The trees swayed in the wind, their shadows cast by the moonlight creating unsettling shapes on the forest floor. Evan was panting, sweat dripping down his forehead as he tried to orient himself amidst the dense vegetation. His steps were light, but the crunch of dry leaves underfoot sounded deafening in the oppressive silence.
Behind him, the presence lingered. Evan couldn't see it, but he could feel it. It was as though the air around him was thick with something hostile, pulsing with an energy that seemed to press against his very soul.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air. Evan instinctively threw himself to the side, rolling across the damp ground. A shard of wood whizzed past where he had just been, embedding itself deep into a nearby tree. Looking up, he recognized the projectile's nature: a jagged piece of wood, almost like an improvised arrow.
"A Greater Beast", he muttered, heart racing.
Evan didn't need more than that attack to understand what he was up against. The methodical, precise strikes could only come from a creature known as the Sap Archer. This rare beast, native to the forests around the Arcane Field, was a hybrid of a beast and the environment itself: a humanoid form made of living wood, with twisted branches forming long arms ending in sharp tips. Its eyes were glowing slits, emitting a greenish light that seemed to track every movement. The central trunk of its body was covered in moss, and roots extended from its legs, allowing it to move silently and fluidly among the trees.
The Sap Archer had a unique ability to manipulate nearby trees, firing deadly wooden shards as projectiles. Though Evan couldn't see the creature clearly due to its speed, the shape of the splinters and their impact force were unmistakable.
It was a Greater Beast, combining natural intelligence with a magical connection to its environment, making it nearly impossible to track or confront directly. It used its surroundings to its advantage, adapting to the geography and exploiting every opportunity it could find.
Evan knew that continuing in a straight line was suicide. He changed direction sharply, trying to lose himself among the denser trees. The sound of something whizzing behind him made him dive to the ground again, and another shard of wood flew over his head, shattering against a rock.
In the midst of the crisis, Evan had a flash of inspiration: what if he could use the runes he had already assimilated to create a mental "drawing" of his surroundings? It was an uncertain idea, but he decided to take the risk. Focusing on the runes, he tried to organize them into specific angles, forming an abstract image—a rudimentary form of echolocation that he hoped would be useful.
When he mentally simulated the concept for the first time, the result was frustrating. The projection was imperfect, static, and far less clear than he had imagined. However, even with flaws, the runic characters created a crude map highlighting trees, rocks, and roots around him, providing a 360-degree view that his core helped interpret.
Though far from ideal, it was functional enough to adjust his routes and identify possible escape paths. Closing his eyes momentarily amidst the chase, he activated the process again, reconstructing the scene in his mind with as much precision as the situation allowed.
"If it's attacking from a distance, I need to limit its line of sight," he thought. "And I need to figure out how it's tracking me."
The next projectile struck a nearby trunk, splintering into shards that tore through his shirt sleeve and left a superficial cut on his arm. A warm line of blood trickled down, but Evan ignored the pain. He realized the beast was herding him in a specific direction, making it harder for him to return to the Arcane Field.
With his simulation ability, Evan mentally activated "simulate" again, updating the rudimentary projection of his surroundings. The abstract image revealed something that caught his attention: an area of particularly dense vegetation with irregularly spaced trees that might serve as a strategic route.
"It's a risk, but it's my best chance," he concluded, veering toward the area.
The terrain was uneven, full of rises and dips. The dense vegetation blocked his real vision, but the runic projection in his mind helped compensate, highlighting points where he could hide or dodge. Using every tree as a shield, Evan moved erratically to confuse the beast's aim. Even so, the projectiles kept coming, forcing him to leap, roll, and duck constantly.
Hours passed. Evan's body was drenched in sweat, and his arms and legs were covered in cuts and bruises. Exhaustion threatened to take over, but he couldn't afford to stop. The beast seemed tireless, almost as if it were toying with him.
Amidst the tension, something unexpected happened. His core pulsed faintly, and Evan decided to try something he hadn't been able to perfect before: using the moment he heard the whistle of an attack to mentally "simulate" and capture a "snapshot" of the environment. This time, the timing was perfect.
The runic projection, though still rudimentary, revealed the approximate direction of the projectile. Using this information, Evan adjusted his movements, dodging more effectively. It wasn't a perfect solution and required immense effort for each attempt, but it gave him a small advantage that could mean the difference between life and death.
He adjusted his steps, conserving energy and making better use of the terrain. Each jump was more calculated, each dodge more precise. Even so, shards of wood still grazed his skin, leaving trails of blood on his arms and legs. The pain was mounting, but he managed to avoid fatal injuries.
The beast seemed to notice the change, intensifying its attacks. Wooden shards zipped through the air like arrows in every direction, but Evan stayed focused.
Finally, the updated mental projection revealed the outline of a clearing near the Arcane Field. Even without perfect details, it was enough to guide his steps. The beast also seemed to realize this, increasing the fury of its attacks. A shard grazed his leg, eliciting a stifled cry, but Evan didn't stop.
