《My watch System》 First Step Fifteen years old, the age when humans awaken their mana cores. The age when an incredible and magical path opens for those strong and brave enough to endure its dangers. However, unfortunately, not all young humans can follow this path. In truth, most of them will only use magic for simple daily tasks, like washing clothes, cooking, farming, and a few other things. But there exists a small and select group of humans who can use magic to strengthen themselves and fight on equal footing with the most powerful magical races and beasts in this world. The members of this group are called elites. They are humanity''s strongest and most talented individuals and the sole reason humanity remains a free race in this world. The Silver Flame Nation is one of humanity''s great kingdoms. And in this kingdom, there is only one path to becoming an elite. That path began when you turned fifteen and awakened your mana core. The test that separated those with the potential to become elites from normal people was called the purity test. As the name implied, it was a simple test, but one that determined how far a person¡¯s magic could evolve. The purity test involved a simple device placed around the person being tested. The device emitted mana waves at a specific frequency, which reacted with the mana in the person''s core. When these waves returned to the device, it would calculate and display the purity percentage of the individual''s mana core. According to experts, the minimum purity a person¡¯s mana core needed to advance beyond the first stage was seventy percent. And this number was just the bare minimum for someone to have a chance of becoming an elite. Mike, a young boy with black hair and eyes, a handsome yet slightly immature face, was undergoing the purity test at this very moment. Since he turned fifteen, Mike had been anxiously waiting for this day, the day he could change his destiny, the day he could become an elite. But unfortunately, no matter how much determination or willpower Mike had to become an elite, there was nothing he could do in the purity test. After all, it was all about talent. Either you had it, or you didn¡¯t. Mike sat as the device around him began to spin. It resembled a ring, but it was large enough to rotate around a person. The device had a silver hue, but what truly caught Mike¡¯s attention were the glowing purple engravings emanating an unusual energy. The boy watched in awe, technology like this wasn¡¯t common in the place he came from. But Mike didn¡¯t have much time to remain impressed, as shortly after the ring spun a few times around him, a strange energy began to manifest at the center of his stomach. "So, this is mana?" Mike murmured as he felt the strange energy in his stomach resonate with the energy emitted by the glowing purple engravings on the ring. "Core purity level: seventy-seven percent. Looks like we have another pass." A man in a white lab coat announced, glancing at a screen displaying Mike''s test results. He began jotting down details on a clipboard while waiting for the testing device to stop spinning. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Mike felt the ring around him come to a halt as the purple engravings dimmed and ceased emitting their strange energy. The odd energy at the center of his stomach also subsided to the point where Mike could no longer feel it. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The first thing Mike heard after the device stopped was a simple question delivered in a cold, emotionless voice. Mike looked toward the source of the voice and saw a middle-aged man with brown hair, also dressed in a white lab coat, staring at him as if he were a lab rat. ¡°M- Mike.¡± The man in the lab coat wrote Mike''s name on the clipboard without bothering to thank him for the response. He looked at Mike again with the same cold expression. ¡°Surname?¡± ¡°I- I don¡¯t have one.¡± Mike replied hesitantly. ¡°Oh.¡± For the first time, the man in the lab coat showed a hint of emotion but quickly masked his surprise, reverting to his cold and indifferent demeanor. In the Silver Flame Nation, it was common for poorer families not to have surnames. This reflected magic''s societal influence: wealthy and magically talented families were considered humanity''s pillars, while poor families with little to no magic were barely regarded as human by the elites. The man¡¯s brief surprise stemmed from the rarity of someone from a family without a surname passing the purity test. But that was all. He quickly recovered his detached expression, noted Mike¡¯s lack of a surname on his clipboard, and returned his attention to the boy. ¡°You passed the purity test with seventy-seven percent. Do you wish to proceed with the tests to enter the royal academy?¡± ¡°Huh? Yes!¡± Mike was caught off guard by the announcement but quickly agreed, his excitement evident. He had done it. He had taken the first step toward his goal of becoming an elite. ¡°All right. You will be sent to the next testing location after you fill out this liability form.¡± The man in the lab coat handed Mike a clipboard and a piece of paper. ¡°Liability form?