Day 15.
After the slower pace of yesterday, today was non-stop action from the moment he woke up.
By the time the sun was setting, Ethan had fought a total of seventeen beasts.
The biggest challenge came in the form of a Hydroma Lion group, one C-rank and eight D-rank members. That number alone was odd. Beasts in the outer region of Ravagers Den didn't normally form packs, especially not a pack of this size. The fact that they were working together said a lot about the C-rank leading them. It had to be something special to keep a group like that under control.
But the worst part was that their bodies were semi-liquid, like walking blobs of dense, living water. That meant most of Ethan's flame attacks, especially the raw power ones, barely did any damage.
But Ethan wasn't new to fighting such enemies. He fought them some days before too, not just so many at once. He knew that he didn't need raw power right now, he needed patience, strategy, and a crazy amount of small fire. He even had the perfect strategy, the good old style guerrilla attacks.
The pack was near a small pond, lazily drinking and splashing around. The area was surrounded by thick bushes and huge trees, making them a perfect cover. Ethan found a good vantage point, and started raining down low power long-range attacks such as fire arrows and fire spears.
It wasn't super effective, not by a long shot, but it still hurt them bit by bit. Not only that, it annoyed the hell out of them. They started to roar, trying to pinpoint where the attacks were coming from. But Ethan was ready.
He made sure to change his position after every group of shots, vanishing into the bushes like a ghost. They'd roar and charge at the wrong direction every time, jumping at air.
After some time, the relentless attacks finally started to wear them down. Their movements became sluggish. They were huffing more and they took longer breaks before attacking again. And once Ethan saw the signs of exhaustion setting in, he knew it was time.
He launched himself into the fray with Nightbane in hand, slicing and dodging with precision. The D-ranks didn't stand a chance after the long-distance bombardment. One by one, they tried to attack him, but failed. They just fell like leaves in a storm. Now only the C-rank was left standing.
The leader didn't look tired. Not even a bit. It was smart. It had stayed back during the chaos, not using its strength one bit even as its mate kept falling. It just kept watching, as if trying to gouge his strength. Smart bastard.
Although rare, this kind of stuff did happen. There were many times when a beast was born much smarter than the rest. They would generally move into the inner area after finding no one worthy of them. But looks like this one was still waiting.
"Looks like you are the only one left, you cheeky bastard." Ethan taunted as he pointed a finger at it and signaled it to attack him. The beast growled while Ethan gave a laugh.
What followed was a brutal one-on-one. It lasted a little over thirty minutes. Ethan kept his distance at first, using hit-and-run tactics, dodging it's water attacks while countering with flame bursts. But it wasn't enough. The beast was fast, literally fluid, and hard to pin down.
Eventually, Ethan closed the distance and had to rely fully on swordplay. His strikes with Nightbane were sharp and deliberate, each one aiming for the few solid parts of the creature's body. He cut, dodged, backed off, then struck again. Over and over.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the beast staggered. One clean slash through its core finished it off.
Ethan was panting hard, soaked in sweat, but smiling. That fight had pushed him, but he'd come out on top.
After a short break to catch his breath, he got to work scavenging what he could from the fallen beasts. He took anything that could be sold or used later. It was a familiar routine by now. His hands moved with practiced ease.
With that done, he set off again, moving deeper into the forest in search of more prey. It didn't take long.
He ran into eight more beasts, all D-rank, scattered across a wide area. They weren't traveling in groups, just lone beasts trying to survive. Some gave him a bit of a workout, but for the most part, he swept the floor with them. No drawn-out fights. No complicated tactics. Just swift, efficient strikes and the sound of Nightbane cutting through the air.
If this had happened a week ago, he might've broken a sweat or even run away. But now? Now, he barely saw them as a threat. It was not a sign of arrogance but a clear sign of how far he'd come. The forest hadn't gotten easier. He'd just gotten stronger at an terrifying speed.
But the real surprise of the day wasn't another battle but a discovery near his base.
While returning to the base after todays hunting, Ethan spotted something unusual poking out from behind a patch of tall weeds. He moved in closer to see what it was. His eyes widened slightly as he got closer.
There were five stalks of Frostflare Orchid. These icy-blue flowers only grew in very specific, harsh conditions. High humidity, extremely low temperatures at night, and an unusual type of soil found only in certain parts of the Ravager's Den.
