Aether surged through the atmosphere, raw and untamed, clashing violently against the gales that whipped through the battlefield. The wind howled in defiance, twisting and bending to the Zephyr Monkey’s command, but the Fangcub refused to back down.
Kei, barely clinging to awareness, felt every movement ripple through the currents of the wind. His battered body lay still, but his senses remained active, tethered to the shifting forces around him. He couldn’t see the fight, but he didn’t need to. He could feel it—every strike, every counter, every burst of Aether that split the air.
Two creatures bared their fangs at each other.
One, desperate to protect what little it had left.
The other, responding to provocation, its instincts sharpened, its power absolute.
The battle raged on, a blur of movement tearing across the landscape. Every strike sent tremors through the ground, each impact creating shockwaves that danced across the nearby body of water. The once-still surface shuddered under the force, distorting the reflections of the world above.
The Fangcub lunged, its fangs gleaming with Aether-backed energy, but the Zephyr Monkey vanished, the wind itself parting as it reappeared behind the cub with a deafening whoosh. A sharp, invisible slash raked across the cub’s back, and blood sprayed into the air, crimson droplets joining the mist that clung to the battlefield.
The Fangcub staggered.
It was weakening.
Its muscles screamed in protest, its injuries mounting with every exchanged blow. And yet, it fought. Whimpers of pain slipped through its gritted fangs, but it did not retreat. It could not.
Not while Kei lay there.
Not while its friend was dying.
The rippling water mirrored its struggle, each wave reflecting the fragments of its past. A distorted image flickered on the surface—the first time it had met Kei, the moment they had clashed, the strange kinship that had formed between them. Every drop of water, every ripple in the pond, carried the weight of those memories.
And now, those memories threatened to wash away into nothing.
The Fangcub’s breath came in ragged gasps, but its stance remained firm. Its body trembled, blood seeping from fresh wounds, but its eyes burned with something unyielding.
The Zephyr Monkey’s winds intensified, spiraling around its form like a storm, its glowing eyes fixed on the struggling cub.
The air grew heavier.
The ripples on the water stilled—if only for a moment.
Then—
CLASH!
Ripples surged through the surface on the water. The tears of the Fangcub flew through the air, it most recent memories shown through each ripple in the water
It’s been a week since Kei and the cub met each other.
A cheeky rivalry in the beginning, grew into the two becoming rather close
[Status Screen]
[Name]: Kei Yuichi
[Title]: He Who Denies Fate, Hidden Title (Yet to be accepted)
[Class]: Locked
[Force Alignment]: Breeze
[Level]: 0
[HP]: 15/15
[Aether]: 30/30
Attributes:
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 3
- Agility: 9
- Constitution: 4
- Intelligence: 10
- Will: 10
- Charisma: 10
[Remaining Stat Points]: 0 + 3 (rewarded for gaining a hidden title)
[Skills]
[Skill Name]: Basic Projectile Mastery
[Description]: Through repeated practice and countless thrown projectiles, you have developed a fundamental sense of aim, control, and trajectory.
[Effects]:
- +5% increased accuracy when throwing small objects (stones, daggers, makeshift weapons).
- Improved trajectory prediction, allowing for slight mid-air adjustments based on environmental factors (wind, distance).
- Reduced stamina consumption when continuously throwing projectiles.
[Additional Notes]:
- This skill only applies to non-enhanced projectiles (no Force-based or Aether-enhanced attacks).
- More advanced versions may unlock with continued training.
[Force Progression]: 1%
[Equipment]: Beginner Sword [Uncommon]
Kei had known from the start—if he wanted to survive in this world, he had to get stronger.
Much stronger.
A single cub alone had pushed him to his absolute limit. As he was now, he stood no chance against the greater threats that lurked within the depths of the forest.
And so, he trained.
The days blurred together as he fell into a relentless routine, forcing his body to endure beyond its limits.
