The carriage slowed as dusk bled across the forest canopy, the wheels crunching against gravel before finally stopping in a small clearing by the roadside. The horses snorted, restless after the long day, steam curling from their muzzles in the cool evening air.

"We'll rest here for the night," Veyron announced as he stepped down from the carriage. He stretched his arms overhead, silver hair catching the faint orange glow of sunset. "The horses can't keep going without proper sleep."

Elena followed him out, her amber eyes soft as she gazed at the fireflies already starting to blink through the trees. Livia moved with grace behind her, adjusting her gown before setting a basket of provisions on the ground.

Soon, a modest campfire crackled at the center of the clearing. Its light pushed against the edges of the woods, casting long, shifting shadows. They shared a simple meal—bread, dried meat, and fruit—while the conversation turned casual.

Veyron teased Elena about how quiet she had become compared to her childhood. She flushed and defended herself, while Livia gently urged her to eat more. Noel sat slightly apart, chewing in silence, his gaze fixed beyond the circle of firelight.

The forest was too still.

No chirping insects. No rustle of leaves. Not even the distant call of night birds. Just the crackle of the fire and the occasional snort from the horses.

Noel narrowed his eyes, fingers brushing lightly over the hilt of Revenant Fang at his side. 'Too quiet. That's never a good sign.'

Veyron laughed at something Elena muttered, but Noel's attention didn't waver. The hair on his arms prickled as if the air itself had thickened.

Then it came—the faintest crunch of leaves, just beyond the fire's reach. A pause. Then another, heavier.

Noel's hand tightened around the sword. He rose slowly, his voice calm but sharp. "Stay alert."

Elena blinked, startled. "Noel?"

The underbrush shivered, and something low growled from the dark.

The silence of the forest shattered.

The underbrush tore open.

Three shapes lunged into the clearing—twisted quadrupeds, their bodies long and lean like stretched shadows. Their jaws split open too wide, rows of jagged teeth glowing faintly blue in the firelight. Abyss Howlers. Their screech made the horses rear back, eyes rolling with panic.

Livia stiffened, her hand flying to her chest. Veyron already reached for his blade, but Noel stepped forward, calm, Revenant Fang sliding into his grip with a hiss of shadow.

"I'll handle it."

The first Howler leapt straight for him. Noel vanished—"Shadow Step."—and reappeared behind it, Revenant Fang slicing through its spine in one smooth arc. The beast crumpled, dissolving into ash.

A translucent window blinked into view.

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.33% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel didn't even pause. He flicked the blade, flame bursting along its edge. "Ignition Surge." He swung once, cleaving the next Howler in half, fire consuming its corpse before it hit the ground.

Another chime:

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.38% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

The third circled, screeching, its body blurring in and out of the fire's light. Noel's hand lifted, a spark dancing at his fingertips. "Voltage Needle."

A thin line of lightning shot forward, piercing the beast cleanly through the skull. It fell instantly, twitching once before going still.

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.43% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel exhaled slowly, lowering his arm. 'Too easy.'

The fire crackled, the clearing briefly quiet again. Veyron stood frozen with his sword still half-drawn, his eyes wide at how quickly it had ended. Livia's lips parted in shock, her gaze darting from the fallen beasts to Noel's calm figure.

Revenant Fang dimmed as the flames retreated from its blade. Noel planted the tip lightly against the earth, barely winded. "If there are more, they'll come soon. Stay behind me."

The woods stirred again, and more growls rippled from the dark.

Noel's grip tightened, his eyes narrowing. 'Then let's make this quick.'

Noel stepped forward, unhurried. His breath was calm, his mana flowing smoothly. 'So this is it? Just more of the same? This won't even be a warm-up.'

The first lunged. Noel swung Revenant Fang in a low arc. "Fire Arc." A wave of flame carved through the beast's torso and kept going, slicing the one behind it as well. Both collapsed into ash before hitting the ground.

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.53% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel clicked his tongue. 'Only 0.05% each. I'd forgotten how stingy this system can be.'

Another three surrounded him, their jaws unhinging as they shrieked. Noel's hand slammed to the ground. "Ice Spike."

The earth erupted in jagged spears of ice, skewering two instantly and pinning the third through its hind legs. It writhed, screeching, until Noel ended it with a casual thrust of Revenant Fang.

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.68% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

The last two bounded in from the treetops, aiming for Livia and Elena. Noel vanished—"Shadow Step."—and reappeared above them, lightning already coiled around his palm. "Chain Flash."

A bolt shot downward, splitting midair into three jagged branches. Both beasts convulsed as the electricity tore through them, their shrieks cut short before they burned to ash.

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.78% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel landed lightly, Revenant Fang humming with residual static. He exhaled, more annoyed than strained. 'Dozens of kills just to crawl forward a single percent. At this rate, I'll never see real progress unless the enemies get stronger.'

Behind him, Veyron lowered his half-drawn blade, stunned. Livia pressed a hand to her lips, whispering under her breath.

Noel didn't even look back. His eyes remained fixed on the shifting treeline. "If that's all, we can sleep. If not…" He raised Revenant Fang, flames coiling faintly around the blade. "Then I'll keep going."

The clearing had gone still again, though faint rustles lingered deeper in the forest. One last Abyss Howler prowled at the edge of the firelight, its body low, saliva hissing where it struck the dirt.

Noel didn't wait. Lightning gathered around him in sharp arcs, the air splitting with an electric crack. "Stormpiercer."

In an instant, his body blurred into a streak of blinding light. Revenant Fang pierced straight through the beast's chest, the impact detonating with a concussive burst that sent dust and sparks scattering across the clearing. The Howler convulsed once, then dissolved into ash.

[You have slain Abyss Howler. You have received 0.05% Core Progress.]

[Current Core Progress: 6.83% – Mana Core: Ascendant]

Noel exhaled, the lightning fading from his frame. He pulled Revenant Fang free and slid it back to his side as if nothing had happened.

Silence lingered. Only the fire crackled.

Veyron lowered his sword fully now, his earlier readiness looking almost laughable compared to what he had just witnessed. His silver brows arched high. "…I was ready to fight beside you, but clearly, you don't need anyone else."

Livia had gone still, her lips parted as she studied Noel carefully. Her eyes, warm but sharp with curiosity, didn't leave him. Finally, she asked, "What core are you at?"

Noel paused, brushing a bit of ash off his sleeve. "Ascendant."

The word hung in the air.

Livia leaned back slightly, though her surprise lingered in her tone. "I see. No wonder you move as if the rest of us are standing still."

Noel didn't respond, his expression unreadable. He simply walked back to the fire, his steps calm, as if he hadn't just erased a small pack of monsters in minutes.

Elena's amber eyes followed him, quiet pride shimmering behind them.

The fire crackled, pushing back the shadows that dared creep closer. For tonight at least, the forest had fallen silent again.

But in the minds of Veyron and Livia, the image of Noel standing alone against the Howlers would linger.

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