The city gates loomed behind Axil Blake as he stepped into the open road, the weight of exile still heavy on his shoulders. The air outside felt different—freer, yet uncertain. He adjusted the strap of his bag, clutching the sword he had bought earlier. Ahead, dust rose from the wheels of caravans preparing to depart.
He spotted a middle‑aged man directing the group, his voice steady as he gave orders to the drivers. Something about him radiated authority. Axil approached, his steps cautious.
"Excuse me," Axil asked, "are you heading toward Blackwood Forest?"
The man turned, his eyes widening slightly. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, staring at Axil as though he were seeing a ghost.
"Hello?" Axil pressed, confused by the man's silence.
The man blinked, shaking himself from the daze. "Ah… yes. We're bound for White Town. Blackwood Forest lies along the way. If you truly wish to go there, you can travel with us."
Relief washed over Axil. "How much will it cost?"
The man waved his hand quickly. "No, no—you don't need to pay."
Axil frowned. "Are you sure? I don't mind."
The man's lips curved into a bitter smile. "You remind me of my son. He… already passed away." His voice faltered, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Axil lowered his head respectfully. "I'm sorry for your loss."
The man cleared his throat, forcing composure. "It's alright. We leave in five minutes. You can climb aboard now."
Grateful to escape the awkwardness, Axil nodded. "Then I'll do just that."
The caravan rolled forward, wheels crunching against the dirt road. Axil sat quietly in the cabin, listening to the chatter of merchants and guards. The rhythm of travel lulled him into thought. He had left behind the Reed family, their cold stares and cruel words. Ahead lay uncertainty, but also possibility.
Hours passed, and the caravan slowed. The leader called out, "We're at the entrance of Blackwood Forest, boy."
Axil stepped down, stretching his legs. "Thank you very much."
The man placed a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful. This forest isn't the most dangerous, but it still holds threats. Don't underestimate it."
"I'll keep that in mind," Axil replied, tightening his grip on his sword.
The forest swallowed him whole. Towering trees stretched skyward, their branches weaving together to block out much of the light. Shadows danced across the ground, and the air carried the scent of damp earth. Axil's footsteps were cautious, his senses alert.
"So… what's my plan now?" he muttered. After a moment of thought, he whispered, "I'll start by hunting monsters. I need to test myself."
Minutes later, he spotted movement near the riverbank. Two goblins crouched by the water, their crude weapons resting nearby.
Axil's heart raced. "If I strike one while it's distracted, I can finish the other in a fight."
He crouched low, creeping silently through the underbrush. His grip tightened on the sword. Then, with sudden speed, he lunged forward, thrusting the blade into the skull of the first goblin. It collapsed instantly.
The second goblin snarled, grabbing its weapon, but Axil swung his sword in a clean arc, severing its head.
Breathing hard, he stared at the corpses. "My first kill… but I feel nothing."
Before he could react, two white energy orbs rose from the goblins' bodies and shot into him.
[You gain Level 5 Big Goblin Soul Power. Agility +2, Strength +2] [You gain Level 4 Big Goblin Soul Power. Agility +1, Strength +2] [You have reached Level 1. You acquire three status points to distribute freely.]
Two messages flashed before his eyes. Axil staggered, stunned by the sensation. The strange energy coursed through him, nourishing his muscles and bones, filling him with strength.
Back on Earth, he had possessed the Sole Record but had never experienced it. Locked away in the lab, he had been denied the chance to grow. Now, for the first time, he understood its potential.
He flexed his fingers, marveling at the newfound power. "So this is what it feels like…"
As he pondered, something caught his eye near the goblin's body. A faint glow pulsed from the ground.
"What's this?" Axil murmured, stepping forward.
A purple scroll lay beside the corpse, its surface shimmering with an eerie light.
[Gravity Manipulation (First Order Skill) – Level 5: Control gravity within a 10‑meter radius or manipulate the gravity of a single person or object. Effect depends on magical power, mana, and imagination.]
He picked it up carefully. The scroll radiated a sinister aura. Though smooth and clean, it carried the faint smell of aged leather.
Axil's eyes widened. "A skill scroll…"
He wanted to learn it, but uncertainty gnawed at him. How? As if answering his question, a glowing prompt appeared before his eyes:
Think "Yes" if you want to learn.
His lips curled into a slow smile.
"Yes," he whispered.
The scroll dissolved into light, merging with his body.