"Huff… huff… I might die running this much…" Nick collapsed onto his knees, chest pumping up and down like a broken bellows.
Miguel fell beside him, panting just as hard. "H—hey… if you're dying, I'm already a corpse."
The forest stretched endlessly around them—titanic trees blocking most of the sunlight, roots so thick they looked like petrified serpents. The air smelled damp, earthy, and suspiciously like something dangerous was nearby.
"But why didn't we encounter anything on our way?" Nick groaned. "So boring…"
Kragos, leading casually as if this was a morning stroll, raised one hand. "Rest. Ten minutes."
The boys immediately flopped onto the grass. Nick, still unsatisfied, repeated, "Still boring…"
"It's because of this," Kragos explained, lifting his decorated purple ring slightly. The gemstone pulsed faint violet light. "This ring repels mana beasts of level three or lower."
Miguel raised an eyebrow. "Levels?"
"There are ten," Kragos explained calmly. "They indicate a beast's mana pool, combat instinct, physical threat. Level one is weak. Level ten…" he smirked, "…is city-destroying."
Nick gulped. "We fought a herd of boars yesterday. How strong were they?"
Kragos blinked. "A herd?"
"Yes," Miguel shrugged. "Fifteen-ish?"
"Wild boars are level one beasts," Kragos replied. "But your performance doesn't surprise me. Miguel uses two elements." He pointed at them matter-of-factly. "Children usually begin feeling mana at age three. Forming mana at six or seven. Casting elemental magic? That's teenage territory. You two are… anomalies."
Miguel sat cross-legged, drawing mana into his core. His breathing slowed. "Are there beasts without mana?"
"Yes," Kragos nodded. "Most are weak. They die quickly. But sometimes… one survives. Evolves." His expression sharpened, voice lowering. "Manaless beasts that live are far stronger than average mana beasts. If you see one—run."
Nick recovered his mana as well. "So… what's your age, old man?"
Kragos ignored him and stood. "Time's up. Let's move."
They resumed sprinting. Hours blurred together. Their feet slapped against mud and leaf litter, wind cutting across their cheeks. Sweat soaked their ragged boar-skin clothes.
Then—
In the evening
The forest's atmosphere changed.
Leaves trembled. Mana thickened like fog.
Kragos dropped his voice. "…Level four."
Something massive rustled ahead.
Miguel muttered, "Another cringy name incoming…"
A towering serpent burst through the trees—scales sparkling poisonous green, height reaching almost seventeen feet. Its jaws opened wide, releasing a shrieking hiss that shook branches loose.
"Venomflare," Kragos identified calmly.
Miguel stared. "…Yep. Cringe but terrifying."
Nick's fear melted instantly into excitement. "HELL YES!"
Kragos pointed at the beast. "You two defeat it."
Both boys froze.
"Huh?"
"E-excuse me?"
Kragos sat on a stump. "Training."
Before Miguel could protest, Nick already charged. "FIRE MODE!"
Miguel cursed. "Damn you, anime protagonist behavior…"
The snake lunged forward, its mouth spewing a torrent of fire.
Miguel slammed his palms to the ground. "Freeze!"
Ice erupted across the soil, freezing the serpent's lower body solid. Frost crept upward—but before it reached, Venomflare unleashed a second flamethrower, melting the ice instantly. Steam blasted outward.
Nick appeared behind it, arms engulfed in flame. He compressed mana, forming a fireball the size of a human torso.
"FIRE BURST!"
It slammed into the serpent's back… and dispersed harmlessly.
"What!?" Nick's voice cracked. "No damage!?"
Before either could breathe, Venomflare hurled a volley of blazing orbs from its mouth. They carved through the air like flaming meteors.
Miguel snapped both hands up. "Ice Fortress!"
A thick wall of dense ice manifested—denser than steel. Fire slammed into it harmlessly, steam roaring outward.
Nick retreated back toward Miguel, panting. "Our attacks can't damage it!"
Miguel nodded grimly. "We need something stronger!"
Venomflare hissed. Flames danced brighter along its scales.
Then…
A surge.
Deep inside their cores, mana tightened and twisted—like a second heartbeat. The world slowed, sound echoing at half-speed.
Miguel felt ice expand around him like a frigid domain.
Nick's flames turned white-hot.
"…Mana Zone," Nick whispered, remembering the sensation from prison.
