"You called a taxi, but you want to drive it yourself?" The driver gave Noah a baffled look, brows knitted.
Noah smiled faintly, the corner of his lips tugging upward. "Yeah. Just sit back and relax—I'll handle it."
The man exhaled in defeat and raised his hands. "Fine. But if you break something, you're paying for it."
"No problem."
Sliding into the driver's seat, Noah rested his hands on the worn steering wheel, feeling the faint roughness from years of use. The pedals were right where they should be. The gear stick felt familiar—though, technically, he'd never used one in this life.
That didn't matter. His past life's memories were still sharp.
He started the engine, the low hum greeting him like an old friend, and pulled out from the apartment complex.
A faint chime echoed in his mind.
[New Skill Acquired!]
[Beginner Driver]
[Description: Increased vehicle control, smoother acceleration, and improved fuel efficiency.]
Noah chuckled under his breath.
Beside him, the taxi driver kept stealing glances—waiting for a mistake that never came. The ride was smooth, no jerks or hard stops, and eventually, the man relaxed into his seat.
"You ever get bored of your day job, you could drive a cab," the driver muttered.
Noah just smiled, eyes locked on the road.
Thirty minutes later, they reached the outskirts of Gravenwood Forest—a sprawling mass of ancient trees and shadowed undergrowth.
Noah stepped out, gaze fixed on the dark expanse ahead. This wasn't a random choice. Deep inside was an unsealed Dimensional Rift—prime territory for Soul Beasts. Even veteran awakeners didn't wander far in.
The driver rolled down his window. "You seriously going in there?"
Noah didn't look back. "Been here before."
The man hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Alright… good luck."
The taxi rolled away, leaving Noah at the forest's edge.
A breeze swept past, carrying the scent of damp soil and decay. Sunlight barely pierced the dense canopy. Somewhere deeper inside, something growled—a sound too heavy to belong to mere wildlife.
Noah adjusted the strap of his backpack and stepped forward. "Here we go again."
---
Inside, the forest felt like it swallowed the day whole. Moss-coated trunks towered overhead. Roots jutted from the ground like gnarled bones, forcing him to weave carefully through the uneven terrain.
Half an hour passed without so much as a shadow crossing his path. Too quiet.
"Quieter than I remember…" he murmured.
The first time he'd entered Gravenwood—fresh after transmigrating—he'd been reckless. Overconfident. And nearly died for it.
But now… now he had Starflame.
A low growl snapped him from thought.
Noah slipped behind a thick tree, peeking around its trunk.
In a clearing twenty meters ahead, two beasts clashed—fangs and claws tearing into each other. One was a black wolf with a single horn jutting from its forehead, its body built for lethal speed. The other, a massive gray bear, its hide riddled with claw marks but still standing firm.
Two faint stars glimmered on each of their bodies.
Soul Beasts had their own ranking—one to seven stars, strength increasing with each. Always check before you fight. Always.
The battle raged on. The wolf darted like a shadow, the bear's heavy swipes just missing it. Blood sprayed when the wolf bit deep into the bear's shoulder, but brute force sent it crashing into the dirt.
It rose again, eyes wilder, and launched a final, perfect leap—jaws snapping shut on the bear's throat.
A sickening crack echoed. The bear staggered, groaned, and fell still.
The wolf howled in victory.
Then—
FWOOOM!
A fireball exploded against its side, crimson flames erupting across its fur. The beast shrieked and thrashed, but Noah was already moving—dagger flashing in his hand.
One quick thrust to the neck.
Stab.
The wolf's movements went slack. The fire consumed it for a moment longer before dying down, leaving only a charred corpse.
[Successfully killed a 2-star Soul Beast. First kill bonus: +100 skill points.]
Noah straightened, the corner of his mouth curling upward. Starflame burned hotter than he'd imagined.
S-class for a reason.