Following four long days of enduring the cramped confines of a carriage and tirelessly scouring the dense jungle in search of the elusive herbs, we arrived back at the point where we had left in the story. The journey had been arduous, and his muscles ached with exhaustion, but his unwavering determination and unrelenting spirit kept him going. As he emerged from the dense foliage, the familiar sight of the ethereal orb came into view, floating gently in the same spot after consuming his arrow with ease.

As Paul spoke, his voice carried a delicate, lilting quality, like a gentle breeze dancing through a meadow of flowers. His wonder and curiosity were palpable as if he had stumbled upon a rare and beautiful creature, never before seen by human eyes, which he did actually. Taltos, on the other hand, felt his phantom body tense with wariness, his ethereal hackles rising in response to the stranger's approach.

Despite Taltos' caution, his Master floated forward with ethereal grace, seemingly unfazed by the presence of this unknown human. The stranger, in turn, took a slight step back, though his face betrayed no hint of weakness or fear. The orb, hovering in the air, looked at Paul with its phantom eyes, unaware of the human's intentions.

Noticing his Master's curiosity, Taltos offered his assistance, his voice infused with a sense of deep reverence and devotion. [𝐌𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬. 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮?] - He spoke with the utmost respect, acknowledging Paul's superior understanding of the physical realm.

As the orb remained silent, Taltos interpreted its lack of response as a sign of consent. [𝐈 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫.] - He said, his voice imbued with a sense of serene calmness and monotonousness.

Taltos' analytical mind went to work, attempting to unravel the mysterious language spoken by the stranger. He sifted through his vast knowledge of Earth's languages, trying to find any similarities that could help him decipher this unknown tongue.

However, to his dismay, Taltos found that the language was like nothing he had ever encountered before. Its unique structure and syntax proved to be a challenge, and its meaning remained elusive to him.

Undeterred, Taltos delved deeper, using his keen intuition and sharp intellect to pick apart the language's intricacies. He analyzed every nuance and inflection, determined to uncover the meaning behind the stranger's words.

As the events inside the sphere continued to transpire, the outside world remained fixated on the sight of Paul inching closer to the ethereal orb with great caution. He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder as he gazed upon the enigmatic entity before him. His mind was racing with questions and curiosity, trying to decipher the true nature of this elusive creature.

As Paul took a step closer, a peculiar sensation washed over him, almost like a comforting embrace from an unknown force. He felt his apprehension melt away, replaced with a sense of calm and curiosity. He could sense that this being meant no harm and that it was merely toying with him as it floated gently away from his outstretched hand.

Paul's curiosity grew with each step he took toward the orb, and he couldn't help but wonder why it was playing this game of cat and mouse. Was it merely a playful creature, or was there a deeper meaning behind its behavior?

He considered the possibility that the orb was trying to communicate with him, using its movements as a form of language. But if that were the case, what was it trying to say? Was there a message hidden within its playful gestures?

Or perhaps, the orb was simply reacting to his presence, instinctively retreating to maintain a safe distance. But if that were true, why did it seem to be enjoying this?

With each step Paul took, the orb gracefully darted back, as if performing an intricate dance. He soon realized that trying to question the orb's playful antics would be an exercise in futility, instead, why shouldn't he enjoy himself?

The encounter between Paul and the orb had become a playful game, each move carefully calculated and executed with precision, until Paul finally had enough of these careful steppings.

"I guess we've had our fun, let's end this little game, shall we?" Paul said, trying to catch his breath.

With a quick grab of the orb, Paul tried to outsmart the elusive creature. However, the orb was lightning-fast and evaded his grasp with ease. Its movements were so fluid and graceful, it was as if it was taunting him with its agility.

As the orb darted away, Paul couldn't help but chuckle at its playful antics. "You're way faster than you show yourself, you little rat!" - He said, admiring the creature's speed and agility. "But how about... this!"

Paul's determination to capture the elusive orb was fueled not just by a desire to win the game, but by a deep-seated longing for the lost years of his youth. The brutal war that he had been forced to fight in had robbed him of his adolescence, leaving him with a heavy burden of growing up far too quickly. As he reached out to grab the orb once again, memories flooded his mind, and his emotions overwhelmed him.

