As Rex ventured deeper into the forest, the oppressive atmosphere thickened around him. The path beneath his feet was uneven, covered in roots that twisted like serpents, and the canopy above blocked out nearly all light, casting long shadows over the landscape. Yet despite the ominous setting, Rex's body felt lighter with every step he took.
A warm sensation surged through him, a pulse of energy coursing through his veins, knitting together minor cuts and bruises, refreshing his muscles, and restoring the mana that flowed within him.
"So this is the power of Level Up Recovery, huh?" Rex mumbled under his breath as he continued walking. His steps were steady, his stamina completely replenished, as though he hadn't just fought a powerful creature minutes ago.
To say he was impressed was an understatement. The buff wasn't just effective-it was overwhelming. "Not only does it rapidly heal my wounds and restore my stamina, but my mana too..." He trailed off, his brow furrowing as a thought began to take root in his mind.
Then, as though struck by sudden realization, Rex's eyes widened. "Wait a second," he whispered to himself, his heart quickening. "If the mana recovery is this strong, then..."
Without hesitation, Rex stopped in his tracks and took a deep breath. He focused inward, calling forth the Aura that had just begun to reveal its potential. He could feel the energy swirling within him, rising to the surface like a spring ready to burst.
A faint shimmer of light blue energy enveloped his body, the Aura flickering to life around him. The cool, electrifying sensation washed over him, and Rex watched with astonishment as his mana pool remained steady, not depleting as quickly as it should have.
His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Yes!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the forest. "My theory was right! The mana recovery from this buff is stronger than the mana I'm using to keep the Aura active."
His pulse raced as the implications of this hit him all at once. "That means... if I can stack more mana recovery buffs, I could practically have infinite mana," Rex said, his voice barely containing his excitement. He imagined the endless possibilities- casting powerful spells without worrying about running dry, fighting endlessly without tiring.
But before his excitement could fully bloom, Rex's senses sharpened. The air shifted, growing heavier, more sinister. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as a cold sensation crawled down his spine. His eyes, once alight with excitement, narrowed into cold, calculating slits.
"Not yet," he murmured, the enthusiasm uraining from his face, replaced by ahardened expression. "Before I get too ahead of myself, I need to deal with some pests."
His gaze shifted to a dark corner of the forest, where the trees seemed to twist unnaturally, their shadows stretching long and menacing. From the darkness, faint growls reverberated through the air, low and menacing. A flicker of movement caught Rex's attention, and from the shadows emerged the glowing red eyes of multiple creatures-beasts of pure malice and rage.
A pack of Hellhounds.
Their forms were massive, twice the size of ordinary wolves, with charred black fur that seemed to smolder as if their bodies were embers from a dying fire. Smoke wafted from their snarling maws, and their fangs gleamed with an unnatural shine, as though they were forged from molten metal. Each step they took left behind smoldering footprints, burning the forest floor beneath them. Their eyes, like pits of fire, were locked on Rex with unbridled hunger.
Rex rolled his shoulders, the blue Aura around him flaring slightly in response to his sudden shift in mood. "Hellhounds, huh?" He muttered, sizing up the pack. There were at least six of them, circling him from different angles, their growls growing louder as they prepared to pounce.
He let out a breath, his senses sharpening. "They think I'm an easy target because I'm alone." A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "They don't know what they're dealing with."
One of the Hellhounds lunged first, its massive jaws wide open, aiming for Rex's throat. But Rex was faster. With a sharp sidestep, he dodged the beast's attack, his movement so fluid it seemed effortless. As the Hellhound passed him, Rex slammed his elbow into the creature's ribs, sending it skidding across the ground.
But before he could celebrate, two more Hellhounds were already in the air, leaping toward him from opposite sides. Without hesitation, Rex activated his Aura fully, the blue energy around him intensifying. With a quick burst of speed, he dashed forward, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws of the Hellhounds. He felt the rush of air as their fangs missed him by mere inches.
As Rex landed a few feet away, his eyes glowed with a fierce determination. "Let's see if this Prodigy attribute lives up to its hype," he muttered, a grin forming on his face.
He concentrated, feeling the mana flow through him like a river, steady and strong. His mind was clear, and despite the dire situation, his body moved with ease, his instincts honed by the unifying power of the Prodigy attribute.A Hellhound charged at him from the side, its maw dripping with molten saliva. Rex spun on his heel, ducking under its snapping jaws and countering with a swift uppercut. His fist connected with the beast's chin, and with a crack of energy, the Hellhound was launched into the air, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.
Two more Hellhounds attacked simultaneously, but Rex's movements were like water-fluid, precise, and deadly. He darted between them, his Aura flaring with each strike. He landed a powerful roundhouse kick on one, sending it flying, while his fist ignited with a burst of energy as he struck the other in the chest, shattering its ribcage.
In the blink of an eye, four of the Hellhounds lay motionless on the ground, their bodies dissolving into black smoke.
The remaining two Hellhounds, realizing their pack was being decimated, hesitated for a moment. Their fiery eyes flickered with fear, but instinct pushed them forward. They charged together, their bodies erupting in flames as they attempted a final, desperate attack.
Rex's eyes narrowed as he braced himself. "Fine, you want to go out in a blaze? I'l| give you a show."
He raised his hand, focusing his mana into his palm. The air around him crackled with energy, and a bright blue sphere of pure mana began to form in his hand. The Hellhounds were almost upon him, their flaming bodies like meteors crashing toward him.
With a calm, focused breath, Rex unleashed the energy in his hand. "Mana Burst!" he shouted.
The blue sphere exploded outward, releasing a shockwave of energy that engulfed the Hellhounds. The flames on their bodies were extinguished instantly, and their forms were torn apart by the sheer force of the attack. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered, leaving behind nothing but ash and cinders.
As the dust settled, Rex stood amidst the carnage, his Aura flickering as he lowered his hand. He took a deep breath, his heart still pounding from the battle, but his body felt... good. Better than good, in fact.
The Level Up Recovery had already kicked in, his mana replenishing itself at an absurd rate, his stamina fully restored.
Rex looked down at his hands, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "This is only the beginning."The forest around him seemed to grow quieter, as if the Abyss itself was watching, waiting to see what this rising prodigy would do next.
With a confident stride, Rex turned and continued deeper into the heart of the Abyss, knowing that this place held even greater challenges-and even greater rewards.
To be continued...
(A/N:Every chapter is rewritten btw)