Narrowly avoiding the tree that crashed down in his path, Kael found himself in a heated pursuit by the formidable Direbrinbare. This red-furred magical creature was determined to inflict harm upon him. As they continued to run, Kael's stamina waned, and the monster drew ever closer.
"How can I overcome this formidable foe?"Kael pondered as he ran. He was acutely aware that the Direbrinbare would not cease its pursuit until he was defeated, and he lacked the necessary skills to vanquish it.
"I must rely on my own abilities to emerge victorious,"he realized, a determined expression crossing his face as he approached a tree and propelled himself into the air.
Mid-leap, he pivoted and extended his hand towards the airborne Direbrinbare, which mirrored his motion.
"Ultimate Predator Skill: Poison Breath,"he intoned, feeling a searing heat emanate from his throat as a gush of hot air expelled from his mouth, forcing the Direbrinbare to crash to the ground, while Kael himself collided with a tree trunk.
Enraged, the magical beast let out a deafening roar, stomping its hind legs with such force that the ground beneath it fractured. "Did I just provoke it further?"Kael wondered aloud, observing the change in the monster's eyes.
"Alert! The Level 10 Monster is immune to poison,"a notification sounded, to which Kael responded, "Thank you, Alexa. I am now aware."With renewed determination, Kael resumed the chase, only to be met with an unexpected turn of events from the Direbrinbare.
The creature unleashed a torrent of black flames from its maw, scorching everything in its path. Kael felt the searing heat of the inferno as he sprinted with all his might. The ground beneath him grew unbearably hot, turning black as the flames consumed it.
In a desperate bid to evade the flames, Kael vaulted from tree to tree, absorbing their life force before they were engulfed in fire.
Upon shifting his eyes, he discovered that the pathway lay unobstructed, and the fantastical creature was hurtling towards him with the swiftness of light. Just as he attempted to progress towards the adjacent tree, it shattered, causing him to plummet freely to the ground, landing in the clutches of the Direbrinbare.
The monstrous being's gaping maw widened as it drew Kael nearer to its countenance. "Will it devour me whole?"Kael pondered involuntarily.
The creature's forelimbs' talons dug into his legs, impeding his ability to employ shadow manipulation. His manhood was aimed towards the creature, a sight that seemed to captivate the Direbrinbare even further as its gaze remained fixed upon it.
"What course of action should I pursue, Alexa?"he inquired, met with silence. "That inept system. It has abandoned me to my destiny,"he lamented internally, until a sudden realization dawned upon him...
However, it was already too late, as the mystical creature's tongue ensnared his body and he was engulfed entirely.
The Direbrinbare roared out loudly and then turned to leave. He hasn't match three steps forward when his stomach bursted and his intestines dropped out including Kael..
He was covered in dark crimson blood and struggled to get the intestine off him while the magical monster roared out loud as it staggered back and slowly slumped to the floor.
Kael got on his feet, his body drenched with blood and an intestine hanging in his mouth. He quickly split it out and wipe his face.
"Oh.. Glacial explosion. I never knew I've such a magic. Why didn't you tell me Alexa."
Alexa: It's exceedingly perilous. The glacial explosion has significantly depleted your strength, and considering you are still in the process of healing...
"Dangerous indeed. I highly doubt I will utilize it again. I don't believe I truly..."He couldn't finish his sentence as the roar of the magical monster echoed through the air, signaling its recovery.
"Unbelievable... It's still alive. Alexa, activate the mimicking Trolloc ability."
Alexa: Mimic Trolloc ability has been initiated. Physical prowess has been augmented.
"This is the moment we've been waiting for,"he declared, showcasing his impressive muscular physique. The magical monster couldn't conceal its surprise as its adversary assumed a new form.
Undeterred, he charged toward Kael, who met his advance without hesitation. The forest trembled as the thunderous sound of their footsteps reverberated through the air. In a swift and calculated motion, Kael delivered a punch directly to the monster's jaw, sending it crashing to the ground.
With a determined look in his eyes, he approached the creature and delivered a powerful kick to its hindquarters, sending it flying through the air until it collided with a nearby tree several feet away. The monster let out a deafening cry that pierced through the air, but it quickly regained its balance and stood up, ready to retaliate.
Feeling a surge of adrenaline, he gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, "Don't you dare die on me."He charged towards the creature with lightning speed, his muscles tense and ready for action. With a swift motion, he called out to his system, "Alexa, activate the all-crushing skill."
ALEXA: ALL CRUSHING SKILL HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. DURABILITY HAS BEEN ENHANCED. SIZE HAS BEEN INCREASED.
