Darel stood tall, his eyes fixed intently on the fox mist mana beast that emerged from the swirling vortex of mist. The air was heavy with anticipation as the beast's piercing gaze locked onto Darel, its eyes burning with an inner fire. Without warning, the beast unleashed a flurry of razor-sharp claws, its movements a blur as it tore through the air with deadly precision.
Darel, anticipating the attack, raised his hand, and a shimmering barrier of light erupted from his palm. The beast's claws struck the barrier with incredible force, but Darel held firm, his eyes flashing with determination. With a swift motion, he reflected the beast's attack back at it, the claws rebounding with equal ferocity.
The beast stumbled backward, its eyes widening in surprise, but it was far from defeated. It recovered quickly, its body glowing with an eerie, misty aura. With a snarl, it launched itself at Darel once more, its jaws wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Darel dodged the attack by a hair's breadth, but the beast's follow-up strike caught him off guard. Its teeth sank deep into his leg, and Darel cried out in pain as he stumbled backward. Blood began to seep from the wound, and Darel knew he had to act fast if he wanted to survive.
With a surge of adrenaline, Darel took off in a sprint, the beast hot on his heels. He could hear its labored breathing, its pounding footsteps echoing through the mist-shrouded landscape. Darel's heart racing, he zigzagged through the terrain, desperate to shake off his pursuer.
Just when it seemed the beast was about to overtake him, Darel spotted a narrow opening between two massive boulders. With a burst of speed, he darted toward the gap, the beast mere inches behind. Darel's heart skipped a beat as he squeezed through the opening, the beast's snapping jaws closing mere inches from his heels.
As he emerged on the other side, Darel spotted the beast's momentary confusion. Seizing the opportunity, he changed direction, charging toward the beast with a fierce battle cry. The beast, caught off guard, stumbled backward as Darel leapt onto its head, his sword flashing in the dim light.
With a swift, deadly stroke, Darel plunged his sword into the beast's skull, ending its life instantly. The beast's body crumpled to the ground, its misty aura dissipating into the air. Darel stood panting, his chest heaving with exhaustion, as he gazed down at the lifeless form.
As he caught his breath, Darel noticed a shimmering portal in the distance. He stumbled toward it, his wounded leg throbbing with pain. As he emerged through the portal, he found himself in a new, unfamiliar region. The air was filled with the clash of water and fire, and Darel's eyes widened as he took in the scene before him.
Bayle and Venus were engaged in a fierce battle, their movements a blur as they exchanged blows. Water and fire swirled around them, the elements clashing in a spectacular display of power. Darel's arrival went unnoticed at first, but as he stumbled forward, Bayle's eyes locked onto him, and he rushed to Darel's side.
"Darel, what happened?" Bayle exclaimed, his eyes scanning Darel's wounded leg.
Darel grimaced, wincing in pain. "I fought a fox mist mana beast," he explained, his voice tight with exhaustion. "It was a tough battle, but I managed to kill it."
Bayle's eyes widened in concern. "We need to get you healed, fast," he said, his hands glowing with a soft, blue light. "Venus, can you—"
Venus nodded, her eyes flashing with understanding. "I'll keep watch," she said, her gaze scanning the surrounding area. "We don't know what other dangers might be lurking nearby."
As Bayle tended to Darel's wounds, the three companions discussed their next move. However, their conversation was short-lived, as a small argument erupted between Bayle and Venus.
"We should head back to the village," Bayle said, his voice firm. "We can't keep pushing our luck."
Venus frowned, her eyes flashing with disagreement. "We can't give up now," she said, her voice rising. "We have to keep moving forward."
Darel, sensing the tension between his companions, intervened, his voice calm and soothing. "Let's not argue about this," he said, his eyes locked onto Bayle and Venus. "We can discuss our options and come up with a plan that works for everyone."
As Darel spoke, his companions' expressions softened, and they nodded in agreement. Together, the three companions began to discuss their next move,