CHAPTER 5: BOHO-PINE FOREST

The sun had vanished below the horizon, and the town’s nightlife was beginning to stir up as I dragged my aching body towards home.

On the way, my mind replayed the moment Dasheen walked up to me at the tavern and said what he said. I appreciated the compliment, but I didn’t feel like it was enough. I struggled with every monster, if only I were stronger.

However, I am working harder and with consistency and never slacking effort I will achieve my goals. I had an advantage no one else did, if I could continue to use my Intelligence to outsmart my enemies, I would find a way to keep climbing.

I’m literally using my mind to build my magic and strength, that is unheard of and it is enough reason to know that I have an immence potential.

After eventually parting ways with the Border Cleanup Group, I returned home to my beautiful twin brothers who were waiting for me.

As soon as I stepped into the front door, Jackson ran up to me with excitement and Percy approached with an object in his hands.

"Levi, look I sculpted you out of clay!" Percy said holding the object so I could seen in the deemly candle-lit house.

I flashed him a smile and grabbed the hardened clay from him. It was simple and had sandy flakes falling from it due to its poor craftsmanship. I turned to glance at myself in the mirror beside the front door, then back at the sculpture.

"Its a perfect fit! How could you sculpt me with such precision? Very impressive Percy" I said and the both of them burst in a frenzy of adorable laughter that filled my ears with joy.

I felt a pang in my chest as soon as the frenzy died down. Their innocence was like a testament, always reminding me of how much I needed to protect them.

What would happen if a gate suddenly opened right above the house and shadow creatures wasted no time to break out? What would be of their fate? Would I stand watching them get devoured?

I cannot loose what is left of my family, and I have to regain the other half that has been lost. To do that I have to get stronger.

I’ve always been the weakest and I have been mocked for it at every turn, I want strength!

After dinner, I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. My body ached, but I dare not let my siblings know about it all evening.

My mind was restless, replaying the events of the day. The Shadow creatures I faced, the moment I leveled up, the dopamine that hit me after every progress, after every small victory.

This gave me hope as I heaved a huge sigh.

I couldn’t possibily rely on the Border Cleanup Group to gain all the experience I need, I’m preparing myself to be strong enough to enter a gate.

If I wanted to level up faster, I needed to find more ways or oppurtunities to fight and kill.

I had this mysterious, nameless system, I now had an Arcane reserve, and I keep leveling up. All I need is a fighting chance to kill, what do I do now?

The Border Cleanup Group basically wiped out half of the Shadow creatures roaming the outskirts of the town, however there are still gates that have been broken and Shadow creatures spewing out of it beyond the surronding areas of the town.

So...

I had one place in mind, it was far but I could still make it there and back in a day, assuming I don’t end up dead.

The shadow creatures there are not E-Rank or D-Rank like the ones today, they are probably up and above because no one really goes there, so no one knows for sure.

"I see..." I muttered to myself. "The chances of running into an S-Rank Shadow spirit is possible but if so, Reapers would have dealt with it by now..."

"Still I could very much run into a C-Rank or even an A-Rank... and if that happens, I’m done for... I’m still Lower E-Rank Awakened and I would die if that happens."

What do I do?

"But, I want to grow faster... alright, I’ll be going to the Boho-pine Forest tomorrow..."

I said outloud with resolve while turning on my side and closing my eyes to induce sleep.

To defeat monsters and level up was my goal, and I figured that the more powerful or higher ranked a monster is, the more rewards I get and the faster I level up and get stronger.

To achieve this mighty feat, I need a plan.

My mind would help me outsmart them shadow creatures, but that alone cannot cut it. What do I do in a situation where I get hit with a direct blast of Anti-arcane? I’m as good as dead.

It was risky, but the riskier the journey, the greater the reward.

»»»«««

The next morning, I rose about an hour before sunrise. Every inch section of my body protested with pain but I pushed through and prepared myself to leave.

After a quick breakfast and setting everything Percy and Jackson would need for their day to school, I left the house and made my way towards the border of the town.

I didn’t join the border group this time because this was something I desperately needed to do on my own.

I wasn’t going to treck all the way to the Boho-pine forest, I would be exhausted before I got there. I sneakingly climbed inside a horse carrier that was making its way out of the town and into the wild.

On getting to the cross section, one path leading to the forest and the other leading to the rest of the world, I dropped off and started down the path to the forest.

As I ventured deeper into the woods, I focused my mind and skewed every sense organ I could use: Smell, sight, touch and hearing were all working in sync.

After several hours of walking and marking the spots so I could recognize my way out if there be a situation I need to run for my life, I encountered a group of Scorpion-Type Shadow Creatures, they were small, fast and agile monsters that used their sharp pincer to attack.

Immediately I set eyes on them:

Ding!

~Poisoned Tailed Crawlers~

~Difficulty: E-Rank~

There were five of them, and I knew this would be a tough fight. But, trust me to always have a plan.