It’s been five days since Bjorn started training his new, unexpected students. He had a little difficulty passing on the absorption technique to the warriors, but once they understood it, their growth and progress were exponential.The quality and quantity of beasts' corpses available made it possible for everyone to train nonstop for days, and Bjorn made sure that the supply of beast meat never ran dry.With his shadows scouting the perimeter, he spotted any beast long before it arrived at the settlement and swiftly dispatched the powerful ones while directing some warriors to deal with the weaker beasts. But lately, the number of beasts coming their way had been gradually increasing, and Bjorn had already noticed that trend.“You need to move your community,” Bjorn said as he stood before a meditating Chief Martel, who had already achieved a body breakthrough to the adept level after absorbing numerous adept-level resources.The chief looked to have aged backward, with the wrinkles
Bjorn stirred before the sun kissed the horizon, his limbs stiff and aching from the unforgiving ground beneath him. The village offered no shelter, leaving him to make do with a makeshift camp along the roadside.Months of weary travel had taken its toll on him, his once neat dark hair now tousled and unkempt. Despite his dwindling coin purse, there was an undeniable excitement bubbling within him, reflected in the gleam of his green eyes and the wide grin adorning his face. Today held the promise of reaching Jeju City, where he would finally have the chance to test for his magic source and fulfill his dream of joining the prestigious ranks of the church as a mage.All his supplies depleted, Bjorn attached his reliable sword to his belt and threw his bow and quiver across his back, His body has been sculpted into a strong, toned figure through years of diligent effort, with every muscle well-defined and slender. His skin has become a rich bronze color from spending numerous hours hun
Bjorn arrived at the church gates and was greeted by a female guard, who appeared to be a mage. She had an air of authority about her as she pointed him toward the testing hall.Entering the hall, Bjorn was taken aback by the sheer number of people waiting to test for their magic source. They were mostly his age, though some were in their twenties and a few even older, perhaps in their thirties. He guessed they were all hoping for the same thing—confirmation that they had the talent to join the church and become mages.Everyone wore neat, stylish garments, their materials shining in the glaring lights. Bjorn felt embarrassed when he saw his old, dirty clothes due to months of traveling. Not stopping at an inn to freshen up, he soon felt regret, yet his excitement to reach the church kept his spirits lifted. He approached the young woman at the registration desk, trying to sound confident despite the condescending look she gave him. Her eyes swept over him, pausing at the smudges on h
Bjorn sat in the office, his nerves frayed and his body tense. The look of horror he'd seen on the Adept's face haunted him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong.He considered making a run for it, but where would he go? He was in a building filled with mages, each more powerful than the last, and even the weakest among them could probably end him with a flick of their wrist. Besides, he was broke—he didn't even have enough money to leave the city, let alone start over somewhere else.His eyes drifted to the table, where a bag of coins sat, carelessly left behind by the Adept. Maybe if he grabbed it, he could escape. At least then he'd have a chance, however slim. The idea was tempting. It felt like his only way out. His hand reached slowly toward the bag, each inch feeling like an eternity."Stealing now, are we?"Bjorn jumped, his heart pounding as he spun around. Standing before him was a man he hadn't seen before—enigmatic, with a smile that did
Bjorn wandered aimlessly through the maze-like streets of the city, his mind tangled with the chaos of the church's testing hall and how quickly he'd gone from hopeful mage to fugitive on the run. The memory of Master Yuki's mysterious powers—how easily he’d killed the adept—left a knot in Bjorn's stomach. But it also sparked a fire in him, a burning desire to possess such unfathomable strength. "Be stronger than your enemies, and you survive," he thought to himself. That was the rule of the jungle. Raised by a single mother and a young hunter, Bjorn had a toughness that most kids his age lacked. He'd worked hard manual labor jobs to support his mother and his own insatiable appetite. It wasn't easy, but it taught him resilience. “Let them come,” he muttered, snapping out of his thoughts as he refocused on his surroundings. “Where's this Velvet Rose Inn?” Bjorn spotted an old beggar and walked over, dropping a silver coin into the man's cup. The beggar snatched it with surprising
Master Yuki and Bjorn slipped out of the inn quietly before dawn, vanishing into the shadows as the city still slept. By the time the first light touched the sky, they were already far from the city gates.They had a cart pulled by two sturdy horses, but Master Yuki insisted that Bjorn walk alongside it. The journey took them through dense forests, steering clear of the main roads and avoiding settlements. It was a good way to stay out of sight and throw off anyone trying to track them.The travel was relentless, with only a short break for a quick lunch. By evening, they reached a wide clearing with a bubbling creek running through it. Bjorn took care of the horses, letting them drink and feeding them while Master Yuki set up camp.By the time Bjorn returned, Master Yuki had dinner nearly ready. They ate well, and after the long day, Bjorn felt his exhaustion catching up with him. He was looking forward to some rest when he heard Master Yuki's sharp voice."Get up," Master Yuki order
"That's new," Master Yuki remarked, his sense locked on Bjorn's forbidden source. As he focused his senses, he noticed something unique about it—it seemed to absorb and consume any energy that touched it. It was unlike any forbidden source he had encountered before. Master Yuki studied it for a few moments before removing his hand from Bjorn's back, where he'd been sensing the source's energy."I'd advise against trying to control this source for now," he said sternly. "Some sources can be harmful to their users. Until you have better control over your essence, it's best to leave the forbidden source alone."Switching gears, Master Yuki returned to their training. "Try drawing out essence from your shadow source. Will it toward your hands," he instructed. "This should be easier because the essence pill I gave you widen your source barrier, which would have taken years of training otherwise."Bjorn followed the instructions, and within seconds, his hands were enveloped in dark, wispy
Bjorn heaved, his chest rising and falling quickly as he tried to catch his breath. As the adrenaline from the fight subsided, he felt the weight of what he'd just done—he'd killed six men. It wasn't the first time, and it didn't bother him, and Master Yuki noticed his composure."You were careless; you could have died," Yuki's voice was calm but firm.Bjorn glanced at him, realizing that it was probably Master Yuki's interference that caused the bandit to stumble, saving him from a fatal blow. Bjorn bowed respectfully to his master. "I'm sorry. I won't make the same mistake again," he said, vowing to double down on his training and gain more experience.Master Yuki had already been cautious, avoiding dangerous situations during their journey to protect Bjorn, but he considered changing that. "Maybe it's time to introduce him to more risks," he thought."Have you killed someone before?" Yuki asked, his voice measured."Yes," Bjorn replied, his gaze distant. "The hunter I apprenticed