The young man stared at the ice crystal formed before his right hand. It sends 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 his hand.
'I need to shoot it!'
The moment he thought about countering the enemy. The blue color crystal shot forward.
Crush!
Splashed
Crimson blood splashed in air. This time it does not belong to Aron. The ice crystal shot inside the monster's mouth. Dugged inside its upper side of mouth painfully.
Rooooooooaarrr!
The monster step back while screaming in pain. Still it didn't fell on ground. It shook its head wildly. Mouth still wide open.
The crystal finally loosed and fell down from its mouth.
Grwolllll~
It growl, as blood leaked from its mouth. Then it looked at Aron's side in pure hatred.
But there was no one sitting at tree.
He had already got up from that place. Aron had felt like he had a chance. He can do magic. How? He don't know. But logic was not important here. The important 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 held easily in his hand. Not too big or heavy. But it should be sharped. A weapon that can help him to cut his enemy.
He was running towards the monster from 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 shaped. It slowly turned into a sharp dagger like weapon. The ice blade of that dagger was sharped. Like it was made up of real steel.
The bear monster saw him coming near. It swung its claw hand horizontally to shattered the head of the young man.
Aron's body was battered. Pain all over his body yet it moved...it moved in desire for survival. To remained alive. Adrelined rushed. His heart pump faster.
'I need to avoid it!' He bend down instantly. The muscular hand moved above its head. He could feel the breeze form by it.
His grip tightened on the ice daggers hilt.
He swung it at the stomach area.
Slash
The blade dug lightly on its fat and thick skin.
Then he used his left hand. Pushing his whole strength by both hands.
"Ahh!" Arond screamed. This time it was not a scream of pain. Rather it was because of pushing his all 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.
ROOOOOAAARRRRR!!
A deafening scream of agony tore through the forest. It was 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 again sideways, 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 muscle beneath.
For a brief moment, Aron thought he had succeeded in killing the monster. That cut might be enough to kill the monster
'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. His stomach cut opened 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. Breathing itself was painful.
The monster locked its gaze onto him.
Then—
Stomp
Stomp
Stomp
It began to charge.
Each step shook the ground as it dashed toward 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 drawn into 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. It was lifeless 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 eyes sharp and cold emerald colour. They shifted towards Aron. The man had dark brown colour hair, faintly swaying in breeze.
Those eyes met his. Relief flooded Aron's chest. He was a human.
'…I survived…finally' Aron thought. His will powered to stay consciousness was slowly diminishing. He couldn't think much. It was harder to think anything. Now he had to believe in the man who was in front of him.
That was his last option.
'Hope...he will sa-save me.'
The tension finally left his body.
His breathing became relaxed. Eyelids heavy with exhaustion.
The man observed the young man lying in front of him. He walked towards Aron and been down on his one knees.
"You are Noah Eldritch...At least you are alive..." The man guess it from his appearance. Snow white hair. Crystal blue color eyes.
Aron heard that name. The name sounds familiar to him.
'...Noah Eldritch?'
He heard that name before consciousness slipped away. Darkness claimed him once more.