While Silex and Sprout investigated the area upstream and Vesper licked his wounds, which were healing rapidly thanks to Maximus’s aid and the wolf’s naturally potent regeneration, Maximus sat in a meditative position, sorting through everything that had happened since he had arrived on this plane.
This body finally feels like it belongs to me. I no longer feel like some cursed parasite clinging to it… Though the baggage Maximus left behind is something else entirely. A psychotic family member, deep ties to murderers, and heaven knows what else. If only I could accelerate my plans to adapt this body to mana. Though I fear that until the seed fully sprouts, I won’t be able to control it. I will need two separate sets of channels for now, roots for spirit and bodily channels for mana…. He exhaled. Getting ahead of myself, I see. Maximus smiled faintly, amused. He didn’t mind the challenge; he thrived when things grew difficult.
What happened earlier was my fault as well. I became complacent around those two… Even with Sarah and the rest back then. I should have expected that others would receive quests that might clash with mine. I’ll need to be far more cautious going forward. The Second Plane, huh? Castle defense… Working with others on something like that will be a nightmare. He sighed. Aurelius, you old fool, aren’t you getting ahead of yourself? First, you need to survive a land filled with mad beasts. He shook his head.
He turned and observed Vesper as the wolf methodically cleaned himself. An enormous blood-red beast that would have been a legendary existence on Veridiyum was now following him, and even Silex would have been considered unbelievably rare back home, yet here he was, their leader. If Jonathan could see me now… Hah. His beasts always ran from me; most beasts did, thanks to the overwhelming pressure of my mana. I do miss them… All of them… All of our adventures. But they died long ago anyway. Why am I getting sentimental now? Is it because of Oscar, that damn fool… I hope you’re still alive so I can beat some sense into you.
Maximus frowned, yet his heart tightened. Ever since they had met at the Resting Bench, Oscar had been a constant source of light, even when he complained or swore that fate itself was out to get him.
Maximus let out a random chuckle.
“Boss, are you alright?” Vesper asked as Maximus suddenly laughed.
“I am fine. I was simply recalling old companions, friends who have already left this world. One of them… May yet follow them, thanks to his own foolishness,” Maximus replied calmly.
Vesper let out a low growl before exhaling slowly. “I have lost many as well. It never gets easier. I hope that one day we become strong enough to protect those we care about.”
Maximus’s heart twisted. “I hope so too… But sometimes, no matter how much strength you gain, it still isn’t enough. Sometimes life simply slips through your fingers.” His voice trembled faintly.
“Then we must become stronger than life itself, strong enough that nothing can take from us again,” Vesper growled with conviction.
“That is the plan, my new friend. If becoming the strongest mage is not enough, or even an Archdruid… Then perhaps we become something entirely new, something that can stand against gods, and even fate itself.” Maximus’s eyes sharpened as he spoke, burning with quiet resolve.
“I would like to walk that path with you, Boss… If you’ll have me,” Vesper said, staring into the river, watching the moon’s reflection ripple across its surface.
“I’d like that as well.” Maximus smiled softly.
This old wolf is wiser than most humans I’ve met… What a strange world. Maximus’s smile lingered, warmer now.
Now then… What next? Aside from finding a place to rest… The horde will strike the villages tonight, will it not? I could take advantage of that, steal a few kills, gain some levels, then descend into the madness of the Wildlands the following day. Hopefully, my beasts won’t succumb to the curse there…
Just then, a faint chirp echoed within his mind.
Maximus instantly linked his senses to Sprout’s vision and saw Silex battling a massive azure lizard along a secluded stretch of shoreline, surrounded by a tree-covered rise that formed a natural lair.
Silex, now in his natural environment, moved with terrifying fluidity. With a surge of power, he raised a towering wave that crashed into the lizard, slamming it brutally against the base of the hill and forcing blood from its jaws.
Before it could recover, Silex rode the receding surge forward, lunging and clamping his jaws around the lizard’s neck with a thunderous crunch.
The creature writhed violently, but Silex didn’t just try to crush the beast’s neck; he planted his feet and threw his entire body into a vicious, spiraling death roll. The force of it snapped the lizard’s spine with a sickening pop, the beast’s tail thrashing in a frantic, dying rhythm as Silex ground his jaws shut. He didn’t relent until the thrashing turned to tremors, and finally, into nothing but dead weight.
Silence followed.
Then, without hesitation, Silex tore into the beast’s chest, ripping free a massive chunk of flesh along with its core and swallowing it whole.
You have defeated: [Softbelly River Lizard Lv. 23]
Tamed beast Silex Leveled Up. Level 26 reached.
Alert: Tamed beast Silex has unlocked a new skill!
[Aqua Jet] – A powerful, high-pressure jet of water that can pierce even the stone.
Battle Tokens earned: 200
He really is a special crocodile; no wonder he ruled that whole area. And it seems that distance doesn’t matter; if one of my beasts kills something, it still counts as if I did it. That’s important information to have.
Maximus stood. “Vesper, let’s go. Silex has found us a place to make camp, and even dinner, if he’s willing to share.” Maximus chuckled as Vesper rose, and the two followed the river eastward.
***
Maximus and Vesper arrived just as Silex finished his meal and lay there, satisfied like a sunlit log.
