After an exhausting trek, the group reached the edge of a forest that loomed like a shadowy monolith. The trees were unnervingly twisted, their gnarled branches clawing at the overcast sky. Dead plants, ashen and brittle, coated the forest floor, crackling underfoot with the faintest breeze.
Reid stopped short, narrowing his eyes at the dark expanse. "Do we really have to go in there? Looks like it eats people alive," he muttered, his voice laced with unease.
Sosuke unfolded a crudely drawn map, its faded ink barely legible. "Shadow said this was the way. He knows this place better than any of us," he replied, tracing the spidery lines with his finger.
Lyra crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "If he knows the way out, why hasn't he left? Maybe he's just another Blight playing games with us."
"Or," Sosuke shot back, rolling up the map and stuffing it into his pocket, "he's staying behind to take out as many Blights as he can."
"Are you all done theorizing, or are you planning to move sometime this century?" Crimson Shadow's voice cut through their bickering. He sat lazily atop a crumbling stone pillar, his legs swinging over the edge as if the desolate realm was his playground. "The forest doesn't get any less creepy while you stand here staring at it."
Arthur's voice broke his usual silence. "Why don't you leave if you know the way out?"
Shadow leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed. "I didn't come here by choice. One day, I stumbled into this world. But once I realized how quickly I was gaining power, I decided to stay. When I first got here, I couldn't even cast a basic spell."
Ren tilted his head, intrigued. "How long have you been here?"
Shadow rubbed the back of his neck, frowning slightly. "Two months, maybe three. Hard to say. Time feels… strange here." He shrugged. "Anyway, I didn't even understand the concept of a core technique before, but now? I can use mine."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "It's probably because this realm is saturated with mana. The air here feels heavier, more potent."
"That makes sense." Rafael studied his hand, clenching it experimentally. "I've felt it too. It's like there's more energy running through me, almost overwhelming."
Elowen nodded, holding up her staff, which glowed faintly but constantly. "Same here. My staff hasn't stopped reacting since we arrived. It's like the mana is overflowing—it won't settle."
Ren's lips curled into a faint grin. "Then why would I want to leave? If this place boosts my abilities, I'd rather stay and take advantage of it."
"Me neither…" Sosuke muttered, his tone contemplative. His gaze drifted downward, his hand resting against his mouth. "Shadow, if you've grown this strong in just a few months, what could you teach us? There has to be something we can learn to make ourselves stronger."
Shadow raised a brow, clearly amused. "You want to learn from me? I'm barely ahead of you. Most of what I know, I pieced together from scavenged scraps. I found some books in a crumbling tower nearby—seemed man-made, which was odd enough for this place. They had some interesting techniques, things I'd never heard of before."
He reached into the pouch at his waist and pulled out a battered book, its leather cover worn and torn. Dropping down from the pillar, he held it out for them to see. "If you want to stay and learn, you can. There's a lot we can figure out together."
Rafael stepped back, shaking his head. "I'm not staying. I've had enough of this place already."
"Same here," Lyra added. She moved to stand beside Rafael, Elowen following closely behind.
Shadow shrugged, sliding the book back into his pouch. "Suit yourselves. The rest of you staying?" He glanced at Sosuke, Ren, and Arthur, who all nodded without hesitation. "Good. For those leaving, there's a cave not far from here. Inside, you'll find an old, ruined portal. It still works if you infuse some mana into it."
Sosuke pulled the map from his pocket and tossed it to Lyra. "This'll help. It's rough, but it should get you there."
Lyra caught it with a nod, though her eyes lingered on Sosuke. "Don't get yourself killed, idiot."
"If you're done making your choice, follow me to my cabin," Shadow said, mana visibly radiating from his feet. Each step sent him surging forward in a smooth glide, the faint shimmer of energy marking his passage.
"How does he do that?" Rin asked, her eyes narrowing as she tried to catch the details of the technique.
Ren smirked, his silver eyes catching the glow of Shadow's movements. "Guess we'll find out soon enough." He sprinted forward, the others following close behind.
The cabin stood near the edge of the island, a stark contrast to the chaos of the crimson forest that loomed nearby. It was surprisingly well-kept, with walls of dark timber and windows that glinted faintly in the dim light of the realm.
Shadow didn't stop to marvel at the scenery. He stepped inside, motioning for them to follow before pulling several worn books off a cluttered shelf. His movements were precise, almost reverent, as he laid them out across a wooden table.
"This is everything I've found that might be useful. There's a lot to go through," he said, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Reading will take you a few days. Mastering any of it? Months. Maybe longer if you don't focus."
