32/Start of the training in the circular forest - Red Overpowered (English)

Pov Logan

After retrieving the item bag, we left the city without wasting any time, carrying everything we needed for our next destination.

Our route led us toward another forest well-known among adventurers: the Circular Forest. Located about fifty kilometers from the kingdom, it stretched as far as the eye could see, forming an immense ring of greenery.

Its name came from its geographical peculiarity: a perfectly circular, dense forest, as if sculpted by a divine hand or some mysterious force. This place overflowed with precious resources, but also with all kinds of monstersNideal for adventurers.

"To help Aria progress quickly, I'll have to resort to artificial level-ups. Artificial leveling consists of weakening monsters so that the intended person can land the killing blow and gain levels more easily. However, I won't rely solely on artificial leveling. While it does increase levels rapidly, this method dulls combat instincts because it doesn't make you face true difficulty. Yet difficulty is essential to become stronger; it allows us to accumulate real battle experience. The more you fight, the more experience you gain, and the more experience you have, the stronger you become!" I thought, organizing my plans.

As I pondered the best way to train Aria effectively, my radar suddenly activated. A familiar presence was approaching no, several presences. It was a group of goblins. A smirk appeared on my lips.

"Ah, my dear goblin friends, you're going to suffer again today."

No sooner had I spoken those words than about ten goblins burst from the undergrowth, weapons in hand, screaming their savage cries. Aria, already on guard, raised her sword with confidence, her gaze clearly showing her eagerness to fight, to prove herself.

But I took the initiative. In an instant before they even understood what was happening long stone spikes shot up from the ground, piercing their bodies and pinning them in place without killing them.

"I'll artificially boost your level so you can raise your stats quickly. Consider it a helping hand, but once that's done, you'll have to sharpen your combat instinct on your own."

Aria nodded silently, her eyes full of determination. She understood what was at stake this wasn't a simple stroll but the beginning of her transformation.

Without another word, we resumed our march, advancing steadily into the forest's depths. We came upon our first ten goblins, marking the start.

"First, artificial leveling."

The goblins, still immobilized, had no chance. One by one, Aria approached swiftly and slit their throats without hesitation. No trembling, no doubt in her eyes—just cold composure.

"Good…" I thought. "She has neither fear nor hesitation. It'll be easier for her to progress. I'll raise her to level 20 this way; afterward, it'll be up to her to fight and earn her own experience."

Thus began her level-up session. I immobilized all the monsters, and she finished them off—wolves, goblins, insects, anything in our path. When we encountered Noras, I targeted their wings so they crashed to the ground, unable to move, while she calmly delivered the finishing blow.

For an entire hour, we repeated this cycle. By the end of this intense session, Aria had already reached level 10, an impressive progression. Yet despite this rapid growth, no profession had manifested yet.

Status:

Name: Aria | Race: Beastman | Age: 18 | Profession: (Acquisition) | Level: 10

Skills: (None)

Unique Skills: Ice Claw, Will to Grow, Will to Survive

Legendary Skills: Bestial Fury

Elements: Ice, Water

Titles: (None)

We continued the training until Aria finally reached level 20. It had taken us about three good hours. Normally, such progress would require far more time, but her unique skill Will to Grow had proven incredibly effective. Her rate of experience acquisition was simply remarkable.

An extra hour passed, and the time had come for her to prove herself on her own.

"Do you have any knowledge of swordsmanship?" I asked calmly.

"Yes, we were taught the basics of sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat in my village," she replied with confidence.

"And were you any good?"

"The best."

"Then that should be fine. You've gained strength by leveling up; now it's time to gain real combat experience on your own. I'll only step in if your life is truly in danger."

"Understood." she replied, determination burning bright in her eyes.

No questions. No complaints. She understood what I wanted her to grasp:

It is through hardship that one grows stronger. If I helped her at every obstacle, she would only stagnate, trapped in an illusion of strength. By letting her face danger alone, I was offering her the chance to truly grow.

I observed her, ready to intervene at the slightest danger but there was none.

Before her stood a group of ten goblins, all level 11. Armed with small swords suited to their size, they charged her, screeching their usual shrill cries.

But Aria didn't flinch. Her gaze was calm, precise. She waited for the perfect moment… then struck.

In the blink of an eye, it was over.

The ten goblins collapsed one after another, unable to even graze her. Her footwork was impeccable, her movements sharp and efficient. No hesitation, no mistakes. Just pure effectiveness.

"She has talent and a will of iron," I thought.

We continued deeper into the forest, searching for tougher prey. It was the perfect time to test Aria's limits and let her face foes worthy of her new abilities.

This forest was a favored hunting ground for many adventurers due to its proximity and sheer size. It allowed hunters to track dangerous creatures without venturing too far into remote or hostile lands.

This place was anything but natural or at least, no one believed it was anymore. The closer you got to the center, the stronger, more aggressive, and more unpredictable the monsters became. It was a true ecosystem, organized in layers of danger, attracting both veteran hunters and beginners seeking evolution.

It was a dungeon without truly being one, and that made it perfect.

Countless creatures made their home here: some known, others not yet cataloged. For us, it was the perfect place to take Aria's training to the next level.

According to rumors I'd heard at the guild, the center of the Circular Forest harbored monsters of rank D, perhaps even rank C creatures far beyond the level of the beasts found on the outskirts.

