Chapter 2: Path to Strength
Aaron sat in his dimly lit room, his mind racing as he recounted everything he knew about Eldoria Chronicles. This was no longer a game—it was reality. And that meant every hidden treasure, every legendary artifact, and every secret trial he had uncovered in his past life as a player was now invaluable knowledge.
If I remember correctly, there's an ancient ruin in the forest near the capital… It holds a powerful sword technique. If I can acquire it, my strength will grow exponentially.
He furrowed his brows, going through all the locations he could recall. There were potions hidden in forgotten caves that could boost one's strength, trials that granted unique abilities, and dungeons teeming with rare resources.
Matthew Scott, the protagonist, had a massive head start because of his powerful background and Lady Grace's blessing… But I have something he doesn't—knowledge of the future.
His grip tightened. He refused to let fate dictate his path. If he was going to survive, he needed power. And to gain power, he needed to train.
So Aaron decided to train for two months.
The next day, Aaron wasted no time. He ventured to a secluded clearing on the outskirts of the village near the capital. It wasn't much—just a small open space surrounded by trees—but it was perfect for training.
At first, his body struggled to keep up. His weak muscles and low stamina couldn't execute the movements properly.
Every swing of the wooden training sword left his arms burning; every sprint left him gasping for air.
But something strange happened.
As he trained, his talent—Dual-Soul Resonance—began to shine.
He started grasping techniques unnaturally fast. What would take an average swordsman weeks to master, he learned in mere days. His footwork became sharper, his sword swings more precise. He adapted and improved at an alarming rate.
By the end of the first month, his swordsmanship had also improved significantly.
His strength grew steadily. Push-ups, squats, endurance running—he pushed his body to its absolute limit. The once frail limbs of Aaron Phoenix were now filled with newfound vigor.
As his control of the sword increased, so did his mana control. At night, he would sit in meditation, drawing the ambient mana into his body and refining it. At first, it was sluggish, barely responding to his will. But his talent worked its magic, and his comprehension of mana soared.
And with it, his overall stats grew:
[Updated Status Window]
Name: Aaron Phoenix
Age: 16
Rank: Novice (Peak)
Bloodline: [Unawakened]
Physique: [Unawakened]
Class: None
Talent: [Dual-Soul Resonance] (Enhanced learning speed, intuition, and adaptability)
Strength: E-
Agility: E
Endurance: E-
Mana: E
Mana Capacity: E
Will: B
Charm: B+
Luck: ???
Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship (F)], [Basic Mana Control (F)], [Dodge (F)], [??? (Sealed)]
Aaron stared at the floating screen in awe. To reach Peak Novice in just two months… It was unheard of.
Is this really my talent at work? No, it's more than that… It's like I can instinctively understand how things work, and my body just follows along.
He clenched his fists, feeling the subtle difference in his body. He wasn't a helpless weakling anymore. He had taken his first step toward true strength.
But this was just the beginning.
With his newfound strength, Aaron set his sights on his next goal—the ruins.
Late at night, he packed what little supplies he had and made his way toward the vast forest near the capital. The ancient ruins hidden within held the legacy of a forgotten swordsman—a technique that granted overwhelming power to those who could master it.
The journey wasn't an easy one. The forest was dense, and the deeper he ventured, the more dangerous it became. The eerie glow of mana-infused plants lit his path, but the distant howls of beasts sent a chill down his spine.
Hours passed as he pushed forward, navigating through thick vegetation, avoiding venomous creatures and unstable terrain.
Then, just as he was about to take a break, he heard a low growl.
His body tensed as he turned toward the source of the sound.
A pair of glowing red eyes stared at him from the darkness.
A Shadowfang Wolf.
His grip on his sword tightened as he felt the predator's killing intent wash over him.
The beast lunged.
The rustling of leaves sent a chill down Aaron's spine. He could feel it—an ominous presence watching him from the darkness. Then, it emerged.