¡± Mike asked, confused. The man, however, seemed uninterested in his confusion, as he began walking out of the room, leaving Mike alone. Being from a poor family, Mike hadn¡¯t received the best education, so he struggled with reading, especially complex texts. But since the man clearly didn¡¯t care, Mike had no choice but to read and try to understand the form. With some difficulty, Mike deciphered the document¡¯s content. [Liability Form. I, ___, declare that the royal academy is not responsible if: - I die during any admission tests for the academy; - I die in an accident caused by professors or students of the academy; - I die during the academy¡¯s school exams; - I die due to magical beasts, enemies of the nation, other empires, or any other entities while I am an academy student; - I am severely injured during any of the academy¡¯s admission tests;¡­] The liability form was five pages long, listing possible misfortunes that could happen to Mike while he was a student at the royal academy. Despite his limited education, it wasn¡¯t hard for Mike to realize the form was unusual. After all, it listed an absurd number of potential dangers. But since his goal was to become an elite, the royal academy was his only option. Ignoring his instincts, which warned him that something was off about the form, Mike did what he had to do to move forward. He picked up the pen handed to him by the man in the lab coat and stared at the paper on the clipboard: [I, ___, declare that the royal academy is not responsible¡­]. Mike used the pen to write his name in the blank space. His handwriting wasn¡¯t the neatest, but as soon as he finished the final letter of his name, several glowing purple engravings appeared on both the paper and the pen. Mike watched in awe as the purple glow intensified until the paper and pen disintegrated into sparkling purple particles and vanished into the air. POW! Before Mike could be amazed by the magical disappearance of the objects, a loud sound echoed as the door to the room flew off its hinges. Mike looked toward the now-empty doorway, startled, only to see a large, muscular silhouette approaching him. ¡°Are you Mike, the one without a surname?¡± The muscular silhouette asked as it entered the room. Mike stared, wide-eyed. Standing before him was a man over two meters tall with bronze skin, a heavily tattooed arm, and a completely bald head. The man wore dress pants, polished shoes, and a shirt with the sleeves ripped off, leaving his massive arms exposed. But what truly caught Mike¡¯s attention was the silver flame-shaped brooch on the man¡¯s chest, a symbol of the Silver Flame Nation¡¯s elites. This meant the man was an elite. ¡°Yes.¡± Mike answered, nodding, assuming the elite wouldn¡¯t harm him. Unfortunately, Mike¡¯s assumption was wrong. The large man simply raised his arm and extended his open palm toward Mike. What happened next was so sudden that even Mike couldn¡¯t fully grasp it. ¡°Ahhh!¡± he screamed in shock as a mysterious energy yanked him directly into the man¡¯s hand. Mike felt the man¡¯s iron grip as he was carried out of the room, unsure of where he was being taken. In that moment, Mike regretted signing the liability form. Now, all he could do was hope he wouldn¡¯t end up dead without at least understanding what was happening. Questions Mike was carried by the large man for several minutes. The way the man carried Mike was far from comfortable. He was being held with just one hand gripping his clothes, as if he were a handbag, lying on his back with his feet and head dangling down, leaving him in an awkward arched position. Because of this position, Mike could only look at the ceiling and walls as he was carried. Even though he was seeing everything upside down, he was certain he had never passed through the corridors they were traversing now. Then again, it wasn¡¯t like Mike had much knowledge of the building to begin with. The purity tests were only conducted in cities, so Mike had to leave his village and travel to the nearest city just to take the test today. As the man walked through the building''s corridors, Mike continued to stare at the ceilings and walls. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a door opening, and a beam of sunlight hit his face, signaling that they had exited the building and were now outdoors. Mike¡¯s first reaction was to shut his eyes to avoid the direct sunlight, but the moment he closed them, he regretted it. Mike felt the man¡¯s grip loosen, and suddenly, he was being hurled through the air. Opening his eyes in panic, unsure why on earth he had been thrown, Mike braced for the worst. However, when he landed, he was pleasantly surprised. He had been tossed onto a very comfortable cushioned seat. Looking around, he realized he was in an enclosed space with windows and another black seat similar to the one he was on. Seated on that other seat was a middle-aged woman with purple hair, a hideous face, and a large wart on her nose. She stared at him with an indifferent gaze, but all Mike could focus on was the silver flame-shaped brooch on her chest. ¡°Professor, this is one of the successful candidates. His name is Mike, and he has no surname.¡± The large man who had carried Mike walked in through the same door he had thrown Mike from and spoke respectfully to the purple-haired woman. The large man sat down beside Mike, facing the woman, but she remained silent even after he introduced Mike. Mike, too, said nothing, sitting quietly. After hearing the large man address the ugly woman as "Professor" Mike instinctively knew it wouldn¡¯t be wise to anger her. The woman stayed silent for a moment before knocking on the wall behind her. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Mike found her action strange, as he didn¡¯t understand why she was talking to a wall. However, he quickly realized she wasn¡¯t just some crazy person. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Mike felt the place they were in begin to move, and when he glanced out of the window beside him, he saw that they were lifting off the ground. Panicking, he moved closer to the window and looked down, only to see they were already several meters in the air. Below, he could spot the large building where he had taken the purity test and a line of identical black vehicles Mike had never seen before. ¡°Are those magical cars?