At one moment, Dennis' mana shines brightly, and he disappears. Immediately after, he reappears in the same spot. His clothes are now covered in blood, and he is breathless.
"Please hurry," he says weakly, "Dennis and the others won't be able to hold on for too long." He leans against a tree, almost falling down.
Dennis? Is this his twin Aaron? Did they switch places?
That would explain the wounds.
"Where are Lily, Kevin, and Kim?" I ask shortly.
"There's no time. You have to..."
He pauses when I step in front of him.
"This way..." he points his hand somewhere.
The thin string that connects the twins is leading right where he is pointing.
"If they're not there, I will hurt your brother."
His mouth opens and closes. His eyes turn to Tess, asking for help.
Is he messing with me?
I punch the wound on his chest, and he screams.
He tries to say something, but I punch his wound again, and he lets out an even louder scream.
"Where?"
My voice sounds too calm, even to myself.
Finally, some fear appears in his sky-blue eyes.
His hand moves, shaking, and he points somewhere.
"Tess?"
"I can't see through the raindrops."
I give a last look to the boy and dash towards where he was pointing.
Tess leaves one of her spears with him and follows me without any further hesitation.
My [Mana Perception] continues to fire up into the surroundings, but too much information comes back at me. Every single raindrop holds some mana as they fall, glowing slightly, illuminating our surroundings somehow.
But I continue.
I send mana further and further.
I unleash the entirety of my mana and filter out the useless information.
It hurts me, but I push through.
[Focus] makes the dull colors around me even less vibrant, but the mana in the drops shines even brighter.
"I'm sorry, I can't see a thing..." Tess apologizes, but I almost don't hear her.
The rain continues to hit us harder and harder, and I can feel the unnatural speed and weight of the raindrops on my skin.
My mana flares up into my surroundings, and I absorb the kinetic energy of all the drops I can.
Tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands.
The drops of water slow down, and for a moment, they pause in the air.
"Follow me."
Then I use [Kinetic Redistribution] to propel myself ahead, releasing a shockwave behind me.
Rain continues to fall, but I repeat the process.
Again and again.
Drenched in water I continue to use my skills.
I get better at it and absorb more energy.
I do it faster and faster.
My [Mana Perception] pushes through all the distractions, and I finally catch a feel of Kim's mana.
Instantly, I change the direction I am running in and dash towards it with Tess somewhere far behind.
When I get closer, I start to hear the monsters even through the heavy rain, and soon see them.
[Two-Headed Wolf - lvl 13]
The monster is attacking the group made up of Kim, Kevin, and Lily.
Kevin is at the front, already barehanded, but his palms seem to be burning in bright flames even in the heavy rain we are in.
He continues to reflect the monster's attack back at it, and every time he does so, he also reflects some raindrops away from him.
The monster seems to be careful, and there are a few burn spots on its skin.
Meanwhile, Kim continues to move his iron ore around and attack smaller monsters, only occasionally throwing it at the wolf. Lily stays close to him, holding a goblin spear in her shaking arm.
The wolf roars, and mana collects in its body as flames start forming in its mouth. Bright blue in one mouth and dark purple in the other.
That makes Kevin stagger backward in surprise.
I plant my feet on the ground, clench my core, and twist my body, throwing the weapon in my hand at the wolf. It flies through the air, boosted by my skill and the force of my strengthened body.
The projectile forcefully strikes the monster right in the midst of its attack. As it reels from the impact, one of its menacing heads swivels around, fixing its piercing gaze upon me, clearly singling me out as its next target. The air around us crackles with tension as the creature and I prepare.
Once again, I gather the kinetic energy from the raindrops surrounding me, harnessing their power to amplify my own abilities. With my body's strength enhanced by the infusion of mana and the support of my skills, I charge headlong towards the wolf.
As I soar through the air, the glistening droplets of water become a blur around me, and I approach the wolf with incredible speed.
Right before hitting it with my body, I use my skill again, absorbing the kinetic energy of my body, which makes me stop on the spot. Immediately after, I use that energy to propel myself to the side and dodge the wolf's bite.
[Oscillation] envelops my hand, and a razor-sharp blade of mana materializes, extending to a length comparable to that of a short sword. The energy vibrates and hums as it emanates from my fingertips.
I close the distance between the wolf and myself and in one fluid motion, I strike at the creature, severing one of its heads. Blood spurts from the wound, and the beast howls in pain.
The wolf's head falls to the ground, and it continues to move and try to bite me, but I kick it away while the stump of its neck keeps spewing blood.
The second head instantly turns to me and shoots flames, but I am not there anymore.
Kevin's palm strikes the wolf's side, and the impact is powerful enough to make the creature howl in pain. As it jumps away from him, the monster appears disoriented and injured.
Before it gets out of my reach, I absorb some energy and attack the wolf, leaving three deep slashes on its chest and neck before the mana around my hand disappears.
