Surrounded by a dozen Hexbeasts, Jean erected an anti-magical barrier around his body, warding off the high levels of mana to ensure his safety. Wielding his dagger, the magical creatures growled loud enough to rattle his bones as their claws dug deep into the earth.
A beast of darkness and bone towered over the adventurer, its many eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence, drooling from its mouth. Jean could barely map out its face from the thick heavy fog.
"A little help here would be nice..." Muttered the young adventurer, glancing at Fhiron.
"Kwa ha ha!" The elf king laughed. "You need my help? Despite being an Ayleon?"
Jean, widening his eyes, questioned the King of Elves.
"An Ayleon?"
Facing the young adventurer, there was a look of surprise plastering Fhiron's visage.
"You can manifest a Champion, and you know not of the Ayleons? Your people are known for their infinite willpower."
The beast snarled, lowering its head over Jean as the others started emerging from the heavy fog.
"Uhm... I don't think I have time to worry about these Ayleons you mentioned!"
The creature lunged forward, its jaws snapping dangerously close to Jean's face. In response, the adventurer thrust his dagger with precise timing, piercing through its neck, but there were no signs of damage.
"What??" It lifted its paw and smacked Jean away, hurling him through multiple trees and toppling them over.
"You can't fight creatures of magic with basic tools, lad! Use your Champion."
Jean, weary, stood up from the ground with a pained groan. Luckily his barrier Magic protected him from the high levels of mana, otherwise, he'd already be experiencing mana cancer.
Without hesitation, the Ayleon raised its dagger as arcane runes manifested along its blade. "Naazelion!" The weapon hummed with magical power - Jean finally taking matters into his own hands without the help of his Champion.
"Ah, so you know of sword magic, but with daggers? How interesting." Fhiron sat up from the ground crisscrossed and watched the adventure with a look of fascination. "Naazelion is normally used to enchant the blade with anti-magical slicing properties. It can cut through any magical formula and render entire spells mute." Grinning, the elf king's interest in the young adventure would only grow. "Let's see how this plays out."
An entire horde of Hexbeasts dashed toward Jean in linear motion; their claws and fangs aiming for his neck. Some had the body of an eagle with the head of a lion, while others appeared reptilian-like.
Anti-magic surged through his dagger as he ran forward, making contact contact with the first beast. Jean pierced through its invulnerable body, damaging the creature's innards.
"By the Alvamon, look at you, lad! Quick on your feet!" Shouted Fhiron.
Seizing the opportunity, the Ayleon chanted a powerful spell, weaving mystical symbols in the air. Their fingers glowed with magic as they drew runes, aiming toward the horde of beasts.
"Lorenia!" Bright beams of light shot forth from his fingers, slamming into a swarm of Hexbeasts with blinding force, but to his surprise, they remained unaffected. "What?!"
Fhiron crossed his arms and shook his head.
"I'm afraid your magic isn't gonna cut it. Hexbeasts are naturally immune to spells, they can eat information particles for breakfast, it's their favorite meal, especially if it's coming from a nucleus."
"Huh, really?" Hearing Fhiron from far away, Jean gritted his teeth together, frustrated. "Well, is there any way you can help?" He asked, watching the horde pounce at him.
"I'm afraid not, my mana has yet to return, and I'll only be getting in the way."
Jean widened his eyes, realizing something so obvious. Yes, of course! These creatures were attracted to the mana of other people, but Fhiron has yet to recover his mana.
"That's it!"
Jumping away to dodge their attacks, Jean gained distance and ran deeper into the forest.
("If Hexbeasts are naturally attracted to mana from a nucleus, then I'll have to find a way to conceal my mana. That's probably why they aren't attacking King Fhiron.")
Jean was alone on this. Fhiron couldn't help him, he'd only be in the way and get them both killed. It was up to him to deal with these Hexbeasts.
("But first, I'll have to drive them away, just in case King Fhiron ever gets his mana back, I can't just let him die!")
All of a sudden, a multitude of howls echoed in the distance, akin to that of a wolf pack. Up ahead, more Hexbeasts emerged from the fog - a never-ending horde of creatures driven by hunger and primal rage.
Jean stopped in his tracks and readied his weapon, standing his ground. He was determined to fight until his last breath. "Relying on Naazelion is the only option I have right now." Watching their bodies radiate with magical energy, they formed a protective aura around them.
