Chapter 18 - Planning

Mark? Is it talking about this blue mark?

His mind pieced it together. After the mark had glowed, the onslaught of corrupted water elementals began. And that X mark on the water affinity had also appeared when he first received the mark back at The Threshold.

So it really meant I can no longer add points to it.

"Hey, Yukha," Finn called, voice steady despite the revelation. "I think I know why we were swarmed by those monsters."

Yukha, in the middle of drinking from a pail-sized cup of water, paused. He set the cup down and turned to Finn, his expression sharpening.

"Really? Tell me about it."

"It's because of this," Finn said, opening his palm to reveal the mark branded into his skin.

Yukha leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "Isn't that the mark the Water God gave you back in The Threshold?"

"Yeah," Finn said. "And now it's confirmed—this mark means I can't add points to my water affinity anymore. I can't control water. But there's more to it. Something activated after we entered the first realm."

He hesitated, then continued, "It's not just a mark. It's a curse."

Yukha's brows furrowed. "A curse?"

Finn nodded and read the description out loud: 'The bearer of the Water God's Mark will inexplicably draw the attention of corrupted water elementals, compelling these creatures to relentlessly seek out and target the marked individual. Additionally, this bearer will no longer be able to use the power of water.'

Yukha exhaled sharply. "So that's why they kept swarming us. I thought it was strange how they seemed to single us out. And losing your water affinity..." He frowned. "That's a serious handicap. Water-based skills are some of the most versatile, especially for healing and rejuvenation."

He paused, thinking deeply, until a realization lit his expression. "Wait. The fact that we were teleported into what seemed like their territory... maybe it wasn't a coincidence."

Finn clenched his fist. "You think the Water God did this on purpose?"

"It's possible. You offended her, Finn. Maybe this is her way of punishing you."

Finn's eyes darkened as he remembered the Water God's parting words. "You'll die soon enough anyway." A chill ran down his spine. "If you weren't here, I really would've died."

Yukha smiled faintly, though his tone remained serious. "I promised her I'd take care of you. And I will. So you don't make the same mistake of offending a God again."

Being sent to the first realm at level one already seemed like a death sentence, but adding this mark too... it feels like overkill. Yet I was still teleported with Yukha. It doesn't add up. Does she want me alive or dead?

Finn glanced at the mark again, now still dim. "When the blessing activated earlier, I felt pain. And it glowed. Right after that, the monsters started swarming us."

Yukha leaned forward. "Glowed, huh? Is it still glowing now?"

Finn inspected his palm. "No. It's dim, like a regular drawing."

Yukha nodded, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "Then there's at least one bright side to all of this."

Finn raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"If the mark only glows when corrupted water elementals are nearby, it's a warning system," Yukha explained. "We'll know when they're coming, giving us time to prepare—or escape."

Finn's eyes widened as realization dawned. "So the glow acts as an early alert system?"

"Exactly," Yukha said. "The downside is we won't know their strength or levels, but it's better than being caught off guard."

Finn nodded slowly. "Good point. Still, the fact that the Gods can influence these monsters and send them after an individual... did you know that was possible?"

Yukha shook his head, his hand resting on his chin. "It's news to me. But let's not dwell on it. Talking about the gods too much might anger them further."

He clapped Finn on the shoulder. "What's done is done. You have the mark now, and there's no changing that. We face the dangers it brings and make the most of its perks."

Finn exhaled, relaxing slightly. "You're right."

He straightened, determination sparking in his eyes. Mark or no mark, his goal remained the same—get stronger. If anything, this mark would push him further. He'd defeat every corrupted water elemental that dared come for him.

This isn't a curse. It's a stepping stone. A way to grow faster.

Yukha broke the silence. "You remember the monsters we've faced so far, don't you?"

Finn nodded. "The blobs and the tentacles."

"And their attacks?"

"The blobs spat toxic water that could melt skin. The tentacles..." Finn frowned, recalling the battle. "I didn't see much, but they used those creepy tentacles to attack."

Yukha smirked. "Good. Then let's figure out how to fight them better next time. The mark might attract them, but it doesn't mean we'll lose."

Finn nodded, his resolve hardening. "Right. Let's turn this curse into an advantage."

"That's the right mindset. Now, let's turn our focus back to the monsters," Yukha said. "Those blobs are the easiest corrupted water elementals out there. Their spit attack is slow and easy to dodge, and they barely move at all. But the tentacles—those are the ones you need to watch out for."

Finn nodded, recalling the near miss earlier.

"Their tentacles are deceptively fast. You almost got hit by one, didn't you? If I wasn't paying attention, it would have landed. And trust me, you do not want that. Not only do their tentacles sting like a whip, but they are also laced with microscopic barbs coated in poison. You can't see them, but the moment they scratch your skin, the poison paralyzes you instantly. Once you're immobilized, they release toxic water from their heads to melt you alive."

