WEIRD OLD MAN

"Would you wake up already?" yelled a little girl.

Zak bolted upright, frantically scanning his surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of his sister. But instead, he found himself in the heart of a dense forest. His mind raced as panic set in, about to tip him over the edge, when the memory of the little girl’s voice snapped him back to reality.

"Where are you?" he called out, but there was no answer.

Suddenly, the same disembodied voice echoed in his mind: "Perfect vessel found. Deal complete."

Zak froze. It was the same voice he'd heard right after the gunshot. A wave of confusion and despair washed over him as he struggled to understand where he was, if his sister was even alive. The cryptic mention of two humans replayed in his mind, snapping him out of his downward spiral.

Determined, he began to search the forest, weaving through towering trees and thick fog. Hours passed with no sign of civilization or help. Exhausted, he finally collapsed beneath a tree with a broad canopy, its branches sheltering him like an umbrella.

"Finally, you're giving it a rest," the little girl’s voice chimed in again.

Zak whipped his head from side to side, trying to spot her, but saw nothing.

“You must be looking for me. Well, you can't see me ‘cause I'm trapped inside you,” the girl explained.

Zak laughed it off, still not realizing a major detail: he wasn’t in his former world any longer. As night fell, it finally dawned on him. After recalling the mysterious voice, he grabbed onto the fact that it mentioned another world. Zak let out a loud yell of wonder and excitement, the confusing mix of emotions causing a weird smile to stretch across his face.

"What a weird kid," the girl remarked.

"You—yes, you, little girl—what’s your name?" Zak asked.

"Who are you calling 'little girl'?" the voice shot back with a hint of anger. "I am the Demon Lord, or rather, was—before I met a good friend of mine."

"Oh really, what changed?" Zak inquired, intrigued.

The girl hesitated, her tone turning cold. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Can you see me?" Zak asked, as he gathered sticks to set a fire.

"No, not really, or at least, not yet," the girl replied before adding with pride, "I am Reika, Empress of Eternal Flames, former Demon Lord."

"Oh, okay," Zak replied, unfazed. "How come you're stuck in my body, and how are you stuck in there, too?"

"It must be hard for you, seeing that you're just entering this world, so let's break it down, okay?" Reika began, her tone unusually patient. "Every life is made up of the same energy we call mana. This magical energy can be found in and around everything that has life—trees, monsters, humans, and other species alike. The scaling of mana isn't exactly fixed, but based on skill levels, we can measure it."

Zak listened closely, still confused but trying to understand.

"Humans, monsters, and other beings can increase their mana through training and meditation techniques. For monsters, it comes almost naturally. And with the use of pills and elixirs, the process of increasing one's mana becomes even faster."

Zak raised an eyebrow, trying to wrap his head around it. "What about heroes and legendary experts?" he asked, a little impatient.

"Right," Reika continued. "Heroes are humans from another world, summoned here by holy mages. They are blessed with mana by the holy goddess, so they start with a massive amount of it—and they can still grow it through training."

Zak nodded, thinking about what this meant for him.

"But legendary experts... they're different. They’re not blessed by the goddess. In fact, she utterly despises them." Reika's voice darkened. "Yet, for some reason, she tolerates their existence. Instead, these experts are blessed naturally with mana by Kagura, the spirit or idea of nature in this realm. Legendary experts are born with more mana than an ordinary human should possess. And their power... depends on their will to grow and learn."

Zak felt a chill. "So... what does that mean for me?"

Reika chuckled softly, almost teasingly. "That's for you to figure out, Zak. But trust me, you've got more potential than most."

“That said, something is still off about this,” Rika thought to herself. “Sure, they have plenty of mana, but his is... terrifying. We can’t even fathom it. Let’s just say my soul is trapped in your mana sea. That’s where all your mana is stored. Although mana isn’t tangible, it’s generally located in your lower abdomen.”

Reika concluded aloud, a hint of unease in her voice. “Ah, I see,” Zak responded, absorbing Reika’s words and the gravity of the situation.

