The forest felt different today.
Heavier.
More dangerous.
Luxe stood still, his gaze scanning the surroundings carefully.
"…The mana density here is slightly higher than before, which means monsters should be nearby," he said calmly, tightening his grip on the wooden sword.
Beside him, Lumi stood quietly, her presence calm but alert.
"Young Master, I can sense multiple lifeforms moving in this area, and their behavior appears hostile," she said softly. "Please allow me to eliminate them quickly before they approach any closer."
Luxe shook his head slightly.
"No, I will handle them myself today because I need real combat experience now," he replied. "Training alone will not prepare me properly for future battles."
Lumi's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Understood. However, I will remain close enough to intervene if your life becomes threatened," she said firmly. "Your safety will always remain my highest priority regardless of your decisions."
"…That's fine," Luxe said. "Just don't interfere unless absolutely necessary during the fight."
A faint rustling sound echoed through the bushes.
Luxe's eyes narrowed.
"…They're here."
Three small figures emerged—
Green skin.
Sharp teeth.
Crude weapons.
"…Goblins," Luxe muttered. "Low-level monsters, but still dangerous for an untrained body like mine."
The goblins screeched loudly and rushed forward without hesitation.
"…Good," Luxe whispered. "Let's begin."
The first goblin charged directly toward him.
Luxe exhaled slowly.
"Focus on movement… control your breathing… don't waste unnecessary energy during the strike," he muttered quietly.
He stepped forward.
"Flash Step."
His body moved faster than before—
Slash.
The wooden blade struck the goblin's neck cleanly.
The creature collapsed instantly.
"…One down," Luxe said calmly. "The speed improvement is noticeable, but still not enough."
The second goblin lunged from the side.
Luxe turned sharply.
"…Too predictable."
"Flash Step."
Slash.
Another clean strike.
The second goblin fell.
"…Your movements are precise, but your reaction timing still needs further refinement," Lumi said calmly from behind. "You are slightly late in reading the opponent's initial attack pattern."
"…I know," Luxe replied, stepping back. "My body is still slower than my perception, so I need to adjust accordingly."
The third goblin hesitated.
Then—
It roared and rushed forward wildly.
"…This one is different," Luxe said quietly. "More aggressive, but less controlled in its movement."
He raised his hand.
Lightning gathered faintly.
"Thunder Bolt."
CRACK—!!
The attack struck the goblin's shoulder, slowing its movement but not stopping it completely.
"…The output is still insufficient for instant elimination," Luxe observed. "I need to increase both density and focus of the lightning."
The goblin closed the distance.
Luxe's eyes sharpened.
"…Then let's try something new."
He tightened his grip on the sword.
Lightning began to gather—
Not in his hand—
But along the blade.
"…Compress it… shape it… don't let it disperse before the strike lands," he muttered.
The energy trembled violently.
"…Stay stable."
The goblin swung its weapon—
Luxe stepped forward.
"Flash Step."
Then—
"Thunder Lance."
CRACK—!!
The lightning surged forward through the blade—
Condensed.
Focused.
It pierced straight through the goblin's chest.
Silence.
The creature collapsed instantly.
Luxe stood still.
"…That worked," he said quietly. "The concentration of lightning into a single point significantly increased its penetration power."
Lumi stepped forward slowly.
"…That technique was far beyond your current level, yet you executed it with remarkable control," she said. "However, the strain on your mana flow appears to be quite severe."
Luxe exhaled deeply.
"…Yes. That attack consumed nearly one-third of my available mana capacity," he replied. "If I use it carelessly, I will run out of energy very quickly."
Lumi looked at him carefully.
"…Then you should refine the efficiency of that technique before relying on it repeatedly in battle," she said calmly. "Otherwise, it may become more of a liability than an advantage."
"…Exactly," Luxe nodded. "Power without efficiency is meaningless in prolonged combat situations."
Suddenly—
The egg inside his bag pulsed faintly.
Thump…
Luxe froze slightly.
"…It reacted again."
A faint warmth spread through his body.
"…Is it… supporting my mana flow?" he muttered.
Lumi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…The energy signature from the egg has changed, and it feels more synchronized with your mana," she said. "It is possible that a bond is forming between you and the creature inside."
Luxe placed his hand over the bag.
"…Then I will make full use of it," he said quietly. "If this power can accelerate my growth, I will not hesitate to accept it."
He looked at the fallen goblins.
"…This level is still too low," he said. "I need stronger opponents if I want to grow faster."
Lumi tilted her head slightly.
"…You are already pushing your limits beyond what your current body can safely handle," she said. "Continuing at this pace may result in long-term damage."
Luxe turned toward her.
"…Then I will adapt faster than my limits can restrict me," he replied calmly. "This time, I refuse to remain weak when it matters most."
Silence.
Lumi stared at him for a moment.
Then—
She bowed her head slightly.
"…Understood. Then I will ensure that you survive long enough to reach that strength," she said softly. "No matter how dangerous your path becomes, I will remain by your side."
Luxe gave a faint nod.
"…Good."
He picked up his sword again.
"…Let's continue."
The forest remained quiet.
But now—
It was no longer a place of training.
It had become—
A battlefield.