The young man stared at the ice crystal formed before his right hand. It sent a cold sensation around his hand.
'....Ice?'
He was confused. But he felt as if this was not anything new. Something that was part of him.
He saw the monster near him.
'I need to shoot it!'
The moment he thought about countering the enemy, the blue-colored crystal shot forward.
Crush!
Splash!
Crimson blood splashed in the air. This time, it didn't belong to Aron. The ice crystal shot inside the monster's mouth, digging painfully into the upper side of its mouth.
ROOOOOAAARRR!
The monster stepped back while screaming in pain. Still, it didn't fall to the ground. It shook its head wildly, its mouth still wide open.
The crystal finally loosened and fell down from its mouth.
Growllll~
It growled as blood leaked from its mouth. Then it looked toward Aron's side with pure hatred.
But there was no one sitting near the tree.
He had already gotten up from that place. Aron felt like he had a chance. He could do magic. How? He didn't know. But logic was not important here. The important thing right now was to use this mysterious power.
If there was a chance of survival, then he had to do anything for it.
His brain started to think about manifesting a weapon. Something that he could hold easily in his hand. Not too big or heavy, but sharp. A weapon that could help him cut his enemy.
He was running toward the monster from the other side.
The same warm energy ran through his veins like blood. It gathered around his right hand as something cold started to form in his palm.
The ice started to take shape. It slowly turned into a sharp dagger-like weapon. The ice blade of that dagger was sharp, as if it were made of real steel.
The bear monster saw him coming near. It swung its clawed hand horizontally to shatter the head of the young man.
Aron's body was battered. Pain spread all over his body, yet it moved... it moved with the desire for survival. To remain alive. Adrenaline rushed through him. His heart pumped faster.
'I need to avoid it!'
He bent down instantly. The muscular hand moved above his head. He could feel the breeze created by it.
His grip tightened on the ice dagger's hilt.
He swung it at the monster's stomach area.
Slash!
The blade dug lightly into its fat and thick skin.
Then he used his left hand, pushing with his whole strength using both hands.
"Ahh!" Aron screamed. This time, it was not a scream of pain. Rather, it was because he was pushing himself beyond his limits.
The blade dug deeper as Aron pushed forward, sliding it horizontally across the monster's stomach. It cut deeper.
Slash!
A wet, tearing sound echoed.
The ice blade carved through thick flesh. Blood burst out, splashing onto the forest floor. The monster's body trembled violently as the wound widened. It continued to leak blood.
ROOOOOAAARRRR!!
A deafening scream of agony tore through the forest. It was an even more painful scream than before.
The bear monster reared back, roaring in pain. Its massive hand swung wildly and slammed into Aron's body.
'Shitt!'
BOOM!
"Gaahh!"
The impact was brutal. Aron was sent flying sideways again, his body crashing violently into the ground.
Thud!
He rolled several times before coming to a stop. Pain exploded through his body. His vision blurred. The taste of blood filled his mouth.
"Aghh—!" he groaned weakly.
His body refused to move.
Meanwhile, the monster staggered back, blood pouring from the huge gash carved across its stomach. Flesh hung loosely, soaked in crimson. The wound was deep. Deep enough to expose the muscle beneath.
For a brief moment, Aron thought he had succeeded in killing the monster. That cut might be enough to kill it.
'Did I… kill it?'
But he was wrong. The monster did not fall. It was still standing.
It straightened slowly, breathing heavily. Blood dripped from its body, splashing onto the soil. Its glowing red eyes burned with madness and rage.
Growlll…
The monster was still alive. Its stomach was cut open, yet it remained alive, standing there while glaring at him.
Aron's heart sank.
'No! Why? That should be enough, isn't it?'
His body lay sprawled on the ground, unmoving. His limbs felt numb. Even breathing was painful.
The monster locked its gaze onto him.
Stomp
Stomp
Stomp
It began to charge.
Each step shook the ground as it dashed toward the young man's motionless body, intent on finishing him.
'I… can't move…'
His face became incredibly pale because of his situation.
His consciousness wavered. Was this his end?
Just as the monster closed the distance. A sudden flash of dark green light tore through the forest.
WHOOSH!
Something moved at blinding speed. Aron couldn't see it clearly.
Before the monster could react, the green light passed straight through its body.
A clean green line was drawn through the space.
For a split second, everything went silent.
After that,
Slice!
The bear monster froze mid-step. Its eyes widened in horror.
A thin line appeared across its body.
The next moment, its massive form split cleanly in half.
Blood sprayed violently as the upper portion slid off and crashed onto the ground.
BOOM!
The lower half collapsed a heartbeat later.
The monster was dead. Its lifeless body looked gruesome.
The forest fell silent once more.
Aron's blurry vision barely caught the sight of a man standing where the green light had stopped.
He looked to be in his late twenties.
A sword rested in his hand, its blade faintly glowing. A cold, dense green aura flowed around his body like mist.
His posture was calm. He was composed.
His sharp, cold emerald-colored eyes shifted toward Aron. The man had dark brown hair, faintly swaying in the breeze.
Those eyes met his.
Relief flooded Aron's chest. He was a human.
'…I survived… finally,' Aron thought. His willpower to stay conscious was slowly diminishing. He couldn't think much anymore. It was becoming harder to think at all. Now he had to believe in the man standing before him.
That was his last option.
'Hope... he will sa-save me.'
The tension finally left his body.
His breathing became relaxed, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion.
The man observed the young man lying in front of him. He walked toward Aron and bent down on one knee.
"You are Noah Eldritch... At least you are alive..." the man guessed from his appearance. Snow-white hair. Crystal-blue eyes.
Aron heard that name. The name sounded familiar to him.
'...Noah Eldritch?'
He heard that name before consciousness slipped away. Darkness claimed him once more.