¡± The thought crossed Mike¡¯s mind as he stared at the lined-up black vehicles. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked the large man sitting beside him. ¡°Yes, those are the royal academy¡¯s magical cars. In fact, you¡¯re in one right now.¡± The large man responded politely, which surprised Mike. However, at that moment, Mike was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he was inside a flying object. Mike had never seen a magical car before but had heard of them. Magical cars were flying vehicles powered by mana, allowing them to move much faster than traditional vehicles. As Mike marveled at being inside a magical car, a realization struck him. ¡°Wait, I haven¡¯t told my family that I passed the test!¡± Mike exclaimed anxiously, turning to face the large man. He didn¡¯t know where this magical car was taking him, but he was certain it wasn¡¯t back to his parents¡¯ house. His parents were likely very worried about him, as he had left his village alone to take the test in the city. He wanted to let them know he was okay. ¡°The academy will send a letter to your parents informing them that you passed the purity test. If you pass the final test and are admitted, another letter will be sent notifying them of your admission. I¡¯m sorry, but you won¡¯t have any other means of contacting your family until you either become an elite or fail the tests and return home.¡± The large man explained calmly. Mike listened silently. He sat back down, the excitement of being inside a magical car replaced by a bitter feeling in his chest. Clenching his fists tightly, Mike recalled the letter his parents had received, notifying them of his older brother¡¯s admission to the royal academy. It had been three years since then, but that letter was the last news his family had received about his brother. This was one of the main reasons Mike wanted to become an elite, he wanted to find his older brother. ¡°Sir, if I die while I¡¯m a student at the royal academy¡­ would my parents be notified?¡± Mike asked politely, his tone serious, though the emotion in his voice was evident. The large man, unaware of Mike¡¯s older brother, assumed the boy was simply worried about his parents. If you die or disappear during the admission tests or after being accepted as Rock Mike remained silent for a long time, processing all the new information he had received. The questions about what had happened to his brother only grew louder in his mind, but Mike knew that the only way to uncover the truth was to join the royal academy and become an elite. And for that, he needed to pass the final test. "Sir, what is the final test to be admitted into the royal academy?" Mike asked the large man, hoping to gather information and prepare for the challenge ahead. "Final test? Aren''t you jumping the gun a little?" The large man responded with another question and a mysterious smile. The moment Mike saw that smile, he felt a bad premonition. "What do you mean?" "Haha, don''t worry about that. You should focus on your next test." The man replied, once again avoiding a direct answer. However, as the man laughed and spoke of Mike''s "next test" rather than the "final test," Mike quickly realized he had more than one trial to complete before entering the royal academy. "And what is my next test?" Mike asked cautiously, suspicion creeping into his voice. "Getting to the nation¡¯s capital." The man replied quickly and straightforwardly, leaving Mike stunned by his directness. But as Mike mulled over the man¡¯s words, a significant doubt emerged in his mind. "What do you mean, ''getting to the nation¡¯s capital''? Where are we going, then?" Mike asked, confused. He was in a magical car flying through the air at high speed, but if his next test was to reach the capital, it made no sense for the magical car to take him there. Unfortunately, the large man before him didn¡¯t seem too interested in clearing up all his doubts. "Hahaha, it¡¯s been a pleasure meeting you, kid! You can call me Rock. I hope we meet again!" The large man laughed heartily, ignoring Mike¡¯s question. He extended his hand toward the boy, waiting for a handshake. Mike reflexively shook the man¡¯s hand, but Rock¡¯s words only left him even more bewildered. "It¡¯s time." Before Mike could say anything else, the ugly purple-haired woman spoke coldly, drawing his attention. As soon as If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Mike looked at her, he felt Rock release his hand. A moment later, he felt the comfortable seat he was sitting on vanish. Mike quickly looked down, confused by the sudden lack of sensation beneath him. But when his eyes registered what was, or more precisely, what wasn¡¯t, beneath him, panic gripped his heart. "Help me¡ªAhhhhh!" Mike tried to extend his hand toward Rock and cry for help, but all he could do was see the man¡¯s smile before gravity took hold of his body. All Mike could do was scream in terror as he plummeted through the air. As soon as Mike fell, the hole in the magical car quickly sealed itself, and the comfortable seat reappeared as though nothing had happened. "Why did you answer so many of that kid¡¯s questions? He¡¯s just a nobody with no surname, he¡¯s probably going to die before he reaches the capital." The ugly purple-haired woman said, looking at Rock as the magical car returned to its previous state. "Huh? And why shouldn¡¯t I answer? Even if he doesn¡¯t have a surname, he¡¯s still a potential academy student. Professor, you haven¡¯t forgotten about that surname-less guy from three years ago, have you? I¡¯m sure if you had the chance to receive him when he joined the academy, you would¡¯ve answered any question he asked..." Rock replied with a smile, though his gaze was serious. "Hmph! That kid only has a mana core purity of seventy-seven