The loud screech echoed through the dense forest, its sheer volume enough to cause a tremor amongst the trees.
Maeyurai and Ugina stood back in fear; they both didn't expect that the Shrieker had been around so close when they were fighting.
"Maeyurai," Ugina called, his voice firm. "This is your fault."
Shooting a glance in Ugina's way, Maeyurai clicked his tongue. "Tch, what are you talking about? You were the one who started a fight."
"Not my fault; you punched me out of nowhere."
"You were provoking me, dumbass."
"It's also your fault for running this way. Why couldn't you just pick any other direction, you twat?"
"On you for being so stupid and following me then."
As they quietly argued, the Shrieker went on all fours and interrupted them, charging forward at full speed to blast them away.
Hearing the loud thuds of its footsteps, the two guys turned their attention to the creature and dodged to their sides.
"Ugina, use your bow and fire at that thing!" yelled Maeyurai, standing up from the grass after rolling.
"I don't have my bow; Wency borrowed it!" Ugina replied back loudly, staring at the Shrieker that skidded on the ground, stopping its momentum.
"Ugh, just how dumb can you be?! Why doesn't Wency have a bow if he's participating in The Hunt?!"
"I have no need to explain to you!" Ugina said defiantly, running towards Maeyurai as the Shrieker chased him down.
"Why are you going in my direction?!" the alarmed Maeyurai yelled out, running alongside Ugina, watching the Shrieker's movements and distance.
Ugina merely kept running, staying quiet as he outran both Maeyurai and the Shrieker.
Behind, the Shrieker was catching up. This wasn't ideal; they were going to be thrashed around if they got caught by that thing.
Maeyurai brought his hand to his chest, conjuring a fireball. When formed, he hurled the fireball in the Shrieker's way, hoping it would at least slow it down.
"Dummy, that weak magic isn't going to cut it!" Ugina condemned, snapping a long branch from a tree as they passed by.
"Not like you can use magic; you have no right to criticize me!"
"I'm a Conjurer with an Affinity for Wind! Don't assume I can't use magic!"
After saying that he could use magic, Ugina would attempt to refute even more by sending a slash of wind towards the Shrieker with the stick as its medium.
While using magic barehanded isn't bad, it is often inconsistent and lacking in power. Which is why mediums like bows, spears, swords, and other weapon types are used to increase a mana's power.
Of course, a stick can be used as a medium as well, though it is weaker than actual weapons.
Mediums create a stronger release for magic due to the difference in mana properties, not attribute.
Innate mana is different from the environmental mana, as it is contained by a living being. And in the world, all objects carry mana, whether inanimate or animate.
When innate mana is released through a medium, it surrounds the medium and assumes a form, creating a consistent way to unleash its power.
As the wind slash flew across the air, it landed directly on the Shrieker's face and gave it a small cut.
The Shrieker slowed down, roaring as it was hit by Ugina's wind slash.
"RAHH!"
It was loud but lacking in force.
"Wow, nice hit," said Maeyurai with a dry tone.
"Shut it; my magic's better than yours."
Maeyurai stopped running, placing all his weight on his pivot foot to slow down.
Turning around, he looked at the Shrieker and said, "Ugina, keep attacking it. I'll distract it for you."
"Huh?" Ugina said, startled by the sudden suggestion. He didn't expect that Maeyurai would try to team up with him. "Okay, fine! You better not get hit, you turd!"
Maeyurai hated himself, having to ask for Ugina's help. He ran back tentatively, rushing towards the Shrieker boldly.
"This guy...!" Ugina muttered, watching Maeyurai run back without a plan.
Observing its movements, Maeyurai formed a fireball in his hand and threw it on the Shrieker.
The Shrieker was unfazed, but so was Maeyurai.
Stomping hard, Maeyurai took a sharp left turn and rolled to the side with a huff.
Behind him were several wind slashes sent by Ugina.
