Hunting II

Prince looked at the approaching wall of wind slashes.

His legs, now with double the strength, jumped 16 feet into the air with ease. He landed on a branch like a monkey.

Something burning, like a stove, touched his bare arm. Prince winced and turned around, only to face a monkey.

It was a strange monkey. Blood red fur, with steam curling off of it in wisps. By now, Prince's skin was tough enough that he could touch a hot stove and feel nothing or put his hand in boiling water and feel only warm water.

Flaming Monkey - Level 19

Flaming Monkeys are what they sound like. When enraged, this species can set parts of their fur on fire. They emit a mild warmth as well. Their Fire Essence Cores are commonly used for crafting.

Prince scanned through the description. "Huh. So I've finally found you guys. You're up here!"

The monkey just stared at him with a look, as if it was obvious.

The wolf released an enraged howl and sent a projected claw stripe toward Prince's branch.

"Well, gotta go." Prince leaped from his branch and landed on another one, where another monkey hanged out.

Flaming Monkey - Level 20

This guy seemed pretty chill, just lazing about.

Suddenly, all the monkeys started howling and screeching and jumping and lighting themselves on fire. Prince looked to see the reason why, and found out.

The monkey that had been on Prince's branch had been damaged during the attack. Now all the monkeys were enraged that their brethren had been hurt.

A dozen monkeys leaped from the branches, flaming balls that landed on the wolf. Prince started to smell charred flesh.

"Will I still get exp for the kill?" Prince wondered aloud, nursing his wounded arm. 

The wolf threw the monkeys off, but they kept coming, attempting to gouge out its eyes. The wolf killed one, then clawed the other, but burnt fur was falling to the ground.

Finally, the wolf had had enough. It released a howl. From its howl a shockwave spread, sending the monkeys on it flying and forcing enough wind pressure into the surroundings that some fires were put out.

Then the wolf locked on to its true target: Prince.

"Aw, shucks." Prince said sarcastically.

The wolf lunged upward at a frightening pace.

Prince was more concerned about what was happening, however. It was hot. Way too hot here. Fire Essence- he could see it, it was piling around him. If he could just-

Prince's hand burst into flame just as he was delivering another Thunderous Palm with his left hand. He had long since become ambiguous by now, so the strength delivered was the same.

The wolf shot backward, Prince's palm practically flattening its face. It spun rapidly through the air, slamming into a branch and falling into the den of flame.

Prince stared at his still-burning hand. Flames flickered, but didn't burn him.

He'd just used Essence from the outside. As easy as breathing. And without taking anything out of his own Essence pool.

You have acquired the Skill: Phase Shift (I) (Active)

Phase Shift (I) (Active): Augment your body with any Essence element nearby.

Not only was the skill flashy, it was also resourceful. He was basically a martial mage, now. And the skill didn't take anything but the mental strain he could withstand.

Prince grinned. He leaped off the branch, aiming for where the monkeys were jumping the wolf.

Midair, he concentrated all the Fire Essence into his palm, creating a flaming ball of highly condensed Essence.

The monkeys made way for him, recognizing him as one of their own.

The wolf's eyes widened in shock and terror, and Prince almost felt bad. It barely had any fur left.

"Sick." Prince whispered.

But just before Prince's fireball connected, the wolf raised its hand, creating a wind ball that stopped Prince's fireball.

A shockwave echoed out from the point of impact, the two locked in a stalemate. The force from the attack completely halted Prince's momentum, making him just float in the air.

Prince poured more Fire Essence into his attack, a wild grin on his face. He was doing stuff that was leagues ahead of his skill level, all by instinct. 

Prince drew some potent Essence from his own pool, pushing it into his arm to aid the clash. The flame was spreading, overpowering the wind. The wolf whimpered, the monkeys cheered.

Prince almost blacked out.

The wolf was set ablaze in an inferno, and Prince was thrown back from the explosion. 

He hit a tree, knocking the wind out of him, and then slid to the ground.

Level-up! You are now Level 18.

Level-up! You are now Level 19.

Level-up! You are now Level 20.

Awesome. Prince thought. For a moment he thought he would make it.

Then his Warrior's Aura bonus ended. The world came crashing down on him. The last thing he saw was a bunch of monkeys crowding him.

I've got to stop getting used to this.