He trained with purpose, dividing his regimen to improve each attribute—strength, dexterity, agility, and constitution.
Without weights or a gym, Kei made do with what the environment provided.
He scavenged for rocks—testing each for weight and balance before settling on those he could use for lifting. With some difficulty, he fashioned a crude carrying harness out of thick vines and flexible branches, allowing him to strap the heaviest stones to his back.
He started small, squatting under the burden, feeling every muscle in his legs burn as he pushed against the weight.
Then, he moved on to log carries, dragging fallen branches across the forest floor. Some were smooth, others jagged, but each one built endurance in his arms and back.
At night, he lay exhausted, his body aching—but he had no intention of stopping.
To increase his reaction speed and footwork, Kei set up makeshift obstacles around the clearing.
He used fallen logs to create hurdles and tied hanging vines between trees at different heights, forcing himself to duck, weave, and roll as he sprinted through the makeshift course.
At first, he stumbled often, getting caught in the vines or mistiming his jumps. But each mistake became a lesson, each fall an opportunity to adjust.
He practiced throwing stones, focusing on both precision and quick reflexes. By aiming at moving leaves caught in the wind, he learned to compensate for movement, adjusting his trajectory on the fly.
As the days passed, his accuracy sharpened. He could strike small, fast-moving targets without overthinking.
The Fangcub, watching from the sidelines, eventually joined in—darting through the course with its own natural agility. The competition between them grew fierce, each pushing the other to move faster, react sharper.
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Endurance was just as important as power.
Kei forced himself through long-distance runs, weaving through the thick forest while controlling his breathing. He conditioned his body against pain by striking his forearms and legs against tree trunks, hardening his bones little by little.
He bathed in the cold rivers, letting the icy water shock his system, testing how long he could last before retreating to the shore.
Some days, he simply let himself be battered by the wind, standing firm as the gales howled against him.
Every part of his training was rough, crude, and exhausting.
But it worked.
The Fangcub never let itself be left behind either. If Kei trained, the cub trained. If Kei struggled, the cub struggled beside him.
At night, when exhaustion weighed heavy on their limbs, they sat together under the stars—two fighters bound by something beyond words.
Neither of them had belonged to anyone before.
But now, they belonged to each other.
The present crashed back as another violent ripple surged across the water’s surface.
The Fangcub let out a guttural growl, its body trembling from blood loss and exhaustion. The Zephyr Monkey stood firm, the wind swirling around it in acknowledgment of its command.
The wind stilled.
Both combatants lowered their stances.
A moment of silent understanding passed between them—
Then—
They moved.
Aether surged toward the Fangcub’s tail, forming an ethereal projection that flickered like a ghostly appendage, mirroring its presence in the world. The translucent energy twisted and coiled, an extension of its very being, crackling with latent power.
Across from it, the Zephyr Chitter Monkey crouched low, its ethereal blue fur shifting in waves, whipping through the air like a storm-touched flame. The wind bent to its will, swirling in controlled chaos. Its piercing, intelligent eyes locked onto its opponent with a predatory focus—a gaze that was cold, calculating, and unshaken.
A visceral growl rumbled from both creatures—two beings standing at the precipice of battle, each with a will that refused to break.
Then—
They clashed.
Aether met wind.
A violent shockwave burst outward from their impact, scattering leaves, dust, and debris in a chaotic storm. The very air howled in protest, bending to the Zephyr Monkey’s will, but the Fangcub fought against it, its raw force of will acting as an immovable counter to the violent gales.
Beneath them, the ripples of the past surfaced on the water’s edge—memories flickering across the shimmering surface.
Day of the Battle – Training and Growth
Before this moment, Kei’s survival and training had become inseparable.
When he wasn’t pushing his body to its limits, he scoured the forest, searching for anything useful—edible plants, herbs, and materials to aid in his survival. His Breeze Force stretched beyond his physical senses, flowing through the wind, allowing him to perceive the world not just with his eyes, but with the air itself.