percent. Don¡¯t compare trash like him to a genius like that guy!" The purple-haired woman snapped irritably. "Alright, alright, I apologize..." Rock quickly backed down, not wanting to cause an unnecessary argument. However, as he gazed out the window and thought about young Mike, who was likely in free fall at that moment, a mysterious smile appeared on his face. --- "Aahhhhhhhhhhh!" Meanwhile, Mike was screaming desperately as he plummeted rapidly. He was so high up that he could barely see the ground, but this problem was quickly solved as he got closer and closer with each passing second. At that moment, panic overtook Mike¡¯s mind. He flailed his arms like wings in an attempt to fly but failed miserably. He tried to learn wind magic on the spot to control his descent, but again, he failed. Desperate, he even attempted to summon a giant beast, making hand signs and biting his finger to use his blood for the ritual, but once more, he failed. After all his alternatives ended in failure, Mike gave up and closed his eyes, resigning himself to his fate. "Damn liability form..." Mike muttered in regret. Even though he had known something was off about the liability form he signed, he hadn¡¯t expected to be thrown out of a magical car mid-air just hours later. But unfortunately, there was nothing else he could do now. Golden Ape BOOM! The magical car shook violently from the powerful impact outside. The passengers inside quickly felt the vehicle begin to plummet through the air as multiple alarms blared throughout the cabin. ¡°Damn it, the car¡¯s engine is damaged!¡± The young man shouted in panic, staring at the magical car¡¯s control panel. ¡°Get out!¡± Rock yelled, slamming the emergency button next to him. The moment he pressed it, the door beside him vanished, and the large man was ejected into the air. The purple-haired woman immediately mimicked Rock¡¯s actions and was also launched into the sky. The young man hesitated for a moment, but with no better alternative, he too pressed the emergency button, ejecting himself from the car''s front cabin. The three were now airborne, ejected in the same manner as Mike had been earlier. However, unlike the boy, none of them were falling helplessly. All three stopped mid-air, defying the laws of physics, a feat made possible by magic once someone reached a certain level. Still, it was clear that some were far more comfortable with this than others. The young man seemed to be struggling the most to remain aloft, while Rock and the purple-haired woman appeared capable of maintaining their positions effortlessly. But at the moment, none of them were focused on this. Their attention was on the magical car, which was ablaze and plummeting through the air nearby, while a golden silhouette rapidly approached them. Before they could discern what the golden figure was, an immense magical power surged from its hand, directed straight at them. ¡°Professor, look out!¡± The young man shouted, propelling himself through the air and courageously placing himself in the path of the incoming magic. WOOSH! At that moment, the young man could only hear the sound of air being sliced as he saw a golden disc, radiating an intimidating magical energy, flying rapidly toward him. He instinctively raised his arms and attempted to conjure a spell to block the disc, but it was simply too fast and too powerful. SLICE! ¡°Noooo!¡± The purple-haired woman screamed as she watched the disc cleave the young man into two perfect halves. She propelled herself toward him in a futile attempt to help, but there was nothing she could do. He was completely dead, his body divided into two clean halves that quickly plummeted toward the ground. The woman glared at the golden silhouette, now much closer, her expression filled with rage. She had no emotional connection to the young man, but he had been an assistant and a personal guard assigned by the royal academy to help her with the tests. His death would undoubtedly cause her some headaches when she had to explain it to the academy. A powerful surge of magical energy began to radiate from the purple-haired woman, stirring the air around her. She gathered an immense amount of wind into her palm, which rapidly condensed into a wind spear. She prepared to hurl it at the golden figure, but as she focused on her target and finally managed to make out what it was, she froze in shock. Standing before her was a towering creature over two meters tall. It had two arms and two legs, but the tail protruding from its back and the beautiful golden fur covering its entire body were clear indicators that it wasn¡¯t human. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The purple-haired woman stared in disbelief at the creature in front of her. She immediately recognized it as a powerful magical beast known as a Golden Ape, a creature infamous for its extraordinary combat capabilities. But before she could react, she caught sight of another large figure moving out of the corner of her eye. She turned in shock to see Rock propelling himself through the air, heading straight for the Golden Ape. ¡°I need to get out of here!¡± Rock¡¯s only thought at that moment was escape. Of course, his actions might have seemed counterproductive, as he was flying directly toward the danger. But unlike the purple-haired woman, Rock had already identified the Golden Ape and assessed its power. He had quickly considered all possible escape options and was now executing the only plan that gave him even a slim chance of survival. ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± Rock roared as he rapidly approached the Golden Ape, channeling all his energy into his right arm and placing all his hopes on his best attack, a powerful right hook. ¡°Human! DIE!