---

“Shit! Run! Run away!”

The man, who was once the leader of a mercenary group and now the boss of a bandit gang, let out a sharp cry as soon as he saw Gilbert cutting down his men with a cold gaze.

Though it had been over a decade since he escaped the war-torn battlefield, he hadn’t forgotten the scenes from those days. It was a primal instinct, a longing for survival. He had survived this long by avoiding people with those kinds of eyes.

Without even checking if his men were following, the bandit boss sprinted forward, running aimlessly, only looking ahead. He didn’t dare glance back, not even for a second, focusing solely on fleeing.

Though it was only a few minutes in time, it was enough to escape if his men had acted as shields.

Though his breath was growing ragged, it seemed entirely possible to survive again if he just kept hiding and running.

‘Just a little…! Just a little faster!’

Swoosh!

With a chilling sound, his body tilted forward. His left leg, unable to keep up with his momentum, collapsed as he fell.

Tumbling forward, the bandit boss didn’t even feel the pain of his severed leg, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Gilbert, who had cut off his leg, stood in the direction he had been fleeing, holding a blood-soaked sword.

Though the pain of the severed leg burned belatedly, the fear of impending death consumed him. He tried to speak, but Gilbert’s sword was faster, cleanly slicing through his neck.

With his head severed by the swift blade, he died without even realizing it, his face frozen in desperation.

Gilbert, still with emotionless eyes, swung his sword, shaking off the blood, and sheathed it before leaving the scene.

It had taken him less than 10 minutes to deal with the bandits who had ambushed him.

‘Not exactly a good feeling.’

Though it wasn’t his first time killing, wielding a sword to take someone’s life wasn’t a pleasant experience. He wasn’t a bloodthirsty psychopath, and he couldn’t help but wonder if there had been a better choice.

But he didn’t regret it.

If he hadn’t hardened his heart, it might have been him lying dead.

Otherwise, he might have hesitated and left behind future troubles. He had already experienced such things countless times in his past life, so there was no need to repeat them here.

Feeling inexplicably tired, Gilbert returned to where the battle had begun. Severed limbs were scattered everywhere, and the corpses of the bandits who had attacked him lay strewn about.

Shaking his head at the pungent smell of blood, he approached a large old tree.

Counting the thick roots protruding from the dry ground, he gently stroked the largest one twice before inserting his hand into a knot hole and carefully channeling mana in a specific pattern.

Swoosh!

The knot hole rotated clockwise like a door opening, expanding to a size large enough for a person to enter. Relieved that the mechanism still worked as he knew it, he stepped through the hole.

As he entered, the knot hole shrank back to its original size, leaving only the corpses of the bandits Gilbert had slain.

***

The Lion King’s final resting place was a secret location accessible only by inputting a specific mana sequence.

Terodamas had also discovered this place by sheer coincidence. It was one of the locations he had found when he discovered the decisive artifact that allowed him to become the Lion King. During a rebellion by his officials, he had managed to remember this place and hid here to plan his next move.

Only Terodamas knew of this location, and he had altered the method of entry so that even if someone found it, they couldn’t enter. It was one of the Lion King’s hidden sanctuaries.

In the game, players had to read the Lion King’s biography in detail to uncover the method, as it contained hints about the mana sequence needed to enter.

Newbies who finally found the location after much hardship were met with another puzzle, but this was only relevant in the early days after the game’s release.

Now, with all the game’s information available in the community, only concept plays or time attacks remained as content.

As Gilbert entered the sanctuary, his darkened vision brightened. Unlike the desolate valley outside, it felt like a lush forest with dense trees and grass.

Recalling the moment he first saw this place and couldn’t help but laugh at how obvious it was that something was hidden, Gilbert stepped on the grass and headed toward the large building at the center.

As he stood before the building covered in green vines, the door slid open halfway automatically. It kept opening and closing as if stuck, prompting Gilbert to sigh deeply.

There was only one way to deal with this.

Kicking the door with his foot as it closed, it finally opened fully. Though it seemed like an old-fashioned method, it was actually a high-level technique of breaking the blocked mana flow with his foot.

Inside, the mana stones embedded in the ceiling lit up. Not all were functioning, as some along the long corridor remained dark.

Walking slowly down the corridor, he headed toward the room with the journal. Passing through the central hall, the largest room on this floor was Gilbert’s destination.

Kicking open the stubborn door again, he found a withered mummy sitting at the desk.

With long, curly hair like a lion’s mane and skin that hadn’t decayed.

The mummy of the Lion King, Terodamas, was right before his eyes.

Gilbert felt his heart race at the thought of finally obtaining Lionheart. During his time playing Tactical Combat, he had researched all mana meditation techniques of the same level as Lionheart, but he believed the Lion King’s technique was the best.

