"Flame Zone!" Eric shouted.
Then it was as if time stopped... or so it seemed…
Yellow flames quickly spread out, surrounding the area.
Even the trees filled with vitality just a moment ago, couldn't escape the fate of turning to ashes in a few seconds.
And as for the trees that were farther away , there was no sign of vitality in them anymore, withering with astonishing speed. And soon there were no more green lush leaves on their branches to tell of its former glory, looking more like a 100-year-old barren tree.
Even more tragic happened to the group that attacked him; there weren't physically enhanced flame type Mystic in the first place, only having the ability to cast out flame skills and augment some part of their body. So before Eric, they were more like child's play. There wasn't the slightest pause as the blue flame burned them till their horrified screams went out.
But then, just as he was about reveling in the ethereal feeling of power and mass destruction at the sight of his ability being unleashed. He sensed his depleting Mana at a rapid pace, almost emptied out.
"Hell!" cursing out loud, he deactivated his flame ability that was fueling the spell.
" I've got to leave."
Who knew if there were Monsters or human Mystics nearby, that would take advantage of this moment and kill him?
Run!
Not turning back, Eric zoomed towards the outer part of the forest with every speed his legs could muster, proving to be quite astonishing and above his rank. Clearly, he was maximizing and putting all of his remaining mana and strength to boost the muscles in his legs. A thought that had sprawled in his head.
...
Meanwhile, back in the forest.
As there were no Silver Rank Mystics nearby, it took the lower Ranked Mystics in the area some time to get to the scene of the gruesome massacre, with nothing but crisp and ashes of the dead trees.
As for wild monsters? They, for unknown reasons, avoided the area like plague,and soon that part of the forest was soon devoid of Wild Monsters. Probably because Monsters mainly relied on their instinct, so even though Eric wasn't there anymore they still felt a great sense of danger nearing the dead trees, and those devoid of life beside it.
...
After running for more than 30 minutes, exhausted and tired, Eric saw the city walls finally come into view.
Fatigued and tired, if not for his Vitality stat timely refreshing his stamina and minimal bit of Mana, even if the heavens were to help, Eric knew he wouldn't have made it out alive with his mana less than 5% of its total capacity.
Walking for an extra 5 more minutes, Eric found a nearby tree, and after confirming that there were no Monsters in the surroundings, thanks to his enhanced vision, he then decided to take a quick rest on the tree's bark while gasping for breath.
"I really overdid myself back there", muttering under his breath, Eric willed and a bottled water dropped on his hand midair, gulping the whole bottle straight in one breath, 3 more bottles appeared in similar fashion before Eric finally released a satisfied blench, thinking ''Waters these days are painkiller', the taste was heavenly.
Without having the time to indulge in his thoughts, Eric stood up shakily with 10% percent of his total stamina recovered.
"The sun is almost setting and it isn't in my best interest to sleep outside the city gates"
So...
Eric began his second lap of running, although not fast , his lonely back matched the sunset as he ran towards the city.
He was already in the safe zone, but everywhere was strangely quiet , except for the occasional growl and roar from Wild Monsters outside the safe zone.
...
Meanwhile back in the forest, an undercurrent had begun due to Eric's earlier commotions.
...
Eric got back home and without even bothering to take his already bloody and sweaty clothes off , he entered wonderland (sleep).
...
Unknown place.
A young cloaked man knelt before the door with a subordinating bow.
" Sir, we found no trace of the person or Monster" the young cloaked man voiced out in the darkly lit corridor before the door.
Then, after kneeling for 30 minutes with no reply, he bowed again, before taking his leave without letting out another word.
Also, in the room behind the door, everything was pitched black without a spark of light, and there stood a figure draped in black cloak that made it hard to differentiate from the surrounding darkness.
Breaking the eerie silence, the figure sighed
"I hadn't expected it to be easy in the first place, since the mission was given by that person… But whoever or whatever you are, you won't escape my clutches", leaving behind this dreadful sentence, the man disappeared.
...
"I am probably the most unlucky person out there" with almost teary eyes, Eric lamented .
The first time he left the city gates he almost lost his life, as if that was not enough, he almost lost his life again. The second time due to his own arrogance.
But even though, no matter what the reason is, if anyone who knew he chanced upon the burning plant with red fruit and heard the rubbish he was currently spewing "I am probably the most unlucky person out here", they would first gather together to hunt him, capture him and torture out what he had eaten and then kill him. Some may even commit suicide, saying life was a scam.
"Like seriously? You had a heaven-defying fortuitous encounter, and you still have the guts to compare us together, saying you are the most unlucky?!"
"I would rather die than suffer this injustice".
" I risked my life every day to feed my family, and you gave this ungrateful scum such good luck?"
This would have been the headline throughout the federation.
...
Indeed, Eric never knew how terrifying his luck was. The first ever fortuitous encounter he had was a Low Tier Spirit treasure that would drive countless power houses crazy.
Well... story for another day.
Glancing about the room,
"It seems I have to buy my own house, but that's going to be later".
Eric then willed as the bloody bag appeared before him