Rise of Lihas RAYZADA

Rise of Lihas Rayzada

Author: Grandmaster Wolf 🐺

Chapter 4: The Road to ValenfortThe Whisperpine Forest loomed before Lihas Rayzada, its ancient trees swallowing the dawn's light like a living shroud. The air was thick with mana, a tingling hum that danced across his skin, sharpened by his Mana Sense. At sixteen, Lihas stood at the edge of Elderoot Village, a worn sack slung over his shoulder, the Soul Rune Pendant pulsing beneath his tattered shirt. The iron dagger from Garen Holt hung at his belt, a reassuring weight as he stepped onto the winding path to Valenfort City. Three days. That's all he had to reach the Celestial Origin Academy and seize his destiny.The Starforge System's screen flickered in his vision, its cold voice a constant companion:Host StatusName: Lihas RayzadaCultivation: Tier 1, Level 1 (Beginner)Skills: Mana Sense, Iron Rune StrikeProgress to Level 2: 90/100 EXPQuest: [Special Quest – Seize the Path: Travel to Valenfort City. Time remaining: 3 days]Reward: 50 EXP, Skill [Rune Spark]Lihas tightened his grip on the recommendation scroll from Captain Voren, its wax seal a promise of a life beyond Elderoot's dust. "No turning back now," he muttered, silver eyes glinting with resolve. The forest path stretched ahead, shadowed and treacherous, but the pendant's warmth fueled his courage. He broke into a jog, boots crunching on pine needles, determined to make good time.The Whisperpine was no ordinary forest. Villagers whispered of spirits and beasts that prowled its depths, drawn by the mana-rich air. Lihas's Mana Sense flared, picking up faint pulses of energy in the trees, like heartbeats of the earth. He kept his dagger ready, scanning the undergrowth. The system's Daily Training Quest—run five miles, swing hammer a hundred times—nagged at him, but he'd tackle it at camp. For now, survival was the priority.Hours passed, the forest growing denser, its silence broken only by distant bird calls. Lihas's legs burned, but he pushed on, the pendant's pulse syncing with his heartbeat. As noon painted slivers of light through the canopy, a rustle stopped him cold. His Mana Sense spiked, detecting three jagged mana signatures nearby—human, not beast."Oi, look at this," a rough voice sneered. Three men emerged from the shadows, clad in patched leather armor, swords glinting at their hips. The leader, a scarred brute with a crooked nose, grinned. "A village kid, all alone. Got anything worth stealin', boy?"Lihas's heart raced, but he stood his ground, hand on his dagger. "Just passing through," he said, voice steady. "Don't want trouble."The second bandit, lanky with greasy hair, laughed. "Trouble's what you found, kid. Hand over that sack, or we'll carve you up."The system's voice cut through Lihas's fear:[Emergency Quest: Survive the Ambush. Defeat or escape 3 bandits. Reward: 30 EXP, 1 Attribute Point. Failure: Death or loss of recommendation scroll.]Lihas's silver eyes narrowed. He couldn't lose the scroll—it was his ticket to Valenfort. "Last chance," he warned. "Walk away."The leader lunged, sword slashing for Lihas's chest. Lihas dove aside, Mana Sense guiding his dodge, the blade whistling past his ear. He rolled to his feet, drawing his dagger and channeling mana as he'd done against the wolves. The pendant glowed, silver light coating the blade. He struck with Iron Rune Strike, the dagger slamming into the leader's arm. The bandit howled, dropping his sword, blood spraying."Get him!" the lanky one shouted, charging with a rusty blade. Lihas parried, sparks flying, but the third bandit—a stocky man with a club—swung at his back. Lihas ducked, pain flaring as the club grazed his shoulder. He gritted his teeth, mana surging through him. He spun, slashing the lanky bandit's leg with Iron Rune Strike, sending him sprawling.The stocky bandit roared, club raised, but Lihas was faster. He channeled mana into his legs, mimicking the wolves' agility, and tackled the man to the ground. A quick dagger strike to the shoulder ended the fight, the bandit collapsing with a groan.Lihas staggered to his feet, chest heaving, blood dripping from a cut on his arm. The leader clutched his wound, glaring. "You'll regret this, brat," he spat, before limping into the forest with his men.The system's screen flared:[Emergency Quest Complete: Survive the Ambush. Reward: 30 EXP, 1 Attribute Point. Progress to Level 2: 120/100 EXP. Level Up!]A rush of energy flooded Lihas's body, his wounds tingling as they knit slightly. The screen updated:Host StatusName: Lihas RayzadaCultivation: Tier 1, Level 2 (Beginner)Skills: Mana Sense, Iron Rune StrikeProgress to Level 3: 20/150 EXPLihas allocated the Attribute Point to Agility, feeling his movements sharpen. He sheathed his dagger, heart still pounding. "Not bad for a village rat," he muttered, forcing a grin.But as he retrieved his sack, a chill ran down his spine. His Mana Sense flared again, detecting a new presence—darker, colder, like a void in the forest's mana. A shadow flickered among the trees, too fast to track. Lihas froze, hand on his dagger, but the presence vanished as quickly as it appeared. The pendant pulsed, almost in warning."What was that?" he whispered, scanning the forest. The system remained silent, offering no quest or hint. Whatever it was, it wasn't human—or friendly.Lihas shouldered his sack, forcing himself to move. The road to Valenfort was long, and the Celestial Origin Academy waited. But the shadow's memory lingered, a whisper of danger that made his silver eyes burn with determination. The Starforge System had pushed him this far, and he wouldn't falter now. Elderoot was behind him; the universe lay ahead.Upcoming Chapter Following Grandmaster Wolf: