Marcus continued chatting until one of the students called for him. Once the man was gone, As was thankful for the silence. While walking, he checked his status to see if he had made any gains after returning his armor to his storage.


    [ss Unlocked: ******* ********]


    [Experience: 1330/2000]


    [Experience Gained: 850]


    [Mana: 1708→2208]


    [Core Points: 26550→26850]


    [Core Points Gained: 350]


    [Skill Unlocked: ******* ********]


    ''The figure said I had to conquer a dungeon to unlock these. But why did my mana get a big bump? Maybe it''s the new ss or skill?'' he thought while looking at his status screen.


    As and the academy group continued walking down the beach as the wavespped up against the shore. A stormshed the open ocean, causing the salty air to brush against his face.


    Looking out to sea, As barely spotted the ind he was imprisoned on; it was a tiny dot in the distance. He then admired the scenery and admitted that Zarandar was beautiful.


    The beach was stunning, and the trees stretched high into the sky, causing them to shade everything around them, backdropped by towering mountains, ''This ce is beautiful, but I''d rather be alone or with the girls than some random students who keep looking at me like I''m a devil,'' As thought.


    Following that, As examined the area and the sea but saw no signs of the enemies, ''Hopefully, the Nightowls don''t realize I''m here, so I can get a head start due to vanishing into the sea; otherwise, they would be here by now,'' he mused with a smile.


    ''Once I reach the city, I''ll make my way to the heart of their empire, where they''d never expect me to be, and learn about my enemy to understand them,'' As continued thinking.


    While thinking to himself, he noticed a female knight d in leather and metal armor, clearly a member of the academy''s security team, stepping forward with a hand resting on the hilt of her sword.


    She was the same age as Marcus, and the students were older teenagers. "We''ll set up camp here for the night due to the iing storm," she announced to the group, her voice steady and authoritative.


    The knight continued ncing at everyone, "Once rested, we will enter the forest at sunrise and return to the path home."


    As everyone nodded in agreement, Marcus approached him, apanied by the knight who had spoken. When they were close, the older man asked in a concerned tone, "As, I was wondering, do you need a tent? We have some spare gear packed as a precaution.''''


    Marcus didn''t wait for As to respond. "We''ve got plenty of spare tents in the academy''s storage ne. It''s part of the unwritten code among travelers here in Zarandar—looking out for each other on the road.''''


    ''''I have one already, but what about the Dark Ones? Won''t theye at night?'''' he questioned curiously.


    They exchanged puzzled nces, but Marcus''s expression suddenly shifted to one of rm. "Night Demons," he expressed, his voice tight with uneasiness. "Or Shayatin al-Layl, as they''re known in the Persian tongue. We have Runes and other artifacts to keep them at bay."


    As nodded before walking away from the group and finding a small hill to set up his camp. He pulled out his tent and wondered, ''Why is he being so kind to a stranger?''


    Afterward, he set up the Runes Grishna, who taught him to keep the Dark Ones at bay since the monsters gave him the creeps. The camp was simple, with a tent and firece just in front of it.


    To finish it off, several Runes would protect him for the night. Following that, As wanted to eat some fresh meat and looked at the sky only to realize he had an hour left of sunlight and wanted to go hunt.


    He quickly stood up and approached the treeline, equipping his armor and readying his des. As As stepped into the forest, the humid air clung to his body, making him sweat profusely as he traveled through the dense undergrowth.


    As continued for another ten minutes until he came across some monkey-looking monsters. They were rxing in a small clearing, causing him to use Void Sight on the creatures.


    [Thalrax Monkey]


    [Rank: D - 300 Exp]


    ''Not too strong,'' he pondered until spotting a bigger Thalrax that was twice as big as the normal. ''Oh is their leader?''


    As scanned it.


    [Alpha Thalrax Monkey]


    [Rank: D+ - 350 Exp]


    ''I''ll attack that one first before going after the others,'' he mused.


    He equipped his helmet and readied his weapons as he cast Void Step and vanished from the spot, only to reappear in front of the Alpha Monkey. As quickly struck and plunged his de into the creature''s head before casting Void Bullets.


