With her life force nearly critical and the relentless Thalindra closing in, Roselle knew she had to act fast. She concentrated on the magic indicator, which displayed 200%. Questions swirled in her mind as she contemplated the source of this newfound magic within her.
‘Where is this magic coming from? How can I use it when they said I had none’ she wondered.
Desperation fueled her as she reached out to tap into this magic reservoir. She focused on her cannon, the only weapon she knew how to use, and willed it to charge using the magical energy. The percentage for "Cannon Charge" began to increase steadily.
Thalindra, the Forest Guardian, approached with malicious intent, her magic still wreaking havoc on the forest. Trees continued to wither and crumble around them, and the pressure of her presence grew more oppressive by the second.
As Roselle's "Cannon Charge" reached 100%, she knew it was her only chance. With resolve, she aimed her cannon at Thalindra and released a powerful blast of energy, a magical beam that unleashed with immense power.
Thalindra, taken by surprise, attempted to shield herself with a magical barrier, but the force of Roselle's attack shattered through it. The beam struck Thalindra, sending her flying backward with a cry of pain.
But the Forest Guardian was far from defeated. She quickly recovered, her anger burning even brighter. Thalindra retaliated with a surge of magic, creating a storm of swirling leaves and branches that threatened to engulf Roselle.
Roselle, now realizing the potential of her magic, summoned a protective yellow barrier of her own, using her newfound powers to shield herself from the onslaught. The leaves and branches crashed against her barrier, unable to breach its defense.
Thalindra continued her assault. She summoned magical vines that snaked toward Roselle, attempting to ensnare her within their grip. Roselle fought back, using her cannon to blast the vines and maintain her distance.
With leaves and branches swirling around her, Thalindra sneered at Roselle's determination. "You may have tapped into some fake magic, but it's useless against me," she taunted. "Without true magic, you're just a fragile creation of Dr. Kintovar. I will destroy you."
Roselle's heart pounded as she continued to fend off Thalindra's attacks. She knew she couldn't let doubt creep in now. She needed to find a way to weaken Thalindra's hold on the forest and escape this magical prison.
Her "Cannon Charge" had replenished slightly, and she focused on channeling more magical energy into her cannon. The weapon readied with power as she aimed it at Thalindra once again.
Roselle fired a barrage of magical energy projectiles. Thalindra countered with her own spells, creating a mesmerizing display of magical clashes in the heart of the forest.
Thalindra growled, and then summoned a powerful burst of wind that sent Roselle tumbling backward. As Roselle tried to regain her footing, Thalindra could be hear through the forest.
"I may not understand what kind of cannon that is, but it doesen’t matter! You’re not going to beat me here with no fake magic!" Thalindra declared while pointing towards Roselle.
Roselle, battered and bruised, knew that she had to push through. Her life depended on it. She concentrated on her "Magic" indicator, the source of her newfound abilities, and willed it to surge even higher. Thalindra's words about "fake magic" weighed on Roselle's mind. She knew she was a creation of Dr. Kintovar, and if her magic was indeed different, she needed to understand how to harness it fully.
With Thalindra's relentless attacks continuing, Roselle focused on her "Magic" indicator. She delved deep into her thoughts, trying to uncover the secrets of this unique magic source.
‘It can't be fake’ Roselle thought, ‘I can feel its power, and I've used it. I just need to understand it better.’
With a surge of power, Roselle called upon the magic within her, allowing it to flow freely. She visualized herself as a vessel, a conduit for this newfound energy.
Her "Magic" indicator began to climb steadily, surpassing its previous levels. Roselle could feel the surge of power coursing through her, a sensation unlike anything she had ever experienced.
Thalindra, noticing the change in Roselle's aura, widened her eyes in surprise. The forest guardian sensed the shift in the magical balance, and her confident demeanor wavered for a moment.
Roselle tapped into the wellspring of magic within her, she felt a profound change. Her ‘Magic’ indicator surged beyond its previous levels, and an intense power coursed through her being..
With newfound confidence and a sense of empowerment, Roselle took action. Her system displayed a critical message:
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
"Ability Unlocked."
With this newfound confidence and power, Roselle decided to take a bold move. She dashed forward toward Thalindra, closing the distance between them. Thalindra, momentarily surprised by Roselle's sudden advance, took a step back, unsure of her intentions.
As Roselle closed in, Thalindra recognized the threat and attempted to back away. But Roselle was swift and determined, her movements guided by her newfound connection to the magic within her.
Thalindra tried to conjure a protective barrier, but before she could complete the incantation, Roselle made her move. She released a powerful yellow beam from her cannon, timed perfectly to catch Thalindra off guard.
The forest echoed with the deafening blast of Roselle's powerful yellow beam as it struck Thalindra, the Forest Guardian. She desperately attempted to reinforce her body with earth magic at the last second, but it was useless. The beam pierced through her defenses, leaving a gaping hole in her body.
Thalindra cried out in agony as she fell to the ground, her presence diminishing with each passing moment. The swirling leaves and branches around her began to lose their chaotic energy, and the forest gradually returned to its natural state.
Exhausted and gasping for breath, Roselle stood there, her cannon still aimed at the fallen guardian. Her system displayed a message that indicated she was still in combat with Thalindra, despite her belief that she had defeated her.
