You Have Defeated 4x Level 7 Goblin Warrior

I push the notification away and begin collecting my arrows from the dead.

I take in the surroundings, the chirping of birds and the warm glow of the sun filling me with a sense of life and beauty. The shadows of the trees dance softly, a tranquil and comforting sight.

For once, amidst this beautiful landscape, I find myself not afraid. The constant sense of dread that had been weighing down on me seems to have lifted, leaving room for something else - peace.

I look back upon the fallen goblins, a sense of accomplishment and determination settling within me. I'm stronger now, that much is clear. And I will continue to grow, to further hone my skills and become even stronger still.

With a satisfied smile on my face, I begin tracking back towards the group, my eyes scanning the forest for any sign of game as I go. My senses are heightened, my ears and eyes alert for any sign of potential prey. I keep my steps light and my thoughts clear, fully immersed in the moment.

I take my time returning to the group, enjoying the solitude of the forest and the quiet companionship of nature. The journey back is a leisurely one, filled with moments of quiet contemplation and appreciation for the beauty around me. No one to keep up with, no one to talk to - just me and the forest.

I arrive back at the group, carrying two freshly slain rabbits, a sense of contentment and satisfaction settling over me. The time spent alone in the forest has done me good - the peace and quiet has done wonders to improve my mood and clear my head.

I spot Alex sitting by the fire, engaged in quiet conversation with Leah. Sensing that they want some privacy, I decide to give them space and sit down under a nearby tree and begin skinning the rabbits I've caught.

A young girl, no older than 10 years old, approaches me as I'm cleaning up the skins and fur from the rabbits. It takes me a moment to remember who she is, but I soon recall that she's the girl who gave me the arrow during the battle.

The girl looks extremely small and fragile, her petite frame thin and wiry. Her short red hair frames her face, accentuating her light blue eyes. Seeing her, I can't help but notice how unhealthy and underfed she looks.

The young girl speaks up, her voice soft and tinged with curiosity. "What are you doing, mister?" she asks.

I wipe my hands on the grass, cleaning them of the blood from the rabbits, before turning my attention to the young girl. I take in her small frame, noticing her thin arms and legs. "Are you hungry?"

The girl quickly says "no," but her stomach betrays her with a loud grumble. Her cheeks flush in embarrassment, and she tries to hide her reaction. I feign ignorance, pretending not to have heard her stomach's traitorous grumble.

I grab the meat I've prepared and begin walking towards one of the small fires lit by the villagers. I pause and then turn back to the girl. "Come on," I say, gesturing for her to follow. "I'll cook up something for you, as a thank you for the arrow."

The girl hesitates for a moment before seeming to come to a decision within herself. She nods and slowly begins to follow me, trailing behind me like a shy puppy.

We sit down around the fire, the previous occupants gone and the flames casting a warm glow over the area. I skew both rabbits and place them above the fire, allowing them to cook. I turn to the girl and finally ask, "So, what's your name?"

The girl replies softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Jane." I notice how nervous she seems to be, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. I try to put her at ease, offering a friendly smile and a light chuckle. "I don't bite, you know,"

The girl turns her gaze towards me, her expression guarded. I can tell she's keeping quiet, her eyes darting towards the cooking rabbits every so often.

Recognising her unease, I decide not to pressurise her with conversation, instead I sit in silence with her, allowing her to watch the rabbits being cooked.

The aroma of the cooking rabbits fills the air, a tantalizing mix of savory and earthy scents. I can see Jane surreptitiously licking her lips, her shyness warring with her hunger and tempting her tastes buds.

Once the rabbits are cooked, I carefully remove them from the fire and begin slicing off the meat. I hand a generous portion to Jane, offering it to her with a smile. We continue eating in comfortable silence, the warm glow of the fire and the taste of roasted rabbit keeping us company.

A bit burnt but meh, it’ll do.

Jane finishes her meal, her little tummy full and satisfied. She looks up at me with a smirk on her face and quips, "Mister... that was gross. But thank you." She then stands up, a cheeky smile on her face, and skips off, leaving me with a chuckle.

