Mana Blast

Deep inside the forest.

Kiro followed the dispersing mana flow that still lingering in the surrounding area.

He discreetly walked toward the unusual mana concentration in the northwest side of the Plainlan Forest.

There, Kiro saw a one and half meter tall Goblin, the unusual thing about this Goblin was that its eyes were gleaming with intelligence.

He cautiously stepped forward as Kiro drew his longbow, aiming at the Goblin Mage who was in the midst of preparing to cast another spell.

Seizing the advantage of the Goblin who was busy to cast its skill. Kiro released the bowstring, as the arrow darted toward the Goblin Mage's immobilized body.

*𝑆𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑠ℎ*

A piercing gust of the wind blew to the Goblin's direction. However, Kiro underestimated the sensibility of the Goblin, before it could hit the Goblin Mage's forehead. Half-meter away from its target, the arrow burst into pieces.

Staring at the scene before him. Kiro was alarmed, but before he could shift to a safe location, a furious howl resounded to the place.

"Rooaar!"

Kiro was familiar with the figure who jumped in the middle to protect the Goblin Mage. It was a silver wolf. However, this wolf has an odd atmosphere around it.

The wolf's eyes that supposedly a grey color, turned into blazing red, around the wolf's neck, was a runic symbol encircling around like a collar.

"Grrr!" The silver wolf pounced toward Kiro, who was watching the commotion with a goofy face.

Noticing the advance of the silver wolf, Kiro stepped backward, while summoning three arrows inside his spatial tool.

"[Arrow Shock!]" Continuous arrow flew toward the silver wolf's direction. However, Kiro did not notice the Goblin Mage who used the silver wolf as a distraction to cast a spell.

"Keee!" The Goblin Mage screeched as it wielded its black staff. Three spear-like flames appeared behind the Goblin Mage, as it flew toward Kiro's direction.

*𝐵𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑁𝐺!*

A huge explosion when both of their attacks collided, Kiro was taken aback from the aftershock, stabilizing his footing. Kiro glanced at the silver wolf, who was about to pounce at him.

With his dexterity, Kiro effortlessly dodged the wolf's attack. But, he was having a hard time. He could not let the Goblin Mage release another Magic Attack.

Maintaining his breathing, Kiro took his firing stance. He ignored the wild wolf who was chasing him in a deranged state.

"[Mana Blast!]" A condensed mana shaped like an arrow, darted vertically at the silver wolf body. However, the force of the arrow continued to pierce through its body. As it directly flew toward the Goblin Mage.

"Raa!" The Silver wolf cried in agony as its lifeless body fell on the ground.

Upon seeing its tamed beast die, the Goblin Mage was alarmed. Abruptly casting a defensive spell, the Goblin, used its dark staff to parry at the upcoming beamed arrow.

"Keeeeeah!" The Goblin Mage swung its dark staff hard. With an obstinate struggle, it eventually deflected the arrow.

"Tsk!" Kiro clicked his tongue upon seeing the Goblin was still alive. The skill Kiro used right now, was his newly attained skill after his archery class reached another stage. When he left the forest of wilderness, Kiro did not only attain enough survival skills, his archery's class advanced too.

"I wanted to save more firepower, but I guess it can't be helped. I never knew a Goblin Mage could be this annoying." Kiro exclaimed his dissatisfaction.

He wanted to reserve as much strength as possible, without knowing what kind of beast that was leading this horde of Goblins. Kiro wanted to avoid draining himself before he could even face their boss.

Kiro swept the crystal shard in the pouch, as he summoned thirty plus arrows.

"Pseudo-one hundred arrows returning in one!" Kiro shouted his self built Art of Archery. However, the arrow this time was imbued with a thicker mana density.

A glaring white luminous light blasted from Kiro's side, creating a blinding beam of light as it flew vertically.

*𝐶𝑙𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑛𝑔~*

An aggressive deafening sound rang inside the forest, disturbing Kiro's sense of hearing momentarily. As the enormous flash of light dissipated, Kiro finally saw the listless body of the Goblin Mage.

Noticing that the Goblin Mage was still alive. He could not help to admire its toughness. "You're still alive, allow me to send you in your way." With that said. Kiro pointed his longbow to the Goblin, giving it the final blow.

*𝑆𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑠ℎ*

The arrow darted toward its forehead, but this time it hit the target. Ultimately, the Goblin Mage breathing ceased to exist, as its lifeless body fell on the ground.

Kiro examined if the Goblin was still alive, after knowing it was certain death. Kiro loosened his guard down.

