He jolted awake, coughing violently. Water spilled from his mouth as his chest burned in pain. Leon was soaked, however still alive. He felt that he would not be able to move properly for some time.
"Damn... What kind of madness was that... Great Boar?. And I even managed to level up. I don't know if it was worth all the risk."
He coughed a few times while looking around, his blond hair falling over his face because of the water, however he could see that he was already at the shore. However the body of the Boar was nowhere to be seen. Maybe it had already sunk into the water?.
Placing his hand over his chest, he closed his eyes again. " Status. " And once again the window opened for him to see. However with some additional pop ups. The first was stating that he had defeated the creature, the second about the level up. However what made Leon curious were the next ones.
The trait where it was [ ?? (Dormant) ] had now changed to something new.
[ Luminous Energy (Awakened – E Rank) ]
And right after.
[ You have obtained: Fragment of Feral Light ]
Leon had many questions in his mind, and soon selected his trait.
[ Luminous Energy: Grants the bearer the ability to emit pure light from their body. ]
" Emit light?, am I a human flashlight now?. And the rank of this is only E?. " Leon laughed quietly while thinking about everything that had happened for him to awaken this human flashlight trait. However he was not disappointed.
" I have to work with what I have, there's no point complaining. " He tried to move his body, however he still couldn't. And soon gave up again. Then remembering the fragment he had also obtained. And soon selected it to see its description.
[ Fragment of Feral Light: A fragment of light obtained after defeating a feral monster stronger than the user of Luminous Energy. One time use. Can be spent to shape simple weapons, capable of delivering up to one physical strike. ]
Leon analyzed this more seriously. He could emit light, and also had a ticket for a single weapon strike. He did not know the power it had, however he did not want to test it and waste the only one he had yet.
" I spend one to kill another, and gain another. Doesn't seem like a good trade, I need to keep this stored as a trump card. " He let out a sigh, now looking at his attribute.
[ Available points to use: 1 ]
Leon looked at his status. If each level up gave only one attribute point, it would be more complicated, normally games would give more than one attribute point per level up. " But I'm asking for too much... This isn't a game. "
He still couldn't move. " Are the stats applied the moment I spend them then?. I need to be able to move soon. But my muscles are all on fire. " He pondered for a moment longer and then spent his first point.
[ Endurance: 3 > 4 ]
The moment he used the point, Leon could feel his body becoming less painful, it still hurt a lot, but at least now he felt that he would be able to move even if still slowly.
He sat up while letting out a few grunts of pain and looked around more calmly. Beside the slope, there was what seemed to be a dirt road. Which led toward the city he had seen while falling. So Leon's first objective was to get there, and alive preferably.
As soon as he managed to stand, he then began walking slowly. He even picked up a longer branch that was lying on the ground to support himself along the way. " This is not what I wanted from a new magical world. "
As he walked slowly, he could hear a sound coming from the opposite direction. Looking back he could see a carriage being pulled by two horses. So far the most normal thing he had seen there. And controlling the carriage was an old man with a straw hat and simple clothes.
" Are you alright boy? " He asked while looking Leon up and down. " Were you attacked by some monster on the way?, you look injured. And your clothes..."
' My clothes of course, I'm not from this world!, he must be finding them strange ' Leon thought however " They're all destroyed, must have been a terrible encounter. "
Leon looked down seeing that his clothes were indeed destroyed, and torn his pants looked more like shorts. His white shirt was gray and full of holes. He had not noticed it before since the pain was occupying most of his thoughts.
Letting out an awkward laugh he then nodded his head. " Y... Yes. It was terrible actually. A large Boar, and I even fell from up there. " He pointed to the floating island. As he did that, the old man swallowed dryly.
" You fell from up there?!, that is the forbidden forest of the kingdom of Reinford. Many troublesome monsters appear there. I don't know how you got there, but if you're still alive after all that, you're tougher than you look. " The old man laughed. " Climb in the back, there's little space, but we are heading the same direction. My name is Anthony. A farmer. "
" Thank you Mr. Anthony. I'm Leon. " He then walked to the back of the carriage where he sat on the edge and could finally rest his mind. " Forbidden forest huh?... I was lucky in my misfortune. I hope my parents are alright. "
He let out a long sigh while speaking to himself, and soon fell asleep due to everything that had happened. All the adrenaline spikes and his body aching finally caught up to him, and he then passed out falling backward.
After a few hours had passed, it was already night. And he woke up with the carriage stopping in the middle of the road. He blinked a few times and soon climbed down from the back of the carriage. Soon seeing old Anthony walking toward him.
" It's already night, it's not good to keep traveling at night. We still have two more days until we reach the city. I hope you can help me during these two days young man, consider it as payment for the ride. "
The old man spoke in a calm tone, never once demanding anything, however Leon weighed it and even by carriage agreed with the man. " What do I need to do?, I can move more freely now after resting. "
Nodding his head then. " You can take the hay and feed the horses. I'll prepare the fire for tonight's camp. We have bread and water, a banquet. " Leon heard that while forcing a faint smile.
" Alright then!. " He was gentle by nature, however this last day had pushed his mind to the extreme with all the changes that had happened in his life. Soon he picked up the hay while bringing it to the two horses to feed them. And after that they had a simple dinner and went to sleep.
The following days had been without events, calm and peaceful, from time to time groups of soldiers on horses passed by them going and coming.
" The monsters in the region have been restless lately, the soldiers are having double the work. And the mercenaries are earning more money than ever. " Anthony explained to Leon.
" Mercenaries?, And the adventurers? " He asked curiously while walking beside the horses. After all his body could now move normally, aside from aches here and there.
" Adventurers?. We don't have that type here. The governor banned them, maybe you'll find them acting as mercenaries, it's almost the same thing, however mercenaries have even less freedom since they must follow the mercenary code. "
" And where would there be Adventurers? " He asked curiously.
" Maybe in the neighboring country. About four months away by horse. " Leon swallowed dryly hearing that. " Everything is so far away. " He spoke quietly.
" Yes, however look there, we are already reaching the city! " As Leon looked ahead, he could see massive white walls, which seemed to be made of marble expanding for kilometers and more kilometers to both sides, and in the center a colossal gate.
" We have arrived at Reinford City!, the fortress city. "