Chapter 31

The Hunt

Under the shadow of the grand adventurer guild building, the air was thick with tension. Eren, his youthful face set with determination, stood ready, his hands raised towards the sky. Adom, despite his weakened state, watched intently, a sense of anticipation mingling with his concern for what was to come.

Eren's focus was palpable, a testament to his raw talent and the untapped potential that lay within. Drawing upon his internal reservoir of Essentia, he began the intricate process of spellcasting. In the world of magic, Essentia served as the lifeblood of sorcery, a mystical energy that flowed through every sorcerer, shaping the very fabric of reality at their command.

As Eren concentrated, he aligned his Essentia with the elemental affinity of fire. This alignment was more than just a mental exercise; it was a harmonization of his inner essence with the primal force of fire that existed in the world around him. The Essentia within him stirred, resonating with the latent heat of the early morning, the warmth of the rising sun, and the flickering flames of distant hearths.

With a deep breath, Eren began to shape his Essentia, molding it with his intent. In the absence of runes, this process relied solely on his mental prowess and his intimate connection with the element of fire. He envisioned the Essentia coalescing, taking form not in the physical realm but within the boundless expanse of his imagination.

Then, with a swift motion, Eren released the gathered energy. From his outstretched hands, a series of fireballs burst forth, streaking into the sky with a brilliance that rivaled the first light of dawn. The fireballs ascended, higher and higher, their flames a dazzling display of Eren's control and power. To Adom, it was a breathtaking sight, a vivid demonstration of the raw beauty and potential of magic when wielded with skill and purpose.

Adom couldn't help but marvel at Eren's reach. The fireballs climbed higher than he had anticipated, their bright trails painting the early morning sky with strokes of fiery orange and red. In that moment, Adom saw not just a boy forced into the harsh realities of life, but a formidable battle sorcerer in the making. Eren's talent for spellcasting, his intuitive grasp of Essentia manipulation, hinted at a potential that was both rare and awe-inspiring.

As the last of the fireballs disappeared into the morning light, Eren turned to Adom, his chest heaving slightly from the effort. "Now what?" he asked, his voice a mix of exhaustion and anticipation.

Adom, still captivated by the display, took a moment to respond. "Now we wait," he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty that lay ahead. They had played their part, sent their signal into the sky. It was a call for aid, a beacon in the darkness that he hoped would not go unanswered.

As the looming threat of the 'hounds' became evident, Adom realized the urgency of bolstering their defenses. He turned to Eren, assessing the boy's capabilities with a critical eye. "Get ready," Adom instructed, his voice firm with the weight of impending danger. "The guys after us definitely saw the fire as well. Do you know how to cast a shield?"

Eren's response was tinged with awkwardness, a clear indication of his inexperience. "No," he admitted, his uncertainty a stark contrast to the confidence he had displayed moments earlier.

Adom nodded, understanding the gap in Eren's magical education. It was time for a swift, impromptu lesson. "Listen closely," he began, his tone adopting the cadence of a seasoned instructor. "Casting an Essentia shield involves channeling the Essentia within your body or the environment to create a protective barrier. Given our situation, you'll use the Essentia from your body; it's more practical, intuitive and immediate."

He continued, his explanation weaving the intricate dance of magic. "First, you need to focus on the Essentia flowing through you. Visualize it gathering at your fingertips, a concentrated mass of energy yearning to protect you. The key here is to control the density of the Essentia. Think of it not just as gathering energy, but as weaving it tightly, compacting it to the point where it forms a tangible, resilient barrier."

Eren listened intently, his eyes reflecting the dawning understanding. Adom could see the gears turning in the boy's mind, the theoretical knowledge slowly taking root.

"Imagine the Essentia as a fabric," Adom suggested, delving deeper into the metaphor. "You're not just piling it up; you're layering it, interlocking it to create a mesh that's both flexible and strong. The denser the mesh, the stronger your shield. But be wary of making it too dense; it needs to absorb and dissipate energy, not just block it."

With Adom's guidance echoing in his mind, Eren extended his hands, focusing his will and the flow of Essentia within him. A shimmering barrier began to materialize before them, flickering with the raw, unrefined beauty of pure Essentia. The shield was imperfect, riddled with gaps that betrayed its creator's inexperience. Yet, for a first attempt, it was a marvel—a testament to Eren's innate talent and his capacity for rapid learning.

Adom couldn't hide his admiration. "You learn fast," he remarked, a genuine smile breaking through the tension of the moment.

Eren, maintaining the shield with a concentration that belied his earlier uncertainty, returned the smile with a touch of pride. "Yeah, I've heard that a lot," he said, his voice steady despite the exertion of sustaining the shield.

