My attributes are increasing infinitely Chapter 487: Pandora forest

Ethan examined him closely. The Founder’s memory wipe was total. Dominic’s gaze showed no familiarity past their chat on gold level potential. No trace of bewilderment or absence lingered. It felt like Ethan had appeared straight on the ground floor post-evaluation.

"I appreciate the assessment," Ethan continued, keeping their prior talk unbroken. "But I need to start hunting right away. Any suggested spot for my level?"

Dominic’s face lit with approval-like warmth. "Eager. That’s a plus. New recruits often squander their first week roaming the castle, too scared to venture out." From his robe, he drew a petite crystalline map, its face aglow with terrain details. "Multiple hunting zones lie in the castle’s territory. Pandora Forest suits your level best."

Ethan took the map, eyeing its luminous outlines. A massive woodland dominated the eastern area, edges pulsing in amber glow.

"Pandora Forest draws hordes of monsters," Dominic elaborated. "Outer edges hold beasts from level one up to ten."

His voice turned grave as he halted. "Yet, avoid plunging into its depths. Inner zones lack limits. Dangers lurk there that even I’d dodge solo. Past the black obelisks’ line, level one hundred beasts roam freely."

With a stern gaze, he locked eyes on Ethan. "Stick to the outer layers. Shun greed or nosiness. The woods have devoured many recruits who thought they could edge just a bit farther."

Ethan gave a nod. "I get it. Thanks for the advice."

He spun on his heel without pause, heading for the castle’s grand exit—an immense arch of enchanted crystal stone. Crossing it, the air chilled. The castle’s tame vibe yielded to Elysium’s raw force.

Overhead, the sky gleamed deep violet, laced with silver streaks. Ancient wood, wet soil scents mixed with a crisp tang—ozone maybe, or lingering spiritual essence filling the domain.

Pandora Forest lay ahead.

Ancient and forsaken, it appeared.

Towering trees soared skyward, trunks entwined in vines pulsing with soft bioluminescent veins. The thick canopy let only stray violet rays filter down, forming lit patches in heavy gloom. Silver-black leaf layers blanketed the soil, silence heavy—not vacant, but watchful, as predators lay in ambush.

At the forest’s edge, where castle lands met wilds, Ethan paused. The shift hit him at once. Spiritual energy hung thicker here, syrupy, the air steeped in raw might.

"Hey, check it—a level one fool. Suicidal much? What clan’s he from?"

A sneering voice sliced the quiet.

Ethan pivoted steadily. Five figures stepped from the trees, striding with easy swagger. Clad in sturdy hunter garb of tough leather and light armor, weapons slung on backs and belts—standard for Elysium’s low-tiers. Their chief, a bulky guy with a jaw scar, eyed Ethan with blatant mirth.

Ethan’s senses clocked their levels fast. Scar-face hit level three. Rest spanned one to two. Standard squad from some minor outer clan.

Scar-face’s crew chuckled.

"See him planted there like a clueless kid. Stray from his shell by mistake?" one mocked.

"Could be a scout. Dumbest one ever," another chimed.

Scar-face advanced, stance pushy yet not fully aggressive. "What clan, newbie? Ashborne? Veilwalkers?" He peered closer. "Nah, don’t know you. Aurora clan?"

Ethan weighed it. Banter wasted effort. No real danger—the level three might scratch him at worst, doubtful with Ethan’s edges—but pure delay. Talk meant lost hunt time.

Silence was his reply.

Before they could even respond, Ethan sprang into action.

No obvious skills flared to life from him. He merely took a step ahead, causing the space nearby to warp mysteriously. One instant he stood right in front of them; the next, he melted away into the heart of the forest, with just a soft whisper of shifting leaves in his wake.

Silence gripped the group.

"...What the hell?" one muttered after a heavy pause. "Did he just... where did he vanish to?"

The scarred man’s face turned from mocking glee to wary tension. "That wasn’t ordinary motion. No spatial skill triggered. Not a trace of energy." His gaze fixed on the woods where Ethan had slipped away. "Who the hell is that kid?"

...

Ethan glided through the woods in eerie quiet that mocked his current strength.

In this realm, power choices stayed narrow even past level 10. Yet Ethan’s Law of Infinity Strand allowed him to spawn any abilities he desired.

That stood as his unbeatable edge in this world.

Ethan’s strength hinged on whatever form he could assume.

The Law of Infinity Strand granted him access to every supernatural power he met, every skill he saw, every technique he comprehended—all of them. Even better, they would amplify endlessly inside him.

No caps bound his growth, no chains limited his conquests. Each skill he claimed flowed into the endless strand, surging in might and depth as it wove into the whole.

That perk shone brightest long-term, though. Right now, hunting called.

He drew out the gadget from the Founder—a palm-sized crystal disc that nestled perfectly in his grip. His touch woke its face, beaming a holographic map of the nearby terrain. Crimson blips dotted it, each signaling a monster in scanning range.

Ethan tweaked the view to target level two beasts alone.

The Founder’s counsel rang clear in his mind. Slaying foes at his level brought basic points. But taking down those one tier higher tripled the haul. A sharp tactic, one his unique gifts enabled even at his modest stage.

Three red markers lit up inside a hundred-meter span, huddled by a clearing to the northwest. Ethan headed that way, his steps hushed over the woodland earth.

He spotted them nestled in a dip amid colossal roots.

Three beasts tore into the fresh remains of some recent kill. Wolfish in shape, yet twisted—overly jagged, fiercely edged. Their coats gleamed tarnished silver, eyes aglow with foul green light. Sized like hefty hounds, their frames shimmered at the borders, half-phased into nothing.

[Shadowfang Whelp

Level 2

Common Monster

Pack hunters. Possess minor shadow manipulation abilities. Weak to concentrated light and physical attacks that disrupt their partial incorporeality.]

Ethan studied them briefly, noting their patterns. They coordinated smoothly, swapping feeding shifts while one stood guard. Their vigilance felt razor-sharp, senses probably locked onto spirit energy traces.