I let out a slow, steady breath of relief as the heavy footsteps finally faded into the distance.
Still, I didn't emerge immediately. I waited, letting the silence stretch until I was certain.
I was beginning to understand the oppressive quiet of this forest. Despite the monsters lurking in the shadows, not a single sound dared to break the stillness. In a place like this, noise was a death sentence.
It was time to hunt—and leave this place behind.
I moved with a ghost-like grace, weaving through the trees and leaping across the canopy. After a period of meticulous observation, I finally spotted my target: a medium-sized green lynx.
Its pelt was a perfect mirror for the damp foliage, and it moved with a terrifying, rhythmic stillness. It was stalking something.
I followed, trailing it through the gloom while utilising the darkness as a veil. I could feel my magical reserves thinning, though the drain was slight since I relied primarily on the raw, honed strength of my physical body.
Eventually, I saw what the lynx was after—a giant frog perched on a rock near a lake. The creature sat motionless, its head tilted toward the water as it waited for its own prey skittering beneath the surface.
Luck, however, had abandoned the frog.
The lynx struck like a blur of emerald lightning, its fangs sinking deep into the frog's skull. Claws tore jagged gashes through its hide, and after a few minutes of desperate struggling, the frog went limp.
I prepared to lunge, but the lynx's ears twitched instantly. It was alert, its instincts wired for a counter-ambush. I forced myself to be patient, waiting for the perfect opening.
The beast began to drag its prize away. The frog was significantly larger than the lynx, yet it hauled the weight with ease.
A creature capable of dragging such a heavy load by its neck alone possessed a terrifying level of musculature in its back and throat. I kept my eyes fixed on it, trailing it until it entered a narrow passage between several massive, ancient trees.
This was my moment.
In the blink of an eye, I struck, aiming a lethal blow at its throat—but I hit nothing but thin air.
The lynx had vanished, reappearing several meters ahead. It turned to face me, its features twisted into a look of unmistakable mockery.
I settled into a fighting stance.
The beast began to circle me, measuring my strength and calculating my reach. It would vanish behind a trunk only to reappear seconds later, closing the distance.
Suddenly, it lunged.
I barely avoided the strike by bending low, responding instantly with a brutal, bone-shattering kick. A sharp yelp of pain pierced the air, but instead of retreating, the lynx's gaze sharpened.
The mockery in its eyes deepened; it no longer saw an intruder, but a plaything.
It attacked again, this time with double its previous speed and raw ferocity. I twisted mid-air to avoid a savage bite aimed at my jugular, slashing at its jaw with my claws. It evaded effortlessly.
But as soon as its paws touched the earth, the trap was sprung.
Black magical spears erupted from the ground, skewering the beast instantly.
A cold smile spread across my face. The plan had worked.
My initial strike at its neck had been nothing more than a feint—a move designed to lower its guard and convince it that I was an inexperienced amateur. I had deliberately suppressed my magical aura, saving my energy for this singular, inescapable trap.
The lynx thrashed with feral desperation, growling and snapping at the air. It vomited blood as the internal injuries took their toll. Feeling a faint twinge of pity for the creature, I decided to end its suffering.
With a flick of my wrist, a distant spell severed its head.
The magical spears dissipated instantly, as maintaining them was a heavy drain on my energy. I summoned my green flames to incinerate the frog's carcass, leaving only its core intact.
[Congratulations, Master. You have obtained 150 units of Clean Energy.]
"System, from now on, refer to raw energy as 'Clean Energy'," I commanded.
[Understood, Master.]
I didn't like the term "raw." It implied something unrefined or lacking. In truth, this energy was pure and potent—the word "clean" felt far more appropriate for the power I was gathering.
I began the trek back to my entry point, the lynx's corpse slung over my shoulder. Its fur was irritating, the stiff hairs prickling my skin like a thousand tiny thorns.
Finally, I reached the teleportation circle.
I placed the frog's core into the centre, and the ancient markings began to hum with life.
The core was a black gem, roughly the size of a palm, and incredibly valuable. Its best application was in weapon smithing, as it could absorb demonic energy from the air to ensure a blade never ran dry.
While one could swallow it to absorb the energy directly, it was a wasteful choice. Its true potential lay in its use for treasures, complex magical formations, and powering circles like the one I was standing in now.
The light intensified, and the forest began to blur.