Boromes

Alvin looked at Linfel again. This area was almost devoid of Magic Energy, and they couldn't use Magic Stones either. So, even if Linfle was good at absorbing Magic Energy, where was he getting all the energy from?

Suddenly, Linfel's voice echoed in his ear with Magic Energy, making sure Alvin was the only one listening. 'Pay very close attention to me and try to feel the Magic Energy in the surroundings. It should be fairly easy to understand.'

Alvin was taken aback and closed his eyes for a moment. It was hard to concentrate since they were still in a constant run. However, Alvin made an effort and followed Linfel's instructions. Finally, he was able to barely notice that there was kind of a vortex around Linfel's body. It was pretty much invisible. If you didn't focus your all, you definitely wouldn't see it. Nonetheless, it was definitely there. 'This... what is happening to you?'

Linfel faintly smiled. 'Nothing. This is how wisps usually survive. We absorb the surroundings' Energy to stay alive. Over so many years, we obviously evolved to be good at it. We are pretty much beings of energy to start with. Now that I got used to Magic Energy, it is only natural that my core is a lot better at absorbing it. You could say that this is basically me going back to my real self.'

Alvin returned his attention to the route while speaking. 'You mentioned that your Wisp Race was the weakest back in your time. Was that really true? Everything you do is so overpowered...'

'It's not a lie,' Linfel explained. 'The point is that Magic Energy is too gentle, a perfect fit for my race. If the other races from the past suddenly appeared here now, I reckon they would suffer to no end. They had strong bodies adapted to primordial energy, and they definitely would be able to change their cores like I did to use Magic Energy. I just wish I had other wisps to compare myself...'

'Even so-' Alvin was about to continue to talk.

Suddenly, Linfel's expression changed as he warned him. 'Magic Beasts ahead!'

As mentioned before, they are in a mountainous forest. There are many different places one could hide in the middle of the vegetation and the varios elevations, rocks, etc. Alvin looked ahead and saw that Tarert and the other guides didn't change at all. They were still running ahead as if nothing was happening. 'Are you su-'

*Ploft!*

Out of nowhere, a rock broke apart near one of the Maguses, and a horn as hard as steel came piercing in the guy's direction. A Green Magic Beast that looked like a huge Gerine with legs appeared from behind the crumbled rock, taking everyone by surprise... except the guides.

*Pft...*

The magus tried to react, but his shoulder was immediately pierced, and a giant hole appeared. 

*Arrrrgh!*

The Magic Beast opened its mouth, showing enormous teeth and bit into the guy's arm. 

The Magus used all his magic Energy to defend... or so he tried. However, to keep up with the soldier guides until now, he had been using almost all his Magic Energy. He was pretty much dry already. The Magic Beast closed its mouth, and an arm was pulled off before the Magic Beast jumped back to chew it.

There was no time to cry, though. The magus instantly took that chance to run away from the beast and activated his MCOM. According to the guides, as long as they use the MCOM, they can ask for help. It was then that a ray of yellow light came down from the sky. It was exactly the same ray of light that rescued Linfel and Lucau back in the ocean when the rescuing aircraft appeared. In a second, the guy was dragged up to the skies and disappeared. 

*Ploft, ploft, ploft...*

Other rocks and even trees were broken, and more of those Magic Beasts pounced at the Maguses and Familiars. Screams filled the air, and more blood fell. And yet... the soldier guides ahead only glanced behind and continued to run. They absolutely ignored everything happening behind them. 

*Swish!*

*Splash!*

A Wind Blade came hurtling in the direction of one of the Magic Beasts, opening an enormous cut that almost divided the beast in two. That beast had made the mistake of targeting Linfel, the one individual in that place who definitely didn't lack Magic Energy to defend himself. "They indeed adapted to the lack of Magic ENergy of the environment. Unfortunately, it can't make up for the gap of strength against those who have Magic Energy to use."

Alvin and Linfel connected on his side, and Alvin's fist changed into an earth spear that pierced another Magic Beast from below. With Linfel's warning, Alvin was obviously ready. Many of those Magic Beasts appeared, and he was targeted by one. However, he did indeed gain a lot of experience from the last Field Exam, so he reacted well to the attack instead of panicking.

The Magic Beast fell in front of Alvin as he gasped for air. "They are Boromes, a predator Magic Beast that acts in groups. They use the green of their bodies to camouflage and are specialists in ambush. We are truly without luck."

Linfel continued to run ahead. "Why are you wasting time there? You killed yours already, right? Hurry, the guides are still on the run."

Alvin went pale for a moment and looked to the guides. Indeed, they were almost out of his vision. Many Familiars and Maguses followed them closely, although they were all gasping for air, just like himself. "Shit!"

Alvin and Felia quickly canceled their Master Familiar Connection and increased the pace, reaching the back of the group. They looked behind for a moment and saw several yellow rays of light that caught many of the Familiars and Maguses. At the same time, the bodies of several Boromes could be seen on the ground. Boromes were ambushers, but they weren't exactly strong. It's just that the participants in this patrol were truly in bad shape due to the lack of Magic Energy. In the end, only one Familiar died, having its core destroyed. The others who were injured were brought away, and the attack was over. The Boromes didn't try to pursue them either.

Seeing the Boromes were left behind, Linfel used his MCOM without anyone noticing except Alvin. "Alright, this should be enough."

