Chapter 81: Improving

"Then, let's start with hunting some monsters," I said as I glanced at the map I carried. The forest was vast and full of unknown dangers.

But danger meant the potential to become stronger. After all, how could one become stronger without putting oneself into dangerous situations?

[There are a few places I've noticed,] she said, her voice thoughtful. [They're not marked on the map, but I've sensed strong presences there—likely the territory of powerful monsters. If you're looking for a challenge, those places might be worth exploring.] Searᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I nodded, tracing a few points on the map where the terrain seemed more rugged, more likely to be home to the kind of creatures that would help us both grow. "Let's start with these locations," I said, pointing to a spot not too far from our current position. "It's marked as a rocky outcrop, and if I'm right, there should be some beasts hiding in those crevices."

[Good choice,] Vitaliara purred. [The rocky terrain will likely house creatures that are territorial and strong. Be prepared; they won't go down easily.]

"That's exactly what I'm counting on," I replied. "The tougher the fight, the more I'll learn."

With a plan in mind, we began to make our way through the forest, moving quietly but swiftly. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, a constant reminder that this was a place where life and death were inextricably linked.

After some time, we reached the first spot on the map—a rugged area where jagged rocks jutted out from the ground like the teeth of some ancient beast. The air here felt different, heavier, charged with the presence of something powerful.

"This is the place," I whispered, scanning the area for any signs of movement. And while doing so, I closed my eyes.

[What are you doing?] Vitaliara asked. It seemed she had noticed that I had slowed my movements.

"I am going to try something new."

I let my mind drift back to a memory that had stayed with me ever since my training with Master. It was one of those lessons that had seemed impossible at the time, but now, with my recent breakthrough to 3-star, it was finally within reach.

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Master stood before me, the wind gently rustling the leaves around us. "Watch closely," he had said, his voice calm and authoritative. "To truly master your mana, you must learn to merge it with the elements around you. The wind is one of the easiest elements to start with because it is ever-present and fluid."

He extended his hand, and I felt a subtle shift in the air. His mana flowed from his body, merging seamlessly with the breeze. The wind seemed to respond to his command, swirling and dancing around him as if it were an extension of his own being.

"Feel the wind," he instructed, his eyes closing in concentration. "Become one with it. Let your mana flow into the air, not as a separate entity, but as part of the wind itself."

I watched in awe as the wind around him seemed to hum with energy. It moved with purpose, wrapping around trees, brushing against leaves, and creating a symphony of soft, rustling sounds.

"This technique allows you to extend your senses beyond your physical body," Master explained. "While many Awakened spread their senses to detect the mana of others, this method uses the wind to perceive the very bodies of your targets. It's a more refined, precise way to gather information."

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and imagined myself becoming one with the wind. Slowly, I felt my mana seep into the air, merging with the breeze in my imagination.

At that time, I imagined the sensation to be strange but exhilarating. The wind was no longer just a natural element; it was an extension of myself.

At least, that was how I imagined it. Since I was not able to expand my mana outside of my body at that time, I naturally was not able to understand and experience it completely, but that was fine for me.

"This technique will allow you to detect the presence of others with great accuracy," Master explained. "You can use it to count patrols, detect hidden threats, and even anticipate movements. But most importantly, you can use it to sense monsters when they are around. Everything has a physical form, and no traces can be completely removed. The world is bound by physical rules; never forget that."

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I opened my eyes and let out a slow breath, centering myself in the present. At that time, I hadn't been able to fully grasp the technique. My mana had been too raw, too uncontrolled. But now, I had the strength and control needed to attempt it.

I closed my eyes once more, allowing myself to focus entirely on the wind around me. The forest was alive with the subtle sounds of nature—the rustling of leaves, the distant calls of birds, and the soft whisper of the breeze as it moved through the trees.

I needed to merge with it, to let my mana flow into the wind, not as a separate force but as part of the natural world.

Vitaliara remained perched on my shoulder, her eyes watching me intently. [What are you doing, Lucavion?] she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of concern.

She wasn't sure what I was attempting, and I could sense her uncertainty.

"I'm trying to merge my mana with the wind," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "It's something my master taught me, a way to extend my senses beyond my physical body."

At first, the process felt awkward, like trying to move a limb that had been asleep. My mana clashed with the natural flow of the wind, creating small disruptions in the air around me.

But I persisted, focusing on the sensation of the breeze, on the way it moved through the forest. Slowly, I began to adjust, letting my mana seep into the air in a more natural, fluid manner.

The wind responded, carrying my energy with it as it swirled through the trees. I could feel the way it brushed against the bark, the way it flowed through the leaves, the way it wrapped around the rocks, and the hidden creatures lurking in the shadows.

The sensation was strange, just as I had imagined it years ago, but now it was real—tangible.

Vitaliara, who had been observing in silence, suddenly shifted her stance, her tail flicking with interest. [I see…] she murmured, a note of understanding in her voice. [You're using the wind to expand your senses. It's similar to what some monsters do, those who are deeply connected to the elements around them.]

Her words encouraged me, and I pushed further, extending my mana through the breeze. I could feel the physical forms of the creatures hidden within the rocky outcrop—their bodies solid and distinct, marked by the subtle disturbances they caused in the wind's flow.

Every rock, every tree, every creature in the area became part of the intricate network of information the wind provided.

[You're doing well,] Vitaliara continued, her tone thoughtful as she analyzed my progress.

[But be careful not to force it. The wind is a delicate element—it flows naturally, without resistance. Your mana should do the same. Let it blend with the breeze; let it become the breeze.]

"Let it become the breeze…." Just as she said, I thought for a second. What was a breeze?

A small amount of wind flowed.

'A small amount…..'

Now then, I slowly understand what could be improved.

'The mana amount should be smaller…..Like a thread that is extending….'

I focused on my core, on the swirling energy within me. Instead of pushing out a large amount of mana, I began to release it in a thin, controlled stream. The mana flowed out like a thread, barely noticeable but enough to merge with the wind.

'Yes…like this,' I thought, feeling the difference immediately. The wind didn't resist this time; it accepted the thread of mana, weaving it into its flow as if it belonged there all along. The sensation was different now, smoother, more connected.

The wind carried the thin thread of my mana, extending my senses further into the forest. I could feel the gentle rustle of leaves, the soft brush of the wind against the rocks, and, most importantly, the subtle disturbances caused by the creatures hiding within the shadows.

Each one was distinct, their presence made clear by the way they interrupted the natural flow of the breeze.

[That's it,] Vitaliara said approvingly, sensing the change in my technique. [Now your mana moves with the wind, not against it. You've found the balance.]

'So that was how it was….'

I thought.

The technique was working, and I was beginning to understand how to use it effectively. It wasn't just about extending my senses—it was about becoming one with the wind, about letting my mana flow as naturally as the air around me.

"I can feel them," I mumbled. "The creatures… they're hiding in the rocks, trying to blend in with the environment. But they can't hide from this."

[Good,] Vitaliara purred, her tone laced with satisfaction. [You're starting to see the world as it truly is.]

I nodded, focusing on the creatures I could now sense so clearly.

"Let's start then."

With a deep breath, I began to move, my steps silent and deliberate. The wind guided me, my mana thread still woven into its flow, keeping me connected to everything around me.

I approached the first creature, a hulking beast with rough, stone-like skin, its body perfectly camouflaged against the rocky terrain.

It hadn't noticed me yet, its attention focused elsewhere, but I could sense its readiness to pounce at the first sign of prey.

From now on, the battlefield would go on.

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