As we pass through the entrance, I can already feel the familiarity of the sights around us: the large trees towering over us, the leaves enveloping the blue sky, and the ominous growls and moans of creatures hiding behind the bushes and rocks, sign that this was different the plains outside . We’ve already traversed into the wilds once before, but we’d barely reached the deeper parts of it before we got ambushed and almost killed that time. I’ve always figured that, after that traumatizing encounter, I would never go back there again. But Kazu quickly convinced me to try again after we had gotten new stronger equipment to combat the stronger monsters with, which made sense to me. We had been using beginner weapons at that time, so their stats were too weak to go up against the monsters in the . I just hope these new gear and weapons would be enough to avoid a repeat of the previous disaster.

After a few minutes, we manage to walk a few meters away from the entrance, and we clutch our weapons while looking around for any signs of monsters in the area. While I feel it is strange that there were no signs of life around us, we still can’t let our guard down considering where we are at the time. But just in case, I activate my [Eagle Eye] ability to double-check our current surroundings.

"Find anything, Wind?" Kazu asks in a quiet tone.

"None so far. But this is good news for us. The last time we were here, we got ambushed so quickly, and no sooner than after we stepped through the entrance.” I mutter as I look around the area. "But still, it's too quiet here. As much as I want to gather some of the items growing around the area, I don't want to stop and let my guard down."

I hear Kazu hum and say, "Now that you've mentioned it, I don't hear any monster growls around here. Think they’re hibernating?"

"It would be possible in this current season, but I highly doubt that." Sure, the world seems a bit realistic despite its fantasy aesthetics, but I doubt those monsters would act like bears and sleep for so long. "In any case, I have a bad feeling about this."

While I’m usually 50% wrong most of the time, I know that this sudden silence and the lack of life is too suspicious to ignore. With that, I switch my [Eagle Eye] to [Investigate] to scan for any signs of hidden enemies. Of course, I have to look around more slowly in case I missed anything from my first viewpoint. But to my surprise, after a few minutes, there is still nothing, as no signs of life came into view.

"Something's not right. I can't find anything with my [Investigate] as well."

"Of course you can’t. That skill is only for scanning stats and limited details on monsters," Kazu explains. "It's not a skill for detecting monsters like your E-"

Before he could finish, I suddenly feel some kind of a shocking sensation in my body. I wonder if someone had attacked me, but when I check my [HP], I see that it hadn’t changed. I wonder where that sensation had come from until a window suddenly pops in front of me.

[NOTICE]

[The [Hunting] skill, [Minor Danger Sense] has activated for the first time. You will be experiencing a minor shocking sensation whenever it is active.]

[Minor Danger Sense]? Of course! The ability that those with the [Hunting] skill will obtain this when said skill level was at Level 10.

Wait a second… Learning that I had such an ability sends up a few red flags.

As I turn around, a black blur suddenly jumps out of the bushed and charges towards Kazu's direction. Knowing what would happen next, I quickly turn off my ability and tackled my brother to the ground as the blur zips by, barely missing us."Wind, what th- What was that all about?!" Kazu shouts, at which I point to where the blur had landed.

"That."

As we turn around to where I pointed, we see that the blur was a black jackal-like creature panting as it turns towards us and glares at us with red eyes. If I hadn't intervened and tackled Kazu in time, he might’ve gotten mauled by that monster. And from its expression, it seems to be angry that it missed its prey as it walks closer to us. Even though my [Investigate] ability was turned off, I already know what we were up against.

"A [Mad Jackal]... Never thought we have to face it again."

It’s actually one of the first monsters we encountered in the and one that had almost killed us in our first outing. Of all of the monsters in this forest, it has to be that crazy jackal that was first to greet us in our second outing.

"Looks like it. At least there’s some good news with this. I want revenge for what it did to my arm last time." I know this is just my tough facade talking, but just seeing that jackal just gives me goosebumps. Then again, I’m also a little angry at it for giving me such a traumatizing experience. I’ve had to try and forget that incident because that lingering pain translated too well in my head when I went offline.

“I guess now’s a good time to test out my new staff. So prepare yourself, [Mad Jackal]!” Kazu then points his staff towards the monster with a grin. “You’re about to be in a world of hurt for what you did to us weeks ago!”