"Just so you know, I'm not a swordsman!" Ugina exclaimed. "My form is wrong, so my slashes are not aimed properly!"
"I know that well!" replied Maeyurai.
Three out of the seven slashes made contact with the Shrieker, but it didn't stop moving. Instead of following Maeyurai on the side, it continued rushing forward to attack Ugina.
"Crap!" Ugina yelled, running in a different direction to shake off the Shrieker.
It was unyielding, chasing down Ugina like he owed it something. Ugina tried everything, doing feints, quick turns, and using trees as a way to quickly move, yet the Shrieker was only gaining on him.
Dozens of meters away, Maeyurai did something he's never done before.
Right hand facing down, he conjured a 1-meter lightning bolt.
Since I have Lightning Mana... I should be able to—ngrh!
He groaned as the lightning electrocuted him, sending a wave of pain throughout his right hand.
"It's always this type of goddamn pain; I'm already used to it!"
When the lightning bolt became stable, he immediately ran forward to catch up to Ugina and the Shrieker.
After 30 seconds of running, he saw Ugina running all over the place, almost getting caught by the Shrieker several times. He was quite the runner, being able to escape each time.
"Ugina!" Maeyurai called out. "Bring the Shrieker to me!"
"Alright!"
Ugina shifted his gaze towards the sound and saw Maeyurai heading his way.
"Wait..." he muttered under his breath. "How is he holding lightning...?"
Passing by Ugina, he couldn't help but stare at Maeyurai's steaming hand. It seems that he couldn't handle his own lightning's power and was being burned.
Maeyurai continued running forward, facing the Shrieker. He then held the lightning bolt with both of his hands and lunged it forward to the Shrieker's chest.
However, the lightning didn't pierce through its tough skin.
Though creating a wound, his lightning bolt merely dissipated upon making contact with the Shrieker.
A second after, Maeyurai was hit on his left side with a powerful force, launching him meters away, breaking a few trees along the way.
Crash! Crash! Crash!!
"K-ack!" Maeyurai's eyes widened when he landed on his back, blood spewing out of his mouth. His blood smeared on his clothes, and some even hit his eye.
It... hurts!
Somebody, help me!
I can't breathe!
"Haaagh—Khck!" When he gasped for air, he accidentally inhaled some of his blood, leaving him gagging.
"Hrk!" he retched.
At the back, Ugina watched it all happen.
"Maeyurai, you moron!" he yelled out while looking at Maeyurai from afar, unaware of the fact that he was the next victim of the Shrieker.
He turned his face to the left and was met with the swing of its arm, slamming Ugina down to the ground with a powerful force.
Hitting the ground head-first, he felt his whole head vibrating from the force, blood trickling down the back of his head.
After finally having caught Maeyurai and Ugina, the Shrieker screeched out.
"WRYYY!!"
Its loud shriek reverberated through the forest, shaking the ground and trees in the surroundings.
Maeyurai rose up from the ground, trembling. He clutched his chest as he tried his hardest to breathe.
His vision was tunneling.
Soon, he would run out cold.
But he persevered, finally managing to take a deep breath.
He stayed awake, glaring at the Shrieker with hatred.
"I will fucking rip you into pieces."
Standing up, he felt his knees weakening. But he pushed on and passed his body's limit. He knows he can't withstand any more, but it was his choice.
He looked at Ugina just beside the Shrieker, sitting down, frightened for his life.
As much as he disliked Ugina for what he'd done when they first met, he still respected his strength and how he could swallow his pride to work with someone when it was necessary.
"Stay awake, Ugina; I'll beat this thing on my own," Maeyurai muttered under his breath, increasing his pace of walking until he was running. "I'll show you what I'm made of."
After speaking, he infused his whole body with fire, boosting his overall strength.
He ran at a fast speed; it was the fastest he's ever run. He felt that he could win against the Shrieker on his own; perhaps it was because of the adrenaline he was feeling.