"What are you doing?" Alvin asked Linfel while running. His breath seemed to slowly stabilize without him perceiving it.

Linfel smiled at him and didn't answer. Instead, he asked something else. "You seem quite fine, don't you?"

Alvin was taken aback for a moment and checked himself. He was definitely tired, and his Magic Energy reserves weren't all that great at the moment. Yet, he was quite surprised with his own calmness even though the events just now were dangerous. "I think... I am?"

Felia was happy for Alvin. "Master, you are getting used to it. That is great news!"

Linfel nodded. "She is right. Anyway, you should take your MCOM and write a report to send back to the Sky Island."

"A... report?" Alvin got confused.

Linfel smiled. "Did you forget what we are doing in this field exam? We are patrolling the borders while testing our Magic Energy endurance. If we don't report the events in this place, would it even be considered a patrol? Alvin, you should pay more attention." Linfel then put his MCOM back into his Spatial Storage without anyone noticing again.

Alvin felt a chill on his back and immediately took his MCOM. There was a new option there where one could ask for help. Simply put, you could send a voice message, and that's what those who were rescued used to escape. Alvin knew about this one. Well, he was still somewhat skeptical, but he decided to send a message anyway. "Ahem... A mob of Boromes has been found around 50 kilometers into the patrolling route." Alvin then pressed send, and the message was gone.

*Plin.*

A few seconds later, a message in plain text arrived in his MCOM.

-Report received. Continue with the mission.-

"It's true..." Alvin was surprised and quickly spoke. "Thank you, Linfel."

"It's fine." Linfel shook his head. He then paid attention to the Magic Energy inside Alvin. "By the way, seems like the effects are finally showing up."

"What eff-" Alvin was about to ask when someone touched his shoulder.

"Alvin, how could you be so cold? Weren't you worried about me?" It was Connor, showing a sad expression while Tratil followed him closely.

Alvin's mouth twitched. "You aren't using a single iota of Magic Energy. What kind of danger this attack of Boromes could possibly pose to you? Do you think I didn't see it? You immediately used your Magic Energy and ran away from the battlefield. You were the one to ignore me!"

"I didn't run," Connor explained. "I made a strategical retreat. Besides, with Linfel there, was it really dangerous to you?"

Alvin wanted to retort, but he knew Connor was right. Linfel's senses made it almost impossible for them to be caught by surprise by the Magic Beasts. he would feel their Magic Energy ahead of time, especially in a place like this where Magic Energy is so thin. The Magic Beasts probably look like beacons in Linfel's senses. "Fine, I'll let that go."

Connor laughed. "Hahaha! That's my brother."

Tratil, on the other hand, felt embarrassed. "Master, is it really okay?"

"We are scouts, aren't we?" Connor shrugged without a care. "Staying alive during the patrol is our main priority. I'm only following the rules."

Linfel agreed with Connor. "He is right. His actions make everyone look at him like he is shit, but he is still right."

"That was... an unnecessary comment, no?" Connor felt helpless.

Alvin definitely agreed, though. "I see... So, Shit- I mean, Connor, keep up the shit- I mean, keep up the good job."

"Hmph! You are just jealous of my strategy." Connor spoke back... seeming to try to convince himself at the same time. "Anyway, I'm going a bit ahead. I don't want to risk losing the guides out of my sight." And so, he dashed to the front.

Alvin and Felia took that chance and asked Linfel. "So... what effects were you talking about?"

"Look around. The answer should be obvious," Linfel didn't explain.

The two began to observe the other Maguses and Familiars in their group. Most of them had already stopped filling the Receptors with Magic Energy. It's not like they wanted to do it, but they had reasons to do so. First, the previous attack left them scared, and they wanted to at least have some Magic Energy to defend themselves. The other reason is that they simply couldn't keep up with the Magic Energy expenditure even if there were no dangers around.

However, Alvin and Linfel hadn't reached that point yet. They had used quite a lot of Magic Energy, and even more so during the attack of the Boromes. Nonetheless, they quickly noticed that their reserves were starting to stabilize. They were doing it while the Receptors in their possession continued full of Magic Energy. "We... aren't losing to the students from Rank A and B classes at all... How?"

Linfel was happy they noticed. "Clean Magic Energy. You have been training with me, absorbing almost spotless Red Magic Energy until now. So far, you were forced to train with those Low-Grade Yellow Magic Stones, which are obviously very impure. After you changed to our cooperative method, the impurities in your channels and meridians are being washed away."

Linfel pointed at Alvin and Felia. "You might not notice this, but I do. Your Magic Energy Channels and Meridians are not as dirty as they were when we first met. They get cleaner and cleaner with each day you train with me."

Right after, he looked at the high-ranked students. "Most of them came from prestigious backgrounds and had access to great resources and equipment, so they also have cleaner Magic Energy Channels and Meridians. It is only natural that you are catching up to them now. In fact, you will eventually surpass them in this regard since they don't have me to help. In a place like this, your channels and meridians make the whole difference. With a cleaner path, the wider they are. You can take in more Magic Energy from the surroundings at once. Keep it up, and you should achieve a great result by the end of the Field Exam."

Felia and Alvin were surprised. It was hard to believe, but the proof was in front of them. "Alright!"

Linfel then warned the two. "By the way... I won't warn you regarding Magic Beasts anymore."