Miguel smirked. "Round two."
Their eyes sharpened. Their confidence solidified.
Nick exploded forward, feet igniting flames. Miguel followed, frost forming beneath every step.
The snake roared—fire spiraling from its jaws.
Miguel countered, spreading his palms. "Cryo-Lock!"
Ice surged upward, devouring the flames instantly and coating the serpent's upper body.
Nick followed, leaping. "Blazing Comet!"
He punched downward. Fire slammed into the frozen serpent—heat and frost fusing violently.
The serpent screamed, shattering inward from the extreme temperature difference. Its body cracked, fissures glowing bright blue, then—
BOOM.
Silence.
Steam drifted in the aftermath.
Nick exhaled dramatically and wiped sweat off with his thumb. "Heh. Too easy."
Miguel rolled his eyes. "We almost died."
Nick's grin widened. "We should name that attack!"
Miguel sighed. "Here we go…"
Nick pointed dramatically toward the sky. "Soul-Rending Frostburn Cataclysm Slash!"
Miguel stared. "That's not an attack name. That's a sentence."
"…Inferno Glacius?" Nick tried again, hopeful.
Miguel shrugged. "Acceptable."
They fist-bumped.
Kragos casually reappeared, dragging massive logs. "Good timing. Dinner?"
Miguel and Nick pointed at him accusingly. "WHERE DID YOU GO!?"
"Gathering firewood. You two seemed to have it under control."
"…WE WERE ALMOST NAKED SKELETONS!" Nick yelled.
Kragos examined the ruined snake. One side was frozen solid, the other scorched beyond recognition.
"Hm." He poked it. "Not edible. Shame."
Miguel gagged. "Green snake skin? Ew. I wasn't touching that anyway."
Nick nodded. "Yup. Hard pass."
Kragos shrugged. "Then we stick to wild boars."
Both boys' stomachs growled loudly at the mention.
"Y-yeah," Miguel muttered. "Boars… good choice…"
Nick rubbed his belly. "Boar steak… yesss…"
Kragos started a small fire, chopping wood like it was paper. "Go hunt. I'll prepare what you bring."
Miguel and Nick's eyes lit up.
The forest was still. Quiet. But somewhere deep, they smelled meat.
Nick cracked his knuckles. "Let's make it quick."
Miguel conjured water around his hands. "And pray they're level one."
They stepped into the woods again.
Small eyes glimmered in the underbrush.
A herd of boars—hairy, muscular, tusked—stared at them.
Miguel whispered, "Déjà vu?"
Nick grinned. "Yeah. Dinner déjà vu."
Flames coated his fists.
Water spheres hovered behind Miguel like floating ammunition.
The boars charged.
Miguel fired rapid-succession water bullets, knocking several unconscious. Nick ducked under tusks, punching boars in fiery bursts.
They moved as if dancing. Fire melted leaves; water splashed across bark.
Minutes later, boars collapsed in piles.
Miguel wiped his brow. "Five," he panted.
Nick counted his own. "Nine—and one tie."
Miguel blinked. "How is that a tie?"
Nick shrugged. "Because I said so."
Miguel snorted. "Fine."
They dragged their boars back to camp.
Kragos had already prepared spits over the fire.
"Good work."
The boars roasted—fat sizzling, aroma filling the clearing.
Nick drooled. "Hurry…"
Miguel sat with an exhausted sigh. "We did good today."
They ate—ripping chunks of meat, devouring like starving wolves. The flavor felt like victory. Warm. Thick. Satisfying.
Nick leaned back, both hands on his stomach. "One thing done…" he said proudly.
Miguel nodded. "Food."
"Next is clothing," Nick added, pointing at their leaf-and-rag outfits.
Miguel plucked a leaf sleeve. "Yeah. One HP."
They glanced at the ruined Venomflare corpse.
"Definitely not using that skin," Miguel shuddered.
Nick gagged. "Nope."
They both laughed—tired, relieved, victorious.
The fire crackled.
Kragos stared into the flames. "Rest. Tomorrow, we train harder. Level four is nothing."
Miguel and Nick shivered.
"Tomorrow," they repeated weakly.
They lay back, watching faint stars peek through the canopy.
Burned snake behind them, roasted boar in their bellies, and exhaustion finally winning—
Their journey… continued.
To be continued…