The Birth of a Hero (4)

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Desolate Mage: A Legend Reborn!

https://www.webnovel.com/book/12013957905760805/Desolate-Mage%3A-A-Legend-Reborn!

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As the sun dipped below the horizon, I could see the boy's shadow growing longer; his body looking as ephemeral as the quickly fading light.

As he was rising, the wound on his back could be seen. I was surprised; the wound was not that deep, barely any bone was revealed under the red blood flowing. I thought I had cut much deeper than that...

In stark contrast to Samuel, I was brimming with vigour and life; my mana not only restored but advanced. The phenomena of light wings faded away - the outward sign of mana overflowing from my body, as the mana all around me surged into my every cell and muscle fibres.

Due to the limits of a human's body, my cells wouldn't grow any stronger until I advanced in level. Nevertheless, the mana would be stored as a permanent increase in my mana pool; to be released as reinforcement to strengthen my movements; or emission as a skill.

Seeing the boy swaying in the light evening breeze, I shouted over, "Stay down! The teacher will heal you and we can fight again another day! You don't have to--"

(What? What is...)

Where there had been nothing but dust before, now there was suddenly a giant of a man about 3m tall standing between us, his back to me. As he was decked out in heavy armour, I was shocked that he could just appear without me noticing his arrival.

But as he turned to face me, I gasped. He - *it* - had a demonic visage, a long, elongated head with no eyes, skeletal - no, more like an insects carapace. That was not armour; its entire body was covered in the black, chitinous armour.

"Who, wha-what are you...? Speak!" I prepared my sword as I felt uneasy. I couldn't sense any life, warmth, mana or divinity from the creature, as if it were... Not alive.

"Teacher! Professor!" I looked around to check what was happening. It was only then I realised that the dust clouds were not settling down - instead we were now encircled by thick, heavy dust and mists, isolating us from the outside.

As I could faintly hear banging noises and voices shouting, as if trying to break in, I knew things had taken a bad turn.

(It's coming...!) I felt a chill as the creature began to step towards me.

!!!

I leaped sideways, turning my body desperately, but was still grazed by its claws.

Without any warning, its step had changed into a lunge so fast it was as if the creature used a Blink spell. I silently thanked the gods for the levelling up of my mana reinforcement, allowing me to dodge the creature which had plunged headlong into the mists around me.

(Shit...!) I felt the burn of acid on my wounds, and could only pour mana in to dampen the effects.

I backed away from the edges of the arena where the dust and mist clouded vision, and could see Samuel still standing unmoving nearer to the edge.

"Samuel, get awa--" The words caught in my throat as the black figure emerged out of the mists in a full body lunge at me. Sidestepping, I countered with a heavy slash to its abdomen.

And my Sword of Truth snapped.

Shocked, I had no chance to move before it turned its head and opened its mouth as if to roar at me.

I couldn't help but scream in pain when instead of a road, its tongue shot out and *bit* my shoulder, taking a bloody chunk out of it before I could get out of its range.

I rolled away, and continued to backpedal as the creature chewed on my flesh and blood.

I was covered in cold sweat, from shock, pain and confusion - where had this monster come from? I grit my teeth in determination, before pouring a full half of my entire mana pool into forging a new Sword of Truth and triggered Bull's Strength and Haste. I knew I needed to stop it. If I fell here... It would kill everyone else.

This time when it shot towards me with a shocking speed at odds with its size, I could react and parry its claw strikes and dodge the snapping of its jaws - but despite my strength buff, my hands were trembling slightly and the skin between my index finger and thumb was rubbed raw.

(Only 10 seconds left of the buffs...) I struggled on, alternating between parries, dodges and small, compact counters. Slowly I whittled away at the creature's body, leaving deep cuts which bled acid blood. However, the acidic blood started to make the ground slippery - slippery and burning through my enchanted shoes to burn my feet.

(I need to find a chance before my buffs and mana are depleted!) With a burst of strength, I knocked aside its violent mauling strike and pressed forward towards its massive jet-black chest.

It instinctively sensed the danger as I compressed my mana to launch Sword Art: Helix Sword. It tried to chomp down on my and crush me with its claws but it was too late - I initiated Helix Sword and struck it in a rising spiral, the 3 slashes ripping apart its armoured abdomen, leaving deep bloody wounds.

Despite leaving critical wounds not just on its body but also its arms and neck, I couldn't avoid the spray of acid - but I was prepared. The last of my mana flowed into a Bulwark spell.

Panting from overdrawing my mana and muscles, I fell to my knees, supporting myself with my sword. And I saw the creature stand up again. To my horror, it ignored its supposed critical wounds to lunge at me again.

(No... No! It can't end like this! I won't let it!!)

Once again, I felt a power welling up within me, and I felt like I entered a trance - my hands and legs moving as if on their own.

When the creature lunged at me, it started to slow down to a snail's pace. I didn't sidestep or dodge - I just slipped past the gap between its body and four claws and tail, my sword sliding into its body like a hot knife through butter; cutting its entire chest and abdomen to a mangled mess.

This time, as my strengthened blade cut through its armour like a beam of metallic fire, I ducked and spun away from the blood to the monsters back; before my sword landed on the concentrated bright spot of light on its vertebra - bisecting the creature easily.

In slow motion, I kicked off the things back to split it apart and to draw clear of its death throes.

And as time resumed its normal flow, I landed heavily and collapsed to the ground, barely able to stay focused as I kneeled on one knee. I watched it as it flailed around, as its struggles began to slow and then it went still.

Yet to my horror, the muscle fibers all over its body began to squirm like a mass of uncountable worms. My heart sank when I saw it begin to stir, and the vine-like fibers where it was split in half snaked out and twined together.

As it raised its head, I could see its bisected body recombining.

I slumped to the ground in despair; my lids heavy and unable to stay open.

"Do you know what it's like to win no matter what you do...?"

?

"T-Teacher...?"

I wondered if I was hallucinating. I saw teacher Nadal-dug through my heavy and drooping eyelids.

"It's like playing a game, only being invincible and never losing... Boring! And here I thought as a hero, you could put up a fight..." I felt like he was smirking in disdain.

I struggled out a whisper to refute the madman. " If you're so... strong... Then go pick a fight with Hercules or Zeus..." I spat to emphasise my point - but my spit just dribbled down my lips to the ground.

Silence. Then I heard footsteps approaching.

"You're not fun at all. Just die." The footsteps stopped as the lunatic laughed. "Don't worry, I'll spare everyone else. I need them as sacrifices..."

*thud* I heard someone landing near where I lay, then a gasp from our sinister teacher.

"Y-you! How can you see through the world's fate? You're not even a..." He sounded surprised and consternated. But I couldn't stay awake anymore to find out why.

Just before I lost consciousness, I managed to force my eyes open and saw a slim back covering me, one with a diagonal scar matting it. Somehow it seemed very strong and reliable right now.

Feeling oddly safe; I let myself sleep.