"What kind of monster is he? Even after exhausting his mana, he's still standing, engaging us in hand-to-hand combat!" Amanda, one of Henry's followers, marveled.
"WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE? GRAB THE HERBS AND RUN!" Henry demanded with an eager tone. He needed this more than anyone else. After consuming the Radiant Solflower, the bottleneck would loosen, and consuming the Luminex Herb would guarantee a perfect breakthrough.
There, every one of the Big Five was eager to get it.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Ethan, you bit off more than you can chew, and now everyone is fighting you." Eric was ecstatic. He finally would get his revenge and make him pay for the humiliation he suffered more than once from Ethan.
"WE TOOK ALL THE COUNTER MEASURES AND DEPLETED YOUR MANA. LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN STILL FIGHT US WITHOUT YOUR GRAVITY CONTROL"
Eric jumped back and activated his ability, "Shadow Fangs!"
Five claw-like spikes suddenly sprang out of Eric's shadows, hurtling towards Ethan. But before he could even deflect the attack, he felt an immense surge of heat and light that seemed to amplify the shadows. Simultaneously, the mana in Ethan's surroundings distorted, sending ripples through the air.
"LIGHT BLESSING: SHADOW AMPLIFICATION"
Though Henry and Eric were known rivals, their synergy was evident. What made them unique was their combination, and if not for their rivalry, they would form an incredible team.
CLANG CLANG CLANG
"Telekinesis: CRUSH" Henry couldn't let Ethan escape the attack. This guy was a monster in human skin. He needed to be eliminated. Ethan's tenacity was something he would not dare to underestimate again after clashing so many times in the past 30 days. He needed to be decisive when dealing with him.
Ethan's survival instincts kicked in, and he leaped back, executing a lightning-fast roll to evade the onslaught of thrown daggers. With a swift, practiced motion, he infused his sword with the last remnants of his dwindling mana. The blade erupted in a dazzling display of energy, crackling and shimmering like a celestial beacon.
In the blink of an eye, he lunged forward, meeting the incoming shadow attack head-on. His sword struck with explosive force, a clash of darkness and radiant power that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. The shadowy onslaught shattered into a dazzling array of ethereal fragments, scattering like shards of a broken dream.
But... it was a fleeting victory. Time seemed to slow as he realized his critical mistake. His mana reserves had been pushed to the brink. The sword's glow dimmed, fading into nothingness, leaving him defenseless and vulnerable.
In the deafening silence that followed, the inevitable loomed like a specter. Despite his unwavering resolve and every ounce of effort he had poured into this battle, it was not enough.
Ethan found himself cornered, the weight of his empty mana reserves settling in. He could feel the anticipation in the air, almost as tangible as the blades that sought to end him. For the first time in what felt like forever, doubt clouded his thoughts. The room seemed to close in on him, and the faces of his enemies twisted into malicious grins.
It was then that he felt it—a faint tingling at the back of his mind, a whisper of an old incantation. Gritting his teeth, he focused inward, not sure what he would find. The tingling sensation grew stronger, as if responding to his emotional turmoil, his silent plea for aid.
"Is this... the feeling you meant, Oneiro?" His voice was a choked whisper, almost drowned out by the roar of his enemies' abilities tearing through the air. Every fiber of his being screamed in agony as he strained to reach for that distant speck of power, a parting gift from someone long gone.
His hand shot up, the air around him pulsating with tension. "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH WHAT HE LEFT ME BEHIND! GRAVITY CRUSH!"
In that fateful moment, his words became a thunderous declaration. The very fabric of reality seemed to bend to his will. An indomitable force surged forth, and suddenly, the world within a two-meter radius of him was plunged into chaos.
Ten times gravity, relentless and merciless, bore down upon everything and everyone caught in its unforgiving grip. The ground trembled as if the earth itself had turned against them, and the combatants were violently hurled downward. His enemies, caught off guard, struggled against the oppressive force, their defiance met with the inexorable weight of Ethan's fury.
Yet, as gravity's crushing grip intensified, Ethan's own emotions overwhelmed him. Tears streamed down his face, a mixture of pain, desperation, and a profound sense of isolation. In the midst of this turmoil, he couldn't help but question why everyone was so vehemently opposed to him. What had he done to deserve such relentless hostility?
With the battle still raging around him, these haunting questions lingered, adding a layer of emotional turmoil to the already chaotic battlefield.
*******
[30 days prior to the clash]
"I finally escaped the shadow master. It was terrifying to say the least." Ethan took a deep breath and started moving, the destination still not clear. All he knew was that he was still not safe. The guys who stayed on the entrance were blocking the entrance and it seemed like they were just stations to stop the students from the other schools. After the first batch entered the portal, the rest would follow right after.
From what he understood from this endless pursuit was that this dungeon entrance would close after a fixed amount of time, but since they still wanted to enter they sure had a way out after everything was over.
"I first need to come up with a plan, I can't just run through the dungeon without knowing where I am."
Without further hesitation, he activated his newfound ability.
'Gravity Sight.'
It was just now that Ethan realized what wonderful place he entered. Because of the adrenaline surge, he couldn't savor the view. But now, after regaining focus, he beheld something truly unbelievable.
A delicate green luminescence wrapped itself around him, casting a gentle radiance that extended just a few feet, revealing every detail with exquisite clarity. In an area of 5 miles everything became visible to him. It was as if he had donned a pair of enchanted lenses, bringing the nearby surroundings into sharp focus while the rest of the world remained veiled in the natural dimness of the jungle.
