I sat against a tree trunk and checked the time, 10:30. I had already missed the last mana train back to the cube, but this time I knew it would probably happen. I brought a tent and a blanket along with some food for dinner. I could feel the sweat dripping down my face. As you get closer to mastery, the quick flashes you perform have to be more and more powerful for it to count. For example, if I want the system to count one quick flash, now I would have to do 10 weak quick flashes. This is also the reason I came to the isolated forest here.

To master quick flash, I would have to release multiple max power quick flashes. The commotion caused by quick flashes would draw a huge amount of attention, so I came here, the most isolated spot I knew. Currently, I was resting and preparing to release 10 max power quick flashes in a row. I know it may sound unbelievable as only 3 days ago, I was barely able to perform 3 max quick flashes in an hour, but I was prepared this time. I had brought over 15 potions and most importantly, a shit ton of painkillers. I also realized that I would probably be blacked out for quite a bit, so I sent a text to Bam.

[Ren: Hey, I have a family emergency. I won't be in school for maybe a day. Can you let the teacher know tomorrow]

'shameless, I know'

With the painkillers, I was sure I could do 10, but I wasn't sure how my body would take it. After the tenth quick flash, I would most likely collapse from exhaustion, and when I woke up, I would probably have multiple shattered bones. However, I decided that it would most likely be worth it. On the off chance that there was no reward for mastery, I would probably jump.

'well, this it. This shit better be op after the number of hours, I put in'

I drank some water and stood up. My training katana would probably break under the pressure of 10 max quick flashes, so I turned Aether into a katana and a sheath. This would be my first time performing a max quick flash with Aether, so I was also curious about how powerful it would be.

I placed my hand on the orange katana and immediately began to draw in wind spirits. It took about 0.5 seconds for me to have enough power to perform the quick flash. I faced myself towards the tree in front of me, unsheathed my katana, and watched in awe. The wind slash sliced down the first tree like it was cutting butter and kept going. The slash kept going until the fifteenth tree, disappeared.

'HOLY SHIT. After the 10 max quick flashes, the entire forest will be gone... Well that's a problem for future me'

If I did the 10 slashes consecutively, I would be able to instantly gain mastery over quick flash whereas if I did one and took a break, it would be about 25 quick-level flashes. If you're wondering why, I didn't just perform max-level quick flashes from the start. I had nowhere to do it without garnering attention, and I would have to take breaks after performing each one. Until now, it had been faster to just do low-level quick flashes as I wouldn't have to take any breaks in between them.

After catching my breath, I turned around and performed another quick flash.

*WHOOSH*

I aimed at another tree.

*WHOOSH*

"AHHHH DAMN, MY BODY IS BURNING. CAN'T STOP NOW"

Another tree

*WHOOSH

Another

*WHOOSH*

*WHOOSH*

"I-i c-an't st-stop n-now"

I grabbed the potions I had prepared beforehand and gulped them down. At this point, I was not sane at all. The pain had completely taken over. My mind was devoid of any emotions. There was only one thing repeating constantly in my brain. "Master Quick Flash."

*WHOOSH*

"u-uh a-an-another po-"

*GULP*

*WHOOSH*

I looked down and saw my hands were covered in blood from the impact of the quick flashes. 2 more... I grabbed two painkillers from my bag and ate them without any water.

"ah fuck, this is gonna hurt like hell later isn't it"

*WHOOSH*

I felt like my entire body was being poked by needles. Though I was hurting like hell, the power of my quick flashes was increasing, I could see the last one actually caused a crater in the ground.

'last one'

I grabbed the sheath of my katana and started gathering elementals. This time, I held on not for 0.5 seconds, but for 1 whole second. My hand was trembling at the sheer amount of power currently surrounding my katana. I felt the painkillers wearing off as my entire body started aching like hell. With my hand still on my katana, I screamed in agony.

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"AHHHHH"

The sound echoed throughout the entire city and forest. I unsheathed the katana and watched the biggest wind slash I have ever seen slice through 1 tree. Then 2. Then 5. Then 10. Then 25. Then 45. Then finally after cutting down 50 trees straight, it disappeared.

[Kekei Style Upgraded: Minor Realm of Mastery]

My job wasn't quite done yet. I had to get the hell out of here. I gulped down 2 more painkillers, waited for the pain inside my body to dissipate, and ran as fast as I could. I kept running and running until finally I reached the base of the mountain. I didn't stop there. I ran up the mountain, defying all laws of gravity, until I found the cave that I had prepared earlier. I ran into the cave and saw the tent, but before I could reach it, my smartwatch vibrated.

[No service, message not delivered]

"w-wait"

Before I could do anything about it, my vision became blurry and it eventually completely black. I blacked out.

-*- (POV Change to Olivia)

I was lying down in the bed in my room with Cecil snuggled up against me.

'I spoil Cecil too much. I told her last time it would be the last, but here I am again'

It can't be helped. I know once she starts middle school, she'll be all alone. In my head, I had already decided to leave somewhere foreign after the Cube, but I realized by doing that, I was making Cecil go through the same loneliness and pain I felt back then. I could have easily rejected coming back home with the excuse of the Cube, but instead, I came, not for Cecil, but for the sake of curing my own guilt. I feel like I'm making it easier for her by spending as much time as. I can with her right now, but I know in the end, it'll be the same result.