The 15-year-old Paul had been ripped away from the safety of his home and thrown into a world of violence and death. He had seen comrades and friends die in brutal ways that he still could not bear to think about. He had watched as some of his fellow people from his little group descended into madness, consumed by the horrors they had witnessed. The trauma had been even harsher on Gerald, who had led them into this war, and his once-jovial personality had become a distant memory, that is only brought back with the help of alcohol. This had left a deep mark on his soul, one that even at the age of 20, he could not shake off, but hidden well within his soul.

The burden of responsibility had weighed heavily on Paul's young shoulders as he was the most capable of using magic they discovered his secret talent from the examinations, and that's also the reason why he became the leader of his little group. The war had stolen from him the simple joys of youth. He had missed out on carefree days spent with friends, on first love, and the thrill of new experiences. Instead, he had been forced to grow up fast and take on the mantle of a soldier in a war that he had never chosen for himself.

And yet, despite the horrors that he had witnessed, there was still a part of him that longed for those lost years. He yearned for a chance to reclaim his youth, to experience the joys of life that he had been denied. In the game with the orb, he saw a glimmer of hope, a chance to prove to himself that he still had the spirit of a carefree youth within him.

With a deep exhale, Paul spoke aloud to himself, the fatigue of the long journey evident in his voice. "Alright... let's face it, maybe I need a bit of help!" - Suddenly, a surge of energy coursed through him, and he focused his attention on his feet.

"𝙾𝚑 𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 𝙸 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚢 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚜𝚠𝚒𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙, 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚠!" - As he finished his incantation, a rush of mana flowed through him, and he felt his body become lighter and more agile. "[𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲!]" - He exclaimed, satisfied with the result of his magic.

"Round two, baby!" - He stated with a grin, as he leaped toward the black sphere once more.

The orb was surprised by the sudden burst of energy from Paul, and it darted away from him in confusion. It had never encountered magic before, and the sudden change in Paul's movements had caught it off guard, but it was still in the wrestling ring, it continued to slip through his grasp, dodging and weaving with unnatural grace.

With each failed attempt, Paul's determination grew stronger. He moved with lightning speed, trying to anticipate the orb's next move. The orb was soon no match for his agility, Paul was hot on its heels, his fingers inching closer and closer to its surface.

The game had escalated into a frenzied chase, with Paul and the elusive orb moving in a blur of motion. His heart was pounding in his chest as he made one final, desperate leap. His fingers closed around the smooth surface of the orb, and he felt a surge of triumph flood through him. He had finally caught it, after what seemed like an eternity of pursuit. The sense of accomplishment he felt was overwhelming, as if he had conquered not just the game, but his own inner demons as well for some minutes. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to bask in the victory, the weight of the past momentarily lifted from his shoulders.

Paul stood there, panting and filled with exhilaration, as he gazed at the orb clutched in his hand. The sphere wriggled and squirmed, attempting to break free from his grasp, but his hand was like a vise, not allowing even an inch of movement. His gloves provided an extra layer of grip, making it impossible for the orb to escape.

"Oops!" - The orb thought to itself, immediately making Taltos aware of the situation who was still deciphering this language in the meantime. "I҉̡̯̺̜̅́͋̃͢͜-I-I got c̷̹͖͋́̃-c̨̨̣̮̝̈́̔ͯ̀͂-c̷̹͖͋́̃-caught!" - Stuttered the defeated orb.

With a smirk on his face, Paul noticed the orb's futile attempts to break free from his grasp. He had pursued the orb relentlessly, and now that he had caught it, he, of course, wasn't going to let it go so easily. "Ha! Do not even try! You were the one who asked for this!" - He exclaimed, his tone filled with amusement and satisfaction.

[𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐭, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫!] - Taltos spoke in a soothing and composed manner. [𝐈 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞. 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥, 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞.]

[𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫...] Taltos added in a nurturing tone. [𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞.]

[𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫...] - Taltos continued. [...𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐀𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫?]

"U̵̶̸̹̮̹̲̻͙̎ͪͣͦ͜͡͞͡͡-U̸̫̠̰͈̕-U̸̫̠̰͈̕-Understand... Yes..." - The orb was puzzled by the 'cryptic' message, unsure of its meaning or significance.

[𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭!] - Said Taltos softly. [𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.] - Taltos spoke in a calm and focused tone. [𝐖𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝.]

Just as Taltos was about to speak, a low, menacing growl interrupted his thoughts, causing him to tense up in anticipation. The sound was all too familiar to him and Paul, and he knew what it meant immediately. It was the Shadowdancer, a powerful entity that had only just left their vicinity not too long ago. Taltos suspected that the creature had sensed the presence of the adventurer, especially since he had let the concealing effect fade, leaving him vulnerable to these kinds of situations. Additionally, the massive amount of mana that was being emitted due to the magic he had just used was like a beacon to the Shadowdancer, making it difficult for it to resist investigating.

"Oh-uh!" - He muttered under his breath, a mixture of surprise and concern evident in his tone as he slowly took out his saber for the upcoming fight. "I let my guard down. I shouldn't have been so careless!" - Glancing down at the orb in his other hand, he chuckled lightly. "Hope you don't mind this, buddy." - He said before carefully placing it in his haversack among the herbs with a tiny bit of protest by the orb. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe, buddy."

"H͇͇̹͊ͪ́̕ͅ-Hey- W̸͈ͯ̾̒̿h̶̯̰̝̻̿̓͢ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞-What's happen...ing?!" - Muttered the orb inside of its mind before accepting its fate, resting between the collected herbs.

Despite his reassurances, Paul couldn't help but feel uncertain. "Or... I hope so..." - He then raised his saber toward the beast of the shadows, his eyes darting nervously between the Shadowdancer and his saber.

Running was meaningless at this point. The jungle was too dense to navigate quickly, and the Shadowdancer was too fast and well-coordinated to outrun inside his territory even with [𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲].

Paul's heart was pounding in his chest, and he knew that every second counted in this fight for survival. He had to think quickly and act even faster if he wanted to stand a chance against the menacing Shadowdancer. Time was of the essence, and he knew he couldn't spare even a second to chant the more potent [𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲]. Without hesitation, he cast [𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲], hoping that it would give him the necessary speed and agility to outmaneuver the 𝐀-ranked monster.

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The spell's effects were immediate. His movements became more fluid, and he felt a newfound agility. He knew that it was only a 𝐂-level spell and not as potent as [𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲], but he was confident that it would at least level the playing field and give him a fighting chance against his opponent. He was glad to have this magic as a backup since he couldn't rely on his highest elemental affinity, fire, in this situation if he doesn't want to be burnt alive in it.

Taltos, being a keen observer, was carefully spectating the scene alongside [Manalocation]. With a focused gaze, he meticulously analyzed every movement and action made by the combatants, even before the commencement of the battle. His attention to detail and strategic thinking enabled him to gather valuable insights that could prove beneficial for his Master's.

The dense jungle was alive with the sounds of animals and insects, and the air was thick with humidity. Paul felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he stepped forward, holding his blade tightly. Paul could feel the tension in the air, and he knew that this would be a fight to the death.

He took a deep breath and focused on his mana, feeling it flow through his body. He closed his eyes and focused, letting the energy surge through him. When he opened his eyes, he could feel a newfound strength coursing through his veins.

In this world, the power of [𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐚] and the use of [𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬] were well-known among adventurers and warriors. Aura was the manifestation of one's mana, the byproduct of the relentless mana, the life force that flowed within all living things. It could be used to enhance physical and magical abilities, and even serve as a signal for an opponent's strength. And Arts were techniques that made use of one's Aura to perform powerful attacks and effects, without the need for chants or incantations.

The Shadowdancer struck first, leaping out from the bushes with a fierce roar. Paul dodged to the side, his movements quick and fluid thanks to his art. He felt his aura dancing around his body, giving him newfound agility and speed. The Shadowdancer was quick, but Paul was quicker with the combination of the [𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲] and the Aura that boosted his physical abilities.

They clashed, blades ringing against each other. The Shadowdancer was stronger and larger than Paul, but he was not one to be underestimated. His art gave him a fighting chance, and he was determined to use it to its fullest. [𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞] that's how he named it.

Paul's art is a fighting style that involves channeling his aura into his body and blade to enhance his physical capabilities. It's not tied to any particular elemental affinity, so it's considered an "affinity-less" art. By utilizing this technique, Paul is able to perform powerful attacks and maneuvers that are similar to magic, but without the need for chants or incantations.

