We left the remains of the non-graded forest behind, the blood of wolves and Randy's forces still staining the earth, the echoes of battle lingering in my mind. The map's spiral had guided us here, pointing to a denser, darker stretch of wilderness. I glanced at Alex, whose small frame followed closely, still trembling from the chaos we'd survived.
"Alaric… it looks… different," he murmured, eyes scanning the looming trees ahead.
"Yes," I said. "This is no ordinary forest. The grading system—what we've just left was ungraded, but this… this is Grade 2." My voice was low, measured. "It has roughly a thousand basic beasts, fifty intermediates, and at least one or two advanced predators. We need to stay alert, Alex. One wrong step could be deadly."
The forest felt alive as we stepped under its canopy, the shadows deep and oppressive, sunlight barely filtering through. Roots twisted like serpents across the ground, thick underbrush tugging at our clothes, every sound amplified in the stillness. The difference between the ungraded forest and this one was immediate—the air was heavier, denser with the sense of danger, as if the trees themselves were aware of our presence.
I taught Alex to read the signs: broken branches, claw marks on bark, disturbed soil. "Notice patterns," I whispered. "Beasts leave traces. Learn to see them, hear them. Awareness can save your life."
The warning was immediate. A basic-tier beast—a snarling, wolf-like creature—leaped from the shadows. Alex froze, eyes wide with terror, and I shoved him behind a tree. My dagger flashed, guiding the beast into a pitfall formed by roots and rocks. It yelped and scrambled, trapped and disoriented. Alex exhaled shakily. "I—I think I understand," he said, his voice quivering but steadying.
We pressed deeper, the forest closing around us. Suddenly, the foliage ahead quivered violently, and an intermediate-tier beast emerged, hulking and scaled, amber eyes glowing in the dim light. I stepped forward instinctively, placing myself between it and Alex. "Stay behind me!" I barked.
I baited and dodged, using the undergrowth and terrain to my advantage, guiding the beast toward a narrow choke in the forest indicated by the spiral. Each feint and measured movement was a dance of life and death, teaching Alex patience and strategy.
Then a low growl came from behind, unfamiliar. I turned—too late. A second intermediate-tier beast, hidden until now, lunged straight at Alex.
"Alex!" I screamed, diving in front of him. My heart raced as panic surged through me. This was unlike anything I had faced—the desperation, the fear, the need to protect my brother… it triggered something deep within me.
A warmth, a vibration, a pulse of energy awakened in my chest. My mana pool—something I had never accessed consciously—flared to life. Instinctively, I thrust my hands forward, releasing a blast of concentrated energy at the beast. It yelped, thrown back, stunned, giving me just enough time to scoop Alex into my arms and sprint through the twisted underbrush.
We ran, hearts pounding, dodging roots and rocks, until the forest opened slightly, giving us safer footing. Alex's wide eyes met mine, disbelief and awe mirrored in his gaze. "Alaric… you… you did that?"
"I… I think I awakened my mana pool," I admitted, still gasping for breath. "It… it saved you. It saved us." My hands tingled faintly, sparks of energy dancing across my skin—a tangible reminder of the power now alive within me.
We slowed our pace, finally able to breathe. The forest behind us rustled faintly, a reminder that danger was never far, but the spiral on the map continued to guide us forward. Step by step, obstacle by obstacle, we moved closer to the treasure. The awakening of my mana pool had changed everything—the trials ahead would be fiercer, the beasts deadlier, and Randy's forces more relentless.
Alex's small hand squeezed mine. "You're… stronger now. And I'm… learning too."
"Yes," I said, gripping the map tightly. "We're both growing. But we can't let our guard down. The forest is Grade 2, and the worst is yet to come."
Ahead, a faint clearing broke the shadowed canopy, sunlight glinting off the rocks and fallen leaves. I drew a deep, steadying breath, mana still humming in my veins. The spiral had led us true, teaching us patience, strategy, and the power that lay within.
And I was ready.