Un-normal

"ROAHHHH!"

The creature before me roared, its deafening cry sending a shockwave that rippled through the ground beneath my feet. The sheer power of its voice alone was enough to make the earth tremble, a stark reminder of just how dangerous this thing was.

"Mana beast."

That's what they're called—creatures born from the raw essence of mana itself, wielding that very energy with terrifying precision and overwhelming power. There are two categories of these beasts. The first are the lower-tier mana beasts, ranked from levels one to five. Then, there are the mutated mana beasts, also classified from tier one to five, just like their predecessors. But beyond them lie the evolved, and finally, the transcendent.

This is insane...

...Fuck.

Not only am I barely able to walk, but I'm also trapped in this cursed, endless forest. And as if that wasn't enough of a nightmare, here I am, staring down a fucking mana beast!

I have no clue what tier this beast falls under. Samael never bothered to waste his time studying the endless list of mana beasts and exotic creatures the game had to offer, so I'm as clueless as I am screwed.

"Tsk," I clicked my tongue, trying to steady myself. My mind raced, searching for any possible way to survive the dilemma before me.

The creature resembled a wolf, but with four glowing eyes and the same number of curved, menacing horns sprouting from its head. Its fur was a ghostly white, and its fangs—long and impossibly sharp—gleamed in the dim light filtering through the trees. Its claws, absurdly sharp, dug into the earth as it prepared to strike.

I wanted to believe it was a low-tier beast, judging by the absence of a visible mana core on its body. But that didn't make things any easier.

A low growl rumbled from its throat before it suddenly dashed forward, moving with such blinding speed that all I could register was a blur. In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of me and...

-Crack!

"FUCK!" I cursed out in pain, trying instinctively to dodge the beast. But instead, my entire side felt like it had been shattered. My bones cracked, and I was completely paralyzed, unable to move a muscle.

Am I going to die again...?

How many deaths will I witness in one day?

Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks as I helplessly watched the mana beast dive forward, ready to devour me. It latched onto my right leg, and I collapsed to the ground, utterly powerless.

But then, something insane happened.

The pendant around my neck...

"What the hell..." was all I could manage to say before a blinding light erupted from it.

Boom!

The sound was deafening, but I couldn't see anything through the intense brightness. For a moment, it felt like time itself had stopped. Then, just as suddenly, the light dimmed, and my vision slowly returned.

I looked down at where the mana beast had been latched onto my leg, but all that remained was its corpse, incinerated but still intact. It was as if the creature had been hit with an immense force, killing it instantly.

"No way."

Shocked, I glanced down at the pendant around my neck and noticed a barely perceptible crack at the corner. It seems even this relic has its limits. It might break if it has to do THIS a few more times.

But... relics don't work without mana, and Eren was clearly stated to have none, which was one of the original reasons for his inability to awaken.

But...

...this relic worked perfectly just now, right?

...how?

This is getting more confusing by the minute. This relic must have been given to Eren by someone who knew about his mana deficiency, someone who understood the situation enough to program the relic to trigger under specific conditions. Relics don't just activate on their own unless they've been programmed to.

But who would give him such a treasure? And why?

Seth is out of the question. His mother, Melisa, is also out of the question. Those two couldn't care less about Eren, so it's definitely not them.

...was it his father...?

Tch.

I doubt it, but who else would gift him such a powerful item?

Hah.

'Well, at least I get to eat,' I thought, my gaze turning predatory as I stared hungrily at the creature's lifeless body.

Mana beasts are sometimes edible, though other times they're extremely poisonous due to the high levels of energy coursing through their bodies. I have no idea if this one is safe to eat, but... yeah, beggars can't be choosers, right?