I stamina burn until I’m exhausted.

  The sun hangs at midday, its light cascading through the newly minted leaves of spring. I ignore the beauty of it all and plunge deeper into the forest. I need to be away from it all.

  I don’t understand how I failed. Healing has always been straightforward before—remove the decay and fill the person with vitality. The decay can’t just return at a moment's notice. And with such intensity…

  I used [Pulse Sever] on someone, on purpose. If I’d left any doubt that my [Skills] are evil…there’s no doubt now.

  Nox clicks and climbs out onto my shoulder once I slow down to a walk. He intends well, pushing comfort at me, but the wall of emotions that roil within me is impenetrable.

  I glance up at the treetops above, searching for the nameless raven. I don’t find it, even though I feel more like a danger to the village than ever before.

  The breeze picks up, lifting Nox off my shoulder. He flies around me and skims my hair before flying ahead. I get the sense that he’s off in search of food. Glad someone’s in the mood.

  It's only minutes later, after Nox sends me the thought of mushrooms, that I stop.

  Something’s strange about the path ahead. I activate [Detect Decay] to be certain.

  Yes, decay pulses strongly from a patch of dried leaves. Even from a distance, I can see the shape of a pit trap.

  The sight of it reminds me of my early days, back when hunters like Taren frightened me.

  Best not to mess with the traps. I don’t want Honep frustrated with me, at least, not more than he is now.

  I turn to the side and walk around.

  Two steps and I hear a loud click from underneath my boot.

  My confusion only lasts an instant. Pain comes next.

  I drop down on the ground. Sharp pain like fire runs up my leg. Throbbing. I can’t get up.

  I force myself to look at the source of pain. A claw trap, with teeth-like metal spikes, digs into the flesh and bone of my leg.

  Trap: [Enchanted Claw-Spring Trap] – Level 10

  It’s the second time I’ve given too much attention to a pit trap. I feel like a fool.

  My leg feels broken. I reach for some moss in my cloak and [Leech Grip].

  [Skills] disabled.

  Impossible. I have plenty of mana. I try again.

  [Skills] disabled. Source: Claw-Spring Trap Enchantment. Time remaining: 3 hours.

  Three hours is a long time to wait.

  My leg throbs. I adjust position, only to jerk in pain from the movement. I can’t get comfortable on the ground like this.

  I reach out to the trap and grab the two sets of teeth. The metal bites into my fingers. I pull with all my strength, trying to pry my leg free.

  My stamina flounders under the strain of my efforts. I feel the jaws of the trap budge an inch, then two. I push myself, grit my teeth, and tighten my hold on the metal.

  My fingers bleed. The jaws open another inch, now four. It might be enough.

  I hold them in place while I lift my leg between my arms. The pain flares in my leg as I try to pull it up straight. What I wouldn’t give for some [Leech Grip] power to heal it.

  Then my stamina runs dry.

  I rip my fingers free before the trap crushes them. Then I scream in pain again. The trap snaps closed on my already injured leg.

  Nox bursts through the bushes nearby. His clicks are frantic. He lands on my knee and gazes down at the trap. I try to explain how it works. Nox climbs down to the metal and knocks it with his onyx horns.

  I could wait until my stamina recovers and try again, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough. I’m not too thrilled about the idea of the trap biting my leg a third time.

  Another option might be to drag myself back towards the village.

  I slide forward until my leg stretches out, then gingerly pull the trap along after me. Every rock or dip in the ground sends a jolt of pain up my leg. There’s no way I can do this all the way to Ashgrove.

  Maybe when the [Skill] disabling wears off I can heal up and chance pulling the trap apart again. I think if my leg didn’t hurt to move I could get it out quickly enough.

  Nox offers a bite to strengthen me. I let him, just to see if my [Skills] unlock from it, but it has no effect. I thank my little friend anyway.

  Night won’t fall for many hours yet, so I’m not in danger of sleeping out in the forest.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  It’s strange, really. I started my memories in the forest. For a time I called it home. But now I belong to the village. At least I did. And I don’t want it to end. I don’t want to say goodbye to my friends.

  Minutes pass like hours while I rest as much as one can with a broken leg. I wonder if Taren will realize I’m gone and come looking for me, like he has in the past.

  That gives me an idea. Go find Taren, I tell Nox. He should be familiar with my friend by now. Nox gets the idea and flies off in the general direction of the village. I lay my head back down and close my eyes.

  I’m alerted a short time later by a smell.

  Wet fur.

  I lift my head to see an animal in the distance, stalking my way.

  Ridgeclaw - Level 5

  It shakes its bark-like fur, dislodging water. We must be near a river.

  It may not sense me yet. I lie low, my eyes locked on the massive beast.

  It continues to lumber along, not directly towards me, but if it continues straight, it will pass very near to me.

  I try [Chilling Presence].

  [Skills] disabled. Source: Claw-Spring Trap Enchantment. Time remaining: 1 hour, 47 minutes.

  No matter my level, I can’t beat a monster I can’t fight.

  I have a knife strapped to my belt, but it’s useless without [Leech Grip] or [Pulse Sever] to back it up.

