---
A few days after returning to Rainforest, Ryu sat beside Mina beneath the old acacia tree near their village's edge. The breeze was light, and the sun filtered through the thick leaves above.
"I've been thinking," Ryu said quietly, "This place is peaceful, but we can't stay here forever."
Mina looked at him, confused. "You don't like it here anymore?"
"I do," he replied with a small smile. "But I want somewhere safer for you. Somewhere with better schools… and fewer monsters."
That's how the decision was made.
They packed what little they had and left the South Continent behind. With his savings from Ambriza—still holding over 90 gold ounces—Ryu could afford to start fresh anywhere.
They crossed borders by foot and then by merchant ship, eventually arriving in the Eastern Continent, the most stable and secure of the five known lands. It was well-developed, peaceful, and governed by strict order. Monsters here were rare and mostly confined to designated zones. People lived longer, and violence was discouraged by strong civil law.
Their destination: Fleedorb, a mid-sized country known for its green hills, clean roads, and structured cities.
---
The house he bought was small but well-built, tucked into a quiet town just outside Fleedorb's capital. It had stone walls, a proper fireplace, and even a small garden. Compared to the hut they once shared in Rainforest, this was luxury.
Mina couldn't stop smiling for days.
Here, for the first time, she could walk to a real school.
Ryu noticed the differences quickly. People in Fleedorb trained differently. Internal Mob Arts were the standard—focusing on control, reinforcement, and inner circulation. Most Mobs here didn't swing swords or break rocks. They honed energy flow to enhance speed, reaction, and durability.
In contrast, Ryu's style was rough, forged in physical struggle. His techniques were heavy, his steps straightforward. He was stronger than average here, yes—but his method was outdated by local standards.
People noticed.
Not with scorn, but curiosity.
"An External Mob?" some muttered during training sessions.
"He's from the South, must be."
"He's strong… but unrefined."
Ryu didn't argue. He didn't feel threatened.
If anything, he felt excited.
The Eastern Continent was full of new things to learn. New forms of battle. New types of energy work.
He'd finally found a place where he wasn't already the strongest—a place where he could grow without having to look back.
---
That night, he and Mina sat by the fire, sipping warm soup. She was wearing a uniform now, proudly showing off her school's emblem.
"You look different," she said, staring at him.
"Do I?"
"Yeah. Like you've found something."
Ryu stared into the fire and smiled.
"Maybe I did."
---
To be continued..