Chapter 7 — The Trial of the Wild
I woke to the forest alive with subtle tension. Not the usual calm hum of ambient mana that had greeted me for days now, but something heavier—like the earth itself was holding its breath.
Cursed Sage stirred instantly, not with words this time, but with a cascade of analytical suggestions sliding into my thoughts.
"Host, environmental anomaly detected. Mana density spike within 1 kilometer radius. Threat level: High."
I inhaled, sensing the subtle fluctuations of power. My evolved Spectral Sage form pulsed slightly with anticipation. Today, I would test everything I had learned, every sub-skill, every adaptation.
Not far ahead, I glimpsed it: a creature of considerable size, with a form that shifted and glimmered like liquid mana, yet with limbs structured as though forged from living stone. Its eyes were intelligent, calculating—not purely instinctive.
"A Forest Sovereign?" I whispered. "Not a monster… something closer to a natural apex predator."
"Classification: High-Rank Intelligent Predator. Host survival probability uncalculated—insufficient data."
I felt a familiar thrill and an unfamiliar weight of caution. This wasn't the Treant. This wasn't a Panther. This was something that could kill me with a single misstep.
---
I approached cautiously, dispersing partially into mist. Veil of Umbral Steps hummed in my mind as my form blurred against the early-morning shadows. But even hidden, I could sense the creature watching me. Its aura was sharp, probing, evaluating my presence.
Cursed Sage spoke, calm but firm:
"Host, direct engagement would be fatal without preparatory disruption. Recommend phased reconnaissance and partial curse application."
I nodded. Strategy first, recklessness later. I let Spectral Echo — Phantom Residue create a duplicate that drifted in the periphery, testing its reactions. The creature lunged—not at me, but at the echo. A minor delay caused by Temporal Displacement Echo forced it to stumble slightly, but its reflexes were far beyond any previous adversary.
Its gaze snapped toward me. I could almost feel the calculation: Is it worth pursuing, or a threat to avoid?
"Probability adjustment: 43% survival if direct attack attempted."
I exhaled. Too risky. But this was a test—not a threat I could ignore.
---
I released a subtle Curse-Laced Strike, not physically striking, but distorting the ambient mana around the creature. I wanted to observe its reaction without committing. The Sovereign staggered, shifting its weight unnaturally.
Cursed Sage interjected:
"Host, integration of Shadowed Flow Technique and adaptive curse required. Recommend incremental application to maximize feedback."
I focused, drawing upon Flow Adaptation, my upgraded sub-skill. My mana and curse energy merged fluidly, flowing into the forest floor, subtly manipulating the terrain under the Sovereign's steps. It responded instantly, but I could feel it miscalculating slightly—tiny deviations in weight distribution, in strike timing.
It lunged again. I dodged, slipping through the shadows. Then, instinctively, I cast Spectral Echo — Adaptive Mimicry. The echo didn't just imitate my movement—it partially replicated my Curse-Laced Strike, landing a destabilizing shockwave that reverberated through the creature's muscles.
Its roar tore through the forest. Not purely anger, but recognition. It understood it was facing an intelligent opponent.
"Host performance: 61% efficiency. Survival probability recalculated: 67%."
Cursed Sage paused briefly. Then:
"Host, it may now recognize your sub-skill patterns. Recommend evolution testing within combat."
I swallowed hard. Evolution testing mid-battle? That's insane.
But there was no time to hesitate.
---
I activated Shadowed Flow Technique — Mana Current Assimilation, drawing energy from the surrounding flora. The Sovereign's form blurred briefly, disoriented by the subtle manipulation. I felt my mana reserves swell, but also the strain of maintaining full integration of all sub-skills.
Cursed Sage analyzed rapidly:
"Sub-skill synergy optimal at 84% efficiency. Risk of partial structural instability: 23%. Recommend minimal reinforcement via regeneration."
I nodded, letting Enhanced Regeneration reinforce my form. Mist became denser in critical areas, resolving weak points before they could be exploited.
Then the creature struck.
---
Time slowed—not literally, but perceptually. I felt my body responding in precise alignment with predictive data from Cursed Sage. Veil of Umbral Steps, Phantom Residue, Curse-Laced Strike, Flow Adaptation—all activated in near-perfect harmony.
The Sovereign miscalculated. Its strike passed through misted limbs; the echoes intercepted its balance. I countered instinctively with a subtle Curse-Laced Shockwave, targeting its nervous structure indirectly.
It staggered backward, mid-roar. And for a split second, I realized: I was evolving mid-combat.
Cursed Sage confirmed:
"Host, skill evolution detected: Shadowed Flow Technique sub-skills increasing in reactive efficiency. Estimated growth: +8.9%."