“Why did you have to swallow the core?” Maximus asked as he approached.
“Oh, you saw that? It’s tasty, and it helps with growing stronger,” Silex replied simply, letting out a lazy yawn. “Now then, since I found you a place and hunted the lizard… I’ll go to sleep,” Silex added, already closing his eyes.
“Vesper, is that true?” Maximus asked.
“I’m not certain. I don’t recall much about my time in the Wildlands, but it could be. I will test it the next time we find an enemy,” Vesper answered decisively.
If cores are crystallized mana, then it makes sense that consuming such pure mana would grant strength. Hmm… It seems I’ll have to divide cores carefully going forward. Maximus decided as he took out a core from the lizard he had slain on his first day in the Trials.
“Here, eat this and tell me what happens,” Maximus said, offering the core to Vesper.
Vesper nodded and swallowed it. Instantly, a soft light enveloped him before fading just as quickly as it appeared.
“It was… Pleasant. I feel restored, and my mana has mostly recovered, but nothing beyond that,” Vesper explained.
“I see… Likely because you are already at the maximum level for this plane, or the core is not suited for your constitution. Alright, we’ll test it as we move through the trial. It would be beneficial for you two to unlock more skills,” Maximus said, turning toward the small enclave.
“This will do as a temporary base.”
He walked to the edge of the area and cast Stoneguard, raising two parallel walls. Then he took out the falchion he had looted from Brock’s corpse and cut branches from a nearby tree, using them to fashion a crude but functional roof over the shelter.
He then browsed through the store until he found something called a sleeping bag, which he purchased for 150 tokens, and placed it inside the shelter.
Seeing the small, cozy space, Vesper walked in and positioned himself sideways along the entrance, his massive frame blocking it entirely as if forming a living barrier in case anything attempted to approach while Maximus slept.
“Thank you, friend.” Maximus scratched Vesper’s large head with a faint smile.
“Boss, I’ll watch over you. You rest,” Vesper said with quiet confidence.
Maximus nodded and slipped into the sleeping bag, while Sprout teleported inside, hopping over Vesper and sneaking into the bag alongside him.
“You’re tired as well, huh, Sprout? You did well today,” Maximus said warmly as he closed his eyes.
This odd bed is actually… Very comfortable.
Maximus let out a slow breath as the tension in his body melted away, and before long, he drifted into sleep.
***
It was late afternoon when Maximus finally woke, his body heavy as he opened his eyes, only to find Vesper’s head and upper body draped over him. “Uhm… Vesper, you’re heavy,” Maximus said with a faint smile.
“Hey, Boss, welcome back. We thought something had happened to you. I was trying to keep you warm,” Vesper said, unconcerned.
“Don’t listen to the furry corpse, he just wanted to snuggle. Hah, wuss!” Silex mocked as he chewed on what little remained of the lizard.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Maximus chuckled as Vesper finally moved aside, allowing him to unzip the sleeping bag and stand up.
“Where is Sprout?” Maximus asked, noticing the absence immediately.
“The plant is soaking in the water again,” Silex replied lazily.
“Let him be. Vesper, did Silex share his food with you?” Maximus asked as he glanced at the nearly devoured carcass.
“Ha! I did, didn’t expect that, did you?!” Silex said proudly.
“He did… Though not without complaining the entire time,” Vesper added, shaking his head.
“I didn’t expect you to be so generous. Good boy,” Maximus smiled brightly.
Silex ignored him entirely and slithered into the water for another swim.
“Alright then, I’ll get something to eat and start preparing for tonight,” Maximus muttered as he opened the store and purchased a large sandwich and a bowl of soup.
He devoured the sandwich, savoring every bite. This is food from Earth, isn’t it? It’s incredible. The thought lingered as he finished the soup in one long sip and followed it with a bottle of tea, all for 50 tokens.
“I should check what these weapons can do.”
He took out the falchion and the two daggers and began to appraise them.
[Manaforged Falchion (D)]
While wielding, physical damage increased by 15%, and any weapon enchantment abilities will produce a faint aura blade, extending the weapon’s sharpness and reach depending on the skill used.
The more enchantments you layer, the stronger the effect becomes.
Requires Level 15 to use.
[Shadow Daggers (C)]
Allow the user to deal extra damage when attacking from shadows. If the attacker is unnoticed, it will become a critical hit, dealing double damage. If followed by another successful, uninterrupted strike, the damage increases by 5%, stacking with each consecutive hit.
The effect resets upon taking damage.
Requires Level 20 to use.
By the stars… These daggers are absurd. No wonder that assassin woman was so dangerous. Now I’m even more worried about Oscar, he took several of those strikes to the back…
Maximus let out a quiet sigh, hoping, perhaps foolishly, that Oscar was still alive somewhere, before carefully storing the daggers.
Shame I’m not proficient with daggers or close combat. Swords, perhaps, but daggers rely too heavily on speed, something I currently lack. He’d keep them for now… Or sell them later, they were clearly valuable.
The sword, on the other hand, might see some use when needed, though it still paled in comparison to his new shapeshifting form. Maximus made a mental note of everything before heading toward the riverbank where Sprout enjoyed the waters.
Sprout seems to have grown as well… He thought as he approached.