The One-Eyed Silent Swordsman
Arc 6: Dense Forest Arc II
Chapter 19: Deeper Into The Forest
The guild remains silent.
Not completely—
but enough.
Eyes follow me.
Not openly.
But I can feel it.
"…He's different."
"…That pressure…"
"…It's not normal…"
"…E-rank…?"
"…No way…"
I ignore it.
Not important.
The board stands ahead.
Covered with requests.
Layered.
Some torn.
Some new.
I step closer.
Read.
Carefully.
F Rank.
E Rank.
D Rank—
Locked.
"…Still low."
A pause.
My gaze shifts.
Stops.
A request.
Different.
Not because of reward.
Because of location.
"…Dense Forest… outer zone…"
Silence.
"…Too close."
A faint thought.
But—
"…Not the same anymore."
I reach out.
Take it.
Paper tears slightly.
"…That one?"
A voice behind me.
I don't turn.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…You're going alone?"
Silence.
"…Yeah."
No explanation.
No hesitation.
The man doesn't reply.
Because he already knows—
it's useless.
I walk.
Toward the counter.
"…Register."
The clerk takes the paper.
Glances once.
Then again.
A slight pause.
"…This area…"
"…Yes."
No hesitation.
She stamps it.
"…Approved."
Silence.
I turn.
Walk out.
The noise returns behind me.
But fades quickly.
Outside—
The air feels… clearer.
"…Same world."
A pause.
"…Different now."
I move.
Toward the forest.
No rush.
No delay.
Steps steady.
Controlled.
The road stretches ahead.
Familiar.
But not the same.
Movement—
Left.
A small creature lunges.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 42]
[Tier: Least]
I step.
No skill.
No effort.
A single cut.
It falls.
+900 EXP
[EXP: — / —]
"…Too weak."
I don't stop.
I move forward.
The trees begin.
The air shifts.
Heavier.
Denser.
But—
"…Not like before."
No pressure.
No fear.
Only awareness.
"…Mana Sense."
The world expands.
Signals appear.
Clear.
Controlled.
Weak.
Scattered.
"…Outer zone."
Good.
I walk deeper.
Not rushing.
Not stopping.
Just moving.
Movement—
Three.
Different directions.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 67]
[Level: 71]
[Level: 75]
They rush.
Fast—
for them.
I move once.
Step.
Turn.
"…Air Slash."
A thin line cuts forward.
All three fall.
Clean.
+2,100 EXP
+2,300 EXP
+2,500 EXP
"…Still inefficient."
A pause.
"…Too wide."
I adjust my grip.
Flow stabilizes.
"…Again."
Movement—
Stronger.
Closer.
[Level: 112]
It charges.
I don't step back.
I step in.
Timing—
Perfect.
"…Air Slash."
Compressed.
Focused.
It splits instantly.
+4,800 EXP
Silence returns.
"…Better."
I move deeper.
The forest thickens.
Light fades.
Air grows heavier.
But—
my breathing remains steady.
"…This is different."
No struggle.
No chaos.
Only control.
Movement—
Multiple.
Far.
Watching.
"…Not attacking."
A pause.
"…They sense it."
My presence.
Contained.
But sharp.
"…Good."
I step forward.
They scatter.
Not fight.
Not challenge.
Avoid.
"…Efficient."
I continue walking.
Deeper.
Further.
Then—
A shift.
Different.
Heavier.
Not like before.
"…This…"
My body stops.
Instinct.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"Appraisal."
…
[Level: 389]
[Tier: Lower]
A pause.
"…Finally."
It steps forward.
Slow.
Measured.
Not rushing.
Not afraid.
"…Good."
My grip tightens slightly.
"…Let's see."
Silence stretches.
Then—
It moves.
Fast.
The ground cracks.
I react.
Step—
"…Silent Flow."
Stable.
Immediate.
I dodge.
Barely.
"…Fast."
It attacks again.
No delay.
I turn.
Block—
Impact travels through my arm.
Heavy.
"…Better."
I step forward.
Not back.
Timing.
Distance.
Control.
"…Air Slash."
A compressed strike.
It cuts—
but not deep.
The creature doesn't fall.
"…Tch…"
"…Not enough."
It roars.
Charges again.
Faster.
I breathe.
Steady.
"…Mana… reinforcement."
Flow shifts.
Into my arm.
Into my blade.
Stable.
Barely.
"…Now."
I move.
Step.
Turn.
Strike.
"…Air Slash."
Sharper.
Deeper.
It lands.
The creature staggers.
"…Again."
No pause.
Second strike.
Clean.
It splits.
Silence.
+18,400 EXP
My breathing slows.
Stable.
No collapse.
No loss of control.
"…This is…"
A quiet thought.
"…different."
I look ahead.
Deeper forest.
Darker.
Heavier.
Unknown.
My grip tightens.
"…Not enough."
A step forward.
Then another.
"…I'll go further."
The forest deepens.
Light fades.
The air grows heavier.
