Weirdly enough the impact from being thrown like that didn't kill me. I laid underneath all the rubble from the broken trees.
However I can't even lift my head. "Am I going to die? This can't be, I didn't even fight a contestant yet, much less competed in the tournament. I can't die, I have to get up-" The tall monster reached me, lifted me up by my head with two fingers.
As Airon felt fear creep into his heart, he was reminded of the words someone departed to him, some time ago.
That one moment put so much courage and determination in my heart. My little brother was crying on the first day of elementary school. He was scared of the big crowd of students so my father asked me to protect him.
"Yess!" I said enthusiastically as I jumped forwards. I felt like a soldier with a duty to maintain.
"Until I get back from work, you gotta be the strongest. So you can protect your brother from bullies. You got it!" My father said as he lifted my arms.
"I got itt!!" I saluted him.
However my dad never returned that day. He was killed on his way home from work.
So I must always protect him until he can do good on his own, until he is scared. Until he can walk
Those thoughts quickly disappeared as the monster's hideous dark blue face covered my vision, showing me its crooked teeth, yellow eyes and dingy skin. It's creepy and hideous. "One spell, all I need is one spell to burn it away. Dying here isn't an option." With all of his strength he raised his arms to the tall monster's face.
Just as he did, he sucked in as much mana from the air as he could while thinking of one spell, he hadn't released even a single magicule. The tall monster was clearly agitated and didn't want to eat me, instead it wanted to feel the pleasure of killing me, the same way I did its family members.
It tried to slam me into the ground, however that didn't break my concentration. "Greater Flames, turn my enemy to ash and let their souls forever feel my burning conviction, Dáda." A large flash of light was released before a beam of flames shot out of my hands and burnt a hole through the monster's head, it dropped me before falling to the ground itself.
"Oh shit that was too close. If I wasn't any faster that slam definitely would've killed me. That was worse than a roller coaster…." I laid on the ground staring at the sky. "Oh fuck, even though it was dangerously close, I can't exactly deny that it wasn't fun…I must be going crazy." I thought before I stood up.
I definitely won't be able to fight like this, the blunt trauma I've suffered is practically all over my body at this point. "Maybe I can try to alleviate some of the pain in me by spreading my mana around my body to heat up and relax my muscles."
"Can I even use the flames without the spell?" I thought as I closed my eyes and began to focus, I felt my mana already wrapping itself around my body. Now all I need to do is imagine, my mana slowly heating up around my body as if I was laying, I could feel the temperature of my mana rise so it's easy to control. "Good… not too hot, just… right." There was a heat flare lined around my body, I could feel my muscles begin to relax, it was a great pleasure of refreshment. I have no choice but to stay here until I can move.
The feeling of the heat soothing his body as if he was wrapped in a weighted blanket, unable to keep his eyes open. He succumbed to the drowsiness, and the exhaustion from the bodily strain he experienced from fighting those tall monsters.
Hours passed, night fell. Airon finally awoke from his sleep, rid of the exhaustion and drowsiness.
"That heat treatment worked like magic." Airon said as he chuckled at his own joke. *Stab*
As I stood up, I saw a vulture picking at the monster's dead body. As disgusting as it is, I paid no mind to it. Every living being has to eat, speaking of which I can definitely grab something to eat right now.
*Grrrrowwwllll* My stomach seems to be screaming for some grub…. Maybe I can hunt for an animal in this forest… "No, I'm not some barbarian. I'll just wait until I reach the city or whatever settlement is ahead of me."
My plan hasn't changed, I'm gonna continue heading eastwards while hunting monsters. The last couple fights helped me improve quite a bit, being able to control my mana like so is amazing. I have more options when it comes to fighting now.
I'm not sure how many hours have passed since I came here but one thing is clear: It's beautiful. A world untouched by the advancement of human civilization, everything is living harmoniously with the environment. These trees collect mana so vigorously, as I put my hand against it, I can feel the mana being channeled into the mountainous monster.
These trees may be the equivalent of barnacles on a whale, they seem to be rubbing against the sky. As I look up, all I can see is the speckles of stars scattered across a black canvas, the crispness filled my lungs with every breath I took. The forest was awfully quiet, only a beautiful song could be heard in the distance.
"Hummmmmmm"
As creepy as it sounds, the song was serene and enrapturing. I began listening to the melody, just enjoying the sound. For some reason I didn't feel the need to pay attention to my surroundings. Though just as I was weirdly aroused. Unbelievably so, what could it be from, I had the urge to look for "it." Whatever that was.
