The Extra's Rise-Chapter 110: Nimran (5)

The forest around us was a frozen labyrinth—a world of whispering pines, ancient oaks, and a silence so deep it nearly swallowed every sound. I’d spent weeks studying necromantic theory and the finer points of dark mana manipulation, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality of this hunt. Today, Seraphina and I were to face the alpha—a five-star beast, the leader of its pack—lurking in a clearing near a jagged outcrop.

We moved as one along a narrow, winding trail, our heavy boots crunching over brittle leaves and broken twigs. The cold was relentless, the air thick with frost that clung to our skin, but I barely noticed it. My mind was already tuned to the challenge ahead. Every step, every pause, was a calculated move in the grand game of survival.

At the clearing’s edge, the trees parted to reveal a vast, open space. There, illuminated by the fading light of dusk, stood the beast. It was enormous—its fur a chaotic tapestry of ice and shadow, its eyes burning with molten amber fury. Around it, its underlings circled warily, their movements synchronized like a well-rehearsed ritual. A small device affixed to its hide pulsed faintly, silently registering our mana signatures. There could be no doubt: this creature was the alpha, and its strength commanded respect.

I crouched low behind a large boulder, taking a moment to survey the battlefield. My mind raced through countless calculations, every variable meticulously logged: the slopes of the ground, the scattered boulders, the glimmering patches of ice, and even the subtle drift of the cold wind. With Lucent Harmony pulsating in my veins, I could access the full breadth of dark mana—and, indeed, all eleven elements. But today, I needed nothing but the raw, unadulterated force of dark magic. I’d already activated my Gift, and it surged within me now, deepening my affinity with the darkness in a way that felt both exhilarating and perilous.

Seraphina’s voice broke through my concentration, low and urgent. "Arthur, look—the outcrop there. We can funnel it through that corridor." I followed her gaze to a massive rocky protrusion rising like a natural rampart from the ground. The terrain, rough and unforgiving, would serve perfectly as a choke point.

"Good," I murmured. "We’ll use the outcrop to our advantage. I’ll lure the beast toward it, and when it’s isolated, I’ll strike."I edged forward, every movement deliberate. The forest’s ambient mana, chaotic and ancient, seemed to swirl around me in quiet support. I knelt briefly to feel the chill through the damp earth, calibrating the angles and distances in my mind. In that moment, my thoughts became a single, clear directive: use dark magic with precision, manipulate every factor, and let the environment amplify my power.

I extended my hand and began the incantation—a series of complex gestures that would focus my dark mana into a single, compact orb. It was as if I were drawing on every scrap of theory and every lesson learned from sleepless nights and endless calculations. The orb grew in size, swirling with a concentrated, inky darkness that pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat. No grand claims of stars or ancient artifacts—just pure, raw power channeled through the lens of Lucent Harmony.

"Seraphina, now!" I hissed softly as I released the orb from my palm. It streaked through the cold air with unerring accuracy, its trajectory calculated to intercept the charging alpha. For a split second, time seemed to stretch; the orb sailed, a dark comet against the twilight sky, and collided with the beast’s massive shoulder.

The impact was titanic. I heard the beast’s roar, a sound of pure, primal fury, and the force of the blow sent shockwaves rippling through the clearing. The alpha staggered, its amber eyes widening in shock and pain. The orb had done its work, but the battle was far from over.

Seraphina moved quickly then. With a graceful flick of her wrist, she conjured a wall of crystalline frost along the eastern edge of the clearing. The barrier rose in an arc of glistening ice, narrowing the space and forcing the beast toward the rocky outcrop. Its underlings, confused by the sudden change in their environment, hesitated at the perimeter, their movements faltering.

