The forest looked normal, but the air didn’t.

  With every step, Lys felt the Vital Energy pulsing deeper through her body.

  She walked with her makeshift branch-spear on her back, beside Kael, who strolled as if he were in a monster-infested park.

  “Do you feel that?” she asked.

  “The weight of existence?”

  (pause)

  “Or just the discomfort of knowing there might be an invisible entity watching us with judgmental eyes?”

  “…Maybe both.”

  Later, they stopped in a secluded clearing.

  Kael leaned against a tree while Lys struck a pile of stones with her improvised spear.

  Each hit cracked the rock a bit more. Each move looked cleaner, more focused.

  The grimório logged everything.

  > Technique Progress: “Inner Thrust” — 24%

  Kael watched in silence, arms crossed.

  “You no longer look like an angry child punching a tree.”

  “That’s a compliment?”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “It’s what I’ve got today.”

  As the sun started to set, Lys dropped to the ground, sweating and out of breath.

  Kael tossed her the canteen.

  “Water. So you don’t die before you get interesting.”

  She chuckled softly and took a sip.

  Then sat in silence for a while before asking:

  “Master… can I tell you something?”

  Kael didn’t even turn.

  “Let me guess.

  Your father was strong. Tried to fight something too powerful. Got killed. Your whole family gone.

  You survived, grew up angry, and now you want to get strong enough to change everything.”

  Lys stayed quiet.

  “Did I get it?”

  She looked at him, surprised, then nodded.

  “That’s right.

  But… it’s not just about revenge.

  I want to enter the species tournament.

  I want to prove mortals still have value. That no one steps on me without consequences.”

  Kael was silent for a moment.

  Then he gave a small smirk.

  “There we go.

  A story with no fluff. Direct. Clear.

  I like that.”

  Later, while they set up a basic camp, the grimório suddenly pulsed with intensity.

  > External Interference Detected

  > Source: Unknown Upper Plane

  > Message:

  “Watch your step, mortal. Not every stone is ground.”

  — Signed: Benevolent Observer

  Kael read it aloud.

  “‘Benevolent Observer’?”

  (pause)

  “Yeah. He can benevolently kiss my left nut.”

  The ghost floated into view.

  “You just got a cosmic threat and answered with anatomy.”

  “If someone’s spying on me, they better bring snacks.”

  Kael turned to Lys, pointing toward the dark road ahead.

  “Let’s move.”

  “Already?”

  “You want to enter that tournament, right?

  Then you’ll need more than cool lines and fancy moves.

  You’ll need to become the kind of person that makes immortal entities think twice.”

  Lys gripped her spear tighter.

  “I will.”

  Kael gave a crooked smile.

  “That’s more like it. Now you’re speaking my language.”