¡± Unfortunately for Rock, the Golden Ape had no intention of playing around. As soon as Rock was close enough, the beast swung the massive red staff it was holding with incredible force, aiming to obliterate Rock¡¯s arm completely. ¡°Hehe!¡± Rock ignored the searing pain that shot through his arm and grinned. At that moment, he released all the magical energy he had accumulated, not at the Golden Ape, but at himself. Using his magic, Rock altered the gravitational field around his body, making himself as light as a feather. As a result, the powerful strike from the Golden Ape¡¯s staff sent him flying toward the ground at incredible speed, much farther than he would have gone without his magic. Most importantly, neither the purple-haired woman nor the Golden Ape noticed Rock¡¯s maneuver. They simply assumed the man¡¯s body would become a bloody smear upon hitting the ground. ¡°Good luck.¡± Rock thought to himself as he hurtled toward the earth. Deep down, he knew the purple-haired woman stood almost no chance of surviving against this Golden Ape. After all, this particular beast was far stronger than usual, and only a handful of individuals in the entire Silver Flame Nation could take it down. But in the end, Rock simply didn¡¯t care enough about the woman to risk his life helping her. Unaware that Rock was executing his escape plan, the purple-haired woman assumed he had died at the hands of the Golden Ape. Desperation began to consume her as she realized the beast before her was far beyond her abilities. In a desperate move, she hurled the wind spear in her hand at the golden beast. To her shock, the creature didn¡¯t even bother to dodge. It allowed the spear to hit it, and watched as the attack vanished without leaving so much as a scratch on its body. ¡°Pathetic.¡± The Golden Ape sneered after the attack dissipated. It looked at the purple-haired woman as though she were an insect, unworthy of any consideration. This cold gaze sent shivers down her spine. She thought of fleeing, but that was impossible. In an instant, the beast, which had been dozens of meters away, was suddenly right in front of her. A moment later, she felt the crushing blow of its red staff. SLAM! The purple-haired woman hit the ground with such force that the earth trembled, leaving a massive crater where she landed. She struggled to her feet, feeling numerous broken bones and a significant amount of blood pouring from her body. At least she wasn¡¯t dead. Well, not yet. She staggered out of the crater, the first thing she saw being the wreckage of the magical car, still burning on the ground. It seemed she had been thrown to the same location as the car, though luckily, she hadn¡¯t landed directly on it. Otherwise, she would already be dead. WOOSH! Before she could take in anything else, she heard the sound of something cutting through the air at high speed. Unfortunately, it was the last sound she would ever hear. SLICE! A golden disc decapitated the purple-haired woman so swiftly that she didn¡¯t even realize she had died. Her head hit the ground, eyes still open, while the rest of her lifeless body collapsed in the opposite direction.The Golden Ape gazed indifferently at the bloody scene it had created. Without lingering, the beast leapt into the air, flying high as it scanned the direction where Rock had been flung. Spotting a crater in the middle of a forest several kilometers away, the beast quickly flew to check the dead body. But When the Golden Ape landed in the crater and found only a large bloodstain, a sense of being tricked overtook it. ¡°Ahhhhhhh! HUMAAAAAN!¡± The Golden Ape roared in fury, its cry striking terror into every living creature nearby. Surviving While the people who had brought him here either fled for their lives or perished, Mike continued walking toward the dark forest ahead, still intent on following the same direction the magical car and the golden point had disappeared. It took him several hours to reach the edge of the forest, but when he finally arrived at the towering dark trees, he looked up at the sky and realized the sun was beginning to set. Realizing he didn¡¯t have much daylight left, Mike faced an important decision. He could stay in the grassy field where he currently was, but considering he had nothing but the clothes on his back, the cold, the lack of food, and the absence of shelter would be major challenges for his survival. Alternatively, he could venture into the forest and spend the night there. While it was undoubtedly risky since he had no idea what dangers lurked within, the forest would at least offer better chances of finding shelter and possibly some food. Mike didn¡¯t have to think long to make his decision. Even though he hadn¡¯t learned much from the small village where he was born, thanks to his hunting trips with his father, he had learned how to survive in the wild. And as far as Mike knew, the key to surviving in nature was to be cautious but never afraid. With that mindset, Mike pressed forward and stepped into the dark forest without hesitation. As Mike entered, sunlight barely filtered through the gaps in the towering treetops, casting the forest in near darkness. Yet the boy didn¡¯t slow his steps. Fully aware that he was now in an unknown and potentially dangerous environment, Mike kept moving in the direction the magical car had disappeared. In his mind, he needed to accomplish two objectives before nightfall rendered him blind: first, he had to find water and food; second, he needed to locate a safe place to spend the night. CRACK! The sound of wood snapping echoed in Mike¡¯s ears, instantly putting him on alert. Mike crouched slightly and kept moving forward. Although he was now walking more cautiously and scanning his surroundings, he didn¡¯t stop. For nearly an hour, he moved steadily forward