The Tod dodged every arrow I shot. I am running out of arrows.
The Tod howled and sent an ice shard towards me. Yeah it had Ice affinity. That is troublesome.
"Magic? Then you've got one too! Air Bullets!"
Since it was higher level that me. It became a battle of Quality vs Quantity. Its attacks had more attack while my attacks were larger in number. My Mana was decreasing rapidly but it won't deplete immediately.
We exchanged spells relentlessly. Ice Shard vs Air Bullets.
"Well then, it doesn't seem to be exhausting any time soon. Time to use Fire Magic! Magic Creation! Fireball!"
Ugh, why is it draining now? I must push it.
"Fireball!"
"AWOO!" the tod roared launching another Ice shard.
Back and forth magic.
Spell after spell.
Until evening.
I never expected to go till evening in the first place. Its mana capacity not equal to mine but it conserved it better than me. Both of us were depleting of our mana.
I was exhausted.
The fox let out another howl and lunged toward me with terrifying speed.
HIT!
A deep slice tore across my arm.
AGH!
"It hurts too much. If I hadn't dodged it minorly, it could have killed me easily with my low defense" I muttered.
"Heed me, my strength… Magic Creation! Magic Weaving! Beho—"
The pain is overwhelming.
It is difficult to envision this spell. I am creating it for the first time.
But I forced it.
This magic…It's devastating. It's something even my old world feared…The one they called...Destroyer of Mankind at one point.
"Behold, fox…!" I coughed up blood. Ugh! "MAGIC CREATION! USE ALL MY MANA! NUCLEAR MAGIC! NUCLEAR BULLET!" I roared as a single bullet - sized projectile went towards the Tod.
It summoned multiple ice spikes and charged straight toward the attack.
Boom.
The explosion echoed through the forest.
The shockwave from it sent me flying to a tree hitting it. "AGH!" It stings everywhere in my body. "Display Hostilities!" I roared searching for it. It's still alive?! How is it still alive?!
The dust settled. It was barely on its legs standing. It was fully burnt.
Meanwhile, Zinona and Garynnon, "Father! Did you hear that explosion?!" Zinona asked, her face pale. Everyone heard that explosion. It is hard to not notice the big explosion and the shockwave. "Yes! It came from Rei's direction!" he replied. "Rei!" Zinona shouted sprinting in the direction the explosion came from. Garynnon followed close behind.
With Rei,
"Well, fox… let's end this" I said. It howled weakly.
"Time to use Extreme Speed… for the first time."
A bright light enveloped me.
I will use every ounce of my strength here. "Extreme Speed!" I roared. The Tod howled and charged.
In that instance, I took an arrow I had remaining and sliced it straight into the Tod's body.
The Tod howled before it fell to the ground. For good. I grabbed the arrow from its body. It didn't react. It was dead. Damn. My first major kill. I clasped my hands. "May you rest in peace, opponent" I said closing my eyes before falling beside it.
UGH! AGH! Its hurts and it hurts bad. My Mana is empty. I feel weaker somehow.
My vision dulled. I was barely awake. Its attacks in my body were strong. 54 defense can't handle it.
"Rei!!! Rei!!!" A distant voice. It was probably Zinona.
Is this… where I die?
A voice echoed inside my mind.
"Experience reached… Level increased to Level 8. Stats increased. Mana restored. Gained Title: Ranger. Proficiency threshold reached…Appraisal level increased from 1 to 5, Magic Creation increased from 1 to 9, Magic Weaving increased from 1 to 7, Extreme Speed increased from 1 to 3, Condition met: Skill evolution available at Level 10, Title effect: Ranger — Speed increased by 50%"
That's nice. But I don't think I can bare this pain any longer.
The more I used Magic Creation…the weaker I felt. What is this…? A side effect…? Is that why it's only a Rare skill and not a Legendary Skill...?
I heard footsteps approaching me fast. My senses weren't dulled yet.
"Rei!!!" Zinona dropped beside me tears in her eyes. "Are you okay?! I will heal you!' she said pointing her hand at me. I smiled. "It's okay..." I murmured. Barely stood up and leaned at her. I kissed her forehead. She was surprised.
Then I fell to the ground unconscious. "Healing Magic! High Heal!" Zinona said, a golden light enveloping her.
Meanwhile inside Rei's mind,
"Mana usage exceeded safety levels… entering Mana Stabilization Mode...Failure…Life force of individual Rei has dropped to critical levels...Sacrifice Required...Unknown Growth Specimen Interference...Fusing all magic except Affinities under Auxiliary Magic...Gained Affinity: Nuclear Magic...Successful...Defense stat sterilized successfully...Magic Creation mana consumption is reduced by 50% and Life Force consumption by 90%...Unknown Growth Specimen allows Mana to recover Life Force...Accepted...Successful"
Outside,
"Rei…" Garynnon muttered. "You did well." he said looking at the Tod's Body. "To defeat something this far above your level…" he muttered again. That explosion. No one knows what happened. "Judging from these burn marks… this creature used magic… and you countered it" he continued. "Excellent work" as he carried Rei on his back.
"Let's go back Zinona, someone was battling a Tod instead of a Stag" he said. "Yes Father" she said walking behind him.
The next day, I woke up in my house.
"Ugh..." I raised from my bed. "What happened…?" I muttered. Sunshine rose. It was barely morning. Bandages were covered everywhere in my body. Then I remembered. The Battle. I defeated the White Tod...yes.
Beside me, Zinona was asleep, her head resting on the bed. She must have been taking care me since yesterday. The door suddenly bursted open, my parents entered. They were surprised to see me awake.
"Rei!" Mother cried pulling me into a tight hug. "Rei! Are you alright?" she asked back to back. I looked at father. He was just smiling. The noise made Zinona to wake up.
She rubbed her eyes to be sitting on bed. She rubbed her eyes again. I was still there. "Rei! From now on, you're training with me… not alone! Okay?" she said hugging me tightly.
"Yes...Zinona..." I said gently patting her head.
"Rei, I'm so proud of you, my boy!" Father said, as he ruffled my head. "You slayed a White Tod! Well done!"
"Yes..." I said weakly. "Take rest for two days boy!" he said as he and mother went out to prepare me food. I looked at Zinona. She was still hugging me.
"Zinona...can you let go? You are hurting me with your tight hug" I muttered. "No" she said.
Just one word. Rare from her.
"Maybe a little less tighter then?" I asked her.
"No" she continued.
Alright, she might be frightened that time when I fell unconscious.
"Hey Rei..." she whispered.
"Hm?" I asked.
"Did you remember what happened before you fell unconscious?" she asked.
I tapped into my mind. I was barely awake when Miss Appraisal gave me level up. So I don't clearly remember.
"I don't" I said frankly.
"Shall I do what you did that time now?" she asked.
"What did I do?" I asked confused. What could I have done when I was fainted?
She then let go of the hug. "I will do it later!" she exclaimed playfully and smiling. "Wait! Zinona, what did I do in the first place?" I asked even more confused.
She leaned in near my ear. "It's a secret!" she whispered and left the room with all smiles in the world.
I am more confused than ever. Did I do something bad? I don't know. I don't remember and her behavior...weird.
I hope I did nothing wrong...