As I opened the pouch, I was greeted by the sight of various supplies neatly organized within. Despite its small size, the interior space was considerably larger, though still limited by its low quality.
Unlike higher-tier space artifacts where time stood still, this one only provided a slowed temporal effect. It wasn’t perfect, but it was invaluable for now.
I quickly inventoried the contents: dried food, a waterskin, some medical supplies, a few changes of clothes, and a small bundle of essential tools. I had been regularly resupplying the pouch, ensuring it was always ready for a time like this.
I swapped out my current clothes for the set hidden within the pouch, opting for a simple, nondescript outfit that would help me blend in once I left the forest. As I changed, I couldn’t help but reflect on the irony.
‘What do they say? Desperate times call for desperate measures.’
Here I was, using a stolen artifact, breaking the very rules I had sworn to uphold. But in this world, survival often meant bending the rules, sometimes even breaking them.
With my new clothes on and my supplies secured, I buried my old uniform in the hollow, covering it with leaves and dirt.
‘Shredding one’s skin, is it not Master?’
I was sure that, if he was here, he would say something like this.
‘But these clothes….Why do they feel a bit tighter?’
Now that I think about it, something feels different with my body, as if I was stronger. That was especially the case when I was first moving in the forest. It was hard to control the strength of my steps.
‘Did the energy dissipate, or was it absorbed into me?’ I pondered, feeling the residual hum in the air. ‘Perhaps it was a one-time phenomenon triggered by my breakthrough.’
As I gathered my thoughts, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something extraordinary had happened. After all, the Mana Vein also had disappeared.
Even if it was a low-rank mana vein and the mana it contained was highly likely to be small, it was not like I had absorbed too much.
At least, that was the case when I lost consciousness. At that time, even when I was in pain, I still could sense the mana around me.
‘Well, in any case, I feel refreshed and stronger right now. It is a lot better.’
While I was not exactly sure about my physical capabilities, there was not much time to ponder about all these things.
RUSTLE!
Slowly, I started walking. There were two reasons why I was this adamant about moving today.
Normally, the patrolling soldiers were Stage-2 Awakened, highly skilled, and vigilant. Their presence made slipping past the perimeter a near-impossible task, even if the wards could not stop me.
However, with the recent developments in the army, there had been a notable shortage of soldiers, especially the Awakened ones.
In response to this shortage, the army had adjusted their patrol schedules. Every eleven days, the patrols were Stage-1 Awakened instead of Stage-2, a necessary compromise due to the lack of manpower.
Of course, that is not something one would know just by observing, as it was partially thanks to Jesse that I came to learn about this.
She was once chosen for the patrol job, and from her, I learned this. Apparently, they did not trust everyone and did choose those who were marked.
Tonight marked one of those days, presenting the safest window for my escape.
‘That’s why it has to be tonight,’ I reminded myself, moving stealthily through the forest. ‘The risk is lower with Stage-1 patrols. They’re less experienced, less perceptive. It’s the perfect opportunity.’
The forest grew denser as I pressed on, the shadows deepening around me. My senses were heightened, and every sound and movement scrutinized.
The crunch of leaves underfoot, the rustle of branches in the wind—all of it painted a vivid picture of my surroundings.
I reached the edge of the forest, the faint glow of the campfires in the distance marking the border. The patrols would be sparse tonight, but that didn’t mean I could let my guard down. I crouched low, peering through the underbrush to assess the situation.
Sure enough, the perimeter was manned by Stage-1 Awakened soldiers, their movements less disciplined, their vigilance not as sharp.
They were young, likely new recruits who had yet to face the true horrors of the battlefield.
‘Indeed. I did not see them in the camp. Now, are they some sort of privileged guys? Makes sense…..I can assume that they are the sons of a commander or something.’
The battlefield had become increasingly brutal, each clashes leaving more bodies in its wake. The higher-ups would want to keep their own kin away from the front lines, sparing them from the worst of the violence.
It was a common tactic, one that I had witnessed time and again. Those with connections always found ways to protect their own, leaving the rest of us to bear the brunt of the war.
‘They’re lucky,’ I mused, feeling a pang of bitterness. Considering the fact that I had seen countless different soldiers that had died before me.
‘…..Mateo, Garret, Felix…..Elias, Clara…..’
Though they were sent here because they were criminals, none of them deserved the penalty of death. Yet, they died.
I felt a slight anger, as it was unfair.
‘But their inexperience is my advantage tonight.’
I waited for the right moment, my muscles tense. The patrols were erratic, their movements uncoordinated.
It was clear they were not used to this duty, their minds likely elsewhere, thinking of safer places far from the front lines.
I focused, counting the number of patrols. To do that, I closed my eyes and spread my senses around the place.
“When an Awakened reaches stage 3, they will be able to manifest their mana outside of their body. That opens an endless number of possibilities, but there is one thing that is fundamental for every Awakened.”
I remembered the words that Master had spoken once when he was teaching me how to imbue my energy around my body.
He had demonstrated things and abilities that were far beyond my range of abilities at that time. That made me realize that he was already expecting that he would be found in this camp.
And as my senses were spread, they found their presence.
There were five of them in total, scattered unevenly along the perimeter. Two stood together near a campfire, their postures relaxed as they talked in hushed tones.
Another one paced back and forth, his movements restless and unsteady. The remaining two were further apart, their attention half-heartedly scanning the area.
‘Five,’ I noted, committing their positions to memory. ‘Not too many, but enough to pose a risk if I’m not careful.’
The two near the campfire seemed the least vigilant, their conversation more animated as they laughed and gestured.
The one pacing back and forth was more alert, but his routine was predictable, a pattern I could exploit. The last two, though further apart, appeared disinterested, their gazes drifting aimlessly into the darkness.
‘This is manageable,’ I told myself, formulating a plan. ‘I need to time this perfectly; move when they’re least aware.’
I waited for the right moment, my breath steady and controlled. The pacing soldier turned his back, and the two by the campfire were engrossed in their conversation. The distant ones had their attention elsewhere. It was now or never.
Silently, I slipped from my hiding spot, moving with stealth. My steps were light, each one carefully placed to avoid making a sound. The forest floor was soft underfoot, the leaves muffling my movements.
I navigated the space between the patrols, keeping low and using the shadows to my advantage.
The distance between me and the soldiers grew with each step, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, but I needed to calm myself down.
‘Calm down, Lucavion. Keep your heart steady.’
However, it was easier said than done.
THUMP! THUMP!
In the end, I could not help my beating heart. As I neared the edge of their patrol route, I paused, scanning the area one last time. I could see the faint glow of the formations and wards protecting the border, intricate lines of mana shimmering in the darkness.
‘There it is,’ I thought, my eyes narrowing. The moment I crossed those wards, they would activate and send an alarm to the patrol. I had only a split second to make it past them before they could react.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my mana, coating myself with its protective energy. I steadied my nerves, focusing on the task ahead. The timing had to be perfect.
‘NOW!’
And then, with a burst of speed, I dashed forward, crossing the invisible barrier of the wards.
———————–
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