After hours of travel, Mixarnt finally stepped out of the World Tree Forest. As he looked back, the forest had vanished. He remembered reading in a book that the elven kingdom and the World Tree Forest were hidden, accessible only if the World Tree permitted it.

Now, in front of and behind him stretched an endless expanse of grassland.

"Hmm, let’s see... I think I kind of understand Enigma’s abilities... well, not all of them, but... I wanna try it out," Mixarnt said to himself. As he looked around, he noticed a group of wild wolves approaching him, with bandits riding on their backs.

Mixarnt’s instincts told him to prepare for a fight, but instead of immediately drawing Enigma, he focused on the bandits atop the wolves. Their malicious intentions were obvious, and a plan began to form in his mind. He decided to test the powers of his spirit weapon. Without hesitation, Mixarnt raised Enigma high. The blade glowed with a pulsing, ethereal light, surrounding him with an otherworldly aura. With a swift, decisive motion, he pointed Enigma toward the bandits and unleashed a concentrated blast of spiritual energy.

The blast hit the bandits with incredible force, knocking them off their wolf mounts. The wolves, startled and confused by the sudden attack, scattered in all directions, leaving the bandits to fend for themselves.

"Y-you brat! That was dangerous!" the bandits shouted as they unsheathed their swords and charged at Mixarnt. Meanwhile, Mixarnt was stunned by the blast of spiritual energy he had just unleashed, and it left him feeling drained.

"This is bad!" Mixarnt said, parrying one of the bandit’s attacks. He then used the bandit’s face as a steppingstone to leap higher into the air. While spinning mid-air, he focused and activated one of Enigma’s abilities.

"Radiant Wave!" Mixarnt swung the sword downward, creating an area-of-effect blast of radiant energy that sent the bandits flying.

The Radiant Wave engulfed the bandits, its shimmering energy tossing them through the air. They landed in a crumpled heap some distance away, limbs twisted and unmoving, knocked unconscious by the force of the attack.

Mixarnt landed gracefully on the grass, breathing heavily. Using Enigma’s abilities had left him exhausted, the weight of the spirit weapon still resonating within him. He staggered forward, gripping Enigma tightly as he approached the defeated bandits. The scene was chaotic—the once-ferocious wolves now cowered in the distance, their sharp fangs bared in fear. Mixarnt looked at the fallen bandits, a flicker of guilt stirring in his chest.

"Ugh... I don’t have a problem with killing bad people. Big sis Fantasia told me to show no mercy when facing evil. But still, I think Enigma might be too powerful," Mixarnt said as he dissolved Enigma into particles of light, which then returned to his body, waiting to be summoned again. Afterward, he began setting up camp.

Once the fire crackled to life, Mixarnt sat cross-legged in front of it, closing his eyes to meditate. The day’s events replayed in his mind—each fight and decision etched into his thoughts like marks on a map. He reflected on his actions, recognizing both his strengths and where he could improve.

The night deepened, and the stars above shone like diamonds scattered across the sky. Mixarnt’s thoughts eventually turned to Nica. His heart filled with affection and longing as he pictured her smile, the way her emerald hair flowed down her back, and the warmth of her kiss.

"For Nica, I’ll become better. Hehe," Mixarnt said, lying on the grassland. He could feel the natural mana around him flowing into his body, replenishing the mana he had used. He made a vow to only use Enigma against very strong opponents or when absolutely necessary. For now, he decided to stick with his wooden sword and wood crafting skills. Breaking out of his trance, he began crafting wooden knives and stone knives using the rocks and plywood he had in his bag.

As Mixarnt’s hands worked skillfully on the wood, his focus shifted from magic and combat to the simple, satisfying art of crafting. The rhythmic sounds of his tools—clicking and clacking—filled the quiet grassland, blending with the peaceful noises of the night.

Under the starry sky, lit by the soft glow of his campfire, Mixarnt lost himself in the calming process of creating something useful and beautiful from raw materials. His mind cleared, and his body relaxed as the day’s exhaustion faded with each careful cut of his chisel and knife.

By the time the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, Mixarnt had finished crafting a dozen wooden knives. Each one was a reflection of his patience and skill, with clean lines and perfect balance. He set them aside, admiring his work. "Alright, time to use Enigma’s other ability again—Dimensional Pocket," Mixarnt said. A dimensional storage space appeared in front of him, and he placed his crafted weapons inside. "Yawn... okay, time to sleep," he mumbled, leaning back against a nearby tree. He decided to continue his journey around noon.

As he rested, mana flowed steadily through his body, keeping him connected to nature. This connection allowed him to sense any potential threats, so he wasn’t worried about being attacked. It was like he was asleep but still aware of everything around him.

Throughout the day, Mixarnt’s bond with nature deepened, putting him in a state of heightened alertness—a kind of waking slumber. His senses remained sharp, picking up even the slightest disruptions in the grassland’s calm. This ensured his safety, even as he appeared relaxed.

In this dream-like state, Mixarnt’s body recovered from the day’s physical exertion, and his mana replenished to its fullest.