The monster thrashes around and falls down after a moment.
[You have defeated the Two-Headed Wolf - lvl 13]
Amidst the pouring rain, another monster appears.
[Stormbear - lvl 14]
Electricity crackles and dances around its dark, shaggy fur, casting an eerie glow in the gloomy surroundings. The ground trembles beneath its massive paws as it charges towards me with intimidating speed, revealing a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth, each larger than my hand.
I absorb some energy from the rain, and the raindrops in a vast area slow down to a crawl.
A bit of that energy pushes Kevin towards Kim and Lily, and I take a step towards the charging bear.
More and more energy enters my body, and the Stormbear slows down as if it is running through water.
With each pounding beat of my heart, I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
I take another step.
As I gather more energy, my mana surges within me, threatening to spiral out of control like a wild, untamed storm.
Despite the chaotic forces churning inside, I focus my mind and control the power that dwells within me, ready to be unleashed when the moment is right.
The bear stands before me as I unleash all that energy in a narrow cone. The force of the blast obliterates one of the monster's front legs, reducing it to a mist of flesh, bones, and blood. Unable to maintain its balance, the bear staggers and collapses onto the ground in front of me.
The electricity around the monster dissipates, and an oscillating mana appears on my hand once more as I bury my hand deep inside the monster's head.
For a moment, electricity touches my hand, but it's torn apart by my [Oscillation].
[You have defeated the Stormbear - lvl 14]
I feel another presence, and two more bears appear.
[Stormbear - lvl 12]
[Stormbear - lvl 15]
Even through the rain, I feel Tess's mana and a terrible howling noise fills the surroundings.
Two massive chunks of iron, tempered with Tess's mana, come flying towards the bigger bear.
Unlike before, the mana around the ores feels different.
More dangerous, vicious.
The projectiles soar through the air with a fearsome sound, accompanied by a trail of red and white lightning that flickers and dances in their wake.
The ores hit the bear, and immediately, lightning comes down from the sky.
Red lightning with traces of white.
It hits the ore that's buried inside the bear, and an explosion ensues, burning the monster's body and sending a shockwave to the other bear.
Right after, I feel the mana collecting in Tess's chest, a signal for me, and I dash forward. My mana vibrates and cuts through the stunned level 12 bear, and then I finish the terribly wounded bigger bear.
[You have defeated the Stormbear - lvl 12]
[You have defeated the Stormbear - lvl 15]
At one moment, Dennis' mana shines brightly, and he disappears. Immediately after, he reappears in the same spot. His clothes are now covered in blood, and he is breathless.
"Please hurry," he says weakly, "Dennis and the others won't be able to hold on for too long." He leans against a tree, almost falling down.
Dennis? Is this his twin Aaron? Did they switch places?
That would explain the wounds.
"Where are Lily, Kevin, and Kim?" I ask shortly.
"There's no time. You have to..."
He pauses when I step in front of him.
"This way..." he points his hand somewhere.
The thin string that connects the twins is leading right where he is pointing.
"If they're not there, I will hurt your brother."
His mouth opens and closes. His eyes turn to Tess, asking for help.
Is he messing with me?
I punch the wound on his chest, and he screams.
He tries to say something, but I punch his wound again, and he lets out an even louder scream.
"Where?"
My voice sounds too calm, even to myself.
Finally, some fear appears in his sky-blue eyes.
His hand moves, shaking, and he points somewhere.
"Tess?"
"I can't see through the raindrops."
I give a last look to the boy and dash towards where he was pointing.
Tess leaves one of her spears with him and follows me without any further hesitation.
My [Mana Perception] continues to fire up into the surroundings, but too much information comes back at me. Every single raindrop holds some mana as they fall, glowing slightly, illuminating our surroundings somehow.
But I continue.
I send mana further and further.
I unleash the entirety of my mana and filter out the useless information.
It hurts me, but I push through.
[Focus] makes the dull colors around me even less vibrant, but the mana in the drops shines even brighter.
"I'm sorry, I can't see a thing..." Tess apologizes, but I almost don't hear her.
The rain continues to hit us harder and harder, and I can feel the unnatural speed and weight of the raindrops on my skin.
My mana flares up into my surroundings, and I absorb the kinetic energy of all the drops I can.
Tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands.
The drops of water slow down, and for a moment, they pause in the air.
"Follow me."
Then I use [Kinetic Redistribution] to propel myself ahead, releasing a shockwave behind me.
Rain continues to fall, but I repeat the process.
Again and again.
Drenched in water I continue to use my skills.
I get better at it and absorb more energy.
I do it faster and faster.
My [Mana Perception] pushes through all the distractions, and I finally catch a feel of Kim's mana.
Instantly, I change the direction I am running in and dash towards it with Tess somewhere far behind.
When I get closer, I start to hear the monsters even through the heavy rain, and soon see them.
