Chapter 5: Ch5 – Progress?

Ryan closed his eyes and tried once more to sense mana. He pictured that faint blue energy swirling around him.

But once again, his efforts yielded little success. Despite his best attempts, Ryan couldn’t shake the feeling of frustration creeping into his mind. He clenched his fists as minutes turned to hours, feeling a surge of disappointment welling up inside him.

*****

“Maybe Jake was lying and magic is fake and this is all a trick, I bet I look so stupid… fine, one more attempt” Ryan muttered to himself.

If it is real though…

Ryan began to imagine himself in a robe, throwing fireballs while levitating…

Fine I’ll try one last time…

With renewed focus, Ryan continued to meditate, pushing past his frustration and allowing himself to become more attuned to the energies around him. After a while, he felt a faint tingling sensation in his fingertips,

and as quickly as that tingling sensation came, it went. Ryan tried to chase that sensation but failed. However, he could not have been more joyous.

Finally, a sign that I am doing something right!

Ryan, now overjoyed, slowly opened his eyes. Even though he had been awake ever-since he had arrived in this deadly world, he surprisingly felt very well rested after that meditation session.

Ryan, after a few stretches, slowly climbed down from his nest, watching out for any unwelcome guests.

As Ryan reached closer and closer to the ground floor, he felt a growing anxiety.

How come I haven’t seen any monsters here? How come there hasn’t been even an insect in this valley?

Suddenly, he halted.

Why’s the ground over there… shifting?

Ryan scrambled back up to his nest, gripping the tree tightly to keep himself steady as he scanned the valley below.

Where he came into the valley from, the ground was normal, with some trees, and a few berry bushes. But at the center of the valley, there were countless bushes accompanied by soil, soil that was, ever so slightly bubbling.

Thankfully, he had not entered the inner area of the valley yet.

This world sucks.

Ryan quickly decided that although this place was safe from monsters, and there was food, single misstep in the dark could lead to him dissolving or sinking into dirt. Who knows, maybe the dirt had a monster under it that might come out. He had to leave.

Before Ryan left, he grabbed as many berries from the outer ring as he could while he moved over to the other side of the valley.

Now on the other side of the valley from where he began and with pockets full of berries, he could continue following the setting sun.

“Even after- the uncountable amount of ch-cherry strength boosting berries I ate, I still struggle to climb up a hill… ” Ryan muttered, panting.

After a few more minutes of arduous climbing, he reached the peak of the hill and surveyed his new surroundings.

Fantastic! More trees!!!

An endless sea of trees and plants filled his view.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this world was just one large jungle.

4 days later…

This world might actually be one massive jungle.

Ryan wondered, as he popped another one of his Cherry Strength Booster’s into his mouth.

He hadn’t stopped much, only when he was forced by his brain to sleep.

He also hadn’t made much progress in his mana meditation. The only difference was that he felt that tingling feeling a bit more often.

Currently, Ryan was up a tree meditating, too focused to realise the impending danger.

The sun lit up his face, giving it a golden hue.

“Hahaha!” A high-pitched, prideful laughter echoed across the forest.

“Justus! You truly are an idiot!” The voice continued.

“Shut up! We’re not lost; I’ll get us back to Foles soon!” A slightly squeakier, younger voice replied.

Zirakus, the prideful one, was not worried about being lost, after all, he was a half-step Adept Mage! And Justus was an acolyte. There weren’t many things that could harm them in the outer section of this forest.

“Crack” The snap of a twig could be heard from their right.

Startled by the sound, Justus and Zirakus turned in its direction, only to see a small human sitting still in a tree.

“Haha, this will cheer me up!” Said Zirakus, grinning from ear to ear.

The pair began walking over to the oblivious Ryan. Muttering about what they would do:

“Killing him wouldn’t be enough.” Justus said

“Torture him first?” Zirakus replied.

“We could bring him back to Fortus, he would love a fresh slave.”

“Great idea!” said Zirakus, his tall elf body shaking with excitement at catching a runaway human.

“Crack”

Another sound, it came from the same bush as earlier. However the two elves ignored it, staying completely zoned in on their prey.

A heavy silence fell. Then— Zirakus screamed, “TERRA OBICE!”

An earth barrier formed around Zirakus’ body.

Iustus, who hadn’t sensed anything was extremely confused, “What’s wrong?”

“WHOOSH” A strong wind blew across Zirakus’ dirt armour.

“What was that!” Zirakus shouted at Justus, who offered no response.

“Justus?”

A large stone dart was lodged in Justus’ eye.

Justus collapsed to the ground.

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