While all the students had a look of excitement that shone from their eyes, some hesitated while others charged towards the mountain range, Shad was still in awe looking at the titanic mountains just a few kilometers away from him.
Just like all of the students partaking in the monster hunt exam, today was the first time Shad had actually come to the Dark Forest.
" What a huge mountain range." Seeing this sight in front of him, Shad couldn't help but hold his breath.
The Dark Forest was simply too enormous if one were to measure the Dark Forest based on naked eyes only, then the mountains were limitless, as far as one could tell it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that there are as much as water on the sea as there are mountains in the Dark Forest.
The Dark Forest was like a border between the Four Great Empires, as it literally split the Egul continent into two halves. North of the Dark Forest was the Draco Empire and the Bartolo Empire while South it was where the Djage Empire as well the Nicolas Empire were located couple with some small kingdoms on each side.
Filled with a heroic air and a sense of adventure, Shad charged through the all-encompassing mountain range. With a speed that did not belong to a mage, Shad quickly entered the endless mountains.
The Mountain range within the Dark forest was vast and boundless. Within it, Shad could see massive trees some,tall and skinny, others short and big blotting the landscape. they looked so old yet filled with vitalities.
Dry leaves, weeds, and branches of old dead trees can be seen everywhere as they covered the land. The mana within the Dark Forest seemed to be denser or more concentrated than the capital.
While Shad was walking within the Dark Forest as though he was like a kid in a candy store for the first time, he did not dare to let his guard down as his spiritual force was spread out, ready to face any unforeseen event or danger.
After two hours or so, Shad had long since left the outskirt of the Dark Forest where most of the students had stayed to hunt 2nd class magical beasts.
Shad was very confident in killing a 3rd class magical beast by himself, so the purpose of this trip was to explore the Dark Forest a little before nightfall. Furthermore, he wanted to hunt some 4th class magical beast for their agate crystals and make some money by selling them.
The Agate crystals of a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class magical beasts aren't worth much. However, from the 4th class and above, it was another story.
Aside from the Orphanage as well as the Monalisa Inn, he had other stuff to take care off and which requires a large sum of money he can't just ask his parents for more money as they already give him a monthly allowance.
On the way, he had encountered a few students ganged up together on a second class magical beast. There were many students that had not yet broken through the 3rd class mage or warrior, so they had to team up with someone to hunt a 2nd class monster.
While Shad was leisurely walking within the Dark Forest by avoiding clashing against the low-level magical beasts due to its spiritual force, he abruptly stopped his footstep.
A hundred meters away from him was a Giant Green Wolf. The Green Wolf had a single red horn on its forehead as though it was a unicorn.
" One-horned wolf," whispered Shad.
The One-horned wolf was a magical beast of the 4th class, a fire-element creature. According to the Magical Beast Ineex he had read in the academy, the one-horned wolf had only one technique which was, ' Fireball.' However, after it broke through the 4th class, it will be able to access his second innate spell, which was the fire blade.
" Even though it is a 4th class magical beast, at least it will serve as warm up."
As he said that, Shad continued advancing towards the one-horned wolf slowly without making any noise as though he was afraid of alerting it of his presence.
When he got within ten meters of the one-horned wolf, Shad ran towards it like a gust of wind.
Sensing the incoming danger, the one-horned wolf quickly turned his head and stared in shock at the human that was pouncing toward him with a small knife in his hand.
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Suddenly, the red horned of the wolf turned into a flame horned as a strong fluctuation of magic leaked from it which created a huge fireball.
The one-horned wolf released the huge fireball which advanced towards the incoming Shad at an astonishing speed, without any delay, Shad released his mana shield that encompassed his whole body.
The fireball collided against the mana shield and was blown away. At the same time, Shad was pushed a few steps back by the attack and his knife fell on the ground. Seeing that his attack was blocked by the human, the one-horned wolf was not the least bit discouraged as it was preparing his next attack, Fire Blade.
Taking advantage of the one-horned wolf releasing his second innate spell, In a flash, Shad arrived at the side of the one-horned wolf.
After channeling the lightning element within every fiber and nerve of his body, Shad's speed had double, or even triple.
He quickly lowered his body and swept the legs of the one-horned wolf with his right leg. Suddenly, the one-horned wolf was knocked to the ground by his kick before it even had time to get up , it was blown away by another kick in his stomach.
The one-horned wolf hit one of the big trees before it fell down as its mouth howled a cry of pain and anger.
The wolf now enraged stood up unsteadily and looked for Shad to take its revenge but couldn't find a trace of him. At that time, suddenly it heard the voice of Shad in its ear.
" Looking for me." Shad's figure suddenly appeared in front of the wolf.
Chi~~chi~~
Before the one-horned wolf could even have time to release his second innate spell. Shad’s hand transformed into a Lightning blade which he buried deep within the wolf's stomach.
The one-horned wolf released shrill howl as his internal organs were being fried by the remnants of Lightning that invaded his body. he was looking at Shad with a deep hatred and anger in its eyes. After a few seconds, the One-Horned wolf took his last breadth.
After Killing the one-horned wolf, Shad split open its head and took out small transparent crystal within it that was filled with worldly energy.
The Agate Crystal was the source of energy for all magical beast, and without it, no magical beast could survive. the Agate crystal could be used by many mages for cultivation, power an airship ,blacksmiths, alchemists and even pharmacist could use it to refine few precious medicines etc.
" Even though my physical strength and speed are on par with a peek 5th class warrior while channeling the lightning element within my body as a booster however, I felt like I have been run over by a truck after using it because my body is aching all over."
" I need to train and refine my body more in order for it to handle the boundless energy of the lightning. Not only that, I get hungry easily now because of it I felt like a fat pig as I eat a lot now."
After Shad had killed the one-horned wolf, he was examining his body, while channeling the lightning in every nerve of his body make him faster and stronger, it also takes a huge toll on his body as well. it was as though his body was not strong enough to handle the energy.
Except for that, every time he uses the lightning energy like that, he felt like a tiny part of his soul was absorbed by the purple lightning within the infinite space or his mana pool he still doesn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
According to his analysis, it might come a day where he becomes pure energy itself after the purple lightning completely sucked up or absorbed his soul. Well, it was still a hypothesis, nothing concrete.
Shad that was lost in thought and thinking about the changes in his body caused the purple lightning, suddenly felt all the hairs on his body stand erect.. he felt as though the shadow of death was looming over him.
‘Danger.’ He quickly thought before he dodged to the side.
~~~Whooosh~~
A high-speed arrow past him like a bolt of lightning, piercing through the nearby huge trees, leaving behind a gaping hole as it flew another few dozen meters before halting.
Shad quickly flattened himself against the grass as he slowly looked behind him.