Dashing forward, the world around me blurred into shifting shadows. The stillness of the forest had vanished; everything in the surroundings seemed charged with tension. A roar split the air, low and guttural, followed by a piercing shriek that seemed to slice through the canopy itself. The vibrations from the cry rattled the branch beneath me, almost making me lose my balance. Whatever lay ahead was not something that would lurk on the outskirts of the forest. The trees grew denser as I approached, their branches weaving together into a natural barricade. I wove through them, the bloodlust permeating the air guiding me forward.
Emerging through the dense undergrowth, my eyes locked on the scene below. Two creatures stood locked in a deadly dance. The first was a lithe mana beast, its emerald pelt glimmering like polished jade under the moonlight. Its body seemed carved from the forest itself, with leaf-like patterns rippling across its fur. Its movements were hypnotic, each step cracking the earth, its tail coiling and uncoiling like a whip ready to strike. Its eyes glowed faintly, twin golden orbs that radiated its bloodlust. This was a Verdant Phantom, a creature normally found just outside the unexplored depths of the forest.
Its opponent was an injured, four-winged bird. Black scale like feathers, thick as blades, were cracked and scattered. From the base of its hooked beak jutted two forward-facing tusks. The Tusk Buzzard, a territorial bird known for its ferocity and unforgiving nature.
They stared at each other in the clearing, the ground beneath them torn and bloodied. The Phantom’s steps were silent, its form low to the ground, muscles coiled like springs. The Buzzard’s talons scraped against the earth, each gouge a reminder of its strength. The air between them pulsed with a nerve-racking pressure, thick and oppressive as if the forest itself held its breath.
With calculated silence, the Phantom channeled earth elemental magic to strengthen its claws before lunging forward. Its speed was fast, my eyes barely keeping track of it. Its claws extended toward the Buzzard’s flank. The Buzzard reacted instantly, its wings slamming downward in a gale that flattened the ground, repositioned its tusk to intercept the Phantom. The Phantom summoned pillars allowing it to avoid the collision, its claws just missing their mark, and landed smoothly, already circling for another strike.
The Buzzard let out a bone-chilling screech, its wings spreading wide as it advanced. Its tusks thrust forward, aiming to impale the Phantom in half. The Phantom dove underground, narrowly avoiding the sharp tusks. But this time, the Buzzard pressed the attack, its massive tusk tearing into the ground where the Phantom had escaped to.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Perched above, my entire focus locked onto the brutal exchange unfolding below. A deep hunger started to brew inside me. The Phantom erupted from the ground unleashing vines trying to bind the Buzzard, while its tail whipped toward its torso. The Buzzard's wings shredded the vines and swiftly swung its tusk to intercept the tail. Anticipating this, the Phantom reinforced its tail with its earthen armor. Boom. Their collision caused the ground to tremble. The Phantom's tail was severed, and two of the Buzzard's wings were broken from the force of the impact.
The Buzzard reared back, its remaining wings beating furiously as it rose into the air. The Phantom didn’t retreat; it crouched low, channeling what seemed to be its strongest spell, earthen missile. The Buzzard, too, seemed intent on finishing the battle with the next decisive blow. Diving, its tusks aimed like spears, its feathers slicing through the air. The Phantom finished its cast, surrounding its body with elemental armor and unleashing its magic. The force of the tusk colliding with the spell sent shockwaves through the ground, nearly knocking me off the tree.
The Phantom’s spell collided with the Buzzard’s raw power, but the bird tore through it with relentless ferocity, ignoring the damage it was taking. Boom Their impact caused a thick veil of dust to cover the battlefield obstructing my view.
Waiting for the outcome, my hand tightly gripped the bark beneath me, my body tensed. The hunger began to consume my sanity. I slammed my head against the tree, forcing myself to regain control. Losing my sanity was not an option right now. These creatures were perfect for fixing my current state—they were something that could not escape my grasp.
As the dust of the aftermath cleared, the Phantom’s body was cleaved in two while the Buzzard’s skull was impaled, Its tusks were shattered, yet it clung to life with unyielding resolve. With a final, desperate burst of strength, the Buzzard flapped its wings to drag its body towards the Phantom’s corpse. Before it reached the Phantom, my body moved to prevent it from eating the Phantom's mana core.
As it flapped closer and closer toward the body, it ignored everything in its surroundings. Reaching the Buzzard’s body, I leapt into the air and slammed my foot down with all my might onto the spike impaling it. Crack. Its skull split open like a ripe fruit, and while catching my breath, the forest buzzed with noise, monsters sprinted toward the carcasses trying to claim my spoils. Overcome by the surrounding bloodlust, I let out an orcish war cry: "LOK'TAR OGAR!" Nothing would stand in my way.