I murmur to myself as Jane skips away, disappearing into the night. "I was never much of a cook, that’s more Alex’s department,"

I look over to find my brother still talking with Leah, their heads close together and their bodies almost touching. It seems like they're getting quite close to each other.

That sly dog. Even in this situation.

I take a moment to rest, closing my eyes and falling into a meditative trance. I can see my mana flowing through my body, a shimmering, ever-changing energy that pulses in time with my heartbeats.

As I watch my mana flow through my body, I find myself captivated by its mesmerising dance. It's soothing. Remembering the battle, I realize that I had run out of mana, and decide to add one point to my stats, boosting my magical power.

I watch in fascination as my mana begins to swell, the energy within me growing stronger and more potent. After a moment, it stabilises, settling down once more and returning to a steady flow.

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I decide to further push my limits, adding another four points to my mana stat. I can feel the energy within me growing even stronger, the increase in power exhilarating yet somewhat overwhelming.

As the added mana floods my body and feeds my mana circuit, I can feel its power thrumming through my veins, empowering me with newfound strength. The power surging through me is intoxicating, its addictive allure tugging at my senses and making me yearn for more. I watch the mana swirl and dance within me, its glowing tendrils tantalising.

It takes a great act of mental discipline to pull my mana back into my core, restraining its natural flow and forcing it to settle into a more normalized rate. Even from that brief moment, the strain is enough to leave my mana nearly drained once more.

I realize that I'm having a lot of fun dealing with mana and decide to pour the rest of my points into my mana. I feel the power within me growing even stronger, the sensation exhilarating and empowering.

I could get used to this.

As the night wears on, I notice that Alex and Leah have slipped away, finding some privacy for themselves. I sit by the fire, the dancing flames keeping me company as I bask in the tranquility of the night. I decide to rest here, beneath the glittering stars, and let sleep claim me.

I wake to the morning sun shining down on me, its warm rays bathing me in a comforting light. As I rub the sleep from my eyes, I find a familiar little girl sitting nearby, watching me curiously.

Jane’s soft voice breaks the morning silence, the sound like a gentle bell tinkling. "Granny Lucy said to get you,"

I nod to the young girl, a smile tugging at my lips. "Good morning to you too, Jane," I reply, my voice soft and friendly. "Where's Lucy?"

Her expression twists, a mix of curiosity and fear playing across her childlike features. "She's with the burned man." she replies.

As I make my way towards the direction of the cart, I pass by Jane. Seeing her soft red hair, I can't resist the urge to ruffle it up a bit, a playful grin on my face.

She lets out a squeal of protest as my hand ruffles her hair, attempting to swat at me with her small fists. But I'm too quick, already moving past her with a laugh.

Thats what you get for saying my cookings bad.

As I approach the cart, I notice Lucy and Alex standing there, they seem to be talking in low voices.

Lucy notices me and gesture for me to come closer. I shift my attention to the cart as I arrive and see that Jake is awake, his face contorted in pain as he struggles against his injuries. I can see burnt marks covering his arms and torso.

I watch as Lucy speaks gently to Jake, soothing him in her comforting tone. "It's okay, Jake," she says, her voice soft and steady. "I'll start now."

Lucy's hand begins glowing with a soft, warm light, and a gentle hum fills the air. She turns to me and beckons me forward, instructing me to place my hand on Jake as well.

Lucy speaks softly. "Now, both of you feel out with your mana," she instructs. "Reach out and try to sense mine."

I look towards Alex and he nods. Taking a deep breath, I delve inwards and feel my mana respond, surging towards my fingertips. I push it gently into Jake, my senses entering his body and reaching out further. Almost immediately, I'm able to feel Lucy's mana, a complex and fluid dance of energy that moves in intricate patterns like waves.

Lucy continues her instruction, her voice a gentle guide in the air around us. "For now, just follow my lead," she says. "Try to memorise my patterns while I work."

Both Alex and I follow Lucy's lead, carefully tracking the flow of her mana through Jake's body. We sense as it weaves its way through his injuries, slowly mending them and knitting the damaged tissue back together.

