Lord of Avalon : Lost in Another World

As the night deepened, Ardi sat among the wolf-kin, the flickering flames of the campfire casting long shadows across their rugged faces. The scent of burning wood mixed with the cool night air, and the distant howls of Timber Wolves echoed through the dense forest.

Garmund, the wolf-kin leader, stroked his chin thoughtfully, his amber eyes fixed on Ardi. "So… you want us to join your village?"

Ardi nodded. "I won't rush you. Trust isn't built overnight. But I want you to know that Minori Village welcomes those who are willing to contribute and live in harmony."

Ferna, sitting nearby, perked up her ears. "But why, Lord Ardi? Why do you want us there?"

Ardi chuckled. "First of all, just call me Ardi. And second… I believe different races can live together. Minori Village is growing fast, and strong allies are always needed. You have skills we lack, and in return, the village can offer stability—food, shelter, and protection."

Garmund exchanged glances with the other wolf-kin warriors. They were proud hunters and survivors, but even they couldn't deny their uncertain future.

Then, Garmund sighed, his tail flicking slightly. "You speak wisely, young lord. But we are not used to settling down. We've always wandered, hunting to survive. Can a place truly be called home if our instincts demand freedom?"

Ardi leaned forward. "Who says joining Minori Village means giving up your freedom? You'd have a home base—a place to return to after exploring and hunting. And besides…" He smirked. "If Timber Wolves are evolving, wouldn't it be better for them to grow in a safe environment?"

That struck a chord.

The wolf-kin exchanged looks. The Timber Wolves were more than companions—they were family.

After a moment, Garmund grunted. "You make a strong argument, Ardi. But we'll take our time to decide."

Ardi smiled. "That's all I ask. In the meantime, if you need supplies or want to trade, our village market is open. We still use barter, but I plan to introduce proper currency soon."

The wolf-kin murmured among themselves, intrigued by the idea of trade.

After some more conversation, Ardi stifled a yawn. "Alright, I'm calling it a night."

As he stood, Yui floated beside him, her fairy form glowing softly under the moonlight. "Ara~ You actually know when to stop? I thought you'd talk until sunrise."

Ardi rolled his eyes. "I'd rather not collapse from exhaustion, thanks."

Yui giggled. "Good boy."

Ignoring her teasing, Ardi opened his quest menu and pressed [Claim Rewards].

----------------------------------------

[Daily Quest Rewards Received]

+3 Low-Tier Gacha Tickets

+1 Blank Sketchbook (Common)

+10 Fish Bait (Common)

+1 Weighted Bracelet Set (Uncommon) [20× 1kg bracelets]

----------------------------------------

Ardi raised an eyebrow at the last reward. "Huh. Not bad."

Yui peeked at the floating panel. "Oh? Planning to train with those?"

"Maybe," Ardi muttered, equipping one bracelet on each wrist and ankle. The extra weight wasn't too bad—yet.

Yui narrowed her eyes and poked his arm. "You better not overdo it. You always push yourself too hard."

Ardi grinned. "Are you worried about me?"

Yui crossed her arms and looked away with a pout. "Hmph. If you break yourself, who else will spoil me?"

Ardi chuckled, then pulled her into a gentle hug. Yui yelped softly but didn't resist.

"Don't worry," he murmured. "I'll take care of myself."

Yui sighed, relaxing against him. "You better."

After a few more quiet moments, they settled in for the night, the sounds of the wilderness lulling them to sleep.

The morning air smelled of damp earth and pine as Ardi stood in the training ground near the wolf-kin camp. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows over the grass. The weight of the bracelets on his wrists and ankles felt heavier than last night.

Across from him, Ren stood motionless, his dark shinobi attire blending into the background. His posture was deceptively relaxed, but Ardi knew better—Ren was always analyzing.

Above them, Yui hovered lazily, her small legs swaying in the air. "Are you sure you want to do this so early? You barely had time to cuddle with me!" she teased.

Ardi stretched. "Tempting, but I have training to do." He smirked. "I'll make it up to you later."

Yui's cheeks flushed slightly, but she turned away. "Hmph! You better."

Ren cleared his throat. "My Lord, shinobi kenjutsu is not like the swordplay you learned from Kenshin. This is not about honor—it's about survival."

Ardi grinned. "That's fine. I want to learn everything before making my own style."

Ren sighed. "Then let's begin."

Ren picked up a dry branch and held it like a ninjato. "Shinobi kenjutsu has three core principles: speed, deception, and unpredictability."

Whoosh—!

In an instant, he vanished.

Thwack!

A sharp tap landed against Ardi's ribs.

"Dead," Ren muttered from behind him.

Ardi winced, rubbing his side. "Damn… That was fast."

Ren nodded. "A shinobi doesn't fight strength with strength. We flow around the enemy and strike when they least expect it."

Ardi tightened his grip on his own branch. "Alright, teach me."

For the next ninety minutes, Ren drilled Ardi on the fundamentals:

Sudden Movements – Instead of steady strikes like a samurai, shinobi used bursts of speed to disappear from sight.

Unorthodox Footwork – Quick steps, feints, and silent movements to confuse opponents.

Multi-Directional Attacks – Strikes from unexpected angles, including low sweeps and backward slashes.

Ren demonstrated each move flawlessly. Ardi tried to follow, but his footwork felt clumsy.

"Again," Ren ordered.

Ardi dashed forward, stepping to the side—but overcompensated.

Whoosh—!

He stumbled forward awkwardly.

"Too much momentum," Ren corrected. "A shinobi moves just enough to escape detection."

Ardi exhaled and adjusted.

The next attempt was better, but still rough.

Ren suddenly lunged—too fast to react.

Thwack!

Ardi barely registered the wooden blade smacking his thigh before he dropped to one knee.

Yui winced. "Oof. That looked like it hurt."

Ardi gritted his teeth. "Tch… I get it. I need to control my movement."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Then fix it."

Ardi groaned but got back up.

Again.

Another ten minutes passed.

Ardi's breathing was heavy, sweat dripping down his forehead. But something changed.

At first, he could barely react to Ren's movements. Now, he could anticipate.

His Ultimate Adaptation kicked in.

Ren lunged again—this time, Ardi saw it.

Instead of stepping back awkwardly, he pivoted, deflecting the wooden blade.

Clack!

Ren's eyes narrowed. "Good."

Then, for the first time—

Thwack!

Ren staggered slightly, Ardi's wooden blade pressed against his ribs.

A pause.

Then, Ren smirked. "You learn fast."

Ardi grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Thanks to you."

Ren sighed. "You two really are something else."

Ardi grinned. "Welcome to my world, Ren."