___ William Blackwood POV ___
Magic beasts were regarded as nature's blessed—they were the few among many creatures in this world to possess a magic core. But unlike humans who feed on mana, they feed on world energy.
World Energy is said to be the purest form of energy that the planet produces,, and mana, which humans proudly cling to, is just a byproduct of world energy.
It is said any being capable of harnessing the power of the world's energy can cast spells twice as strong and twice as fast. They can greatly improve their physical capabilities using this power and attain the purest form of cultivation.
In essence, a common beast, which is said to be on par with an exalted earth realm master, will end up the victor should a fight occur. In fact, three exalted earth realm masters are needed to stand a chance of winning.
However, nature is fair and balances all things. While the world energy grants one incredible strength, it limits the user to an environment where his or her element thrives the most. Only in such places can they harness their full power and cultivate effectively.
But that was not all. Cultivation using the world's energy was pure and didn't require extra expensive cultivation materials. However, it was an incredibly slow cultivation method.
Vito was said to be a weak Wood Thrall in its younger days—a small humanoid wooden beast, which couldn't even compare to weak Ironback boars. These species were rare, endangered species, and for a while, they could only be found in the Blackwood forests.
However, Vito was different from his peers; he had a magic core and could feel the world's energy. According to the family records, my great-grandfather met Vito three centuries back. The beast was weak and feeble, but it had potential, so he took pity on it.
The Lord of the Blackwood family then made an oath with Vito. It was agreed that this part of the forest would be avoided and anyone who trespasses could be killed by it. However, it would protect Blackwood Thicket from even stronger beasts and monsters that may try to invade the city using this path.
It took Vito nearly two and half centuries to reach the realm of common beasts, and the life span of a human was stuck at a century. At best, they reached the sky realm, so such a cultivation style was not suitable for humans.
Fortunately, all of that meant little to me. As a man in his sixties, I have spent over forty years of my life on the battlefield and Vito was one of many magic beasts I came across.
While he held the advantage in sheer power, I held the advantage element-wise.
"From the heart of the eternal blaze, I call forth the forge of war!
Let embers carve their wrath upon steel, let the flames etch my will!
By fire's decree, let my blade burn eternal—Hellbrand!" I chanted while my palm gently brushed against the surface of my weapon.
A familiar feeling returned as I felt [Tyrant's] boundless hunger reawakened. [Tyrant] began absorbing the surrounding heat, turning red-hot before black fire runes appeared along its blade.
The runes pulsed with energy, releasing faint heat waves every second.
Fire magic: Hellbrand!
"I am still William Blackwood, the man who broke the oat and approached you for the first time in two centuries. Have you forgotten our battle and how it ended in a draw?" I asked, hoping thinking back to the past would change his decision, but nothing changed.
Rumble!
I felt the earth tremble beneath my fear as Vito approached in slow but heavy strides. With a hulking nearly size of 15, even from a distance, I had to look up to meet its gaze. In just a few steps forward, Vito stood over me like a tower and raised his arm.
Fire Breathing Technique…
I inhaled scorching flames, sending them spreading across my body before exhaling gushing taps of smoke.
The Breathing Technique was a method devised by the four heroes of Knights of Legends who mimicked the way magic beasts used magic. Using Vito as an example, as a Wood Thrall he was basically a stick man half the size of an average man. During its cultivation, that stick man allowed vines, stones, boulders, flowers, and many others to become a part of it.
Slowly it grew into this 15ft monster and would still grow further if given more time to integrate with the entire Blackwood forest.
While humans can't replicate the same achievement, we could come close to it with the Breathing technique. Instead of manifesting our power outward, we channel it inward—supercharging our cells with the power of the element!
SWOOSH!
Vito's arm was hacked down like an axe. However, my figure faded out of his vision like a blur as I slid into his blank spot—sliding on my shadow as I gracefully circled the beast, stopping at Vito's exposed back!
Shadow Magic: Shadowless Flight!
I was prepared to stab at Vito's exposed back when I felt something was off. Stomping my right foot on the ground, I spun with [Tyrant] in my hand, splitting Mrs. Lotus's fox fire in two.
Vito's greatest weakness was its speed, and Mrs. Lotus knew it. She clearly had no intention of letting me take advantage of this weakness.
"Then I'll kill you first!" I snarled as I saw the cruel smile on the wicked fox's lips.
Fire breathing: Sky Wheel!
A scorching thumb-sized sphere appeared like a magic circle, and from it, a thumb-sized sphere of fire spiraled into life.
With a deafening buzz, I sped forward and covered the distance between us in mere seconds. For a moment, it felt like time was beginning to crawl, and I noticed the spiky edge of vines tearing through the earth around Mrs. Lotus!
