Reiji sat on a large rock and opened the crude map he had drawn on a piece of bark.
He marked off another cleared area.
The Serpent Bird's territory remained untouched. He had no intention of going near it yet.
Four days had passed since he entered the Backlake Realm.
Progress felt steady.
He had grown noticeably stronger.
His eyes were calmer now. His movements more precise. He had learned to use his skills far more efficiently.
Shadow Step for quick assassinations, confusing monsters before they could react.
Verdant Grow for traps. Rainfall for recovery and mist. Rupture for clean finishes. No wasted mana. No unnecessary risks.
Reiji stood up and continued clearing area after area. He moved toward a small creek. The water flowed gently over smooth rocks while several small E-Rank Creek Lizardmen lounged lazily near the bank.
The moment they spotted him, they hissed.
Reiji didn't speak.
He simply acted.
[Shadow Step.]
He appeared among them.
