Adil sprinted into the forest, the wind slicing past him like whispers from the dead trees.
He slowed down near a clearing and pulled out the map.
His eyes scanned the parchment.
"There are… a lot of marks before the Zider's location," he muttered. "Why not try to explore them?"
He paused.
"Risky though…"
The marks weren't just random—they pulsed faintly, like they were waiting. Some were shaped like claws. Others like broken runes.
Adil smirked.
"Well… comfort never got me anywhere."
He folded the map and turned toward the nearest mark.
The forest darkened around him.
Suddenly, he saw a river far away. It's glowing.
Adil stepped toward the glowing river, its surface shimmering like liquid sapphire.
"Huh… It's glowing so much," he muttered. "Must be saturated with mana. Makes sense—this is a fantasy world, after all."
He crouched to get a closer look.
Adil crouched by the glowing river, its surface shimmering like liquid crystal.
He reached out and touched the water with his hand.
System Message: The lake is saturated with mana.
"Well, I already guessed that…"
System Update: Mana saturation can enhance tools.
"Wow… cool."
He looked down at his blade—rusted, chipped, barely holding together.
Without hesitation, he dipped it into the glowing pool.
The water hissed softly, wrapping around the metal like silk.
When he pulled it out, the blade gleamed—no rust, no cracks. It felt lighter, sharper… almost new.
System Message: Enhancement SuccessfulWeapon Status Updated
Durability:10
Attack Damage: 10
Magic Nullification: 15%
Adil blinked.
"Wow… from durability 2 to 10—and same for all status increase…"
He smirked, gripping the blade tighter.
"Alright, river. You've earned your place on the map."
Adil stood at the edge of the glowing river, blade gleaming in his hand.
"This mark… It's the river," he muttered. "And because of this, hunting the Zider just got easier."
He glanced at the map again.
Adil smirked.
"Hmm… there's another one nearby. Let's check it out, too."
He folded the map, tightened his grip on the newly enhanced blade, and stepped into the shadows once more.
As Adil stepped into the clearing, his eyes locked onto the scene ahead.
A fire burned steadily—its flames unnaturally calm, flickering with faint blue streaks. Just beside it sat a chest, old and iron-bound, half-sunken into the moss.
He frowned.
"The fire's too clean… and the chest's just sitting there like it's waiting."
Adil scanned the area.
" It's like someone placed them here on purpose."
He gripped his blade tighter.
"Yeah… this feels off."
Suddenly, the Bloodcore Crystal in Adil's chest pulsed violently—sharp, urgent, like a scream inside his body.
Without thinking, he dove to the side.
An arrow sliced through the air and slammed into the tree where he'd just stood.
Adil hit the ground, rolled, and sprang back to his feet.
"Shuu… that was close."
His eyes scanned the clearing.
The fire still burned.
But something—or someone—was watching.
From the shadows near the fire, the creature stepped forward—tall, hunched, and wrapped in tattered cloth. Its grey skin cracked like dried stone, and in its hand, it held a bow, carved from bone and etched with faint runes.
Adil's eyes narrowed.
Two more figures emerged beside it—same violet eyes, same grey skin, each armed with jagged blades.
The lead creature turned to them and let out a low, vibrating growl:
"Grrr...r.r.r..."
The sound wasn't random.
It was communication.
Adil didn't understand the words.
Adil narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell… this looks like a Zoag," he muttered. "Hmm…"
Without hesitation, he hurled his blade toward the one holding the bow.
The weapon spun through the air—clean, fast, precise.
THUNK.
The blade slammed into the creature's skull.
It collapsed instantly.
Adil blinked.
"Huh… that was easy."
System Message: Identify Creature — Krate
Intelligence Level: F
Movement Type: Mana-Driven
Danger Level: E
Adil smirked.
"So I see the blade has magic resistance… and if they move by mana, then my blade's perfect for them."
The two remaining Krates glanced at each other.
Then, without a sound, they turned and bolted into the forest—vanishing between the trees like shadows fleeing the light.
Adil blinked.
"Huh… why are they running?"
He stepped forward, approaching the fallen Krate.
I got déjà vu… Adil quickly turned behind.