"You called a taxi, but you want to drive it yourself?" The taxi driver looked at Ronan with a furrowed brow, clearly confused by the strange request.
Ronan offered a small, crooked smile. "Yeah, just sit back and relax. I'll do the driving."
The driver let out a long sigh before raising his hands in surrender. "Whatever you say. But if this car gets damaged, you're paying for it."
"No Problem."
Without hesitation, Ronan moved to the driver's seat. His hands touched the slightly worn steering wheel, feeling the rough texture caused by years of use. The gas and brake pedals were right where they should be, the gear stick felt familiar—even though technically, he'd never used one before.
But that didn't matter. The memories from his past life were still fresh in his mind.
He started the engine, listening to the familiar soft hum before driving off, leaving the apartment complex behind.
—Then a notification appeared.
[New Skill Acquired!]
[Beginner Driver]
[Description: Improved vehicle control, smoother acceleration, and more efficient driving ability]
Ronan chuckled softly.
Meanwhile, the taxi driver could only sit quietly in the passenger seat. Every now and then, he glanced at Ronan with a doubtful expression, as if still bracing for the worst. But once he noticed how smooth the ride was—no sudden jerks, no harsh braking—he finally leaned back more comfortably.
"If you ever need a side job, maybe being a taxi driver is worth considering," he muttered.
Ronan just gave a small smile, eyes still focused on the road.
After about thirty minutes of driving, they finally arrived at the outskirts of Gravenwood Forest—a stretch of dense woods known for its mystery and danger.
Ronan didn't choose this forest randomly. Deep inside, there was an unresolved Dimensional Rift, making this place teeming with wandering Soul Beasts. Even experienced awakeners rarely dared to go too deep.
Ronan stepped out of the car, eyes fixed on the forest ahead. Ancient trees stood tall, with massive roots jutting out from the ground, creating an uneven path. The thick canopy filtered the sunlight, allowing only faint rays to pierce through.
Birdsong and insect noises faintly filled the air, but there was something different—something that made this place feel like more than just an ordinary forest.
The taxi driver rolled down his window, still staring at Ronan with a doubtful expression. "You seriously gonna go in there?"
Ronan remained calm, his eyes never leaving the forest's depths. "I've been here before."
The man gave a small nod, though his face still carried uncertainty. "Alright then… be careful."
The taxi pulled away, leaving Ronan alone at the edge of the forest.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of damp soil and decaying leaves. In the distance, faint sounds echoed—not just birds or bugs, but something else. Something bigger.
Ronan adjusted the strap of his backpack and took a deep breath.
"Here we go again."
Without hesitation, he stepped into the forest.
———
The sun was still shining brightly in the sky, showing that it was 1:20 PM. But within the forest, that light only slipped through narrow gaps in the dense leaves overhead. Towering trees loomed high, their trunks covered in moss and huge roots breaking through the soil, casting long shadows that made the air feel colder than it should've.
Ronan had been walking for thirty minutes now, weaving through trees and thick bushes, but so far, he'd only encountered the whisper of wind and the occasional rustle of falling leaves.
"Quieter than I thought…" he muttered.
This wasn't his first time here. Back when he first arrived in this world, he'd taken a chance, thinking he wouldn't die easily—especially considering all he had been through, which defied reason.
Transmigration—something abnormal. But reality hit him hard when he nearly died in that forest and found absolutely nothing.
But now, he had a superpower—Starflame.
Ronan's steps came to a halt, his ears catching the sound of a low growl.
His reflexes kicked in instantly—he moved to the side, hiding behind a massive tree trunk. Carefully, he peeked toward the source of the sound.
In an open area about 20 meters ahead, two beasts were engaged in a vicious battle.
The first was a black wolf with a small horn on its forehead, its body lean and muscular—built for speed and agility. The second was a massive gray bear, its body covered in claw marks but still standing strong, its sharp claws digging into the ground.
Ronan narrowed his eyes.
On each of the beasts' bodies, two faint stars glowed.
Soul Beasts had their own power system. The more stars they had, the stronger they were. As of now, seven stars was the highest known to humanity.
Star placements were usually hidden on their bodies, so it was wise to assess how many stars a beast had before launching an attack.
But now wasn't the time for analysis.
The fight resumed before his eyes.
The black wolf darted forward with incredible speed, its body like a shadow weaving through the foliage. The gray bear swung its claws in an attempt to slash the wolf, but it was too slow. The wolf dodged easily before lunging in.
Claws met fangs.
The wolf sank its teeth deep into the bear's shoulder, causing fresh blood to spray into the air. The bear roared, its body trembling with pain, but with brute strength, it managed to fling the wolf to the ground with one fierce swipe.
The wolf tumbled several times, but instead of retreating, its eyes grew wilder.
Blood trickled from its wounds, but its footing remained steady. The black wolf had agility, but the bear possessed terrifying endurance.
The fight raged on.
The wolf attacked from all directions, avoiding a direct clash. The bear, though slower, held its ground and swung whenever there was an opening.
But speed overcame strength.
After several rapid strikes, the wolf found an opening.
With one swift leap, it lunged forward, its fangs aimed straight at the bear's weakened neck.
CRACK!
With a powerful bite, the wolf tore through its opponent's throat.
The bear let out a low groan, its body quivering for a moment before collapsing to the ground, motionless.
The wolf stood tall despite its injuries, then let out a howl, as if declaring its dominance.
But just moments later, a blazing fireball suddenly hurled toward it.
Blast!
The flames struck dead-on, sending the wolf tumbling across the ground. Its fur caught fire instantly, engulfing it completely in burning flames, and clear burn marks soon spread across its body.
Then, from the underbrush, Ronan sprinted forward with a dagger in hand, driving it into the wolf's neck.
Stab!
A precise strike—the wolf, still ablaze, let out a painful howl before collapsing, lifeless.
The Starflame gradually faded, revealing the charred black body of the beast.
Ronan stood tall with a satisfied grin. That Starflame was stronger than he had expected. No surprise—it was a special S-class ability.
[Successfully killed a 2-star Soul Beast, first kill bonus +100 skill points]