One More Time: Rebirth

Chapter 21: Entering the Forest

It was Sarah's turn to take the ranking examination and as expected she got great results. Her current rank went like this:

Sword:

Wind style: D class

Void style: D class

Water style: C class

Magic:

Wind: E class

Earth: C class

She truly was a genius. I congratulated her but then she pouted and said: "I couldn't do as well as Big Bro." She sounded really disappointed I hugged her unconsciously and said: "It's alright let's both get stronger together." My sister hugged me back "Alright, Big Bro!"

Our parents were of course also there and they started hugging the two of us. So the simple hug became a group hug. The other families were staring at us, but they didn't say a word. Sarah who I thought would feel embarrassed, wasn't bothered by the staring, or probably she simply didn't notice.

It has been a week since Sarah's ranking examination. I asked dad if I could go to town by myself. I didn't want those shadow bodyguards following me.

"Why don't you want them to follow you? Are you perhaps going to do something dangerous?" Hearing dad's question I almost stiffened, but held it back and smile instead.

"Not really, I just don't like the feeling of them following me around." Dad then stared at me for a moment and I started feeling that my back was sweating.

"Fine, I'll tell the shadow guards not to follow you today." Hearing dad's answer I hugged him.

"Thanks, dad you're the best." I then left the room.

Leonard Regius POV:

As I watched my son leave the room in excitement, I couldn't help but sigh. It has been nearly eleven years since Edge was born. Since he was just a small toddler he was already very capable. He would sometimes act in a way that made him feel older. His training ethics, his subtle looks that made him look like an old contented old man, that sword style he created and blended into the four styles when he was five. I already knew that it was abnormal, no matter how much of a genius he was.

Still, I cannot, could not doubt my own son. It doesn't matter what he was, or what secrets he was hiding, for as long as he was my son I promised to stand by his side. I couldn't help but smile slightly. I already knew that he was planning to do something dangerous since that's the way a boy his age would be doing.

This were the times I know he was my son, for I too was a reckless kid back in the day. It was then I remembered that he was going to school next year, and I couldn't help but cry again.

Edge's POV:

While Sarah was having magic lessons with mom, I started to get ready for my adventure. I brought my new sword and staff with me. I was also wearing the leather gloves and the charm I got.

It's finally time to challenge the ruins in the forest. It's time to see what that strong presence I felt before was. I'm sure that wasn't the presence of a monster. The purity of the presence I felt was even beyond what I know of in humans. I'm very curious, as to what it was, so it's time to head out.

I left the house and double-checked if no one was following me. Once it was clear that no one was following me I headed to the entrance of the forest. I entered, and so let the adventure begin.

It has been about an hour since I went into the forest. I was walking to where I felt the presence but it doesn't seem like I'm getting closer, why you ask. Well, it's because there were a lot of monsters blocking my way. The monsters of this world were almost generally the same from the monsters of my previous world, but they were two times stronger. Still, because they still had the same weaknesses that I know of, it was no problem for me to kill them. The problem was the sheer amount of monsters in this forest.

Three hours have now passed since I entered the forest and at last, I was able to reach the rumored ruins. It was at that moment, I saw a huge monster coming out of nowhere.

It was a huge spider-like monster. So this was the rumored B class monster that's guarding the area. I quickly check my condition. I was dead tired now, the monster in front of me was stronger than anything I have faced.

How the hell is this a B class monster? It's practically emitting a stronger aura than the demon lord in my previous world. Sh*t if it's like this then I can't imagine what S class monsters were going to be like.

I quickly concluded that in my current condition I couldn't win. When I was about to make my escape I noticed that I was already surrounded by lower-class monsters. Though I can beat them easily. But with that huge monster behind me, I can't possibly escape.

So the best course of action would be to kill the huge-a*s monster quickly, then take my time with the small ones. My chances of winning were nearly zero. It has been a while since I felt so cornered. It has been a while since I felt the chilling sensation of death standing by my side.

Yet even in this situation, I was smiling, a very vicious smile. It was the same smile I had when I faced such strong adversaries.

"Very well, let us begin a battle of no chances!"