I struck the creature with a crushing impact, my knuckles connecting with a sickening crunch that sent shockwaves through my arm.
The creature staggered, its twisted body reeling from the blow, but it quickly regained its balance.
Before I could react, two more creatures, ethereal and twisted, launched themselves at me with a deafening shriek. Their claws gleamed like polished daggers, their eyes burning with malice.
They moved in tandem, a blur of darkness and movement, their tendrils writhing like serpents, ready to tear into me.
I raised my hands without hesitation. "Whirlwind Barrage!" I shouted, and a powerful gust of wind shot from my palms, hurling the creatures backward with the force of a storm.
The wind howled, whipping through the air and shaking the very trees around us. The creatures were thrown, their bodies flying through the air like ragdolls before crashing into the foliage with a violent thud. The sound of snapping branches and breaking leaves filled the air.
I charged forward, my eyes locked on my opponents, but something tugged at the edge of my consciousness.
My mana reserves were already dangerously low.
No… this isn't good. I haven't recovered from the fall, and the little Flame Emperor and Whirlwind Barrage I used drained me more than I thought.
I glanced down at my hands, watching as the faintest spark of mana flickered in my fingers.
Think, think…
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay focused. I can't let them recover. I need to end this before I run out of mana completely.
But as I prepared for the next attack, my body felt heavier. My movements slowed, and my strikes lacked the power they had moments ago.
The creatures, sensing my weakness, lunged together in perfect unison.
The first one aimed for me with its claws, and I barely managed to dodge, the talons grazing my cheek. The second creature was even quicker, its tendrils slashing through the air in a flurry of strikes. I raised my arms to block, but the impact was brutal, numbing my limbs.
The third creature wasn't far behind. It unleashed a wave of shadowy tendrils that coiled around my arms and legs, constricting like chains, draining my strength.
I fought back, trying to break free, but the darkness tightened its grip. I could feel my energy being siphoned, my knees buckling under the weight of their assault.
I can't… give up now. Not like this.
I gritted my teeth, forcing my hands to summon fire. The flames were weak, flickering desperately around me as I summoned every ounce of strength left.
But the creatures didn't relent. They pressed on, their attacks relentless. My flames sputtered, unable to keep up with their onslaught.
No... I can't die here.
Despair clawed at my chest. My vision blurred, and my breath came in shallow gasps.
Is this it?
And then, it happened.
A pulse of energy surged through me—an unknown force. It was as if something deep inside had been awakened. The dark red aura I had sensed before flared within me, burning through the exhaustion.
What is this?
The creatures continued their assault, but I no longer felt afraid. The power coursing through me was unlike anything I had ever felt before, raw and potent. I could sense it, could feel it crackling in the air.
I didn't think. I acted.
My hands shot up, and lightning exploded from my fingertips.
The thunderous roar split the air as a bolt of lightning surged toward the creatures, lighting up the darkness around us. I moved with newfound speed, closing the distance between us in an instant.
I struck.
My fists, charged with crackling electricity, hammered into the creatures in rapid succession. Each blow was like a thunderclap, sending violent bursts of energy through their bodies. Their forms stiffened, frozen in place as the lightning coursed through them, burning away their twisted essence.
For a moment, they hung in the air, suspended in a silent tableau of agony.
Then, they crumpled, their bodies collapsing to the ground in lifeless heaps.
I stood there, breathing heavily. The power within me still hummed, electricity dancing across my skin as the last remnants of the creatures' energy dissipated.
I was shaken, but alive.
I had done it.
But as I caught my breath, a strange thought struck me.
So this was the purple aura. The power I felt during my training…
A sly smile spread across my face, excitement bubbling in my chest. So, I possess a legendary element, too, huh?
Before I could reflect any further, I heard a rustling behind me. My heart skipped a beat.
Right, someone was hiding.
I spun around, my eyes scanning the shadows.
"Hey, they're gone! You can come out now!" I called out, my voice stronger than I felt.
A figure stepped from the darkness, their features hidden in shadow. As they emerged into the light, my breath caught in my throat. The figure was stunning—impossibly beautiful, their presence almost otherworldly.
I blinked, caught off guard by their sudden appearance.