---
The Sovereign circled, intelligent and cautious. Every attack now was calculated, every pause deliberate. It wasn't just testing me—it was teaching me the limits of my integration, forcing adaptation.
I exhaled. I wasn't just reacting anymore. I was predicting. Calculating outcomes. I let my Spectral Echo — Temporal Displacement Echo create staggered illusions of my attack vectors. The creature lunged at one, recoiled at another, misjudged the distance of the next.
Cursed Sage spoke almost proudly:
"Host, probability of lethal miscalculation: reduced to 12.7%. Survival rate: 89%."
A faint smile tugged at my lips. For the first time, I felt the thrill of true combat—not reckless, not arrogant, but humble in the face of overwhelming power.
---
Minutes passed. The Sovereign, exhausted from constant miscalculations, paused. Its form glimmered with mana—the equivalent of sweat, or fatigue. I had one chance to press the advantage, but I wasn't eager to kill. That wasn't my style yet. I wanted growth, not conquest.
I used Flow Adaptation to subtly redistribute curse energy into the environment. Vines, moss, and dirt shifted in ways barely perceptible, creating subtle barriers and traps. The Sovereign tripped, recoiling.
I could strike and finish it—but instead, I let it retreat.
"Host, assessment: Survival success. Combat efficiency: 94%. Skills integrated and evolved further."
I sank to a log, exhausted but alive. Cursed Sage's voice was quieter now, more contemplative than analytic:
"Host, your restraint indicates long-term optimization rather than short-term gain. That may be your greatest skill."
I nodded to myself. Humility, intelligence, patience—they were all necessary to survive this world.
---
Later, as I rested, I sensed something… odd. Far in the distance, faint ripples in mana—a subtle, almost imperceptible disturbance.
Cursed Sage whispered:
"Host, indirect observation indicates presence of another anomaly. Probability of link to known world entity: 21.5%. Likely immature but growing."
I understood immediately. Rimuru.
We had not crossed paths yet—but my existence, my anomaly, was creating ripples in the timeline. Small ones, subtle, but persistent. My actions today, my survival, my skill evolution—it was beginning to diverge from the world's original narrative.
I smiled faintly. A shadow of ambition flickered in me. Not arrogance. Not malice. Just… curiosity.
---
By the end of the day, my body, skills, and mind had evolved. Shadowed Flow Technique and Spectral Echo were now more than just usable—they were extensions of my will, integrated, adaptive, responsive. My curse-mana integration allowed me to manipulate the battlefield subtly, efficiently, without ever fully revealing my potential.
I felt… strong. But not invincible. That was important.
I was humble in my own growth because the world reminded me daily: there were always predators stronger than me, challenges I couldn't predict, and outcomes that could erase me instantly.
And yet…
I was ready.
---
Status — End of Chapter 7
Name: Unnamed
Race: Cursed Spectral Sage (Evolved)
Existence Type: Semi-Conceptual Monster
Core Attributes
Mana Capacity: Medium+ → Medium++
Structural Stability: High
Growth Potential: Infinite (Unbounded Growth Vector)
Ultimate Skills
1. Shadowed Flow Technique
Sub-Skills:
Veil of Umbral Steps — Near-invisibility, rapid repositioning
Curse-Laced Strike — Destabilizes targets' defenses
Mana Current Assimilation — Absorbs ambient mana for regeneration
Flow Adaptation (Upgraded) — Real-time sub-skill optimization during combat
Unique Skills
1. Spectral Echo
Sub-Skills:
Phantom Residue — Delayed echo replicating previous movements
Temporal Displacement Echo — Shifts timing to confuse opponents
Adaptive Mimicry — Echo replicates sub-skill effects partially
Echo Enhancement (Upgraded) — Phantoms replicate 60% of host sub-skills automatically
Items
Shadowed Ribbon — Extends Veil of Umbral Steps range
Curse-Infused Crystal Shard
Primordial Rune of Containment
Traits
Enhanced Regeneration
Curse Manipulation (Active)
System
Daily Sign-In: 5 per day
Reward Probabilities: Ultimate Skills 25%, Unique Skills 35%, Unique Items 20%, Legendary+ 10%, Common/Extra Skills 10%
Threat Level
Overall: High (for early-mid tier monsters)
Survivability: High
Evolution Readiness: Preparing for second-tier conceptual growth
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Author's Note
Hey readers! Chapter 7 showcased Kaito's first high-stakes encounter, his skills evolving mid-combat, and the subtle effects of his existence on the world and Rimuru's timeline.
If you want to see more chapters, witness complex battles, and watch him grow beyond world-class threats, please support the story by:
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