Without looking back, Aziel sprinted swiftly. His legs moved as fast as they could, every muscle straining to distance himself from the creature.
The wind whistled in his ears, the sound of leaves being crushed and branches snapping creating a frantic rhythm in his escape.
"Papa! Don't leave me!" The Crazy Beast's roar shattered the forest's silence, its raspy and piercing voice echoing among the trees.
The beast's footsteps could be heard behind him, following the direction of Aziel's flight.
Aziel continued to run, his mind empty except for one goal: to escape.
He had no idea what the Crazy Beast was thinking—or if it was even thinking at all—but he was sure he didn't want to find out.
Each time he considered looking back, he dismissed the thought.
The image of that creepy grin on the creature was enough to fuel his flight.
"Blackie! Do you have any ideas on how to escape from this crazy beast?!" Aziel asked, a slight edge of panic in his voice as he gasped for breath.
He needed an escape route, any way out of this insane situation.
"Hmm…I think this is the perfect time for you to discover your power," Blackie replied, its voice calm and flat, as if they were casually chatting rather than being chased by a mad creature.
"Power? Right now?" Aziel protested slightly, his tone mixed with panic and disbelief. "I'm being chased, Blackie! This is not the right time to learn magic!"
He ducked under a low-hanging branch, nearly tripping over a tree root.
Despite his mouth protesting, deep inside, Aziel felt a flicker of excitement.
Magic power.
Ever since Blackie mentioned Mana Stones and magical powers, he had been wondering if he had any special abilities. Perhaps this was his moment to find out.
"Raise your right palm," Blackie instructed, ignoring Aziel's complaints. "Imagine your power in your hand. Focus."
While running and jumping over a fallen log, Aziel complied. He held out his right palm, trying to concentrate even though his heart raced and his breath grew shorter.
He envisioned the elemental forces that could be his magic.
Fire? Wind? Water? Earth? Any of them could work, as long as it could help him escape from the Crazy Beast.
Suddenly, something appeared in the palm of his hand.
At the same time, his instincts urged him to grip the object.
The surface felt soft, smooth, and... it felt like skin.
Aziel was taken aback, glancing at his hand for a split second. What he held in his right hand was something he had not expected.
It was an arm.
A human arm.
His eyes widened, staring at the severed limb. Bile rose in his throat.
He flung the arm behind him without thinking.
"What the hell?!" Aziel exclaimed, his voice cracking. "What is this?!"
Just now, he felt something in his right palm, and the next thing he knows, he's got a severed arm?
"What are you doing, Aziel?!" Blackie exclaimed, its tone clearly displeased with Aziel's action. "Why did you throw the arm?"
"An arm? What the heck did I just summon, Blackie?" Aziel asked, confusion and revulsion lacing his voice. "Why did a person's arm just appear out of nowhere?"
"That is your magic power," Blackie responded, its tone more patient this time, though there was still a hint of annoyance. "Not ordinary magic power, but Unique Magic."
"Unique Magic? An arm? This is the last thing I need right now! I'm being chased by a monster, and I've got a severed limb as my backup plan?!" Aziel exclaimed, his mind racing as he struggled to comprehend this bizarre twist of fate.
But at the same time, he began to contemplate his unique magic, a chilling realization dawning on him.
What kind of power was this?
The unsettling images flooding his mind painted a disturbing picture—was his ability intrinsically linked to the acquisition of human body parts? Had he been a surgeon in a past life? Or perhaps something far more sinister, a human organ trafficker?
A shudder ran through him as he tried to shake off the disturbing thoughts. Now wasn't the time to delve into his potentially criminal past; a Crazy Beast was hot on his heels.
Aziel glanced back to see where the Crazy Beast was.
The creature had stopped at the spot where the arm had fallen. The Crazy Beast leaned down, staring at the arm with a curious expression clearly etched on its grotesque human face, almost as if examining a discarded toy. Was it trying to understand what it was?
"At least that arm can distract it…," Blackie said.
Aziel watched the Crazy Beast.
Perhaps, like Blackie said, the summoned human arm could divert the Crazy Beast's attention from chasing him.
However, his hope was crushed just as fast as it had surfaced. The Crazy Beast suddenly lost interest in the arm.
It lifted its head, its bulging eyes fixating back on Aziel, and that creepy grin reappeared on its lips.
"Papa... don't run away!" the Crazy Beast screamed, and it resumed its chase with even more speed.
"...Or not," Blackie retracted its previous statement.
"This is useless!" Aziel groaned loudly, sprinting away again. "That arm didn't even distract the Crazy Beast! What kind of power is this, Blackie?" He continued to complain while running, a mix of frustration and helplessness swirling within him.
"There you go, I hadn't finished explaining yet!" Blackie retorted, its tone heated. "You threw the arm before I could say anything! How are you supposed to understand your magic power if you're so impatient?"
Blackie exhaled — or at least it appeared so since it had no lungs. It knew this wasn't the time for a detailed explanation about Aziel's power.
They were in a dire situation. The Crazy Beast was getting closer. A long-winded explanation would only waste time.
"Enough," Blackie said, its tone shifting to be more serious and focused. "Let's defeat that Crazy Beast first. After that, I'll explain everything."