  I scan the forest floor around me, looking for anything I can use to combat the ridgeclaw. I realize it's pointless. A stick won’t do much better than a knife, even if the ridgeclaw charges into it. And I’m not going to find a better weapon lying around.

  Then my eyes fall upon the pit trap, a good forty feet from me. I glance back at the ridgeclaw, calculating the angle of approach. It could work.

  I drag myself back towards the trap, as quietly as I can manage. I release a breath each time I have to move the metal claw-trap. It helps with the pain.

  The ridgeclaw continues its lumbering gait. But even though it goes slow, it’s too close. The thirty feet left feel as far as a mile now.

  I don’t give up, but I wish Nox could bite me to give me a surge of strength, or at least pain resistance.

  Lift my trapped leg and bring it close, put it down, stretch forward. This is all I think about on repeat: foot for foot, one eye on my destination, the other on the beast.

  I’m ten feet away when the ridgeclaw stops.

  It sniffs the air, then turns towards me. Its eyes meet mine.

  I face the pit trap now. That’s my only hope.

  The ridgeclaw growls and I hear it pounding towards me.

  I don’t lift my trapped leg anymore. I crawl with all I have, gasping and crying out in pain as the trap bounces along the ground.

  Eight feet. Five feet. Three feet.

  The edge of the pit trap is before me. The ridgeclaw’s massive paws thunder behind me.

  I dive for the edge of the pit and swing myself around, crashing the claw-trap into a rock. I scream at the pain in my leg as I face the ridgeclaw down.

  It turns to reach me, but a single paw lands on the fake leaves of the trap and it stumbles. It still swipes at me as it falls, but all it strikes is air.

  I brave a look down into the pit, only for a moment. Spears gut the ridgeclaw in three places. It does not move.

  “Scrapping luck you got, kid.”

  I turn my whole body to face Honep, who steps into the clearing. He has his bow in hand.

  “You did step in one of my traps again, so maybe not too lucky.”

  There’s something off about the hunter.

  “Ferlon’s been looking for you all day, little demon.” Honep takes two steps forward. His bow’s still out, though his arrows remain in their quiver. “His boy’s dead because of you.”

  I grimace at his words. I’d hoped Ferlon would forgive me.

  “Edrine’s been right about you all along, kid. There’s always been something strange about you.” Honep pulls the string of his bow back, then relaxes it. “Kids don’t have dark powers. Kids listen to their elders. And kids speak more than you do.”

  “I don’t try to hurt people,” I say.

  “Edrine’s been saying we need to purge the evil from the village.” He touches the fletching on one of his arrows. “Why do you stay in our village anyhow? Nobody wants you here.”

  My leg continues to throb, distracting me. My eyes don’t leave the bow. “If I’m the evil, then why not kill me?”

  “Cause it’ll affect my [Skills]. I don’t want people killing [Skills]. It’s no good out here.” He steps closer. “An accident will do. Or you can do the brave thing and run away.”

  Honep glances down at the pit trap, then back at me.

  I swallow hard.

  “What are you doing, Honep?”

  Nox flies over and lands on me. Honep’s too distracted by Taren’s entrance to notice.

  Nox, you’re a savior.

  [Spirit Bond] has reached Level 7.

  “Found our little demon,” Honep says.

  “He’s no more a demon than you are,” Taren says. Then he notices my leg. “Crit, Sevorn.”

  He rushes forward and kneels next to me.

  Then he glares at Honep. “Why haven’t you released the trap already?”

  Honep looks between the two of us and the pit trap that sits so close. His eyes darken, but only for a moment. Then he comes close and taps the claw-trap with one finger and the teeth retract.

  I pull my leg free and immediately reach into my pocket for some vitality. [Leech Grip] has never felt so refreshing. My other hand keeps my leg straight so it can knit properly.

  Taren helps me up, then glances down at the pit trap. “You’ve got your hands full harvesting the ridgeclaw,” he says to Honep. “Be sure to save some meat for Sevorn. After all, he’s the one who caught it for you.”

  Honep glares at us, then turns away and focuses on his trap.

  Taren and I walk back towards the village. It feels odd to walk again when I spent the last hours with a broken leg.

  After some time, Taren turns to me. “You really have a bad habit, Sevorn.”

  I’m confused.

  “How many times am I going to rescue you from the forest?”

  He laughs, and I smile, but I don’t feel any joy. I wish I could.

  Taren stops when he notices my smile fade. “I heard about Ponel.” He rubs the back of his head. “Ferlon will get over it.”

  “But will the village?”

  Taren shakes his head. “No. Not with Edrine poisoning their minds against you.”

  “Maybe I should leave…”

  Taren slides to a stop and spins on me. “Don’t even think about it. You’ve done more for Ashgrove than half of the others. You deserve to be here.” He pauses, thinking. “Ponel’s funeral will be tonight. You should come. Let Ferlon burn out his anger. Show everyone that you aren’t afraid of them.”

  “And what if I am?”

  “Then fake some courage.”

  What if cultivation was engineering?

  Engineer mind + Taoist cultivation + Blacksmith MC

  He died. He glimpsed infinity. Now he's building his way back—with a hammer.

  No shortcuts. Just a nine-year-old forging lightning generators and formations in a dying kingdom.

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