Kael sensed the palpable tension in the atmosphere as his hands expanded exponentially. With a mere clap, he could obliterate the monstrous being before him. As he poised his hands for the decisive strike, a voice from the system interrupted him.
ALEXA: ALERT! THE DIREBRINBARE...
Alexa was unable to complete her warning before the mystical creature unleashed dark flames upon Kael, enveloping him and propelling him backwards, causing him to crash forcefully onto the ground.
Kael reverted to his human-like form, coughing loudly as dark smoke billowed from his body. "Ouch!"he exclaimed, experiencing pain throughout his body. His eyes narrowed as the Direbrinbare advanced towards him for a final attack.
"This is not good, "he muttered, attempting to rise to his feet but failing. He pressed his hands against the ground in an effort to regain stability, and that was when he heard the ground rumble.
Looking ahead, he locked eyes with the mystical creature as it prepared to leap into the air.
"Earth Manipulation: First Form,"he intoned with his hands pressed against the ground. As he did so, the earth beneath the Direbrinbare cracked, causing its body to become partially buried in the ground.
Kael, with great difficulty, tried to stand up amidst the deafening cries of the Direbrinbare echoing through the forest. The creature fought desperately to break free from its entrapment, but all its efforts were in vain. Kael's body was covered in painful bruises, his skin so darkened that he was barely recognizable. Standing there, he observed as the Direbrinbare eventually stopped struggling and surrendered to the encroaching darkness. Suddenly, a voice from Alexa rang out, alerting everyone present that the Direbrinbare had shown no signs of life.
ALEXA: NOTICE. THE DIREBRINBARE SHOWS NO SIGN OF LIFE.
"Do not feign ignorance, Alexa, regarding your familiarity with the technique of Earth manipulation,"he inquired, as the scorching breeze relentlessly assaulted his skin.
ALEXA: UNAWARE OF SUCH A TECHNIQUE...
"What? How is it possible that I was able to utilize it?"He exclaimed loudly.
ALEXA: I DON'T KNOW
"I believed you held the key to all knowledge. I understand your intentions. Please refrain from vocalizing them."He exclaimed, collapsing onto the floor.He was fatigued, and his head was throbbing intensely. The sun only exacerbated the situation, beating down on his body.
ALEXA: I HAVE BEEN CONSTRAINED BY MY USER.
"I explicitly advised against mentioning it,"he exclaimed loudly, coughing up blood before swiftly wiping it away.
"KRRrrh!"He heard the sound and his ear immediately twitched. His mind was instantly consumed by thoughts of the Direbrinbare. 'Hasn't that monstrous creature met its demise?' he couldn't help but wonder.
However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the creature remained motionless in its original position.'Perhaps it was merely a figment of my imagination,' he contemplated, closing his eyes in an attempt to unwind despite the oppressive heat.
"KRRrrh!"The sound reverberated once more, prompting him to jolt upright and rise to his feet. The noise grew louder, prompting him to scan his surroundings, but nothing was in sight.
It took him over three minutes to realize that the source of the noise was his own stomach growling. He was famished, having not eaten the entire day, unaware of the time.
He scoured the forest in search of sustenance, but found nothing edible. The trees were barren, a result of his actions. Persisting in his search, his gaze eventually fell upon the Direbrinbare. Fortunately, the carcass was fresh and appeared palatable, motivating him to begin his task.
An hour passed, and Kael was observed relishing the roasted meat he had prepared by igniting dry wood from the forest. Unfamiliar with Direbrinbare meat, it appeared to invigorate him as he devoured it voraciously.
"This is heavenly. Who would have thought that such a monstrous creature would be so delectable,"he remarked between bites.
As he continued to enjoy his meal, the ground trembled violently, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Springing to his feet, he found himself clothed in the remnants of the Direbrinbare, with his manhood concealed by dry leaves.
ALEXA: ALERT. A HERD OF DIREBRINBARES IS FIFTY METERS AWAY FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION.
"Hmm? It took me over an hour to contend with one, and now a pack,"he muttered before selecting another piece of meat from the fire. Unlike the others, this particular piece was still raw. Without even inspecting it, he took a large bite.
"Ugh.. It's acrid,"he exclaimed after swallowing. His thoughts were consumed by how he would confront the pack of Direbrinbare, to the extent that he didn't even realize when he finished his meal. His stomach growled, and he lost his balance upon hearing Alexa's voice.
