Whoosh...
ραndαsΝοvεl.cοm My ears were filled with the swift rush of the wind.
My hair was tangled and dancing in the air, the strands intertwining like a wild, untamed spirit.
I was falling.
The snow-covered ground was rushing towards me, getting closer with each passing second.
Thud...
The impact reverberated through my body as I landed on the hard, unforgiving ground.
Instantly, I lost sensation in my legs.
The pain was bearable but the sudden partial paralysis sent a jolt of panic through me.
I needed to ingest a Health Potion as soon as possible.
"Ughh..."
Groaning in frustration, I quickly accessed my Spatial Ring and reached for a glass vial containing a shimmering red liquid.
Click...
Unstoppering the potion, a faint smell of fish wafted through the air, making my nose scrunch up in disgust.
'Why does it have to be fish-flavored?
Using one hand to pin my nose, I tilted the vial towards my lips and forced the potion down my throat, trying my best to ignore the taste.
Within seconds, I could feel the healing magic seeping into my body, rejuvenating my muscles and popping the vertebrae of my spine back into their proper alignment.
My leg bones also realigned with a satisfying crack, and a burst of warmth spread throughout my body.
While still lying in the dune of snow, I took a moment to relax and lifted my head to observe the top of the cliff, where I had made an ill-fated leap just moments ago.
Two red eyes glistened at me from the edge, glowing in the dim sunlight.
"..."
It was a fearsome monster, its massive, hulking frame silhouetted against the pale grey sky.
The creature was a quadruped beast with sleek, midnight-black fur that glinted with an eerie sheen.
Strange outer appendages resembling sharp icicles protruded from its back, with faint traces of frost trailing after them.
It had two long, twisted horns curving out from its forehead, and its mouth was lined with sharp, jagged teeth.
It was a Midnight Panther, a rare E Rank monster that could be encountered in Ice and Fire Affinity Dungeons.
Midnight Panther was way stronger than any E Rank Monster, though.
It possessed unparalleled speed, agile movements, and a ferocity that made it one of the most formidable adversaries in the dungeon.
The creature also had a unique ability to 'blink' through space, allowing it to teleport short distances with a mere thought.
Of course, this ability also had its limitations, as it could only be used sporadically and required a significant amount of Mana.
Still, this creature was a pain in the ass, especially when it was chasing after me.
"..."
Feeling the claw wounds on my back slowly closing with the help of the Healing Potion, I sighed.
While I was running the Midnight Panther kept blinking behind me and raking deep, bleeding gashes across my back.
It always managed to catch up to me, no matter how fast I ran or how many obstacles I put between us.
Although I wanted to take a stroll in the serene winter landscape, encountering a Midnight Panther was definitely not on my agenda.
I've said this previously, but fate is a bitch that likes to throw curveballs when I least expect it.
"At least I survived..."
I muttered under my breath as I cautiously rose to my feet, keeping a watchful eye on the Midnight Panther.
My golden eyes never left the creature as I slowly backed away, moving away from the bottom of the cliff where I had taken my ill-fated leap just moments ago.
The jump itself might've seemed like a stupid idea, but I managed to escape the clutches of the Midnight Panther.
So...
It was worth it.
"..."
Step by step, I kept walking backward, not allowing my gaze to waver from the Midnight Panther's black silhouette.
Grrr...
I could hear it growling ominously from behind its snarling jaws, a low, guttural sound that reverberated through the air.
Luckily, it didn't seem to be in a hurry to chase after me anymore.
It was smart enough not to waste its energy on a futile pursuit.
Jumping from the cliff would probably damage its limbs and hinder its ability to hunt for prey efficiently.
A good predator always evaluates the risks versus the rewards, and the Midnight Panther recognized that it was not worth the potential injury to continue chasing me.
Roar...
Letting out a final roar of frustration, the Midnight Panther slowly turned and disappeared behind the snowy dunes, making me breathe a sigh of relief.
I was completely spent.
My Mana was depleted, and my entire body ached from the strain it had endured today.
Even the Health Potion couldn't heal the exhaustion I felt in my bones.
"I'll sleep for an entire day..."
Muttering under my breath, I glanced at the time and realized I had been running for hours.
There was barely an hour left before the Combat Exam would end and I needed to start strolling back to the camp.
By now I had 513 Points, which was a good enough score, considering how weak I was when I first appeared in this world.
Now that I think about it, I made quite a lot of progress.
When I just appeared in this world, I was a Rank G awakener and now my core was F+ Rank, almost into E Rank territory.
I'll probably break through to the next Rank in no time, one day if I'm lucky and an entire week if I'm not.
"I'm becoming stronger..."
Smirking, I allowed my thoughts to wander for a second, thinking of the upcoming week.
Since the Mid-term exams would be over, we'd have a week-long break before the start of the next semester.
During this week, I plan to finally go and raid the Shadow Dungeon that I've been preparing for for months.
I needed to go and retrieve the Mana Art that would officially make me graduate from my 'extra' category.
If I manage to get my hands on the Art, I will prevent a Demon from getting his hands on it and unleashing chaos upon the world and also increase my strength significantly.
"This will be a rough week..."
Muttering under my breath, I mentally prepared myself for the challenges and obstacles that awaited me in the upcoming week.
Crunch... Crunch...
I didn't even notice the sound of extra footsteps approaching until I heard the sound of a blade piercing through the air.
!!!
Clank...
Without thinking twice, I instinctively summoned my Authority and swiftly blocked the incoming attack, narrowly avoiding a potentially lethal strike.
This wasn't aimed to wound me, it was aimed to kill.
"..."
Narrowing my eyes, I quickly glanced at my attacker with a sharp gaze and calmly assessed the situation before deciding on my next move.
I had never seen the guy, but the expression on his face spoke volumes.
"Who are you?"
Pushing away his blade, I demanded, trying to maintain a composed yet assertive tone.
I was, currently, in no condition to fight and needed to de-escalate the situation as quickly as possible.
However, it didn't seem like the attacker was interested in conversation.
"Fucking killer..."
He spat out words I had already heard from a few people, making me roll my eyes.
At first, the stupid rumors the girls I saved spread were annoying, but now it was becoming tiresome to deal with.
'I'll have to go and give them a piece of my mind...'
Clenching my fist, I felt a tiny bit of Blood Thirst escape from my body, but I quickly suppressed it.
However, I could see my opponent's face pale a little, feeling the intense aura I unintentionally emitted.
I could tell that he was reconsidering his actions and thinking twice about his next move.
Does he really want to risk his Combat Exam ranking by attacking me?
Releasing another wave of Blood Thirst, I tried to imagine slicing him in many pieces, thrusting my sword into his heart and beheading him with a swift and precise strike.
Then, I enchanted this desire with the Mana I still had, releasing the oppressive Aura that was built through countless battles I've been through.
"..."
For a moment, we stared at each other in silence but in the end, the realization seemed to dawn upon him.
Crunch...
While eyeing me with hesitation, he slowly took a step back and lowered his blade, realizing that the odds were not in his favor.
"..."
I observed as he hurriedly retreated, his steps quick and unsteady, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and frustration.
I could see that he had learned his lesson and would think twice before attempting another attack on me.
Click...
Dismissing my Authority, I also went my way, satisfied with how I had handled the situation.
We didn't fight and I managed to conserve my energy.
This was a perfect outcome, however, this also gave me a wake-up call.
I needed to do something about the rumors and misinformation circulating about me, as they were causing bothersome situations.
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