A subtle shift in the air signaled that it was absorbing the energy around him, converting it into mana, and replenishing him with an almost effortless flow
Shido couldn't help but feel a spark of surprise at this new development. He hadn't experienced this when he fought Kurumi before. The fact that his Divine Ring was now actively drawing energy from the surroundings and replenishing his mana was an exciting discovery.
He paused for a moment, his thoughts racing. 'If I don't go all out in a fight, I might be able to maintain my original Spirit form for a lot longer...'
Thinking of this, Shido became more excited and thought of many possibilities now that he could maintain this form.
However, he needed to leave this forest first since he still needed to complete the quests.
With a small nod, Shido transformed back into his human form. While his Spirit form gave him a tremendous boost, he knew it would be far too conspicuous if he entered town like that. People would likely mistake him for a demon, and that was the last thing he needed right now.
As he glanced down at the spoils from the defeated monsters, a slight smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Ding!
[You gained 93,000 Exp]
[You gained 28,000 SP]
[You gained 273 SF]
Shido couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment as he looked at the rewards from his battle. While the gains weren't monumental, he knew this was only the beginning.
There would be plenty more monsters to face, and each one brought the potential for even greater rewards. He was patient, he knew that, over time, once he defeat higher level monsters he could gain more points.
With a determined look, Shido activated his Flash Step, his body blurring as he moved at incredible speed leaving behind the catastrophic crater.
...
As Shido dashed through the forest at incredible speed, he suddenly came to an abrupt stop. A faint sound reached his ears, pulling his attention away from finding a way out of this forest.
Shido closed his eyes and focus on his hearing. Shido then opened his eyes and heard shouts or rather he saw from his Observation Haki that a a group of bandits had surrounded a carriage, engaging in a brutal fight with the guards who were trying to protect it. The battle was chaotic, with the bandits clearly gaining the upper hand.
Shido's gaze lingered on the carriage. The intricate design and fine craftsmanship told him everything he needed to know. The design of the carriage wasn't ordinary, Shido knew immediately that the one inside it must be a noble or someone with high status.
Shido didn't particularly want to get involved. It wasn't his fight, and he had his own goals to pursue. But now that he had seen the scene unfold, it would leave a bad taste in his mouth if he let those bandits kill the one inside especially if the one inside was a female.
He let out a quiet sigh, brushing a hand through his hair. 'Guess I'll be meddlesome for once…' It had been a while since he last interfered in someone else's affairs, but this time, he couldn't look the other way.
With that thought, Shido stepped forward, his figure vanishing in a blur as he moved swiftly toward the carriage, ready to eliminate those bandits.
...
"Hehehe, hurry up, everyone! Most of the guards are down!" one of the bandits shouted excitedly, his gaze fixed on the carriage with a twisted gleam in his eyes.
"Hehe, I wonder how the third Princess would taste like?" Another bandit commented, licking his lips as he slash a guard in his throat.
Around them, the rest of the bandits erupted into crude, lecherous laughter, their eyes filled with lust and greed as they closed in on the carriage. The air was thick with bloodlust and malice.
"Don't let your guard down! Remember our objective!" barked a gruff voice. The one who spoke was clearly their leader, he was older and more composed, with a scar running down his cheek.
"Yes, boss!" the bandits responded in unison, snapping out of their lewd excitement. Though they straightened up and tightened their formation, the wicked grins never fully left their faces. The thought of the third princess of the Re-Estize Kingdom still lingered in their minds, sending heat surging on their nether region.
...
*Clang!*
"Shit!" Climb cursed through gritting his teeth as he deflected a bandit's strike, his arms trembling slightly from the impact.
They were on the way back to the capital accompanying the Third Princess but they were suddenly ambushed by a group of bandits causing many casualties from the guards.
'Could someone have tipped them off?' he wondered briefly.
Although, the sudden appearance of the bandits was suspicious, Climb didn't have the time to think about that since the only thing that mattered is to protect the princess.
He knew that once they were all defeated, the fate of the Third Princess would definitely be miserable. He tightened his grip on his sword, planting his feet firmly as he prepared to fend off the next attack. No matter what, he couldn't let them reach her.
...
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, a young girl sat with an air of quiet composure. Her long golden hair cascaded gracefully down her back, shimmering faintly in the dim light. Slowly, she opened her eyes, revealing a pair of vibrant, dark blue irises that gleamed like polished sapphires.
She wore a pristine white dress, adorned with subtle embroidery, and around her neck hung a golden necklace, a symbol of her noble status and royal lineage.
Despite the chaos happening just beyond the carriage walls, a gentle smile still formed on her beautiful face. There was no trace of fear or concern in her expression. It was as if the cries of battle, the clash of steel, and the scent of blood in the air were nothing more than distant echoes that were insignificant to her.