The Shadowdancer was skilled, using its aura to predict Paul's movements and counter them. But Paul was not one to be outdone. He channeled his mana into his blade, making it glow with a blue light. He was not using any elemental affinity, only pure mana, making it unpredictable and potent. The blade sliced through the air, cutting through the Shadowdancer's defenses.

The Shadowdancer hissed in pain, but it did not falter. It lashed out with its claws, slashing through the air. Paul dodged and weaved, his movements graceful and fluid. He could feel the aura emanating from the Shadowdancer, a dark and potent energy that was both beautiful and terrifying.

[𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐧.] - He remarked in a serious tone. [𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐞, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲'𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫?] - Asked Taltos his Master who watched curiously the fight as it unfolds, remaining silent as it seemed like Paul slightly slowed down.

He channeled his aura into his muscles and blade, for another strike. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one infused with the power of his aura. His blade danced in his hands, creating a dazzling display of skill and prowess as he delivered devastating blows to the Shadowdancer.

The creature responded with its own formidable abilities, utilizing its magic and aura to launch counterattacks. Dark tendrils of energy crackled around its body, and it moved with cat-like grace, dodging Paul's attacks with uncanny speed. It retaliated with bursts of dark energy, forcing Paul to constantly adapt and change his tactics.

Paul's fighting style was a breathtaking display of combat prowess. He moved with a dancer's grace, seamlessly blending offense and defense as his opponent. He spun, ducked, and weaved through the Shadowdancer's refined attacks, his blade slashing with blinding speed and precision. He used his aura to enhance his senses, predicting the creature's movements and countering with lightning-fast reactions.

The battle continued for what seemed like an eternity, with Paul and the Shadowdancer locked in a deadly dance of steel and magic. The forest around them was littered with fallen leaves and broken branches, a testament to the intensity of their combat. Their movements were a blur of motion, as they weaved and dodged, each one trying to gain the upper hand.

Despite his formidable skills, Paul began to feel the strain of the battle. The Shadowdancer's attacks were relentless, and its speed and power were overwhelming. He knew that he couldn't keep up this pace forever, and he had to find a way to turn the tide of the battle.

Paul's mind raced with a sudden surge of inspiration, as he recalibrated his strategy. He tapped into the depths of his inner power, drawing upon his aura with unparalleled focus. Every fiber of his being was charged with anticipation as he channeled all his strength into a single, decisive attack.

With blinding speed, Paul closed the distance between himself and the Shadowdancer, his blade emanating an intense glow that matched the fervor of his determination. The creature, caught off guard by Paul's sudden change in tactics, attempted to counter, but it was too late. Paul's true plan unfolded as his free fist, fueled by the immense energy of his aura, connected with the creature's jaw with a resounding impact.

The creature roared in pain and staggered back, its aura flickering as it tried to recover. Paul pressed his advantage, delivering a series of lightning-fast strikes that forced the creature into a defensive stance.

But the Shadowdancer was not done yet. As It found an opening unleashed a powerful wave of its dark aura, knocking Paul off his feet and sending him crashing into a nearby tree. He groaned in pain, but he refused to give up. He struggled to his feet, his body aching, but his determination unwavering.

Paul's eyes widened in shock as the Shadowdancer split into three, creating identical shadow-made clones of itself. The clones were just as bloodthirsty as the original, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent.

"[𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥], huh? Finally, taking this seriously, eh?" - Whispered Paul as he momentarily falter.

Sadly, It cost him dearly, as the clones moved in unison, attacking from all sides with lightning speed and lethal precision.

Paul's aura-enhanced senses were pushed to their limits as he tried to defend himself against the onslaught. He spun and parried, his blade a blur of motion as he tried to keep up with the relentless attacks from all directions. But the clones were relentless, their movements coordinated and seamless, making it almost impossible for Paul to find an opening.

The battlefield became a chaotic whirlwind of shadows and steel, as Paul fought with every ounce of his skill and strength. He was pushed to his limits, his body straining with exhaustion, but he refused to back down. He knew that he had to find a way to overcome this overwhelming challenge.

