The morning sun crested over the distant hills, painting the horizon in shades of gold and pale blue. The warmth of its light cast a glow over the dense, sprawling expanse of the Velothryn Expanse, where shadows clung to the forest floor like secrets. This was where my mission began—an assignment chosen in the heart of Verdantia that would test my strength and the control of my aura, hidden beneath the guise of Arlan Vale.
I adjusted the cloak that masked my true identity and reached for my spear, feeling the cool, familiar weight of it settle into my grip. The artifact around my neck pulsed faintly, its magic weaving an illusion over me to obscure the truth: that I was Lancelot von Silvaria, heir to the Grand Duchy. Today, I was just another adventurer embarking on a hunt to prove himself.
The Velothryn Expanse was known for its treacherous paths and elusive predators, the most formidable of which were the Sarnath Claws—B-class beasts that roamed in packs, their eyes glistening with an unnatural light and their talons sharp enough to cleave stone. I took a breath, feeling the thrum of my mana core steadying within me, a deep well of energy that radiated outwards.
The silence was thick, broken only by the rustle of leaves as the wind swept through the high branches. I stepped forward, careful to keep my movements light and measured, the spear held loosely at my side. My aura extended out from my core, the subtle hum of wind wrapping around my legs, ready to propel me at a moment's notice, while a thin veil of lightning danced at the edge of the spear's tip, flickering like fireflies.
A sudden noise to my left—snarling and the crack of twigs—drew my attention. I turned just as a Sarnath Claw burst from the underbrush, its fur bristling and eyes aglow with feral hunger. It was larger than I anticipated, muscles taut and rippling beneath its dark coat as it lunged. I pivoted on my heel, the wind surging beneath me to aid my movement, and the beast's talons swiped through empty air.
I struck out with my spear, the lightning-infused tip finding its mark in the creature's flank. The electric pulse surged through its body, eliciting a yowl of pain as it staggered back, but it was far from defeated. It circled, wary now, and two more shadows shifted in the undergrowth, revealing more of the pack. Their low growls vibrated through the ground, resonating in my chest.
A battle with one would have been manageable, but three? I clenched my jaw, the thrill of the challenge igniting within me as my aura intensified, threads of wind and lightning intertwining. The lead beast leaped again, its claws arcing downward. I surged forward, ducking beneath the strike and driving my spear upward in a sharp thrust. The lightning crackled as it met flesh, and the beast shuddered, collapsing in a heap.
The other two wasted no time. They charged in tandem, flanking me with deadly precision. I spun, the wind at my feet shifting my weight seamlessly, and parried the first beast's attack. The second's talons grazed my arm, slicing through fabric and skin, drawing a line of searing pain. I hissed but refused to let it disrupt my focus.
Summoning more of my core's energy, I channeled the lightning into a focused pulse, driving it through the length of the spear. The air crackled with an audible snap, and I lashed out in a wide arc. The nearest beast yelped as the electricity surged through it, muscles convulsing before it fell, eyes glazing over.
The final Sarnath Claw slowed its approach, its ears flattening as it watched its packmates lying motionless on the ground. A glimmer of hesitation entered its predatory eyes, and I used the pause to my advantage. Centering my breathing, I tapped into my blue core, drawing deeper on the reserves that had taken years to build. The energy radiated outward, enhancing the electric edge of my aura with an almost luminescent sheen.
The beast lunged, desperation replacing its earlier calculation. I sidestepped, the wind guiding my motion, and pivoted with the spear, catching the creature's momentum and redirecting it. The lightning surged through the weapon, striking the Sarnath Claw at the base of its spine. It collapsed mid-leap, crumpling with a low, pained whine that faded into silence.
My breathing came in quick, shallow bursts as the last traces of my aura flickered and dissipated. The forest, once again, settled into an unnatural quiet. I took a moment to survey the clearing, the bodies of the fallen beasts sprawled across the grass, their dark fur still crackling faintly from the remnants of my power.
As I stood amidst the fallen forms of the Sarnath Claws, their lifeless eyes staring into the void, a familiar ache stirred within me—a gnawing, restless whisper of inadequacy.
'Not enough,' I thought, the words sinking like stones in the still pool of my mind.
The fight had been fierce, yes. The beasts had tested my reflexes, my strategy, the precision of my strikes. But as the adrenaline ebbed away, it left behind an emptiness that the victory could not fill. These were B-class beasts, formidable by most standards, yet they felt like shadows of what I truly needed to face. The edge of my spear had yet to resonate with the music of true challenge, a symphony I craved more deeply than I cared to admit.
I flexed my fingers around the haft of my spear, feeling the slight tremor of mana still buzzing beneath my skin. 'I have lingered at Blue Stage for too long,' I realized, a frown etching itself into my brow. Progress demanded more than the familiar comfort of triumph; it demanded risk, the kind that quickened the blood and sharpened the spirit.
'I need A-class beasts,' I resolved, the thought settling over me like the first breath of winter air—cold, clear, and full of promise. They were fierce creatures, far beyond the likes of the Sarnath Claws. They would not fall with mere displays of strength; they would push me to the brink, force my spear to resonate.