👀 Kael's POV 👀
"Alexa, you have to do something, or I'll destroy you myself."
[Notice: The essence conversion has been completed, and the registration of an art is ongoing. A loophole has been created, and the magic ore has been diluted with the essences, creating a healing ability. The ability is registered under the Ultimate Predator Skill.]
I heard the systematic voice of Alexa when I stepped into the middle of the inn. My eyes were closed, and my hands were spread out. It seemed as if I knew what I was doing, but I didn't. I knew Liam and the others must be staring at me, thinking I was making a fool of myself.
I had something in my mind, and I had come to understand that Alexa knew what was going on in my head. If it wasn't going to work, she would definitely alert me.
"Alexa, activate the Ultimate Predator Skill," I said to her, trying hard to control my breath.
[Ultimate Predator Skill has been activated.]
I heard her voice again, and I felt something rushing from my lower abdomen. It was a feeling I couldn't explain as my hands turned heavier, making me wonder if Alexa had indeed released the Ultimate Predator Skill.
My plan was to devour these injured beings and see if they would get healed once I vomited them back. Not me, actually, but the Ultimate Predator Skill. Instead of the purple smoke surging out of my hands, I opened my eyes to see sky-blue magicules surging out instead, enveloping the injured defenders of Liam's village.
Right before everyone present in the room, they were healed with no signs of injury on their bodies, though they were still weak.
I was shocked to the core. I didn't expect Alexa to do this. I turned to look at Liam and saw the shock on his face, the same as Mitsuri. I pointed my hand at both of them, and they got healed within seconds.
The inn was now silent as everyone's gaze was fixed on me. Suddenly, I heard movement. The goblin who had attacked me earlier was charging at me.
I wondered what he wanted from me this time, but he didn't look like someone with ill intentions.
He leapt up and bowed right in front of me. "Thank you for resurrecting my son, Master Eleven," he said to me, his voice sober. I bet he's regretting his earlier actions.
But did he just say resurrect?
I looked around and realized that even the creatures that had been confirmed dead were healed and breathing fine.
"Alexa, what have you done?"
"It's fine. Everything happened because of me. I'm just trying to make amends. Take me to the injured goblins," I said to him while helping him up. His face was filled with tears.
Monsters do cry too. How come I never realized?
"I'll do just that, Master Eleven," he replied, getting on his feet. This is the first time since I left the Elvarin Kingdom that someone has called my name with respect.
Oh, I forgot to mention: Liam already pronounced me as Eleven before I woke up. I wasn't even in the right mood to argue. He had seen the mark on my chest, and I also told him I had memory loss.
Eleven is a great name. It fits my dark skin while Kael fits the light.
It took me more than an hour to finish healing all the injured villagers. The population of beings in Liam's village was over 200, and it was really draining.
Most especially the direwolves. They drained most of my magicules. I came out of the store clad in new attire: a damp white shirt tied with rope and a black fitted trouser. I unsheathed the sword I took from the store and breathed into it. The poison breath.
"Eleven." I heard my name and turned to see Liam. He was looking at me with a glitter of hope on his face.
"Where are you heading?" he asked as I sheathed back the sword.
"All of this is my fault. I'm going to the domain of the Direbrinbares to end this all," I replied. To be sincere, he gasped.
"The domain of the Direbrinbare?"
"Liam, get ready to evacuate your family before dawn. I'll buy you enough time. If I die, so be it. It's my fault anyway," I said, strapping the sheathed sword to my belt.
"I should come with you. I can't let you die," Liam replied, and I sighed. I was expecting this. He's too kind. I wish I could be like him.
"You can't come with me. You have to watch over them. They all depend on you. And you, Mitsuri, stay alert," I added.
"I'll do as you've told me, Master Eleven. Thank you for healing me." He bowed slightly, showing his courtesy.
I nodded and forced a smile before leaving their presence, walking out of their village into the woods, the forest of Aethralis.
I hadn't gone far when I felt a presence behind me. Before I could turn, a hand wrapped around my mouth, and a soft body enveloped my frame from behind.
"You aren't planning to die without me, Master Eleven," I heard a soft, melodious voice say, and my heart leapt.
Tyran, what on Earth is she doing here?
She released me from her grip sooner than I expected. Who would believe spirits in Aetheria are well-endowed? I'm sure it's the same on Earth.
"Tyran, where are you heading?" I asked her as she walked closely beside me.
"You didn't wait for me to say thank you for healing my sister. So, I came to say thank you. Thank you, Master Eleven," she said, almost bowing, but I grabbed her by the waist, shocking her.
We had been this close, but this was unexpected. I didn't know what moved my hands, but I didn't want her to bow.
"You don't have to thank me, Tyran. It was all my fault," I said, releasing her as she stared into my eyes.
This look... it was so affectionate. It made me recall when we first met. Her only intention was to end my life.
"Now I want to set that wrong right by destroying those monsters once and for all," I boasted.
Although they are higher than me in rank, I have other skills in my possession. I'm called the Son of Adam for a reason.
"I'm following you."
"Huh?"
"I'll lead you to the domain of the Direbrinbare and help you in any way possible." She said again, and without waiting for my reply, she sprinted off.
Her legs still didn't touch the ground. I pray one day she'll teach me how to walk in the air. Oh, I forgot that she's a spirit.
