Lynch quickly lifted his cloak and pressed his hand onto the pocket on his chest, ready to summon Parker who was sleeping inside at any moment.
Although theoretically this area is an apprentice protection zone under the surveillance of the Tower, the Wizard World is fraught with dangers, and one cannot be too careful.
"Rustle, rustle!"
After a shake of the tree top, the bushes parted on both sides, and soon two figures emerged from within.
Lynch couldn't help but be taken aback, as he recognized both of them. They were apprentices from the same cohort as him. Were they also on a mission?
"Lynch?"
At the same time, the two also noticed him, and expressed a hint of surprise as they briskly approached him.
The two individuals were a male and a female. The male had brown hair, a burly figure, not wearing a cloak, but leather armor and pants, with a Cross Sword hanging from his waist, a typical knight outfit.
This was Yuri, who, before coming to the Shadow Tower, used to be a knight's squire. It was said that he had even been in battles. After entering the Tower, he focused on body enhancement subjects, preferring close combat as opposed to other wizards.
The girl, on the other hand, had an innocent appearance, with big eyes giving off a vibe of a simple-minded neighbor girl.
This was Alice, who majored in the Water Element Attribute.
Upon seeing Lynch, Alice happily skipped over to him like a cute little rabbit, speaking in a familiar tone with a slightly coquettish voice, "Brother Lynch, are you also heading towards the Corrupted Forest?"
This kind of behavior easily led to misunderstandings, and any other apprentice might have speculated if the girl had an interest in them, but Lynch was unmoved because he knew the girl was pretending.
Alice was a very astute girl, extremely adept at utilizing her appearance advantages to act cute and innocent, taking advantage of others.
In terms used on Earth, she was known as a green tea girl.
Lynch nodded, "Yes."
Alice seemed very pleased, "Great, we're also heading to the Corrupted Forest area, why don't we all go together?"
She paused and then turned to Yuri, who was trailing behind, and asked, "Brother Yuri, we're all classmates, you don't mind, do you?"
Yuri was visibly a bit unhappy since the two-person world where he was cultivating feelings with the goddess had suddenly added an extra third wheel, disrupting the atmosphere.
However, since Alice had put it that way, he couldn't very well refuse, so he pretended to be magnanimous and said, "Of course, let's go together."
Lynch contemplated for a moment.
The journey was long, and he wasn't sure what might happen along the way. Certainly, having two additional companions was better than traveling alone.
So he nodded, "Alright."
...
That night.
The moonlight was like fine gauze, gently spilling over the winding creek, the silver radiance intertwining with the rippling water, as if the Milky Way had fallen from the sky, flowing quietly across the earth.
On the pebble shore, the crackling of wood echoed softly, with tiny sparks dancing in the wind. A sizzling campfire and the three tents standing nearby formed a simple traveler's campsite.
Lynch sat on a wooden stump in front of the campfire, his eyes level with a data panel only he could see.
[Elementary Magic Plants Transformation lv2: 216/3000.]
[Basic Extraordinary Cultivation lv2: 876/1000.]
[Shadow Touch lv2: 386/3000.]
[Meditation lv1: 503/3000.]
After over three months of perseverance, all his abilities had significantly improved.
Multiple skills had surpassed the lv2 level, and the Basic Extraordinary Cultivation was nearing completion, soon to be maxed out.
Even the most challenging Meditation had surpassed lv1.
Notably, when Meditation surpassed lv1, a Basic Will Rune was depicted within his Spiritual Sea, proving that the levels of Meditation were indeed as he had speculated, composed of ten levels.
"Tsk tsk, level 10..."
Even though he had anticipated it, confirming the result still astonished Lynch, especially upon seeing the skill level rising to 3000, which left him feeling a bit exhausted.
A 50-year average promotion time, it was indeed no exaggeration...
"Keep pushing forward!"
Though Meditation was difficult, the improvements were also substantial; his Spirit Attribute increased by 0.6 in these months, breaking through to 2.0.
Spirit: 2.1.
His original spiritual power of 15 had suddenly leaped to 21, allowing him to accomplish significantly more each day.
Without accumulating small steps, one couldn't reach a thousand miles. Lynch believed that if he continued steadily at this pace, the time for fruitful results would eventually come.
"Brother Yuri, you're really amazing, your strength is incredible."
"Haha, it's alright, I'm still quite far from a true knight."
"Are these muscles? Can I touch them? They really look tougher than iron."
At that moment, Yuri and Alice came from a distance.
Yuri was carrying a wild boar on his shoulder, holding two rabbits in his hand, his upper body completely bare, revealing muscles knotted all over and emanating heat.
Alice followed along, her large innocent eyes blinking as she flattered Yuri and affectionately poked his muscles with her finger.
Lynch stood up, "You're back?"
Whether it was to show off in front of Alice or out of male pride, Yuri had been particularly diligent.
Setting up the tent, establishing a camp, starting the campfire, almost everything was done independently by him, and now having brought back so much game, Lynch who benefitted without effort felt a bit guilty.
He hurried over, "Let me help."
He meant it sincerely, but Yuri waved a big hand, not giving him any chance, "No need, with your scrawny arms and legs you won't help much, just wait to eat."
Seeing this, Lynch didn't say more and stood quietly by the side, ready to lend a hand if needed.
At the same time, he enviously observed Yuri's bare upper body.
His skin was a bronze color, full of knotted muscles, firm pectorals, and a clearly defined eight-pack on his abdomen. Despite being the same age as Lynch, he was taller by more than a head, looking impressively strong.
'It is said there's a secret training method among human knights. Although it doesn't grant Transcendent power like wizards, it can significantly enhance one's Constitution. Yuri must be benefiting from something like that?'
Lynch recalled his aim to enhance his Constitution. This might be a good option, maybe he should look into some related materials when he had the chance.
"Hmm? Where did my dagger go?"
Yuri had just finished bleeding the boar with his Cross Sword, and was about to skin it with a dagger, but now the dagger was nowhere to be found, making skinning without a small tool rather inconvenient.
"Let me look for it."
Alice walked to the side to search, but from her perfunctory actions, it seemed it would take a long time before she found it.
So, Lynch picked up his Magic Wand and, with a thought, the runes on the wand suddenly lit up, the long Two-Handed Magic Wand twisted and transformed, turning into a small dagger in no time.
This was the reward from the previous test at the Tower, with a Mimicry Magic solidified on it, allowing it to change shape according to a wizard's will.
Alice's eyes lit up, "Is this the Magic Wand rewarded from the last test at the Tower?"
Lynch nodded, "Yes."
Alice quickly came over, adopting a slightly coy tone, "Can I have a look? Brother Lynch."