Ethan's entrance into the dungeon transported him to a realm of pure marvel. Picture this: towering crystalline trees that reached for the heavens, adorned with branches that glistened like precious gemstones, and leaves that painted the ground with dazzling rainbows. The air carried a sweet aroma, an intoxicating blend of wildflowers and an elusive hint of something otherworldly.
Underfoot, the path consisted of translucent stones that seemed to dance with every step, a spectacle of shifting colors that played a whimsical tune. Streams of liquid light meandered alongside the path, forming intricate patterns that mimicked the shifting sky above.
And oh, that sky! Ethan's eyes couldn't help but be drawn upward, where a celestial masterpiece unfolded. The ceiling, a canvas painted with the dance of stars and constellations, cast a soft, enchanting light that painted the entire scene. The whispers of unseen creatures added a musical layer to the ambiance, making the place feel alive and vibrant.
Ethan stood there, heart racing, as awe and excitement coursed through him.
Most confusingly, it felt like he had been here before. Like a distant memory, that he couldn't recall, but he knew it was there.
"This is a good start, I see all monsters in the surrounding and even the hideouts I could be using."
Instinctively Ethan started talking to nova, looking for the best route to take: „Nova, which direc…" but he stopped in the middle of the sentence remembering how he needed to use the remaining mana reserves of Nova to survive his pursuit.
„Sigh, I really started relying on Nova right after getting it. I guess it is good to be cautious in the future to not get too dependent on Nova."
Then his eyes glinted with a predator's intensity. "I will wash away this humiliation. Grandpa will show them who the king of this jungle is," he muttered under his breath, his determination unwavering.
Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a deep, calming breath.
Wooooo.
Ethan leaned against the sturdy trunk of a crystalline tree, drawing deep breaths to steady himself. In his mind's eye, a tactical map unfolded—various icons representing monsters, herbs, and mystical points of interest within the dungeon.
"First thing's first," he murmured to himself, pinpointing the closest mana-rich monsters on his mental map. "I need to recover mana. Those mutated beasts have awakened mana stones within them. If I defeat them and absorb the stones, it will not only refill my mana but also make me stronger."
Ethan pondered his combat capabilities, especially without Nova to aid him. "Direct confrontation would be wasteful and dangerous, especially in my current state. Maybe I can employ hit-and-run tactics or find a way to lure them into traps. Yes, traps that exploit their elemental weaknesses should work."
Satisfied with his first line of strategy, he moved on. "Secondly, detection range. I can see them, but can they see me? I need to test this. If I can figure out their sensory limitations, I can use it to my advantage—sneak attacks, distractions, you name it."
Ethan's eyes narrowed as he turned his attention to the different types of monsters displayed in his mental map. "Thirdly, behavior patterns. Some of these creatures are solitary, others move in packs. Some are aggressive, while others are skittish. Knowing their behavior could give me the upper hand. Plus, I need to know if any of these beasts are territorial, and how to either avoid or exploit that."
Finally, he considered his long-term goals. "Last but not least, a safe haven. I need to find a place secure enough to rest and store any resources I gather. A place easily defensible but not so obvious that others would think to look there."
He frowned, considering the logistical issues. "Every plan has variables and unknowns. I need contingency plans for when—not if—things go wrong."
With a resolute nod to himself, Ethan unfolded from his resting position, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
"Now, to put theory into practice."
Positioning his palms on the ground, he closed his eyes once again and took a deep, steady breath. "Let's see what happens when I allocate about 40% of my mana into this technique."
"GRAVITY. SIGHT."
With a resonating swoosh, his mana flowed through the ground like an electric current, enveloping every living organism within a 30-mile radius. The world around him projected into his mind with stunning clarity. However, it wasn't his mana that betrayed him—it was the sheer flood of information that followed.
"AHHHHH!"
Ethan's brain felt like it was vibrating, and he grimaced as he began bleeding from his seven facial orifices, overwhelmed by the strain.
"I need... to find... a safer... location," he gasped, his voice strained. His body trembled slightly, the weight of the information taking its toll.
Summoning his remaining strength, Ethan started to stagger through the dungeon. With heavy steps and a throbbing headache, he walked with a clear destination in mind—an underground cave with a water spring. At least, that's what he saw with his gravitational sight.
The cave was three miles to the west, which shouldn't take him too long. Usually, it would only take him around six minutes before his breakthrough to the middle rank of awakening, but right now, he had a little dilemma.
Unfortunately for Ethan, an extreme headache due to overexertion made it excruciatingly challenging to wield his mana efficiently. To his dismay, he still needed to navigate through a perilous Charmweaver Spider nest—a spiderling species that wove intricate webs designed to absorb and channel mana from passing magical beings.
"Sh**," he muttered under his breath, "I need to defeat it and get going as fast as possible. Let's try walking around it first, hopefully, it won't detect me."
Ethan fought to take a deep breath, attempting to ignore the throbbing pain in his head.
He began to move cautiously, each step calculated. "It seems like it won't be necessary to fight. Let's keep moving sl—"
*Krek*
A snap echoed through the tense silence as his foot landed on a fallen branch. Ethan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized his grave mistake.
The spider's eyes were a chilling sight. Four of them, as big as full moons, emitted an eerie radiance. The remaining twelve, resembling nothing more than rotten apples, contributed to the creature's nightmarish presence. All sixteen eyes fixated on Ethan, their gaze piercing through him like icy daggers, sending shivers down his spine.
*Squuueeeq*
An extremely high-pitched voice, like the tortured wail of a lost soul, echoed in Ethan's ears, intensifying the heart-racing fear that coursed through him.