Gentle sighs echoed through the luminous cave as the waters trembled from drops falling from a bluish, shining tip that pushed out from the ceiling, different from the others, being clearer and more luminous.

  Noah stood up after resting for a while. That was enough, he needed to keep going. He couldn't afford to let his guard down in a place like this. He prepared himself to wash the foul-smelling, repulsive clothes, refusing to believe he had been wearing them just moments before. The spring darkened as soon as it was touched and, though he didn't want to believe it, the clothes reappeared completely intact. No sign of dirt or odor, there was nothing left. It was obvious that this liquid wasn't ordinary either, explaining why the system had proposed he come here.

  The water sparkled, making all the dirt suspended in it disappear.

  — ...What is this? A liquid that cleanses impurities?

  [And it also improves constitution.]

  What were its intentions? Noah couldn't understand. It helped him, yet at the same time it never gave him direct answers. Should he trust or keep being cautious? Anyway, as he analyzed his surroundings more closely, he noticed that the air in this place seemed heavier than in the rest of the tunnels, which already had that quality. However, it wasn't the oxygen itself, but something else. The already abundant energy here seemed ready to overflow.

  — Is that because of all this Qi, or is there something more special about this place?

  [Good eyes.]

  [There is a Qi vein beneath these tunnels, and its center is here.]

  — So this is what generates all this Qi and condenses that miraculous liquid? — Kneeling, he touched the water, a bit lost in thought. — ...I imagine it's not possible to put that vein in the inventory, right?

  [...You are very greedy, Noah.]

  — So that's a no... What about the liquid, is it possible?

  [Yes.]

  — But it would be better to have some of it on hand... — he reconsidered.

  [Do you want me to give you some flasks?]

  — You can do that, create things like that?

  [No. I am not an artisan.]

  Surprised by the tone, Noah stayed silent.

  [There were some among the pile with the crystals and pills.]

  — I see... In that case, give me a few. I think seven should be enough.

  The flasks rolled on the ground in front of him, reminding Noah of how the pill had been given to him.

  Was it really deliberate...?

  He filled the containers and then stored them away along with the rest of the liquid.

  With the pill in hand, Noah continued through the tunnels, sometimes holding it close to his face. Holding it dulled the pain a bit, but the effect would fade; smelling it was much more effective.

  The marks near the spring made him think that maybe the half-dragon knew of its existence, but didn't use it.

  He might have plans for it, Noah supposed. Like letting it accumulate to give to someone else.

  Along the way where the ground was made of crystals, Noah picked up every fragment broken by the half-dragon's passage and stored them in the inventory.

  Turning right, what he was looking for appeared. Large and scaly, the egg seemed camouflaged in the darkness.

  On touching it, he felt the chill and the movements inside. The creature was alive and awake. Completely formed. Maybe it just couldn't get out yet. It seemed to sense him, to notice his presence. At some point, Noah even thought it had looked at him—

  What the—?!

  He immediately moved away. That gaze was heavy. Truly worthy of a half-dragon hatchling.

  Looks like he doesn't like me much... Noah gave a forced smile. System, can you also store it in the inventory?

  [Yes, he has already given his consent.]

  Consent? Oh, because he's a living creature, I see... But does that mean he knows about your existence?

  [No, it just means he knows about your agreement with his mother and accepted it. The same as the phoenix chick.]

  So that means at least they won't try to kill me when they wake up... I hope.

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  — Now, about the exit, which direction is it, system?

  [About that...]

  Noah didn't like the tone, and liked even less the delay in the answer.

  [There's a slight problem..., a really small one.]

  — How small?

  The answer was slow in coming.

  [The exit leads to the northwest part of the forest.]

  [It was a good option back when the nuns were fleeing from the Demon Lion King, but now...]

  — They've scattered through the forest again. — He sighed.

  Turning back to the tunnels, Noah decided to walk while searching for some alternative.

  — What about the south of the forest, are there many beasts around here? After all, this still is the half-dragon's nest.

  [No. But that won't last long.]

  — His lingering presence will disappear soon... — he assumed.

  His footsteps echoed ahead, but his thoughts stayed within. Could he do this? He questioned. What were the chances he could climb more than five kilometers with his body in this state? He doubted it. Maybe it would be better to try his luck to the northwest, even if he knew his chances were almost nonexistent.

  Earlier, the beasts were fleeing, so they didn't notice me. But now... He sighed. Would I last more than a minute out there?

  [It's possible.]

  The system's confidence seemed strange to him.