But Kei had always been observant.
Even before arriving in this world, watching and analyzing had been second nature to him.
His younger years had been filled with quiet, restless observation—studying people, animals, and patterns without realizing why. It wasn’t training; it was just what he did. A way to understand the world when no one was there to explain it to him.
That habit, that instinct, had become his greatest weapon.
He trained his Breeze Force to remain active as long as his Aether could sustain it. The moment he neared depletion, he would switch to physical training, focusing on raw endurance and strength, only to reactivate his Force once his Aether replenished.
Through this cycle, his senses sharpened.
At first, his Breeze Force merely let him feel movement in the air. But soon, it became something far greater.
He felt changes in the atmosphere. The density of the air. The temperature shifts. The minute disturbances caused by movement.
And then—his eyes changed.
His Breeze Force wasn't just an extension of himself anymore. It became an overlay for reality, allowing him to perceive the distribution of energy within creatures. He could see the stats of enemies, recognize where their strengths lay, and understand why he struggled against certain foes.
He put this to the test against the Fangcub.
The cub had been his first true opponent, the first creature that pushed him to his limits. Through their skirmishes, Kei learned to read its movements, anticipate its attacks, and counter based on its strengths and weaknesses.
And then, he ventured deeper into the forest.
Fighting new creatures. Testing new strategies.
Some creatures were brute powerhouses, slow but devastating.
Some were fast, erratic, relying on agility.
Some had high endurance, able to withstand repeated attacks.
Kei studied them all.
Each battle became a test of adaptation.
And slowly—he improved.
His strikes became more refined.
His defenses became tighter.
His reactions became faster.
Kei gasped for air, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he stood over the fallen Level 2 Boar.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
His pulse pounded in his ears.
The battle had been frustrating—not because the boar was particularly strong, but because its thick hide absorbed too much damage.
Its raw endurance was overwhelming, forcing Kei to exhaust himself trying to break through its defenses.
He glanced at the remains of his broken Beginner Sword—the uncommon-grade weapon split in half, shattered against the creature’s tusks. A mistake. He had underestimated the durability of its defenses.
[Status Screen]
[Name]: Kei Yuichi
[Title]: He Who Denies Fate, Hidden Title (Yet to be accepted)
[Class]: Locked
[Force Alignment]: Breeze
[Level]: 0
[HP]: 7/15
[Aether]: 30/50
Attributes:
- Strength: 11
- Dexterity: 7
- Agility: 10
- Constitution: 7
- Intelligence: 10
- Will: 10
- Charisma: 10
[Remaining Stat Points]: 0 + 3 (rewarded for gaining a hidden title)
[Skills]
[Skill Name]: Basic Projectile Mastery
[Description]: Through repeated practice and countless thrown projectiles, you have developed a fundamental sense of aim, control, and trajectory.
[Effects]:
- +5% increased accuracy when throwing small objects (stones, daggers, makeshift weapons).
- Improved trajectory prediction, allowing for slight mid-air adjustments based on environmental factors (wind, distance).
- Reduced stamina consumption when continuously throwing projectiles.
[Additional Notes]:
- This skill only applies to non-enhanced projectiles (no Force-based or Aether-enhanced attacks).
- More advanced versions may unlock with continued training.
[Force Progression]: 5%
[Equipment]: Beginner Sword [Uncommon], Tattered Cloth Hood [Uncommon], Jagged Bone Club [Uncommon]
Ducking away from the boar’s final charge, Kei had snatched up a small pebble, his fingers tightening around the rough stone.
With precise, measured force, he hurled it.
The stone whistled through the air, striking the boar directly in the eye.
A pained bellow erupted from the beast.
Disoriented. Staggered. Blinded.
That was all the opening Kei needed.
Summoning his Jagged Bone Club, Kei twisted his body, using his hips and shoulders to put his entire weight behind the swing.