Shadow tapped his chin thoughtfully, his crimson eyes sweeping over the group. "Alright, let's begin. Resonance. This technique is all about precision. If you time your mana perfectly against an opponent's attack, you can cancel it out entirely, negating almost all the damage. But it's a razor's edge. Mistime it by even a fraction of a second, and you'll either take the full hit or destabilize your mana flow. If you're lucky, you just get a nasty backlash. If you're not… well, good luck picking yourself up."
Ren leaned back, his silver eyes narrowing. "So it's like a perfect counter?"
"Exactly. But don't think you'll get it down overnight. Resonance is as much about instinct as it is about practice. You'll need to read your opponent like a book—and not one written in your language."
Shadow moved on, gesturing at the faint traces of mana still lingering in the air from his earlier movements. "Now, about Pulse Step. Its the same thing you saw me use earlier. When done properly, you can string together bursts of movement in rapid succession, almost like teleportation, but with raw speed. You'll be a blur on the battlefield, dodging, weaving, striking before anyone can react. The trick isn't just controlling the mana—it's knowing when to release it, and how much. Too much at once, and you'll overshoot. Too little, and you're just jogging like a moron. You've got to feel it in your legs, almost like your body is spring-loaded."
Rin raised her hand slightly, her brow furrowed. "What happens if you mess up?"
Shadow smirked. "If you're lucky, you trip. If you're not, you hit a wall—or a tree. Trust me, it hurts."
He turned and gestured to another diagram scrawled on the wall, this one glowing faintly with runes. "Let's talk about Rune Binding. This one's for you magic nerds. It's a method of inscribing spells or effects into weapons or objects. Think of it like setting a trap or something. The catch? It takes time, focus, and a lot of mana. And if your runes aren't precise, the whole thing could fizzle—or explode in your face."
Arthur crossed his arms, frowning. "Sounds risky."
"It is," Shadow admitted. "But it's also incredibly useful if you're planning ahead. Imagine laying down traps in a battle or storing spells for emergencies. The potential is worth the risk."
He picked up another book from the table, flipping it open to a page filled with intricate patterns. "Mana Cloak is next. It's a simple technique, it suppresses your mana to a point where no one can detect it."
Sosuke's hand tightened into a fist. "Sounds useless."
"Maybe for some," Shadow replied, his grin sharp underneath the mask. "But it could help with the type who like to attack from the shadows. In other words, stealth."
Shadow placed the book down and glanced at Sosuke. "And then there's Overdrive. This one's… well, not for everyone. Only those with absurd amounts of mana can pull it off. It's a temporary state where you force your mana flow to its absolute limit, pushing yourself beyond your natural abilities. Strength, speed, magic—all amplified. But the cost is high. It burns through your mana reserves like wildfire and leaves you completely drained afterward. For some, it's even fatal."
"Sounds like a last resort," Arthur muttered, his tone skeptical.
"It is," Shadow confirmed. "But in the right moment, it could turn the tide of a fight. Just don't rely on it—or you won't survive long enough to see another battle."
He pointed to another passage in the book. "Technique Zone is similar in concept but far harder to master. You create an invisible field infused with your mana that enhances your core techniques, making them stronger and faster to execute. It's like being in your element, but the strain is ridiculous. I haven't met anyone who can do it perfectly, and I've only read about it in ancient texts. Don't even think about trying this one yet."
Shadow took a deep breath and sat back down, his posture relaxed but his tone serious. "Now for the subtle arts. Pulse Sense and Mana Vision. Pulse Sense is all about detecting vibrations and shifts in the air or ground using your mana. You can feel movements, predict attacks, even sense hidden enemies. But it requires calm—panic will scramble your senses. Mana Vision, on the other hand, lets you see the flow of mana in others. It's like watching a river of light. Useful for spotting traps, reading enemy spells, or finding weak points, but it's taxing. Use it too long, and you'll be blind from the strain. It also is unable to show the amount of mana someone has in them."
Rin rubbed her temples, looking overwhelmed. "That's… a lot to take in."
Shadow chuckled. "Oh, I'm not done. There's still Stored Spells, where you hold a spell in your mana flow and release it later without casting. Then there's Mana Regeneration, a self-healing technique that uses your mana to repair minor wounds, but it's no replacement for a proper healing spell."
"And let me guess," Sosuke said, his voice sharp, "each one is harder than the last."
"You're catching on," Shadow replied with a grin. "Now, I'm not saying you'll master any of these in a week—or even a month. But if you're serious about surviving, you'll pick one and get to work. So, what'll it be?"
"We'll do it." Sosuke answered.