Another one?

Dylan paused for a moment, then scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Ah... about that. I might've, uh… borrowed it from that carriage earlier. You know, just in case."

June crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "Borrowed? You mean you stole it?"

"Steal is such a strong word," Dylan said, trying to sound innocent. "I figured it was better in my hands than with a shady slaver. And hey, it came in handy, right?"

Caius chuckled. "Classic Dylan. Always looking out for us... and himself."

Alisan smiled at Cauis. "You bet. But somehow, he always ends up helping people around him, right?"

Cauis smirked, leaning back. "Yeah, even when he's being sneaky. Guess it's just his style."

June rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Just don't make a habit of stealing, alright?"

"Only from the bad guys," Dylan said with a wink.

As the group rested up, they continued on their journey. When night fell, they set up camp under the stars, taking turns keeping watch. The peaceful sound of the wind brushing through the plains accompanied their rest. Morning arrived with the soft glow of dawn, and after a quick meal, they packed up and pressed on, still determined to reach the Verdant Isles.

The air was fresh, and the sun was warm on their backs as they marched forward, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

Cauis chuckled, shaking his head. "Lazy already? We've barely been traveling for a few days, Dylan."

Axel smirked. "Come on, Dylan. You've got all that speed and energy, but now you're getting tired? What happened to the guy who was jumping from tree to tree like a monkey?"

June laughed. "He's just bored. Give him something exciting to do, and he'll perk right up."

Alisan glanced at the map. "Well, according to this, we're not too far. A couple more days if we keep this pace, and we'll reach the outskirts of the Verdant Isles."

Dylan sighed dramatically. "A couple more days? Ugh, I guess I'll survive… somehow."

As they continued their journey, the path led them up a rugged mountain trail. The air grew colder, and the rocky terrain made their progress slower. Suddenly, a group of trolls emerged from behind the boulders, their eyes gleaming with hunger.

The group immediately went on guard.

Axel cracked his knuckles. "Trolls, huh? Haven't punched one of these in a while."

June summoned a ice barrier around the group. "Let's make this quick. I'm not in the mood for a long fight."

Alisan charged forward, her staff glowing with magic as she unleashed Rapture, sending powerful shockwaves through the ground, stunning the nearest troll. Cauis danced around another, slashing with precise strikes. Dylan, moving at lightning speed, flanked the trolls and aimed for their weak spots with deadly precision.

"Nice hit, Alisan!" Dylan called out as another troll crumbled under her magical assault.

"Rapture's not just for show!" Alisan grinned.

The battle ended swiftly, the trolls no match for the group's combined power. They stood triumphant, ready to press on toward their destination.

As they kept walking, Alisan glanced at the trees around them and said, "This should be the last forest we have to cross. After this, we should be able to see the Verdant Isles."

Cauis said, "Finally, we can sleep on a comfy bed and not on the hard ground. My back's been killing me!"

Dylan smirked. "You sound like an old man, Cauis."

une chuckled. "Let's just hope we actually find a comfy bed waiting for us."

Axel stretched his arms. "Either way, I'm just ready for a proper meal that isn't trail rations."

The group laughed as they pressed on, entering the dense forest. The trees were thick and towering, their branches creating a canopy that dimmed the sunlight, but the air was fresh, filled with the scent of moss and earth. The promise of the Verdant Isles was close, and the sounds of the forest filled the air as they ventured deeper into the unknown.

June sensed something and warned the group, "Something's nearby, be on guard, guys."

Dylan replied, "Someone's senses have improved. But June, do you feel the weird energy from them? They're big and have strange magic energy."

June tensed, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the surroundings. "Yeah, you're right, Dylan," she said, her voice low and cautious. "I feel it too. There's something off about their energy... it's not like anything I've sensed before."

Dylan, his senses on high alert, glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source. "They're big and have a strange magic... could be a monster or something else entirely. Stay sharp, everyone."

The group's pace slowed, every step taken with caution, as they prepared for whatever was lurking nearby.

