Revealed

Leo's eyes fluttered open, the stark contrast between the inky blackness of his vision and the vibrant tapestry of the night sky jolting him awake. Every twinkling star in the vast celestial expanse seemed to mock his disbelief. "I'm alive?" he rasped, the words thick with surprise and a touch of trepidation.

He lowered his hand tentatively, his gaze sweeping across the breathtaking canvas above. A colossal white sphere, casting a soft, ethereal glow, dominated the scene, its luminescence reflecting off the leaves and grass around him.

"Itzzzzzzzzz done," Mel's voice glitched, the digital distortion sending shivers down his spine.

"Mel, what's wrong with you?" he asked, concern gnawing at him.

"I went beyond myzzz authority, to heal youzzzz," it explained, the static-laced voice leaving little room for argument.

Hesitantly, Leo rose to his feet, a wave of gratitude washing over him. "Thanks. Now that the first phase is complete, we can move on to the second…" he began, trailing off as Mel interjected.

"There won't be a needzzzz for that," it chirped, the glitches seemingly less pronounced. "It seems the culprit showedzzz up on their own."

Leo's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeszzz," it confirmed.

This turn of events was unexpected, to say the least. It all began yesterday, when a change in his status had sent alarm bells ringing in his mind.

SURVIVAL SYSTEM,

NAME: Leo Constel, [Image]

TITLE: Stepping Stone, [Villain]

LEVEL: 0

MANA POINT: Error

VITALITY: 130p

STRENGTH: 7p

ENDURANCE: 5p

INTELLIGENCE: 650p

ITEMS:Rage Sword [Currently Unavailable]: Can only be used with a minimum of 0 MANA POINTs.

SKILLS:AUTOPILOT [Currently Unavailable]: Weak as hell? Then why not sit back and watch your body do all the work?

LP: 0p

SS: 0p

EXP: 0p

His stats had shifted slightly, and he'd gained a new skill and item – albeit currently unavailable. If he could activate them, his escape, once a fantasy dream, might actually become a reality.

Driven by this newfound hope, Leo had spent the entire night consumed by a desperate need for these "pecks." They had become crucial elements in his elaborate plan, the key to unlocking his freedom. He realized his plan was riddled with holes. How could he confront the source of the problem in the forest with his meager abilities? He was no match for the mana beasts that roamed its depths.

Yet, a nagging worry gnawed at him. Even if he managed to obtain these pecks, his mana core had a limited lifespan. In a few days, hours, or even minutes, he'd be back to square one – zero mana points. He needed to act fast, unravel the mystery behind the mission before his time ran out.

Unfurling a massive map depicting the entire kingdom, Leo scrutinized it intently. His eyes snagged on the Constel duchy, but as he zoomed in on the forest section, something peculiar caught his eye – something glaringly obvious yet easily dismissed.

The forest, plagued by a recent surge in missing mana beasts, bordered the Masel duchy. Additionally, reports mentioned atmospheric mana poisoning, seemingly concentrated at the forest's heart. It was baffling, to say the least. The very idea of poisoning a mana-rich forest seemed implausible. Mana, a potent energy source, permeated the air, rendering any attempt at poisoning futile. The forest's mana acted as a natural shield, neutralizing any harmful substances.

These were established facts, likely common knowledge. But what struck Leo as shocking was a seemingly insignificant detail – a loophole, a variable in the equation. He quickly exploited it, formulating an intriguing theory. There was, he believed, a way to bypass nature's shield and corrupt the incorruptible forest.

Someone, he postulated, was behind this phenomenon. Someone who was consistently poisoning the mana, weakening the forest's natural defense mechanism. If the poisoning was consistent and done before the forest's mana could fight back, it would be possible to penetrate the barrier and poison the entire forest.

"Where?" Leo asked, rising to his feet, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

"To your left," Mel's disembodied voice directed.

Without warning, a figure draped in dark clothes and wearing an all-rounded mask, suddenly appeared, leaping down from a tall tree nearby. The figure moved with such grace and agility that it was clear they were no ordinary person. The dark cloths hung loosely around their frame, concealing their identity and making them almost invisible in the shadows.

The all-rounded mask they wore gave no indication of their gender or any other distinguishing features. It was as though they had been waiting for a cue before making their grand entrance, and now they stood before Leo, silently watching him.

"Just hope it works" muttered Leo, under his breath.

Suddenly, the individual drew out two daggers from god knows where and closed in on him at breakneck speed. With an air-splitting slash, the figure aimed to decapitate him. But with the luck of a nine-life cat, he dodged the blade by a hair's breadth.

"Okay, forget I ever tried to fight back," Leo muttered, sweat already slicking his palms.

"You are anythingzzz but strong, and you know it," Mel chimed in, her digitized voice devoid of sympathy.

Before Leo could catch his breath, the figure launched another attack, a blur of darkness and steel.

"Why not use the autopilot now?" Mel suggested, ever pragmatic.

But Leo had another plan, risky and desperate. "I can't," he panted, sprinting away through the trees. "I have to check something out first!"

Leo ran as fast as possible, but with time, exhaustion began to set in,

"How about this? I know who you are!" he yelled, a smirk forming on his lips despite the danger.

The figure faltered, momentarily surprised.

"Come on, there's no need for the mask… Uren," Leo said, his voice laced with a mixture of accusation and challenge.

The figure froze, the daggers clattering to the ground. Their mask remained fixed, offering no clues to their identity.

Silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Finally, Uren spoke, his voice low and distorted. "What?!"