Chapter 14 Preparation Part 1

Ar clenched his jaw. He knew exactly what it was. It was no ordinary animal, it was a Tainted Beast. A dangerous animal that was often mistaken for a tame creature because of its seductive appearance. However, the glow on the creature's body had a hypnotic effect, luring its prey to approach without warning. Once in range, the Mouse Deer would reveal its true nature: brutal and deadly.

And standing in front of him right now was the White Mouse Deer, one of the dangerous Tainted Beasts with a threat level of Dangerous 3.

"White Mouse Deer, level 3 dangerous, huh?" Clau spoke quietly from the side. His eyes stared intently at the creature, though his voice sounded surprised. "Why is this animal here? Isn't its habitat in the dense forest with the red-leafed trees?"

Ar looked forward, not taking his eyes off the creature at all. "It's probably because of the dark mist in the heart of the forest... The appearance of the Alpha Necrohound," he answered calmly. "A monster born out of darkness can cause other magical beasts to scatter and seek shelter."

Clau pursed his lips, understanding the situation. If the Alpha Necrohound really appeared, it meant that this forest was much more dangerous than they had thought.

Ar took a deep breath. With a calm movement, he shifted the black staff he always carried and drew a hidden sword from inside. The blade shone sharply, reflecting the whitish light from the White Deer's body.

"Clau," he said without turning around, his voice flat but firm. "You haven't fully recovered. Let me handle this thing."

Clau nodded, then took a few steps back, giving Ar room to move freely. Clau knew that in a fight like this, even the slightest disturbance could be fatal. His gaze remained wary, but she trusted his brother completely.

Meanwhile, Ar stared straight at the white-glowing creature in front of him. He could feel the White Stag's aura, calm on the surface but full of hidden tension. He knew that Tainted Beasts like this wouldn't attack blindly. They would wait, luring their opponents into a trap.

Without using his Essential, Ar darted to the side. At that moment, a bolt of white light shot towards him. The light wasn't just an ordinary attack, it had a hypnotic effect that captured and tried to blur the consciousness of anyone caught in it.

Ar was unfazed. His steps were quick and measured, dodging the blast with ease. "Don't let the light hit you." He reminded himself. Once caught, this battle would end badly.

The white stag stood still, its glowing red eyes staring unblinkingly. It was the creature's stillness that made Ar even more alert. He waited... waited for the slightest opening to strike. He didn't want to rush. Level 3 Dangerous wasn't just a rank, a creature like this could change the battlefield in an instant. Too hasty and he would become prey.

Think. Don't rely on strength alone.

His thoughts drifted back to the last fight against the Necrohound Alpha. That monster... had been far more dangerous. Its oppressive dark aura and the Death Essence ability that surrounded it made them almost helpless. Compared to it, this White Deer should be easier, but Ar didn't want to underestimate it. Any fight could end in disaster if he was careless.

After all, neither he nor Clau... had ever really tested how far their Essence had progressed. They knew their limits, or maybe they only pretended to.

There was no such thing as testing the power of the Essential for free, especially for Ar, a Channeler from Ethel who was considered trash. He never knew for sure what his limits were.

So far, everything had been based on intuition and guesswork. The last fight against the Necrohound Alpha was proof enough: he couldn't defeat it, and Clau was the one who got hurt.

And now... facing this White Deer, that doubt came back to haunt him. "Can I defeat it?"

To be honest, Ar often avoided confrontations with tainted beasts. He preferred to hunt ordinary animals, safer, without much risk. But today was different. It was as if fate was pushing him to face the unexpected.

After all, this was a rare opportunity, the first time he would come face to face with magical beasts... even tainted beasts. A test that could accelerate the development of his Essence if he survived.

Ar assessed the situation. Safe distance was the key. The closer he got, the greater the risk of being caught in the hypnotic glow of the creature's body light. Beautiful and deadly. That was what the White Deer was known for, a deceptively charming appearance, a soothing silence, and then suddenly, without warning, a brutal attack.

Ar darted to the side, avoiding the burst of white light that struck him. His feet landed lightly, then jumped back to the other side as the next attack came. This creature did not move... just waited. A classic predator tactic, luring prey into its attack area.

In an instant, Ar tried to get closer. One meter... close enough to launch a sword attack. But at that very moment, another burst of light exploded towards him. Reflexively, Ar jumped as high as he could, feeling the heat of the light pass just centimeters below his feet.

He landed lightly, his breath a little heavy. The sword in his hand felt heavy, not because of its weight, but because of the doubt that was beginning to grow. This blade... would not be enough to reach the creature without risking to be caught in the light.

However, underneath the intensity of the battle, there was something that disturbed him, not from the opponent's attack, but from the feeling within. This creature... wasn't really attacking. The light was more of a warning than a killing intent. Even though it was a level 3 dangerous, there was a different kind of calmness.

Ar took a deep breath. His hunting instincts told him to attack. But... something was wrong. There was something inexplicable, but strong enough to stop him. Slowly, he sheathed his sword in the black staff he always carried.

"What are you doing?" Clau's voice sounded worried. His twin brother stood a few meters behind him, his face tense. "Why did you even put your sword in, brother?"

Ar stared forward, his eyes never leaving the red glare of the still silent White Stag. There was no intention to kill. Unlike Necrohound...

"Today..." Ar murmured, more to himself, "everything feels strange. The surroundings... and this creature."

Clau approached half running, panic clearly visible on his face. "Is it possible that... you have been affected by the enchantment?" His voice rose in concern. "Brother, be careful! That light could-"

It wasn't just a feeling... and it certainly wasn't something simple.

When Ar had jumped to avoid the burst of white light earlier, he thought he had escaped completely. But in reality, some of the light had reached him. The effects could now be felt. A subtle, invisible pull crept into his mind, dulling his once strong will to fight. The urge to attack slowly faded... as if it was no longer an option.

His steps moved on their own. He stepped forward. Every warning Clau shouted from behind sounded like a distant echo that no longer mattered. The white light that surrounded the White Stag in front of him glowed softly, not threatening, but inviting. Strangely, no attacks came his way as before. The creature... did not see him as an enemy.