CRACK.
The impact connected squarely against the boar’s skull.
A wrenching sound echoed through the air, bone splintering as the creature’s body collapsed, unmoving.
Huff. Huff. Huff.
Kei exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from his forehead.
To his side, the Fangcub finished its own fight, standing over another lifeless boar.
Both combatants, exhausted but victorious, turned their heads toward the true reason for their adventure.
Kei had sensed something strange earlier—a unique signature within the forest.
It called to him through the wind, a presence that felt different from anything else. Something ancient, powerful, untouched by time.
The Fangcub felt it too.
At first, they explored cautiously, fighting through waves of creatures—Goblins, Boars, Chitter Monkeys.
Kei's Tattered Cloth Hood came from a Goblin’s remains.
His Jagged Bone Club was scavenged from a fallen Boar.
The closer they got to the source, the more restless the Fangcub became.
And then—
It ran.
Something in its instincts took over, a primal hunger, a desperate desire for whatever lay ahead.
"BITEY! GET BACK!" Kei shouted.
The cub didn’t listen.
It charged forward, its body surging with raw speed, lunging toward the source of the anomaly.
And in that moment—
Kei felt it.
A presence.
A familiar one.
A presence he had sensed before on his first day in this world.
It had made itself known through the Force—and then disappeared.
And now, it was here again.
The Fangcub's sprinting form blurred forward, directly toward—
A glowing, otherworldly plant.
[10,000-Year Zephyr-Blessed Ginger]
At the same time, with every ounce of strength and speed he could muster, Kei hurled a barrage of pebbles toward the same target.
Each stone shot through the air with unerring precision, striking true—one after another—against the ethereal, sky-blue furred Chitter Monkey.
The monkey’s body flinched at each impact, its wind-cloaked fur rippling like liquid air, yet none of the strikes caused significant harm.
But harm wasn’t Kei’s intention.
Distraction.
For just a moment, the monkey’s focus wavered—the briefest lapse in concentration as it processed the sudden, unexpected assault.
And that moment was all the Fangcub needed.
With unstoppable momentum, the cub’s jaws clamped down on the treasure—the 10,000-Year Zephyr-Blessed Ginger—and wrenched it from its resting place.
The very air shuddered.
Aether burst forth from the uprooted plant, a celestial wind howling through the battlefield as if the forest itself was mourning the theft of something ancient, something never meant to be disturbed.
The Zephyr Chitter Monkey froze.
For the first time since Kei had laid eyes on it, the creature’s movements stopped completely.
Its mind raced.
Which was more enraging?
Losing the treasure it had been guarding for so long?
Or the foolish human who had dared to interfere and steal it right from under its nose?
The hesitation lasted less than a heartbeat.
Then—
Its burning gaze snapped toward Kei.
A piercing shriek split the air, the sheer force of its voice causing the nearby leaves and branches to tremble. The wind around the monkey coiled in a furious cyclone, responding to its rising rage.
And in that moment, Kei understood—
He was dead.
At least, that’s what the Zephyr Chitter Monkey had already decided.
Still locked in Kei’s vision, his battered body barely responding, he forced himself to focus.
Through the haze of his Breeze Force, the weight of its presence pressed against his awareness, like a storm preparing to break.
And even as the world seemed to spiral into chaos around him—
His gaze flicked downward, briefly catching a glimpse of the stolen treasure.
[10,000-Year Zephyr-Blessed Ginger]
A root bathed in Aether, woven from the essence of the wind itself.
Its twisting form glowed faintly, thin tendrils of energy coiling like phantom wisps of mist around its surface. The scent it exuded was so sharp, so crisp, that even Kei, with his dulled senses, felt as if his mind had momentarily cleared.
A treasure not meant for just anyone.
And a treasure that had just upended the fragile balance of the battlefield.
The Zephyr Monkey’s wrath exploded outward—
And Kei barely had time to brace.