"Now’s our chance," I murmured, rising to my feet. I took a moment to recalibrate, channeling the full spectrum of my abilities. With Lucent Harmony surging within me, I tapped deeper into my dark mana reserves. My mind raced with equations and angles as I prepared my next move. This wasn’t merely a brute attack—it was an orchestration of forces, a ballet of calculated violence where every element played its part.I advanced slowly, every step measured and deliberate. The beast, recovering from the initial blow, turned its massive head toward the source of the disturbance. I could see its eyes burn with renewed fury as it began to push forward, its movements more cautious now, as if it sensed that its control was slipping.

I raised my hand, feeling the dark mana swirling at my fingertips, and began a second incantation—one that called upon not just raw power, but a delicate balance of control and precision. I envisioned the rocky outcrop as an amplifier, a natural conduit for the destructive surge I was about to unleash. My arms moved in fluid, practiced gestures, drawing intricate symbols in the cold air that glowed briefly before fading into nothingness.In that moment, every piece of my training coalesced into a single purpose. I focused intently, my dark mana compressing into a pulsating surge, and then I released it. The energy exploded outward in a calculated blast, a wave of power that raced along the contours of the outcrop and slammed into the alpha’s exposed flank. The force was tremendous—an eruption of mana that seemed to distort the very air around us.

The alpha’s roar reached a fever pitch as it was driven back by the impact. The beast staggered, its massive frame shuddering as the surge of dark power hammered into it like a sledgehammer. I watched, heart pounding, as the creature’s momentum faltered, its underlings scattering into the trees like frightened shadows.

For a moment, the clearing was bathed in a heavy silence, the only sound the labored breathing of the fallen beast and the distant whisper of the wind. I pressed forward, every step bringing me closer to proving my strategy had worked. My eyes swept the terrain—every patch of frost, every jutting rock, every shadow—and I knew I had to act before the creature could recover and rejoin its pack.

"Seraphina, freeze its legs completely!" I shouted, my voice barely audible over the lingering echo of the impact.

In response, she moved with lightning speed. Her hands danced through the air, summoning a final, precise burst of ice that enveloped the beast’s hindquarters. The creature’s legs stiffened, encased in a shimmering prison of frost, halting any hope of further movement. It roared in frustration, the sound reverberating off the rocky walls, but the barrier held firm.

I stepped forward, drawing my sword with a fluid motion that was second nature to me. It wasn’t just a weapon—it was an extension of my will, honed through years of relentless training in both blade and magic. I felt every muscle in my arm coil with anticipation as I prepared to deliver the finishing blow.

I began to channel dark mana through Lucent Harmony once more, feeling my affinity for it surge with a newfound intensity. The darkness around my hand deepened, gathering into a concentrated column of power. I could almost see the lines of energy, the intricate patterns of mana flowing in perfect synchrony with the beat of my heart. It was as though the very essence of my being had been sharpened to a fine point, ready to pierce the veil of life and death.

With a final, decisive motion, I advanced toward the beast’s vulnerable flank. My sword arced gracefully, its blade cutting through the cold air as I struck with calculated precision. The impact was cataclysmic—a cascade of dark energy and shattered ice that sent the alpha crashing against the rocky outcrop. For a split second, the world held its breath as the beast crumpled, its roar reduced to a low, dying whimper.

I stood there, panting in the frigid air, watching as the alpha lay motionless. My heart hammered in my chest, not just from exertion, but from the overwhelming surge of triumph and relief. The clearing was now silent, save for the soft crunch of melting ice under my boots and the distant, almost imperceptible murmur of the forest.

Seraphina approached me, her ice-blue eyes wide with an expression I hadn’t seen in her before—a mix of astonishment and, perhaps, genuine respect. "Arthur," she said softly, "that was... extraordinary. Your tactics, your control—they were flawless."

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I managed a small, tight smile, still catching my breath. "It wasn’t brute strength," I replied, my voice low and steady. "It was calculated precision—using every element of the terrain to our advantage. And, of course, my dark mana... amplified by Lucent Harmony."

She nodded slowly, her gaze lingering on my face as if trying to read the determination etched in every line. "You truly are something else," she murmured, and for a moment, I saw in her eyes a glimmer of pride—or was it envy? It didn’t matter.