Sprinting forward, Jean's movements were parallel to that of a ninja. With a mighty swing, the adventurer decapitated one creature while casting another spell. "Einnhalt!" Boosting his speed by double, Jean entered a frenzied state.
Over the course of his life, he convinced himself that in order to kill a monster, he must become one himself. This frenzied state was Jean's alternate personality, born from his old philosophy that using immoral means is justified to combat a greater evil. Such a personality was heavily inspired in the face of becoming a bringer of justice, wanting to get rid of evil, despite him also conducting such awful acts as an exceptional and undeniably justified need.
As monster blood splattered across the ground, their heads rolled away. Blood danced through the air as Jean's eyes were seemingly lifeless, with the only intent to kill, but the horde kept coming; their numbers were overwhelming.
The Ayleons body became exhausted, but through sheer willpower he pushed himself. The mist thickened, obscuring vision as creatures circled around him, getting closer, while some were bigger than others.
"...!" He swung his dagger with savage, violent slashes, killing each Hexbeast with perfect precision as he ran through the horde at risk of being impaled, despite his anti-magical barrier.
Suddenly, the trees began to creak ominously as branches twisted unnaturally. Something was happening.
"You foolish, human! Didn't I tell you to stay close to me?" A familiar voice came from afar, widening Jean's eyes, and waking him up from his frenzied state.
"Huh, what... happened?" Unable to remember the massacre he just did, Jean looked into the sky, smiling with relief. "Z-Zarutha!?"
Through the chaos, ethereal voices whispered from within the wood - the forest itself seemed to awaken. The bark cracked and peeled back, revealing glowing patterns that pulsed with ancient magic.
Jean, forgetting his frenzied state of mind, ran toward the owl as the trees around him moved with sentience.
"Alcrondiosa!" Zarutha was responsible for this, casting a spell and causing the trees throughout the forest to come alive. Their branches elongated and moved like tendrils, capturing the Hexbeasts with a violent grasp; wrapping around their bodies.
"I thought I'd never see you again!" Jean could feel his adrenaline wear off as he fell forward on his hands and knees, looking behind him. "Thank Alvamon you came."
The owl flapped its wings and landed on a nearby branch.
"You're lucky I know Druid Magic from living in a forest all my life next to Grimhild." Zarutha glanced at the Hexbeasts, watching their mana be sapped away into the tree limbs. Slowly, but surely, each creature vanished into particles of information as their essence was absorbed.
"I'm surprised you managed against such powerful creatures, human child."
Jean, exhausted as ever, looked up at the delivery owl with a weary grin.
"Are they really that strong? I'm pretty weak on my own compared to a lot of people."
Zarutha cackled.
"Pwa haha! Foolish human! You know not of the power these Hexbeasts wield, most certainly so!"
The Ayleon slowly stood back on their feet, a bit wobbly.
"Well, I think I have a mild understanding from my experience with them, but they didn't seem that strong." Rubbing the back of his head, he chuckled a bit hesitantly, nervous to speak up. "I managed to overcome a lot of their key factors... like... erm... mana cancer."
Zarutha went quiet, dumbfounded by his knowledge.
"I see, so you do know about their most dangerous attribute." Zarutha nodded his head, slightly impressed. "Astonishing, astonishing indeed! Only Grimhild Yorgana has effortlessly dealt with a horde of Hexbeasts from my knowledge. She even has a more dangerous mana potency than all of them combined! Dare I say she could give a Hexbeast mana cancer."
Jean laughed at their comment.
"Ahaha, well that's not surprising at all! It's Grimhild you're talking about."
Zarutha nodded its head before flapping its wings, taking flight.
"Now come, let us be off. We have to find Goliath Village, boy!"
"O-Oh, right!" Prepared to follow the delivery owl, Jean suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Crap, wait a second! Fhiron!"
Zarutha glanced at the Ayleon, confused.
"Hm? Speak, what is it?"
Turning around, Jean made a run for it, sprinting the opposite way from the village.
"I left Fhiron behind!"
Confused, Zarutha grew impatient with the young adventurer.
"Foolish human! I just saved your life and you now run back into danger!? Who is this Fhiron you speak of!?"
Zarutha followed after Jean, yelling at him in frustration.