Even I had never ventured that far; I'd never needed to. My goal back then had nothing to do with exploration. But this time, things were different. We'd stay here for a long time, and I intended to prepare her to face anything even the unknown.

At first, our encounters were familiar: isolated goblins or small groups. Nothing too dangerous for Aria. She dispatched them effortlessly. So we continued, deeper and deeper.

After several hours, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu and with good reason: we'd stumbled upon a goblin village, similar to the one I'd discovered once before.

Thanks to my radar, I could clearly sense their presence. Hard to mistake there were at least a hundred of them. The perfect opportunity to assess her ability against a larger, more organized group.

Without hesitation, we entered the goblin village. The welcome was immediate: about twenty creatures burst out from all directions, shrieking, weapons raised.

Aria drew her sword in a swift, fluid motion, her eyes already locked on her targets. As for me, I stayed back, observing her every move, ready to step in if needed.

The goblins launched a volley of spears at her, hoping to bring her down instantly. But Aria reacted immediately: with a sweep of her arm, she erected a thick wall of ice in front of her. The spears slammed into it violently some shattering, others getting stuck, useless. The goblins charged at the wall, but she was no longer there.

Taking advantage of the cover the ice provided, Aria had slipped out of their line of sight. An instant later, she reappeared behind them too fast, too precise.

They didn't even have time to react. Within seconds, she cut them down one by one, her movements sharp and controlled. Fifteen goblins now lay dead, bathing in their own blood.

"Not bad, she used the wall to block their spears and their vision, then flanked them from behind. But now that the welcoming committee is dead, how will you handle the bulk of their forces?"

As if on cue, the village stirred to life. Dozens of goblins emerged from huts and dirt paths, some wielding axes, others crude bows. They slowly encircled Aria, determined to defend their territory.

But one among them immediately caught my attention.

From afar, his imposing figure towered over the others. His skin was darker, his body more muscular, his gaze more feral. He wore crude armor made of bone and rusted metal, and a massive curved sword rested on his back.

"Oh, a High Goblin runs this village."

The High Goblin let out a guttural roar of authority. The horde answered immediately: dozens of goblins charged in a furious frenzy, their war cries echoing through the forest. Yet Aria had no intention of meeting them head-on.

With a simple gesture, she unleashed a frost wave. Instantly, the ground beneath the goblins froze over. Startled, most slipped, stumbled, or were trapped in place, immobilized before they could reach her.

"Very well played. She knows she still lacks experience, strength, and mana. So she compensates with intelligence using as little mana as possible to immobilize them, then exterminating them while they're helpless."

A cacophony of agonized screams filled the clearing as goblin blood spread across the ice. The pristine white slowly turned crimson, a striking contrast. Trapped in that frozen prison, unable to flee or fight back, the creatures screamed their helplessness before collapsing one after another. Their twisted, lifeless bodies piled up in a morbid dance as death cut them down mercilessly and methodically.

Within moments, the slaughter ended. Silence fell heavily over the village, broken only by the drip of blood sliding across the melting ice.

Almost all the goblins had been massacred. Aria stood slowly, her breath short, her clothes and fur splattered with blood. Her eyes, cold and resolute, scanned the area before locking onto the only figure still standing.

The High Goblin, sole survivor of the carnage, remained motionless amidst the corpses, his feral eyes fixed on her. Two predators, surrounded by blood, ready to clash in one final act.

"That was impressive, Aria, but unfortunately, a High Goblin is much stronger and far craftier than a regular goblin."

Aria dashed forward at full speed, charging straight at the High Goblin, convinced he was still trapped in ice. Her posture betrayed the confidence of a finishing strike, but she had underestimated her opponent.

With a deep growl, the High Goblin suddenly shattered the ice around his legs. Shards flew everywhere as he rose with a swift motion, lifting his massive axe high above his head.

Aria stopped dead, startled. She was far too close to back away now, and there was no time to dodge. She realized too late the monster had feigned immobility, waiting patiently for her to step into his strike zone.

"Goblins by themselves aren't that strong, but their intelligence and when they're in groups makes them foes you shouldn't underestimate. The craftiest among them know how to play with their enemies' naivety."

Aria was caught off guard, too close, too confident. The axe was already swinging, describing a murderous arc in the air. At this range, she had no time to retreat, no way to parry effectively.

But before the blow could reach her, stone spikes erupted from the ground with a sharp crack, impaling the High Goblin through the torso. The monster howled in pain, staggering from the sudden shock. His arms trembled, the axe slipping from his hands, his gaze flickering.

Seizing the opening, Aria didn't hesitate for even a second. She raised her sword and, in one clean motion, severed his head.

The head rolled across the ice, stopping at her feet, while the massive body collapsed with a heavy thud, shattering the partially melted surface.

For a fraction of a second, Aria glanced in my direction. Just a look exchanged. She understood: her mistake, and that I had saved her.

Status Update:

Name: Aria | Race: Beastman | Age: 18 | Profession: (Acquisition) | Level: 28

Skills: Ice Wall

Unique Skills: Ice Claw, Will to Grow, Will to Survive

Legendary Skills: Bestial Fury

Elements: Ice, Water

Titles: (None)

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Chapter 33 - 32/Start of the training in the circular forest