I sprinted after her, and for that very moment, I forgot that I was going to die.
I stopped sprinting to catch my breath, but Tyran seemed nowhere near tired. I think she suspected I was no longer keeping up, so she ran all the way back to me.
"They're coming," she announced, and I unsheathed my sword. Almost immediately, I started hearing the thumping sound. It was supposed to be a sneak attack, but it seemed they saw Tyran already.
"Come, let's lead them to a clearing. I can't risk them destroying my days of hard work," I said, grabbing Tyran's wrist.
"It's too late. We have been surrounded," she replied. That was when I looked around to see that truly, we were surrounded by these gruesome creatures.
Fear gripped me instantly. This was bigger than the magical monsters I faced earlier. Their mouths were much bigger, and their skin much thicker.
Tyran was already shaking in my grip, but I held tightly to the sword, waiting for them to attack. I wasn't planning to die, and I'm not going to die.
"I'm going to end you all," I screamed, and that was it.
Their growls filled the forest as they released dark flame balls from all directions.
"Earth Manipulation: Fourth form, Earth Shield," I cried out, using the earth manipulation technique. The ground beneath us spun and then rose up, forming a barrier that protected us from the dark flames.
Dozens of the Direbrinbares charged at once, their sharp claws ready to dig through the barrier. It burst, its particles erupting into the air. I followed immediately, leaping into the air with the sword in my grip.
I slashed one of the forelimbs of a Direbrinbare before landing on its back and stabbing hard into its neck.
I withdrew my sword and flipped into the air, charging my sword with dark flame and slashing it into the air.
The effect slashed through three Direbrinbares, cutting them from the top right to the bottom left.
I landed on the ground and turned to see two Direbrinbares falling atop me, but they were immediately dragged back by roots from a tree. I bet that was Tyran's doing.
"Spirit Magic: Root of the Zadiax," she chanted as roots from the ground stabbed through their bodies.
She was just too beautiful and well-endowed. I should have devoured her, and...
"Master Eleven, behind you!" I heard her melodious voice, and my heart leapt for joy. It took some seconds before my brain processed that she was giving a warning.
I turned instantly, only to be dived down by a Direbrinbare, its claws piercing through my skin.
My sword flew out of my hands as I crashed hard onto the ground. It raised its forelimbs to slash through my stomach when I released dark flames, sending it flying meters away.
I rose up, and my bleeding stopped instantly; my wounds healed as the earth brought my sword back to my grip. I stood my ground, my fist tightening around the sword with my mouth wide open.
"Elf Magic: Glacial Explosion," I chanted, tearing the sword into the air. About a dozen Direbrinbares froze instantly, and I activated the all-crushing skill.
With a war cry, they all crushed into pieces as I fell to my knees. I heard a faint sob.
It was Tyran. She was being held hostage by one of the Direbrinbares. I turned slowly as its claws threatened to pull out her esophagus.
"Let her go," I said, trying to move forward, but its claws went deeper, causing me to stop. This monster was intelligent.
If I took any step forward, it would kill her. I watched as blood trickled down from her neck.
She wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
Suddenly, a root came out of its mouth, and its hold on Tyran loosened. She fell to the floor while it was being dragged down by the root. I gaped in astonishment; there was no sign of a tree. So where did the root come from?
I ran to Tyran and helped her up. "Are you okay?" I asked her, staring into her eyes.
"I think... I think..." was all she could say before passing out.
The Direbrinbare had nearly killed her. I looked up to see that different holes were in the body of the dead Direbrinbare.
"What was that?" I asked Alexa, staring in confusion at the dead Direbrinbare. I knew I hadn't done anything.
[The Essence Conversion Has Been Completed, and a Magic Art Has Been Registered Under the Elemental Absorption: The Flower Magic.]
"Flower magic," I muttered after Alexa completed her speech, and the ground shook as dozens of Direbrinbares approached.
[Notice: 67 Direbrinbares Are Heading Towards Your Direction. Should I Activate the Flower Magic?]
"Yes, please. I want to know about those roots," I replied, watching calmly as Alexa did her thing.
Right before my eyes, roots burst out from different directions, binding all the Direbrinbares and forming a circle, not giving them any breathing space.
"Wow. This is nefarious," I said, rubbing my chin. Unfortunately, I had no beard. I don't even know how old I am.
[Both the Flower Magic and the All-Crushing Skill Were Activated at Once.]
I heard Alexa's voice when the roots started getting smaller and smaller, squeezing the life out of all the Direbrinbares.
I closed my ears as their wailing pierced into my eardrums. Their cries, their growls... I pitied them.
It was what they were designed for, so I won't blame them, but they deserved to die.
"Be gone," I uttered, and like magic, their cries stopped. They were all squeezed to death. The roots diminished, and their remains formed a heap on the ground.
And that was how I won a war with high-level Direbrinbares. I sheathed my sword and carried Tyran in a bridal style. It was already nightfall; I had to head back to the village. I activated the Ultimate Predator Skill and devoured four Direbrinbares whose carcasses were still edible. This would serve as a great feast in the village.
I took a step when I heard a sound, but when I turned, nothing was there. I squinted all around but couldn't find anything.
"I need to get Tyran to the village," I said to myself and sprinted off without wasting time.
*
It didn't take long before Kael scurried off when a red hand surged out of the heap on the ground, and a loud growl was heard.