With one final desperate leap, he crossed the edge of the clearing and entered the Arcane Field's territory, feeling his body collide with the hard ground. Before he could get up, another projectile zipped toward him, showing that the beast hadn't ceased its attack.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the opposite side of the clearing, shouting, "Damn it, why'd it have to be during my shift?"
"Kid, get down!" yelled Lerris, an intermediate apprentice known for his corrosive magic. His hands were marked with glowing arcane lines that lit up intensely as his eyes emitted a vibrant green light—a clear sign of an active core.
Evan immediately recognized the core: [Slug Miasma]. Lerris's magic was tied to the concept of corrosion and persistence. He channeled his magical energy to generate a viscous, acidic liquid from his hands, spreading it in controlled patterns that corroded anything it touched.
With a decisive gesture, Lerris launched a concentrated ball of acidic liquid at the wooden projectile, which was immediately corroded before it hit the ground.
The projectile vanished into thin smoke as Lerris advanced confidently, his posture radiating lethal calm. The arcane marks on his hands pulsed with a viscous green glow, reflecting the corrosive nature of his core.
Lerris didn't look at Evan, keeping his focus on the beast. The deep breaths escaping between his words revealed more than he intended. That last acidic attack had consumed more energy than he'd care to admit. "Don't move too much. It's still hunting."
Evan nodded, his breathing heavy but saying nothing. He understood that, for Lerris, the priority was either to drive the beast away or hold it off until reinforcements arrived. As an intermediate apprentice, Lerris was no match for a Greater Beast on his own, even if defeating it would earn him considerable merit coins. The risk was simply too high. If he had two other intermediates alongside him, he might face the creature with confidence, but alone, it would be madness.
Narrowing his eyes, Lerris channeled more energy into his core. "Corrosive Tide!" he declared, spewing a dense, acidic gas toward the forest. The corrosive substance spread through the air like a toxic mist, engulfing the trees and corroding them slowly. The gas filled the area, forming a toxic veil that seeped between the trees.
The Sap Archer remained in its strategic position, hidden in the forest, preferring to maintain its cover advantage rather than exposing itself in the open field. Lerris couldn't see it, but his intent was clear: destabilize the creature or force it to abandon its comfort zone.
The Sap Archer hesitated. The brief contact with the miasma wasn't enough to inflict serious harm, but the vegetation around it began to burn under the corrosive effects of the gas. Connected to the forest, the creature indirectly felt the damage. Evaluating that this human posed no real threat but deciding it wasn't worth risking everything by moving into the open against such a troublesome opponent, the beast retreated. Slowly, it disappeared into the forest's darkness, leaving behind trails of smoke and scorched vegetation.
Evan watched, fascinated, as he thought: So this is what it means to truly activate a core. Witnessing a beast that had hunted him for hours, nearly killing him multiple times, being driven off so quickly left him in awe. Lerris's strength seemed immense, but as Evan looked at him again, he noticed something more human in his labored breaths.
"Do you have any idea the damage you could've caused?" Lerris growled, his voice cutting through the silence. "Exploring an area like this without preparation and bringing a Greater Beast straight to the Field? If that thing had crossed the clearing, it would've been a disaster."
He took short, measured steps, trying to maintain his composure, but Evan could see how much Lerris was struggling to stay upright. The arcane marks on his hands began to lose their glow—a clear sign of his exhaustion.
Evan swallowed hard. "I just… I didn't know it was there. But how did you manage to drive it away like that? That was incredible."
For a brief moment, Lerris didn't respond. Despite his apparent disdain, there was something in his eyes—perhaps pride, perhaps satisfaction—that betrayed him. "This isn't something for you to admire, kid. Don't get yourself into this kind of mess again."
Turning away, he added, almost as an afterthought, "Now get out of here before something else shows up."
With that, Lerris disappeared toward the Arcane Field, leaving Evan alone in the clearing. The corroded trees still crackled, the acidic smell lingering in the air. Evan looked at his arms and legs, where his cuts still bled, a stark reminder of how close he'd come to the end.
He gazed at the empty clearing and the remnants of the fight, a mix of fascination and determination growing in his chest. There was still so much he didn't understand, but one thing was clear: he needed to become stronger.
Evan took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling uncontrollably. The silence of the clearing felt almost surreal. He had escaped, but he knew this encounter was just the beginning of something greater.
As he rose, his legs trembling, he looked toward the Arcane Field in the distance. There was still much to learn, much to overcome.
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Public Profile: Lerris Varren
Summary:Lerris is known for his efficiency in repelling threats with corrosive magic but is often underestimated for his lack of flair in direct confrontations—also, avoid getting too close when talking to him; he's got bad breath.
Core: [Slug Miasma]
Ability: Advanced control over the pH of liquids and gases, enabling the creation of highly corrosive substances. Biologically inspired by natural systems found in certain sea slugs.
Energy Consumption:
- Low for minor pH adjustments.
- Moderate for localized corrosive substances.
- High for large-scale or high-intensity acid production.
Limitations:
- Requires constant control to maintain chemical stability, increasing energy consumption in prolonged battles.
- Less effective in open environments with strong ventilation or high humidity.
Traits: Arcane marks glow intensely during core activation, reflecting the level of corrosivity generated. Can corrode organic and inorganic materials rapidly.