Caelum and Aurelia had barely left the glow of the magical spring behind when the forest began to close in around them once again. The thick canopy overhead blocked out most of the light, casting long, dark shadows across the ground. The warm, peaceful feeling of the spring faded, replaced by the familiar tension of being deep within the wild forest.
Caelum moved cautiously, his senses heightened after their recent experience. Something felt different, but he couldn’t quite place it. The air around them seemed to hum with an uneasy energy, and the usual sounds of the forest—rustling leaves, distant chirps—felt muffled.
They had been wandering for some time when Caelum suddenly stopped. Aurelia, who had been walking slightly behind him, looked up, her antennae twitching.
“Something’s here,” Caelum whispered through their telepathic link.
Aurelia nodded. “I feel it too.”
Ahead of them, the underbrush stirred, and Caelum’s heart quickened. The forest was full of dangers, but he had hoped they might avoid anything too serious for a while. He focused, using the appraisal ability that had become second nature by now, and directed it toward the movement.
A small chime echoed in his mind, and a screen appeared before him.
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[Appraisal Activated]
Name: Carnivorous Beetle Larva
Species: Beetle
Level: 5/10
Rank: F
HP: 30/30
MP: 0/10
Stamina: 25/40
Echo Skills: [Bite Lv: 4] [Burrow Lv: 3] [Movement Lv: 5]
Resonance Skills: None
Resistance Skills: [Physical Resistance Lv: 2] [Pain Resistance Lv: 1]
Titles: None
Status Effects: None
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Caelum frowned. This wasn’t a simple creature like the ones they had encountered before. A carnivorous beetle larva, and judging by its level and the aggression noted in the appraisal, it was not something that would be interested in conversation.
Before he could say anything to Aurelia, the underbrush rustled violently, and the larva burst out from the bushes, its segmented body glistening under the dim light. Its mandibles snapped aggressively, and its beady eyes locked onto Caelum.
Without hesitation, it lunged forward.
Caelum instinctively jumped back, his body reacting faster than his thoughts. He had faced threats before, but this one seemed different—it was focused, relentless. He tried reaching out with his telepathic link, hoping for a chance to communicate.
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“Wait! We don’t have to fight!” Caelum called out in his mind, sending the thought toward the charging larva.
But the beetle larva didn’t slow. If anything, its aggression only intensified. It snapped its mandibles again, aiming straight for Caelum.
“Aurelia, stay back!” Caelum shouted through their link as he dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the beetle’s bite. The ground where the mandibles struck cracked slightly, a testament to the strength behind its jaws.
Caelum’s mind raced. The beetle was stronger than he expected, and its aggressive nature meant there would be no reasoning with it. He had no choice but to fight back. His limbs tensed, and he focused on the water affinity he had just acquired. He was still new to it, but the battle at hand left no room for hesitation.
The beetle larva lunged again, but this time, Caelum was ready. He dodged to the side, keeping his movements quick and efficient. As the beetle passed, Caelum swiped one of his legs into a nearby puddle of water that had collected on the forest floor, focusing on the magic flowing within him.
The water responded, rising slightly under his command. It wasn’t much—just enough to gather a small stream—but it was enough. Caelum sent the water splashing toward the beetle larva, distracting it for just a moment. The sudden sensation of water hitting its body caused it to pause, confused by the unexpected attack.
Caelum seized the opportunity.
He lunged forward, striking the beetle larva hard on its soft underbelly with his segmented body. The impact sent the beetle skidding back, its mandibles snapping in frustration. Caelum could feel his confidence growing. The beetle larva was strong, but it was relying purely on brute force. Caelum had speed and his new skills on his side.
The beetle screeched and tried to burrow into the ground, using its natural ability to escape, but Caelum wasn’t going to let that happen. He charged, striking again before the larva could disappear into the dirt. The force of his attack knocked the beetle onto its back, exposing its vulnerable underbelly once more.
Without hesitation, Caelum struck again, this time with full force. The beetle larva screeched one last time before falling still, its body limp.
Caelum breathed heavily, his adrenaline still pumping from the sudden fight. He stepped back, his eyes narrowing as he appraised the defeated creature once more, making sure it wasn’t playing dead. When no further movement came, he allowed himself to relax.
Suddenly, a chime echoed in his mind, and a familiar screen appeared.
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Scholar Pupal Level increased from 1 to 2
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Caelum blinked, taking in the information. He had leveled up. The fight, though not that hard, leveled him up.
Aurelia approached cautiously, her eyes wide. “Are you okay?”
Caelum nodded, shaking off the last remnants of tension. “Yeah, I’m fine. It wasn’t as strong as I thought.”
Aurelia glanced at the defeated beetle larva. “I thought you were going to try and communicate with it?”
“I tried,” Caelum said, his voice tinged with frustration. “But it wasn’t interested in talking. Some creatures just want to fight.”
Aurelia nodded in agreement. “At least you handled it quickly.”
Caelum looked down at the fallen creature. “Yeah, but we’re going to need to be more careful. There are more aggressive things out here than we realize.”
With a final glance at the beetle larva, Caelum turned back toward the path to his home.