be impurities that his body expelled after reaching some limit, the same limit he feels like he approached a few days ago. Using his inner sense, he feels the remaining impurities across his body, eager to expel them and grow even stronger.

Bang Bang

Oliver's eyes abruptly flew open. He jumped out of his reclining chair and grabbed the curved blade beside him.

Bang Bang

"Oliver! I know you're in there! Open up!" Samuel yelled loudly outside the front door.

Oliver released a breath of relief and annoyance, knowing he was not under another attack but would rather fight a monster than talk to Samuel.

Bang Bang

"Son of a bitch." Oliver whispered, "Go away! I'm not taking the job!"

Bang Bang

"Why not?! Just open the damn door! I'm not leaving until you do!"

"Dammit"

Oliver undid the several locks he had installed and flung open the door.

"Will you shut up! I don't want to repair this place anymore than I already do!"

"Then let me in!"

"Fine! How did you know I was here?"

Samuel looked at Oliver strangely, "Everyone knows you live around here. It's the only house in the area being maintained, repaired, and reinforced. You're the only person crazy enough to live outside like this."

"I can handle myself, and most people don't welcome me in your community."

"You showed up out of nowhere a couple of months ago with Maximus, and the only other person to use magic besides myself. Everyone was thrilled to have you, but as much as they respect you, they also fear you! You glare at everyone like they killed your mother, sometimes you come back covered in blood, your hair is dirty and long, and worst of all, you stink! When was the last time you bathed?!"

Oliver cringed uncomfortably.

"E-enough! What do you want!" Oliver said and crossed his arms.

Samuel assessed him quietly before quietly asking.

"Why won't you take the job? Is the area too dangerous even for you?"

Oliver has been dreading this moment since he first saw the house on the map. He took a deep breath and stared at Samuel straight in the eyes.

"Because Isabella was my friend, and she passed away."

Samuel froze before his eyes widened in shock, and fell to his knees. Oliver could feel the tears building up in his eyes.

"Hah, wow. I was sure she was dead, but I guess a part of me still had a little bit of hope."

Oliver watched Samuel silently as tears fell from the man's eyes.

"I thought of going there myself, you know? But even with my magic, I probably wouldn't survive such a long distance, and these people need me here," Samuel sobbed, "But Oliver, if you don't do this for me, then I'll have nothing. Nothing!"

"...Okay," Oliver said after considering his words.

"Tell me what happened."

Samuel's red-rimmed eyes were full of anger. He can't remember a time when he was angrier. After the apocalypse, he mostly felt fear and dread until he finally found hope in himself and the faces of those around him. The smiles of his people and the laughter of the children playing in the fields made everything a little bit better.

"That son of a bitch! I'll fucking kill it!" Samuel screamed so loud it hurt his throat,

"You'll die," Oliver stated grimly.

"I know, I know. I'm not going to do anything reckless, okay? I'm, I'm just angry." Samuel explained. "Thank you for helping her. That's not easy to ask of someone right now."

"She seemed kind, desperate, and a nurse could be extremely helpful."

Samuel let out a slight chuckle.

"I guess that explains why you are the way you are."

"What?"

"Anti-social, aggressive, with an obsession for power. The apocalypse was rough for everyone initially, and it still is. To lose your friends and your only emotional support is hard."

"Arf!" Maximus barked in protest as Oliver rubbed his back.

"Ah, yes, I guess you both still had each other. Still, something I wouldn't wish that fate upon anyone."

"At least I'm still alive."

"There's more to life than just surviving, Oliver. Have you... have you got revenge yet?"

"Not yet. I've been considering it for a while. I think I can handle it, but... I also dread the encounter."

"Yeah... I get it."

It's been several hours since Samuel left, and Oliver is sitting alone in the garage, a place Maximus isn't even allowed to enter because his training can be dangerous for others. He grits his teeth as two dozen lightning bombs float around him, the size of a basketball. Soon, another ball of lightning appears around him. With the introduction of the last lightning bomb, every lightning bomb started to fluctuate wildly, on the verge of losing control and exploding. While his magic won't hurt him, it still can hurt others, damage the surroundings, or attract strong creatures.

