Minutes into the desert, I had already gauged my abilities—felt myself grow stronger.
This trip would be worth it. I felt it, deep in my bones.
I stretched out my hands, breathing in the once-magma-like air. Now, it seeped into my lungs like an icy chill, sending shivers down my spine.
Goosebumps.
I was enjoying this.
Everything Laura had packed for ? Left behind in the carriage.
I wanted to experience the true thrill of survival—no food, no water, no weapons.
Just , my instincts, and the desert.
Deep down, I knew I wouldn’t grow through conventional ans. Pushups, squats, running, even martial arts—none of that mattered in a world where soone could launch a fireball at .
I wasn’t going to punch a guy hurling flas. That would be dumb.
I was different from the people of my town.
And there was another factor—Affinity.
Higher elents granted mortals the privilege to wield their power.
If I wanted to gain the favor of a stronger elent, wouldn’t I need to prove myself? To face life-and-death struggles and earn its recognition?
That was my reasoning for stepping into this desert—barehanded.
If I survived, the rewards would be imnse.
---
Hours Passed
Still no sign of the portal. No creatures. No movent.
Only the relentless wind howling through the dunes, the desert stretching endlessly before .
Massive sand dunes obstructed my view, limiting my ability to see far.
And yet... nothing happened.
No danger. No excitent.
Just an eerie, suffocating silence.
Even in a desert, this level of stillness felt unnatural.
Sothing was wrong.
"Maybe there’s a predator here..."
Or several.
The quiet persisted. So did my unease.
This was the calm before the storm.
I could feel it in my gut.
The total absence of life, the oppressive stillness—it was unsettling.
I forced myself to stay alert.
Then, suddenly—
The air turned frigid.
A chill crawled up my spine, the distinct sensation of being watched settling over .
I imdiately turned around—
Nothing.
The desert was empty. Nowhere to hide.
Except maybe underground...
I turned back, shaking off the feeling—
And there it was again.
A rustling sound.
This ti, I spun around even faster.
Nothing! Again!
No, wait—footprints.
Fresh ones.
The sand hadn’t even settled yet.
Sothing was here.
I barely had ti to process that thought before—
CRACKLE—
Pain.
Like an iron rod slamming into my body.
I was sent flying.
My clothes tore. My stomach ripped open. Blood spilled onto the sand. Bones fractured.
Pain. Unrelenting pain.
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t even lift my head to see what hit .
The wound on my stomach pulsed. Blood seeped out, staining the ground crimson.
Minutes passed—agony stretching into eternity.
Then, finally, my body began to nd.
Flesh knitted together. Bones realigned.
I gasped, dragging in a breath as strength returned to my limbs.
Whatever attacked didn’t go for a second strike.
I could hear its low, steady breathing. It was still here.
Lying still was an option—but playing dead could easily trigger its instincts to finish off.
No choice.
I forced myself up—
And froze.
A Manticore.
Massive.
Golden fur rippled in the wind, gleaming under the harsh sunlight.
Claws—as big as my head—dug into the sand, poised to strike.
Its face... a grotesque fusion of lion and human, twisted into a mocking smirk.
Golden eyes locked onto .
Predatory. Amused.
Like it was looking at a toy.
And to top it off—
A tail. Long, whip-like, dripping with venom.
That thing had cracked my bones open like a twig.
If it had struck just a little harder...
I clenched my fists.
I was a new transmigrator. Shouldn’t my first enemy be, like... goblins?
Hell, I’d even take so tiny scorpions.
But a Manticore?
Who the fuck was setting my difficulty level?!
I wanted a life-and-death experience—not an instant death sentence!
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