Paul decided to go on the offensive once more. He channeled his aura into a devastating counterattack, aiming to take down one of the clones and create an opening. His blade sliced through the air with blinding speed, but the clones were equally skilled and agile, evading his strikes with uncanny precision.

The battle intensified, with the clones working in perfect harmony, each one covering the other's weaknesses and exploiting Paul's vulnerabilities. Their attacks were relentless, their movements synchronized, and Paul found himself on the brink of exhaustion. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his muscles screamed in protest, but he refused to give up.

Paul's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. He knew that he had to break the clones' synchronicity, create chaos in their movements, and find an opening. With a calculated gamble, he feinted a retreat, luring the clones into a false sense of security. As they closed in, he unleashed a series of rapid, unpredictable strikes, aiming to disrupt their coordination.

His plan worked, albeit momentarily. One of the clones faltered, its movements becoming disjointed as it tried to defend against Paul's relentless assault. With a burst of speed, Paul seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful blow that dissipated one of the clones into a shadowy mist.

But there were still two clones left, and they were even more determined to take Paul down. They redoubled their efforts, their attacks becoming more aggressive and coordinated. Paul's defenses were strained to their limits, and he knew that he couldn't keep up this pace for much longer.

Desperation set in as Paul's fatigue threatened to overwhelm him. He could feel his grip on his blade slipping, his movements becoming sluggish. But he refused to give in. With a last burst of energy, he unleashed a flurry of strikes, weaving between the clones with deft footwork and precision, landing blows that were just inches from their mark.

The battlefield was a whirlwind of steel, shadow, and aura, as Paul and the clones clashed with everything they had. Each strike was a dance of life and death, a symphony of speed and skill. But Paul's weariness was catching up to him, his movements growing slower, his reactions dulling.

Then, in a moment of a misstep, one of the clones landed a devastating blow. Paul's aura flickered, and his body stumbled. He fought to stay on his feet, his vision swimming, but his strength failed him. With a final, defiant roar, he collapsed to the ground, his blade clattering from his hand.

"You... bastards!" - Paul's fury boiled over as he spat out his disdain for his foes. He clenched his hand into a fist, his eyes narrowing with determination. "You made me do this!" - He uttered with passion, his voice carrying the weight of his resolve and exhaustion.

"𝙾𝚑, 𝚈𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚑, 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝..." - He whispered, his voice laced with reverence, as he allowed the mana to flow into his outstretched hand. His mind wandered to the depths of hell, envisioning the infernal flames he sought to unleash.

The Shadowdancer recoiled at the sight of the flames building in Paul's hand, its dark, shadowy form flickering with uncertainty. The creature seemed to sense the imminent danger, and its previously bloodthirsty demeanor wavered for a moment. Its eyes widened with fear, and it took a step back, its shadowy tendrils writhing uneasily.

Taltos felt a sudden sense of alarm as he realized what the black sphere was about to do. He knew his Master well by its act. Taltos quickly scanned the area to make sure that no one else was around like this monster, and then he focused his attention on his Master.

[𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫? 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?] - Taltos inquired in a voice that resonated with the robotic whispers of ancient wisdom, evoking memories of his earlier counsel to the black sphere.

"Y̧̬̬͇̖̳̏͌͞-Y̧̬̬͇̖̳̏͌͞-Yeah, I҉̡̯̺̜̅́͋̃͢͜-I҉̡̯̺̜̅́͋̃͢͜-I̶̴̗̗̦͍ͨͭ̉͢͟ ẅ̷̷̢̟͇͈̒-ẅ̷̷̢̟͇͈̒-want to help my p̶̸̨̺͊̍̒̓̀-p̶̸̨̺͊̍̒̓̀ḻ̸͈ͧ͑̓̓̀͡ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞-playmate! I will not g̴̶̛̮̣͙͠-gonna lose this game as well!" - The orb responded with unwavering determination and palpable excitement, exuding an air of confidence born from previous successes.

Taltos sighed, his phantom shoulders relaxing as he acquiesced to the unwavering resolve of his Master's directive.

[𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐨, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫! 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤!]

"-𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚍𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚎 𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚢 𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚝, 𝚊 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝙸𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚘'𝚜 𝚐𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚢, 𝚍𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝!-" - He channeled his mana with precision, feeling the searing heat build-up in his hand, an intense warmth that threatened to consume him, named [𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐭].

