"Good luck," Ambro said before he stood and ran up a tree. He looked down at them with a smile.
"You best make a plan."
Are you kidding me.
Atlas looked up in annoyance. He squinted his eyes at him, willing his message to get across… Stuff you.
It seemed to work because Ambro winked at him and jumped away, branch to branch, before leaving Atlas's sight.
The beast was getting closer, and Atlas could feel its mana rolling off it. Its footsteps seemed to shake the leafy ground, each one vibrating through his bones like a warning drumbeat.
Marcus was the first to react. "How much mana do you guys have?" he questioned urgently, his eyes darting between the treetops and his teammates.
Atlas closed his eyes briefly, focusing on his core and the raging mana that seemed to constantly flow through his body. He felt it swirling, untapped, ready to be called upon.
"I'm still good. I don't know how much I've used, but I can do at least five spells," Atlas replied, opening his eyes and gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.
It was true—he didn't know exactly how much mana he had left. Torren hadn't taught them much about managing their mana reserves yet, claiming it was something they had to learn through experience. Apparently, everyone's mana behaved differently, and there was no universal method to gauge it accurately. While Atlas hated the trial-by-fire approach, the clan kids had clearly benefited from tutors who had already taught them these nuances, which left him to figure it out on his own.
Marcus raised an eyebrow, surprised by his answer, but didn't comment. He nodded curtly before looking at Kara, whose eyes narrowed at Atlas suspiciously.
"I'm almost out," Kara admitted, her voice tight. "The frog broke down my spells too many times. I can maybe cast twice more—three if I stretch it."
Marcus grimaced at her response while Atlas thought to himself,
Maybe I really do have a lot of mana?
"I've got about half left," Marcus said, adjusting his stance. "I've got one big spell that'll drain me completely, but if we get the beast into a good position, I can end it."
Kara's frown deepened, her sharp eyes glaring at him. "Why didn't you use that last time?" she asked, her tone clipped.
Marcus shrugged, offering her a lopsided grin. "Cards up sleeves and all that," he said casually.
Kara didn't look impressed, but Atlas understood. Keeping an ace up your sleeve could be the difference between victory and survival. Still, the fact that Marcus hadn't used it earlier clearly bothered her. Atlas envied Marcus's confidence. He didn't have any trump cards yet, but he silently vowed that one day he would.
Before they could strategize further, the forest erupted with a deafening crash. Branches splintered and leaves scattered as a massive shape barreled through the trees, its approach shaking the ground beneath their feet.
It was a boar—if boars were the size of wagons. The beast was colossal, its dark fur bristling like iron spikes and its hide marred with scars and patches of matted hair. Its broad snout held two massive, jagged horns that curved forward like wicked scythes, glinting ominously in the dappled sunlight. Each heavy step cracked roots and flattened bushes, leaving the forest floor a mess of crushed foliage.
Its glowing red eyes scanned the group with feral malice, and the oppressive weight of its mana washed over him in a suffocating wave. It pawed at the ground, its hooves tearing up the earth as it prepared to charge, steam snorting from its nostrils.
Atlas felt his grip tighten on his sword. His instincts screamed at him to move, to run—but there was no escaping this fight.
Atlas's senses caught the distinct, acrid scent of the beast's mana, a sinister and dark aura laced through every pulse. Each wave of its presence seemed to ripple through the forest, filling the air with an oppressive energy. Yet, as he focused on the beast's mana signature, he realized this boar, despite its size, was far weaker than the frog they had battled earlier.
That fleeting sense of relief didn't last however.
The massive boar barreled through the underbrush, snapping branches and tearing up the forest floor with every heavy footfall. Its sheer momentum sent tremors through the ground, leaving no doubt that it could crush him with a single misstep. Any chance of a breather vanished as the three of them braced for the oncoming threat.
Atlas adjusted his stance, his mana flaring from his core and coursing through his body like wildfire. The now-familiar sensation of raw power flowing through him was both thrilling and terrifying, and despite the danger, a small part of him craved more.
His gaze flicked to Marcus and Kara. Both were already prepared. Marcus's fists were blazing with fiery energy, and Kara's water tentacles writhed and coiled around her, ready to strike. They stood resolute, their expressions grim yet focused.
Marcus caught his eye and gave him a firm nod. "I'll keep its attention, You and Kara find openings. We've just been given good advice—let's prove we can take it."
Atlas tightened his grip on his sword, its weight was reassuring as the boar closed the distance with frightening speed. He focused on the surging mana within him, keeping it under control despite its constant struggle to burst free.
Marcus didn't wait. With a shout, he darted forward, flames roaring to life as he prepared to meet the charging beast head-on. Kara moved to the side, her tentacles poised to strike as she began circling the clearing.
Atlas stayed back for a heartbeat longer, his eyes tracking the boar's movement and analyzing its patterns. It might not have been as strong as the frog, but its sheer speed and size made it no less dangerous.
