(---)
A huge forest. Its forest floor was completely dark, only illuminated by the torch of a moving party, and small animals with bioluminescent qualities.
It was a group of 4 people, like a standard team. A healer, a swordsman, an archer, and a mage. The healer gripped tightly onto her staff, clinging close to the swordsman. From a simple glance, it was a timid, young girl, with curly orange hair and dark green eyes.
The swordsman beside her was just as little as her. He kept his hand placed on his hilt, with his blade tucked in his sheath. A cocky smile plastered across his face, as he walked from side to side. Like a pendulum. His hair was silver and his eyes were dark blue.
"Iris, this forest isn't as dangerous as you think. Right, Joseph?" the swordsman said.
Joseph, or the archer he was speaking of, was not even paying attention. He played with his arrows, spinning them like they were a pencil. Joseph was the only elf in the group, which could be figured out by his sharp ears and his attractiveness. His hair was light blue and his eyes were dark black.
The most peculiar thing about the elven archer was his human name. Besides that, everything about him seemed pretty standard for an elf.
The mage finally spoke up. "Joseph's always in his own world, Keon."
For a mage, her attire seemed irregular. A standard set of grey armor, with incantations marked along it. To boost her defense, of course.
[Cast: Inferno Slash]
Three heads flew into the air. Well, more so, dust flew into the air. The heads disintegrated from the sheer heat so fast, that it burnt to a crisp.
The only head that stayed intact was Keon's. The top of his head was cut open. His brain fluids slipped out, boiling. It was hot, but it wasn't hot enough to do what happened to his companions.
"Jeez. Is everyone in Anore weak, or something?" the man who inflicted the damage sighed, as his sword bubbled.
"Even this sword isn't able to take the damage of my cast."
He threw the sword down. Finally, he pulled his hood down, bending over to view the injured man. Long, black, spiky hair, that fell to his back. his skin was tan, and his eyes were piercing blue. Despite the innocent color, there was something so... sinister.... about it.
It could only be Cherva.
Keon let out an incomprehensible babble, foaming from the mouth.
"You'll die anyway. So, I'll leave you here. I expected you guys to survive at least a few blows. I didn't even get to test if I got stronger."
Cherva sighed, kicking Keon's head in anger. More brain fluid came out.
"Ah, sorry! I should've stopped before, hehe!" he giggled, continuing his walk. Cherva looked joyous, as he skipped.
— I guess I'll have to buy a new sword. A stronger one.
His walking stopped abruptly, as he leaped into the air. Using trees was a faster method of transportation. That's at least what Cherva thought.
In his movement, he tripped.
"Shit!-"
He fell to the floor, headfirst. It knocked him out clean. After a few minutes, he finally woke up.
"What the... hell?" he slowly sat up, scratching his head.
— Something like that never happens... I guess I just have to get better.
As he dusted his pants, his eyes took notice of someone sitting down on a tree. He sat asleep, with a hood on his head.
— If he can react to this blow, then he'll be a worthy opponent!
[Cast: Inferno Slash]
Since he did not have a sword, he used his hands instead. It hurt and caused burning, but that wasn't important to him.
A clean cut! It went straight through. That's what it felt like, though.
"Ah, it seems you missed."
The power of the swipe was so intense, that the wind blew the hood off the masked individual.
Thick, circle-rimmed glasses, that covered the individual's eyes. He had straight, brown hair, that was at medium length. The sharp ears that were on the sides of his head showed his elven heritage.
"You look familiar..."
"You do too."
After the short back and forth, Ailen jumped up into the air, throwing his cloak into the ground. It covered Cherva's face, blinding him.
— Shit!
He pulled the cloak off. In the air, Ailen looked down at him, tightly gripping onto the dagger pulled from his holster.
"Jeez. I didn't think I would find a criminal like this."
[Cast: Blaze Step]
Cherva narrowly moved out of the way. The soles of his shoes were burning. The footprints where he was previously standing were also ignited.
Ailen swiped the empty space. His blade stuck into the soft ground.
Without wasting any time, Ailen pulled the blade out of the ground, spinning the dirt off.
— Damn it... It'll be hard to win this without any weapons.
As if Ailen read Cherva's mind, an extra dagger was thrown at Cherva.
"It'll be boring if you're weaponless," Ailen said. Cherva caught the dagger, gripping it tightly.
— What an idiot. But, thank goodness. I finally get to see if I've become stronger!
[Cast: Blaze Step]
Cherva dashed at Ailen, with his dagger out. At the speed he was going, it wasn't very likely that anyone could block it.
[Cast: Incomplete Perception]
But Ailen was able to do it. The sparks flew into the air as the two blades clashed. Immediately, Cherva sent a counterattack.
Ailen stepped to the side, narrowly avoiding the thrust. Despite how close it was to hitting him, it felt like he wasn't bothered by it at all. To add on, his face was straight and unbothered.
— Is he... not taking me seriously?
Cherva clenched his jaw.
[Cast: Inferno Slash]
His dagger endured the intense heat, burning brighter than the sun. A wide slash was thrown at Ailen. Too wide.
"Idiot!" Ailen's straight face slowly formed into a smile. He moved to the side, kicking the dagger's handle.
'Huh!?-"
He was subdued in nearly an instant. His hand and head were pinned to the ground.