  — Why do you say that? Did you forget my body hurts even when I walk a bit faster than normal?

  [Ah yes, it would hurt... a lot. But it's possible.]

  — Seriously...?

  With the system's confirmation, Noah headed toward the entrance tunnel. How long did it take him to get there? Hours? Days? He wasn't sure. Maybe he'd spent much more time in this place than the 230 days the system mentioned, walking being the biggest problem.

  — Are you sure this will work...?

  He wasn't very confident, and he lost all that remained when he stared at the hole his new eyes couldn't even see to the bottom, despite now being able to see tunnels ahead from where he stood.

  [Absolutely.]

  [Just focus a small amount of Qi and jump... carefully, so you don't hit your head.]

  — This bothers me... — He swallowed hard. — How high is my cultivation for you to say something like this?

  [High? It's not high. Technically, you're only half a step from the Golden Core.]

  — Only... Wait, technically...? — One of his eyebrows arched. — What is that supposed to mean?

  [Your foundation has not been formed yet. You have the energy, but not the base to support it. That's why I had to limit the Qi you can absorb or not absorb.]

  — Limit...?

  Noah understood.

  The phoenix's blood, that's why it almost killed him. The limitation imposed on him should have made absorbing such a great power impossible, so it caused that reaction. He couldn't think of any other explanation at the moment. But more importantly, could he consider that something done for his well-being? Should he be grateful and trust? No, not yet.

  — Alright, focus...

  Closing his eyes, he moved some of the strange, comforting power inside him. Everything warmed up and the pain vanished. His mind emptied and his fingers moved, making pain streak through him like lightning.

  Noah felt his hair sway, his face being hit by air pressure, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the tunnel wall rushing closer. Acting quickly, he changed direction and continued to ascend.

  The pain was paralyzing, but he needed to push through. If he stopped, he would fall back down, and he wasn't confident he could repeat the jump.

  When you said it would hurt a lot... you really weren't lying—Argh! Damn!

  The straight part of the structure flashed by him. A light appeared ahead and quickly enveloped his whole body. The breeze hit him and he was under the open sky again.

  His eyes immediately scanned the area. No creatures were watching nearby, and the hole left by the half-dragon and Demon Lion King's battle remained unchanged. No life had grown there even after all this time, and the heat still radiated from the red earth, like magma. More importantly, along its entire length, there were no beasts nearby.

  Noah picked a spot and hurled himself to it, hiding behind one of the trees. The pain froze him the instant he landed.

  When will this stop...?

  [Soon...?]

  Is that a question?! ...Huh? Really...

  The pain vanished, replaced by a numb tingling throughout his body.

  Looking around, he saw no one. Then he turned toward the edge of the crater, following it closely, taking advantage of the fact that his body seemed able to ignore the heat it radiated.

  Is it because of the dragon? Or is it thanks to the phoenix's blood? Noah couldn't be sure. What would happen if I tried to cross...? The center looks much hotter than the edges.

  Throwing a rock in, it melted before hitting the ground.

  Noah decided to walk a bit farther just to be safe.

  Is there any city following the path of this strike?

  [Yes and no.]

  I see, that makes sense.

  [Yes, there is, but you can't reach it.]

  [And you wouldn't want to either, I guarantee it.]

  [It's on an island in the middle of the ocean.]

  [There are others as well, but on another continent.]

  I see, and to the east? Just ocean too, I guess.

  [Yes.]

  So my only choices are north or west...

  He looked at the crater, then shook his head.

  I'll just go around it...

  His steps were slow, but there was nothing rushing him. The end of the forest was near as the sun began to rise for the third time, illuminating one side of his face. The creaking of his bones persisted, and the smell of burnt earth accompanied him. Noah wanted to finish this soon and reach somewhere he could relax, rest. Strangely, he wanted to see other people. Or not, he couldn't say. Maybe it was just boredom. Yet, even that wasn't enough to make him ignore the blue eyes shining beside him.

  He won't come over here... right?

  The wolf watched him from the other side of the crater, following his every move.

  Now they see me as prey?! I thought I was insignificant...?

  Noah couldn't run, and the creature couldn't get close. *Or couldn't it...?* In a leap, the wolf crossed the chasm. Its slow steps approached with an imposing air, paralyzing him. It was much bigger than it looked.

  Run? Counterattack? What would be the best choice? Could he win? Not when he could barely move. Noah just saw his feet lift off the ground.

  This is... What...?

  The wolf went back to the other side of the crater, carrying him in its mouth.