It crouched on a branch, golden eyes fixed on me, ready to pounce. I gripped my makeshift spear tighter, my pulse thundering in my ears. This time, I would not underestimate my foe.
The beast leaped towards me with lightning speed, a blur of fur and fangs. I could scarcely track its movement, but I calculated its trajectory and braced myself. Coating my shield with mana, I prepared for the impending impact. There was a deafening thud as the creature slammed into the barrier, the force pushing me back, but I held my ground. For the beast, hitting my shield must have felt like running full tilt into a brick wall. It tumbled to the ground but recovered its footing immediately.
A smirk tugged at my lips. I had finally succeeded in halting its charge, my strategy worked as intended.
The beast roared in frustration, unable to land a hit. It prepared for another attack, but the result was the same – my mana-coated shield an impenetrable bulwark.
Though I defended effectively, I couldn't defeat the creature without going on the offensive. When it attacked again, I took a gamble. Instead of blocking, I thrust my spear forward, hoping to impale the beast.
It was swift, but I felt the mana-infused spear pierce its thick hide, entering through the neck and exiting the nape. I clenched my teeth in silent celebration as it crumpled, unmoving. I had finally defeated the wretched thing.
The suddenness of victory flooded me with emotions, and it took several heartbeats to realize blood was dripping from my chest. The beast had managed to rake me with its claws, leaving a shallow gash. Relief washed over me as I assessed the wound.
I tore off my shirt and bound the cut, stemming the bleeding. It wasn't wise, leaving my body exposed to the cold nights, but staunching the wound took priority.
As I tended to myself, I noticed something amiss. Staring at my chest, I realized with a jolt – the pendant Korys had given me was missing.
I scoured the vicinity, checking every bush and branch that could have snagged it, but minutes passed without any sign of the pendant. The only place I hadn't checked was the beast's body.
Though unmoving, I approached cautiously, half-expecting it to lunge at any moment. But nothing happened.
"What am I doing?" I chuckled at my own foolishness. If it were still alive, it would have attacked long ago.
I needed to move quick and find food and water as soon as possible. Consuming the creature's raw flesh held no appeal unless I was truly starving.
I slowly retrieved retrieved the pendant that was caught in its claws, the beast remained still.
I turned my attention to retrieving the spear lodged in its body. Gripping the shaft, I pulled, but it refused to budge. Bracing myself, I heaved harder – only for the beast to suddenly growl and leap at me. It was still alive!
Taken by surprise, I found myself pinned to the ground, the creature's jaws snapping inches from my face. I grabbed its muzzle, holding it at bay with every ounce of strength I still had.
Trapped, I wracked my brain for a solution. Then Korys's words echoed in my mind: "Use all the skills you have to survive. Good luck!"
Out of the blue, a long-forgotten memory surfaced – the island, when I had last used that ability.
I tried to concentrate as I channeled the surrounding mana into my body. I felt myself becoming lighter, the pain from my chest wound dissipating. The beast's bulk, once crushing, grew manageable. My grip tightened around its muzzle, slowly crushing its face as it thrashed and struggled. With a sickening snap, it went limp.
I grabbed its neck, twisting viciously to ensure it wouldn't play dead again, before shoving the carcass away.
As I rose, I reflected on my ordeal. Back on the island, I had utilized my blessings without truly understanding them. After my resurrection and a second chance, the gods instilled the knowledge of my blessings within me. I comprehended everything, yet I hadn't utilized my skills to their fullest potential.
Had I become so consumed by my quest for revenge that I had grown foolish? Was I traumatized from losing to that accursed hero while using this ability?
"I guess this is why the god Nox requested this," I mused.
Korys's trial was not merely a test of physical prowess but a crucible to reforge my mind, to reclaim the power I had forsaken out of fear and anguish. If I prevailed, I could no longer hold back – I would need to embrace every facet of my being, conquer my inner demons, and emerge anew.
Before continuing my journey, I broke off one of the beast's claws and used it to skin the creature. I took its fur, including the head, to help insulate me from the cold nights ahead.
Traversing the forest by normal means proved inefficient, so I utilized my Mana Arts to cover more ground swiftly.
As I ran, an unsettling feeling crept over me – the distinct sensation of being watched. Though I couldn't identify the observer, I remained vigilant as I moved forward.
Day soon gave way to night, but I pressed onward, aided by the blessing I had received from the god of darkness, Nox. The blessing, known as 'Darkness Dominion,' granted me two skills. The first, 'Night Vision,' allowed me to see clearly even in the depths of blackness, an ability I had been using since its discovery back on the island. The second skill was a double-edged sword, one I would only consider using in utmost desperation.
Eventually, I happened upon a small cave, its opening just large enough for a single person to pass through. Thinking I could rest here for the night, I slowly explored its depths, checking for any signs of inhabiting creatures. The cavern proved deeper than anticipated, and it took some time before I reached a dead end – where I found something deeply concerning.
A nest, harboring crimson eggs. I scanned the area for the parent creatures but found none present. Deciding it wise not to linger, I turned to leave, only to come face-to-face with a colossal red lizard by the cave's entrance.
The quadrupedal beast reared onto its hind legs, seeming to prepare some manner of attack. I braced myself to dodge, but before it could strike, something far more powerful charged into the lizard, sending it tumbling a considerable distance away.
I shielded my face from the cloud of dirt and debris kicked up by the impact. As the dust settled, I gaped at the unexpected sight before me – a massive white wolf.
With spear and shield at the ready, I prepared to engage this new threat. To my surprise, however, the wolf simply turned and loped away.
The bizarre sequence of events left me dumbfounded. Though uncertain of what had transpired, I supposed I owed the white wolf my gratitude for its intervention.
Glancing back at the lizard's crumpled form, I saw it had perished. With the threat eliminated, I decided to take shelter within the cave, a few meters from the entrance – just in case.
The rhythmic drip of water echoed through the cave, rousing me from sleep the next morning. A heavy rain lashed against the cave's mouth, the sound almost drowning out the gurgling flow trickling down the rocky walls. Thirst gnawed at me, and I rushed towards the dripping water, catching it in my cupped hands and gulping it down greedily. My stomach protested with a dull ache, but the fear of a dry future made me continue drinking until my belly felt like bursting. A pang of regret shot through me. With no containers available, all this precious water would be wasted. "If only I still had Ness' blessing," I muttered, but dwelling on the past wouldn't quench my thirst.Relief washed over me as the rain finally subsided, the afternoon sun filtering weakly through the trees. Time to get moving.I scrambled up the tallest tree in sight to check if I was still in the right direction. Endless emerald waves of forest stretched in all directions, the distant peak a faint smudge against the horizon. Disheartened, I clambered down, the daunting size of the journey settling heavily on my shoulders.Days blurred into one another as I trekked deeper into the forest. Finally, the sound of trickling water brought a smile to my face. I found a stream with water clear as crystal. I knelt, savoring the cool water, and used the opportunity to wash the grime of travel off my weary body. A flash of movement in the water caught my eye. Fish! Excitement coursed through me. I grabbed my spear, channeled a surge of mana, and launched it towards the fish. The result was less than ideal. The spear struck the water with a deafening boom, scattering the fish in all directions. My stomach grumbled in protest.