SUDDEN QUEST! part 4

As I continued to scrutinize the ethereal red strings dancing around the Arcane, I realized how incredibly challenging it would be to even reach the ends of those elusive threads. These strings extended and wove in such intricate patterns that they seemed to stretch into infinity.

In a typical battle, attempting to grasp the end of such a string was a near-impossible task. Opponents would shift, dodge, or counterattack, causing the string to move in tandem with their every motion. But my unwavering determination and the years of training I had invested in perfecting my martial arts, coupled with my newly boosted stats that made my body already far stronger than a normal human, rendered this nearly impossible feat... possible.

....no, it's not only that that, I just believe that I can do it! that's it.

I understood that this would be an uphill battle. Nonetheless, I was willing to take the challenge head-on, my eyes fixed on the ever-elusive target at the end of that crimson string.

Not wasting anymore time, I kicked the ground and lunched myself towards the arcane.

"Gyya!"

I swung my blade at the Arcane menacingly, but to its astonishment, I wasn't targeting its body directly.

*Slash!*

*GRSRR*

"Damn," I cursed, annoyed with myself as my first strike proved futile. The Arcane, with just a slight shift, had sent the red string into a chaotic dance. It was clear that I needed to adjust my approach.

I inhaled and exhaled relaxing my body once more.

*Gya!*

*

I continued to battle the Arcane, determined to strike that elusive red string. It led me on a maddening chase, and with each attempt, I found myself missing the mark. The Arcane refused to stay still, and their coordinated attacks were relentless.

The Arcane showed no mercy, assaulting me with relentless vigor, and their attacks came one after another, each hit registering as a harsh [-300 Damage] in my vision. The impact was palpable, jarring me with a searing pain that threatened to break my concentration.

The once-promising dance with the red strings grew chaotic. They writhed and twisted unpredictably, defying my every attempt to strike at their tip. 

For every step I took closer to the Arcane, they seemed to leap further away, their bodies moving with a deliberate and almost mocking fluidity. It was as if they were synchronized to the chaos of the red strings, using their unpredictable patterns to their advantage.

"tch"

The chaotic dance of the red string seemed almost mocking as I struggled to grasp it. In the midst of my pursuit, I couldn't venture too far from Naida. Her safety remained a priority, and I had to be her shield.

[You recovered +500 HP from healing.]

Naida's healing magic was a lifeline, revitalizing me after every attack, but I knew her mana was depleting quickly. Time was running out, and I couldn't afford to let her resources drain completely.

Frustration welled up within me, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on. I needed to find the right moment, that perfect opportunity to strike. I was fueled by the knowledge that Naida was relying on me to keep her safe. With each swing of my blade, I inched closer to hitting those elusive red strings or maybe it's just one of my wishful thinking, even as the relentless Arcane continued their assault. The battle raged on, a battle of attrition where every move counted.

*Slashh*

In a tumultuous exchange with the relentless Arcane, I felt time slipping through my fingers. Every moment wasted was another heartbeat closer to the fateful depletion of Naida's mana, and I couldn't allow that to happen.

  As I poised myself for another strike, a falling leaf suddenly floated down in front of my face, casting a brief shadow on the world around me.

"!!" and at that moment a fragment of wisdom from one of my mentors surfaced in my mind. "If you try to grab a falling leaf, it will just ride the wind and move away, But:

"if you predict its direction and wait there, it will land on you."

"THAT'S IT!"

Drawing upon this newfound insight, I renewed my efforts with a fresh perspective. As the Arcane danced and weaved in response to my attacks, I realized that I had been too reactive, always trying to follow the unpredictable red string and failing. It was time to become proactive, to anticipate the Arcane's movements. And to do that, I need to guide it's movement.

My heart raced with a newfound confidence, and I was poised for my counterattack.

With deliberate precision, I leaped to the Arcane's side, meeting its malevolent gaze with a fierce determination that mirrored its bloodlust. I knew its next move, the familiar jump backward that had become a predictable pattern. This time, I was ready to capitalize on its actions.

My body reacted instinctively, positioning me in the precise spot where I believed the red string would lead. This time, as the Arcane leaped backward in a predictable pattern, I was ready for it.

With a determined swing of my blade, I intersected the red string's path.

"!!"

And in that pivotal moment, my blade's edge connected with the tip of the crimson string, and something incredible happened. It was as though I had entered a flowing river, and my body moved with an instinctual grace that I'd never experienced before. My sword sliced through the middle of the red string, following its ethereal path until it made contact with the vulnerable part of the Arcane.

*brrugggsh*

[CRITICAL]

"Gyyaaww"

The creature let out a resounding howl of pain as my blade struck its weak spot, and for an instant, it seemed like victory was within my grasp. But the Arcane, driven by sheer survival, fought back with an unexpected fury.

[You received -340 HP Damage]

In a retaliatory strike, the Arcane managed to slash my shoulder, and a searing pain shot through me. Blood welled from the wound, and I clenched my teeth against the pain, refusing to yield. The battle wasn't over yet, and the Arcane's death throes were a testament to its tenacity.

The Arcane before them was gravely wounded, its grotesque form oozing dark, viscous blood from the gash my blade had inflicted. But despite the grievous injury, it clung tenaciously to life. 

Naida came to my aid, using her healing skill to mend some of my wounds. The soothing sensation of rejuvenation washed over me as my hit points increased.

+150 HP due to a healing skill

Frowning, I couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Why didn't it die? I hit it with the same critical strike that brought down the first one when it lunged at Naida."

I was baffled; a strike that had been fatal for another Arcane didn't seem to have the same effect on this one. Perhaps the damage varied depending on the specific part of the body that I targeted.

*steps*

"!?"

But there was no time to dwell on the mystery, as the sound of approaching footsteps reached our ears. Two more Arcanes emerged from the depths of the forest, and my frustration grew.

"h-heal"

Naida immediately cast another healing spell on me, her support keeping me in the fight. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were up against something unusual. I muttered, "What's going on? Why do these Arcanes keep coming? I thought they usually hunted alone."

The tip of my sword remained pointed at our looming foes, ready for the impending clash. Naida offered a possible explanation, "M-Maybe there's an alpha, a leader?"

"an Arcane Alpha"

I paused for a moment, the implications of her words sinking in. A chill ran down my spine as I recalled the howl from earlier and the warning Trey had given us before his death. I wanted desperately to believe we were wrong on this, but the evidence we faced painted a different, more sinister picture.