James stumbled through the dense forest, his legs trembling with each step. His arm burned where the wolf had bitten him, the torn flesh a jagged reminder of how close he had come to dying. The smell of iron lingered in the air, his blood soaking through the makeshift bandage he'd tied around the wound. Every breath was a battle against the sharp ache in his ribs. His scythe, now dull and slick with blood, hung heavy in his grip.
The forest seemed to close in around him, the thick canopy blotting out the moonlight. He pushed forward, navigating more by instinct than sight. The terrain shifted under his feet—loose dirt giving way to jagged rocks and roots that clawed at his boots. He slipped, catching himself on a tree trunk, but the motion sent a fresh spike of pain through his arm.
"Damn it," he muttered, leaning against the bark. His voice sounded foreign to him, hoarse and raw from the fight and lack of rest. The distant howls of wolves still echoed in his ears, though he knew they were gone. Or hoped they were.
His mind raced, replaying the battle. The Necrotic Beam had worked, but barely. The thin stream of energy he'd unleashed had been enough to dispatch the wolves, but its initial formation had been pitiful. If the wolves had been any stronger, he might not have survived. He needed to understand his abilities better, refine them, and grow stronger. But that would take time, and time was the one thing he didn't have.
The elves would be coming.
He forced himself to keep moving. Each step felt heavier than the last, his boots scraping against the rocky ground. The forest was changing, the dense undergrowth thinning as the terrain grew steeper. He reached a narrow ridge and paused to catch his breath, his eyes scanning the horizon. The faint glow of dawn was beginning to creep over the distant mountains, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. It should have been beautiful, but James only felt dread.
"They'll spot me in the daylight," he muttered. "I need to find cover."
He scanned the area, his gaze falling on a cave in the rock face a few meters ahead. It wasn't much, but it would have to do. He stumbled toward it, his injured arm cradled against his chest. James collapsed against the wall, sliding down until he was sitting on the cold stone floor, he was in so much pain, that he appeared like he hadn't even noticed a large, bear-like shape leaving the cave a couple of minutes earlier.
His pulse pounded in his ears, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. He activated [Requiem of Souls] and the bite wound began to close, the torn flesh knitting itself back together. It wasn't perfect—the potion wasn't strong enough to fully heal him—but it was enough to keep him moving.
[-0.5 Mana][-0.5 Mana][-0.5 Mana][-0.5 Mana]...
James leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment. The weight of everything pressed down on him: the constant danger, the relentless pursuit, the uncertainty of what lay ahead. He'd always dreamed of escaping his mundane life in Elliot Lake, of finding adventure and meaning in a world beyond his own. But this? This was something else entirely.
"You wanted adventure," he muttered bitterly. "Well, here you go."
A faint noise pulled him from his thoughts. He tensed, his hand gripping the scythe's handle. The sound was faint, barely audible over the pounding of his heart. It was a soft rustling, like leaves brushing against each other. James held his breath, straining to hear. The noise grew louder, and closer. His grip tightened, his knuckles turning white.
The rustling stopped. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a voice.
"Human anomaly."
James's blood ran cold. The voice was soft and melodic, but there was an edge to it, a weight that made his stomach churn. He pushed himself to his feet, his back pressed against the wall. The crevice was too narrow to swing his scythe effectively, but he held it ready anyway.
"Show yourself," he said, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest.
A figure stepped into view, their silhouette framed by the faint light of dawn. It was an elf, tall and slender, with silver hair that shimmered like moonlight. Their emerald eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, their gaze piercing and unyielding. They wore a cloak of deep green, the fabric blending seamlessly with the forest around them. In her hand was a bow, its string taut and ready.
"You've caused quite a stir," the elf said, their voice calm but laced with menace. "Escaping from Aria's patrol, evading the search parties, and now… this." They gestured to the faint trail of blood James had left behind. "You're resourceful, I'll give you that. But you're also reckless."
James didn't respond. He shifted his weight, his eyes darting to the narrow opening behind the elf. There was no way he could fight his way out of this. Not in his current state.
The elf tilted their head, studying him. "You're not what I expected," they said. "But that doesn't matter. You're coming with me."
"Like hell I am," James growled. He raised his scythe, the blade crackling with faint traces of shadow magic. The elf didn't flinch.
He pointed and fired a [Necrotic Beam] at her, and as she ducked to the side, swept it at her legs, but she moved like a snake, twisting out of the way, and the beam flew past her, and out of the cave entrance.
[-2 Mana][-2 Mana][-2 Mana][-2 Mana]...
"Don't be foolish," she said. "You're injured, outmatched, and out of options. Surrender now, and perhaps we can—"
James didn't let her finish. He swung the scythe in a wide arc, the blade slicing through the air. The elf moved with inhuman speed, dodging the attack and firing an arrow in one fluid motion. The projectile struck the wall inches from James's head, splintering on impact.
"Stupid," the elf muttered, their calm demeanor slipping. She nocked another arrow, their movements precise and practiced. James lunged forward, his scythe aimed at their chest. The blade met resistance, a shimmering barrier of light deflecting the attack. The force of the impact sent James stumbling backward, his injured arm screaming in protest.
The elf advanced, their bow now glowing with a soft green light. James gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He couldn't win this fight—not head-on. He needed a distraction, a way to escape. His gaze flicked to the narrow opening behind the elf, then to the behind behind her.
"Alright," he said, lowering the scythe. "You win."
The elf hesitated, her eyes narrowing. "What?"
James dropped the scythe, his hands raised in surrender. As the weapon clattered to the ground, he put his hands behind his head and got on his knees.
"I surrender," he said, bowing his head, trying to hide a smirk. "You were right. I can't win, I know I can't defeat you…"
"But he can." James said, pointing behind the elf at a massive beast that looked like a cross between a small dragon and a bear, a Drear(keep the 'air' sound, so, d-r-air.) if you will, it stood at 15 feet tall on its hind legs, and half that on all fours, it had brown scales and draconic-like wings, but other than that, it looked like your average grizzly bear, although the most distinct feature about it was the fresh line of rotting fleh along it's flank.
[Analyzing…]
Name: Drear
Level: 35
Health: 730/750
Strength: 52
Special ability: [Intimidation Roar: Your roar can strike fear into the hearts of all those below your level. Costs 1 Mana per use, (Level 9) (Uncommon+) (Rage Affinity)]
"ROAAAAAR!"