Yuuto barely had time to catch his breath before the air in the forest shifted again, sending a chill down his spine. The battle with the corrupted entity had left him tired, but now a new danger loomed. The forest, once filled with the gentle hum of natural mana, was suddenly tense and oppressive, as though the very air was charged with menace.
Something else is out there.
With his newly unlocked Mana Sense, Yuuto could feel it—a powerful, primal presence moving through the woods, heading straight toward him. Whatever it was, it was much bigger than the corrupted entity he had just faced, and the sheer weight of its mana suggested a creature of immense strength.
Without wasting a moment, Yuuto gripped his staff tightly, his senses on high alert as he prepared for whatever was coming. His mana reserves were low after the last fight, but he had just enough to defend himself if it came to another life-or-death battle.
The trees in front of him suddenly shuddered as something enormous pushed its way through the forest. Branches snapped, and the ground trembled beneath the weight of the approaching beast. Yuuto's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped back, trying to stay calm despite the surge of adrenaline coursing through him.
From the shadows of the forest, a massive creature emerged. It stood at least twice the height of a man, its muscular form covered in thick, dark fur. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and its fanged maw dripped with saliva as it snarled, the deep rumble of its growl reverberating through the ground.
It was a Dire Beast, one of the most feared predators in the wilderness of Aetheria. This one, however, was different. It was bigger than any Dire Beast Yuuto had ever heard of, and the dark mana swirling around it suggested that it had been corrupted by the same forces that had twisted the creature he had just fought.
The Dire Beast let out a thunderous roar that shook the trees, its eyes locking onto Yuuto as it bared its fangs.
[New Quest Unlocked: Fending off the Beast]
Objective: Survive the attack of the Dire Beast and drive it away from the forest. Use your abilities to weaken and defeat the beast before it reaches Ravenwood.]
Reward: 70 EXP, Skill: Enhanced Physical Endurance unlocked.]
Failure: Fatal injury or loss of village defenses.]
Yuuto's mind raced as the quest details flashed before him. The Dire Beast was far more dangerous than the goblins or even the corrupted entity he had just fought. Its sheer size and power were enough to tear through anything in its path, and if it reached the village, there would be no stopping it.
He had to fight it here, in the forest, where he could control the terrain and limit the damage.
The Dire Beast charged, its massive paws pounding the earth as it rushed toward Yuuto with terrifying speed. Yuuto barely had time to react, throwing up a Barrier just as the beast's claws came crashing down. The force of the impact sent cracks through the barrier, and Yuuto stumbled back, his arms shaking from the strain of holding the spell.
I can't hold it off like this.
Yuuto quickly dropped the barrier and darted to the side, using Quick Strike to gain distance between him and the beast. The Dire Beast roared again, its eyes blazing with fury as it turned to pursue him.
Yuuto knew he couldn't match the creature in raw strength. He needed to outsmart it, to find a way to weaken it before delivering a decisive blow. His mind raced through his options, but his mana reserves were low, and he couldn't afford to waste energy on spells that wouldn't be effective.
Then, an idea struck him.
The beast was massive, but its size could also be its weakness. If Yuuto could slow it down, force it into a confined space, he might be able to limit its movements and give himself an opening.
The trees.
The forest was dense here, with thick trees packed tightly together. If Yuuto could lure the Dire Beast into an area where it couldn't move freely, he might have a chance to trap it and strike from a distance.
"Come on, you overgrown monster!" Yuuto shouted, raising his staff as he fired a Mana Bolt at the beast. The bolt struck the creature's shoulder, barely fazing it, but it did get its attention.
The Dire Beast snarled and charged again, its massive body crashing through the trees as it pursued Yuuto. This time, Yuuto didn't stand his ground. He turned and ran, weaving through the trees as he led the beast deeper into the forest. The ground shook with each of the beast's steps, but Yuuto kept moving, his agility and Quick Strike allowing him to stay just ahead of its claws.
Finally, Yuuto reached a part of the forest where the trees were packed tightly together, their trunks thick and unyielding. The Dire Beast barreled toward him, its glowing red eyes filled with rage, but as it tried to follow him into the dense trees, it slowed, struggling to maneuver its massive body between the trunks.
It worked.
Yuuto didn't waste a second. With the beast temporarily slowed, he focused his mana, channeling his energy into a new spell he had been waiting to test—Shadowflare.
**[Shadowflare]
**Mana Cost: 40]
Effect: Releases a wave of dark energy, dealing damage to all enemies in the area. Disrupts magical shields and barriers.]
The familiar crackle of dark magic surged through Yuuto's staff as the spell activated. He felt the weight of the dark mana, but he kept his control steady, aiming the spell directly at the trapped Dire Beast.
"Take this!"
With a shout, Yuuto unleashed Shadowflare, a wave of dark energy erupting from his staff and crashing into the beast. The explosion of magic tore through the surrounding trees, sending debris flying, and the Dire Beast howled in pain as the dark energy ripped through its body.
The beast staggered, its movements slowed by the force of the spell. Yuuto could see the dark mana swirling around its body, disrupting the corrupted energy that had been fueling it. The beast's glowing red eyes flickered, its strength faltering.
But it wasn't defeated yet.
The Dire Beast let out one final, desperate roar and charged at Yuuto, its claws raised for a killing blow. Yuuto's heart pounded in his chest as he readied his staff, knowing he only had one chance to finish this.
His mana was nearly drained, but he had just enough left for one last attack.
With every ounce of strength he had left, Yuuto summoned a Fireball, the flames roaring to life in his hand. The fireball grew larger as he poured his remaining mana into it, the heat searing the air around him.
"Let's end this!"
Yuuto hurled the Fireball directly at the Dire Beast's head.
The flaming orb struck the beast with a deafening explosion, the fire engulfing its body in a torrent of flames. The beast let out a final, pained roar as it stumbled forward, its massive body crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact.
For a moment, everything was still.
Yuuto stood panting, his chest heaving as he watched the flames die down. The Dire Beast lay motionless, its body smoldering as the fire consumed the last of the corrupted energy.
[Quest Complete: Fending off the Beast]
Reward: 70 EXP, Skill: Enhanced Physical Endurance unlocked.]
A surge of warmth flooded through Yuuto's body as the familiar notification flashed before his eyes. He had done it. The beast was defeated, and the village was safe.
[Skill Unlocked: Enhanced Physical Endurance]
Description: Increases physical stamina and resistance to fatigue, allowing for longer combat and higher resistance to physical damage.]
The new skill would be invaluable in future battles, giving Yuuto the endurance to last longer in fights without tiring as quickly. It was just what he needed, especially after the grueling battle with the Dire Beast.
As Yuuto caught his breath, he looked down at the fallen creature, its massive form lying still among the charred remains of the forest. The threat had been neutralized, but the presence of corrupted creatures like this one meant that something darker was stirring in Aetheria.
Yuuto knew that this was only the beginning.
The forest had returned to its quiet state, the oppressive weight of the Dire Beast's presence gone. But the memory of its power, and the dark magic that had corrupted it, lingered in Yuuto's mind.
As he turned to make his way back to Ravenwood, he knew that even though the village was safe for now, there were greater dangers still lurking in the shadows.
And he would be ready for them.