Before I can do anything, Kazu has already started gathering magical energy from his staff as he began his incantation. “Spirit of Slyph, hear my call. Spin the wind that is all around. Push my foes with the gale of sound!”

As he chants this, the wind begins to grow bigger, at which I instinctively back away to prevent myself from accidentally getting caught in the crossfire. At the same time, the jackal then pounces on my brother and tried to bite him. But...

“Take this! [Gale Force]!”

Taking out my sword, I plunge it into the ground, clutching the handle of it as Kazu’s staff releases a strong gust of wind enough to push the [Mad Jackal] away from him and it crashes into a tree behind it. Just seeing it with my own eyes makes me realize how dangerous this power was, yet I can’t help but grin at the sight. I had also learned that skill at Level 6, and I have used it once during our few fights with some monsters in the plains. And unlike Kaz, mine was a bit too wild. I guess his skill set helped him control it better than I did with my own [Gale Force].

“Hah! How do you like that? You’re looking at the new and improved Kazu of the [Insignis]!”

My eyes widen at this, and not just because of his bragging. Did he just call himself “Kazu of the [Insignis]”? Just hearing that from him makes me cringe a little. It reminds me a lot of Zac’s lame pickup lines from whenever he tries to flirt with a girl. Could Kaz have picked that up from him?

But before I can comment on it, I feel another shocking sensation in my head, a sign that my [Minor Danger Sense] detected another attack. Unfortunately, I notice it too late this time, as another [Mad Jackal] pounces on my brother from another bush.

"Hey! Get off me, you lame excuse of a mutt!"

First that stupid quip, and now this? I seriously need to question both my luck and my brother in the near future. For now, I quickly draw my bow and arrow and shoot the latter jackal in the right temple area of its head.

[CRITICAL HIT!]

Good! Seeing that notice and the monster stopping its attempt to maul my brother gives me enough time to pull my sword from the ground and swing it towards the beast’s neck, decapitating its head completely. Thankfully, the corpse quickly disappears before Kazu notices what happened, saving me from the worries of him being traumatized. Guess the options I set in during our character customization really helped us a lot in preventing any R-rated events in this game.

"Kaz, are you okay?" I ask as I approach him to aid him.

"Y-Yeah. I lost a few [HP], but I'm good."

As long he’s still alive, I’m okay with that. I grab his arm and helps him back up to his feet. "Glad to hear that. But for my sake, don't ever introduce yourself like that in public again."

"Huh, why? I thought it would be easier to intimidate enemies if I declared who and what I really am."

"U-Uh..." I wish I can explain why, but I’m too embarrassed to even tell him that it was too cringy. "Just... please... Don't declare yourself like that ever again."

Of course, the remaining [Mad Jackals] and another wolf-like monster try to use our small break as a way to ambush us. This time, I don't let them get the chance. I quickly jump in between Kazu and the monsters just as the jackal swings its clawed paw. I quickly grit my teeth as I feel the pain from its attack, which nonetheless is not enough to stop me as I raise my sword towards the jackal.

"[Cross Slash]!"

Shouting an ability name in my head, I swing my sword in a cross pattern, which cuts down both monsters in the process. Unlike what happened with the first monster, it isn't a [Critical Hit] and it only inflicts a few points of damage to each of their respective [HP]. That ability might’ve had low power when it came to damage, but it’s enough to push enemies away and nullify any ambushes against us.

Although, I’ve made the minor mistake of taking a hit as I drop to my knees and tried to endure the wound I had gotten from the jackal’s scratch on my back which, as I expect, is still very painful.

“Wind! Are you okay?!” Kaz then runs up to me and checks on my injury. “You’ve always said I had to avoid taking any unnecessary risks and yet, you just ignored your own advice to save me! I don’t know whether I should be angry or happy about it."

He does have a point. I did make the risky decision of turning myself into a human shield to protect Kaz from the jackal’s attack.

“Yeah, sorry about that. But I’m fine. The pain seems to be more bearable than before.”

I wasn’t exaggerating. The wound isn’t as painful as the ones from our first excursion, and I can get back on my feet without even struggling from it. It’s more surprising when I saw my own HP from my HUD. Rather than taking about 60-70 damage, I only took 43 [HP] damage from that jackal. I’m relieved that I’m still okay but also surprised at how suddenly the damage had decreased compared to the last time. As much as I want to wonder about that part, there are still more monsters for us to worry about.

