Amidst the wild serenade, atop a dead bear whose fur was as dark as the shadows that lurked between the trees, sat Yuri.

His eyes reflected the moon's luminescence, his body covered in blood. A couple of gashes and open wounds could be seen on his body, but his expression was not one of pain. He was smiling, a wide satisfied grin.

His gaze was fixed on the floating status panel in front of him.

'Welp, it's been a really good day. I killed 5 different beasts.'

[ System Lvl: 2 | 70 / 150]

‣ Name: Yuri Kaguno

‣ Class: ( Locked )

‣ Realm: Preliminary Realm

‣ Title: ( Locked )

‣ Passives: ( Locked )

‣ Attributes

- Strength: 25

- Dexterity: 28 -> 29

- Agility: 25

- Stamina: 30 -> 31

- Constitution: 5

- Int: 1

'I even gained a stat point for both my stamina and dexterity. It was definitely a good day. Anyway, let me get back to the cave, I'm starving.'

Jumping off the bear's body, Yuri sprinted back towards his cave. It was already dark, but he knew the way back. The only problem he had to worry about was the danger that lurked all around him.

Sprinting back, he made sure to focus on everything around him. He even stopped once and used Energy Resonance to make sure he didn't run into any beasts along the way.

Eventually making it back, Yuri bandaged and treated all his wounds. After finishing that, he munched on some jerky and called it a night.

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Two months later...

**** ( POV switch to Ren )

Ren's eyes were locked on the figure of Yuri, as he faced a pack of Shadow Wolves in the primal realm with nothing but his sword and his wits.

The forest around them was filled with many different beasts and the sounds of fighting and growling filled the air, but Ren's focus remained unshaken, his gaze filled with a silent awe.

Yuri's movements were a dance of deadly precision, each step and swing measured and exact. His blade, a mere extension of his arm, sliced through the air, meeting the hide and sinew of the beast.

The wolves were all formidable and ferocious, their teamwork and synergy impeccable.

The battle raged on, and Ren's expression shifted subtly with each passing moment, from awe to a tinge of concern, then back to awe again as Yuri continued to hold his own. Eventually, he watched as Yuri killed all of the wolves and rested on a cut down tree trunk as he tried to catch his breath.

'I wanted him to get strong enough to fight a primal realm beast, but I didn't think he would get strong enough to fight a whole pack of wolves by himself.' Ren said as he was in awe of what he had watched Yuri do.

'I've been watching him every step of the way since I sent him here. He's surprised me honestly, I can't wait to see how he does in the academy.' His smile was wide and his heart was filled with pride.

He was sure that Yuri was going to become strong and once he got in the academy he would only get stronger. He was excited about the future and what Yuri would bring to it.

But the forest was not done with its challenges. From the dense underbrush emerged a beast whose very presence seemed to warp the air around it. The creature was two realms above Yuri, its eyes burned with a malevolent intelligence.

'I'll let him clash with it then I'll swoop in, It's about time he comes back home anyway. The academy will be starting soon.'

Ren watched as Yuri didn't falter. He stood his ground, his sword ready for the inevitable clash.

The beast lunged, and the battle that followed was a tempest of motion and violence. Yuri's sword was a blur, but the beast was a force of nature. Its attacks were a maelstrom that threatened to overwhelm the young boy.

It was then that Ren moved. His sword, a sliver of twilight against the darkening sky, was drawn in a breath. With grace, Ren stepped into the fray.

His blade met the beast's flesh in a strike that was both a whisper and a scream, a single slash that ended the battle as quickly as it had begun.

With the beast dead, Ren turned to Yuri, who was panting, his sword still in hand, his eyes wide with the rush of survival. Ren made his expression unreadable but there was a glint of something like pride in his eyes.

**** ( POV switch to Yuri )

"You old geezer, have you been watching me this whole time?"

"Yup, don't make it such a big deal. I know you had fun, you always have that scary smile on your face as you fight." Ren said as he laughed.

"Anyway, the academy starts soon. I'll fill you in on the details once you get home and shower, you stink. Plus your mom would probably kill me if I kept you here any longer, she's a scary woman." Ren said as he reached out, and with a gesture, a portal tore open the fabric of the world, a gateway back to the Kaguno residence.

They stepped through together, the portal closing behind them with a sound like the closing of a great book. They were back at the mansion, the place where Yuri's journey had begun, and where it would continue