In a certain part of the Great Jura Forest, an individual with long, tied hair crouched beside a spear that had been lying in the same spot for several days.
He examined it with the quiet curiosity of someone who had expected it to be gone.
"Mortals were supposed to be greedy," he muttered, almost to himself. "But they haven't taken such a valuable artifact with them? I am almost impressed."
He slowly turned the spear over in his hands.
"How unfortunate. If only they had taken it, I could have traced those rats in a jiffy, even in this dense Jura Forest." He sighed lightly. "Now I have to search the entire forest. The blame is on me. No… there's nothing to blame."
He chuckled softly at his own reasoning.
A few days ago, Xiang Wan had encountered a rare beast in this Mortal Realm. With the immense knowledge he possessed, he was certain the creature was one of a kind. Though it resembled a young dragon, it certainly wasn't one.
Whatever it was, it was extraordinary.
And extraordinary things belonged to extraordinary people.
People just like Xiang Wan.
"If only my beloved fiancée, Xin Mei of the Primordial Ore Clan, hadn't chosen that particular moment to visit, I would have tracked those rats instantly." He shook his head slightly, as if it were genuinely tragic.
He stood, drew his runic blade, and pointed it toward the treeline ahead.
"No matter. It may take time, but I will find you."
He swung his blade vertically.
The trees directly ahead of him split cleanly in perfect halves. The cuts were so precise that the severed trunks had not even begun to fall before he was already walking forward through the gap.
"Wait for this venerable one, Unknown Beast."
---
I stared at the Breakthrough options for a few seconds and then immediately pressed No.
Normally, to break through, one needed complete concentration. A single slip could damage the Qi Center or Core, and I wasn't stupid enough to risk that possibility while standing in an open clearing after two days unconscious—with 94% stamina and two companions who still didn't know what I was.
I would do it properly.
In an appropriate place.
At an appropriate time.
When I was alone.
For now, expanding the territory was my first priority.
I gathered the team—everyone except Pride, who was still in deep slumber at the entrance of the Chief's House.
He seriously needed some rest, so as a good parent, I didn't wake him.
"Alright, team… we've rested enough. Now we work."
"It's you who rested enough, not us!" Kaira mumbled from somewhere behind me.
Aldric said nothing. He simply nodded with the expression of a man who agreed completely and had chosen the dignified path.
"Timber… helps Master!" Timber declared enthusiastically, while Nepoleon simply pecked at Timber's leg, which was mostly made of roots.
"I have gathered you chosen ones here to navigate the swamps. We will need to clear them and make the land cultivable. And of course, we will need to spare a portion of land to build another house," I announced with a wide chuckle.
I was truly enjoying ordering others around, wasn't I?
"Kaira, investigate that stone deposit." I pointed toward the cluster of rocks. "Aldric, check out that strange structure over there. Timber, examine the swamp itself and figure out how to navigate through it."
Then I added, "And I will check the caves. There could be something dangerous, but hey—it's my territory, so it's my responsibility."
"Fair enough," Aldric muttered, visibly impressed.
"So now… scatter."
Everyone moved to their respective tasks, and I headed toward mine.
As expected, the expansion to a hundred meters felt fundamentally different from the original fifty.
After assigning tasks to my companions, I made my way toward the nearby cave. The swamp restricted my movement, but I still managed to push through.
The cave looked like any other—layered with clay from the swamp, its entrance partially concealed by bark and debris.
I manipulated the gravity around it and forced the entrance open. Sunlight entered before I did, and then I stepped inside.
There was nothing particularly remarkable about it. It was simply an empty, moist cave.
I would modify it later so that Pride—and those fundamentally larger among my beasts—could use it as their dwelling.
[You are too excited, Mortal. Have you lost your mind and turned into a child?]
"Ah… was I?"
I dismissed Zero's sarcastic remark.
Was I really losing my mind?
I was supposed to be grown up, so what was with this immense anticipation and childish excitement swirling inside me whenever I discovered something new?
I quickened my steps and, with hopeful anticipation, made my way toward the second cave.
Surprisingly, its entrance had already been cleared, though the surrounding area remained covered in bark and debris.
Avoiding them, I stepped inside.
It was darker than the previous cave.
"Should have cleared the entrance completely to let the sunlight in," I muttered to myself as I moved deeper. It was also wider than the first one.
As I explored the interior with the faint light available, I suddenly bumped into something.
And then,an immense force struck my arm, bending it toward my stomach and hurling me out of the cave.
Had it not been for Timber's roots catching me in time, I would have been smeared across the swamp.
"Holy fuck! What was that?"
I stared at the cave's entrance, but saw nothing.
After steadying myself, I turned to Timber. "Good job, buddy. That was an excellent catch."
"Timber is always there for Master!" he yelped proudly.
[Loyalty 84% -> 87%]
This guy was always a lifesaver. I would need to give him a special treat soon enough.
[HP: 81%]
Damn. That was a solid hit.
My arm seemed broken.
"MARFIN!"
I heard Kaira's distant, concerned shout as everyone gathered around me.
"I'm fine. Just a broken arm. A potion will fix it—no need to worry," I explained while gently supporting the injured limb.
"What was that?" Kaira asked immediately.
"I don't kn—"
Before I could answer properly, Aldric drew his runic blade and moved toward the cave.
A man of action. No hesitation. No wasted time. He would jump into blazing fire if necessary.
"Sheesh, kid. Hold your horses."
"I thought I'd just take a look inside," Aldric shrugged nonchalantly.
Was he trying to act cool?
I sighed and turned to Timber again. "Buddy, control your vines. Why are they creeping toward the cave entrance?"
Timber turned his head away, visibly embarrassed.
"I thought… Master hurt… something did… so Timber eliminate it?"
"It's alright. Pull them back. No need to get violent so quickly," I said, shaking my head at Timber's misplaced enthusiasm.
It really didn't suit someone so large.
Meanwhile, my alarm clock named Nepoleon kept pecking at my boots until I gave him a gentle pat.
[Loyalty 90% → 92%]
Once everything settled, I looked at my broken arm again.
It truly wasn't functioning.
The impact had been tremendous.
I stared at the cave entrance.
I wondered what was inside that cavern.
Should I find out?