as the last rays of sunlight filtering through the treetops vanished, plunging the forest into even deeper darkness. Despite this, Mike hadn¡¯t encountered any animals, though his ears were filled with the sounds of insects, birds, and other creatures he couldn¡¯t identify. Ssshhh! The sound of flowing water reached Mike¡¯s ears, and he quickly followed it. After walking a few meters, he spotted a small spring trickling over rocks and through the earth. Mike was about to rush over to quench his thirst, but he froze when a strange creature came into view. ''A magical beast!'' Mike thought to himself as he watched the creature approach the spring to drink. It was small, walked on four legs, and had a body resembling that of a fox. However, the two small horns on its head and its fur, which was white hair, made it clear that this was no ordinary animal. Mike had no idea what kind of magical beast it was, let alone its level, but he was certain of one thing, there was no way he could face this beast and survive. Holding his breath, Mike didn¡¯t move a muscle as he watched the small creature drink from the spring. In that moment, his father¡¯s warnings from his youth echoed in his mind: "Remember, the size of a magical beast doesn¡¯t determine its strength. Some small magical beasts can kill you in an instant." Mike did his best to remain completely still and silent, unsure of the beast¡¯s sensory abilities but determined not to be discovered. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The beast appeared unaware of Mike¡¯s presence, taking its time to drink from the spring. Mike stayed motionless, even controlling his breathing, but unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. The moment the beast finished drinking, it turned and began walking in Mike¡¯s direction. Cold sweat broke out on Mike¡¯s back. He tried to convince himself this was just a coincidence since some foliage still hid him from view. But when the creature¡¯s gaze locked onto his, Mike knew he had been discovered. A flurry of thoughts raced through Mike¡¯s mind. His first instinct was to run, but he immediately dismissed the idea, there was no way he could outrun a magical beast. Fighting it was also out of the question, without magic, he stood no chance. Watching the creature steadily approach, Mike was left with only one option, to fall to the ground and play dead. POFT! Mike collapsed onto his back, quickly shut his eyes, held his breath, and began praying the beast would lose interest and leave him alone. However, as he tried his best to remain perfectly silent, he felt something nudge his foot. A moment later, he felt something climbing onto him, walking up his legs, then his stomach, and finally stopping on his chest. "Yip!" Mike heard the bark of the creature perched on his chest, but he remained still, doing his best to appear completely dead. "Yip!" The bark came again, and Mike couldn¡¯t help but notice how similar the sound was to that of a normal fox. Even so, he continued pretending to be dead. "Yip!" Only when the creature barked a third time and licked his face did Mike open his eyes in shock. But as soon as his eyes met the curious gaze of the small creature, it was the creature¡¯s turn to be startled. The fox jumped back, putting some distance between them. Mike thought carefully before raising his torso and sitting on the ground. He cautiously observed the creature now a few meters away. At this point, his best plan had failed, and all he could do was hope the creature would spare his life. When Mike looked at it, he saw the creature sitting there, staring at him with white eyes and a curious expression, its fluffy white tail wagging behind it. "Yip!" After a few moments of the two staring at each other, the fox-like creature barked at Mike, its gaze oddly friendly. Mike, unsure of what to do, began to rise slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements. Seeing that the fox had no issue with him standing, Mike got to his feet while keeping his eyes fixed on the red-and-blue creature. "Yip! Yip!" The fox also stood, barking again at Mike. Even standing, the fox didn¡¯t even reach Mike¡¯s knees. As a result, he kept looking down, trying to decipher whether the creature¡¯s barking was attempting to communicate something or if it was just making noise. "Yip! Yip! Yip!" The fox seemed dissatisfied with Mike¡¯s lack of response. It began barking even louder, hopping around as it looked up at him. Mike, meanwhile, had no idea what was going on. "I- Don¡¯t- Understand- You-" Mike crouched down and began speaking slowly to the fox as if he were addressing a newborn baby, hoping the creature would understand. To his surprise, the fox stopped hopping and stared at him with an expression that almost seemed like comprehension. "Yip!" The fox barked again, but before Mike could complain that he didn¡¯t understand what it wanted, the creature leaped onto his back and bit into his shirt. "Huh?" Cold sweat broke out on Mike¡¯s forehead as he felt the creature latch onto his shirt. At that moment, he wasn¡¯t sure if he had angered the fox or if it had decided to end his life. Regardless of its motives, the fox took action. "Ahhhhhhhhh!" Mike screamed as he felt a surge of magical energy erupt from his back, propelling him rapidly into the air. And so, a strange magical beast resembling a fox and a human began flying swiftly through the forest, with the fox clinging to the human¡¯s shirt. Their destination? Only the fox knew. Kidnapped "Ahhhhhhhh!" Mike screamed as he flew rapidly through the forest. He had no idea why, but the red-and-blue fox was carrying him as it flew dangerously close to the ground. This only amplified Mike''s panic, as countless times he thought they would crash into branches, rocks, trees, or