For Gilbert, who primarily used high-speed maneuvering with colossal mechs, Lionheart’s compressed and instantaneous mana output felt like a perfectly tailored suit.

In fact, Gilbert had chosen “Lion” as his middle name with the Lion King’s Lionheart technique in mind, showing just how much he valued it.

Calming his pounding heart, he placed his hand on the mummy’s shoulder.

Snap!

As soon as his hand touched the shoulder, Terodamas’ mummy grabbed Gilbert’s wrist.

Startled by the sudden turn of events, Gilbert reflexively punched the mummy’s head, sending it flying. Unlike in the game, where it would have just turned to dust, he acted on instinct.

Fortunately, the gimmick ended there, as light flowed from the severed head and body, seeping into Gilbert.

[You have acquired the Lion King’s Mana Meditation Technique.]

[You have learned the new skill Lionheart.]

[Achievement updated.]

A translucent notification appeared, and the meditation technique for Lionheart was imprinted in his mind. The flow and manipulation of mana came naturally, so there was no need to memorize anything.

Thankfully, the game system still applied in this aspect, making things incredibly convenient.

Gilbert first grabbed a thick stack of parchment from the desk where Terodamas’ mummy had been sitting. While his main goal was Lionheart, he hadn’t forgotten his promise to Professor Horizon.

Knowing Horizon’s eccentric personality, he was sure the professor would expel him if he forgot, so he made sure to take the journal Terodamas had written before leaving.

Gilbert quickly cleared the dust-covered bed and sat down. This place was essentially his safe space, known only to him, so he decided to consume the dragon fruit he had been holding onto.

Originally, he planned to return to the academy and use the Mana Training Facility, but there was a slight risk of being interrupted during his mana meditation after consuming the fruit.

In contrast, since only he knew of this place, it was the perfect environment to eat the dragon fruit.

‘Let’s begin.’

By consuming the dragon fruit after learning the Lionheart mana meditation technique, he could achieve an achievement and receive a reward.

Gilbert had delayed eating the fruit until he obtained Lionheart for this very reason.

Finally having obtained Lionheart, Gilbert grinned and chewed up the dragon fruit he had taken out, swallowing it whole. He felt the warm mana flow down his throat and into his body.

Without delay, he began circulating the mana throughout his body using the Lionheart technique.

The mana circulating through his body began to burn away all the waste and impurities. The dragon fruit, containing immense mana, fiercely coursed through his meridians but was restrained by Lionheart’s control.

The mana spread to every corner of his body, from his head to his toes, before finally calming down and gathering in one place under Gilbert’s guidance.

Taking a deep breath, Gilbert opened his eyes, and a translucent message greeted him.

[By consuming the dragon fruit, your Mana Ability Stat has greatly increased.]

[You have met the special condition and achieved the achievement Nemean Lion.]

[By achieving the Nemean Lion, you have learned the skill Nemea.]

Gilbert opened his skill window to confirm the skills.

<Skill Window>

1. Three-Dimensional Maneuvering (+)

2. Lionheart (+)

3. Nemea (+)

As expected, Lionheart and Nemea were registered in his skill window. He first opened the detailed description of Lionheart.

<Lionheart>

Grade: Legendary (Lv.1)

Effects:

– Greatly increases mana recovery speed.

– Mana within the body is highly compressed.

– Greatly increases instantaneous mana output.

– ??? (Currently sealed.)

The description alone was reassuring. As a high-grade mana meditation technique, it naturally increased mana recovery speed and allowed for more mana to be stored by compressing it.

The instantaneous mana output from the compressed mana core was perfect.

Though the last function was sealed, he didn’t mind. He knew how to unlock it, but he doubted he would in this lifetime.

He closed Lionheart’s description and opened Nemea’s.

<Nemea>

Grade: Normal (Lv.1)

Description: The heart of a lion and the mana of a dragon begin to merge, bringing forth a myth.

Effects:

– Slightly increases body durability.

– Slightly increases stamina.

– Growth-type skill.

The skill Nemea.

Inspired by the Nemean Lion from Greek and Roman mythology, a monstrous lion that Hercules struggled to strangle for 30 days, this skill granted the endurance and durability of the mythical beast.

For Gilbert, who often piloted high-grade colossal mechs, the physical strain was no joke, so a passive skill that boosted durability was incredibly useful.

Satisfied that everything was just like in the game, Gilbert closed the skill window.

With this, he had obtained everything he could from this sub-quest.

Brushing off his seat, Gilbert hurriedly left the sanctuary. Seeing the sun setting, he realized it would be morning by the time he reached Obitus, even if he hurried.

In the game, the skill would have been created immediately upon consuming the dragon fruit, but in reality, it seemed he needed time to refine the mana using the meditation technique.

Still, having efficiently obtained everything he wanted, Gilbert smiled as he headed toward Obitus. Even if he had to sleep rough tonight, he felt like he could smile happily.

 

---