Oliver pulled himself away from the strange sight, his spirit sense retracting like a coiled thread snapping back into place. He exhaled sharply, shaking off the uneasy sensation that clung to him. The dream pattern in the girl's notebook—it wasn't just a coincidence. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
He grabbed a towel, quickly wiping his face before tossing it onto the counter. With one last glance at the mirror, he straightened his blazer, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stepped out of the bathroom. The scent of breakfast—eggs, rice, and miso soup—drifted through the air, grounding him in the present.
"I think it's time to waste a few more years," he said, pulling out the pill recipe. If she has otherworldly magic and help, then I need a fountain to step on. Her magic should be advanced since she's been dreamwalking longer than I have.
Yet even in my current realm I was able to peer into her spells, although that was with the help of the teleportation talisman; that tells me my power system might have an edge against hers.
He turned to his room. "I need to get to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm or Core Formation. If Qi Gathering Qi could help with unraveling her concealment, then would other realms help nullify her or others dreamscape abilities?"
The world around him was getting too bizarre; after he had learned of the dream pattern, I needed to grow and fast.
Forest Origin Pill
Grade: Low-tier
Type: Qi Refinement / Detoxification
Use: Helps ease internal qi flow, clears minor impurities, and slightly boosts qi absorption for three days.
Form: Small green-brown pellet, mildly bitter taste with earthy aftertone.
Ingredients (all commonly found in the seclusion forests):
Silverleaf Moss—Main Qi conductor
Grows on shaded rocks or fallen logs.
Enhances natural qi flow through meridians.
Fireroot Bark—Stimulates inner energy
A reddish inner bark from firewood trees.
Warms dantian and quickens qi absorption.
Blue Mushroom Cap—Impurity cleanser
Found near decaying stumps.
Removes minor toxins and spiritual impurities.
Spirit Fern Fronds – Binder & stability agent
Fern with curled spiral leaves that glow faintly at night.
Grounding qi during refining reduces the chance of backlash.
Deer Antler Powder – Optional enhancer
Grind shed antlers from forest deer.
Slightly boosts bodily resilience and energy retention.
Preparation Method:
Harvest carefully before sunrise to preserve the natural qi in the plants.
Dry the ingredients under moonlight for one night. This preserves their spiritual balance.
Grind all ingredients into a fine powder using a stone mortar.
Add a few drops of spring water from a natural cave or waterfall pool—qi-rich water preferred.
Mix into a thick paste and shape into small pellets (about the size of a fingertip).
Bake over a low spiritual flame until firm.
Who would have thought I'd try becoming a pill master this soon?, he thought to himself and then placed the recipe into his mouth and began chewing it. It tasted horrible, but he forced it down.
He stood at his bedroom door and took a deep breath. "Wait—ah, I forgot to wear my tie," he said after stepping into his room.
"I shouldn't keep them waiting," he said, moving to the wardrobe, ready to pretend to have just regained his memories. His hands moved out of his pockets, and just as he had felt before, his memories were slipping away when he let go of the talisman.
Till it stopped when he opened it to reveal the forest beyond.
This settles it; these two women are my enemies, his mind churned at the declaration. He opened his eyes wide in shock. "What—? Misaki!!!"
He yelled, faking fright, and jumped into the wardrobe with panic.
—
(Meanwhile, in another corner of the forest)
The clearing in the forest trembled with tension.
The three women, muscles coiled like iron beneath their prison-issued orange pants, faced the beast that had emerged from the trees—a lion, but not like any the world had ever known. It stood twice the height of a man, its mane burning gold like living flame, its eyes molten amber. When it roared, the trees shivered and birds fled for miles.
The leader of the trio—Takara, the one with twin braids and tribal ink wrapped down her powerful arms—rose to her feet slowly, cracking her knuckles. Her gaze locked on the monster without a flicker of fear.
"Looks like lunch came early," she muttered.
To her right, Kaede tightened her ponytail, the sun gleaming off her sweat-slicked skin. "Look at the size of that thing," she said, backing toward a fallen log and pulling free a sharpened iron bar they'd scavenged earlier.
Behind them, Sana, silent as ever, rolled her neck and dropped into a low stance, palms open, thighs tense. Her eyes never left the lion.
The lion growled, saliva dripping from its curved fangs. Then it charged.
Takara met it head-on.
Her fist struck its muzzle with a bone-cracking snap, sending it staggering—but not down. Its paw slashed back, catching her shoulder and tearing flesh. She barely flinched.
Kaede leapt from the side, plunging her bar into its flank. The lion roared and turned, only for Sana to twist mid-air behind it and land on its back, her thighs clamping tight around its ribs as she rained down fists into its neck.
"Hold it steady!" Kaede shouted, blood painting her cheek.
Takara gritted her teeth and lunged back in, grabbing its mane and pulling its head down. "Now!"
Sana drove a sharpened bone into the base of its skull.
The lion collapsed with a final, rattling breath, its massive body kicking up a storm of dust.
Panting, bloodied, and alive, the women stood over the corpse.
"And they say lions are the kings of the jungle." Sana laughed, clenching her fist and marveling at the energy coming off it.
"Guess that makes us the queens of the food chain now," Kaede smirked, wiping her brow.
Takara just cracked her neck and looked back toward the forest. "More will come. They always do."