I concentrate as hard as I can, but the intricate patterns of Lucy's mana prove tricky for me to hold onto in my mind. As soon as I think I'm grasping them, my perception starts to swim and my head throbs with a dull ache.

I feel my mana getting expelled from Jake's body, and I look up to see Alex standing beside me, his eyes closed in concentration. I realize that he's channelling his own mana into Jake, the energy flowing out of him and into the wounded man.

Just as I was about to send my mana back into Jake, Lucy suddenly withdraws hers, breaking the flow of energy. "That will do for now," she says. "Jake needs to rest."

As Alex rises from Jake's side, a smile breaks out across his face. "That was amazing," he says.

Lucy laughs softly, her gaze flicking between me and Alex. "Yes, you both seem to be quite sensitive to mana," she observes. "Most people struggle with allowing their mana to enter others. I'm quite happy with your progress."

I cast a glance down at Jake, noticing that he's fallen back asleep, the healing process taking its toll on him. I don't quite agree with Lucy's assessment, though. I can't remember a single pattern of her mana flow.

Lucy seems to sense my doubt, her observant gaze resting on me. "You're very sensitive to mana, Balin," she remarks. "I can feel how smooth and untroubled your energy is, like a gentle wind caressing your skin."

I nod thoughtfully at her words but remain silent, letting her continue. She goes on, "I will keep healing him over the coming days, and both of you will help," she says. "Hopefully, you can pick up a healing skill as you go."

Alex looks at her questioningly, a hopeful expression on his face. "We can do that?" he asks, eagerly seeking confirmation. "Learn skills, I mean?"

Lucy regards us with a puzzled look on her face, her eyes scrutinizing us with curiosity. She asks bluntly, "Have you both been living under a rock? I've been polite and refrained from asking questions, but where did you come from?"

Alex responds to her query, his voice filled with a hint of embarrassment. "Right, we've been so occupied with leaving the village that we haven't had the chance to have a proper conversation yet," he admits. "What's the name of this planet?"

Lucy's eyes widen in disbelief, and she shoots Alex a look that suggests she's questioning his sanity. "Did you hit your head?" she asks. "Don't you even know the name of your own planet?"

Despite his best efforts to suppress it, the corner of Alex's lips twitches in a smile. "It's not quite like that, Granny," he explains. "We don’t think we're actually from here. We come from a place called Earth. The system descended, and suddenly, we found ourselves standing in this very forest."

Lucy is silent for what feels like an eternity, leaving us standing in an uncomfortable silence. Finally, she responds, her voice filled with a hint of disbelief. "Truly?" she asks, a hint of skepticism in her tone. "Are you trying to trick me? Also I’m not a granny!"

She begins to mutter to herself, a string of musings tumbling from her lips as she contemplates our claim. "It makes sense, I suppose," she mutters. "Why you both are so oblivious and new to mana."

Lucy scans the area around us, ensuring that no one has overheard our conversation. Turning her attention back to us, she speaks with a firm and serious tone, emphasizing the dangers of revealing our secret. "Don’t tell anyone else this," she says, her voice low yet forceful. "It can be quite dangerous if word gets out."

Alex looks at her with a puzzled expression on his face, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" he asks, his voice filled with genuine confusion. "Why would anything be dangerous?"

As we both lean closer, following her gesture, Lucy speaks in a quieter tone, her words meant for our ears only. "If what you said is true," she begins, her voice filled with a hint of awe and reverence, "it means that you are both Progenitors."

Lucy continues, her voice dropping to a whisper-like murmur. "I don't know a lot about this," she admits, her tone filled with a hint of intrigue, "but from what I've come to understand, when the system descends, it takes a select few inhabitants from the planet and transports them away for some time, to grow and learn. These individuals are known as Progenitors, and those who survive typically become incredibly powerful."

She casts a sympathetic glance at both of us, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Unluckily for you both," she says, her tone soft yet heavy with a sense of danger, "you have ended up here, in the Endless Forest Plane. This region is ruled by the Demi-Humans, and they hold a vehement hatred for humans. If they discover that you are Progenitors... the kindest thing they may do is end your lives."