Not like before.
Different.
Thicker.
"…This is further than the outer zone."
A quiet thought.
My steps slow—
Not from fear.
From awareness.
"…Mana Sense."
The world expands.
Signals appear.
Fewer.
But stronger.
Sharper.
More controlled.
"…Good."
Movement—
Far ahead.
Not rushing.
Not hiding.
Waiting.
"Appraisal."
…
[Level: 421]
[Tier: Lower]
Silence.
"…Stronger."
I step forward.
No hesitation.
The creature appears.
Massive.
Heavy.
Watching me.
"…It knows."
A pause.
"…I'm not prey."
It moves.
Fast.
Too fast for its size.
The ground shakes.
I react instantly.
Step—
"…Silent Flow."
Stable.
Immediate.
I dodge.
Barely.
"…Good."
No panic.
Only calculation.
It turns again.
Attacks—
I step in.
Closer.
Inside its range.
"…Air Slash."
Compressed.
Focused.
The strike lands.
Deep.
But—
Not enough.
The creature roars.
Pain.
Anger.
It swings.
I block—
Impact travels through my body.
Heavy.
"…Better."
I slide back.
One step.
Then stop.
"…Again."
I move forward.
Faster.
Flow holds.
Stable.
Mana gathers—
Into my blade.
Sharper.
Cleaner.
"…Now."
"…Air Slash."
I strike.
A thin line cuts forward.
Deeper.
Cleaner.
The creature staggers.
"…Again."
No delay.
Second strike.
Perfect alignment.
It splits.
Silence.
+22,800 EXP
My breathing remains steady.
No collapse.
No instability.
"…I'm improving."
A quiet realization.
But—
Not enough.
Movement—
Multiple.
Around me.
Three.
No—
Five.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 398]
[Level: 407]
[Level: 415]
[Level: 433]
[Level: 446]
They surround me.
No hesitation.
They attack.
All at once.
"…Good."
I breathe.
"…Silent Flow."
Stable.
Immediate.
"…Mana Sense."
The world sharpens.
Positions.
Distance.
Intent.
Everything becomes clear.
Left—
I step.
Clean.
Right—
Turn.
"…Air Slash."
One falls.
+16,200 EXP
Behind—
I move before it lands.
Strike.
Another falls.
+17,800 EXP
Front—
Two rush together.
I don't step back.
I step forward.
Timing—
Perfect.
"…Air Slash."
Compressed.
Both split.
+18,400 EXP
+19,100 EXP
The last—
Hesitates.
"…It understands."
A pause.
"…Too late."
One step.
One strike.
Clean.
+20,300 EXP
Silence returns.
No movement.
No threat.
Only breath.
Steady.
Controlled.
"…No wasted motion."
A quiet thought.
"…Good."
I look ahead.
The forest grows darker.
Heavier.
But—
Something changes.
A shift.
Different from before.
Not just strength.
Presence.
"…This…"
My body stops.
Instinct.
Recognition.
"…Stronger than the others."
"Appraisal."
…
[Level: 512]
[Tier: Low]
Silence.
My grip tightens.
"…Low tier."
A pause.
"…Finally."
The creature doesn't move immediately.
It watches.
Measuring.
Waiting.
"…Good."
I step forward.
No hesitation.
The air tightens.
The ground trembles slightly.
"…This is different."
It moves.
Instantly.
Faster than before.
The ground cracks behind me.
I react—
Step—
Barely.
"…Fast."
It attacks again.
No delay.
No pattern.
I turn—
Block—
Impact shakes my entire body.
"…Heavy."
My stance holds.
Barely.
"…Better."
I step back once.
Then stop.
"…Now…"
My breathing steadies.
Flow stabilizes.
Mana gathers—
Cleaner.
Sharper.
"…Silent Flow."
Perfect.
For a moment—
Everything aligns.
"…Air Slash."
I strike.
Compressed.
Focused.
The attack lands.
But—
The creature doesn't fall.
It moves again.
Faster.
Closer.
I react.
Step—
Turn—
Strike again.
"…Air Slash."
Deeper.
Sharper.
It staggers.
But still stands.
"…Tch…"
"…Durable."
It roars.
The pressure rises.
Inside me.
Unstable—
No.
"…Hold it."
I breathe.
Slow.
Controlled.
The flow stabilizes again.
"…Again."
I move.
Faster.
Closer.
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
One step.
Perfect timing.
"…Air Slash."
A thin line cuts forward.
Precise.
Deadly.
It lands.
The creature freezes.
Then—
Splits.
Silence.
+31,500 EXP
My breathing slows.
Controlled.
No collapse.
No instability.
"…This is…"
A quiet realization.
"…control under pressure."
I stand still.
The forest remains.
Dark.
Heavy.
But quiet.
For now.
"…Not enough."
A step forward.
Then another.
"…I'll go deeper."
Chapter End
Next Chapter: More Depth of Forest
Time: Thursday, 6PM GMT+5:30