Heavy, thunderous footsteps echoed through the forest, growing louder with each passing second. Suddenly, a massive 20-foot red bear charged at the group, its eyes glowing with an unnatural, eerie light. But something was wrong. The bear was emitting a corrupted aura, and dark, twisted magic energy pulsed from its body, warping the air around it.

Everyone swiftly dodged the red bear's ferocious attack, barely managing to evade its massive claws. Axel, his brow furrowed in recognition, shouted, "Isn't this the same kind of bear Baskar defeated?"

The group's eyes widened in realization as they saw the unnatural corruption emanating from the creature, making it clear that something sinister had taken hold of the beast.

Cauis, his expression sharp with suspicion, added, "But something's not right. The bear we saw last time didn't have this weird aura around it. It seemed normal, but this one this one has something off about it."

He eyed the creature carefully, noting the dark, swirling energy that surrounded it, clearly different from before.

The red bear lunged at the group with terrifying speed, its massive paws swiping through the air. Its corrupted aura made it faster than any normal bear, its movements unpredictable. Everyone except Dylan struggled to avoid the attack.

Dylan, his enhanced reflexes kicking in, dodged with ease, narrowly avoiding the bear's claws. He landed a safe distance away, eyes focused on the creature as it turned to face them again.

Dylan, seeing his friends struggling to react in time, quickly assessed the situation. Without hesitation, he coated one of his daggers with his magic and threw it with precision. The blade flew through the air, striking the red bear directly in the eye.

The bear let out a deafening roar of pain and fury, its attention now fully on Dylan. It charged toward him with terrifying speed, its corrupted energy flaring up even more. Dylan stood his ground, ready for the incoming onslaught.

Dylan's voice rang out, urgent and commanding. "GET UP, YOU GUYS, AND GET READY! I'LL BE THE BAIT ATTACK IT!"

As the red bear lunged toward him, Dylan's eyes narrowed. He knew he had to keep the bear's focus on him while his friends prepared to strike. With his speed enhanced, he dodged the bear's powerful swipe and stayed just out of its reach, drawing it further away from the group.

"NOW!" Dylan shouted, hoping his friends would capitalize on the opening he'd created.

June's quick thinking paid off as she swiftly cast her magic, freezing the red bear in place, its massive form momentarily immobilized. The group didn't hesitate.

Alisan, drawing upon her Rapture magic, unleashed a powerful Crushing Surge, sending a shockwave through the bear's body, damaging it with incredible force. Axel, not wasting a moment, followed up with a brutal punch, his fists pounding into the frozen creature.

Cauis, with his usual precision, slashed at the bear's exposed side, adding his own attacks to the flurry. The bear roared in pain, but with its movements restrained, it couldn't fight back effectively.

The coordinated strike from the group was overwhelming, and the corrupted red bear, now severely injured, struggled to break free from its frozen state. Dylan stayed on high alert, ready to react if the bear managed to counterattack.

Dylan's strike landed squarely on the bear's torso, leaving a deep gash as he quickly stepped back, keeping the creature's attention firmly on him. He locked eyes with the bear, maintaining its aggro, and shouted, "CAUIS, NOW!"

Cauis, hearing the cue, moved in with precision, his blade flashing as he darted forward. Channeling his energy into a powerful strike, he unleashed Celestial Strike, the blade glowing with radiant light as it cut through the air. With a single, decisive motion, Cauis plunged the strike into the bear's exposed flank, the magic-infused blow piercing deep. The bear let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing, its body twitching as the life drained from it.

The group's synchronized efforts had paid off, the beast now defeated.

They stood around the fallen bear, breathing heavily and feeling the strain of the battle. The energy around them felt strangely lighter now that the creature had been defeated, but they were all a bit more exhausted than expected.

Cauis, still catching his breath, let out a laugh. "I never thought..." he panted, "...that Dylan would take the lead in a battle like that." He chuckled while breathing heavily, glancing at Dylan. "Guess you're always full of surprises."

