After finishing my meal, I smiled and bid the maids farewell.
With nothing else to do, a surge of restlessness stirred within me. I decided it was time to test my strength—really test it. Slipping out of the mansion unnoticed, I stepped into the sunlight and took a deep breath.
Something was different. My body felt lighter, stronger… faster.
Without much effort, I leapt upward—and nearly flew. I soared over the outer wall in a single bound, landing with a roll in the open field beyond. The sheer height of that jump made my heart race. I wasn't just stronger—I was evolving.
Before me stood a vast forest, thick with trees and untamed life. It was the perfect place to train without drawing attention. Without hesitation, I dashed forward, weaving between trees, pushing my speed to the limit. My feet barely touched the ground.
But caution kicked in. I couldn't afford to be reckless. Slowing down, I raised a barrier around my body—then another. Layer after layer, I reinforced them, carefully fusing them together with mana. I had no idea how many I could stack, but I felt nearly invincible.
Still, I knew there were limits. If I kept adding barriers without pause, I'd run out of mana too fast. The power was exhilarating, but dangerous.
I delved deeper into the forest, marking trees as I went to avoid getting lost. The further I ran, the denser the foliage became. That's when I saw it.
A massive bear, nearly the size of a carriage, stood ahead, its coarse fur bristling. Its sheer presence radiated menace. The beast had to be as strong as a mid-level 2-star.
It locked eyes with me and roared—an earth-shaking sound that echoed through the forest. I'd clearly invaded its territory.
With a single swipe of its paw, a tree was reduced to splinters. My pulse quickened.
I activated my Exorcist form. The power surged through me, draining mana rapidly, but I needed it. I had only around seven minutes before I ran dry.
I cast a fireball. The explosion struck the bear head-on, and to my surprise, it staggered back, injured—but not dead.
It lunged at me with brutal fury, claws slicing the air. I dodged, weaving around its attacks. But then—it roared again. Louder. More savage.
A skill.
Fear gripped me. My knees buckled under the pressure of its killing intent.
Then—boom.
Its claw slammed into my side, hurling me through the air. I crashed into a tree, the impact cracking its trunk. Blood sprayed from my mouth. My clothes were shredded, and deep gashes opened across my torso.
If it weren't for my layered barriers, I'd be dead.
I coughed violently, crimson dripping from my lips. My vision blurred. The wound on my side throbbed painfully, and my head spun from the crash.
That skill… That single strike proved it. This bear wasn't just a 2-star—it was a mid-level monster.
I couldn't win.
Desperation flooded my thoughts. I turned, scanning my surroundings through hazy eyes. There—my tree markings. I still had a path back.
I conjured a wall of energy, buying a few seconds. The bear slammed into it, roaring in frustration.
That was my cue.
I ran.
Every step sent waves of pain through my body. I could feel blood soaking my clothes. My mana was dropping fast. I deactivated my Exorcist form to conserve what little energy remained.
The bear didn't stop. I could hear it crashing through the trees, getting closer and closer. I threw spells blindly behind me, hoping to slow it down. Small explosions echoed in the distance, but they barely hindered it.
Then—another problem.
Wolves.
A pack of them emerged from the right, snarling and circling. Seven or eight, at least. Their eyes gleamed with hunger, jaws dripping with saliva. My wounds attracted them like moths to a flame.
I was cornered. The bear was behind me. The wolves were flanking.
I gritted my teeth, blood trailing from my lips. My mind screamed for a solution. I couldn't die here.
Think.
Speed.
Wind.
I felt the breeze brushing against my skin. A sudden thought sparked—what if I could use the wind? Not just to push, but to propel. To fuse it into my very being.
Channeling mana, I shaped the wind around my body and pushed.
First attempt—failure.
Second—another failure.
The bear's breath was now on my neck. The wolves began to pounce.
Third attempt—do or die.
I closed my eyes. Everything slowed. I focused. No panic. No pain.
Just wind.
Mana surged through my limbs. The wind roared to life around me.
Boom.
I shot forward like an arrow, the ground tearing beneath my feet from the sudden burst of speed. I broke through the pack of wolves and left the bear behind, its roar fading into the distance.
But it wasn't over.
The wolves still chased me, relentless. My speed began to fade, the wind spell flickering.
Then I saw it—the back wall of the mansion.
I had one shot left.
With the last of my strength, I activated my Exorcist form again and combined it with the wind spell.
Mana crackled violently through my body.
I leapt.
The air screamed around me as I soared over the wall. My body hit the ground hard—rolling, tumbling, pain everywhere. I crashed into the garden.
My vision dimmed. Everything blurred.
Standing above me was a girl with raven-black hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Her icy-blue eyes widened in horror.
"Sophia…"
She rushed to my side, panic flooding her face. If her sister saw me like this… she might burn the entire forest down in rage.
Without hesitation, Sophia scooped me into her arms and vanished with a flash of light.
She appeared in front of a 5-star healer, his expression darkening the moment he saw me. He didn't hesitate. His hands lit up, radiating healing light.
"The wounds are severe," he muttered grimly. "And his mana… it's nearly gone."
My mind faded into unconsciousness as warmth spread through my chest.
i really survive...