Chapter 107: Senior?
Liam was still reeling from the thrill of his first actual fight. And not just any fight but against a beast from another world. A cultivation world beast.
His lungs burned, his temples still throbbed faintly from the strain of telekinesis, and his knuckles tingled with the memory of hammering against bones as dense as steel. His chest heaved as he stood there in the eerie stillness of the forest, the Ironblood Bear’s retreating form already swallowed by the night.
He had never felt so alive.
The adrenaline coursing through his body felt like fire in his veins, keeping him sharp, restless. He had never been in a real fight before. Not a street brawl or a sparring match, nothing. His life had been nothing short of ordinary... and boring. But now? Now he understood why warriors lived for the battlefield.
"This... this is insane," Liam muttered to himself, with a grin on his face. "I didn’t know I was missing out on something like this."
Of course, he knew Earth could never give him this kind of experience. Unless he walked into the gray, violent underworld of crime or mercenary work — something he had no interest in — he would never feel this rush.
The fight had pushed him to the brink, even if he hadn’t shown it. Already, with the adrenaline slowly ebbing, he was starting to feel the aftershocks. His back ached where he had slammed into the tree, his ribs throbbed faintly where the bear’s kick had connected, and his temples still ached slightly from the telekinetic strain.
But the pain wasn’t unbearable. It was manageable. It was like a badge of proof that he had survived.
"Alright... time to move," Liam exhaled.
He rolled his shoulders once and winced slightly before straightening his back. His eagle-like eyes swept the darkness of the forest until they caught the faint outlines of the three cultivators who had hidden themselves during the battle, and he walked toward them with steady steps.
The trio stiffened. The older man, sword still clutched in hand, straightened his back and stepped forward. The two women — one younger, one closer to his age — quickly followed, their expressions a mix of awe and fear.
When Liam finally stood before them and their reaction was immediate. They lowered their heads and greeted him with formal bows.
"Senior," the older man said hurriedly, with his voice hoarse with tension. "Forgive us. If we said or did anything that was disrespectful earlier... we beg your pardon."
Liam blinked in faint surprise. Senior? Him?
He almost laughed but caught himself, his lips twitching with amusement. These three saw him as some kind of expert. Perhaps even a hidden master wandering the mortal world. If only they knew he was an eighteen-year-old kid from Earth who just unlocked his powers a few minutes ago.
Still, he gave them a small smile and shook his head. "No offense taken. Relax."
The cultivators exhaled in relief. The younger woman’s shoulders slumped slightly, as though she had been holding her breath the entire time.
Liam kept his tone casual as he asked, "I need directions. How do I get out of this forest?"
The three exchanged glances, clearly surprised. But the older man quickly recovered and gestured toward the east. "Senior, if you follow that path for two hours, you’ll find the forest’s edge. Beyond that is open plains."
"Good," Liam nodded. "Thank you."
He turned without hesitation and began walking in the direction they indicated. Behind him, the trio exchanged bewildered glances but quickly fell into step, following him at a respectful distance.
The forest stretched endlessly around them. Every step echoed softly against the earth, crunching leaves and snapping twigs. The trees towered above like ancient guardians, their massive trunks blotting out most of the moonlight.
The journey was long and silent. The cultivators dared not speak in the presence of this mysterious "senior," while Liam himself was preoccupied.
In truth, while his body walked on autopilot, his mind wasn’t here. Through the Gear Glass interface, he was already replaying the battle with the Ironblood Bear in augmented reality. The fight hovered before his eyes like a holographic recording, every movement slowed, every strike analyzed.
He studied the bear’s swipes, his own dodges, the moment when telekinesis nearly buckled under the strain. His Perfect Memory played each detail with flawless precision, allowing him to spot gaps in his stance and inefficiencies in his strikes.
"I need to strengthen my control," he muttered under his breath. "Too much strain for too little hold. If I refine it, I can do more with less."
The cultivators glanced at him when they heard his voice but quickly looked away, afraid to interrupt his thoughts.
After what felt like hours, the oppressive canopy began to thin. The air grew lighter, fresher. Liam stepped out from the treeline, and suddenly the world opened up.
A wide clearing stretched before him, bathed in silver moonlight. The enormous moon hung low in the sky, its pale glow painting the plains in ethereal hues. For the first time since arriving, Liam could truly see the sky.
"Beautiful," he whispered, his gaze lingering on the colossal moon. For all the strangeness of this world, its beauty was undeniable.
He turned back to the three cultivators, who had stopped a short distance behind him, watching nervously.
"One more thing," Liam said calmly. "Which way to the nearest village?"
The question stunned them again. A master of his level, asking for directions like a traveler? The younger woman blinked, then quickly bowed and pointed toward the distant hills. "Senior, three hours that way. You’ll find a small settlement."
Liam nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks again."
He turned, bent his knees slightly... and then vanished.
One heartbeat he was there, the next he was gone, his body disappearing like mist under the moonlight.
The cultivators froze, their eyes wide with shock.
The older man’s sword arm trembled slightly before he let it fall slack at his side. He exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "An expert... we truly met an expert tonight."
His gaze lingered on the place where Liam had stood. Regret flickered across his features. "And I... failed to even ask his name. What an opportunity missed. I pray we cross paths again."
The women nodded silently, still shaken.
***
Meanwhile, Liam appeared back in the endless wasteland of the Dimensional Space.
He collapsed into the chair with a long exhale, rubbing his temples as the tension finally drained out of him.
"Sir? Master Liam? Are you alright?" Lucy asked with worry clearly evident in her voice.
"I’m fine," Liam said with a chuckle, leaning back. "More than fine. Just... a little exhausted. How long was I gone, Lucy? On Earth’s time."
"Checking now..."
A brief pause, then her answer came. "Less than a minute."
Liam sat up straight, his eyes widening slightly. "A minute? No way. I was in that forest for hours."
"Time dilation appears to apply differently there," Lucy explained. "If you felt hours pass, but Earth only experienced seconds... then that world runs much faster than your home universe."
Liam’s brows furrowed in thought. That meant he could spend weeks, even months, in that cultivation world, and barely any time would pass on Earth. It was just like the Dimensional Space.
"Interesting," he murmured, tapping his chin. "Very interesting."
He was curious to know more but he decided filed the thought away for later. He was curious, yes, but curiosity alone wouldn’t solve anything right now. He would test it further when he returned during the daytime, when the world was clearer and safer to explore.
For now, he leaned back, closed his eyes, and smiled to himself.
"Alright," he said softly, rising from his chair. "Back to Earth. I need a shower."