Chapter 63 – When the Forest Answers
Peterson opened his eyes slowly.
For a moment, all he saw was darkness and stone. Then the faint orange glow of dying embers came into focus, along with the steady sound of breathing beside him.
Before he even sat up, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Daily Quests Updated
• Training Session (+10 EXP)
• Quiet Meditation (+20 EXP)
• Demon Beast Hunt (+50 EXP)
(Daily quests reset at the start of each day.)
Peterson let out a quiet breath.
"Good morning to you too."
Naëlle was still asleep, curled slightly on her side, her usually sharp presence softened by exhaustion. Watching her like this, Peterson felt something twist in his chest — not fear, not urgency — responsibility.
He quietly opened his Dimensional Storage.
Bread.
Peanut butter.
Cans of milk.
"…Still here," he whispered, smiling.
He worked carefully, spreading peanut butter thickly, pouring milk into a small cup, warming what he could by the fire. It wasn't fancy, but it was food — real food.
By the time he finished, Naëlle stirred.
Her nose wrinkled.
"…Is that breakfast?"
Peterson shrugged. "Don't judge. We're in the middle of demon gorilla territory."
She sat up, took a bite — then paused.
"…Okay," she said slowly. "I did not expect this."
He smirked. "You're welcome."
Naëlle studied him for a second longer than necessary. Not teasing. Not joking.
Something… different.
"You've changed," she said.
Peterson stood, stretching.
"Yeah," he replied quietly. "And I'm not done."
He clenched his fists.
Time to get stronger.
They left the cave as the forest woke around them.
The massive four-horned gorilla statue still loomed in the distance, unmoving, watching. Still far. Too far.
Then—
Leaves rustled.
Naëlle stopped instantly.
"…Peterson."
Shapes moved between the trees.
Too many.
Gorillas poured out in waves.
Hornless ones first — dozens.
Then one-horns.
Then two-horns.
And finally—
Two three-horned gorillas, towering, eyes sharp with intelligence.
Peterson swallowed.
"That's… a lot."
"This is not good," Naëlle muttered.
She moved without hesitation.
Water surged around her body, forming sleek armor. Liquid skates shaped beneath her feet, lifting her just off the ground. Twin water guns formed in her hands, glowing softly.
Behind her, water clones split off — three, then five.
Peterson took a breath.
No weapons.
Just him.
[SYSTEM REMINDER]
Unspent Stat Points: 20
Peterson remembered the night before.
"…All into Strength."
[STAT ALLOCATION CONFIRMED]
Strength: 1 → 21
The change wasn't flashy.
It was weight.
His arms felt heavier. Denser. When he clenched his fist, the air around it felt tight, like the world expected something to break.
Naëlle glanced at him.
"…You feel different."
Peterson cracked his neck.
"Good."
The first hornless gorilla charged.
Peterson sidestepped and punched.
CRACK.
The gorilla folded instantly.
Peterson froze.
"…Oh."
Another came.
He ducked, rolled, and drove a kick into its chest — ribs caved in. A third leapt from the side; Peterson caught it mid-air and slammed it into the ground hard enough to shake the dirt.
[SYSTEM LOG]
Beast Defeated: Gorilla (No Horn)
EXP Gained: +10
More rushed him.
Peterson moved on instinct now.
Punch.
Elbow.
Kick.
Each hit landed harder than the last.
[SYSTEM LOG]
Beast Defeated: Gorilla (No Horn)
EXP Gained: +10
A one-horn charged.
It hit him — hard — but Peterson barely slid back a step. He answered with a straight punch to the jaw.
The horned gorilla collapsed without another sound.
[SYSTEM LOG]
Beast Defeated: Gorilla (1 Horn – E-Rank)
EXP Gained: +30
Naëlle fought like a storm beside him.
Water rounds pierced skulls. Clones distracted and pinned. Two-horns dropped one after another — but even she was starting to breathe harder.
Peterson spotted a three-horn charging her from behind.
"NAËLLE!"
He intercepted it mid-swing.
The impact sent him skidding back, boots carving lines into the dirt.
"…Yeah," he muttered, wiping blood from his lip. "You're tougher."
The fight was brutal.
He got hit.
Hard.
But he hit back harder.
[SYSTEM LOG]
Beast Defeated: Gorilla (2 Horns – D-Rank)
EXP Gained: +50
The forest shook as bodies fell.
Minutes felt like hours.
Finally—
Silence.
Peterson counted, chest heaving.
"…One hundred."
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Quest Completed: A Hundred Beasts
Total Gorillas Defeated: 100 / 100
Rewards Granted:
• +1000 EXP
• New Skill Unlocked: Veve's Weapon Staff
Power surged through him.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
LEVEL UP x MULTIPLE
• All Vitals Restored
• All Core Stats +1 per level
His wounds vanished.
His breath steadied.
His body felt… right.
A dark staff formed in his hand.
Peterson stared at it.
"…Finally."
Naëlle looked at him, eyes wide.
"…You did that with punches?"
Peterson smiled.
"Told you I wasn't done."
A growl echoed.
They turned.
The last three-horned gorilla wasn't attacking them.
It was feeding.
Ripping crystals from dead bodies. Eating them.
Energy surged around it.
Its body grew taller.
Muscles bulged grotesquely.
Fangs extended.
Eyes burned red.
Two more horns erupted from its skull.
Five.
Naëlle's voice was quiet.
"…That's bad."
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
New Threat Detected
Target: 5-Horn Gorilla (Rank-???)
Threat Level: Extreme
New Quest: Defeat the Mutated Gorilla
Reward: +1000 EXP
Bonus Reward:
New Skill – Gorilla Rush
Gain the strength of a mighty 5-horn gorilla.
To improve this skill, higher-horn gorillas must be consumed.
The mutated beast roared, shaking the trees.
Peterson tightened his grip on the staff.
"Well," he said with a crooked grin,
"I hope we don't die from this one."
Naëlle summoned more water, eyes locked forward.
"…Try not to," she replied.
The forest fell silent.
Waiting.
End of Chapter 63