The wilderness was a cruel teacher, but at least it was honest. No one lied about danger, and no one pretended mercy would protect you. Trees stretched high, branches forming jagged silhouettes against the fading twilight. Broken roads led to nowhere, and the remains of forgotten settlements whispered of those who hadn't survived. Winchester City had taught me deception, cunning, and speed. The wilderness would teach me precision, awareness, and patience.
Zion walked ahead, careful to avoid every broken branch and jagged stone. His soft, expressive eyes were alert, scanning every shadow for movement. Unlike me, he wore his caution openly, letting his worry show in every gesture. I didn't. My eyes, violet and gem-like, flicked across the forest, noting patterns and probabilities. Every rustle of leaves, every bird's cry, every snapping twig was data. The system recorded it all, and so did I.
> SYSTEM ALERT: ENVIRONMENT DETECTION ACTIVE
> RECOMMENDED ACTION: SURVIVAL TRAINING ENGAGED
I could feel the energy of the Wayward Ascension System humming in my veins. Void Devouring Scripture burned faintly, reminding me that every motion had cost. I experimented, extending the technique, testing my control. My body moved faster, reacting instinctively, muscles reinforcing before the threat even fully presented itself. Efficiency demanded mastery. Mastery demanded ruthlessness.
Zion flinched as a small creature darted across the path a fox, wild and agile. He gasped and almost tripped. I caught his sleeve. "Careful. Everything out here wants to kill or eat you. Don't be sloppy."
"I'm not sloppy!" he said quickly, but there was no real heat in his voice. He was learning to emulate my bluntness without truly shedding his softness. That was fine. He didn't need to be me; he only needed to survive beside me. That was enough.
Hours passed in silence except for the subtle sounds of the forest. My system analyzed the environment in real-time: terrain stability, wind direction, potential predators, even the likely locations of game for food. I pushed Void Devouring Scripture further, feeling the technique integrate into my nervous system. Pain lanced through my arms and legs with every refinement, but it was a necessary cost. Zion watched, sometimes squirming at the harsh expressions I made while focusing, but never complaining.
> NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: TERRAIN MASTERY
> SKILL EFFECT: ENHANCES MOBILITY AND STABILITY ON UNEVEN SURFACES
By nightfall, we reached the remains of a dilapidated cabin. Broken walls, shattered windows, and a roof half-collapsed it offered shelter and a vantage point for observation. I had learned long ago that the wilderness rewarded the patient and punished the reckless. I set up a small fire while Zion scavenged what little remained inside: dry leaves, scraps of wood, and even remnants of tools we could repurpose.
As we settled in, a low growl echoed from the shadows. I froze. Not out of fear, but anticipation. The system hummed, sensing the approach of a predator. A pack of wild wolves, lean and hungry, emerged. Five in total. Teeth bared, fur bristling, eyes glowing in the firelight. They weren't clever they were instinct. Survival through strength and speed, nothing more.
Zion gasped. "Vash—!"
I held up a hand. "Watch."
Every movement was deliberate. The system predicted their trajectories, feeding probabilities directly into my consciousness. I struck preemptively, using Void Devouring Scripture to enhance speed and precision. Two wolves fell before they could react. Another hesitated, sensing the unnatural force in my movements. The remaining two circled, cautious. Efficiency dictated that I end it quickly, without mercy. Within moments, the threat was neutralized.
Zion stared, wide-eyed. "You… didn't even… it didn't even… scream."
I shrugged, returning to my fire. "Pain is irrelevant. Survival is everything."
He frowned, but there was awe in his eyes. That was fine too. He didn't need to understand ruthlessness fully. He only needed to survive beside me. That remained our contract, unspoken but absolute.
The night passed quietly after that, the fire crackling, shadows dancing, and the world beyond waiting. I studied the sky, stars familiar yet foreign, distant continents like Drakoryn and Borealis whispering of future conflicts, empires, and threats. One day, I would cross them. One day, I would dominate them. For now, though, training, mastery, and survival were paramount.
Before sleep, Zion whispered, "Vash… do you ever think about the academy?"
I paused. My thoughts flickered to the future the Avalonian Imperial Academy, the tests, the cultivation techniques, the hierarchy of the gifted. I hadn't planned on it yet, but it would come. Every system, every step, every bit of strength we acquired now would matter when that day arrived.
"I think about it," I said finally. "But we prepare for now. The academy is another battlefield, one we'll face when ready. Until then… everything else is expendable."
Zion nodded, curling beside me for warmth. I placed a hand on his head, the only softness I allowed myself. In a world of chaos, danger, and power, he remained my anchor. He always would.
The Wayward Ascendant had begun, and the path ahead was neither kind nor forgiving. But it was ours. Survival, strength, ruthlessness and Zion's safety above all. The world would learn the name Vashryn. And it would learn that nothing, no threat, no empire, no predator, could stop the one who refused to break.