After a week of relentless training, Erik felt like he had hit a wall. His mornings were filled with classes, and every afternoon was dedicated to honing his skills in Ki and Mana manipulation. Despite his efforts, progress seemed painfully slow. The more he trained, the more he sensed a growing frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

“Maybe I need a change of scenery,” he muttered to himself one evening, staring out of his dorm room window. “I can’t keep doing the same thing over and over.”

The next day, Erik packed a few supplies and ventured into the nearby forest, determined to find a way to test himself against real challenges. The sun streamed through the trees, and the sounds of wildlife filled the air as he wandered deeper into the woods, excitement mingling with apprehension.

“Let’s see what you’ve got!” he said aloud, trying to bolster his confidence as he approached a small clearing. There, he encountered his first beast: a feral boar. Its beady eyes glinted as it rooted around for food. Erik crouched down, focusing his Ki sense to detect its energy signature.

Erik had been practicing Ki Sense to enhance his instincts, and now he could sense the boar’s energy—low and unrefined, just like his own. “This should be easy,” he whispered, feeling emboldened.

He charged at the creature, dodging its tusks as he struck out with a flurry of punches. The boar fell quickly, and Erik felt a rush of adrenaline and accomplishment.

Over the next few hours, he continued to train in the forest, taking down weaker creatures like rabbits and smaller beasts. Each victory boosted his confidence, but deep down, he knew he needed a real challenge to grow stronger. The thought nagged at him, and soon, he found himself hungry for something more than mere training dummies.

One afternoon, while he was finishing off an agile ape, Erik felt a sudden chill in the air, a sensation that sent a shiver down his spine. Something powerful lurked nearby. He instinctively activated his Ki Sense, trying to pinpoint the source of his unease.

“What is that?” he muttered, scanning the shadows. He could detect a presence that felt far more powerful than anything he had faced before, but the creature was hidden from his senses.

“It feels… dangerous.”

He dismissed the feeling, convincing himself it was just his imagination. But as he finished off the ape, the low growl of a predator echoed through the trees, and Erik’s heart raced. He turned to find himself face-to-face with a massive Storm Wolf, its fur crackling with a faint, electric energy.

Erik’s breath hitched in his throat. “Oh no…” he gasped, panic rising. The wolf's piercing gaze locked onto him, and he could feel the weight of its presence pressing down on him. He was outmatched, far beneath its level, and every instinct screamed at him to run.

“What do I do?” he thought desperately. He knew that fleeing would be futile; the wolf would surely catch him. Instead, he braced himself, instinctively channeling Ki into his muscles, readying himself for a fight.

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“I can’t back down,” he said, determination mingling with fear.

The Storm Wolf lunged at him, jaws snapping. Erik sidestepped its attack, narrowly avoiding the sharp teeth that grazed his arm. He retaliated with a punch to the wolf’s side, feeling the impact resonate through his knuckles. The wolf barely flinched and quickly spun around to face him.

Erik's heart raced as he prepared for another attack, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

“I’ve got to keep moving!” he shouted, dodging the wolf's strikes.

The creature was faster and stronger than anything he had fought before, its strikes landing with bone-shattering force.

He felt the fatigue settling in, but he refused to give up.

“I can’t lose to this thing!” he yelled, summoning every ounce of his strength.

With a fierce battle cry, Erik charged at the wolf again, landing a few quick strikes, but they only seemed to irritate the beast.

“Come on!”

Erik shouted, desperation creeping into his voice as he dodged another attack. He was on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the wolf’s relentless assaults. As he backed away, he glanced around for an escape route, but the forest felt like it was closing in around him.

In a moment of sheer instinct, he found himself cornered against a tree. The Storm Wolf lunged, and Erik barely managed to sidestep it again, feeling the rush of air as the creature's powerful body slammed into the trunk. As it turned to attack once more, Erik’s body acted on its own.

“Mana Ward!” he shouted, instinctively conjuring the spell. A shield of shimmering energy appeared in front of him just as the wolf lunged. The impact sent a shockwave through his body, and for a brief moment, he felt the weight of his own fear pressing down on him.

But in that moment of peril, Erik’s survival instinct kicked in. He channeled his Mana, and the shield pulsed with energy, momentarily stunning the wolf. Seizing the opportunity, Erik drew upon the Mana swirling within him, instinctively unleashing a two-star Mana spell he hadn’t even consciously known he could use.

“Mana Blast!” he roared, a wave of energy erupting from his palm. The spell surged forward, striking the Storm Wolf squarely in the chest. The force of the blast sent the creature sprawling backward, and Erik felt a surge of exhilaration mixed with disbelief.

The wolf struggled to rise, but Erik didn’t relent. He charged forward, fists clenched. He could feel the remnants of his Mana spell still humming through him, empowering his movements. With one final, determined strike, he landed a powerful blow to the wolf’s head, and the creature collapsed to the ground.

Erik stood over the fallen beast, panting heavily, a mix of fear and exhilaration coursing through him.

“I… I did it,” he breathed, disbelief washing over him.

His heart raced as he processed the intensity of the battle and the instinctive use of the Mana spell.

Suddenly, a warm glow caught his eye. He looked down at the Storm Wolf and noticed a pulsating light emanating from its body.

Curiosity piqued, Erik leaned closer, realizing that it was a monster core, the crystalline heart of the creature. He had heard that such cores could be absorbed by Aura users to enhance their abilities.

As he gazed at the glowing core, a wave of disappointment washed over him.

“I can’t absorb it,” he muttered, feeling a pang of regret. He felt the same sensation he had when he first made contact with Mana—a surge of energy that left him bewildered and longing for something just out of reach.

“What is this feeling?” he wondered, his heart racing with confusion and intrigue. He knew that absorbing a monster core could bring tremendous power, yet here he was, powerless to claim it for himself.

Erik shook his head, grounding himself.

“Focus, Erik,” he whispered, trying to refocus on the moment. He had fought valiantly, ranked up, and tapped into a new well of power. But the core pulsing before him hinted at a greater mystery—a tantalizing glimpse of the path that lay ahead.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Erik made his way back through the forest, feeling lighter and more powerful than ever. He had faced his fears, learned from the struggle, and emerged stronger. With each step, he felt more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead, eager to embrace whatever adventures awaited him in his journey.