"Do you have any ideas on how we are going to get out of this forest?" Zak asked Reika, his voice betraying a hint of frustration.

Reika paused thoughtfully. Hmm, something feels off, she thought to herself. "Well, let's see. We are currently in the Dark Forest, in the Netherland. Oddly enough, we haven’t encountered any magical beasts yet."

"Magical beasts?" Zak exclaimed, his curiosity piqued. "You mean like monsters?"

"Ugh," Reika groaned, clearly annoyed. "As I was saying before you rudely interrupted—no, magical beasts are not just ordinary monsters. They’re a breed apart. While they may look similar to monsters, what sets them apart is their lack of evolved intelligence. Don’t get it twisted though; their physical prowess more than makes up for it. They can be incredibly powerful, and their strength differs depending on the type we might encounter."

Zak's nerves tensed. "So, where do I walk to get to the nearest civilization?"

"What do you take me for, your personal guide?" Reika teased, before giving a sigh. "Anyway, head west. There’s a major kingdom, Christonia, but you should pass through a few small towns before getting there."

With that bit of advice and the knowledge of where the sun was setting, Zak figured out his direction and started walking westward. After some time, a strange sensation washed over him, sending shivers down his spine.

"What's happening?" Zak asked nervously.

"You’re sensing the aura of magical beasts," Reika explained calmly. "I’d suggest waiting until morning before you move any further. You aren’t exactly ready to handle a confrontation."

Taking her advice, Zak found a small hill and climbed it, eventually spotting a cave on its side. He settled inside and drifted into a restless sleep, bracing himself for whatever lay ahead.

Zak pondered for a while before drifting off to sleep. As he slumbered, he felt as though he was falling. Startled, he opened his eyes to a vast white landscape. Someone tapped him from behind. Turning around, he saw a girl with a familiar voice.

"Finally, you've dived into your own subconscious mind, and we can meet," the girl said.

"Reika?" Zak asked in shock. "So, you're just a little girl?"

"I'm over a thousand years old," Reika retorted, clearly irritated.

Zak was taken aback. Reika had two ponytails and wore a short A-shaped gown in a soft pink hue, with tabi covering her white socks down to her ankles. She looked no older than 14, with striking red eyes, a small nose, and slim lips.

"What are you staring at?" she asked, annoyed.

"Nothing," Zak replied quickly, trying to avoid further annoyance.

Reika, however, thought to herself, He actually looks pretty good for an otherworlder. Who would've thought?

"Will we meet like this all the time?" Zak asked, trying to understand the nature of their encounter.

"No, not exactly. With some training, you'll be able to come here at will. But for now, I can't say if we'll meet every time you fall asleep," Reika explained.

Zak nodded in understanding, but before he could ask more, everything shifted. He opened his eyes to find a small, furry creature licking him. It was already morning. He climbed down from the hill and continued his journey, his mind buzzing with the strange encounter.

Zak's heart raced as a deep, thunderous roar erupted behind him. Run! Reika’s voice cut through the panic like a blade. Without thinking, Zak took off, his legs pumping with raw adrenaline. In mere strides, he was already far from where he'd been. Reika, who was mentally tethered to him, marveled at his speed. Impressive, she thought, her tone carrying both surprise and approval.

"Wait a minute," she murmured in realization, "You’ve trained your body in the other world, haven’t you? And... could it be? You’re using Qi?"

Zak, still running, processed her words, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, so that's what this is. Qi, huh?" he said between breaths. "I knew of the concept from my world, but I didn’t realize it was this powerful here."

Reika’s voice grew more intense. "Yes, Qi, like Mana, is a spiritual constant. But unlike Mana, which any life form can draw on, Qi can only be wielded by those with evolved intelligence. It's the perfect balance to Mana—yet far more dangerous. It pushes the body beyond its limits. Most don't survive its strain."

Zak smirked, almost reveling in the danger. "So, I’ve got some kind of... mutation, huh? I knew I was strong before, but this? This is something else."

