The One-Eyed Silent Swordsman
Arc 6: Dense Forest Arc II
Chapter 20: More Depth of Forest
The forest changes.
Again.
Not gradually.
Suddenly.
The air thickens.
Heavy.
Dense.
Every breath feels… slower.
"…This is different."
Not just stronger monsters.
Something else.
"…Mana density increased."
A quiet realization.
My steps stop.
Not by choice.
By instinct.
"…Danger."
Silence.
No movement.
No sound.
But—
"…I'm being watched."
Not one.
Not many.
Something… else.
"…Mana Sense."
I expand it.
Carefully.
Slow.
Controlled.
The world shifts.
Signals appear—
Then disappear.
Distorted.
"…Blocked."
A pause.
"…Or hidden."
My grip tightens.
"…Good."
A step forward.
The ground feels different.
Softer.
But unstable.
Like something beneath it… moves.
"…Not normal terrain."
Another step.
Then—
Movement.
Instant.
From below.
The ground splits.
A massive shape erupts upward.
"Appraisal."
…
[Level: 603]
[Tier: Mid]
Silence.
"…Mid tier."
My body reacts instantly.
Step—
"…Silent Flow."
Stable.
But strained.
The creature attacks.
Too fast.
Too heavy.
I dodge—
Barely.
The ground explodes behind me.
"…This is different."
Not like before.
Not manageable with ease.
"…Good."
My breathing steadies.
Despite the pressure.
"…Now it matters."
The creature lunges again.
No delay.
No hesitation.
I move.
Step.
Turn.
"…Air Slash."
A compressed strike cuts forward.
It hits—
But barely penetrates.
"…Too tough."
The creature doesn't slow.
It swings again.
I block—
Impact crushes my stance.
My arms tremble.
"…Heavy."
Too heavy.
I slide back.
My grip tightens.
"…Not enough."
A pause.
The pressure rises.
Inside me.
Unstable.
"…No."
I breathe.
Slow.
Controlled.
"…Don't force it."
The flow stabilizes.
Again.
Cleaner.
Sharper.
"…Mana… reinforcement."
The energy shifts.
Into my body.
Into my blade.
Denser.
More focused.
"…Now."
I step forward.
Not back.
Inside its range.
The creature attacks—
I move first.
Timing—
Perfect.
"…Air Slash."
A sharper strike lands.
Deeper.
The creature reacts.
Finally.
"…Again."
No delay.
Second strike.
Same point.
Deeper.
The wound expands.
"…It's working."
The creature roars.
Louder.
Heavier.
The pressure spikes.
"…Still dangerous."
It attacks again.
Faster.
I react—
Step—
Late.
The hit lands.
My side tears open.
Blood spills.
"…Tch…"
Pain spreads instantly.
But—
"…Recovery."
Warmth follows.
Slow.
Not enough.
"…Doesn't matter."
I move.
Again.
No hesitation.
"…Silent Flow."
Stable.
Barely.
"…Mana Sense."
The distortion clears slightly.
Just enough.
I see it.
The movement.
The timing.
"…Now."
I step in.
Closer.
Closer than before.
Inside its attack range.
"…Air Slash."
Compressed.
Focused.
All energy—
One line.
The strike lands.
Deep.
Precise.
The creature freezes.
Then—
Splits.
Silence.
+48,000 EXP
My breathing breaks.
Just slightly.
My body feels heavier.
"…That was…"
A pause.
"…close."
Too close.
Silence returns.
But—
Not for long.
Movement.
Far.
Stronger.
Multiple.
"…Tch…"
I exhale slowly.
"…This area…"
A pause.
"…is different."
Not just one.
Not just two.
More.
All above 500.
Some… higher.
"…Good."
My grip tightens.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
"…This is what I need."
A step forward.
Then another.
The air grows heavier.
The forest darker.
The presence deeper.
Unknown.
Dangerous.
"…I'll go further."
The forest doesn't welcome me.
It watches.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Every step forward—
feels like stepping into something deeper.
Not just distance.
Something else.
"…This is beyond normal zones."
A quiet realization.
The air thickens further.
Breathing feels slower.
Heavier.
"…Mana density… increased again."
Not natural.
Not stable.
"…Controlled?"
A thought.
But—
No answer.
Movement.
Not one.
Not many.
Too many to count immediately.
"…Mana Sense."
I expand it.
Carefully.
