The air in the forest was crisp and cool as Yuuto made his way back toward Ravenwood, the Mana Sense skill still fresh in his mind. The world around him felt more alive than ever before, every pulse of mana like a whisper in his ears, guiding him through the forest. He could sense the energy of the trees, the faint traces left by small creatures, and even the lingering mana from old magical disturbances.
It was a strange but exhilarating feeling—this new connection to the world around him. But there was something else, too. A tension that prickled at the edges of his awareness, a faint but unmistakable presence in the air. Something wasn't right.
He stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he reached out with his Mana Sense. The forest seemed calm on the surface, but beneath that calm, there was an unnatural disturbance. It was subtle, hidden among the natural flow of mana, but the more Yuuto focused, the clearer it became.
Something's here.
Yuuto crouched low, gripping his staff tightly as he scanned the surrounding trees. Whatever it was, it wasn't close yet, but it was moving—and it was coming toward him.
Without hesitation, Yuuto activated his Enhanced Mana Detection skill, pushing his senses even further. A sharp pulse of energy flared in the distance, and Yuuto's heart skipped a beat as the shape of the disturbance became clear.
A magical entity—powerful and moving fast.
Before he could decide what to do, the bushes to his left rustled violently, and a figure burst through the trees. It moved with unnatural speed and grace, its body low to the ground like a predator stalking its prey. The creature was humanoid but twisted, its skin a sickly gray and its limbs unnaturally long. Its eyes glowed with a dull, malevolent light, and dark mana oozed from its body like a toxic fog.
A dark creature. A corrupted one.
Yuuto's instincts screamed at him to run, but he knew better. He couldn't outrun this thing, not with the speed it had shown. His only choice was to fight.
[New Quest Unlocked: A Dangerous Encounter]
Objective: Survive the attack of the corrupted entity and neutralize the threat. Use your newly unlocked Mana Sense to detect and counter its attacks.]
Reward: 60 EXP, Intermediate Spell: Shadowflare Unlocked.]
Failure: Severe injury or death.]
Yuuto gritted his teeth as he felt the weight of the quest settle over him. The System wasn't holding back this time. This creature wasn't like the goblins or wolves—this was something far more dangerous. But Yuuto was ready. He had trained for this, honed his magic and his mind. He couldn't afford to hesitate now.
The creature let out a guttural snarl, its eyes locking onto Yuuto as it lunged forward with terrifying speed. Yuuto barely had time to react as the creature's long, clawed arm slashed through the air, aiming directly for his chest.
"Barrier!" Yuuto shouted, summoning the familiar shield of mana just in time. The creature's claws collided with the glowing blue barrier, sending sparks flying as the magic absorbed the impact.
The force of the blow sent Yuuto stumbling backward, but he held his ground. His mana reserves were still strong, but he knew that with an opponent like this, every move had to count. He couldn't afford to waste energy.
The creature snarled again, its eyes flaring with dark energy as it circled around him, searching for an opening. Yuuto could feel the malevolent mana radiating from its body, a thick, oppressive force that seemed to poison the very air around it.
It's using dark magic. I can sense it.
Yuuto's mind raced as he tried to formulate a plan. His Mana Sense was picking up on the creature's movements, detecting the flow of mana in its body. But there was something off—its movements were erratic, almost chaotic. The dark mana swirling around it was unstable, as if the creature itself was barely holding it together.
It's strong, but it's not in control.
That gave Yuuto an idea. If he could disrupt the creature's mana, force it to lose control of its own power, he might be able to weaken it enough to land a decisive blow.
But first, he had to survive its attacks.
The creature lunged again, its claws gleaming with dark magic as it slashed at Yuuto. This time, Yuuto didn't use Barrier. Instead, he focused his mana into his legs, activating Quick Strike to dart to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's attack.
As the creature's momentum carried it forward, Yuuto countered with a Mana Bolt, firing the concentrated ball of energy directly at its exposed back. The bolt struck the creature with a crackling burst of blue light, sending it stumbling forward with a pained hiss.
But it wasn't enough. The creature recovered quickly, its body twitching as dark mana surged through its veins. Its eyes blazed with fury as it turned to face Yuuto, its snarl growing louder.
Yuuto's heart pounded in his chest as he prepared for the next round. His mana was holding, but the creature was relentless. He needed to act fast.
With his Mana Sense still active, Yuuto focused on the creature's mana flow, searching for weaknesses. The dark magic inside it was chaotic, yes, but there were patterns—moments when the flow faltered, when the corruption threatened to overwhelm the creature's form.
There!
Yuuto's eyes locked onto a faint pulse of dark mana in the creature's chest. That was its weak point—the source of the corruption that fueled its strength. If he could disrupt it, he might be able to destabilize the creature long enough to finish it off.
"Time to end this," Yuuto muttered, gripping his staff tightly.
Summoning the last of his concentration, Yuuto channeled his mana into a single point, focusing all his energy on the creature's weak spot. The spell he chose wasn't flashy, but it was precise—Arcane Bind. If he could hold the creature still for just a moment, it would give him the opening he needed.
The creature lunged again, its claws outstretched, but Yuuto was ready. With a swift motion, he cast Arcane Bind, sending glowing chains of mana spiraling through the air. The chains wrapped around the creature's limbs, tightening with a snap and locking it in place.
The creature howled in rage, thrashing against the magical restraints, but the chains held firm.
"Now!" Yuuto shouted, raising his staff high.
With a surge of power, Yuuto unleashed a Fireball, the glowing orb of flames roaring to life in his hand. He hurled it directly at the creature's chest, aiming for the pulse of dark mana he had sensed earlier.
The fireball struck the creature with a deafening explosion, engulfing it in flames. The creature let out a final, anguished scream as the fire consumed it, the dark mana inside it unraveling in a chaotic burst of energy.
For a moment, the clearing was silent, the air thick with the smell of burnt mana. Yuuto stood still, panting heavily as he watched the flames die down, his staff still raised in case the creature somehow survived.
But when the smoke cleared, there was nothing left. The creature had been reduced to ash, its body destroyed by the combined force of Yuuto's spells.
[Quest Complete: A Dangerous Encounter]
Reward: 60 EXP, Intermediate Spell: Shadowflare Unlocked.]
Yuuto let out a long breath, lowering his staff as the Ascendant System chimed with the familiar sound of victory. The corrupted entity was gone, and the forest was once again at peace.
[Intermediate Spell Unlocked: Shadowflare]
Description: A powerful spell that releases a wave of dark energy, dealing damage to all enemies in the area. Can be used to disrupt magical shields and barriers.]
Mana Cost: 40.]
Yuuto's eyes widened as he read the description of his new spell. Shadowflare was a dangerous ability, one that dealt with dark energy—something he would have to be careful with. But in the right situation, it could be incredibly useful, especially against enemies with magical defenses.
He would need to train with it, to understand its power fully, but for now, he was simply relieved to have survived.
As Yuuto began his journey back to Ravenwood, his thoughts were heavy with the events of the day. The creature he had fought wasn't like anything he had encountered before—its power, its corruption, and the way it wielded dark magic were all signs that something much larger was at play.
There were greater dangers lurking in Aetheria, and Yuuto was only beginning to scratch the surface.
But he was getting stronger, and with each new challenge, he was learning more about the world—and about himself.
The path ahead was dangerous, but Yuuto was ready.