"More importantly, I thought I already took care of the first jackal. What's the deal with this wolf monster?"

I quickly use my [Investigate] ability once more to check on the new monster.

[Wild Wolf]

[A feral wolf that has lived in the dark forest for many years. Most of the Wild Wolves’ casualties are inexperienced adventurers who are unaware of the dangers around them.]

[HP: 390/390]

It’s another one of the wilds’ inhabitants. And they seem to have the same materials that Star had added in most of my equipment, which makes things a bit more complicated. Then again, we aren’t like our inexperienced selves in the past, so this could have a different outcome than before.

“[Wild Wolves]. They seemed to be on the same level as those jackals. Think you’re up to take on two monsters at once?”

“Yeah.” Kazu then nods as I notice him tighten his grip on his staff. “That'll make our skill-testing a whole lot easier.”

"Then let's do it."

With that said, Kazu and I quickly split up as we start our counterattack against the monsters. As I charge in towards the jackal, I raise my sword and swing it sideways at its body. And very quickly, I switch my grip to a back handle grip and swing it diagonally. Of course, this causes the [Mad Jackal] to howl in pain and it tries to bite my left arm.

"Oh no, you don't!" I quickly take a few steps back and thrust my sword towards its body. "If you're planning to rip out my arm, then you're sadly mistaken! [Counter Slash]!"

As I shout out my new skill, I use most of my strength to push the blade through its body until it completely cuts the jackal in half. While I want to sigh in relief, just seeing the jackal's halved body bleeding makes me cringe. I only hope Kazu didn't see this. Speaking of my brother, I turn around to check on him. But to my shock, I see him facing off with not one [Wild Wolf], but two! Where did that second one come from?! I start to rush to his aid, but quickly stop to see him aiming his staff and begin another incantation.

"Energy of the elements around me. Gather and blast force my enemies! [Mana Blast]!"

With a strong swing of his staff, he fires a large mana ball towards one of the wolves. The ball explodes once it makes contact with the wolf’s face. I would say that was the end of it, but the wolf only takes a few points of damage, which was not enough to kill it. However, he doesn’t stop there.

"Spirit of Slyph, Bring the gale to my growing aura and let me manipulate the air around me! [Wind Sickle]!"

He quickly swings his staff again, releasing several blades of wind towards the monsters. While the attack doesn't cut them in half like my sword, it does off cut the jackal's right ear and the wolves' front legs, which disgusted me a little bit.

"Wind, what are you waiting for? I still need a few more seconds to cool down! Use your arrows to weaken them further!"

Kazu's right. Time to switch gears and finish these beasts off. Taking out my bow and arrows once more, I aim in the air as I pull the bowstring as tight as I could.

"[Arrow Shower]!"

I quickly release the string as I scream the ability's name. Just like its namesake, the arrows that were shot in the air explodes in bright white light in the sky and turn into fifty arrows, which rain down on the monsters. Huh, for a Level 9 ability, it seems to be very strong considering it only cost 2 arrows and some of my [MP] to use this ability. Heck, it gives them a lot of damage as I notice their [HP] were deducted into a moderate yellow gauge.

"Well, that didn’t make their health go critical. No matter, go for it, Kaz!"

"Right!" Kazu quickly steps forward and aims his staff towards the monsters once more. “Spirit of Slyph, hear my call. Spin the wind that is all around. Push my foes with the gale of sound!”

Just like before, his staff gathers the wind into a mini-tornado as I clear away from the monsters as fast as I can.

“[Gale Force]!”

As he shouts, another strong gust of wind releases from his staff and pushes the [Mad Jackal] and [Wild Wolves] away from Kazu. As I try not to get blown away from his attack, I notice that their [HP] had started to go down slowly. That’s a seriously dangerous spell, but I have to admit that it’s an awesome way to gain a long-range advantage against my enemies.

In any case, I better step in and try to finish this…

“Wait, Wind! Don’t jump in just yet!”

Huh? I quickly stop my tracks as soon Kazu shouted this. I’m confused and question why he stopped me. That is until I feel a strong breeze behind me. Turns out that in my desire to finish this battle quickly, I have accidentally stepped into the path of the powerful wind Kazu created. And let’s just say it took about a few seconds for me to get blown away like a paper bag.

“Oh no, Wind!”

