Swish-swish-swish

In the dark forest, a figure cloaked in black darted swiftly, trampling grass underfoot and snapping tree branches. Suddenly, the figure halted. Golden eyes gleamed beneath the hood, scanning the surroundings before fixing on a specific spot in the shadowy woods.

In a flash of brilliant light, the figure vanished, reappearing ten meters away. No sooner had they disappeared than an enormous shape crashed down where they had stood moments before. An ominous aura emanated from the massive wolf, its red eyes gleaming with ferocity. Spotting the fleeing figure nearby, the wolf bared its fangs, pawed the ground, and gave chase.

==================

Niro ran breathlessly, his gaze periodically catching glimpses of the hulking wolf not far behind. The beast had been pursuing him since he'd ventured a kilometer into the forest from the church.

Throughout his flight, Niro had dodged the wolf's attacks using his light dash ability. However, each use depleted his mana reserves, which were already low from his previous encounter with the knights.

Gritting his teeth, Niro realized escape was becoming increasingly unlikely. Not only was the wolf remarkably swift, but Niro had lost his bearings in the unfamiliar forest. His eyes darted to the status display hovering before him:

[Name: Niro

Strength: 1.51

Speed: 1.11

Endurance: 1.23

Skills:

*Potion Crafting: Level 0 [334/1000]

*Swordsmanship: Level 1 [2155/10000]

*Light Dash: Level 1 [40/10000]

*Holy Healing: Level 1 [4213/10000]

*Spirit Fortitude: Level 0 [401/1000]]

Upon entering the forest, Niro had enhanced all his skills as a precaution. Analyzing his previous battle with the knights, he realized swordsmanship was useless without a blade. The light dash had proven effective in repelling the wolf once, but Niro's slight frame prevented him from inflicting significant damage. His only option was to flee.

Fortunately, his enhanced skills had allowed him to heal wounds sustained during his encounters with the wolf. Initially, Niro had believed he could outrun the beast, but his mana reserves were still depleted from the earlier skirmish with the knights. It seemed that full recovery would take considerable time.

From his memories, Niro knew that meditation could accelerate mana regeneration, as could various potions. However, neither option was currently available to him. By his estimation, he had enough mana for perhaps three or four more light dashes.

Lost in thought, Niro's shoulder collided with a tree trunk, causing him to lose speed and coordination. Without hesitation, he activated another light dash, vanishing from the spot.

BOOM!

A thunderous crash erupted behind him, but Niro, now accustomed to the danger, didn't dare slow his pace.

"How can I shake this infernal wolf?" he muttered through clenched teeth. Glancing at his status display once more, he focused on two particular skills: Holy Healing and Spirit Fortitude.

He had already experienced the effects of Holy Healing, which had mended his wounds. However, he had yet to test Spirit Fortitude, though his memories suggested it strengthened one's spirit, suppressed fear, and dulled pain sensitivity.

Niro wondered how these effects might be amplified when boosted tenfold. For comparison, Holy Healing typically closed wounds slowly, but when enhanced, the healing process had become remarkably swift. Logically, an amplified Spirit Fortitude should eliminate fear entirely and significantly reduce pain sensation.

Taking a deep breath, Niro activated Spirit Fortitude. Instantly, a portion of his mana surged towards his brain. A wave of sensation washed over him, and Niro felt his fear dissipate, replaced by an eerie calm. Even his fatigue seemed to vanish.

His hesitation evaporated, and his dark golden eyes swiftly scanned the surroundings. Suddenly, he spotted a small rock with a sharp, upturned edge.

Niro's eyes flashed golden for a moment, but a hint of crimson could be detected in their depths.

"Light dash? My thinking was flawed. Who said it could only be used horizontally?"

His thoughts raced with uncharacteristic speed. Glancing back, he saw the massive shadow still in pursuit.

"The wolf can brace itself against the ground to counter acceleration, but what if I were to take to the air? Heh-heh."

The crimson in his eyes intensified, and a faint, almost maniacal smile played across his lips.

Changing direction, Niro headed for the rock. As he approached, he abruptly slowed and turned to face his pursuer.

The enormous wolf burst from the forest, charging towards him without hesitation. Seeing this, Niro remained eerily calm.

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Crouching slightly, he waited for the perfect moment before rolling to the side. His evasion was successful, as the wolf skidded to a halt where Niro had stood moments before.

As soon as he regained his footing, Niro accelerated towards the wolf, which in turn lunged at him.

As they closed in on each other, Niro executed a slide. The wolf raised its front paws, seemingly intending to crush Niro beneath its bulk.

In that crucial moment, Niro, now almost prone, braced his feet against the ground. With a deep breath, his body erupted in a flash of light. In an instant, he shot upwards, colliding with the wolf. Unable to brace itself against the vertical force, the beast was launched skyward along with Niro.

Seizing the opportunity, Niro grasped the wolf's body tightly. As they soared upwards and began to fall, Niro maintained his iron grip. The wolf's claws raked furiously at his back, shredding his black cloak. Even the armor beneath began to creak and give way, blood seeping from some areas.

