CHAPTER 29

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The sun was already high in the sky when we left the clearing, continuing deeper into the forest. The path ahead was familiar now, the trees and sounds of the woods becoming a second home to me. I had learned so much over the past year, and each day brought new lessons. But despite everything I had learned, I knew there was still one constant in my thoughts—the demon that had taken everything from me.

As we walked, I found myself speaking aloud, my thoughts finally spilling out. “Aside from getting stronger, I need to find that demon. I need to start looking for clues about where it might be.”

Alric gave a slight nod but remained silent. He had always known this day would come, that my focus would shift from pure training to the actual hunt.

“But for now,” I continued, “I need to be ready for whatever comes next. That means mastering not just magic, but battle—any kind of battle.”

Alric’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. “You’re getting closer to that understanding,” he said finally. “But let’s see how close.”

I raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar edge in his voice. There was something coming—another test.

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We reached a wide clearing surrounded by dense trees, the undergrowth thick and wild. I could feel the Aetheric Flow in the air, the subtle hum of mana just beneath the surface. The forest was alive with it, and I was becoming more attuned to the way it moved around me.

But this time, I sensed something else too. Something… wrong.

I stopped in my tracks, my hand instinctively moving to the hilt of my dagger. The air had shifted, the energy around us disturbed. Alric paused as well, his eyes narrowing.

“You sense it,” he said, his voice calm but tense.

“Yeah,” I muttered, my muscles tensing. “Something’s coming.”

I didn’t have to wait long. A low growl echoed through the trees, and the ground beneath our feet began to tremble. Whatever it was, it was big. Bigger than anything I had faced so far. My heart raced, but I steadied my breathing, keeping my mind clear.

The beast emerged from the shadows of the forest, its massive form crashing through the undergrowth. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, its fur bristling as it bared its sharp, jagged teeth. This wasn’t some wild animal—it was a creature infused with the same dark energy that I had sensed before. A corrupted beast, twisted by something far more dangerous than nature.

This wasn’t my first fight. Far from it. But the beast’s sheer size and power were something new. It wasn’t the demon, but it was a reminder that the world was full of dangers like this—creatures warped by dark magic, threats that lurked in every shadow.

The beast roared, lunging toward us with terrifying speed. I moved instinctively, using Slip to shift the ground beneath it, causing the beast to stumble and crash into the dirt. But it recovered quickly, its claws digging into the earth as it charged again.

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Alric was already moving, his blade flashing in the dim light as he struck at the creature’s flank, forcing it to turn its attention toward him. But I knew this wasn’t his fight—it was mine.

I focused, reaching for the Flow around me, feeling the mana pulse through my veins. I didn’t use Analyze this time. I didn’t need it. I had fought enough by now to know that my instincts would guide me. I had learned to trust them.

The beast lunged at me again, and I dodged, my movements fluid as I sidestepped its attack. I struck back, my blade cutting deep into its side, but the creature barely flinched. It was strong—far stronger than anything I had faced before. But it was also wild, its attacks unfocused and erratic.

Alric watched from the side, his eyes following my movements but not intervening. He trusted me to handle this.

I used Slip again, shifting the terrain to throw the beast off balance, then followed up with a series of quick strikes. Each cut was precise, targeting the creature’s weak points, but it wasn’t enough. The beast was relentless, its massive form barreling toward me with more force than I could easily handle.

For a moment, I hesitated. My body was moving on instinct, but my mind raced. Was I pushing too hard? Was I relying too much on my abilities again? Alric’s words from the past few days rang in my ears—balance, control, instinct.

I stepped back, letting the beast lunge at me again. This time, I didn’t use Slip to shift the ground beneath it. I didn’t rely on Auto-Dodge to avoid the strike. Instead, I focused on reading the fight itself, feeling the Flow not just within the environment but in the beast’s movements.

And then, I saw it. The pattern in its attacks. The small delay between each lunge. The way it hesitated just before it swiped with its claws.

I moved before the beast could react, dodging to the side and driving my blade deep into its exposed side. The creature howled in pain, stumbling as I twisted the dagger, cutting through its flesh with precision.

The beast collapsed, its body convulsing as the life drained out of it. I stood over it, panting, my heart racing from the intensity of the fight. But this time, there was no doubt in my mind—I had won because I had trusted my instincts. I had controlled the fight, not my abilities.

Alric approached, his expression calm but with a hint of approval in his eyes. “That was different.”

I nodded, still catching my breath. “I wasn’t relying on my abilities,” I said. “I was… just fighting.”

Alric’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Exactly. That’s what I wanted to see. You’ve been learning to rely on yourself, not just your magic.”

The weight of his words settled over me. This fight had been a turning point. I had faced strong opponents before, but this time, I hadn’t relied on Analyze or Slip to guide me. I had relied on the training, on the instincts Alric had been drilling into me for months. And it had worked.

“Remember this feeling,” Alric said, his tone serious. “You’ll need it when you face the demon.”

I nodded, my resolve hardening. The demon was still out there, and I still had more to learn. But I was getting closer. And when the time came, I wouldn’t hesitate.

That night, as we set up camp by the fire, I found myself thinking about the fight again. It wasn’t just about defeating the beast—it was about understanding how far I had come. I had been training for nearly a year, and every day brought new challenges, new tests. But now, I could see the results. I was stronger. Smarter. More in control.

Alric sat across from me, his gaze thoughtful as he stared into the flames. “You’re not far from the next stage,” he said quietly. “Soon, you’ll have to start looking for the demon. The clues are out there, but you’ll need to be ready for what you find.”

I nodded, the familiar weight of revenge settling in my chest again. “I know. But for now, I’ll focus on getting stronger. One step at a time.”

Alric didn’t respond, but I could feel the unspoken agreement between us. The fight was coming. And when it did, I would be ready.