Adventures of Leo in Tensura.

"Let's see what I can do with my new power-ups," he muttered.

Closing his eyes, he reached deep within himself, past the layers of foreign energy swirling inside his reconstructed body. He could feel it—the Star Core, pulsing like a miniature sun within his chest, endlessly refining magicules.

It was strange. Back in his previous life, summoning magic relied on pre-set formulas and mana efficiency. Now? His connection felt instinctive. Effortless.

His consciousness brushed against several dimensional presences—gateways to other realms—but he ignored them for now. Instead, he focused entirely on his own reserves, molding the energy into something familiar.

'Nature Spirit,' he imagined.

A warm green glow gathered in front of him, swirling like mist before taking shape.

A small, ethereal creature emerged, its body translucent and leaf-like, its bright golden eyes blinking up at him. It hovered briefly before suddenly leaping straight into his arms.

Leo chuckled, catching the tiny spirit. "You're a lively one."

The creature nuzzled against his chest, radiating a pleasant warmth.

But now wasn't the time to play around.

'Not now, little friend. I have work for you.'

At his silent command, the spirit straightened, its playful energy replaced with something more focused.

Leo pointed towards the dense treeline. "Find us the safest way out of this place."

The Nature Spirit let out a soft chime, then zipped away, weaving through the trees like a streak of green light.

~~~

Hidden within the towering trees, several pairs of glowing eyes silently observed the scene.

Among them, Treyni, one of the Dryads, stood with her arms folded, her gaze locked onto the young summoner.

"That human… no, that being…"

Another Dryad, Doris her younger sister, nodded. "He didn't just summon a Spirit without any contract… he commanded it. Effortlessly."

Treyni's expression remained unreadable.

Summoners existed, yes. But their kind typically struggled to communicate with high-level spirits, let alone make them follow their will so easily, and there was something else she sensed that she didn't share with her sisters.

The spirit he summoned, while looking like a lesser elemental, carried great power; it already had an ego of its own. Watching the being and human girl who obviously was an otherworlder following the natural spirit she sighed and went back back to her domain with her sisters.

(Leo)

That feeling of being watched still lingered in the back of my mind, but before I could pinpoint anything, it disappeared—like a wisp of smoke vanishing into the wind. Whoever they were, they were skilled.

But I had bigger things to focus on.

With the Nature Spirit leading the way, escaping the dense forest was effortless. The small creature had taken a liking to Hinata, perching comfortably on her shoulder, occasionally brushing against her hair like a pet bird. Maybe she had an affinity for spirits?

Before long, we emerged from the trees, and I finally got a proper look at our next challenge.

A mountain range—but not just any mountains. These towered above the world, their peaks shrouded in clouds, their sheer faces too steep to climb by normal means.

For a moment, I just stared.

Even in my previous two lives, I had never seen mountains of this scale. The Dragon Cliffs back in Clash Empire might come close, but even they lacked the sheer presence of this range.

Hinata, standing beside me, let out an exhausted sigh.

"How exactly are we going to climb that?" she asked, frowning at the towering peaks. The Nature Spirit chirped on her shoulder as if agreeing.

I smirked. "We are not climbing it."

She gave me a skeptical look. "Then?"

I closed my eyes, reaching deep into my [Starborn Summoner] skill.

If I could summon a Nature Spirit, then surely…

Instead of focusing on just summoning randomly, I imagined what I needed, something that could carry us across these mountains effortlessly. A majestic, powerful, reliable creature that would be resistant to the harsh winds of high altitudes.

I felt my magicules surge in response.

A connection formed.

The air shimmered as a massive form materialized before us.

A beast of legend. Not here maybe.

A Griffon.

It stood before us, majestic and proud, its large golden-feathered wings stretching out, catching the light. Its sharp eyes scanned us, intelligent and fierce, not hostile but loyal.

Hinata took a step back, stunned. "You… you summoned that?!"

I chuckled, placing a hand on the Griffon's side. "What? You didn't think I would make us walk, did you?"

Hinata hesitated as she stood before the massive Griffon. Its golden feathers shimmered under the light, and its sharp eyes held a mix of intelligence and untamed wildness. She wasn't scared, but the sheer size of the beast made her wary.

I chuckled, summoning a sturdy saddle onto its back, reinforced with magic to ensure a smooth ride.

"Alright, come on. Let me help you."

I stretched out a hand toward her.

She glanced at me, then at my hand, hesitating for just a moment before taking it. Her grip was firmer than I expected. With a gentle pull, I helped her up onto the saddle. She adjusted herself, her posture stiff and uncertain.

Once she was settled, I swung myself up behind her. That's when I realized something.

The saddle was designed for flight, meaning it forced the riders to sit close—very close.

I could feel the warmth of her back against my chest, and with every breath, her scent—a mix of forest air and something faintly sweet—filled my senses.

Hinata was rigid, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she carefully placed her hands on my shoulders, gripping just enough to steady herself.

I cleared my throat. "You're not uncomfortable, are you?"

She shook her head quickly. "No. It's fine."

"Good. Hold on tight."

With a single command, the Griffon's wings spread wide—and then we took off.

The rush of wind howled past us as the mighty beast soared into the sky, leaving the dense Jura Forest far behind.

If I had turned back at that moment, I would have caught a glimpse of her ears turning pink.