At Albert's command, everyone went on high alert. Weapons glowed with sparks of mana as the knights assumed defensive positions, careful not to get too close to the scorpion's stinger. The creature, the size of a wagon, lifted its sharp black tail, and a deep, shrill screech echoed through the forest clearing.
Albert was the first to act."Containment formation! Avoid the venom!" he ordered firmly.
The knights moved with disciplined precision, encircling the monster. Lusian remained a few meters back, mounted on Thunder, his imposing magical steed. The beast's silver mane bristled, crackling with electric sparks that danced through the air like miniature lightning bolts.
Thunder was a lightning-affinity magical beast, one of the rarest of its kind. Its power lay in unleashing area-wide discharges, capable of paralyzing enemies and reducing them to ashes. However, unlike any ordinary rider, Lusian was unaffected by the electricity. This was possible thanks to a magical bond of protection that Sofía had established between them—an ancient elemental synchronization spell that allowed Thunder's mana to recognize Lusian as part of itself.
Albert cast a fire spell, striking the scorpion squarely. The creature's body instantly darkened, enveloped in its shadowy defense. Lusian recognized it immediately; he had seen this attack pattern countless times in the game.
"Class B. Dark affinity. Triple-tail combo, defense activates after elemental impact… this is going to hurt."
The scorpion reared up, sending out a shockwave that forced the knights backward. Lusian smiled faintly and murmured,"Your turn, Thunder."
With a thunderous neigh, Thunder surged forward at full speed. The ground cracked beneath his hooves as his body became engulfed in a bluish storm. Lightning arced across the terrain, scorching the air in its path. The impact was so powerful that even the leaves of nearby trees ignited in tiny bursts of blue fire.
Lusian and Thunder slid under the scorpion's tail. A massive bolt struck the creature's abdomen directly, paralyzing it completely. At that moment, the knights seized the opportunity to attack from the flanks. Albert unleashed another burst of fire, and the mana-infused swords severed one of the monster's pincers.
The scorpion roared, raising its blackened stinger, but Thunder lunged again, releasing another wave of electricity that shook the beast violently. Albert advanced with a shout, his sword wreathed in flames, and sliced the stinger cleanly in a single blow.
The other knights closed in, combining physical and magical attacks until the creature fell with a thunderous crash, its body quivering from the residual discharges.
A heavy silence settled over the clearing.
Albert exhaled in relief, wiping his sword clean."Class B, Shadow Scorpion. Five hundred points," he said firmly as one of the knights sealed the corpse in the spatial storage device.
Lusian remained still atop Thunder, watching the smoking remains. He could feel the condensed mana emanating from the monster's body. In this world, that mana saturated the flesh, organs, and blood of magical creatures, turning them into living sources of power. This was how humans could grow stronger: by consuming the essence of the mana residing in the most powerful beings.
Thunder let out a soft snort, and Lusian stroked his neck."Good work, friend."
Sparks still crackled across Thunder's body, yet not a single one touched Lusian; the bond they shared protected him completely.
Albert approached and gave him an approving glance."A perfect execution, young master. Without your attack, several of us would have fallen."
Lusian nodded silently, but his mind was elsewhere."A Class B scorpion this close to the forest edge… something doesn't add up."