ALEXA: WARNING. YOU HAVE REACHED RANK 4 OF THE CELESTIAL NOVICE. TWO MAGICAL ARTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. YOU NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THE ELF MAGIC, WHICH IS LINKED TO THE ULTIMATE PREDATOR SKILL, AND THE MONSTER MAGIC. YOUR BODY HAS GAINED THE ABILITY OF POISON RESISTANCE. DURABILITY HAS BEEN IMPROVED. EARTH MANIPULATION SKILL REMAINS UNKNOWN. ESSENCE CONVERSION IN PROGRESS.. ESSENCE CONVERSION FAILED.. INSUFFICIENT ESSENCE..
Kael perceived the methodical voice as a brilliant light emanated from within him. "Incredible... I feel an increase in strength,"he remarked as he rose to his feet. Positioned where he stood, he detected the monster approaching him with relentless determination.
"Elf Magic: Glacial Explosion."
Kael began his incantation, channeling his magical energy into a powerful purple blast that he directed towards the oncoming group of magical Monsters. The blast obliterated everything in its path, including the towering trees that stood in the way. The Monsters scattered in fear as Kael, undeterred, charged towards them with determination in his eyes.
As he reached the Monsters, Kael stood his ground and swiftly launched a powerful kick directly at the jaw of one of the fearsome Direbrinbares. The impact of the kick was so intense that it caused the Direbrinbare to lose several teeth as it was flung backward, crashing against a nearby tree with a loud thud.
With a quick turn, Kael brought his palms together, causing the earth to rise up around three of the magical monsters, forming a solid ball of earth around them. With a clenched fist, he activated his crushing skill, causing the earth to collapse in on itself, crushing the Monsters into unrecognizable pieces.
"Piece of cake,"Kael chuckled to himself, feeling confident in his abilities. However, his moment of triumph was short-lived as he suddenly sensed a presence behind him. Before he could react, a sharp slash to his stomach from a sneaky Direbrinbare left him reeling in pain.
He collided with the ground and swiftly rose, blood seeping from his abdomen as the Direbrinbare advanced towards him.In a fit of rage, he clenched his fist and struck the Earth, causing it to fracture and cleave open. The Direbrinbare tumbled inside alongside the other mystical creatures before the Earth sealed shut without a trace of its previous opening."This power.."He murmured, examining his fist. He was unaware of its origins.
Even Alexa, whom he regarded as the repository of all knowledge, was clueless about it.Surveying the aftermath of the Glacial explosion, he noted the havoc he had wrought. Though the chaos paled in comparison to the devastation he had inflicted upon the forest, he felt no remorse.After all, it was merely a forest, he mused, hobbling forward until his gaze alighted upon a colossal tree, twice the size and height of an oak. Hastily, he sprinted towards the tree and pressed his hands against it.
ALEXA: ELEMENTAL ABSORPTION HAS BEEN INITIATED.
He stood motionless for nearly ten minutes as ethereal essences permeated his being. His injuries swiftly healed, and his complexion regained its vitality. A powerful energy thrust him backwards, causing him to fall to his knees. As he lifted his eyes, he beheld the tree, which, to his astonishment, was teeming with life.
ALEXA: NOTICE. THIS IS THE AETHRALIS TREE, A CORNERSTONE OF THIS WOODLAND . IT HAS STOOD FOR MILLENNIA , HARBORING COUNTLESS ESSENCES AND RAW MAGICAL ORE.
"Millions of essences..."Kael murmured, gazing at the majestic tree. Rising to his feet, a covetous smile graced his features as he extended his left hand towards the tree. "Alexa... Engage the Ultimate Predator Skill.
ALEXA: ULTIMATE PREDATOR SKILL HAS BEEN ACTIVATED
Purple thick smoke billowed out from Kael's outstretched hand, swirling around the tree like a living, breathing entity. It wrapped itself around every inch of the tree, from the trunk to the branches and leaves, before retracting back towards Kael's hand. The sheer force of the magic pushed him back, but he managed to steady himself on his feet.
As Kael regained his balance, he looked up to find that the tree had vanished, consumed by his powerful spell. This tree was no ordinary tree - it was the Aethralis foundation tree, brimming with millions of essence and raw magic ore that Kael could now harness to nourish his body and heal his wounds.
A triumphant grin spread across Kael's face as he gazed at the dark, ominous clouds forming in the sky above. His laughter echoed through the clearing, filled with greed and power. However, his moment of triumph was short-lived as a sudden tension in the air caught his attention. With a swift turn, he saw a glint of steel as a blade hurtled towards his head.
To be continued...