As Eren attempted to expand the shield, stretching the Essentia thin across a larger area, Adom intervened with crucial advice. "No," he cautioned, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "The larger an Essentia shield is, the harder it is to densify it. It's about efficiency, not scale. Focus on enveloping just your own body with it. The goal is to condense the Essentia, fortifying the shield to make it resilient."

Adom's words were rooted in the underlying principles of Essentia manipulation. In the realm of magic, the conservation of energy was paramount. Spreading Essentia over a larger area diminished its density, resulting in a shield that was more susceptible to breaches. The science behind it was akin to the principles of pressure and force distribution known in the physical world; a force concentrated over a smaller area resulted in a greater impact or, in this case, a more robust defense.

Eren heeded the advice, redirecting his focus inward. The shield around him pulsed, its glow intermittent as he struggled with the intricacies of the spell. "It's... hard to maintain..." he confessed, the strain evident in his voice.

"That's because you're not focusing deeply enough on the spell," Adom explained, guiding him further. "Visualize it not just as a barrier but as an armor encasing you. Imagine it's made of the hardest material you can conceive. Essentia responds to your will, your mental constructs. By envisioning this armor, you're not just shaping the Essentia; you're defining its properties, its resilience."

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This approach to spellcasting was grounded in the cognitive aspect of magic. The sorcerer's mental clarity, focus, and intent played crucial roles in defining the outcome of the spell. Essentia, in its pure form, was malleable, its state and properties influenced by the sorcerer's will. This was akin to how a sculptor shapes clay or a blacksmith forges metal, where the raw materials are transformed through skill and intention.

Encouraged by Adom's words, Eren concentrated harder. He pictured an impenetrable suit of armor, its surface unyielding, enveloping his form. Slowly, the flickering shield began to stabilize, its glow steadying as Eren's control improved. The Essentia condensed, adopting the properties of the imagined armor, becoming a tangible manifestation of his will.

Though the shield remained translucent, revealing the pure Essentia beneath, its structure was more defined, more resilient. Adom nodded in approval. "This will have to do for now," he conceded. "Magic, like any skill, requires practice. The more you practice, the more instinctual it becomes, much like breathing or walking. It becomes a part of you, a reflex you don't even have to think about."

He paused, searching for an apt comparison to illustrate his point. "Think of it like learning to play a musical instrument. At first, every note, every scale requires conscious thought, but with time and practice, your fingers know where to go without your conscious command. Your magic will become like that—effortless and intuitive."

Eren's concern for Adom's safety was evident in his voice. "But how will you be protected if the shield's only on me?" he asked, the strain of maintaining the shield visible in the tension of his shoulders.

Adom chuckled, a sound that seemed out of place in the looming threat of danger. "Don't worry about me," he reassured Eren, his voice laced with an unwavering confidence that seemed to stem from deep within.

Eren, however, was not easily placated. "You don't understand," he insisted, his focus on the shield wavering as his concern grew. "These people do not care at all. They will definitely kill you if they feel like it, no matter the consequences. If there are any."

Adom's response was calm, almost serene amidst the chaos. "I doubt they could kill me even if they wanted to," he said, his voice carrying a hint of mystery. "Plus, my face is masked; they won't recognize me. Just hang in there until the guard arrives. They should be here soon."

Eren's anxiety was palpable, a stark contrast to Adom's composed demeanor. "What if they don't come in time?" he asked, the possibility hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

Adom's reply was simple, yet it carried the weight of their situation. "We'll have to pray they do."

Their exchange was cut short as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the alley. The air grew tense, charged with anticipation and the imminent threat of confrontation.

Leading the group was one of two wolf beastkins, his keen senses guiding them through the maze of alleys. With a low growl, he signaled to the others, his nostrils flaring as he scented the air.

Behind him, the diverse assembly of assailants moved with a dangerous purpose. The other wolf beastkin, a bit larger, growled at the boys. The ogre's heavy steps reverberated against the stone, each footfall a menacing drumbeat. The gargoyle, wings folded against its back, surveyed the scene with eyes that missed nothing. And the pale man, his features shrouded in shadow, exuded an aura of cold, calculated malice.

The tension in the alleyway thickened as the pale man, undeniably the leader of the menacing group, stepped forward. Adom, with a practiced eye, quickly assessed their opponents, searching for any advantage or strategy to buy them precious time. It was then he noticed Eren's shield beginning to flicker and wane, the boy's concentration faltering under the weight of their arrival.

