Chapter 25 – Into the Wild
That night, Quinn stood outside his sister's bedroom door, hesitating for a moment before knocking.
"Emily, you awake?"
There was a rustling sound, and then Emily's voice came through the door. "Yeah, come in."
Quinn pushed the door open. His sister was sitting on her bed, scrolling through her phone, the soft glow of the screen illuminating her face. She looked up, raising an eyebrow. "What's up?"
"I'm leaving for a week," Quinn said, getting straight to the point.
Emily blinked. "Wait. What?"
"I have to train. Harder than I ever have before." His voice was steady, his resolve unshaken. "The last fight showed me that I'm not strong enough yet. If I want to kill stronger Hallows—if I want to protect this city, protect you—I have to push past my limits."
Emily stared at him for a long moment. "So… you're just gonna disappear for a whole week?" Her voice was calm, but there was a flicker of something beneath it.
Quinn nodded.
She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "So I'll be all alone for a week."
Quinn smirked. "Enjoy yourself. You could go out with your friends… and maybe you'll even find a boyfriend."
Emily scoffed, then laughed. "Oh, shut up." She tossed a pillow at him, which he effortlessly caught. "You're really the last person who should be giving relationship advice."
Quinn chuckled. "Fair point."
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, Emily's expression softened. "Just… don't do anything stupid, okay?"
Quinn gave her a small grin. "No promises."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Figures."
Quinn turned to leave, but before he stepped out, Emily called after him. "Hey."
He glanced back.
"Come back in one piece," she said, her voice quiet but firm.
Quinn's grin faded slightly, replaced by something more serious. He gave her a nod. "Always."
*******
Quinn woke early, his mind already set on the challenge ahead. He packed a few sets of clothes, basic medical supplies, and water,—anything that might help him survive in isolation.
By the time he stepped outside the apartment complex, an AGC vehicle was already parked by the curb, its sleek black frame reflecting the early morning light. The engine hummed softly, the tinted windows concealing whoever was inside.
Quinn exhaled and approached. Just as he reached for the door, a familiar voice called out.
"You better not die out there."
Quinn turned to see Cedric standing a few feet away, arms crossed, watching him with a smirk.
"I was wondering if you'd come," Quinn said.
Cedric shrugged. "Figured I'd make sure you actually went through with this insane plan." He nodded toward the vehicle. "Driver's just here to take you to the outskirts. I am here to escort you."
Quinn smirked and without another word, he climbed into the vehicle. Cedric followed.
As the car pulled away from the city, leaving behind the familiar streets and towering buildings, Quinn leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes for a moment.
This was it. No turning back.
By the time he returned, he would be stronger.
No—he would be unstoppable.
The drive was long and mostly quiet. Quinn watched as the towering buildings of the city gradually faded into the distance, replaced by open roads, distant hills, and stretches of wilderness. The farther they went, the fewer signs of civilization remained.
After about an hour, the vehicle finally slowed, coming to a stop near the outskirts of a small forest. The morning sun hung low in the sky, its golden light filtering through the trees.
Quinn and Cedric stepped out, followed by the driver—a man in his mid-thirties with short, dark hair and a rugged look. He glanced around before speaking.
"This is where you'll be training," the driver said, nodding toward the forest. "It's not too dense, but don't let that fool you. There are still dangers lurking around here—stray Hallows, wild beasts… and, of course, the unstable mana."
Quinn took a deep breath, already sensing it. The mana in the air felt different—wild, untamed, unstable. It wasn't like in the city, where everything was more controlled. Here, it was raw.
As they stepped deeper into the forest, Quinn noticed ancient ruins scattered across the landscape. The structures were long abandoned, their stone walls covered in vines and twisted roots. Some of the buildings had crumbled, leaving behind only fragments of their former selves.
"This place used to be a village decades ago," Cedric said, following Quinn's gaze. "Now it's just another lost part of history."
Before Quinn could respond, the driver raised his hand. "Let me help you out."
He placed his hands on the ground, and a moment later, the earth trembled beneath their feet. The soil and rocks began shifting, moving as if alive. Within seconds, the driver had formed a small cave-like structure, carved directly into the side of a hill. The entrance was wide enough for a person to enter comfortably, and the inside was spacious enough for Quinn to rest and train in solitude.
"This should do," the driver said, brushing his hands off.
Quinn stared at the newly created shelter, impressed. "Damn… your ability really came in handy."
The driver smirked. "I get that a lot."
Quinn dropped his bag inside and turned to face the man as he prepared to leave.
"I'll be back in a week," the driver said. "Don't die before then and take care of yourself kid" Cedric said
Quinn smirked. "I'll try."
With that, the driver and Cedric got back into the vehicle and drove off disappearing down the road, leaving a trail of dust behind.
Now, standing alone in the silent forest, Quinn finally let out a long breath.
This was it. His real training was about to begin, and then he clenched his fists.
"Where do I start?" he said as he stepped into the small cave the driver had made for him, feeling the cool, damp air inside. The walls were rough, freshly carved from the earth, and the scent of soil filled the space. It wasn't much, but it would serve its purpose.
He placed his bag against the far wall and sat down, crossing his legs on the uneven ground.
The only sound was his own breathing.
Time to get started.
A translucent blue screen materialized in front of him as he focused on his first quest.
[First Quest: Circulate mana through every fiber of your being without interruption for 48 hours.]
Quinn exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders.
"Alright… let's do this."
Closing his eyes, he turned his focus inward, reaching for the mana within him. It was there, a familiar energy deep inside his core, waiting to be drawn out. He had moved mana before—used it in combat, channeled it for abilities—but this was different.
This required precision. Control. Endurance.
Slowly, he started guiding the mana through his body.
At first, it moved sluggishly, like trying to force water through a maze of pipes clogged with debris. He directed it toward his arms, then down to his legs, aiming to spread it evenly.
But his thoughts kept drifting.
His mind wandered to Emily. What was she doing now? Would she be okay while he was gone?
The mana wavered.
He refocused.
Then a thought of Cedric crept in—the man's words before he left.
"You better not die out there."
Again, the flow faltered.
Quinn gritted his teeth.
Focus, damn it.
But it wasn't just distractions. It was difficult to push the mana smoothly through his entire body. Some areas responded well—the muscles in his arms and chest—but other places, like his lower back and fingertips, were sluggish.
It felt like trying to force a river to flow uphill.
After an hour of struggling, Quinn opened his eyes, exhaling sharply.
This was going to be harder than he thought.