Aric sat alone in his dimly lit room at the inn, his emerald eyes alight with a mixture of determination and curiosity as he practiced mana manipulation. He focused intently as a small piece of glass hovered above his hands, moving according to his will.
"Hey Brat," the innkeeper's voice came as a sudden interruption, carrying an urgency Aric had never heard before. The glass piece fell onto the wooden table, disrupting his concentration.
"Is something wrong?" Aric asked, rising from his chair as the innkeeper stepped into the room, his face showing no emotions.
"The dame who was with you... She's been kidnapped." The innkeeper's said in an indifferent voice as if this was the most natural thing
"Kidnapped? By whom?" Aric demanded, a knot of dread forming in his stomach.
"Bandits. Apparently, they made quite the ruckus outside the settlement," the innkeeper explained with no visible changes in his expression "Well, whatever happens now is no of my business. Do whatever you see fit"
As the innkeeper departed, leaving Aric alone in the room once more, he began to pace restlessly, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. His heart pounded in his chest, driving home the magnitude of what had just happened.
In that moment, as Aric confronted the consequences of his own ambition, he came to understand the true cost of power. He had allowed himself to become so engrossed in the magical realm that he'd neglected the very people he was striving to protect. Su Jing, who had fought so fiercely for survival, now found herself at the mercy of ruthless bandits because of him.
"Damn it," Aric muttered under his breath, his fists clenched tight as regret washed over him. "This is my fault. If I hadn't been so greedy, so obsessed with mastering my magic, she wouldn't be in this mess.
He cursed himself for being so absorbed in his pursuit of power that he'd failed to notice the danger lurking at every step in this wasteland.
Aric reminisced about his moments with Su Jing. Even though she had helped him at every step, he felt that he was nothing more than a burden
"Forgive me, Su Jing," Aric whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I promise you, I will make this right. I will bring you back, even if it means facing down an army of bandits with nothing but my magic and my wits."
"I must save her," Aric replied, his voice finally brimming with resolve. "I will get her back, no matter what it takes. Even if this matter spells the end of me "
"Mana manipulation..." he murmured, his mind seizing on the very source of his guilt. "It's not enough. I need more power, more control. But how?"
Aric's eyes fell upon the reflection of his hands in the cracked mirror above the bed. The answer came to him with sudden clarity: perception-enhancing injections. They could amplify his abilities, giving him the edge he desperately needed. It was a dangerous gamble, but one he had to make.
With that, Aric started concocting a plan
With a renewed sense of determination, Aric set out to execute his plan. He decided to steal perception-enhancing injections from the pharmacy, which would help him increase his mana manipulation skills. At this point, he didn't care about what was right or wrong, fully embracing the rules of the wasteland.
"Time is of the essence," Aric thought as he set out towards the local pharmacy. "I can't afford to waste a single moment."
The pharmacy was teeming with customers, some haggling over items and some groaning in pain. Armed guards stood watch, ensuring that order was maintained and nothing was stolen from the shelves, as there were many who often had such foolish ideas to steal from the pharmacy and sell it outside. After all, these shots were very expensive
Aric knew he had to act quickly and discreetly.
He scanned the store, his emerald eyes darting back and forth until they landed on a display case containing the desired injections. As Aric approached the case, he began to subtly manipulate the mana around him.
"Please work," Aric prayed silently as he focused his energy on a flask resting atop a nearby shelf.
The flask exploded, showering its contents onto the floor and causing a commotion among the customers. The guards were instantly drawn to the scene, giving Aric the opportunity he needed.
"Perfect," he thought, his heart pounding in his chest.
As the chaos unfolded, Aric deftly used his mana manipulation to unlock the display case and remove five perception-enhancing injections. With the guards distracted by the fight that had erupted among the customers, Aric slipped the injections into his pocket and left the shop quietly, blending into the crowd outside.
"Step one complete," Aric murmured to himself, his determination only growing stronger. "Now, I must prepare for the battle ahead."
Knowing that time was running out, Aric sped through the streets, his mind racing as he planned his next moves. With each step, he swore to himself that he would save Su Jing, no matter the cost.
As soon as Aric was safely hidden in a narrow alleyway, he took out the perception-enhancing injections. With determination etched across his face, he rolled up his sleeve and administered the first injection. He gritted his teeth, bracing himself for the sting of the needle piercing his skin.
"Here goes nothing," he thought, pushing the plunger down.
Aric immediately felt a rush of energy coursing through him, as if an invisible force had connected him to the very fabric of mana. His senses heightened, and he could perceive the faintest traces of magic within the environment. He quickly proceeded to the second injection, but this time, the effect was slightly weaker than before.
"Strange," he mused, furrowing his brow. "I wonder..."
But there was no time for contemplation. Taking the remaining injections one after another, Aric noticed that each subsequent dose provided diminishing returns. Despite his surprise at this discovery, he knew he had to prioritize saving Su Jing and decided to experiment later. Now better equipped with enhanced perception, Aric moved on to the next phase of his plan.
He headed to the general store, where he remembered seeing items that would aid him in his mission – a pistol, poison, and knives. The store's atmosphere was tense due to the recent thefts, making it difficult for Aric to find an opportunity to steal the required items.
"Time for a little distraction," he whispered, focusing his mana once again.
With a flick of his wrist and a surge of mana, Aric created a dense smoke cloud that rapidly filled the store. Amidst the confusion and panic, he used his heightened perception to locate the pistol, poison, and knives. Skillfully avoiding detection, he pocketed them one by one, feeling the weight of each item settle into place.
"Got them," Aric thought triumphantly, his heart pounding with adrenaline.
Before the cloud dissipated, Aric slipped out of the general store unnoticed. Armed with his stolen items and a newfound resolve, he was finally ready to embark on his mission as he stepped out of the settlement
"Su Jing," he vowed, his emerald eyes burning with determination. "I'm coming for you."
Aric ventured outside the settlement, following the bandit's trail with ease thanks to his heightened perception. The sun was high up in the sky, constantly blasting sunlight on the desolate wasteland. The hot winds carried whispers of danger, but Aric remained focused and determined as he tracked the bandits.
"Stay alert," he reminded himself, his senses attuned to any potential threats or obstacles along the way.
The trail led him through a landscape of skeletal trees and crumbling ruins, remnants of a world swallowed by chaos. As the hours passed, Aric grew more accustomed to his enhanced perception, allowing him to navigate the treacherous terrain with increased efficiency.
"Nearly there," he thought, feeling both anticipation and dread tightening in his chest. He could clearly sense something resembling a hideout in the near proximity
With a deep breath, Aric began his approach, each step calculated and precise. He weaved through shadows and obstacles, using his mana manipulation to silence the sound of his movements. The closer he got to the hideout, the more the weight of responsibility pressed upon him.
Aric finally reached the bandit's hideout – a dilapidated building surrounded by a makeshift barricade of rusted metal and debris. With careful precision, he used his enhanced perception to pinpoint Su Jing's location within the compound.
"Found you," he whispered, relief and resolve mingling in his voice.
Crouching behind a ruined wall, Aric surveyed the surroundings, taking note of the bandits patrolling the area. He knew that a direct assault would endanger Su Jing further, so he devised a plan to infiltrate the hideout stealthily.
"Failure is not an option," he thought, the recurring themes of power, learning, and failure echoing in his mind. "But this time I must proceed cautiously"
As he neared the entrance, Aric allowed himself a brief moment to recollect his thoughts. He knew that what lay ahead would test him in ways he had never experienced before.
But before he would begin his stealthy approach, his perception picked up something that instantly made him halt his tracks.