The man's aura was unmistakable, a chilling presence that Adom had encountered just once before in his life. "Vampire," he declared, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

The word hung in the air, drawing the attention of all present. The pale man halted, turning his gaze towards Adom for the first time. With a graceful motion, he removed his hat, revealing sharp, elegant features that were both alluring and deadly. His smile, bright and unsettling, showcased long, sharp fangs.

"Oh, how peculiar," the vampire mused, his voice smooth and laced with a dark amusement. "It's quite rare for mortals to recognize one of my kind on sight. And even rarer still," he added, his tone dipping into a morbid jest, "for those individuals to live long enough to tell the tale."

Adom's response was a chuckle, an unexpected sound that sowed confusion among the gathered group. Eren, his shield flickering even more now, cast a worried glance at Adom. His eyes, wide with fear, silently pleaded with Adom not to provoke their dangerous adversaries.

Adom, weighing the gravity of the situation, knew a direct confrontation was out of the question. It would undoubtedly lead to Eren's demise, a risk he couldn't take despite his own immortality. With a calculated casualness, as if engaging in a mere exchange of banter, Adom addressed the vampire. "Nightwalkers are funny," he remarked, his tone light yet edged with a subtle challenge. "You call us mortals as if you were somehow different. But you can die too, you know?"

The vampire's interest seemed piqued, his amusement evident at Adom's bravado, especially given his weakened state. With a gleam in his eye that belied the lightness of his tone, he retorted with another joke, his words threading the line between humor and threat. "Ah, but dying is an art, dear stranger. One that we vampires have perfected. It's like a dance, really, and tonight, we might just teach you a few steps."

Eren's discomfort was palpable, a sheen of sweat visible on his brow as the vampire's words hung ominously in the air. Adom, undeterred, met the vampire's gaze with a look of defiance, understanding the stakes of their verbal sparring.

Eren's voice trembled as he addressed the vampire, his words laced with desperation and fear. "Helios, we did not mean to hurt Pablo. I-I was just buying some bread for my mother," he stammered, the innocence of his intentions stark against the grim reality of their situation. "He is the one who attacked me. I promise you, we won't make any more trouble if you let us go, please."

Helios' response came with a chuckle, a sound that sent chills down Adom's spine despite its seemingly light-hearted tone. "Pablo did not attack you just like that," Helios revealed, his amusement evident as he unveiled the grim truth. "He was sent to kill you today since the deadline had passed."

The revelation hung heavily in the air, the gravity of Eren's predicament becoming painfully clear. The others in Helios' group found amusement in Eren's dawning realization and horror, their laughter a cruel echo in the confined space of the alley.

In a moment of sheer desperation, Eren's shield dissipated, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. To Adom's astonishment, the young boy collapsed to the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold stone, his posture one of absolute surrender. But Eren's plea was not for his own life; it was for his mother's. "Please," he begged, "spare my mother. Let her live. Cancel the debt with whatever organ you take from my body."

Adom's heart clenched at the sight. Eren's willingness to sacrifice himself, to face death with such resignation, was a stark contrast to Adom's own fears and regrets. Throughout his past life, burdened by illness, Adom had feared death, yearning for a chance to truly live. In this moment, witnessing Eren's bravery, he couldn't help but feel a pang of shame, comparing his younger self to the courage displayed by this boy.

Helios observed Eren's display of submission with a silent, contemplative gaze. After a moment, he clicked his tongue in disapproval, his voice breaking the tense silence. "Get back up, Eren," he commanded, his tone laced with a disdain for the boy's actions. "I don't like it when my prey begs. It makes the hunt... bitter."

Then the system displayed a message Adom never thought would procure him the joy and relief he was feeling at its sight, [Essentia Reserves replenished. You have successfully escaped the anomaly's grip.] Despite his relief, Adom was also shaken by the 'anomaly', did the man named Pablo really mange to do something? It would make sense. he might have cast an unknown spell on him while they were fleeing, hence his reluctance to not follow them. Adom promised himself to one day look into the nature of the spell Pablo cast on him.

Then, Adom's gaze shifted subtly, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Helios. Despite the tension that hung thick in the air, Adom's mind was sharp, calculating. It was a habit ingrained in him, a survival tactic that had served him well in his previous life and now, in this second chance. He sought to understand the magnitude of the threat they faced, to gauge the power of this creature who stood between them and their escape.

Then, he saw it—a number that seemed to hover invisibly above Helios for those attuned to the deeper currents of magic. Level 185. The number was staggering, a testament to the vampire's power and experience. It wasn't just a figure; it was a stark reminder of the gulf that lay between them in terms of raw strength and capability.