He was feeling fearless.
Pride took over his consciousness, and now he's willing to fight to the death just so he can win.
Time felt like it slowed down.
What's this...? The Shrieker looks so close, yet so far.
No, I can see everything.
A mark formed in Maeyurai's left eye.
The mark looked like a slit, as if the iris of his left eye had opened up. If comparing, it was like a reptile's vertical slit pupil, but Maeyurai's was horizontal.
He looked around the place.
Turning his head to the right, he saw something familiar.
I know that place...
Is that it?
Oh, there it is. I see my longbow.
He immediately rushed towards the direction to take back what he lost. Within 10 seconds, he got his longbow and immediately gripped it comfortably.
"Finally reunited," he said calmly, smiling at himself.
The Shrieker suddenly came out of the bushes and lunged towards Maeyurai.
"Shree!" it yelled out, jumping forward to tackle Maeyurai to the ground. It wasn't happy to see that he was still standing.
Maeyurai drew the bow.
As he pulled, a fire arrow formed. It was bright, thin, and hot.
Unlike the thick arrow he conjured in the sparring match against Huizen, this fire arrow was condensed, steady, and powerful.
He launched the fire arrow, trying to pierce the Shrieker's heart, wherever it was. After firing, Maeyurai immediately rolled to the side to avoid its attack.
The fire arrow made contact with its chest and merely wounded it. It still didn't have enough power to pierce through. But he realized that if he shot enough fire arrows in one spot, it's possible that he could pierce a hole through its chest.
The Shrieker felt the burn and screamed.
"Rah!"
Steam was oozing out of its chest, a clear indication that Maeyurai's fire arrow did damage.
"Alright, let's do this," said Maeyurai under his breath; he felt that he wouldn't last much longer. 8 minutes was the longest he could hold out for.
The Shrieker turned around and immediately charged for Maeyurai, continuing its mindless attacks.
Weird, its movements look slower than they were earlier...
Maeyurai moved to the side, but he also felt that he was moving slower.
What the? I thought I got faster...?
No! It's because my perception got faster, not me!
The Shrieker's hand grazed Maeyurai, almost catching him. He was lucky that he managed to react early, because if he hadn't, he would've been food.
He regained his footing and started running away, charging another fire arrow.
Fssh!
He turned around and shot another one straight to the Shrieker's chest.
The Shrieker took the fire arrow like it was nothing, but its flesh being torn apart from the heat was saying otherwise.
Maeyurai's attacks were finally having an effect, and this boosted his confidence even more.
I got this... Just you watch, Ugina!
Charging up another fire arrow, Maeyurai continuously shot more and more towards the Shrieker, eager to bring it down.
He knows that if he defeats a General-Level Hell's Spawn, he'll gain the praise of a thousand people and avenge the dead participants it had killed. Not only that, but he'll also gain recognition and have the easy way to enter the army.
He could already imagine the way he'd be able to get permission for a leave and explore the world.
The Shrieker staggered from the sheer amount of fire arrows that Maeyurai hurled in its way. And not long after, Maeyurai finally pierced a hole in its chest.
But the Shrieker didn't die.
Its heart wasn't in its chest.
Upon realizing this, Maeyurai saw the world darken. He had already spent most of his energy and could collapse any time soon.
The Shrieker was only a few meters away from Maeyurai. It stood still, knowing it had already won.
The two stared down for a moment. It was silent.
A beat passed, and it finally decided to kill Maeyurai.
Stepping forward, it reached out to snap his neck.
Whoosh!
Bang!
A bright projectile came flying from Maeyurai's 7 o'clock, hitting and exploding on the Shrieker's face.
"Maeyurai! I'm glad to see you're still alive!" a distant voice yells out.
Turning his head to see the person behind the familiar voice, Maeyurai's eyes gleamed and tears trickled down his eyes. Not out of despair, but out of hope.
"Huizen!" Maeyurai shouted.