"What the hell!?" Before I could move, I felt hands crawling over my body but I couldn't see or sense any mana near me. It dawned on me that this could be another monster.
*Hummmmm* The beautiful sound of melodies played again.
"This couldn't be a monster, I would've been able to sense them right now." I fell back against a tree clutching myself. "This isn't the time." I thought as I looked down
"When is the right time exactly?" Almost as if she was rising out of liquid, a woman came out of the ground.
No it wasn't just any woman, it was Stella…
"I missed you so much." She hugged me tightly.
"Stella?" I let out, not able to look away from her. "No she can't be… there's something different." I thought as I smelled her body.
"What's wrong?" She asked as I stared at her face.
"This can't possibly be her, was she also chosen for the tournament? No, there's something off about her even the way she appeared. There's no mark either." Millions of thoughts raced through my head, on how I should deal with this situation.
"Are you okay?" She asked as she put her hands on my face.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her, knowing there was only one right answer.
"What else would I be here for?" She waiting for me to answer but I stood quiet. "The tournament obviously."
"Maybe this is actually her… I can't be too sure, one more question." I thought as I looked at her.
"Do you think I'm one of the sirens?" She asked almost as if she was insulted.
"Sirens?" Now that I've looked at her, she's shorter than usual and her hair isn't as long as it was yesterday either. The way she speaks is different, her accent is gone.
"The impression type monster, don't act st-" it stopped talking.
Without realizing I was letting go of my magicules and my face wasn't hiding what I was feeling inside.
"W-what's wrong?" It stuttered as if it was nervous.
"I can't believe it… I couldn't even spot it until now. If I wasn't such an idiot this would've never happened…" I could feel my mana lighting itself on fire, speaking its own flames from my anger.
I hadn't used any spells yet but a fire had already started on the tree I was leaning against.
"My love, please calm down." It touched my face…
"Get your filthy fucking hands off me." I want to burn this bitch to ashes. "You tried to play with my head and took the appearance of my girlfriend. You personified the very person I gave my heart to, you tried to take her place and I was foolish enough to almost let that happen.... I can't explain the anger I feel right now."
"Shit!" Her voice was deeper and rougher than earlier as she felt the bottom of her feet burning. "Stop this, Now-" I put my hand against her chest, where her heart should be.
"Obey my will, flames of the Great. My anger is insatiable like your hunger, so feed yourself." I put my palm on her chest as I continued my incantation.
"What are you-"
"Swallow my enemies and I shall forever feed you until you're satisfied. Vendetta delle fiamme." I felt my mana wrap around its body.
"Aggghh" She was set aflame.
Unlike the other spells, this one causes her to slowly burn with the heat as hot as my anger, she dropped to the ground, rolling in the dirt. Trying to extinguish the flames but they continued to rage on.
Cooking her body slowly, she screamed in agony. So loud, it would scratch my eardrums. However I just stared at her. Watching her skin rescind as the heat reached her flesh.
She rolled around scratching at her own skin to relieve the pain, it was for naught.
"This is your punishment, for impersonating the love of my life." I said even though she couldn't hear me.
It was almost too late but I noticed a monster's mana hiding in the tree above me so I moved away from it as fast as I can. However just as I did, I felt five more monsters hiding in the trees. Surrounding me.
As I looked up, I could see their eyes light up the dark like red lasers. They were all humanoids, unlike the other monsters I've encountered.
"Savage humans, your crime will suit someone like you. Was it necessary for my dear daughter to experience such pain." The monster dropped from the tree, it had the same shape as a human but it had light blue skin, as well as green hair and three green eyes.
"Are you all on her side?" I asked, my anger still ain't subsided.
"We will make sure you pay for such disgrace and savagery." He raised his left arm, signaling for the other monsters to drop from the tree.
"You're the bastard who raised her this way. Good, apologize."
"You think I will apologize to someone as arrogant and savage as you." I didn't care for their words. "You will be punished."
My mana was leaving my body even faster than before, my anger has not subsided at all but I would feel bad if I didn't give him a chance. "My flames are starving and your daughter has pissed me off, my blood is steaming so I'm going to take it out on all of you. The people who raised her to be this way."
For the first time in years, Airon felt anger. It may have been the monster who ignited it but it was his past that fuels the flames . Airon didn't realize it yet, but this anger isn't something that would just go away after he burned this one enemy to a crisp.