The forest felt different now.
Not because it changed.
But because I did.
"...Too quiet."
I walked slowly, eyes scanning every movement.
Every sound.
Every shift in the wind.
Before—
I would've been nervous.
Careless.
Maybe even afraid.
Now?
"...Come out."
My voice was calm.
Cold.
A rustle.
From the left.
Then—
A shadow lunged.
A wolf-type monster.
Rank D.
Fast.
Sharp claws.
Aimed straight for my neck.
"...Slow."
I stepped.
Gone.
Shadow Step.
My body slipped behind it.
The black blade appeared.
No hesitation.
Slash.
The head dropped before the body even realized it was dead.
Silence.
Then—
[You have defeated: Forest Fang Wolf]
[EXP Gained]
I exhaled slowly.
"...Too easy."
That wasn't arrogance.
It was fact.
A few days ago—
This would've been a fight.
Now?
"...Not enough."
I moved deeper.
Further than before.
Further than most adventurers would go.
The air grew heavier.
Thicker.
"...Good."
That meant stronger monsters.
And that's what I needed.
Hours passed.
Blood.
Sweat.
More monsters.
Rank D.
Then—
Finally—
Something stronger.
A large figure stepped out from behind the trees.
Massive.
Dark fur.
Red eyes.
A distorted bear-like creature.
Its breath alone felt heavy.
"...Rank C."
I tightened my grip.
"...Let's see."
The monster roared.
The ground shook.
Then it charged.
Fast.
Too fast for its size.
"...Good."
I stepped forward instead of back.
Clash.
Its claw met my blade.
The impact—
Heavy.
My arm shook.
"...Still strong."
It swung again.
I dodged.
Barely.
A tree behind me shattered.
"...Heh."
A small smile.
"...This is better."
The fight continued.
Back and forth.
Each hit—
Dangerous.
Each mistake—
Fatal.
It hit me once.
Directly.
My body slammed into the ground.
"...Ghh—!"
Pain exploded.
My vision blurred.
"...Damn it."
The monster roared again.
Charging.
"...Too fast…"
For a moment—
I hesitated.
And that almost killed me.
The claw came down—
But I moved.
Instinct.
Not thought.
Shadow Step.
Behind it.
Slash.
Blood.
Not deep enough.
"...Tch."
It turned instantly.
Faster now.
Angrier.
We clashed again.
And again.
And again.
My breathing got heavier.
My body slower.
Its attacks wilder.
But stronger.
"...This is it."
I realized.
"...This is the limit."
My current limit.
My current strength.
And it wasn't enough.
The monster charged again.
I couldn't fully dodge.
Claws tore into my side.
"...GHH—!"
Blood poured out.
I dropped to one knee.
"...Damn it…"
My vision shook.
The world tilted.
"...Not here."
The monster walked closer.
Slow.
Confident.
Like it already won.
"...I'm not dying here."
My hand tightened on the ground.
"...Not again."
Faces flashed.
Robert.
Eron.
The guild.
Mira.
"...Not like this."
Then—
[Condition Met: Near Death State]
[Skill Evolution Available]
"...Again?"
[Enhanced Perception Lv.1 → Lv.2]
[Black Weapon Synchronization: 81% → 87%]
Everything slowed.
Not the world.
My mind.
My senses sharpened.
Every movement—
Clear.
Predictable.
The monster moved.
I saw it.
Before it happened.
"...I get it now."
I stood up slowly.
Blood still dripping.
Body still broken.
But—
My eyes changed.
"...You're not fast."
The monster lunged.
I stepped.
Perfect timing.
Shadow Step.
Behind it.
This time—
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
Slash.
Deep.
Another step.
Another cut.
And again.
And again.
The monster roared.
Desperate now.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
"...Too late."
I moved one last time.
Straight toward it.
The blade pierced its neck.
Deep.
Clean.
Silence.
The body collapsed.
Heavy.
Final.
[You have defeated: Bloodclaw Ursus (Rank C)]
[Level Up]
A warm sensation spread through my body.
My wounds—
Closing.
Slowly.
But enough.
I stood there.
Breathing heavily.
Looking down at the corpse.
"...So this is it."
My chest rose and fell.
"...This is how I grow."
Pain.
Near death.
Survival.
I laughed quietly.
"...What a messed up system."
I sat down beside the corpse.
Exhausted.
But alive.
"...Mira."
I looked at my hand.
Then clenched it.
"...Next time…"
My voice was low.
Cold.
"I won't lose."