Considering the distance and trajectory, I could tell the vines would reach me before my blade reached her.
Without hesitation, I changed my footwork and propelled myself to the right, and sure enough, moments after, numerous vines shot out of the ground and bombarded my previous location while I skidded backward, creating some space between the three of us.
My first attempt to attack had ended in a complete failure.
______
SWOOSH!
I swooped through the air, dashing deeper into the forest as I brandished [Tyrant] and obliterated pursuing vines with just a fiery arc.
More vines came from the left but I quickly circled a tree by the right, using it as a shield.
Bam!
Suddenly, a large body of earth erupted from below like a wall to block my path, leaving me with no choice but to keep going right, which led back to the clearing where the ugly couple stood.
Vito stood at the center of the clearing while Mrs. Lotus sat on his shoulder and played with the rose blooming on his head. Her taunting glares were tempting, but I knew I couldn't afford to lose my cool in a battle against a magic beast, especially one as rooted to his terrain as Vito.
He was manipulating the terrain to keep me going far.
"Let me remind you how this went three decades ago!" I sneered
HELLBRAND: Infernal Rift!
I switched to a reverse grip as a massive amber magic circle appeared on the tip of my blade and I stabbed the ground ruthlessly!
Haaaaaaaaa!
As soon as the magic circle hit the ground, it expanded rapidly, spanning nearly four hundred meters in radius in less than a second, and then the pillar of fire came.
Buzz!
A deafening explosion erupted as a pillar of fire rose so high that it towered over the trees, but only for three seconds. As the flames subsided, I could see the frown on Vito's face, seeing his once-green forest turned into a fiery hell that deeply infuriated him.
____ Meanwhile ____
[Derek's POV]
This was the first time I had gone this deep into the forest. I made my way out of its edges, into a massive grassland that seemed endless. To the left was a breathtaking waterfall in the distance.
As I walked further into the green land, the world ahead began taking shape. It was a valley connected by a wooden bridge.
"How is the Blackwood territory so massive?" I couldn't help but wonder how much further the forest on the other side would go.
{This territory is located at the Southern borders of the empire. What you see now is a Greatwood which people refer to as the Eternal Thicket. It is rumored that at the edges of this forest an ancestral beast slumbers, ready to rain chaos on the world if awakened.} Lin tried to sound spooky but I wasn't scared.
I couldn't be even if I wanted to.
However, I wasn't so stupid as to disregard Lin's words. Heck, he wasn't the type to give information even when asked, so every word that exited this devil's lips was worth more than gold.
"If I were to explore this forest relying on my death magic, will I succeed?" I asked out of curiosity.
{With your current cultivation level, you will last a while. However, there are things more—spiritual than physical. Those things would take your life and you wouldn't notice. The world is a dangerous place.} Lin responded after pondering for a few seconds.
I nodded in agreement—It was a reasonable argument.
BOOOM!
Suddenly a deafening explosion erupted as a breathtaking pillar of fire rose over the forest and painted the entire world amber.
"William." I frowned.
{He must have encountered the magic beast he warned you about.} Lin was dismissive.
I couldn't frown harder than I was already frowning so I clenched my fists.
"Will he win?" I asked calmly.
{Unlikely. He has the advantage because he is going up against a plant-type magic beast. However, that advantage can only do so much. Especially since the fox spirit must have charmed the beast and is working with it.} Lin speculated.
"Then why is the spirit of death not standing next to him?" I asked.
{Because he won't die. You will save him… You have the power to.} Lin answered with a low chuckle.
I glanced around, wondering if he was talking about someone else.
"I know you are Death and all that but take it easy on the weed. What makes you think I'll risk my life to save that old man?" I asked sternly but Death kept chuckling.
Was there something on my face?
{Because you still need him to get your revenge on the Ashford family. Also, I know you are hungry to see what the power of death can do.} Lin hissed like a serpent.
For some reason, I felt excitement, and the hole in my chest was filled again. A twisted smile bloomed and my eyes revealed a burning emerald glow.
"You have my attention." I unbuckled the grimoire from my belt before I continued my journey forward.
The bridge was shaky, but it was firm, so I wasn't bothered. The series of explosions that occurred were minor, causing the bridge to swing from side to side—minor setbacks.
By the time I got to the other side, I could feel the heat roasting my flesh. If I moved beyond this place I may pass out due to the heat.
"This much of a difference?" I was shocked that an old Earth realm master could still create such a powerful presence on the battlefield.
If a mere Baron was this terrifying, then how much scarier are higher-ranking nobles?