The Shadowdancer seemed to realize the magnitude of the infernal power that Paul was about to unleash and desperately tried to muster its own defenses dissolving his remaining clone into shadow. Despite the perilous proximity, Paul was resolute in his decision. He knew that wielding this powerful magic at such close range could be fatal, but he was willing to risk it. The memory of his family's tragic fate loomed large in his mind, and he yearned to meet a similar end, enveloped by the searing embrace of flames with this cursed jungle.

Isn't it truly ironic how the very magical affinity that he possessed, the very essence that he wielded with mastery, turned out to be the very force that claimed the lives of his beloved ones?

As he focused his concentration, the mana materialized into flames that danced and flickered with an otherworldly brilliance. The air around him shimmered with the heat, as though the very essence of Inferno had materialized in his grasp. Before he could finish his chant, something truly unexpected happened.

As the black sphere, Taltos' Master, emerged from the depths of his haversack, it exuded an aura of darkness that seemed to shroud the surrounding air with a foreboding miasma. Paul watched in astonishment as the sphere floated above him and the Shadowdancer, its enigmatic presence commanding attention, making him lose focus of his spell.

"Damn it!" - Paul exclaimed, his voice filled with frustration and anguish, as he clenched his fists in despair. "Save yourself, little orb!" - He cried out, his voice taking on a protective tone, urging the small sphere to escape. Despite the fleeting moment of playfulness they had shared, Paul felt a sense of responsibility to ensure the orb's safety.

However, it did not falter, as firstly did not even understand what he said. Secondly, because of the stubbornness that lives in every being.

The Shadowdancer, initially startled by the sudden appearance of the sphere, quickly reorganized itself with a graceful and fluid motion. Its movements were elegant as if it was a master of its craft, a dancer in the shadows of the unknown as the name suggests it.

The Shadowdancer's lips curled into a feral snarl as it confronted the unseen being. Its lithe form moved with fluid grace, shifting and twisting as it exuded an aura of darkness and malevolence.

The black shadow jaguar launched itself at the unseen being, its movements a symphony of lethal grace. Its form blurred as it closed the distance with astonishing speed, leaving behind only a trail of darkness in its wake. With a swipe of its shadowy claws, it aimed to tear into the unseen being, hungry for victory.

But the unseen being remained unperturbed, its form flickering and shifting as if it was composed of mist and shadows. Without warning, it extended a tendril of darkness toward the oncoming Shadowdancer. Paul averted his gaze, unable to bear the sight of the scene unfolding before him, fearing the worst.

As the Shadowdancer's claws made contact with the unseen being, a strange phenomenon occurred. There were no flashing lights or explosions, whoever might believe, only a swift and seamless absorption. The Shadowdancer's form seemed to dissipate into the darkness, drawn into the unseen being like water into a sponge. The absorption was swift, a mere blink of an eye, leaving no trace of the Shadowdancer behind. The once formidable creature's cry for mercy was abruptly cut off, lost in the void as it merged completely with the unseen being.

Paul's eyes flickered open, his vision blurred as he struggled to make sense of what had transpired. The aftermath was eerily silent, devoid of any trace of the Shadowdancer's presence. The air hung heavy with an unsettling stillness as if the very fabric of reality had been altered by the unseen being's newfound power. Paul's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of fear and fascination gripping him. He realized that the situation had taken a drastic turn, and the odds were now even more stacked against him if he has to face this foe as well...

"Just... Just what are you?" - Paul's voice quivered with fear and curiosity as he addressed the black orb floating before him. He couldn't shake off the sense of unease that had settled over him as it floated in front of him as before.

The orb spoke with a sense of triumphant glee, ignoring the apprehensive gaze of the intrepid adventurer and Taltos. "Yay! I w҉̢̡̹̮͌̄ͦ͜͟͟͞͠͞-w҉̢̡̹̮͌̄ͦ͜͟͟͞͠͞-won!" - It exclaimed, reveling in its own victory as it seemed to pulsate with a mischievous energy, followed by Taltos.

[𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧!] - It mind was filled with a shower of confetti accompanied by phantom claps echoeing through the endlessnes of its conciousness.