Twenty-five lightning bombs. This is my new absolute limit. It's hard even to make five when I'm moving in combat.

Oliver dispersed the lightning bombs, absorbing some of his mana back. Suddenly, four lightning balls appeared simultaneously, and a couple more appeared a few seconds later.

My casting speed has increased significantly, but it's not fast enough. 2 may sound short, but it could mean death in battle.

Like most nights, Oliver spent the night training different aspects of his magic and body, hoping to make his next breakthrough soon.

The following day, Oliver and Maximus left early, just as the sun started to rise. Oliver felt well rested in just four hours, another hidden advantage of magic. At one point, Oliver could hear the sound of a stream and stopped. Oliver raised an arm and sniffed his armpit, frowning at the smell.

"Max, we're taking a detour."

The water was a little cold. However, he noticed long ago that intense temperatures affect him less than they used to, and he hasn't gotten sick in months.

"C'mon, Max, you also need a bath."

After a refreshing bath, Oliver and Maximus sunbathed in a clearing, enjoying a moment of peace. While they looked utterly relaxed, Oliver and Maximus had learned too much to let their guard down in the forest.

A fish jumped out of the nearby stream and flew on its scaled wings with astonishing speed. Oliver killed the flying fish with a swing of his blade without opening an eye. Oliver felt the flying fish die with his mana sight and went back to restoring his mana field. By spreading his mana out in particle-like waves, Oliver can sense everything that happens roughly twenty feet around him. Oliver reached his limit at approximately twenty feet over two weeks ago, but he continues to push his limit. While useless in combat, it may be Oliver's favorite technique, as it gives him a feeling of omniscience, like he's in complete control of a tiny world.

While the technique sounded simple, it was more difficult than creating multiple lightning bombs. Oliver had made many tiny mana particles and slowly expelled them in all directions evenly. The further the mana was from his body, the harder it was controlled, and the amount of space increased drastically, requiring even more mana particles. While this technique makes it impossible for Oliver to be ambushed, he can't continuously maintain the technique without staying still and doing as little as possible.

Oliver let his technique fall apart as he felt his mind grow tired. He still had a long day ahead of him.

When the sky was starting to darken, they finally reached their destination. Although he's only seen it a few times, his memory has significantly improved, and he recalls everything he saw when he searched her house. The memory sat in his stomach like lead. Her- no, their house looks the same even after all this time, excluding the broken glass and walls, the invasion of plants, and the sight of cobwebs connecting all the houses and new trees. A shiver went down Oliver's spine as he recalled the day they made it to Sophia's parents' street and the large mass moving on the roof of a house. It's been thriving, considering its territory now expands to several streets in one direction.

Oliver hacked away the webs from a massive hole in the wall and climbed inside as Maximus stood guard.

"Screee!"

Oliver barely made it inside before a creature screeched out, followed by skittering. Dozens of basketball-sized spiders come from the walls, ceiling, or adjacent room.

"Shit!"

Oliver jumped back outside and threw two lightning bombs into the house.

"Boom!" After a series of loud explosions, all was quiet until a couple of seconds passed, and the spiders flooded out of the hole.

"Max! There's too many; we're going -oh, holy hell!"

When Oliver looked over at Maximus, he saw the hoard of hundreds of spiders climbing over roofs and coming out of the other houses.

"Run!"

Oliver felt his mind strain as he continuously created as many thunderbolts as possible. While weaker than his thunder bomb, his thunderbolts are faster to form, faster to conjure, and a lot more numerous.

"Screee!"

Lightning bolts rained down on a group of spiders, killing most as the smell of burning flesh hit Oliver's nose. The spider corpses lay on the ground like a carpet as the rest climbed or jumped over their bodies. Oliver jumped on Maximus' back as the spiders started to close in on all sides.

"Max! Fire!"

Maximus pushed his head forward and spun in a circle as a stream of fire escaped his mouth, frying the crawling and jumping spiders.

'Screee!'

Oliver was safe from the fire, but the heat and smell of burning flesh were intense.