Yet Niro paid no heed to his injuries, his gaze fixed on the ground below, waiting for the perfect moment. When it came, another flash of light erupted.

From an outside perspective, man and beast seemed to vanish mid-air. Moments later, a thunderous impact shook the earth, and a thick cloud of dust rose from the point of impact.

Lying on the ground, Niro breathed deeply and heavily. Though his vision blurred, Spirit Fortitude still coursed through him. He immediately channeled his last dregs of mana into Holy Healing.

Beside him lay the enormous wolf, sprawled on its back with limbs splayed. A large, jagged rock protruded from its chest, surrounded by a spray of debris. Occasionally, one of the wolf's legs would twitch.

With a final, labored breath, Niro staggered to his feet and approached the wolf. Though gravely wounded, the creature still clung to life. Without hesitation, Niro plunged his dagger into the wolf's eye.

"Damned beast," he muttered.

Confirming the wolf had ceased breathing, Niro cursed and slumped to the ground, his body utterly spent.

Suddenly remembering something, he mentally accessed his inventory, which was currently empty.

"Wait, I haven't tried the inventory function yet. Come to think of it, I've been holding this dagger the whole time. Perhaps I can store it there?"

Concentrating, he willed the dagger into his inventory. Instantly, the weapon vanished from his hand, and an icon appeared in one of the inventory slots.

"Ah, it works. Now, what about the wolf's corpse?"

Niro glanced at the carcass and attempted to will it into his inventory. Nothing happened. After a moment's thought, he reached out and touched the wolf, then tried again. This time, the corpse disappeared, leaving only a bloodstain and the shattered rock behind.

"I see. Physical contact is necessary to transfer items into the inventory. Not a major issue."

After a short rest, Niro rose and left the area.

"If I linger here, the blood and noise might attract more of these creatures. I must avoid that at all costs. Without my skills, I stand no chance."

As he trudged forward, he caught the faint sound of water in the distance.

"Water? If it's a river, it could lead me to a village. Entering this forest was foolish, but traveling the main road would make me an easy target."

Realizing a river might be nearby, Niro headed towards the sound. As he walked, his gait steadied, the effects of Holy Healing becoming apparent.

Soon, pushing through dense foliage, he emerged into an open area. A breathtaking sight greeted him: a gently flowing river, its surface shimmering with pale moonlight.

To his relief, a faint trail ran alongside the riverbank.

"A path, at last."

Reasoning that if the water were unsafe, animals wouldn't drink from it, Niro cupped his hands and drank deeply. The cool liquid revitalized him after his ordeal. After quenching his thirst, he set off along the trail.

As he walked, Niro examined his tattered cloak. Though slashed in several places, it still concealed his Holy Knight armor.

=====================

Meanwhile, behind the church where Niro was to be buried...

The burly man who had left Niro returned, accompanied by several knights. Travina, however, was not among them.

The large man surveyed the scene, his gaze falling on two corpses – one with a crushed and slashed skull, the other with a broken back.

"What in the devil happened here?" he growled, his voice rough.

Glancing at the half-dug grave, he narrowed his eyes. He clearly remembered piercing Niro's heart with his sword – a wound no ordinary person could survive. Though Niro was no ordinary man, being a Holy Knight, the burly man was certain he couldn't have lived through such an injury. Moreover, Niro had been under a paralysis spell at the time.

After a moment's contemplation, his gaze settled on a broken branch nearby.

"Either he wasn't dead, or someone took his body. He certainly didn't have the strength to do this himself. And judging by the tracks, they headed deeper into the forest."

His eyes scanned the woods, now bathed in the soft light of dawn.

"Bah, it matters not. Take the second corpse; we might be able to extract some memories to understand what transpired here. Though given the time that's passed, we're unlikely to glean much from a rotting brain. Also, issue a notice with this Holy Knight's description. In case it was indeed him, spread the word. The Dark Forest is far too dangerous to chase after some minor holy man."

With a final survey of the area, the burly man departed. Several knights collected the body of their fallen comrade, while others began to tidy the scene.

=====================

Niro trudged along the trail for several hours. To his relief, the path gradually became more distinct, confirming his suspicions.

Eventually, he spotted a massive city in the distance. On another road leading to the city, he could see numerous people transporting various goods to and fro.

The city was surrounded by high walls, atop which Niro noticed a considerable number of knights. More importantly, each knight bore a bright red symbol that Niro recognized all too well.

Standing in the shadow of a tree, he pondered his next move. If he approached in his current state and the guards asked him to remove his cloak, it could spell disaster.

"It would be wiser to infiltrate the city covertly. Besides, my mana is still regenerating slowly. This is an opportune time to rest and recover my magical reserves for self-defense."

After a brief search, Niro found a secluded spot beneath the curved branches of a tree, forming a natural shelter. From this vantage point, he could observe the situation near the city walls.

"Now then, how did it go again?"

Leaning against the tree trunk, Niro began to recall his experiences. However, unbeknownst to him, exhaustion began to overtake him. He had been awake all night, and the stress of his arrival in this world, followed by battles and pursuit, had taken its toll.

The combination of these factors, coupled with the release of tension, lulled Niro into a deep slumber.