[Two-Headed Wolf - lvl 13]
The monster is attacking the group made up of Kim, Kevin, and Lily.
Kevin is at the front, already barehanded, but his palms seem to be burning in bright flames even in the heavy rain we are in.
He continues to reflect the monster's attack back at it, and every time he does so, he also reflects some raindrops away from him.
The monster seems to be careful, and there are a few burn spots on its skin.
Meanwhile, Kim continues to move his iron ore around and attack smaller monsters, only occasionally throwing it at the wolf. Lily stays close to him, holding a goblin spear in her shaking arm.
The wolf roars, and mana collects in its body as flames start forming in its mouth. Bright blue in one mouth and dark purple in the other.
That makes Kevin stagger backward in surprise.
I plant my feet on the ground, clench my core, and twist my body, throwing the weapon in my hand at the wolf. It flies through the air, boosted by my skill and the force of my strengthened body.
The projectile forcefully strikes the monster right in the midst of its attack. As it reels from the impact, one of its menacing heads swivels around, fixing its piercing gaze upon me, clearly singling me out as its next target. The air around us crackles with tension as the creature and I prepare.
Once again, I gather the kinetic energy from the raindrops surrounding me, harnessing their power to amplify my own abilities. With my body's strength enhanced by the infusion of mana and the support of my skills, I charge headlong towards the wolf.
As I soar through the air, the glistening droplets of water become a blur around me, and I approach the wolf with incredible speed.
Right before hitting it with my body, I use my skill again, absorbing the kinetic energy of my body, which makes me stop on the spot. Immediately after, I use that energy to propel myself to the side and dodge the wolf's bite.
[Oscillation] envelops my hand, and a razor-sharp blade of mana materializes, extending to a length comparable to that of a short sword. The energy vibrates and hums as it emanates from my fingertips.
I close the distance between the wolf and myself and in one fluid motion, I strike at the creature, severing one of its heads. Blood spurts from the wound, and the beast howls in pain.
The wolf's head falls to the ground, and it continues to move and try to bite me, but I kick it away while the stump of its neck keeps spewing blood.
The second head instantly turns to me and shoots flames, but I am not there anymore.
Kevin's palm strikes the wolf's side, and the impact is powerful enough to make the creature howl in pain. As it jumps away from him, the monster appears disoriented and injured.
Before it gets out of my reach, I absorb some energy and attack the wolf, leaving three deep slashes on its chest and neck before the mana around my hand disappears.
The monster thrashes around and falls down after a moment.
[You have defeated the Two-Headed Wolf - lvl 13]
Amidst the pouring rain, another monster appears.
[Stormbear - lvl 14]
Electricity crackles and dances around its dark, shaggy fur, casting an eerie glow in the gloomy surroundings. The ground trembles beneath its massive paws as it charges towards me with intimidating speed, revealing a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth, each larger than my hand.
I absorb some energy from the rain, and the raindrops in a vast area slow down to a crawl.
A bit of that energy pushes Kevin towards Kim and Lily, and I take a step towards the charging bear.
More and more energy enters my body, and the Stormbear slows down as if it is running through water.
With each pounding beat of my heart, I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
I take another step.
As I gather more energy, my mana surges within me, threatening to spiral out of control like a wild, untamed storm.
Despite the chaotic forces churning inside, I focus my mind and control the power that dwells within me, ready to be unleashed when the moment is right.
The bear stands before me as I unleash all that energy in a narrow cone. The force of the blast obliterates one of the monster's front legs, reducing it to a mist of flesh, bones, and blood. Unable to maintain its balance, the bear staggers and collapses onto the ground in front of me.
The electricity around the monster dissipates, and an oscillating mana appears on my hand once more as I bury my hand deep inside the monster's head.
For a moment, electricity touches my hand, but it's torn apart by my [Oscillation].
[You have defeated the Stormbear - lvl 14]
I feel another presence, and two more bears appear.
[Stormbear - lvl 12]
[Stormbear - lvl 15]
Even through the rain, I feel Tess's mana and a terrible howling noise fills the surroundings.
Two massive chunks of iron, tempered with Tess's mana, come flying towards the bigger bear.
Unlike before, the mana around the ores feels different.
More dangerous, vicious.
The projectiles soar through the air with a fearsome sound, accompanied by a trail of red and white lightning that flickers and dances in their wake.
The ores hit the bear, and immediately, lightning comes down from the sky.
Red lightning with traces of white.
It hits the ore that's buried inside the bear, and an explosion ensues, burning the monster's body and sending a shockwave to the other bear.
Right after, I feel the mana collecting in Tess's chest, a signal for me, and I dash forward. My mana vibrates and cuts through the stunned level 12 bear, and then I finish the terribly wounded bigger bear.
[You have defeated the Stormbear - lvl 12]
[You have defeated the Stormbear - lvl 15]