Man, I’ve always tried to get away whenever Kazu use that spell. But this time, it seems that my recklessness has cost me this battle. I scream as I find myself being thrown around by the strong wind behind me, which I try to escape with no success. Yet as I look in front of me, I realize that I was about to collide with those monsters who had been caught by the [Gale Force]. Now that I think about it, they are already in critical condition and my sword was still in my sheath. If Kazu can get reckless when it comes to crafting, I figure, maybe I should do the same with fighting.

“Wind, hang on! It’s supposed to be a few seconds before it wears off, but I’m casting another spell to dispel it right now!”

“No, wait!” I shout. “Stand down, Kaz. I’m getting my revenge once and for all!”

Without any second thoughts, I draw my sword as I glare at the defenseless beasts that were formerly known as the [Mad Jackal] and [Wild Wolves].

“Checkmate.”

With just two swings from [Cross Slash] and another few to the rest, the monsters are cut to pieces as I pass by them. While my landing was a bit rough, I notice that the wind had begun to weaken and dissipate a sign that the [Gale Force] had done its job. As I try to get back on my feet, I turn around to see that the monsters’ [HP] has gone down to zero.

“Guess that’s that,” I mutter as I watch the monsters’ sliced corpses disappear in a white bright light, leaving several materials and some [Lapi] for us to salvage. “At least I won’t have to worry about the phantom pain in real life this time.”

Unfortunately, I’ve spoken too as I suddenly feel a sharp pain in my back, which causes me to drop to the ground again.

“Wind!" Kazu runs up to me, dropping his staff as he starts to check on me again. "Are you okay? I'm sorry, it was my spell. You shouldn't have gotten caught up like that. I should’ve considered my surroundings before I used it."

Indeed. [Gale Force] wasn’t exactly an accurate hit spell, and it has the risk of damaging allies as well. If any inexperienced magician had attempted to do this, they might’ve hurt people rather than help them. Regardless, I just give him a small smile and pat his head. "Don't blame yourself about it. I was the one who wasn't careful back there. But still, it did give me a chance to finish off those beasts. Maybe I can come up with a way to repeat it without the risk of hurting myself in the process."

I try to stand up after that, but then I realize something from what I had said.

"Hold on, “beast”?"

Now that I think about it, some of my equipment had mentioned a resistance effect from a “beast” monster. And when it came to fantasy RPGs, beast-type monsters were associated with wolves, tigers, and other carnivore-based monsters.

“Hey Wind... You’re scratching your right temple again. What are you thinking?”

Oh, did he notice me scratching my temple? It’s a habit of mine for when I was thinking, but him noticing it doesn’t bother me in the least.

“It’s about how my damage was somehow decreased from that [Mad Jackal] attack before,” I say as I open up my status window to confirm what I’d suspected.

[Wind]

[ATK: 59 (+15)]

[DEF: 20 (+30)]

[MATK: 25]

[MDEF: 19]

[SPD: 71]

[Bonuses: +20% Beast-type Resistance]

[Beast-type Resistance]

[Resists damage from Beast-type monsters such as [Wild Wolves], [Polar Tigers], and [Mad Jackals].]

So that explained it. I even checked my equipment and saw that most of my armor had several [Beast-type Resistance] effects stacked with each other.

“I thought that those monsters just had lower levels than the ones we originally encountered before. But it seems my new equipment possesses effects that managed to decrease some of [Mad Jackal’s] damage to me,” I explained as I closed most of the windows from my HUD. “I guess Star really knew what she was doing when she made our new gear.”

“I know, right?” Kazu grinned. “And now we know how strong our new equipment is. Which means we can go deeper into the [Tested Wilds] now! I’m so excited just thinking about it!”

Yeah. I could say for sure that this was not like our first excursion. And to be honest, I’m actually very curious at what lay beyond the wilds.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get going then.”

Kazu nods as we headed deeper into the woods.

Wind's Masteries

[Archery] Level 12

[Woodcrafting] Level 7

[Swordsmanship] Level 11

[Cooking] Level 4

[Wind] Level 9

[Physical Enhancement] Level 3

[Hunting] Level 10

Kazu's Masteries

[Arcana] Level 11

[Thunder] Level 11

[Wind] Level 8

[Alchemy] Level 12

[Magecrafting] Level 10

[Magical Affinity] Level 11

[Scribe] Level 4