Just as Arlan's sword was about to intercept the fiery projectile, Elrian felt a surge of energy. A torrent of wind swirled around him, a manifestation of his "Aerial Affinity" and "Wind Manipulation." Without a moment's hesitation, he channeled the wind to accelerate his movement, lunging forward in a burst of speed that he had never experienced before. In a blink, he was in front of his mother, Lysandra.
Summoning his "Gale Shield," Elrian formed a protective wind barrier in front of them. The fire spear collided with the shield, causing a maelstrom of wind and fire that engulfed him. Elrian gritted his teeth, feeling the heat sear through him as he struggled to maintain the shield.
Finally, the fire spear dissipated, but the cost was significant. Elrian staggered back, his clothes singed, skin slightly burnt, and the Qi within him significantly drained. Yet, the relief on his mother's face was more than worth it.
"Are you alright?" Lysandra rushed to his side, concern etched on her face.
"I'll manage," Elrian assured, although he felt anything but alright. His Qi was fluctuating wildly, the recent exertion taxing his yet-unstable foundation.
Arlan, witnessing his son's bravery and the immense risk he had taken, felt a mix of pride and concern. "We need to end this, now," he announced, locking eyes with Lysandra.
Nodding, Lysandra regrouped with Arlan. Both charged at the Flaming Rabbit, their swords glowing with the last reserves of their Qi. The creature, sensing the determination emanating from them, let out another roar, its flames burning even brighter.
The battle that followed was intense and grueling. Arlan and Lysandra circled the beast, striking and dodging, their blades barely making a dent on its fiery hide. Yet, each hit, each slice, seemed to weaken it incrementally.
Elrian, regaining some of his composure, joined the fray. Though his Qi was low, his resolve was unbreakable. With calculated strikes aimed at the creature's less protected areas—the strategy gleaned from his parents' earlier attempts—he began to make an impact. Every time the creature was about to counterattack his parents, Elrian used his wind abilities to either speed up his parents' movements or slow down the creature's, tipping the scales in their favor.
Hours seemed to pass in a blur. With each minute, the forest grew darker, and the flames around the Flaming Rabbit dimmed, a sign of its depleting energy.
Finally, seizing an opportune moment when the creature appeared visibly weakened and its flames reduced to mere embers, Arlan and Lysandra launched a coordinated assault. Their swords, empowered by the remnants of their Qi, found their mark, piercing through the once-impenetrable fiery aura.
The Flaming Rabbit let out a feeble cry before collapsing, its body slowly reverting to its original form, now devoid of flames.
Elrian, despite his exhaustion and injuries, felt a rush of exhilaration. They had done it; they had defeated a Qi-sensing creature, a Flaming Rabbit of the 1st stage. The three of them stood there, panting and battered, yet united by a newfound bond forged through battle and sacrifice.
As they sheathed their swords, Elrian looked at his parents and then at the fallen creature, contemplating the lessons and the scars that this day had brought him. And as his gaze shifted to the setting sun, painting the horizon with hues of twilight, one thought emerged clear and resonant: this was but the beginning of his journey, a path that promised countless battles, challenges, and revelations. And he couldn't wait to face them all.
As they stood amidst the quietude of the forest, their labored breaths filling the air, Arlan looked at Elrian, his eyes filled with both admiration and a sense of urgency. "Son, what you did today was both brave and risky. But we won't always be there to guide you. You need to know how to handle creatures like this on your own."
Lysandra joined in, her expression equally serious. "First, you need to assess the creature's abilities. The Flaming Rabbit, for instance, had fire elemental abilities. Normally, you'd counter that with a water or earth elemental ability, but since you're not there yet in your cultivation, avoidance and misdirection become key."
Arlan took over, "Next, the fighting behavior. Against a creature like the Flaming Rabbit, never, I repeat, never go head-on. Its fire abilities can easily overpower a Qi Initiate. So, what do you do? You observe its attack patterns. It usually launches a fireball or a fire spear, right? Note the timing. Use your speed and agility to dodge, especially now that you can manipulate wind to aid your movements."
"Also," Lysandra added, "once you've observed its pattern, find its blind spots. Most creatures have a moment of vulnerability right after they launch an attack. That's your window. Use it to either escape or land a decisive blow."
Elrian nodded, absorbing their advice as if it were sacred wisdom.
"Then comes the engagement," Arlan continued. "If you can't run, and you find that window of opportunity, use everything you've got. But be careful with your Qi. As you experienced, using too much can backfire. Balance is the key. Use your sword techniques to aim for its weak spots—the eyes, the underbelly, joints—places where the elemental aura is weakest."
"Don't forget the environment," Lysandra said, her eyes scanning the surrounding forest. "Use it to your advantage. Lead the creature into difficult terrain, like thorny bushes or a rocky ground. It might disrupt its focus and give you a slight advantage. And remember, you also have your wind abilities. You might not be proficient now, but they will become your edge, so practice them as much as you can."
Elrian felt a surge of gratitude towards his parents. The day had been long, the lessons many, but what struck him the most was the unspoken message behind their words: that they believed in him, in his potential to be a great cultivator, a skilled warrior.
"Thank you, Father, Mother," he said softly. "I promise, I'll remember and practice what you've taught me."
"And one more thing," Arlan said, his eyes meeting Elrian's, "Don't be afraid to retreat when you must. There's no shame in it. Living to fight another day is its own form of wisdom."