The forest grew darker the deeper Kael ventured.
It wasn't just the lack of light.
It was the air.
Heavy. Oppressive.
As if the forest itself was watching… waiting.
Kael slowed his steps.
Not out of fear—
But calculation.
"…This is where it begins."
He remembered this place.
Not clearly.
But enough.
In his past life, this region had a name among adventurers:
The Threshold.
A boundary.
Beyond this point—
Only the strong survived.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
That was exactly what he needed.
Power didn't come from safety.
It came from pushing past limits.
Breaking them.
Over and over again.
But this time—
He wasn't alone.
His hand moved to his chest.
The faint glow pulsed beneath his skin.
"…Let's see what you can really do."
[System Response: Acknowledged]
The interface appeared instantly.
Clear.
Cold.
Unfeeling.
[Universe Core System]
[Current Stability: 72%]
Kael frowned.
"…It dropped."
It had been higher earlier.
So using Core Sense and fighting—
"…Consumes stability."
That meant one thing.
The stronger he became—
The closer he got to losing control.
"…Then I just have to balance it."
Simple.
In theory.
A faint rustle echoed ahead.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…Something's there."
He didn't rush.
Didn't charge in blindly.
Instead—
[Core Sense Activated]
The world shifted again.
Threads of energy appeared.
And then—
He saw it.
A core.
Small.
But dense.
Hiding behind a cluster of trees.
"…Not alone."
More cores flickered nearby.
Four.
No—
Five.
"…Another pack."
But different from before.
Stronger.
Their energy felt heavier.
More refined.
"…Good."
Kael stepped forward.
This time—
He attacked first.
The bushes exploded apart as he dashed through.
Five beasts turned instantly.
These weren't wolves.
They were leaner.
Faster.
Their bodies were covered in dark, scale-like armor.
Their eyes glowed faintly blue.
"…Ironhide Lynx."
Mid-tier monsters.
Faster than wolves.
More durable.
Much more dangerous.
The first one lunged.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He moved forward.
Not back.
Clang!
His blade struck its side—
But bounced.
"…Harder than I thought."
The lynx retaliated instantly.
Its claws tore through the air—
Kael barely dodged.
A sharp line of blood appeared on his arm.
"…Fast."
Too fast for his current body.
The other four moved.
Surrounding him.
Cutting off escape.
Kael's breathing slowed.
"…Think."
Charging blindly wouldn't work.
Their defense was too high.
Their speed too great.
Then—
His eyes flickered.
The cores.
"…That's it."
[Core Sense Intensified]
Pain surged through his chest.
"—Ghk!"
But he ignored it.
The world sharpened further.
Slower.
Clearer.
He saw it.
Each lynx had a core.
But unlike the wolves—
These cores weren't stable.
They pulsed irregularly.
"…Weak points…"
The first lynx attacked again.
Kael stepped forward.
Risking everything.
At the last second—
He twisted—
And drove his blade upward—
Piercing directly into its chest.
Into the core.
The lynx froze.
Then collapsed.
One down.
But—
Pain exploded in Kael's chest.
His vision blurred.
[Warning: Core instability rising]
"…Damn it…"
The remaining four attacked simultaneously.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Kael moved.
Not faster—
But smarter.
He didn't try to overpower them.
He avoided direct clashes.
Dodged.
Shifted.
Waited.
For the moment.
One misstep.
One opening.
There—
He saw it.
A slight delay in movement.
A gap.
Kael struck.
Fast.
Precise.
Another core shattered.
Two down.
But now—
His body was reaching its limit.
His breathing grew heavy.
His movements slowed.
The lynxes sensed it.
Their attacks became more aggressive.
Relentless.
A claw struck his side—
"—!"
Blood sprayed.
Kael staggered.
"…Not good…"
If this continued—
He would die.
Again.
Then—
The system reacted.
[Emergency Condition Detected]
[Optional Function Unlocked: Overdraw]
Kael's eyes widened.
"…Overdraw?"
[Description: Temporarily increases host performance beyond limits]
[Cost: Severe instability + Memory Consumption]
Kael froze.
Memory consumption.
Again.
Images flashed through his mind.
Lina.
Her smile.
Her voice.
"…Tch…"
"…Of course…"
Power always came with a price.
The lynxes lunged again.
No time.
No choice.
"…Do it."
[Overdraw Activated]
Everything changed.
The world slowed.
Not perception—
Reality.
Kael's body moved on its own.
Faster.
Stronger.
His sword cut through the air—
Effortlessly.
Slash.
One lynx fell.
Step.
Turn.
Another.
Within seconds—
All four were dead.
Silence returned.
Kael stood still.
His breathing steady.
Too steady.
Then—
The effect ended.
Pain hit.
Hard.
"—GHK!"
Kael dropped to one knee.
His chest burned.
His vision shook.
[Overdraw terminated]
[Stability Critical: 41%]
"…That… was…"
Too much.
But then—
The final message appeared.
[Hidden Cost Activated]
Kael froze.
"…No…"
A flicker.
A memory.
Something—
Warm.
Familiar.
Gone.
Kael's breath hitched.
"…What… did I just lose…?"
He searched his mind.
But—
Nothing answered.
Only emptiness.
"…Damn it…"
His fist clenched.
"…Damn it…"
He had known the cost.
Accepted it.
But experiencing it—
Was different.
"…If I keep going like this…"
What would remain?
Would he still remember Lina?
Would he still remember why he was fighting?
Silence.
Kael slowly stood.
His body trembled.
But his eyes—
Hardened.
"…Then I'll finish this fast."
If the system was eating him away—
Then he would become strong—
Before it could take everything.
A faint wind passed through the forest.
Colder than before.
And then—
A presence.
Familiar.
"…You used it."
Kael didn't turn.
"…You again."
The girl stepped out of the shadows.
Watching him quietly.
Her crimson eyes lingered on him.
"…That power…"
A pause.
"…It's worse than I thought."
Kael let out a dry laugh.
"…You don't say."
She walked closer.
Slow.
Measured.
"…You're losing something each time you use it."
Kael didn't respond.
"…Memories," she continued softly.
"…Important ones."
His grip tightened.
"…I know."
She stopped in front of him.
Closer than before.
"…Then why are you still using it?"
Kael looked at her.
Really looked this time.
"…Because I don't have a choice."
Her expression shifted.
Slightly.
"…There's always a choice."
"…Not for me."
Silence.
The forest stood still.
"…If I don't become stronger…"
Kael continued quietly.
"…I'll lose everything again."
Her eyes softened.
Just a little.
"…Even if it costs you everything?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
A long pause followed.
Then—
She sighed.
Softly.
"…You really are reckless."
"…And you're still here."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"…Maybe I am."
She turned slightly.
"…Come with me."
Kael frowned.
"…What?"
"There's something deeper in the forest," she said.
"…Something you're not ready to face alone."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…And you are?"
She glanced back.
"…More than you."
Silence.
Kael hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Trusting her was dangerous.
But—
So was going alone.
"…Fine."
Her smile returned.
"…Good."
She stepped forward.
Deeper into the forest.
Kael followed.
Not knowing—
That this decision—
Would change everything.
[To Be Continued…] 🔥