Reika’s voice shifted, sharp with new urgency. "If you can handle Qi like that, there's no need to run from these magical beasts. I sense three Gohorns behind you."

"Gohorns?" Zak’s brow furrowed. He thought back to the monstrous roar. "You mean the thing chasing us? There’s three of them?"

Reika’s voice was grim. "Yes. Gohorns are beasts with horns of obsidian, capable of shattering boulders with a single charge. They're not easily dealt with, even for seasoned fighters. But they must have sensed your display of power. That’s why more have come."

Zak slowed his pace, the predatory grin spreading across his face. His blood thrummed with excitement. The thrill of a real fight. "Three of them, huh?" he muttered, clenching his fists. "That’s perfect. Time to see what I’m really made of."

Reika's pulse quickened in sync with his. "Zak... do you really want to fight them?"

Zak’s smirk turned into a full, dangerous smile. "Hell yeah. Let’s see what these Gohorns got."

Taking a bow by its horns, Zak hurled the creature with incredible force, smashing it against a nearby rock. The impact was brutal, but the beast wasn't done. As it struggled to rise, Zak propelled himself high into the sky with a leap that defied logic, ascending far higher than he expected. With one mighty strike, he crashed down on the bow, driving it into the ground so hard that the earth caved in beneath it. The beast lay motionless- one hit was all it took.

Reika, silently observing the battle, started making mental notes. Who would have thought he'd be this strong already, she thought, though her expression remained impassive. The remaining bulls, now wary of Zak's power, hesitated for a brief moment but stil charged forward.

Zak, calm and collected, stopped them dead in their tracks with his bare hands, gripping each by the horns. Without a second thought, he ripped the horns out from their skulls in one swift motion. With a fierce cross of his arms, he stabbed both beasts simultaneously, blood spilling from their wounds, lifeless they collapsed in seconds.

"That wasn't fun at all," Zak remarked with a wry grin. "But at least now I have a better idea of what I'm capable of."

"Take their horns," Reika urged. "They're worth some crystals. You'll need those when you reach town."

"Like money? Got it," Zak responded, ripping the horns out with ease and tying them together using a vine.

On his way out of the forest, Zak dispatched several other beasts, all of which were level 5 and below. He collected various valuable items from them, storing them for later use. Finally, after hours of trekking through the dark and toxic terrain, Zak saw the edge of the forest. The air on the outside felt cleaner-still harsh, but a relief compared to the suffocating atmosphere of the forest. For the first time in what felt like forever, Zak allowed himself a moment of peace.

Zak walked for a while before spotting a small town. His basic human needs resurfaced; he hadn't eaten or bathed for a whole day. He hurried towards the town's entrance, where an old man stood guard. As Zak approached, the old man spoke.

"What do you want from this town, young man?"

"I was hoping to get something to eat and exchange a few items," Zak replied, shifting the bag made from a beast's hide to indicate he had valuable resources. The old man sensed a powerful aura emanating from Zak and noted the Qi energy flowing freely from him.

"I never thought I’d see someone so young excel in the use of Qi," the old man remarked, observing Zak's potential. "But alas, you seem to be wasting it and haven't fully mastered its use." With that, the old man released his own Qi flow, which was so imposing it made Zak instinctively leap back a few meters.

“This? No. Could he?” Reika muttered to herself, stunned.

The old man chuckled, “Ah, a human's instinct to flee first to gauge the threat. That’s nice.” He then continued, “There isn’t much I can do for you in many respects, but I’d love to take you on as my student, if you’re willing.” He flashed a wide, welcoming smile.

Zak contemplated the offer before accepting. “Could I see a place to stay while I’m here?” he asked.

“Yes, you can stay with me and my beloved children,” the old man replied enthusiastically.

“Children? It would be nice to see other humans too,” Zak said, intrigued.

“Who said anything about humans? They are plants,” the old man corrected, his eyes widening with a heartfelt smile.

“What a strange man,” Zak thought to himself. “Come on, let’s go,” the old man urged.

As they entered the town, Zak was astonished to find that monsters were the town’s residents.

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