"An hour and a few minutes, that's what I have expended here."
I looked at my meta-watch carefully, my eyes fixed on the creature at all times. I am really glad that this mana beast isn't under the poisonous class of mana beasts, if not things would have gotten VERY bad VERY quickly.
The beast rushed at me again and this time I was ready for it. I spun around and ran away, but almost instantly the creature gave chase with unrestrained fury, unready to let its meal go so easily.
A look over my shoulder revealed the beast directly behind me, gaining on me with every passing second. I looked forward and rushed towards a certain tree; it rushed onwards still the same. Getting to the tree, I ran up briefly, but gravity then decided it was time I fell. However, I leaped off at that very instant. With that, I narrowly dodged the creature's claws from tearing through me; those claws instead struck the trunk.
Using that opportunity, I decided to end the creature quickly. I wasn't one to enjoy prolonging a fight if I could end it quickly, so I focused on my mana and decided to flesh out the theory I had in my mind.
"Elemental magic," I said, but this time instead of channeling the mana through and out my palm like back in class, I focused even more detailedly, forcing a thin frame of mana to coat the sword I held in a rhythmic flow. "Flames of Ephynia," I finished, and suddenly a strange glow of purple emitted from the sword.
I don't know why these flames are purple, but I have a feeling it's not such a good thing. The look on the teacher's face this very morning said it all. It was like she had seen something unpleasant; that was the kind of feeling she gave off.
With the sword now blazing in flame, I rushed towards the creature in full force and swung my sword with such force that I could practically feel the air burning. The beast, which had also been rushing towards me, sensing the danger from my sword, tried to back away, but it was far too close in proximity to even consider retreating. My sword connected with its neck and instantly, it was decapitated.
"Haah," I sighed in exhaustion, feeling the excessive use of mana take a toll on me; I was literally sweating buckets right now.
Damn.
Good thing I thought of that idea, or I would have been toast.
I realized that trying to attack it with just my sword alone was a fool's errand, as apparently my sword was too old and worn out to endure such extreme heat conditions. What made it more vulnerable to the heat was the fact that it wasn't a relic, nor even created with materials considered the strongest metals like Netaroid. It was just normal plain old steel. So I decided to try something out.
Running away was also not a good idea, as there was only so much longer I could continue to successfully evade it, since my mana itself wouldn't last long given what I am and how small my manapool is, since this is probably the first time it's being used after at least six to seven whole years of dormancy.
So I decided to try out an idea that crossed my mind for a second. It was stupid at first, but I came to realize it might just work. I thought, what if I coated my sword in flames? But then I felt, what if the flames directly melt the sword? Then I realized that won't happen, since the sword will be enhanced and protected by the mana circulated about it.
"Hm, it's getting warm," I noted, as I got closer and decided to feel the heat from its fur. Though it was undeniably hot, it was by no means as hot as it had previously been.
I quickly got into a squatting position as I approached the head. I used my sword to carefully remove its core, which was actually so small it could even fit in my pocket.
"Alright," I looked at my meta-watch and frowned. "An hour and forty minutes left."