For Sizki, envy didn't last long. Very quickly, it was replaced by determination—and even greater effort.
Meanwhile, Ryuji was testing the extent of his own strength.
Surpassing Sizki was no longer a problem. That much he was sure of. But he doubted he had yet reached the so-called level of Awakening.
Still, someone like Sizki—an elite adventurer—stood no chance against him now.
He didn't underestimate her, though. Anyone admired so highly by Chobung couldn't possibly be weak.
And besides, Sizki looked exactly like the Fighters from the game—as if a perfect two-dimensional character had stepped straight into reality.
"How did you suddenly get this strong?"
Rosh narrowed his eyes, suspicion in her voice. She couldn't understand why Ryuji had become so powerful all of a sudden.
"I already told you—it was just a stroke of fortune."
Ryuji spread his hands casually.
"But since I've returned, of course I'm going to continue adventuring. I'm planning to head deeper into Lorien. What about you?"
Ryuji turned his gaze toward Rosh and asked his question.
The Lorien Forest wasn't like in the game, where only rookie adventurers would venture there. In reality, it was one of the most dangerous places on the continent, crawling with countless frenzied beasts.
Unlike the game's level system, even an ordinary minotaur soldier wasn't something a common soldier could handle. A regular fighter would be slaughtered instantly; only elite warriors could bring down such a monster.
And the cat demons? They weren't foes that everyday adventurers could even dream of defeating. The stronger ones could shred steel with their claws and moved with terrifying speed. For most adventurers, their entire careers amounted to battling nothing more than goblins.
"You're serious?"
Rosh planted her hands on her hips, unable to hold back the question.
"Dead serious."
"…Fine. You're the leader, after all."
She muttered her reluctant acceptance and went off to prepare. Meanwhile, Ryuji cast a mischievous glance at Seria, making her flush and stammer breathlessly.
Still, he didn't set out for the depths of Lorien right away. He planned to bring Seria along, and she made no objection—in fact, she quickly packed her things, ready to leave with him.
After three more days tangled in Seria's sheets, Ryuji finally got what he wanted.
"At last…"
He stared at his system panel: ten thousand energy points. His eyes burned with tears of relief. These past few days, he had felt as though his body was on strike, his frame visibly thinning by the day. But the effort had paid off—Seria had finally given him energy again.
"It wasn't easy…"
Looking at the sleeping Seria nestled in his arms, Ryuji felt reassured.
With energy points, he could escape at any time, even jump worlds again to change his fate. With this, he would never truly be cornered.
But one question gnawed at him.
"Why did it take so long this time? And why now—why can I absorb energy again?"
His gaze lingered on Seria's soft, fair body as he mulled it over. This wasn't some trivial detail—it was a matter of life and death. If energy kept vanishing without reason, he would lose his mind, no matter how sweet her embrace felt.
His thoughts swirled with countless possibilities, but in the end, he gave up.
"Forget it. I can't figure it out now anyway. No point in making more assumptions."
He rose, packed his things, and prepared for the journey to Hendon Myre.
Because Lorien Forest was vast, adventurers usually entered its deeper regions from Hendon Myre. If he wanted to push forward, that was where he needed to go.
Once everything was ready, Seria headed to Linus the blacksmith, handing over the inn's keys for safekeeping.
"Unbelievable, Seria. You really let this brat sweep you away so easily?"
Linus scratched his head, baffled as he looked at Seria leaning against Ryuji. But since she had made her choice, he said no more. He only promised to take care of the inn, then waved them off.
After saying their goodbyes, Ryuji and his group set out quickly for Hendon Myre.
Without the burden of caravan goods, and with a hired carriage, their pace was swift. Soon the Belmar defensive line was far behind them. Ryuji even sprawled across Seria's lap, drawing a look of pure disdain from Rosh.
Perhaps it was the good mood, or perhaps the scent of Seria surrounding him, but Ryuji drifted into a peaceful sleep in her arms.
And then—
Something stirred.
The strange phenomena tied to his body finally began to transform.
The power Seria had given him, the strength he had drawn through her, was reaching a critical change.
Instead of waking to daylight, or slipping into a dream, he fell into darkness.
Before he could react, voices surrounded him—
"Shattered…"
"Broken…"
"Damn it…"
"Why… why?!"
Countless resentful cries echoed, pressing down on him, filling him with anger, grief, and wild instability.
Each voice sparked a surge of fury and strength inside him, as if their grudges were his own. The more voices joined, the less stable his emotions became—but the stronger his power grew.
Ryuji couldn't understand what was happening. The flood of hatred crashed into his mind, eroding reason. If anyone had appeared before him in that moment, showing even a hint of hostility, he would have torn them apart without mercy.
The voices multiplied, the pressure mounted, until he was on the brink of losing himself entirely.
And then—
"Damn you, Kiri!"
"I'm going to fuck you to death, Kiri!"
"Kiri, you heartless witch!"
"Your enhancements are rigged!"
"Ninety-nine percent failure?! Screw you, Kiri!"
"Kiri!"
"Kiri!"
"Ki—"
KIRI!!
The name exploded in his mind, shocking him into a fleeting moment of clarity. He roared back instinctively:
"Kiri, I'm going to fuck you to death!"
He jolted awake, the morning sun warm on his skin, Seria staring at him in shock.
It had been a dream—yet the power he felt was real.
A vast energy surged within him, and he could sense it: a force that fed on resentment and desire, waiting to be harnessed.
He understood it instinctively—by embracing these emotions, he could draw upon their strength. But the more he took, the more madness and corruption he risked, until one day he might become nothing more than a puppet of rage.
Still…
"…Did I just awaken?"
That was Ryuji's first thought.
~~~~~~~~~~
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