An arrow with a glowing substance on its tip sinks into bark of one the many massive trees that exist ubiquitously within the midnight forest.

Gary had just dodged that arrow with an impressive display of both dexterity, and mind numbing fear.

Turns out, that Flight of the Chicken skill was useful for more than just running away.

Gary's extraordinary ability to remain utterly terrified of the future, yet still functional, had just saved his life.

Gary had plenty of reason to fear.

He had finally crossed the border between the outer and inner parts of the Midnight forest.

It had always been a wild and untamed region.

The glowing flora, and fauna were generally peaceful in the outer regions. Years of proximity to human civilization drove the more dangerous predators deeper in. The vast majority of these predators were ambush hunters. Taking the most efficient route of waiting for the food to voluntarily contribute their delicious nutrients. For this they were also especially stealthy. Gary had done some research on this land before coming here, so his paranoia was understandable.

Despite these dangers, the land was valuable for the precious substances that could be created from the unique wildlife, and the untapped resources lurking in the ground. You know, all the standard excuses for colonialism.

In an effort to tame these savage lands, the Empire gave landed titles within the midnight forest to a variety of mercenary groups, clans, and adventurers. These groups eventually turned into powerful sects within the Midnight forest. Five of these groups eventually emerged as local hegemons.

One of these groups was currently out for Gary's blood.

The Midnight Listeners School was looking for retribution.

Their young mistress, heiress to the Great Sage's legacy, had gone out into the world in order to gather experience. She had an encounter with Baron Balthazar von Kaepsburg. After rejecting his advances, she faced wave after wave of assassins. Arrin had saved her just in time back then. Unfortunately the Baron eventually found her again as she was making her way back to her sect and stabbed her to death by his own hand. A servant traveling with her had seen all of this, and made it back to the sect with the identity of the killer.

Emma had been traveling with her at the time, and had been chased down by the Baron. Emma had put up a valiant effort, but couldn't hold out against a full encirclement, and then Arrin arrived rescuing her life, and avenging the young mistress, Eleanor. Unfortunately for Gary, the Midnight listeners School is not aware of these details.

Three archers wearing the circular sigil of the Midnight Listeners on their chest, A black tree outlined by a blue glowing background, were searching the forest in order to hunt down the mad friend that had killed their sect's golden child.

"This is bullshit! We're never going to find him searching the forest like this. I bet the bastard already made a B-line straight out of the forest before we started searching." Exclaimed the first Archer.

"Don't worry about that. The arrogant bastard probably thinks he's invincible or something. There's no way he got far." Responds the second Archer

"What I don't understand is why we haven't sent out any True Self scholars. Eleanor was the future of our sect! How can they let this sin go unpunished?" asks the third Archer.

"We can't let these sins go unpunished, but we can't send anyone too powerful out. If we show weakness so close to the war season the other sects might just capitalize on it, and we'd be worse off than we are now." states the second Archer.

"Damn. When I see that lecherous demon I'm gonna shoot off his dick. We'll see how well that pig lives the rest of his life as a eunuch!" declared the third archer

"Wait! I think I see him!" yells the first Archer. "This bastard. He's wearing a full cloak, but I recognise those fancy shoes from the servant's picture!"

The archer dips his arrow in a sack of blue liquid. He lines up his shot. The arrow flies straight and true.

Gary's body launches into the air. His limbs and torso contorting in ways previously not thought possible.

The arrow barely misses Gary's squishy defenceless body.

Gary lands on his feet, facing the archers.

Gary admits that, despite not knowing how he did it, that was pretty cool of Gary.

Gary sees the looks of pure fury on the faces of the three archers. Two of those archers are lining up shots on Gary now, and the third is rushing towards Gary dagger in hand. Gary has brilliantly determined that diplomacy may not be an option.

Gary runs off deeper into the woods in hopes of keeping his little life. Marvelous.

Gary sped through the forest. It was fortunate that the disciples behind were only in the unleashed stage. In that realm they were only orders of magnitude faster than Gary, so there should be no chance for them to catch up.

Wait, that's not right.

Ah, as it turns out Gary is uniquely suited to cultivating cowardly skills. It seems that in Gary's hands skills that only cowards would take into consideration have a special boost applied to them. How lucky for you Gary.

Gary was now technically the premier expert within the Perfect Self realm in utilising the Flight of the Chicken. Another addition to the list of Gary's wonderous achievements, alongside basic literacy, and being very good at playing dead.

Gary masterfully dodged likely hundreds of arrows. Too many of them have been close calls to his member. Gary would like to keep his genitals.

Gary ran at unreasonable speeds for his power level, dodging any cracks, and crevices he came upon. They had been increasing in frequency, and that was worrying.

Gary suddenly tripped on a rock, crashed through some bushes, grabbed a vine, performed a double axel back flip, and fell into the massive crevice directly in front of him.

How unlucky.