Finn grimaced. "That's... horrifying."

"It is," Yukha agreed. "But they have a weakness. Their tentacles have limited range, no matter how many they lash out with. Your best bet is to take them out from a distance. Aim for their heads—that's where their cores are. Destroy the core, and the fight's over. If you are forced into close combat, you will need a barrier to shield yourself, but that's a riskier strategy."

He paused and glanced at Finn. "For you, keeping your distance is ideal. Most mages do that anyway. As for me, I fight in close quarters. My level and Constitution are high enough that their poison barely affects me, even if they slip through my barrier."

"Long-range fighting works for me," Finn replied. "I don't have much experience with close combat, and honestly, my body isn't built for it."

Yukha gave a nod of approval. "Good. For now, I will protect you until you reach level 15. After that, you're on your own. I will only step in if your life is in danger. Until then, focus on mastering your flames. Find ways to either defend or dodge attacks with them."

Finn listened intently as Yukha continued. "It would've been easier if you could use Stone skills for defense or Wind skills for agility. But since you have invested all your points into Fire, you will have to adapt. It's too late to split your focus now, and we have already seen that you're not naturally adept with the other elements. That said, if you ever hit a wall where Fire can't carry you any further, you might have to reconsider and force yourself to invest in another element."

"That won't happen," Finn said firmly. "I'll find a way to make Fire work. I just need to strengthen it and improve my control."

Yukha chuckled. "Determined as ever. Stubborn, too. But considering how well you handled those monsters earlier, I would not say it's impossible."

He gestured toward the map. "Now, let us talk about our next move. I suggest we avoid the lake and the surrounding forest for now. It's crawling with corrupted water elementals—a bad match for your fire, and even worse with that mark on you. There's another teleport point nearby. What do you think? Where should we head next?"

Finn frowned. "Why are you asking me? You're the one with all the knowledge here."

"You should not rely on me too much," Yukha said, his tone serious. "You need to learn to make decisions, even when you feel clueless. It's part of growing stronger."

He gave Finn a reassuring look. "Besides, no matter where you choose, I can handle any monsters we encounter. You've seen the color indicators on their names, haven't you? What colors have you noticed so far?"

"Green for the blobs and red for the tentacles," Finn answered.

"Seems right for your level," Yukha said. "Green means you're evenly matched. Red means the enemy is much stronger than you. I've only seen gray so far, which indicates monsters far weaker than me. But there's one color you need to fear above all others."

Yukha's expression darkened. "If you see a name outlined in pure black, don't hesitate. Don't think. Just run. Because if you don't, you will be dead before you can even blink."

"Because they're way, way stronger than me?" Finn asked.

"Not just stronger," Yukha corrected, his tone firm. "They are impossible to defeat at your current level. No amount of strategy will save you."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind," Finn said.

"Now, about where to go next," he continued, shifting gears. "I agree with your suggestion to head to the next nearest teleport location. But I have an additional idea."

"And what's that?" Yukha asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That we eliminate all the corrupted elementals around that location," Finn replied.

He hesitated briefly, then added, "Not just there—everywhere. We clear out every corrupted elemental near all four teleport locations. We leave this area for last since the monsters here are the hardest for me to handle, as you said. Does that sound reasonable, or is it completely insane?"

Yukha mulled it over for a few moments before responding. "It is insane," he admitted, then smirked. "But not impossible."

He crossed his arms. "This realm isn't overly large. It is big enough to keep us busy, but we could probably explore and clear it in a month—maybe longer if things don't go smoothly."

Finn grinned. "Time isn't an issue for me. If anything, the more time we spend, the more experience I'll gain and the better I'll get at handling my flames."

"That's a valid point," Yukha agreed. "Clearing out the corrupted elementals will net you a significant number of levels. The second realm is bound to be tougher, so the stronger you are, the better your chances. Ideally, this should ensure the monsters there don't have black-colored names for you anymore."

Finn's expression twisted. "Wait, are you saying the best-case scenario is that the monsters in the next realm have red names? So they'll still be much stronger than me, but at least beatable?"

"More or less," Yukha said with a shrug. "I can't be certain, but based on what Halgon told us, the second realm will present a greater challenge. Back then, you had not received the system, so he was not speaking about you specifically. Still, if his words hold true, the monsters there are likely at my level or stronger. And my level is far higher than yours, so yes—red is the best you can expect."

"Then leveling up as much as possible here is the only logical choice," Finn said decisively. "Wiping out everything that's killable it is, then."

Maybe Julian had a purpose for giving me such a crazy quest after all.

********

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