"Haa... Haa... Ha... Such a troublesome opponent." Kiro stated as he stabilized his breathing. The new move right now was so taxing at him. Even though Kiro did not use the same amount of arrow as before. However, the concentration and the density of the mana was ten times stronger than before.

Kiro noticed the flaws of his art at the final confrontation of his bow arrow and the white wolf's wind fang.

He realized that his first one hundred arrows were lacking the piercing ability, but on his second attempt, Kiro concentrated the sharpness of the arrowheads. Eventually, he slayed the beast by intensifying the penetration power of his art.

*𝑅𝑂𝑂𝐴𝐴𝑅!*

Suddenly, a furious howl reverberated throughout the plainlan forest.

Kiro was startled to the sudden development, then his doubt about a much stronger monster who was commanding the Goblin nest, grew much firmer.

"I hope I bought enough time for you guys to safely leave this place." Kiro anxiously said. The reason why he charged deep inside the forest was for Aldin's group to safely get out of the plainlan forest.

Kiro was confident that he could outrun the enemy even if anything goes in the wrong direction. However, little did he know, on the other side of the forest.

There was a group of three people relentlessly searching for him.

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"Kiro!" Aldin screamed his name while his eyes scanned the surrounding area.

"Alina, did you find anything yet?" Aldin worriedly asked. "We have to find him quickly, I don't know why, but I have this weird feeling that indicates to me to leave this place at once."

"I haven't found Kiro's track yet," Alina replied dejectedly, but before she could continue.

A glittering white light flashed in the northwest direction of the forest.

The group was momentarily shocked upon the scene, suddenly Alina cried out.

"It's him! That must Kiro!" Alina excitedly said. However, her excitement turned into anxiety upon realizing that Kiro was going all out to his opponent, only means his opponent was enough for Kiro to face it seriously. Thinking at this point, Alina urgently said.

"We have to get there as soon as we can! Kiro might be in trouble!" While saying that, Alina was about to dash through the northwest side of the forest.

"Wait!" Aldin grabbed a hold of her shoulder, as he said. "We will go there okay? We have to be cautious of our surroundings first." Aldin reminded her that they're not in a safe place at the moment. He could not let Alina dash through the forest while attracting their enemies.

"Mm, got it," Alina said while worriedly glanced at the dissipating white light.

Missa who was watching the commotion in the silence. "Don't worry, Kiro would be fine, don't you remember that guy's teacher is? It's the Invincible A-ranker. There is no way he would leave Kiro empty-handed right?" Missa tried to calm her down.

"Yes... Missa is right, Sir Kyros would definitely bestow Kiro a magical item to defend himself," Alina said while she tried to calm herself down.

"Right? So don't worry too much," She said. "Kiro is such a bad guy for letting a beauty like Alina to worry for him like this." Missa playfully said.

"I—It's not what you think Mis-" Alina cut-off her words, as a furious howl resounded throughout the plainlan forest.

*𝑅𝑂𝑂𝐴𝐴𝑅!*

The atmosphere around the three became heavy; eventually, Aldin proclaimed. "We have to move out now... I—I don't know what type of monster that is, but we have to hurry and leave this place!"

"What about Kiro?" Missa anxiously asked. "Don't tell me, we going to abandon him?"

"No!" This time Alina shouted while both of her eyes moistened. "If you guys wanted to leave, just go! I'll find Kiro by myself." After saying that, Alina kicked the ground hard, as she dashed to Kiro's direction.

This time he did not stop Alina from going while wearing a heavy face. In a brief moment of hesitation, Aldin firmly said. "Let's go Missa. This time it was out of our hand, there's no way we could fight that monster..."

He said while gripping his palm to the point of bleeding. He wanted to stop Alina, but he knew that it was pointless.

"Do we, re—really have to leave them just like that! How could you say something so cold Aldin!" Missa exclaimed her temper, as she yelled at him.

"Then... What am I supposed to do huh? Go there and lead all of us to our death! Wake up Missa. You know it too right? A while ago, I wasn't sure what kind of monster it was, but this time for sure, there is a Goblin King inside this forest!" Aldin screamed in distress.

Missa, who was about to voice out her complaint, shut her mouth tightly. While glancing at Alina's disappearing back, Missa dejectedly lowered her head.

It would be a lie if she said she wasn't afraid of the Goblin King, but her body moved on its own, as Missa stepped forward to follow Alina, however, before she could take another step. Aldin knocked her out.

"—I'm sorry," Aldin mumbled while he caught Missa's falling body.

Staring at the northwest forest for a couple of minutes, Aldin ultimately left the place while he carried Missa on his back.