When Kaelen began to move forward, the last rays of sunlight filtering through the trees illuminated their body in patches. The air was heavy, the forest's humidity clinging to their skin, and the rustling of leaves with each step echoed like an instinctual alarm. Using the "Kai" form, Kaelen stepped carefully but confidently. Without making a sound to break the silence, they glided through the forest's complex structure with a hunter's instinct.
After a while, Kaelen stopped. Their eyes narrowed slightly. A faint, almost imperceptible trace of mana lingered in the air. Kaelen raised a finger, as if sensing an invisible wave. The trace was fresh and familiar. It belonged to a mana beast.
But this time… it was weak.
The mana felt nearly depleted; its fluctuations were unstable, its energy erratic. This was a clear sign that the beast was gravely wounded.
Kaelen's lips curled, a slow smile spreading across their face. They had found it. And this time, the odds were in their favor.
Mana-wielding beasts were typically formidable targets. However, tracking their mana made it easier to turn them from predator to prey. This balance worked in Kaelen's favor.
The footsteps behind them slowed slightly. Olivia and Liam, picking up Kaelen's signal, suppressed their mana flows. As the energy in their bodies retracted inward, they blended seamlessly with their surroundings. Moving silently through thick vines, they controlled even their breathing, becoming one with the forest.
In this state, they were invisible to the wild and intelligent creatures known as the forest's masters—especially the sempanzees. These creatures hunted in groups, capable of turning hunters into prey with unexpected attacks. Kaelen and their group needed to avoid such a confrontation. Their current target was clear and focused on a single creature.
After about an hour of cautious progress, the dense forest canopy suddenly parted.
Kaelen halted their steps.
Before them stretched a wide clearing. At its center lay a calm, still pond.
"A pond," Kaelen murmured, their eyes scanning the surroundings carefully.
This clearing in the heart of the forest was like a window opened in the middle of the sky. Far from the shade of trees, the still water reflected all the hues of the sky. For a wounded animal, such a clearing was an inviting place to drink and rest. A sanctuary.
Kaelen's instincts hadn't failed them.
By the pond's edge, a massive form lay motionless. It was a bear, its dark brown fur matted, soaked in places, and caked with mud.
But this was no ordinary bear. Weighing roughly a ton, it was an immense creature. Blood seeped from its shoulders, and claw marks marred its body. Its head rested in the pond, its slow, rising and falling breaths on the water's surface signaling it was still alive.
Liam narrowed his eyes. Olivia let out a short sigh and turned her head. The bear wasn't just large—it was a mana-empowered being. But now, it was exhausted. A beast capable of using mana was stronger and faster, and even in its wounded state, it posed a threat to inexperienced mages.
"Wounded. But still dangerous," Olivia whispered.
Kaelen kept their eyes on the bear, deep in thought. They could attack alone, but that would be an unnecessary show of bravado. Breaking the forest's silence could attract not just this beast but other predators as well. Kaelen had no intention of taking unnecessary risks.
So, they left the planning to Liam, a clever, quick-thinking mage skilled at assessing resources.
Crouching, Liam conducted a brief analysis before looking up. "Kaelen will draw its attention first," he said. "Using Spike. Then Olivia and I will attack from the opposite side. Don't forget the metal pellets—we have plenty. A few accurate shots could cause panic and drive it toward the shore. That's an open area with limited escape routes. The perfect spot for a trap."
Kaelen wasn't sure if classic trap tactics would work on a mana beast, but it was worth a try. If it failed, Kaelen would be the first target of the attack. That would simplify things. Because they were ready for it.
The plan was set.
Kaelen glanced briefly at the sky as the sun began to set. The sky, tinged with hues between gold and blood, cast a serene veil over the forest. But this peace was temporary. The real battle was about to begin.
Kaelen turned to where Olivia and Liam were positioned, on the opposite side of the pond, hidden among the vines. The iron pellets were gripped tightly in their hands. Kaelen nodded silently. Their eyes met. Everyone was ready.
Now it was time to use "Spike."
"Spike," one of the three fundamental forms of mana use, was an aggressive energy release. While "Enn" represented a defensive application, "Spike" channeled all mana outward, granting the mage a temporary but immense surge of power. Muscles strengthened, reflexes quickened, and endurance peaked.
But Kaelen's goal wasn't to attack. They would use "Spike" for something else: to instill fear.
Mana beasts, like humans, were sensitive to mana fluctuations. The mana released through "Spike" was a manifestation of raw power. It was used to sow fear in prey, drive it to panic, and force it to make mistakes. It also made other mana users retreat. It was a threat, a challenge.
Kaelen took a deep breath. Their body trembled slightly. The mana core within them began to stir. Energy coursed through their veins like liquid, spreading to their muscles and bones. Their eyes suddenly glowed red.