'I'm a bad person. Aren't I? I'm making my sister go through the same pain, I did. I'm pathetic'

Interrupting my self-loathing, I heard a bloodcurdling scream from afar.

"AHHHHHHHHHH"

Cecil, who was previously asleep, was now shivering in fear. I could feel her tremble against my body. She wasn't the only trembling. My body was shivering.

"s-sis wh-what w-was t-that"

*CRASH*

My mom and dad rushed into my room.

"OLVIA, CECIL. ARE YOU FINE?"

I couldn't move. It felt like I was immobilized with fear. That scream. It sounded familiar. The scream didn't just sound like that person was in pain, but it sounded like they were happy. Still trembling, I asked.

"d-dad, w-what w-was t-that"

My dad, who was relieved that we were fine, responded.

"I don't know honey. Don't worry you two. I sent my best guards out to investigate. Most likely someone committed murder and that was a scream of pain"

"d-dad, t-the s-sound d-didn't c-come fr-from town.."

"what honey? what are you saying?? where else would it come from?"

At that moment, a guard rushed into our quarters.

"SIR, THREE-FOURTHS OF THE FOREST OUTSIDE THE CITY IS GONE"

My dad asked in disbelief

"w-what, are you sure? That's impossible. That forest has over 500 trees. It takes a master lumberjack over 6 hours to chop down one of those trees."

"Come outside, Sir"

My dad went outside and my mom was in bed comforting Cecil. Even I would have nightmares after hearing that scream. Seeing that both of them were distracted, I snuck after my dad to see if the guard's report was true.

'it has to be impossible'

I followed my dad as he stepped onto the balcony, and we both saw it. The forest, which was filled with trees only a few hours ago, was in ruin. In the center of the forest, there was a massive crater, and all the trees within a 100-meter radius of it were chopped perfectly. The stumps of the trees were there, but the rest of the trees' bodies were scattered all over the place. It looked as if a tornado had passed by. No, a tornado couldn't do that much damage...

My dad and I said in unison

"w-what"

"Sir, we have called back up from the hero's association. They will be here shortly to investigate"

"Yes good, I can't even imagine what would have happened if that person's anger was directed toward the city"

My dad turned away from the guard and noticed me watching.

"Honey, go back to sleep. I'll take care of it"

Listening to my dad, I headed to the guest room of the house as my room was occupied by my mom and Cecilia.

-*- (POV Change to Kim Hajin)

As soon as I woke up, I checked my bank balance on my smartwatch. Yesterday, I went hunting again to gather investing funds.

[Balance: 5.5 million yen]

Without waiting, I immediately put all of my money into PackHorse Masters. After all, their stock would soon skyrocket, and I would become filthy rich. It also seemed like the Charmeleon Troup was making their move as another party seemed to be investing in the stock alongside me.

The Charmeleon Troup was a villain group that would become relevant later on in the story. They should be making an appearance soon to recruit Shin Jonghak during the mid-term exams.

After making sure my investment went through, I closed my laptop and headed to school. I arrived at 8:27 and headed toward my new spot, next to Ren. Ren was a weird kid, but he was fun to hang around. Hah, he would probably call me a loser if I said that to him.

'huh, he's still not here? probably running late'

*RING*

The bell rang and the teacher entered. Ren still wasn't there. The teacher looked around the classroom before pausing on Ren's seat.

"Bam and Hajin. Do you know where Ren, rank 933, is?"

Bam, who was sitting in the row in front of us, looked back at me and shrugged my shoulders.

"Sorry, we don't know"

I pulled out my smartwatch and texted him.

[Hajin: Dude, class started. The instructor is pissed]

[Hajin: Hello?]

'he's probably still tired after the artificial dungeon incident two days ago. The teacher will let it go'

I have to admit class was a bit boring without him as we mostly messed around the entire time. Yeah, the two kids with the best grades mess around all class. I don't know about him, but I have the observation and reading gift. I don't have to study or anything, I can just copy down from a holographic screen. He must have to study hard after class though. He's basically a ghost after class ends, I have no idea where he goes.

After class was finished, Bam and I met up to head to Ren's dorm. Though the two of us weren't that close, we were friends through Ren, so we saw each other often. We walked in an awkward silence until Bam asked.

"any idea where he is"

"he's probably still sleeping. You know where is dorm is right"

"yeah, room 502"

We headed up to the elevator to floor 5 and walked to his room. I knocked on the door and asked.

"hey Ren, you in there? The teachers looking for you. You're so screwed"

"..."

No response.

We knocked for five minutes straight but no response. I suddenly had an idea.

"Hey give me a sec Bam"

I kneeled down on the ground and grabbed my invisible laptop. I went to the Book of Truth and wrote.

[Unlock Dorm 502's door]

[10 SP required]

'He'll pay me this back later'

[Confirm]

"Alright try now Bam"

Bam twisted the door handle and slowly opened the door.

"dude what the hell did you just do"

"a trick"

"wait dude, does that work for girl dorms?"

"... NO DUDE, I'M NOT A PERVERT"

"alright, dude I won't tell. Next, time invite me and Ren though. We're always down for an adventure, you know what I mean."

"... let's just get Ren now"

We entered his dorm, which was surprisingly clean, however, upon looking inside, Ren was not there.

"uhhh Hajin, where the hell is he?"