The boar broke through the trees with a thundering crash, its massive tusks gleaming as it barreled at them. It was a monster of raw muscle and mana, its thick, bristled hide shimmering faintly as though reinforced by its power.
Atlas tightened his grip on his sword, the familiar vibration of mana flowing through the blade steadying him. His instincts screamed at him to move, but he held his ground, watching as Marcus charged forward to meet the beast head-on.
Marcus ducked under the first swipe of the boar's tusks and delivered a solid flaming punch to its shoulder. The beast reeled, its bulk skidding slightly on the forest floor. But it recovered too quickly, twisting its head and snapping its tusks toward Marcus. Atlas surged forward, slashing at the boar's side, his blade cutting a shallow line along its hide.
The boar roared and whipped its head toward Atlas, forcing him to backpedal. It charged, tusks lowered, aiming to skewer him. Atlas sidestepped at the last second, his sword flashing in a defensive arc that deflected the edge of one tusk. The impact jarred his arm, sending a painful vibration up to his shoulder, but he kept his footing.
Kara darted in from the side, her water tentacles lashing out and wrapping around one of the boar's hind legs. She pulled with all her might, yanking the beast off balance just enough for Marcus to land another fiery blow to its flank.
The boar bellowed, stomping its hooves. The ground erupted as roots shot out, twisting and snaking toward them. Atlas leaped back, slashing at the roots with precise strikes. One root snared his ankle, and he barely managed to slice it away before the boar lunged toward him.
Its tusk caught him just as he dodged, grazing his arm. Pain flared as a deep gash opened across his bicep, blood staining his sleeve. He stumbled but recovered quickly, ignoring the sting and the warmth of blood trickling down his arm. He knew he couldn't afford to stop.
"Atlas, behind you!" Kara shouted.
He spun just in time to block a crushing swipe from the boar's tusks. His sword vibrated with the impact, the force nearly knocking him off his feet. Gritting his teeth, he pushed back and slashed at its head, forcing the beast to retreat a step.
Kara dashed in, her daggers flashing as she scored another cut along its flank. The boar twisted, its tusk catching her shoulder and sending her sprawling to the ground. Her water tentacles flickered and dissolved as she gasped for air.
"Kara!" Atlas called, his heart pounding. He charged the boar, slamming his blade into its side to draw its attention away from her. The beast roared, its mana surging violently. Atlas felt it like a wave of heat, a warning instinct roaring in his mind.
"Watch the ground!" he yelled, just as the boar stomped its hoof.
More roots burst from the earth, writhing and coiling toward him. Atlas slashed at them, his movements sharp and deliberate, but the boar took advantage of his distraction. It lunged, its tusks aiming for his chest. He threw himself to the side, landing hard on his injured arm. Pain shot through him, but he rolled to his feet and slashed a quick Wind Blade at the beast's face. The arc of air struck its snout, making it flinch and giving him a moment to reposition.
Marcus came barreling in, his fists blazing. He tackled the boar's side, grappling with its immense strength. The beast thrashed, its tusks narrowly missing his head as he ducked and delivered a fiery uppercut to its jaw. The flames erupted on impact, scorching its bristles.
Kara had recovered and rejoined the fray, but her mana was clearly drained. She lunged with her daggers, targeting the boar's legs to limit its movement. Her strikes were precise but lacked the force they had earlier. One dagger found its mark, sinking deep into the joint of its hind leg. The boar bellowed, its leg buckling slightly, but it retaliated with a swing of its massive head. Kara barely ducked under the tusks, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Atlas saw his opening. Blood dripping from his arm, he surged forward, his sword cutting through the air in a wide arc. The blade bit into the beast's shoulder, drawing another roar of pain. It turned on him, its glowing eyes filled with rage. He braced himself as it charged, but Marcus intercepted it, slamming his flaming fists into its side and forcing it to veer off course.
"Get ready!" Marcus yelled, falling back as the flames on his arms grew brighter, the heat radiating in waves.
The boar turned and pawed the ground, its mana flaring wildly as it prepared another charge. Marcus planted his feet, gathering all his remaining mana into his hands. The flames coalesced into a fiery orb, the air around it shimmering with heat.
"Now!" Marcus roared, hurling a fireball with all his strength. The orb streaked through the air like a comet and struck the boar square in the chest.
The explosion rocked the clearing, the heat washing over them in a wave. The boar let out one final, earsplitting roar before collapsing to the ground, smoke rising from its charred hide.
Atlas dropped to one knee, his sword digging into the dirt as he used it to steady himself. His arm throbbed, the gash bleeding steadily, but relief flooded him as the beast lay still. Kara leaned against a tree, her daggers hanging limply at her sides, while Marcus stood over the boar's corpse, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
"We did it," Atlas said, his voice barely above a whisper. His vision swam slightly, and he could feel the strain in every muscle, but they had survived. Not one but two mana beasts.