There are tall trees in front of me. These trees are not just tall; they are around 90 meters high on average, almost as tall as the tallest trees on Earth. The whole forest is filled with them. I am currently sitting on a branch of one such tree, eating the fruit it bears.
After the catastrophe caused by the fire, this forest lost every other creature except me. The others either died in the flames or fled from it, leaving me alone in this vast forest. This, however, is a good thing. I don't have to deal with any predators or hide in bushes to stay out of sight.
Sighing, I recalled how just a few days ago I was trying to survive in this hellish forest. I even panicked at the sight of anything that moved. At one point, I was so hungry that I ate grass because I didn't know how to hunt.
Still, this forest feels empty. Perhaps this is a good thing as it gives me enough time and silence to think about my theories. I successfully linked "Force X" and "Energy X," solving the question of how magical forces in this world work.
Yet, I still can't figure out how the fire I visualized managed to burn down the entire forest when I wasn't strong enough to provide the necessary energy for it. Could it be that this fire harnessed energy on its own? If so, it would need to create a "Force X" to use that energy properly. For that, the fire would need some form of consciousness. It's strange to imagine a fire having consciousness, but in this fantasy world, I wouldn't be surprised if rocks and mountains were living creatures too.
Right now, all I have are fruits to eat and trees to climb. I feel like a lonely snake in this vast forest. I think I should try another experiment, like fire visualization. It seems to make me stronger; I've grown a lot since then, and now I am a 40-meter-long snake.
Sighing again, I thought about what to do next. Maybe I should get some sleep as night approaches and the sun sinks below the horizon. Unlike other predators, I prefer sleeping at night. My earlier situation didn't allow for that, but now I can rest peacefully again, thanks to that fire.
Unknown to me, as I fell asleep thanking the fire, a flame flickered in my sleepy eyes, as if the fire itself acknowledged my gratitude.
In an old, muddy path, a carriage moved, pulled by two horses. The coachman, an old man, sat at the front. In the spacious back of the carriage sat several people, most of whom were strong individuals with a powerful presence. Among them was a young man, distinct from the older men around him. He looked about 16, but his complexion was anything but healthy. His body shook from time to time, his face was pale, and his skin was too white, as if he had lost a lot of blood.
He sat with his head down, trying not to meet anyone's gaze. Without looking up, he asked the coachman, "Have we arrived at our destination?"
The old coachman replied, "No, young master. We just crossed the Great Firewall boundary. If you look to your right, you can see the wall separating us from the Great Fire Forest."
Hearing the coachman's words, the young man seemed dissatisfied. This time, he lifted his head and said, "The speed of this carriage is too slow. We've been traveling all day and still haven't reached our destination. I told the elders to give me an aircraft or at least an armored vehicle, but they ignored me and sent me in this carriage instead."
The old man didn't respond to his irritation. However, a guard sitting next to him spoke up, "Control your anger, Lu Xiaoran. You're not the Lu family's young master anymore; you're just a cripple. If not for your mother's plea, the family head would have abandoned you, not wanting to provoke the genius Lin Chen over someone crippled. In fact, coming to escort you is already more than enough. Once we drop you in Branch Village in Snow Field Prefecture, our job will be done. So behave, or we might just leave you here and return."
Hearing this, Lu Xiaoran gritted his teeth but didn't respond, clearly swallowing his anger.
The old coachman then said to the guard, "Watch your tongue, or I'll cut it out. He is still the legal heir of the Lu family." His voice carried a hint of menace that made the middle-aged guard shiver. He realized the old man was much stronger than the eight guards around them.
After seeing the old man's strength, most guards looked astonished and fearful. Despite this, Lu Xiaoran remained calm. This mysterious old man had cared for him since childhood; he was like a maternal grandfather. His name was Roman, and unlike Lu Xiaoran's Asian features, he had features of European descent. He had also looked after Lu Xiaoran's mother in her childhood and had been her butler ever since. Sending him here with Lu Xiaoran showed how much his mother cared for him. Roman wasn't just strong; he could eliminate all these guards without breaking a sweat.