    The azure projectile blew its head apart, causing blood and brain matter to showered the other Thalrax monkeys who tried to scatter. He dashed around the clearing while shing and stabbing the monsters.


    ''Easy once you get the drop on them,'' he mused while dealing with the monsters.


    Blood flew everywhere as he managed to kill several of the monkeys, thanks to getting to drop on them and the shock of losing their leader, but the others escaped into the trees because they were fast.


    As watched the remaining monsters flee while he dragged the nine normal Thalrax Monkey bodies and Alpha into the center. He used his Blood Knife to cut out the 10 Green Monster Cores, which let off a beautiful glow.


    Afterward, he stored the cores and pressed on through the forest, intent on finding fresh meat. It took him half an hour of searching before he spotted a Forest Boar grazing at the base of a tree.


    Without wasting time, As scanned the creature, ''I wonder how strong it is,'' he pondered.


    [Forest Boar: E+ - 250 Exp]


    He crouched low, carefully closing the distance. With a steady aim, he extended his hand toward the boar and cast Void Arrow. The azure projectile sliced through the air with pinpoint uracy, striking the boar and sending it crashing to the ground, lifeless.


    ''Yes! The perfect shot and the meat willst for a while,'' As mused, approaching it with his knife to carve off some.


    As As finished slicing and storing the meat, he saw the sun dipping below the horizon. A shiver ran down his spine as he thought, ''The Dark Ones will be here soon.''


    He hurriedlypleted his task, but eerie howls echoed through the forest just as he was about to leave. Spinning around, As saw the ominous glint of dark eyes emerging from the shadows as the creatures closed in on him.


    As readied his des while letting the Dark Ones get closer before he cast Void Wave. A st of azure mana sent some creatures flying, allowing him to stab a few just as he started sprinting.


    Without looking back, As continued to run but soon started hearing the monsters right behind him. It took ten minutes to get back to his camp, and when he burst out of the forest, Marcus and the female knights spotted him.


    They started shouting for him to get behind the Runes as more Dark Ones appeared. The creatures were encircling him, but As used Void Step to avoid their trap before crashing into his camp.


    When the creatures saw this, they let out howls of rage, while the closest ones stared at him with dark eyes and growled. As shivered as he heard that, but he cast Void Bullet into its face, forcing them to flee into the forest.


    Because the Dark Ones couldn''t get As, they rushed toward the academy group but stopped short when the Runes glowed, which made them back off and caused the creatures to rush back into the forest.


    Once they were gone, As rxed before starting a fire. As the mes came to life, he pulled out some boar meat and started cooking it while watching the stars above shine like a beautiful canvas.


    As''s stomach growled as the tantalizing aroma of the Forest Boar meat filled the air. After a few more minutes, the meat was ready. He used his short sword to cut a steaming piece and began eating, all while gazing out at the sea.


    Dolphin-like creatures asionally leaped from the water, their sleek forms shimmering before crashing back down. "This world is both incredible and dangerous," As mused.


    He finished the boar meat, feeling a deep sense of contentment. As exhaustion set in, he dismissed his armor and climbed into his tent. Settling into his sleeping bag, he drifted off to sleep as the storm outside grew increasingly violent.


    While As slept, his dreams carried him back to a poignant memory from his past. He found himself reliving a Wednesday morning on Earth. He was curled up on the couch, engrossed in cartoons, eagerly anticipating the start of another school day.


    Suddenly, his mother appeared in the doorway, apanied by her boyfriend, Darren, who he had never liked, "When are we leaving for school, Mom?" he asked, his voice filled with innocent curiosity.


    His mother''s expression was a mixture of sadness and resolve. She looked at him with eyes that seemed to carry the weight of unspoken decisions. "You''re not going to school today," she said, her tone firm yet tinged with regret. "You''ll be staying somewhere while Darren and I go on holiday."


    ''''Will I be going to Aunties?'''' As questioned once again.


    She shook her head before rushing him out of the house, only for him to notice a suitcase was in the back of their car, which caused worry to swell up inside. As looked at his mother, who avoided looking at him, while Darren smirked.