Battle In The Forest [Part 1]

Immediately, Arden turned back to look at the person who just spoke.

Instinctively, he could feel it... This person was dangerous. Despite that, he turned back without the slightest bit of hesitation to look at the person who killed his prey.

"Huh?" Arden muttered as he stared at the person in front of him.

Standing in front of him was a girl with long white hair that reached her lower back. She had beautiful blue eyes that were staring at Arden with slight astonishment.

She was dressed in blue-colored light armor that allowed enough room for mobility. Though, this also made it possible for most of her skin to be revealed, especially her thighs.

Well, there was only one word that could be used to describe her.

Beautiful.

But Arden wasn't concerned about that. Instead...

"You stole my prey," he said as he glared at her, his voice laced with anger.

Her eyes widened for a second before a small smile appeared on her lips.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was yours," she muttered as she stared at Arden, a smile still on her face.

"That's not my main concern. I was supposed to kill that wolf. But as if killing it wasn't enough, you also took its Core," Arden said, his composure unwavering.

What made him even more annoyed was the fact that she was currently holding the wolf's Beast Core which was rightfully his. She couldn't lie that she didn't know that the wolf was his prey.

She squinted her eyes as she placed her hands on her hips before speaking. "I told you, right? I'm sorry."

"And you think that's enough? Give me the Core, and I'll leave peacefully," Arden said.

He refused to leave what was rightfully his for someone else. He wasn't going to allow himself to be oppressed.

"Peacefully? So if I don't give you, there's going to be trouble?" the girl asked as she folded her arms.

A slight smirk was on her face, and Arden couldn't shake off the feeling that she was up to something.

It was as if something was amusing her, though Arden didn't back off.

"There'll be trouble, only if you ask for it..." he muttered.

Once again, her eyes shone with amusement. "I see..."

'Is this really worth it? Just for a Beast Core?' Arden questioned himself in his mind, but he immediately shook off any doubt that was in his mind.

This was like a test... A test that he truly wanted to change and not go back to his former self that was always being stepped on.

He wanted the Beast Core... So he would get it.

The girl smiled as she stretched out her hand. "Okay, you can take it from me." Her smile widened as she stared at Arden. "I'm right here."

Arden squinted his eyes and stared at the girl. At this point, there was immense tension in the air as both of them stared at each other, with neither of them averting their gaze for even a second.

The air suddenly became heavy, and it looked like something would happen at any given moment.

The girl wasn't backing off, neither was Arden. They both continued gazing at each other for some seconds, and then...

"Since you're not making any move, it seems I'll make the first move," the girl said.

"Huh?"

Immediately she said this...

*WHOOSH*

She suddenly dashed towards Arden with immense speed, her long white hair fluttering due to the wind.

Instantly, a long sword with a blue hilt appeared in her hand, and she reached Arden.

Immediately, she swung her sword, aiming for Arden's head.

*CLANG*

Arden noticed in time, and without wasting time, he instantly raised his dagger, blocking the sword, causing sparks to fly.

*WHOOSH*

He was instantly thrown backward after the clash, and he landed on the ground, beside a tree.

"Such power... Who is she?"

The power behind her strike was so immense that it threw Arden backward.

Though, he instantly regained his footing as he gripped his dagger tightly and raised it, ready for anything that was about to happen.

He was thrown backward quite a few distances away from her, so he quickly recovered.

A smile bloomed on her face once again as she raised her hands.

Suddenly, the temperature decreased, and Arden instantly noticed it.

"Wait... Is this... the Ice Element?"

Well, his question was quickly answered because he suddenly saw a blue object forming above her head.

"Let me see how well you can fare," she muttered.

Above her head, ten spikes made of ice were formed, waiting for her command.

With a flick of her fingers, they instantly moved.

*WHOOSH*

The spikes quickly moved towards Arden with immense precision.

"Oh shit, they're fast," he muttered as he furrowed his brows.

He was about to turn back and increase the distance between them so that he would be able to evade the spikes, but then, he thought of something.

'No, that's not the best idea. I can do this,' he thought as he increased his grip on the dagger and faced the spikes.

*WHOOSH*

Without hesitation, he dashed towards her, with the spikes as the only obstacles.

"You decided to attack, huh?" the girl muttered.

Immediately Arden reached the spike, he started swinging his dagger.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

Sparks flew as he deflected every single spike while advancing towards her.

*CLANG*

He deflected the last spike and was now in front of her.

Instantly...

*WHOOSH*

He swung his dagger towards her with all the strength he could muster.

*CLANG*

A louder clanging sound was heard in the forest as she blocked his dagger with her sword.

This time around, Arden wasn't pushed back. They were just at a stalemate as they glared at each other, with their weapons fighting for dominance.

Though, Arden suddenly had a plan, and he instantly executed it.

Using her sword as a foothold, he instantly raised himself up with his dagger, leaping behind her in the process.

Her eyes suddenly widened in surprise as she saw what Arden did.

Immediately, she turned back, but Arden had already swung his dagger.

Knowing that her sword wouldn't help in this situation, she raised her hand, and a dagger made of ice instantly appeared.

*CLANG*

The ice dagger successfully blocked Arden's dagger, causing sparks to fly once again.

She was now facing Arden, and she couldn't help but grin. "Seems you're more skilled than I thought..."