A wild rabbit bounded through a verdant field of grass, its sleek fur glistening in the sunlight as it moved gracefully among the blades. Until the ground beneath the hare mysteriously began to vibrate with an intense force, sending ripples through the earth. It frantically scanned its surroundings, searching for any signs of danger. Suddenly, it sensed a powerful, unsettling presence emanating from the ground beneath its paws.
The rabbit sprang into the air in an attempt to evade the danger; however, it was already too late. Multiple spikes of earth, as sturdy as stone, erupted from the ground, piercing through the hare's skin. Blood sprayed across the surface of the earth, staining the grass with crimson droplets.
A young man, with a brown cloth draped around his neck, soon reached the hare. His amber eyes stared intently at the remains.
"Alan, I found a rabbit."
Another teen with a brown cloth slowly walked towards the lifeless hare; within twenty steps, he extended his arm. A blue flame engulfed the body of the hare, spreading the aroma of roasted meat through the air.
Alan reached his hand and retrieved the charred remains of the rabbit before handing them to Leon. "That's six, so there are two for each person."
Leon grinned and spoke to Alan. "You know your power is really useful."
Alan smiled and turned towards the river, down the vast field of grass. "Ariel should be there; let's go."
As the two boys reached the river, they spotted a figure with long auburn hair neatly tucked behind a sharp ear, resting on a large rock. The sunlight glinted off the strands of hair, giving them a fiery sheen, while the tranquil water gently flowed. In her hands were damp clothes, fluttering and drying in the breeze of wind from an unnatural source.
These last five days, the trio journeyed towards the elves village. During their travels, Alan and Leon used their time to improve their own stamina and their powers of blessing. Many facts were discovered during this time: Alan possessed speed and technique, as well as inhumane instincts and intuition, Leon possessed strength and endurance, with inhumane durability.
Because of how well their individual qualities complement one another, every match ends in a tie.
Alan silently observed Ariel, with a thoughtful gaze before finally speaking. "How much further is the village?"
Ariel halted her movements, letting the clothes slip from her hands and fall into her lap. "It should be a day away from reaching the village, but there's an issue."
"What is it?"
"There seems to be an animal that owns the territory of that forest across this river." Ariel spoke with a steady voice as she kept a firm gaze upon the green expanse of the forest. "The village is right across that forest."
Leon grasped his hand and rubbed his eyes, before looking at the forest himself. "And we have to beat that creature?"
Ariel cast a quick, meaningful glance at Leon before nodding her head in silent acknowledgment.
With small steps, Alan approached the flowing river, looking into his own reflection within the shimmering water. "And can we do it?"
"Maybe." After speaking, Ariel neatly folded the clothes into a backpack and took a large leap across the river, dashing swiftly into the depths of the forest.
Alan immediately followed her, leaping across the river. Leon sighed and palmed his face before reluctantly joining them, making the jump as well.
...
A boy walked along the solitary forest path, his footsteps echoing in the stillness. He began to break nearby trees, deliberately snapping branches and uprooting saplings to provoke the territorial leader. The cracking of wood and the rustling of leaves disturbed the serene atmosphere, signaling his challenge.
A loud scream pierced the air with a sharp, resonant cry that echoed through the vast expanse of the forest. A winged creature flashed through the sky, crashing in front of the boy, and leaving behind a massive crater. The head of a massive eagle looked at the boy, as its body was that of a lion with razor sharp talons, imposing a height of 12 meters. Its golden eyes locked onto its prey before it let out a shrill screech. The massive griffin towered over the boy.
The boy's iris produced a glow of amber, and the ground beneath the griffin erupted, sending jagged spikes of earth hurtling towards the creature with tremendous force. The griffin immediately flew into the air, evading the jagged spikes. However, it was soon met with a powerful gust of wind that surged through the forest, pushing the griffin off balance.
Amidst its panic, a second figure appeared above the griffin, enveloped in a fierce blue blaze. The boy plunged into the griffin's chest, igniting a massive explosion that reverberated through the forest. The griffin let out a loud howl before plummeting into a large field of spikes.
However, with a powerful and resounding flap of its wings, the griffin shattered the spikes, unleashing a torrent of wind. The gusts roared through the forest, tearing leaves from trees and scattering debris in all directions.
A third figure appeared directly behind the griffin, wielding a long blade of wind, that pierced through the griffin's back. Unfazed by the assault, the griffin spun with remarkable agility and delivered a powerful kick to the girl, sending her crashing into a nearby tree.
Leon and Alan sprinted to engage the griffin in close combat as the griffin readied itself for another powerful flap of its wings, preparing to unleash another devastating gust of wind. But after flapping his wings, the wind suddenly turned against the griffin, as Ariel unleashed her full power, bending the gusts to her will to stop the griffin's attack.
She manipulated the swirling air, redirecting the powerful gusts back towards the griffin, disrupting its balance, and halting its impending strike. Anticipating this outcome, Leon conjured a sharp sword and handed it to Alan before erupting numerous large spikes impaling through the griffin, keeping it locked in place.
The spikes suddenly exploded with a cerulean flame as the griffin let out a blood-chilling cry of agony, seizing the chance Alan closed the distance with a sword ignited by an azure light. Alan let out a roar as he swung the sword with all his strength, the blade slicing cleanly through the griffin's neck.
In one swift, powerful motion, he decapitated the creature, the severed head falling to the ground as the blue flames continued to dance around the lifeless body. The forest fell silent, the echoes of the griffin's final cry lingering in the air.
...
With a sharp gasp, Alan and Leon collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted. Their chests heaved with each breath, yet immense joy welled up within them. Overwhelmed by the thrill of victory, they began shouting at one another.
Small footsteps rustled the forest floor as Ariel slowly walked past the two boys, clutching her left side, where a wound bled through her fingers. She pointed into the distance, and from the distance, the shape of a large village could be seen.
She turned to Alan and Leon with a large grin.
"Welcome to Sylvan Village."