Currently, Leo was enjoying himself to the fullest.

He sat atop the Colossus's broad back as it moved through the forest.

No—glided through it.

Quite literally.

This was the effect of the trait—

Controlled Weight Flow: It redistributes its massive weight through spiritual resonance, allowing it to walk without crushing vegetation if willed. It also softens the impact across its body.

Despite its overwhelming size, the Colossus never damaged the flora beneath its feet. The moment its foot brushed against soil, roots, or bark, a subtle, unseen pressure spread outward from below, lifting its immense body just enough to keep it afloat. It was almost magical, as if the forest itself had chosen to bear its weight. But Leo could tell it wasn't automatic. Howl(the Colossus's name) was consciously, or perhaps subconsciously, exerting mental strength to maintain that balance. Whenever it came to a complete stop, however, the illusion shattered. The legs would sink, and whatever lay beneath them would be crushed without mercy.

Luck had it that Leo shared the same trait—Controlled Weight Flow. Though his version was extremely restricted, he could still redistribute his own weight… and even increase it. Just imagining how devastating a controlled freefall from the sky could be made the corners of his mouth twitch.

He had already changed into a clean set of clothes after bathing in a nearby pond: a plain tunic and well-stitched pants, simple but comfortable. He'd promised himself not to fight until he reached Thalor City. It was the fourth day since he had tamed Howl, and by now, he could tell he was nearly halfway there, supposedly where Lily would be now.

For something as massive as a Cragveil Colossus, Howl moved at a terrifying pace. Its legs—though they looked almost small compared to the hill-like bulk it carried on its back—were impossibly tall. A single step covered nearly thirty meters. In just thirty-five steps, it was already a full kilometre ahead. On average, it took Howl nearly ten seconds to move one side of its legs.

That meant one minute for roughly 180 meters. One hour for a staggering 10.8 kilometres. And in a full day, nearly 260 kilometres. And this was not even its top speed.

The trial range was only four hundred to six hundred kilometres in radius.

So why hadn't they reached the city yet?

Because they kept stopping.

Howl needed food—a lot of it. With a body that size, even lifting a foot demanded an absurd amount of energy. But that energy didn't come solely from beasts.

It came from plants.

If one zoomed the perspective out and looked down from high above, Howl's back was once again blanketed in greenery. Mossy patches, thick vines, broad-leafed plants, and strange luminous growths covered its stony surface. And among them, a small, pitiful-looking creature could be seen tirelessly at work—pruning, nurturing, and accelerating their growth.

Leo had ordered Niri to regrow the plants on Howl's back so it could draw energy from them once more. Howl, having lived for an unknown span of time, knew exactly what kind of plants it needed. It communicated those needs through intent—subtle pulses of desire and hunger. Shyra and Nyxa would then head out to retrieve the appropriate flora. The process was effective… but it slowed their pace drastically.

To speed up Howl's recovery even further, Leo had planted the Titanbreath Lotus at the very peak of Howl's back. The only thing they lacked now was a proper water source. For the time being, Niri compensated by personally tending to the plants, replacing water with her own abilities. If things went well, the Titanbreath Lotus might even accept Howl as its guardian—feeding it both energy and nutrients in return.

Near the treasure, a small hut-like structure stood out against the greenery.

Inside sat Leo.

"This…" Leo muttered, eyes wide as he stared at the blade-shaped piece of metal floating before him.

The metal gleamed sharply, reflecting thin streaks of light along its refined edges.

"Was this really made by Howl back then… when he was attacking me?" he said, his voice low, almost disbelieving.

He picked up the bone handle—the same one from which Howl had once melted metal and launched its attack at him.

"Okay," Leo exhaled, steadying himself. "Let's try this."

He activated the skill.

[Metal Manipulation]

Closing his eyes, Leo focused. His vision faded, replaced by sensation. He felt the metal rather than saw it—its density, its contours, its resistance. Slowly, he reached out, and the metal responded.

It was like molding clay with his bare hands.

No—easier.

Shaping it felt as natural as drawing lines with a pencil. Long, simple forms came together effortlessly. But the moment he attempted something complex—a gauntlet with joints and moving parts—the structure collapsed. The intricate segments crumbled apart like a sandcastle struck by a careless wave.

He tried again.

This time, he stuck to a blade.

Even then, when he tried fitting it back into the bone handle, the complex hook-like structure resisted him. The moment he attempted to refine that part, his concentration faltered.

The blade clattered softly as it dropped.

"Wha—what the hell?!" Leo exclaimed, staring at his status.

"In only this much time… six thousand mana units?" he groaned. "Are you kidding me…"

He looked down at the blade again. It was nearly identical to the one Howl had created back then—only sharper, cleaner, more refined.

Then, suddenly, Leo jolted upright.

"Wait." His breath caught. "Doesn't this mean… I can make guns?"

A wild grin spread across his face.

"Fucking hell… how much I miss my AR." He shook his head, laughing under his breath. "Shit. I have to make one."

He stared at the blade again, as if it were a priceless treasure.

Leo stepped out of the crude hut he had formed using [Earth Generation and Manipulation]. The moment he emerged, sunlight slammed into him, forcing him to shield his eyes with one hand.

"Damn," he muttered, squinting. "Should've made a window. Going from pitch dark to this is not healthy."

As his eyes adjusted, a familiar intent brushed against his mind.

Howl.

The Colossus signalled that the number of beasts running ahead of it was now sufficient.

Leo's lips curled into a grin.

"Niri!" he called out. "Get to the peak and start charging your solar beam!"

A wave of pure discontent answered him.

"Alright, alright," Leo sighed, rubbing his temple. "After this, I'll send you back to your treasure. Happy?"

He was referring to the Elasian Aetherbloom.

As its guardian, and also from which Niri took birth, they had a connection which made Niri want to be always around it,

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A/N: A small SoL is necessary every now and then.

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