That alone was enough to make his day. Most hunters only ever found one or two. Five was a solid haul. And better yet, they were perfect for Elise.
Frostflare Orchids had a unique trait: when brewed into a tonic or crushed into powder, they could enhance an ice user's abilities permanently. Amplifying control, boosting output, and increasing resistance to cold were just some of the effects.
But that wasn't the only reason Ethan's grin looked like that.
Frostflare Orchids had another reputation. Wherever these flowers grew, there was almost 90% chance that a certain C-rank overlord was nearby.
Ethan crouched low and inspected a bit more. Sure enough, there were claw marks on a nearby tree. He ran a hand over them, his smile widening.
"Looks like I've got a new target," he muttered.
Carefully, he harvested four of the five orchids and left one untouched. If there were no more orchids, the beast would probably not return here. So even though he was very tempted, he just left one as is.
He made a mental note of the location and marked the spot discreetly. He planned to return here every day. If the beast came back, he'd be ready.
It had been a productive day. Fights, resources, and a potential C-rank opponent.
Exactly the kind of day he was hoping for.
Nightfall.
Ethan sat cross-legged atop his tree shelter. The stone stove beside him radiated a gentle heat, casting shadows across the wide, open space. Ethan was grilling fish that he caught from the small pond, which sizzled over the flame, its aroma filling the open space.
He poked at the fish with a stick, flipping one of the pieces carefully. This place had no roof, no walls, just the open sky above and the towering forest around. Still, it felt like his own little pocket of peace. For now, at least.
His mind started wondering, filling his head with multiple thought.
What was he going to do tomorrow? Should he scout east or circle back to the waterfall area? Will he really be able to see the C-rank beast that he was looking for?
He sighs. "I still have so much to do." He said as he flipped the fishes again.
Suddenly, he felt a sudden ache in his heart. It was not from an injury but from the inside. HIs eyes soften as his thoughts drifted elsewhere. His mind went to the memories of Elise and Adrian, who were waiting far from this wild place, back in his home.
It was only a short time ago that he returned to the past. He was not able to enjoy his time with his remaining family on earth before coming to this hellhole to train, to grow stronger.
He missed home. He missed them.
And strangely enough, he even missed Mary. Her endless complaining. Her stubborn, dramatic reactions. The way she always managed to make everything feel less lonely with her sarcastic banter was something he missed in this lonely place.
A small smile tugged his face when his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a crunch. The sound snapped him out of his thoughts. His eyes flicked toward the fire.
A figure had appeared out of seemingly nowhere, seated right beside him like she owned the place. Mary, with her usual smug grin, was already halfway through one of the cooked fish without asking.
"What are you doing? They'll burn if you leave them over the fire any longer," she said casually between bites, as if she hadn't just dropped in out of nowhere.
Ethan blinked, then let out a small breath of amusement. "Seriously? You just show up and steal my dinner?"
He reached out and pulled the remaining fish off the heat, placing them neatly on a nearby flat stone. "You could at least say hi first."
"Hi," she said with exaggerated sweetness, then rolled her eyes. "You're welcome, by the way. I just saved your dinner."
"Right. My hero," Ethan replied, biting into a piece. It was perfectly cooked. The crispy outside giving way to juicy, tender meat. For a moment, he just focused on the flavor, letting it ground him.
Mary leaned back, chewing thoughtfully. "You know, I have noticed that you are a surprisingly good cook. If I ever throw a party, you're officially in charge of food. Any problem?"
He ignored the remark, his attention still partially on his earlier thoughts. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and muttered with a mouth full of food, "I thought you'd be gone longer. Holiday over already?"
She let out a dramatic sigh, shaking her head. "Boy, do you have an attitude problem. Would it kill you to accept a compliment for once?"
Ethan put down his fish and then stood up. He smacked the dirt on his clothes away, cleared his throat, and then went to one knee. With mocking elegance, he placed a hand on his chest and bowed deeply like a knight.
"Thank you very much, m'lady. This humble servant shall remember your kind words until the end of his days. Pray tell, thou thy require anything else?"
Mary rolled her eyes. "You stink. You could've just said 'thank you' and left it at that."
"But where's the fun in that?" he said as he sat back down.
Their laughter echoed softly into the treetops, mixing with the distant chirping of night creatures and the steady crackle of the fire. For a moment, the world outside didn't matter. Not the beasts. Not the danger. Just two people sharing warmth, food, and a few much-needed jokes beneath the stars.