บท 13: Beast Plane. Run! Run! And Run Again!
Ethan blinked against the glaring light as he found himself in an unfamiliar world, his senses overwhelmed. All around him lay a vast expanse of land, stretching infinitely. As a city dweller, the sheer scale of the wilderness left him bewildered. Towering trees dominated the landscape, their trunks thick and ancient, casting shadows that failed to mitigate the oppressive heat. Despite the canopy above, the air was stifling, hot as a desert but lush like a rainforest, a perplexing contradiction that added to his disorientation.
He took a cautious step forward, instinct telling him that exploration was crucial, but danger lurked nearby. The atmosphere was charged with distinct, threatening auras, each whispering warnings of the peril that lay hidden among the foliage. Sweat dripped down his brow as he moved, the oppressive humidity quickly saturating his clothes.
After traversing only a few trees, fatigue began to set in. Ethan looked up, sensing something was off. Just as the realization hit him, a voice crackled in his mind.
"What the...?"
[You better run, kid.]
Before he could process the warning, Ethan felt a primal instinct kick in. He sprinted through the forest of Thermalions, glancing back just in time to see a sprout-like creature preparing to leap. It was then he noticed their true nature: the leaves were outstretched palms, eagerly absorbing energy, while the branches resembled countless arms reaching for him. The yellowish-orange fruits scattered throughout were not just decorative; they were eyes, observing him with a 360-degree view.
The small Thermalion sprang toward him, its stem splitting into two as clawed roots burst forth to chase him. Panic surged within him as larger Thermalions stirred from their stasis, sensing their prey's escape. He pushed his body to its limits, pouring energy into his limbs, but the weight of the beasts was oppressive. The ground trembled as they pursued him, their massive forms almost too quick for his eyes to track.
Ethan felt his energy depleting rapidly. The Thermalions were drawing on him, sapping his strength with every passing second. As someone who had just awakened, he was tenacious, but he could feel himself faltering.
[Seriously? Is this the best you can do?]
"You blackmailer! I'm going to die!" he shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. He felt the panic rising as he realized he was reaching his limits.
[Don't care.]
"You—" Before he could finish, a Thermalion sprout lunged, its grip tightening around his arm. He struggled to break free, but it was futile. The creature emitted a low, menacing shriek, revealing a dark maw that threatened to swallow him whole.
"Oh shit!" Instinct kicked in, and Ethan unleashed his aura, a protective sheen enveloping him. His intelligence guided him; he concentrated his energy into a makeshift shield against the creature's energy-draining ability.
But the Thermalion didn't relent, its grip ironclad. In a desperate bid, he channeled what little energy he had left into his right hand, delivering a sluggish uppercut to the beast. The impact sent shockwaves through his arm, but it barely injured the creature. Yet, it was enough to make it release him.
Ethan stumbled back, adrenaline coursing through him as he sprinted away, his heart pounding in his chest.
[Hahahahahahahahahaha!]
...
After what felt like an eternity, Ethan collapsed onto a patch of grass beneath a massive tree, gasping for breath. Every ounce of energy had been drained from him. He had narrowly escaped the clutches of the Thermalion horde, but his mind raced with thoughts of what might have happened had those beasts roamed freely on Earth. That was a concern for another day.
For now, he checked his stats, hoping his harrowing experience had yielded some rewards.
---
Name: Ethan Smith Junior
Race: Mixed Human
Strength: 06 + 02 = 08
Speed: 09 + 03 = 12
Stamina: 11 + 03 = 14
Perception: 02 + 02 = 04
Intelligence: 22
Affinity Energy: 37
Level: 1 [02/10]
Stat Points: 15
Current Form: [Mixed Human]
---
'Let's make some distributions!'
---
Name: Ethan Smith Junior
Race: Mixed Human
Strength: 08 + 07 = 15
Speed: 12 + 03 = 15
Stamina: 14 + 01 = 15
Perception: 04 + 04 = 08
Intelligence: 22
Affinity Energy: 37
Level: 1 [02/10]
Stat Points: 00
Current Form: [Mixed Human]
---
[Nice distribution. But note from now onwards, acquiring stat points will be very difficult.]
'Huh? Why?'
[Your stats are average for a Novice Rank mage. Basically, what a newly awakened Novice Rank has. Gaining more will come in small increments.]
'But if I had a Spirit Beast...'
[Exactly. The system helped you fill the gaps because you don't have one.]
'So, if I get a Spirit Beast...'
[Yes. The system aims to elevate you to the top of the world.]
'Thanks, Zark.'
[You're welcome. But be vigilant. You're in a beast forest. Danger is everywhere.]
'I understand.'
---
DING!
[New Skills Created! Do You Want to Name Them?]
[Yes/No]
'New skills? Zark?'
[Yep. The actions you performed unconsciously with your aura were recorded as skills.]
'Oh right! Yes!'
[Defense Aura Skill (Name): ______]
[Attack Aura Skill (Name): ________]
'For defense, let's go with Aura Shell. And for attack, Sky Uppercut.'
[Initializing—Saving—Saved!]
'I need to practice these skills and make them stronger.'
[That's the spirit, but remember, you have only one use left.]
'Crap!'
---
DING!
[Bonus Quests Initiated!]
* Level Up Aura Control Skill: Create Three New Skills.
* Level Up Sky Uppercut and Aura Shell to at least High Level.
* Time Limit: None.
* Reward: Based on Time Spent.
* Penalty: None.
...
'Nice.'
Buzz... Buzz... Buzz...
Ethan turned sharply, his heart racing as he caught sight of a new beast before him. It had crept up quietly, its description flashing in his mind, leaving him no time to react. The creature resembled a massive bug, roughly the size of a dog. Its mouthparts were a terrifying blend of claspers and sickles, while its shiny black exoskeleton bore streaks of red that glinted ominously in the dappled light. Vapor hissed from its nostrils as it flew toward him with large, menacing wings.
"Oh crap!"
With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Ethan realized he had to act fast if he was going to survive this encounter.
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