Chapter 41 – Finally, Some Rest

While Silex and Sprout investigated the area upstream and Vesper licked his wounds, which were healing rapidly thanks to Maximus’s aid and the wolf’s naturally potent regeneration, Maximus sat in a meditative position, sorting through everything that had happened since he had arrived on this plane.

This body finally feels like it belongs to me. I no longer feel like some cursed parasite clinging to it… Though the baggage Maximus left behind is something else entirely. A psychotic family member, deep ties to murderers, and heaven knows what else. If only I could accelerate my plans to adapt this body to mana. Though I fear that until the seed fully sprouts, I won’t be able to control it. I will need two separate sets of channels for now, roots for spirit and bodily channels for mana…. He exhaled. Getting ahead of myself, I see. Maximus smiled faintly, amused. He didn’t mind the challenge; he thrived when things grew difficult.

What happened earlier was my fault as well. I became complacent around those two… Even with Sarah and the rest back then. I should have expected that others would receive quests that might clash with mine. I’ll need to be far more cautious going forward. The Second Plane, huh? Castle defense… Working with others on something like that will be a nightmare. He sighed. Aurelius, you old fool, aren’t you getting ahead of yourself? First, you need to survive a land filled with mad beasts. He shook his head.

He turned and observed Vesper as the wolf methodically cleaned himself. An enormous blood-red beast that would have been a legendary existence on Veridiyum was now following him, and even Silex would have been considered unbelievably rare back home, yet here he was, their leader. If Jonathan could see me now… Hah. His beasts always ran from me; most beasts did, thanks to the overwhelming pressure of my mana. I do miss them… All of them… All of our adventures. But they died long ago anyway. What am I getting sentimental for now? Is it because of Oscar, that damn fool… I hope you’re still alive so I can beat some sense into you one day!

Maximus frowned, yet his heart tightened. Ever since they had met at the Resting Bench, Oscar had been a constant source of light, even when he complained or swore that fate itself was out to get him.

Maximus let out a random chuckle.

“Boss, are you alright?” Vesper asked as Maximus suddenly laughed.

“I am fine. I was simply recalling old companions, friends who have already left this world. One of them… may yet follow them, thanks to his own foolishness,” Maximus replied calmly.

Vesper let out a low growl before exhaling slowly. “I have lost many as well. It never gets easier. I hope that one day we become strong enough to protect those we care about.”

Maximus’s heart twisted. “I hope so too… but sometimes, no matter how much strength you gain, it still isn’t enough. Sometimes life simply slips through your fingers.” His voice trembled faintly.

“Then we must become stronger than life itself, strong enough that nothing can take from us again,” Vesper growled with conviction.

“That is the plan, my new friend. If becoming the strongest mage is not enough, or even an Archdruid… Then perhaps we become something entirely new, something that can stand against gods, and even fate itself.” Maximus’s eyes sharpened as he spoke, burning with quiet resolve.

“I would like to walk that path with you, Boss… if you’ll have me,” Vesper said, staring into the river, watching the moon’s reflection ripple across its surface.

“I’d like that as well.” Maximus smiled softly. This old wolf is wiser than most humans I’ve met… What a strange world. Maximus’s smile lingered, warmer now.

Now then… What next? Aside from finding a place to rest… The horde will strike the villages tonight, will it not? I could take advantage of that, steal a few kills, gain some levels, then descend into the madness of the Wildlands the following day. Hopefully, my beasts won’t succumb to the curse there…

Just then, a faint chirp echoed within his mind.

Maximus instantly linked his senses to Sprout’s vision and saw Silex battling a massive azure lizard along a secluded stretch of shoreline, surrounded by a tree-covered rise that formed a natural lair.

Silex, now in his natural environment, moved with terrifying fluidity. With a surge of power, he raised a towering wave that crashed into the lizard, slamming it brutally against the base of the hill and forcing blood from its jaws.

Before it could recover, Silex rode the receding surge forward, lunging and clamping his jaws around the lizard’s neck with a thunderous crunch.

The creature writhed violently, but Silex didn’t just try to crush the beast’s neck; he planted his feet and threw his entire body into a vicious, spiraling death roll. The force of it snapped the lizard’s spine with a sickening pop, the beast’s tail thrashing in a frantic, dying rhythm as Silex ground his jaws shut. He didn’t relent until the thrashing turned to tremors and finally, into nothing but dead weight.

Silence followed.

Then, without hesitation, Silex tore into the beast’s chest, ripping free a massive chunk of flesh along with its core and swallowing it whole.

You have defeated: [Softbelly River Lizard Lv. 23]

Tamed beast Silex Leveled Up. Level 26 reached.

Alert: Tamed beast Silex has unlocked a new skill!

[Aqua Jet] – A powerful, high-pressure jet of water that can pierce even stone.

Battle Tokens earned: 100

He really is a special crocodile; no wonder he ruled that whole area. And it seems that distance doesn’t matter; if one of my beasts kills something, it still counts as if I did it. That’s important information to have.

Maximus stood. “Vesper, let’s go. Silex has found us a place to make camp and even dinner, if he’s willing to share.” Maximus chuckled as Vesper rose, and the two followed the river eastward.

***

Maximus and Vesper arrived just as Silex finished his meal and lay there, satisfied like a sunlit log.

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“Why did you have to swallow the core?” Maximus asked as he approached.

“Oh, you saw that? It’s tasty, and it helps with growing stronger,” Silex replied simply, letting out a lazy yawn. “Now then, since I found you a place and hunted the lizard… I’ll go to sleep,” Silex added, already closing his eyes.

“Vesper, is that true?” Maximus asked.

“I’m not certain. I don’t recall much about my time in the Wildlands, but it could be. I will test it the next time we find an enemy,” Vesper answered decisively.

If cores are crystallized mana, then it makes sense that consuming such pure mana would grant strength. Hmm… it seems I’ll have to divide cores carefully going forward. Maximus decided as he took out a core from the lizard he had slain on his first day in the Trials.

“Here, eat this and tell me what happens,” Maximus said, offering the core to Vesper.

Vesper nodded and swallowed it. Instantly, a soft light enveloped him before fading just as quickly as it appeared.

“It was… pleasant. I feel restored, and my mana has mostly recovered, but nothing beyond that,” Vesper explained.