Dylan, wiping sweat from his brow, gave a serious look and said, "If you guys didn't realize, the reason I took the lead is because I sensed that bear had the ability to drain mana around it." He paused, glancing back at the others. "I couldn't risk any of you getting drained in the middle of the fight."

The others exchanged surprised looks, then nodded in understanding. They hadn't realized the full extent of the bear's power, but now that Dylan explained it, it made sense why the battle had felt so draining.

June raised an eyebrow, her voice curious. "How come we weren't able to sense that, Dylan? We've all got some form of magic, yet you were the only one who noticed?"

Alisan, equally confused, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I didn't feel anything off about the bear beside its weird magic around it, but you seemed to know exactly what was going on. How did you catch it?"

Dylan shrugged slightly, giving a modest smile. "I guess it's just part of the way I sense things now. My magic's a little different, so I can pick up on those kinds of energies especially when something's out of place. It's not foolproof, but it helps in situations like this." He paused, a bit sheepish. "I just didn't want anyone to get caught off guard."

Axel said, "Yeah, thanks to you, we're all okay, but that drained us so much. Let's hurry and get out of this forest, there might be more monsters like that."

Dylan nodded, still catching his breath from the intense battle. "Yeah, let's get out of here before anything else shows up. I don't know if I can handle another one of those right now."

The group, though drained, agreed and began making their way through the forest, keeping a sharp eye out for any signs of danger. The forest, once serene, now felt ominous after their encounter with the corrupted red bear. The air felt heavier, as if it carried the lingering traces of the bear's drained mana.

Unbeknownst to them, their sense of urgency and mounting tension began to consume more mana than usual.

Despite their fatigue, they pressed on, the forest finally beginning to thin as they approached their destination. After what felt like an eternity, the trees parted, revealing a breathtaking sight. The Verdant Isles spread out before them, a land of lush, vibrant greenery and towering trees, their leaves shimmering with an almost magical quality.

In the distance, they could see the capital city, Elaria, nestled high among the trees, its architecture blending seamlessly with the forest. The air was thick with the scent of fresh pine and the hum of nature's magic, a stark contrast to the tension they had carried through the forest.

"We made it," Dylan said, his voice barely above a whisper as he took in the beauty of the Verdant Isles. "I think... we could all use a break."

The group, still weary but relieved, stepped forward, eager to explore this new land and recover from the trials of their journey. Their adventure was far from over, but for now, they could finally rest.

As they walked around the town, they spotted someone with long ears, pointed and graceful, along with beautiful skin and striking green eyes. It seemed to be an elf. The elf noticed them, a friendly smile spreading across their face as they approached the group.

"Welcome to the Verdant Isles," the elf said warmly. "I see you're travelers. If you're looking for a place to rest, you're in the right place."

The group looked at each other, a sense of relief washing over them.

Cauis thanked the elves, his voice strained from the exhaustion. "We got drained pretty badly because of that red bear we fought. It had a strange energy around it that seemed to drain the magic from everything nearby."

The elf, clearly confused, furrowed his brow. "A red bear? That's impossible. There are no red bears living in this forest. We've never encountered one in these woods."

Cauis looked back at his companions, who shared his uncertainty. "We definitely fought a red bear," he said firmly. "It wasn't just any bear. it had a weird energy like i said."

The elf's expression grew more serious. "This is troubling. If what you say is true, then something is disturbing the balance of this forest. Be cautious, travelers, for there are forces at work here that are not easily understood."

With a final nod, the elf added, "I will report this to the city lord. You all should head to the inn and rest up. We'll discuss this further soon. Take care."

As the group made their way to the inn, they checked in and eagerly made their way to the baths. The hot water soothed their aching muscles, washing away the exhaustion from their long journey and the battle with the corrupted red bear. Afterward, they settled into their rooms, the weariness of the past few days finally catching up to them. The quiet of the inn allowed them to relax, knowing they could rest and recover before facing whatever challenges awaited them next.