"Don't worry—I'll come back for you soon."
As soon as he said those words to her, he stepped off the pathway. He took one last quick glance at her still standing there, then smiled and waved before turning away, ready to begin another journey.
He reached into his basket for the mushrooms and ate them—he hadn't eaten at all since that intense fall, nor in the hours after crossing paths with three slave traders. Once his stomach was full, he resumed roaming through the forest, though a thought crept into his mind: two tools that might prove useful along the way.
He started gathering stones from the ground and breaking off branches from trees. He searched for thick ones—not quite as sturdy as his rope, but strong enough to serve their purpose.
Finding a clear spot to work, he tucked his smaller belongings into his pockets and set down the basket he'd been carrying without rest. First, he picked up a medium-sized stone and struck it against a hard rock, shaping it into a rough cylinder. Next, he took a thick stick in his right hand, paired it with another sturdy branch, and tied them tightly together. When he finished, he had crafted a serviceable stone hammer—one he knew would come in handy.
After that, he pulled out the dagger he'd taken and set to sharpening its steel blade. For nearly half an hour, he ran the edge from hilt to tip; the screeching metal echoed through the forest, drawing the attention of nearby creatures.
"Crap!"
He spun around to find a massive beast looming before him—nearly as tall as the trees surrounding them. Fear shot through him at the realization he'd roused something he couldn't hope to defeat. Grabbing all his resources and supplies, he fled as the creature's heavy footsteps thundered behind him. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him until he spotted a cave—unusual-looking, but safe enough to shelter him from danger for a moment.
Then a deafening roar erupted like molten lava from a volcano—its volume searing his ears, growing louder and louder before finally fading after a full minute. He crept to the cave entrance and peeked out to see a figure in a white pea coat and black trousers. It was no knight, nor any divine being—just a superhuman locked in combat with the behemoth.
The fighter glanced his way briefly, then moved to end the battle quickly so he could speak with the one he'd spotted. With a single powerful swing of his sword, he sliced through the beast's tough hide and severed its tendons. When the behemoth retaliated by swinging a massive fist toward him, he darted nimbly between its arms, unleashing a rapid barrage of slashes that rained down on the creature's skin in mere seconds.
Maximus watched in awe, feeling a pang of envy for the man's strength and courage. He knew he could never match such power—not yet, anyway—having come from another world with no experience in this new land. The fighter pressed his assault, and the behemoth flailed wildly against its small attacker, who darted around it like a persistent mosquito.
Drawing back to gather his strength for a final blow, the superhuman leaped high into the air, springing off the behemoth's shoulder. He gripped his sword by the base, holding it aloft at his side.
"—This is your end."
He brought the blade crashing down, striking the creature's core—the heart that sustained its life. Maximus stood frozen, stunned by the incredible sight before him.
The behemoth buckled to its knees, then collapsed heavily across the forest floor, crushing unfortunate animals in its path. The fighter landed lightly beside the cave entrance and slid his sword back into its sheath at his right hip.
"Explicitly state your name."
He asked, and Maximus hesitated before him. Rather than giving his own first, he spoke up first.
"What about yours? Tell me yours first..."
The man stepped closer, placing a hand over his chest—not bowing, but using the gesture as a mark of introduction.
"My name is Jyle Herdan. You may know me as one of the—"
He cut himself off, deciding against a full explanation when all he'd been asked for was his name.
"Alright, whatever. My name is Maximus... call me 'Max' if you want."
Jyle offered a soft smile and nodded firmly.
"Right—you look to be about the same age as me."
Maximus had never cared much about appearance or age, but he had to admit the other man did seem roughly his age.
"Yeah..."
He let his mind wander—this could be the perfect chance to learn more about this world, to map out its kingdoms, battles, and territories. It all felt so real here, and he knew he couldn't afford to underestimate how power worked in these lands. There were likely beings far stronger than Jyle out there.
"Alright then... what do you know about this world?"
Maximus asked in a calm, steady tone. Jyle paused to think before responding.
"I haven't read many books, but I know there's something called Mana Cores—they're categorized by shape and color. I could lend you a book from my place if you want the details; I'm not great at explaining things fully."
Maximus's eyes lit up with excitement—here was a chance to gain real knowledge about this world, thanks to Jyle and his books.
"Great! Is your house close by?"
Jyle nodded, pointing to the right of the cave.
"Yeah—it's only a rucks away."
"Rucks?"
Maximus looked both curious and confused.
"Oh? You don't know what that means? Guess you'll need to check those spare books of mine after all. But before you dive into anything—you need to clean up first. You're covered in dirt, and honestly... you smell like dog dung."
"Okay, okay—I get it already."
They set off through the forest, following a path that led to Jyle's home. Unlike the wooden buildings in other villages, its exterior was made entirely of cobblestones—a smart choice to avoid fire risk. Inside, the house was striking: walls painted in bold black and white stripes, with intricate designs and decorations everywhere. But before Max could take in more of the space, Jyle spoke up.
"First things first—go take a bath. There's a small heated pool in the backyard. Clean yourself up before you do anything else in my house."