even other animals. The fox¡¯s flying speed was simply insane for the boy to handle. After some time, Mike realized screaming was pointless since the fox wouldn¡¯t let go of him no matter what. Resigned, he "enjoyed" the ride, all while praying they wouldn¡¯t collide with something and meet an untimely death. Despite the high speed, the journey seemed endless to Mike. All he could see were blurred landscapes as they darted through the dark forest like it was nothing. Eventually, Mike began to notice changes in the scenery around him. They had exited the dark forest and were now flying over an expansive, empty plain. As they traveled at breakneck speed, Mike began to wonder if the fox had any intention of letting him go, and if it did, whether it would release him to live freely or something far worse. Unfortunately for Mike, he would soon discover where the fox was taking him. The speed of their flight began to slow, and Mike could make out his surroundings more clearly. However, since it was already nighttime, visibility was limited. Soon, Mike felt his body come to a complete stop mid-air. The fox released its grip on his shirt, and Mike looked down to see he was still several meters above the ground. Knowing what was about to happen, Mike shut his eyes and braced for gravity to do its job. POFT! "Fuck!" Mike cursed as he got up, feeling a bit sore. This was the second time he had fallen face-first into the ground that day, though he was far from getting used to it. "Yip!" Mike heard the bark of the red-and-blue fox but paid it little attention. After all, he couldn¡¯t understand what it was saying anyway. Besides, something else had caught Mike¡¯s attention: a large flame burning a few meters away. Without hesitation, he began walking toward the fire to see what was burning. As Mike approached, the fire illuminated his surroundings enough for him to see a bit more clearly. However, too focused on identifying what was burning, Mike failed to pay attention to the ground beneath his feet. As he walked, his foot struck something hard, and he heard a strange sound as the object rolled across the ground. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Curious about what he had kicked, Mike moved toward the object, only to be greeted with a sight far beyond anything he could have imagined. "AH!" Mike screamed, stumbling backward in shock. The object he had kicked was a human head, its long purple hair splayed across the ground. Mike instantly recognized the face: it belonged to the "professor" who had been with him and Rock in the magical car. The sight of her lifeless head made Mike tremble with fear. Panicked, Mike kept stumbling backward. This was the first time he had ever seen a decapitated human head, and it was no surprise he was terrified. Unfortunately, the surprises weren¡¯t over yet. POFT! As Mike stumbled back, he tripped over something and landed on his rear. Turning to see what had caused him to fall, he found himself face-to-face with a bloody, headless corpse. Unable to take it any longer, Mike turned his head to the side and vomited "Urghh!". "Yip! Yip!" The fox¡¯s barking reached Mike¡¯s ears, but he was too shaken to pay it any mind. Seeing a dead body, especially in such a gruesome state, for the first time had left him completely rattled. On top of that, realizing the professor, who was supposed to be administering his exam, was now dead only added to his growing panic. Mike began to wonder if this was all part of the royal academy¡¯s test or if he was truly in a life-or-death situation. Regardless of the excuses or explanations his mind tried to conjure, one thing was clear: Mike knew he was in danger. "Yip! Yip! Yip!" The fox barked again, this time louder than before. Mike could sense a trace of impatience in its cries, so he forced himself to regain composure. He quickly stood up and looked at the red-and-blue fox. It was jumping and barking in his direction, as though trying to warn him about something. Unfortunately, Mike couldn¡¯t decipher its barks. Food "Huh? Where am I?" Mike opened his eyes and asked in confusion as he looked around. The boy was lying on a floor made of hard, uncomfortable stones. He glanced around, but all he could see were rocks on the walls and ceiling. After a few seconds of trying to make sense of what he was seeing, Mike was certain, he was inside a cave. Cautiously, Mike stood up. He had no idea how he had ended up here, as his last memory was losing consciousness after seeing the golden disc in the dark area. However, recalling the bloody scene he had witnessed before fainting, Mike was far from calm. He began walking carefully toward the only exit he could see, feeling the cold air of the cave pressing against his body. But his steps were quickly interrupted by a noise. "Yip! Yip!" Mike heard the familiar barks of the red-and-blue fox coming from the direction of the exit. Soon, the colorful creature appeared before him, leaving Mike frozen in place. After being forcibly carried through the air by this fox, Mike knew he stood no chance against the creature in a fight. But that didn¡¯t stop him from truly hating the little colorful fox. Mike glared intensely at the creature responsible for bringing him to this cave. Even though he didn¡¯t know how he got here, why, or who the deep voice and golden disc that caused him to faint belonged to, Mike was sure this fox had everything to do with it. Since he knew he couldn¡¯t fight the creature, all he could do was stare at it, imagining himself eating roasted fox meat. "Yip!" The fox seemed to sense Mike¡¯s hatred toward it and let out a bark that sounded a bit sad. The fox stared at Mike with its large white eyes and wagged its snow-white tail rapidly before turning and walking toward the exit it had