Threat Assessment: Critical (Forest Guardian Thalindra)
Confusion and disbelief washed over Roselle as she realized that Thalindra was not yet defeated. She lowered her cannon slightly, staring at the fallen guardian in shock.
"You're... still fighting?"
Suddenly, Thalindra's body began to shift and change. The forest around her seemed to respond, and Roselle watched in astonishment as Thalindra's wounds began to mend. It was as if the very essence of the forest was knitting her back together.
Thalindra slowly rose to her feet, her eyes filled with a newfound, eerie power. She looked at Roselle with a sinister smile, revealing her shocking revelation.
"You almost had me, child," Thalindra hissed then laughed. “But you see, I am not just the guardian of this forest; I am connected to it. My life is bound to its magic, and I draw strength from it, which I can use to restore my lifeforce. You can’t kill me so easily."
Fear gripped Roselle as she realized the true extent of Thalindra's power.‘This whole time... iv’e been fighting someone I can’t kill…’ Roselle muttered as she drops to her knees, trembling.
Thalindra raised her staff, channeling the very essence of the forest once more. Leaves, branches, and the ancient trees themselves seemed to respond to her command. The forest transformed into a swirling maelstrom of magic, ready to strike at Roselle. “It’s over child. You put up a good fight for one of Kintovar’s creations, but now, I will exact justice for the forest!’
Roselle's heart sank as she understood the dire situation she was in. She knew she couldn't defeat Thalindra in her current state.
‘I'm sorry, Dr. Kintovar,’ Roselle thought with sadness taking her tone. "I-I wasn't ready for this. You didn’t prepare me for someone this strong...Thalindra is too powerful, and I... I 'm going to be destroyed..."
As Thalindra prepared to unleash the full force of the enchanted forest upon Roselle, a sudden and unexpected change in the weather caught her attention. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and rain began to fall, but this was no ordinary rain. Each raindrop seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy.
Thalindra's confident expression faltered as the raindrops touched her, and she screamed out in pain. Her body flickered as if the magical rain was disrupting her connection to the forest.
"What? What’s this? Rain? But it's... it's hurting me! How?!"
Roselle, still on her knees, opened her eyes and witnessed this unexpected turn of events. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The rain itself was harming Thalindra.
Roselle’s mouth opens in awe "Is this... something I did? Did I make this happen?"
But doubt quickly crept into her mind, and she shakes her head "No, it can't be me. I've never done anything like this before. How... how is this happening?"
Thalindra clenches her fist, becoming fueled by her anger. She raises up her staff, trying to prepare her attack once again "I won't be defeated by... mere raindrops!"
With the magical rain washing over her, Roselle felt a surge of power, aiding her in this critical moment. She raised her cannon once more. Fire burned in her eyes.
Thalindra, now weakened and vulnerable, attempted to defend herself, but the rain was relentless. The pain she experienced grew more intense with each passing second, causing her to be unable to put up any form of defense.
Thalindra “Damn it! Curse this rain! I won’t go down like this!"
Roselle, feeling the surge of power from the magical rain, knew she had to act. She looked at her cannon and then back at Thalindra. She muttered to herself, "I can do this. I can use this magic. If I focus it into my cannon and visualize how I want to fire it, I can control it."
With Thalindra weakened and struggling against the relentless rain, Roselle channeled her newfound magic into her cannon. She concentrated on the image of a powerful, concentrated beam, ready to strike down her adversary. She tightened her grip on the cannon, feeling the energy within her reach its peak.
Roselle aimed her cannon at Thalindra, who was still writhing in pain from the magical rain. She visualized the attack in her mind, willing the magic to obey her command.
"Here goes nothing… 200% Magic Attack!" Roselle said loudly. She pulled the trigger, and a Red beam of energy erupted from the cannon, surging toward Thalindra with unstoppable force.
Thalindra, weakened and unable to mount a defense, could only watch in horror as Roselle's Attack approached. She let out a final, desperate scream as the devastating magic engulfed her, sealing her fate.
"NOOOOO!!!!"
The forest guardian was consumed by the powerful blast, and her presence in the enchanted forest faded away completely. Thalindra's body began to disintegrate, her cries of pain echoing through the forest. The rain continued to pour, washing away the remnants of her presence.
Roselle, her heart pounding, watched as Thalindra vanished. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked amazed at the results"I did it. I actually did it….."
The rain continued to pour, washing away the remnants of Thalindra's presence.
Breathing heavily and drained of her own strength, Roselle watched as the forest around her gradually calmed. The rain ceased, and the leaves and branches settled back into place.
Roselle's system displayed a message that finally confirmed the defeat of the Forest Guardian:
Threat Assessment: Neutralized (Forest Guardian Thalindra)
With a deep breath, Roselle muttered to herself, ‘But what was that magic? How did I... control it?’
With Thalindra gone, the magical barrier that had trapped Roselle within the forest began to dissipate. It disintegrated like mist in the morning sun, leaving her free to leave the confines of the enchanted woods.
As Roselle took her first steps towards freedom, her system displayed a critical notification:
LifeForce: 20% (Critical)
Magic: 0%
The realization that her life-force was critically low and her magic completely depleted filled Roselle with a sense of urgency. ‘I need to get back to Dr. Kintovar’s lab..’