The world shifts—
Then floods.
Signals everywhere.
Strong.
Sharp.
Violent.
"…Tch…"
My head pulses slightly.
"…Too dense."
I narrow it.
Focus.
Reduce range.
Clarity returns.
"…Better."
Five ahead.
Three behind.
Two above.
"…Surrounded."
Silence.
Then—
They move.
All at once.
No hesitation.
No pattern.
Pure aggression.
"…Good."
I breathe.
"…Silent Flow."
Stable.
Immediate.
But—
Strained.
Heavily strained.
"…Mana Sense."
The world sharpens.
Barely enough.
They close in.
Fast.
Too fast.
Left—
I step.
Late.
Claws graze my arm.
Pain spreads.
"…Too slow."
Right—
I turn.
"…Air Slash."
Compressed.
One falls.
+22,400 EXP
Behind—
I react instantly.
Strike.
Another falls.
+24,800 EXP
Above—
Two drop together.
I don't retreat.
I step forward.
Timing.
Precision.
"…Air Slash."
Both split mid-air.
+26,100 EXP
+27,500 EXP
Front—
Three rush at once.
Too close.
No space.
"…Then reduce movement."
A quiet thought.
My stance shifts.
Minimal.
Efficient.
"…Silent Flow."
Stabilizes deeper.
Cleaner.
I move once.
Just once.
Three strikes.
Three kills.
+25,900 EXP
+28,200 EXP
+29,000 EXP
Silence—
for a moment.
My breathing grows heavier.
But controlled.
"…This is working."
Then—
It changes.
Again.
A deeper presence.
Heavier.
Slower.
But—
Overwhelming.
"…This…"
My body tightens.
Instinct.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"Appraisal."
…
[Level: 711]
[Tier: Mid]
Silence.
"…711…"
A pause.
"…Different."
The creature doesn't rush.
It steps forward slowly.
Each step—
heavy.
Measured.
The ground reacts.
"…It's confident."
A quiet thought.
"…It knows."
That I'm not weak.
But—
Not stronger either.
"…Good."
I step forward.
No hesitation.
The air tightens instantly.
The pressure rises.
Inside me.
Unstable—
"…Hold it."
I breathe.
Slow.
Controlled.
"…Silent Flow."
Stabilizes.
Barely.
The creature moves.
Instantly.
Faster than before.
I react—
Step—
Late.
The impact grazes me.
My body shifts.
Balance breaks—
but recovers.
"…Fast."
Too fast.
It attacks again.
No delay.
No opening.
I turn—
Block—
Impact travels through my bones.
"…Heavy."
Too heavy.
My stance shakes.
"…Not enough."
A pause.
"…Then adjust."
My breathing steadies.
Flow stabilizes again.
Cleaner.
Sharper.
"…Mana reinforcement."
The energy condenses.
Deeper than before.
More precise.
"…Now."
I move.
Not fast.
Not wide.
Minimal.
Perfect timing.
The attack passes—
barely.
"…There."
I step in.
Closer.
Inside its range.
"…Air Slash."
Compressed.
Focused.
The strike lands.
Deep.
But—
Not enough.
"…Tch…"
The creature reacts instantly.
Faster.
Stronger.
I move—
Barely avoiding the next strike.
"…No opening."
A pause.
"…Then make one."
I change rhythm.
Not reacting.
Forcing movement.
I step forward again.
Closer than before.
The creature swings—
I don't dodge fully.
I shift.
Just enough.
The attack grazes me.
Pain spreads.
"…Now."
"…Air Slash."
A precise strike lands.
Same point.
Deeper.
The creature reacts.
Finally.
"…Again."
No delay.
Second strike.
Same line.
The wound expands.
"…Again."
Third strike.
Perfect alignment.
The creature freezes.
Then—
Splits.
Silence.
+72,000 EXP
My breathing breaks.
For a moment.
My body feels heavy.
Too heavy.
But—
I don't fall.
"…I'm still standing."
A quiet thought.
The forest remains.
Dark.
Heavy.
Endless.
Movement—
Again.
Far.
Stronger.
More.
Always more.
My grip tightens.
"…Good."
A step forward.
Then another.
"…I'll go deeper."
Chapter End
Next Chapter: The Stop in Forest
Time: Saturday, 6PM GMT +5:30
Daily uploading work ends here. From next chapter, chapters will come on these days-
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Stay tuned!