come from. Mike stared at the scene, unsure how to react. After all, when he had glared at the creature and imagined eating roasted fox meat, the last thing he expected was for the fox to look sad. "Yip!" But before Mike could do anything, the fox barked again, looking at him. Mike had the distinct feeling the creature wanted him to follow, and since he wasn¡¯t ready to die yet, he decided to obey. So, the boy followed the colorful fox as they walked through the dimly lit cave. Mike walked for a while until he spotted a brightly burning torch mounted on the cave wall. As he and the fox approached the torch, he saw an exit next to it. The fox darted toward the exit, leaving Mike curious about what lay beyond but also cautious of the dangers that might be on the other side. "Yip!" Unfortunately for Mike, the fox didn¡¯t seem to be giving him a choice. While he hesitated, debating whether or not to enter, the colorful fox poked its little head out of the passage and barked at him, making Mike sigh before reluctantly following. "Damn!" As soon as Mike entered and saw what was inside, he exclaimed in amazement. Before him was a massive pile of glowing objects radiating a powerful magical energy. "Magical treasures!" Mike muttered in shock, staring in disbelief at the towering pile. Even in his small village, he had heard of magical treasures. While he didn¡¯t know much about them, he knew they were powerful, and incredibly expensive. Mike took a step toward the enormous pile, but only when he heard a bark "Yip!" did he notice the place he was entering. Even though they were still inside the cave, this area was massive, resembling a grand hall. Beyond the towering pile of treasures at the center, the space was filled with various strange objects and plants Mike had never seen before. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "Yip!" After the second bark, Mike finally turned toward the source of the sound. The colorful fox was standing beneath a small tree with a silver trunk and emerald-green leaves, looking at him. Perhaps because he was growing accustomed to the fox¡¯s behavior, Mike understood it wanted him to come closer, and so he did. "Yip!" As Mike approached the creature, the fox barked and leaped into the tree¡¯s canopy, startling him slightly. Mike cautiously peered up into the tree, searching for the fox. Soon, he spotted its colorful body moving among the emerald-green, glowing leaves, shaking the canopy as it moved. POFT! POFT! POFT! Mike watched as several small silver fruits began falling from the tree¡¯s canopy to the ground. After a few dozen fruits had fallen, the fox stopped shaking the tree and jumped back to the ground. "Yip!" The fox barked and nudged one of the silver fruits toward Mike with its snout. "You want me to eat this?" Mike asked, suspicious as he tried to understand the fox¡¯s intentions while staring at the colorful creature. "Yip! Yip!" The fox barked excitedly, nodding its head up and down while wagging its fluffy white tail. Seeing the fox¡¯s enthusiastic response, Mike felt sure it genuinely wanted him to eat the silver fruit. Even so, he hesitated, wondering if he should trust this unknown fruit. On one hand, one of the primary rules of survival in the wild was to never eat anything suspicious. And a small silver fruit from a strange tree he¡¯d never seen before was definitely suspicious. Adding to his concern was the fact that it was the fox offering the fruit. On the other hand, the fox might be friendly now, but what if refusing the fruit angered it? Mike could only imagine the terrible things the fox might do to him if he upset it. "Ha... whatever," Mike sighed and murmured as he crouched down to pick up the small silver fruit. Even if it was poisonous, it seemed better than being brutally killed by a fox. Besides, why would a creature capable of easily killing him bother poisoning him? Mike studied the fruit in his hand for a moment. It was small and spherical, about the size of a grape. What caught his attention were the intricate silver engravings that glowed faintly against the slightly darker silver surface of the fruit. These engravings were so fine that Mike only noticed them after careful observation, but he had no idea what they meant. All he knew was that this fruit was far from ordinary. Shrugging, Mike stopped trying to unravel the fruit¡¯s mysteries. He quickly tossed it into his mouth and bit down. To his surprise, the fruit dissolved easily, releasing a cool, sweet liquid that filled his mouth. GULP! Mike swallowed the fruit without hesitation. He had never tasted anything like it before, the sweetness was simply incredible. However, as soon as the fruit¡¯s liquid passed down his throat, what was already good became even better. A refreshing sensation spread throughout his body, and he could distinctly feel the liquid travel effortlessly to his stomach. But again, when the liquid finally reached the center of his belly, what had been great became extraordinary. Mike felt an indescribable pleasure as a strange energy emanated from his core and resonated with the refreshing liquid. "Ah!" Mike let out a short moan of pleasure, feeling his "little Mike" stir in his pants and dampen the front of his underwear, with something that wasn''t urine. Even for a teenage boy going through puberty, this was the first time Mike had experienced such an immediate reaction. Little did he know, this was one of the worst nightmares a man could face. But in that moment, Mike didn¡¯t care. He was overwhelmed by an intense pleasure as the two energies in his belly merged into one. His legs nearly gave out, but fortunately, the energy within him calmed, allowing Mike to recover, though he remained slightly dazed from the incredible sensation he had just experienced.