After dispatching the cadaver of the Tigon, Shelby said, "Catch!"
He tossed beast mana core.
Zane caught it and said, "Thanks."
Eventually the System chid and showed increase in his stats.
Without delay, the trio continued on their journey, weaving deeper into the forest’s tangled maze. The deeper they went, the more corrupted beasts appeared—each stranger than the last.
Soon, they encountered another threat.
A boar-like corrupted beast erged, its massive form towering at nearly three tis the size of a full-grown adult. Its jagged tusks glinted like curved blades, its eyes burning with violent intent.
Zane stepped forward, preparing to intercept it—but Shelby raised a hand.
"Wait," he said. "Your little wifey questioned earlier about the way you fight. So just this once, fight normally. Show her with action what I already know."
Zane turned back to Erlin. She averted her eyes, pretending to look elsewhere.
"Got it," Zane said, then strode forward.
The boar snarled and charged, intent on goring its prey.
Zane didn’t flinch. At the last second, he side-stepped and threw a single punch into the beast’s side.
BOOM!
The corrupted boar exploded into a grueso splash of blood and flesh, raining down in steaming clumps.
Erlin gasped, frozen in disbelief.
Shelby pointed at the puddle. "See that? That’s what happens when he uses his normal punch. Do you understand now?"
Erlin’s lips parted, but no sound ca. She had been prepared for sothing impactful—but not that. Not instant obliteration.
She looked from the bloodied ground to Zane, struggling to make sense of what she’d just witnessed.
"What... was that?" she finally asked. "Was that a mana-enhanced punch?"
"No," Shelby said, hands on his hips. "That was just his regular punch."
"That can’t be possible," Erlin protested. "I’m stronger than him in strength and magic—this doesn’t add up!"
Zane finally spoke. "I’ve been carrying over ten tons of weight inside for months now. I’m not using magic—just raw power."
"You what? Ten tons?" Erlin blinked in disbelief.
Both n nodded.
The realization finally sank in.
So... that’s why Shelby never let him fight seriously. That’s why he used flicks. This whole journey—it’s not just a hunt. It’s training. Training to control that overwhelming strength inside him. Erlin finally understood.
From that mont on, she said nothing. She only watched Zane with a newfound sense of respect—and maybe, awe.
The journey continued for three more days.
As Erlin had explained, the forest was massive—spanning nearly a quarter of the entire continent. Without her guidance, it might have taken them months to navigate.
Each day was spent walking and hunting, resting only at night. The battles sharpened Zane’s instincts and honed his control. Little by little, he learned how to contain his strength—how to strike, not just destroy.
By the fourth day, they finally reached the edge of the forest.
Stepping out from the last wall of dense trees, they found a long, winding road stretching beyond the horizon. The sun peeked from the distant hills, casting warm gold over the landscape.
Zane and Shelby exchanged looks and nodded, smiling. They were back on track.
As they resud their journey along the path, Erlin walked beside them in silence. But sothing weighed on her.
She glanced at Zane, then at Shelby. Her smile trembled, clearly forced.
"I... I have sothing to clarify," she finally said.
Zane turned to her. "Okay, go on."
Shelby’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp and piercing.
"Little girl," he said coldly, "if you’ve got sothing to say, this is the ti."
Erlin hesitated. "It’s about the whereabouts of the Wolf King..."
Shelby tensed. "What about it?"
"I... I don’t actually know where he is," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shelby’s expression darkened instantly. "You lied to us?" Disappointnt oozed from his voice.
Zane stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Shelby’s shoulder. "Senior Shel, calm down. She must have a reason. Let’s hear her out first."
Shelby shot Zane a sharp look, almost like he didn’t recognize the boy he’d trained. "Zane, you know I trust you. But lies? I hate liars."
Zane gave a small smile, undeterred. "Co on. You’re bigger than this. Let’s listen to her."
Shelby clenched his jaw but relented. "Fine. No more lies. Speak."
Erlin bowed her head slightly. "First of all, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t an to deceive you. I may not know the Wolf King’s exact location, but I know how to find him. Without , you wouldn’t have made it out of the forest this quickly. That alone would’ve taken you months. As for finding the Wolf King? Decades, if not a lifeti."
Shelby crossed his arms and stared at her in silence for a few monts, deep in thought. Then he gave a small nod. "Alright. What do you suggest?"
"The answer lies in the Town of Galbaza."
"Galbaza?" Shelby raised a brow.
Erlin nodded. "In the vast Zarconist Continent, there’s a lawless haven where rogues, information brokers, pirates, bounty hunters, and all kinds of outcasts gather. Anything can be bought or sold there—treasures, forbidden scrolls, and even information about soone like the Wolf King."
Zane whistled. "Sounds dangerous. But interesting."
"It is dangerous," Erlin replied. "But if there’s anywhere we’ll find the lead we need, it’s there."
Shelby shrugged. "Sounds like our best option. Lead the way."
The trio resud their journey.
As the day wore on, they chewed on bone marrow paste for energy and chatted little. Soon, under Erlin’s suggestion, they flagged down a carriage drawn by two corrupted horses.
But then—an issue.
The horses, despite their monstrous build, couldn’t even move the carriage. They neighed, stomped, and refused to budge.
The driver, a pale vampire with sharp eyes, sniffed the air subtly. Upon catching the scent, his eyes widened in realization—pure-bloods. Zane and Shelby radiated sothing ancient, noble... terrifying.
Without daring to address them directly, he turned to Erlin.
"Miss," he said carefully, "it seems my carriage is... broken. May I suggest another ride? I’ll arrange it right away."
"Fine. You can take this." Erlin tossed him a note—currency of this world.
The driver’s eyes lit up at the value printed on it. He vanished with a polite bow and soon returned—bringing nine more carriages behind him, all lined up like a parade.
They tried each one.
None moved.
Not a single hoof budged.
After a while, realization dawned. The problem wasn’t the carriages—or the horses.
Zane stepped forward and scratched his head. "It’s . I’m the problem."
Shelby let out a short laugh. "You finally realized? With ten tons of compressed weight inside you, even corrupted beasts know better than to carry a walking mountain."
"I can suppress the weight with technique," Shelby added. "Took decades to master. You? You’re still training."
Erlin tapped her chin thoughtfully. Then, she approached the driver again and handed him another note. "Triple compensation. Bring us Dragon Horses if you have them. I’ll pay whatever it takes."
The driver and his companions exchanged glances—and dashed off eagerly, already fantasizing about the profits.
Zane sighed. "Dragon Horses, huh? Sounds intense."
Erlin smiled. "They’re the only ones who might manage your weight."
Shelby added with a smirk, "They better. Or we’re walking to Galbaza—and that won’t be fun."
.
Reviews
All reviews (0)