Oliver conjured several lightning bombs and threw them past the front lines, thinning out the wave. Many spiders were dead and even more paralyzed; however, it's just a fraction of the endless swarm gathering in the streets. Oliver cut down spiders leaping from house roofs and tree branches as Maximus tore apart any spider that got near with his large teeth.

"Go!"

Maximus started to run into the forest as a skittering black mass closed in on them from all directions. Maximus ran and jumped through the forest with surprising grace as Oliver threw lightning bolts at the horde and his blade on any that got too close.

"Kaw!"

"Holy shit!"

A swarm of giant flying creatures swooped down from the skies, grabbing a spider in each claw. They had sky-blue leathery skin and a lizard-like face. Their tails were long and ended in a sizeable lumpy mass, no doubt able to generate tremendous smashing force.

After a few minutes of running, there was no sign of spiders, and they stopped to rest. Oliver got off Maximus, almost completely drained of mana, and Maximus lay on the ground, panting heavily. Maximus is a powerful beast capable of running long distances at high speed; however, dodging spiders for several minutes while carrying Oliver was difficult.

"You okay, Max? You hurt anywhere?"

Maximus picked up his head and licked Oliver's hand.

"I guess you're okay then. Incredible job getting us out of there unharmed."

Maximus wagged his tail happily, thumbing it against a tree.

"That was incredible." A mysterious voice sounded out from the forest.

"Who!?!"

Oliver turned to the sound of the voice and saw a man standing 15 feet away.

"Easy, man! Easy!"

"Who are you?!"

Oliver held his blade before him, ready to conjure a spell. Though still panting, Maximus stood beside Oliver, prepared to fight.

"I'm Luke. I couldn't help but notice you guys when I heard explosions and a literal army of spiders and a flock of wyverns."

"Wyverns? Aren't Wyverns a bit different? Why didn't they attack you?"

"I use shadow magic. I fight terribly, but no one can hide better than me. The hardest part was not losing you in the forest."

Oliver put away his sword and looked at the mysterious man. He was around the same age, early to mid-twenties, with pitch-black hair that went to his eyes. He wore sturdy black boots and ordinary clothing that was slightly worn but looked utterly intact.

"What stage of magic are you on?"

"Stage? What do you mean?" Luke asked in confusion.

The beginning of a plan was starting to form in Oliver's mind. A mischievous smile hung on Oliver's lips, and Luke felt a shiver run down his spine.

"I can't believe I agreed to this," Luke complained with a moan as he covered his body in mud from a nearby stream. That sun has almost entirely set, with more light from the moon than the sun.

"The mud was your idea."

"Only to go along with your crazy plan!"

"I didn't force you to agree. We agreed to a trade. You get what I need, and I'll share my experience with magic."

"Doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."

Luke disappeared into the forest only after ensuring every inch of his body was covered in mud.

An hour later, Oliver heard light footsteps and, using his superior vision, made out a human figure in the dark.

"Here"

Luke handed over a bag before jumping into the stream to wash off the mud, and Oliver went through it, mentally checking off every item.

"That's incredible. How did you do it?"

"Shadow magic doesn't make me invisible; however, it makes me much more challenging to notice in every way. The mud covered my scent. I walked carefully, and my magic did the rest."

"I can't give my magic form."

After sharing his magical insights, Oliver looked at Luke in confusion.

"You can't? What do you mean? It may be difficult, but it's not impossible."

"It's like trying to grab a fog. I can focus my magic in a smaller area to make it stronger, but to give it shape? There's no way."

Oliver's eyes lit up with interest, like a child finding a new toy.

"Are you saying the properties of our magic affect how we control it?"

"Uh, I guess I am?"

"Fascinating. I wonder if the same can be said for light magic. At high levels, it could make a powerful beam of heat, but would it ever be capable of, let's say, becoming an arrow of light and piercing enemies? Or would it be restricted to heat damage?"

Luke listened as Oliver went on a magical tangent and stiffened when Oliver's eyes locked on him with a sharp glint.

"Show me."

"I'm going home,"

"Already?" Oliver asked in dejection.

"You've seen enough. I have nothing to show you, and I must return home."

"Fine. You remember how to make it to my community?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll make sure to pass the info along.