And then… the explosion came.
Mana surged outward in a sudden burst. An invisible wave rippled from the pond's edge, startling every living thing in its path. Birds let out brief cries before taking flight, and the pond's surface rippled. The bear raised its head. Its eyes widened for a moment. It had sensed Kaelen's presence. What it felt now wasn't just a threat—it was a whisper of death.
But this display of power came at a cost.
Kaelen could only sustain this state for three minutes.
And those three minutes had now begun.
Kaelen took a deep breath. As their chest rose and fell, a few leaves on their face remained still. They were in "Kai" form now—the form of calmness and invisibility. Their mana was drawn deep within, with no vibration or glow. To mana-sensitive creatures, they were as unremarkable as an ordinary human.
But this was only a quiet beginning.
Kaelen closed their eyes and turned inward. They began opening their mana veins one by one. These veins were like ancient pathways within their body, each connected to their mana core. Now, that core was awakening. The dormant energy surged like a storm. A warm wave spread from their chest to their shoulders, arms, legs… and finally enveloped their entire body.
When they opened their eyes, they were in "Spike" form.
This form was the embodiment of raw power. Kaelen's surroundings began to shimmer. The white mana overflowing from their core formed an aura around them. The intensity was so great that it took the form of a visible haze. The energy waves rising from this glowing aura put every creature in the vicinity on high alert. The mana seemed almost tangible, spreading like a humid mist in a three-meter radius, dominating the earth and air.
Kaelen was no longer hiding.
In this state, they were a threat to every mana beast in the area. It was as if they were caught in the eye of a storm—and that storm wasn't approaching; it was already upon them.
Kaelen's gaze shifted to the massive creature a few meters away. Its thick brown fur was barely visible among the bushes. The bear-like creature leaped up the moment it sensed Kaelen's mana. Its muscles tensed, its pupils dilated. Its instincts screamed: Run.
But it was too late.
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. Their breath grew cold. At that moment, a sudden rustle came from the bushes beside the bear, and two mages burst out. Each held iron pellets coated in mana, vibrating like mana bullets. The mages swung their arms in near-perfect sync.
The tension in the air gave way to a ferocious strike.
The pellets shot through the air like lightning, embedding into the creature's hind legs. The mana-infused steel burned through flesh, searing nerve endings. The bear-like creature let out a deafening roar.
"Aghhhhhh!"
It was more than a cry of pain—it was like a death knell. The creature stumbled, then instinctively bolted toward its planned escape route. Its massive body shook the ground as it ran. Kaelen's eyes locked onto it for a moment before scanning the surroundings.
Everything… was going smoothly. The plan was progressing with surprising precision.
This made Kaelen uneasy.
Emerging from behind the rock where they'd been hiding, Kaelen brushed the dust off their shoulder. They abandoned "Spike" form, reverting to "Kai." The roles of hunter and prey were now clear.
Then Olivia and Liam appeared, their eyes resolute, their bodies alert.
Kaelen began walking toward the direction the creature had fled. Their steps were soft on the ground, but the feeling in their heart was the opposite—sharp and jarring. Their instincts suddenly sounded an alarm. A chill ran up their spine, leaving an icy coldness at the base of their neck. They couldn't help but narrow their eyes.
"Stop!" Kaelen shouted, their voice cutting through the forest.
They raised a hand. Olivia and Liam, sensing something, froze instantly. Silence fell; even the birds went quiet.
Then it happened.
In a fraction of a second, a faint light flashed where the creature had been heading. By the lakeshore, as if the air itself had torn open, a figure appeared. The creature was flung into the air and pinned to the ground by its head. A glowing sword, radiating mana vibrations, had pierced through its skull and down its spine, anchoring it to the earth.
As the dust settled, the silence revealed one truth: the creature was dead.
Kaelen couldn't believe their eyes for a moment. Then, an involuntary smile crept onto their lips. It was a genuine smile. A familiar presence, a familiar energy… and someone they never expected to be here.
A graceful figure glided out from the shadows.
Slender but exuding menace, they had been invisible up to six meters away thanks to their "Spike" ability. Now they were there—visible, in all their splendor. Their clothes were stained with blood, but not a single drop was their own. Their crimson hair, darkened by blood, framed green eyes that held an abyss-like depth.
Their gaze first fell on the mana beast pinned to the ground, then shifted to the three figures staring in shock: Kaelen, Olivia, and Liam.
Kaelen's steps halted. Time seemed to slow. Their eyes locked onto the figure. Their pupils widened.
They recognized her.
Estelle Escard.
"Why the hell is this lunatic here?"
Kaelen cursed under their breath.