Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 70: The Great Forest of Hugenus

Episode 70: The Great Forest of Hugenus 

Having emerged from the river, I continued heading north.  

The forest I’m in now is even larger than my birthplace, the Dwozof Forest. I’ve been running for half a day, yet the end is still not in sight.  

“(Ugh, so boring…)”  

At first, I enjoyed the different vegetation compared to Dwozof Forest, but I was quickly getting tired of the monotonous scenery.  

“(It’s good that I don’t have to encounter humans in this untouched great forest, but if there’s nothing here…)”  

I mutter while looking down at the sprawling tree canopy.  

My body, racing through the forest, was higher than the trees.  

This is because I’ve replaced my legs with forest chains.  

The forest chains, which are as long as the tallest trees, are naturally longer than the surrounding trees. They made me as high as a huntsman spider.  

Using this elevated vantage point, I skillfully maneuvered the forest chains, avoiding trees as I went.  

Although branches fell with every movement, I only knocked down a tree or two.  

“(The |Mana| is denser over there.)”  

I made a slight adjustment to my course.  

I’m deviating a bit from the original route, but fighting strong enemies is more important. Since I have a good sense of direction, rejoining the original route should be relatively easy.  

Continuing on, I arrived at the area with the densest |Mana|.  

The first thing I encountered there was a pack of four-legged beasts with long fangs.  

If I had to compare them to Earth creatures, they would be like saber-toothed tigers.  

They were of the Grand Beast class, with golden fur and fangs that dazzled the eyes. They had a somewhat nouveau riche appearance.  

“([Replicant Form])”  

I mimic a halberd and a hammer made from the Forest Turtle’s bones.  

Despite the weapons being larger than the nearby trees, the Saber-toothed Tigers showed no fear. They lunged at me with their golden fangs bared.  

“(Hmph!)”  

I casually swing the halberd towards them.  

The spear-axe swept through the Saber-toothed Tigers, entangling and cutting through several trees.  

Trees and magical beasts flew through the air like scraps of paper.  

Witnessing the destructive power, the surviving magical beasts immediately fell back.  

“”“Grrrr…!”””  

“(I left more than half of them behind, huh?)”  

Out of the eight Saber-toothed Tigers, only three were taken down.  

The issue wasn’t with the power but with the range. Since I’m still unfamiliar with the weapon, I misjudged the range.  

In fact, the power was more than sufficient.  

Even a slight graze from the blade caused a magical beast’s leg to be torn off, and its body was sliced open halfway. It’s a bit scary doing this myself.  

“(…Ignoring defense works properly.)”  

The weapon, reflecting the properties of the Forest Turtle’s [Budding Collapse], can ignore a certain percentage of |Toughness|.  

It’s good to know it’s functioning well since I hadn’t been able to test it properly since making it.  

Well, the bear greatsword couldn’t withstand a fight against a Sovereign Beast so having more practical weapons is a plus.  

Future battles will likely become even more advantageous.  

“(Hah!)”  

I put all my |Power| into a mighty swing of the halberd.  

The weapon, roaring through the air, carved a trench into the earth. The Saber-toothed Tiger in its path was naturally killed, leaving only four remaining.  

—At that moment, the four remaining magical beasts scattered and fled.  

They were probably looking for a chance to escape.  

Chasing them one by one would be cumbersome, but there’s a perfect [Weapon Skill] for this situation.  

I channel |Mana| into the hammer I had raised high and then slammed it forcefully into the ground.  

“([Quake Swing])”  

The shockwave spread out from the ground in all directions.  

Fallen leaves swirled, the surface of the ground was upheaved, and trees were lifted from their roots.  

The Saber-toothed Tigers were no exception, and they were mercilessly launched into the air.  

Towards the struggling beasts in the air, I unleashed a four-hit [Wave Slash] from the halberd. Each strike was precise, claiming their lives with a single blow.  

“(The forest hammer is also quite impressive.)”  

I looked at the hammer embedded in the ground with admiration.  

The special effects of this hammer are focused on power. In addition to ignoring defense, it enhances impact and increases range.  

The [Quake Swing], which attacks a wide area by striking the ground, has more severe power reduction compared to wave-type [Weapon Skills].  

Despite this, the hammer’s adjustment for power allowed it to forcibly lift the Grand Beasts which is a testament to its effectiveness.  

“(Munch, munch… These guys weren’t very strong after all.)”  

As I melted the Saber-toothed Tigers, I thought.  

Even taking into account my own strength, they felt weaker compared to most Grand Beasts I fought in Dwozof Forest.  

“(Is it because the |Mana| is thin here…?)”  

Magical beasts that can regularly absorb dense |Mana| are more likely to have increased |Stats| and become stronger.  

Conversely, those that only consume thin |Mana| tend to be weaker relative to their <Level>.

And that is synonymous with having less <Soul Fragments> than expected for the <Level>.

The stronger the magical beast, the more <Soul Fragments> it gives, so the opposite is also true.

The |Mana| in this forest is broad and shallow, so it’s highly likely that the magical beasts here are generally weaker.

“(At this rate, I might not be able to fight Sovereign Beasts…)”

My concerns turned out to be accurate, and I didn’t encounter any Sovereign Beasts when passing through the area with the densest |Mana|.

There might be some if I searched more thoroughly, but I can’t afford to spend that much time.

Feeling slightly discouraged, I continued to head straight towards my destination.