Logan returned to the forest near the Temple of Light, Silvia walking quietly beside him. Today, the spirits were finally going to show him where the unicorn lived.
He honestly didn't think it would be a hard fight.
That was the truth. After all, he'd already gathered the pegasi and centaurs from the area, and left them nearby to grow stronger. He didn't plan on using them right away—but being close to the temple made a difference. Creatures under his command absorbed more mana than usual, and with the temple radiating light energy around the clock, it was enough for them to passively level up just by existing here.
Of course, he still had to bring them light mana crystals every so often. That wasn't something he could ignore. But today wasn't about that—it was about choosing who would get the next batch.
The crystals weren't endless. They had to go to whoever needed them most.
Lisa was at the top of that list.
For some reason, she'd become one of his primordial creatures—just like Orus. Something about the whole thing still felt off to him. He couldn't shake the feeling there was more going on than she let on.
He made a note to ask her about it later.
As for the rest, Kryst didn't need anything. The slime was relaxing nearby, soaking in ambient mana like it was sunbathing. Unlike the others, she didn't require crystals to keep growing. She just needed time—and rest from the previous days stay at the temple, she was a little strange today, taking out various books from a storage ring Logan had given her.
Logan stretched out his shoulders as they reached the clearing.
The hunt for the unicorn was finally moving forward, and if the spirits were serious about helping, he'd have answers in a few minutes.
Even though Logan believed things would go smoothly, part of him hoped the creature he was about to face would prove him wrong.
He wanted it to be a challenge.
As he stepped into the part of the forest where he'd fought the day before, he paused. Everything was… healed. Not a single scar remained on the trees or the ground. Even the smallest twig had been restored.
"Now that's impressive," he muttered, eyeing the pristine clearing. Then he spotted a spirit hovering nearby, its body flickering like a white flame caught in the wind. "Too bad I can't tame you too."
The spirit shimmered in response, reacting to his words.
"You've arrived!" it chimed. Its voice was high and strange, almost childlike. "No, you can't tame spirits yet. Death—only death awaits! But now… pact is complete. You will be rewarded. Let's go!"
Logan raised a brow. This one didn't sound like the spirit from yesterday. Then again, they all looked the same—glowing, weightless bodies of light with no features to tell them apart. He couldn't even tell if they had a humanoid form underneath the glow.
"Yes, yes… let's just get this over with," he sighed, following behind as the spirit floated ahead like an excited child leading the way through the woods.
He thought they'd be walking the whole way.
Without warning, the spirit opened a portal mid-step, and Logan—still not ready—stumbled as his foot landed on unfamiliar ground. He quickly adjusted his stance, hand on his weapon, scanning the new environment.
The grass here was long, untouched. No trails, no worn paths. Every step rustled like a warning. It was the kind of place where predators waited just out of sight.
Logan's eyes narrowed.
Something was here. And this time, it wouldn't be easy, he could the aura of a particular creature nearby.
"Quiet. We only protect him from afar. He is powerful, and you will scare him!"
The spirit floated in front of Logan, its glowing hands pressing against his chest. He didn't feel the touch—his dark armor saw to that—but he did feel the weight behind the force that stopped him from advancing. It was like trying to walk into a solid wall. For something so small, it held terrifying force.
Logan's eyes narrowed.
That strength… was no joke, were they holding back during our last fight? he wondered.
"Don't tell me you had this kind of power the whole time?" he whispered, lowering his voice instinctively. If the unicorn was nearby, he didn't want to spook it.
The spirit giggled lightly.
"Can be strong," it said. "If given sufficient mana… we convert it to power."
Then, with a sudden flick of its tiny hand, it motioned for him to crouch.
Logan followed carefully. The two crept forward through the tall grass until they reached a natural rise overlooking a clearing. There, in the distance, smaller spirits danced in the air like lazy fireflies, drifting around a glimmering lake.
A waterfall spilled down from moss-covered rock, mist catching in the light like diamonds in the air.
And at the edge of the water… it stood.
A majestic creature with a silver mane and an ivory horn bowed low to drink from the lake. Its coat shimmered with a soft golden hue, as if light itself clung to its form.
"Is that it?" Logan asked under his breath.
"Yes," the spirit whispered. "One of few that remain. A solitary one… one we have nurtured and strengthened."
It hovered back, letting Logan move forward.
"Show your true strength," it said. "If not… you will not be allowed to tame it. This is the will of our lord."
Logan stood slowly, eyes fixed on the unicorn.
"So it's another trial after all…"
He took one step forward slowly trying not to ruffle the grass a lot.
"Alright, let's try this, then," Logan muttered, cracking his neck as he spotted the unicorn by the lake. "Guess it's going to be a long battle. Don't get mad if your forest burns down again."
He chuckled softly but quickly got serious. This wasn't just about taming a beast—it was a trial.
Just like any major fight, he needed to choose his opening moves carefully. His mind cycled through his vast arsenal, eventually settling on a strategy.
Start with Yui's shinobi skills for mobility… mix in Regal's darkness techniques for offense…
Then he paused, recalling the morning's quiet moment with Ruri. Specifically, her hybrid magic.
A rare blend of light and darkness—a neutral elemental strike. That one could be the wild card.
Satisfied with the lineup, Logan took out his whip. The coiled weapon shimmered faintly, ready to be laced with darkness mana. He didn't intend to damage the unicorn—at least not more than necessary. His goal was total control this time, he wanted to see if doing things like cowboy's worked.
Before him, the creature grazed calmly near the water's edge, its pristine white body glowing under the filtered sunlight. It was the size of a warhorse, its mane flowing like silver threads. But it was the horn that truly marked it—radiant, divine, pulsing with mana like a miniature sun.
The aura alone made Logan squint.
So, this is what I'm up against…
He pumped himself up, the familiar rhythm of combat focusing his thoughts.
He vanished, blinking through the cover of the tall grass, appearing just a few meters away from the unicorn's flank where an arrow had dug into the ground. The moment he landed, he reached for the whip, aiming to wrap and bind the creature before it could flee or retaliate.
At the same time, he braced—this would be a test for more than just his strength. He wanted to see just how durable Ruben's new armor really was… and whether his enchanted gauntlets could withstand dealing a few punches.
As for the unicorn it did not looked spooked, it seemed to have been waiting for him.