Chapter Twenty Two: Training to become strong

Training to Become Strong
Back in my room in the cave, I stayed locked up, leaving only to use the bathroom. It had been two days since I said those cruel things to Leila. In all my life, I’d never regretted anything as deeply as this.
I never wanted to make her cry. I never wanted to push her away. But as things stood, I was only burdening her by being with her.
“Unhu! Unhu!! Leila!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I broke down, tears streaming as I remembered the pain I’d caused.
My body ached from lying around so much. I had promised myself I would get stronger for her sake, yet here I was, wasting precious time doing nothing.
I’d had enough. I was going into the Nightmare Forest to find training partners. I didn’t care what happened to me anymore. If I couldn’t become overpowered in this world, living here was pointless. Might as well die.
With that thought, I threw off the blanket, got out of bed, and walked from my room into the woods, across the fields, and finally, I faced the barrier.
The forest began 200 meters to my left, the side nearest the town. From the town, the forest was invisible, hidden behind gentle hills. But to my right, as far as the eye could see, it stretched endlessly.
“Well, it’s kill or be killed.”
This time, I was serious. I had to get stronger. Since there were no sparring partners, this had become my only option.
The weight I felt passing through the barrier was lighter this time. I stepped onto the grassy field, and the wind shifted. It smelled… dangerous, like the metallic tang of blood and the faint burn of something unnatural.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
My mind was set. I would go as deep as necessary to find an opponent, even if it killed me.
I moved steadily into the forest. Just meters in, I heard a noise coming from a thicket.
So you are here? I held my sword in the usual stance, pointing at the bush. Come out slowly and obediently.
Then it leapt. Two meters into the air, its black, armored skin glinting in the filtered sunlight. Its face was that of a spider—the same one I had fought before.
“I managed to kill one of you, so bring it on!!”
As it lunged, my mind was calm. I wasn’t afraid. Maybe it was anger, frustration, or the need to release my emotions—but I was laser-focused on defeating it.
I aimed for its head midair. In a single strike, I cut it down. Its head split cleanly in two.
“Their weakness is their heads. I just need to attack the heads,” I muttered to myself.
The body caught fire seconds later, blue flames consuming it until nothing remained but a black stone. Come to think of it… what happened to the black stone from the first spider? Not important—I’d just find another one.
Before I could move, two more black spiders appeared. This time, they stayed grounded.
I had to maintain distance, careful not to get surrounded. Their stings were deadly, even if I hadn’t been stung yet. They jumped erratically, preventing me from landing a clean strike. I pressed on, piercing tough, resilient skin, refusing to falter.
Time passed, and I adapted to their movements. I either leveled up my technique or my instinct; no monster could surprise me for long. Eventually, I cut their heads off, seizing openings while faking attacks.
I picked up their stones and pressed forward.
“It seems we’ve met again. This time, I’ll kill you no matter what.” The gazelle monster appeared.
A rush of adrenaline hit me. I had bested the spider-scorpion before, but the gazelle had mocked me. Not this time. It was kill or be killed.
The gazelle was ten meters away when our eyes met. Then it bounced off the ground like a balloon. I readied myself.
As it leapt, I dove low, letting it pass over me. I rolled along the forest floor, dodging with precision. Rising quickly, I swung my sword.
The tip nearly touched its tail when… “Clank!” Metal collided with metal.
It had turned 180 degrees midair and blocked my attack. No time to be amazed—I slashed again from the right. Its horn absorbed the blow.
The gazelle was fast, agile, relentless. In a single movement, it launched itself at me with its head bent. “Clank!” My sword struck its coiled horns again. The force reverberated through my arms, sending me crashing into the trees.
“Crack! Crack!” I slammed through a thirty-centimeter-thick tree. Pain shot up my back.
“Aww!” I pressed my hand against the ache. Dangerous. I needed a new plan. Stay defensive until the perfect opening. Precision. That was my only choice.
For over an hour, we battled. Neither backing down. I managed to sever some of its legs, slowing it slightly—but it still had incredible power.
Then I saw my chance. As it leapt, I dropped low, sliding like a football player scoring a goal. Rocks tore my knees, but I pushed forward.
Its legs coiled like springs, ready to strike me as I aimed at its belly. I realized simultaneously—we had trapped each other.
Reacting instantly, I gripped my sword with my right hand. My left shot out, slapping its leg midair, diverting its trajectory. Momentum carried me upward. I rotated my body, swinging the sword with all my strength. It pierced its heart just as it began to fall.
“Gnuu!!” it roared, sending its hooves at me. Force hurled me into trees again, though this counterattack was weaker.
Meters away, I watched as flames engulfed the monster. Its horns remained, along with a glowing stone.
Recovering, I retrieved my sword and the coiled horns. My hands glowed along with them before everything vanished.
“What the hell!!?” I yelled.
The stone was different from the spider’s—brighter, egg-sized. I checked my pocket for the older one. Safe.
“Could it be that the gazelle’s drops disappear while spiders’ don’t?” I muttered. Frustrating, but the gazelles were far tougher.
“Gnuuuu!!” Another appeared, as if mocking me.
I defeated three in succession before leaving the forest, clutching the spoils.
“I did it!!” I screamed after passing the barrier, heading home.
Back in my room, I dropped the items, rushed to my desk, and prepared to eat. Roasted chicken, fruits, baskets of food from Leila… I had to ration it.
I devoured two servings of noodles before remembering to restrain myself. One bucket of water was empty—I had used it all.
Thunder rumbled, the wind picked up, and rain fell. Ecstatic, I stripped and bathed on the first rock, rain cascading over me.
“Aah!! So refreshing!”
I played until nightfall, then slept without dinner to save food. It seems the foil wrapping the food can preserve it for quite some time. How convenient. 
The next morning, I woke before dawn, exhausted but determined. I washed, ate breakfast, and took my sword to the forest.
Like yesterday, spiders and gazelles awaited. Three spiders, two gazelles, all drops intact.
Deeper in the forest, I reached the site of my battle with the Basilins. Memories struck, my body chilled. I moved away quickly to avoid vomiting.
“VKIIII!!” A strange sound echoed.
“Hmm…….?” A kangaroo? But it wore boxing gloves. Apart from the gloves, it looked normal.
“Is this really a monster?”
It began bouncing lightly, switching legs and weaving its fists in the air.
Are you serious!? I’m supposed to fight a boxing kangaroo?