A Shadowfang Wolf. Its black fur shimmered faintly under the moonlight, almost blending into the night itself.
Crimson eyes glowed with hunger, and the beast's low growl reverberated through the air. Aaron's mind raced, recalling everything he knew about these creatures from the game.
Shadowfang Wolves were nocturnal predators, known for their extreme agility and stealth.
Their innate ability, Shadow Step, allowed them to momentarily vanish and reappear behind their prey, making them incredibly difficult to predict.
Worse, their fangs were laced with a mild paralytic venom, designed to weaken and slow down their victims over time.
Damn it… a high-speed ambusher, Aaron thought, gripping the worn hilt of his sword. I can't afford to take a single bite from it.
The wolf lunged.
Aaron barely had time to react as he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the deadly fangs.
With a swift counterattack, he slashed at the beast's exposed flank, but the wolf disappeared mid-motion—Shadow Step! A fraction of a second later, he sensed danger behind him and threw himself forward, feeling the rush of air as razor-sharp fangs snapped just inches from his neck.
Its movement patterns are too unpredictable. I need a way to force it into a direct fight!
Aaron spotted a clearing between the trees—less cover meant fewer angles for the wolf to use its ability. He dashed toward it, forcing the creature to give chase.
Just as he reached the clearing, a deafening howl pierced the air.
More rustling. More glowing eyes in the darkness. Two more wolves emerged.
Shit! Three at once?!
Aaron's grip on his sword tightened. He was already struggling against one, and now he had to deal with three? His heart pounded as adrenaline flooded his system, his instincts screaming at him to flee.
But he didn't.
He couldn't.
If he ran now, he'd only be hunted down. No, the only way out was through.
The three wolves circled him, their movements synchronized. Aaron took deep breaths, analyzing their rhythm.
The first wolf was the leader—it was the fastest and most aggressive. The other two were slightly smaller, meaning they were likely the pack's scouts, specializing in coordinated attacks.
One of them lunged from his left, while the other went for his right ankle. Aaron twisted his body at the last moment, dodging both as he delivered a swift kick to the one closest to him.
It yelped and tumbled back, but he wasn't fast enough to evade the third wolf entirely—sharp claws raked across his side, drawing blood.
Gritting his teeth, Aaron forced himself to ignore the pain.
I need to end this fast before the bleeding slows me down.
Focusing his mana into his legs, he dashed forward, surprising the leader with his sudden burst of speed.
A well-timed feint baited the creature into using Shadow Step—but this time, Aaron was ready. Spinning mid-motion, he slashed in the direction it was most likely to appear.
The blade connected.
A pained howl erupted as the leader stumbled, black fur now stained red.
But Aaron had no time to celebrate—one of the remaining wolves lunged straight for his exposed back.
With no time to turn, he made a split-second decision.
Using his free hand, he grabbed a fistful of dirt and flung it into the wolf's eyes. The creature yelped, momentarily blinded.
Seizing the opportunity, Aaron plunged his sword deep into its throat, ending its struggle instantly.
Two down.
The final wolf hesitated, seeing its packmates fall. Aaron's body ached, his breathing ragged, but he couldn't stop now. He had to finish this.
Gathering his remaining strength, he feigned exhaustion, lowering his stance ever so slightly. The wolf took the bait, charging in for what it thought was an easy kill.
At the last moment, Aaron sidestepped and brought his sword down with all his strength.
A sickening crunch echoed through the forest as the blade cleaved through flesh and bone. The wolf let out a final whimper before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Silence.
Aaron stood there, panting heavily, blood dripping from his wounds. The stench of iron filled the air. He had won.
Barely.
Collapsing to his knees, he let out a shaky breath, his hands trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline. He had fought many battles in the game before, but this… this was different.
This was real.
He wasn't just some player anymore. He wasn't fighting for loot or experience points.
He was fighting to survive.
And for the first time, he truly understood what that meant.