Chapter 19 - Corrupted Wind

Yukha chuckled. "When you put it like that, your plan does not sound crazy at all—it's actually quite logical. Alright, we'll go with it."

Finn hesitated, concern creeping into his voice. "But that means you'll be stuck here for who knows how long. The monsters here are too weak to help you level up much. I'll just be holding you back."

He paused, then added, "How about this? Once I reach a level where most monsters' names appear green to me, you move on to the next realm. That way, you can still catch up with the other challengers."

Yukha's response was immediate. "No. We will move to the second realm together."

His tone softened. "I have told you before—I don't have the same ambitions as the other challengers. I'm here to help others, and I have decided to help you. Nothing will change my mind."

Finn smiled, relief evident in his expression. "That means a lot to me. Thanks, Yukha."

"You're welcome," Yukha said, returning the smile. "But don't rely on me too much. In the upper realms, I might not be able to protect you anymore. You will need to learn to survive on your own."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Finn said, waving him off. "But could you stop saying stuff like that? You're making me nervous."

Yukha laughed. "My apologies."

After resting and finalizing their plan, Finn and Yukha began their journey to the next teleport location.

The distance wasn't far by Yukha's standards, but to Finn, it felt like a trek. The longest he'd ever walked was a few blocks when he'd forgotten bus fare after buying groceries. He'd sworn off going outside that day, opting for deliveries instead.

"I wonder if there's a day and night cycle here," Finn mused as they walked.

"I suspect so," Yukha replied, glancing up at the sky. "I'm not certain what kind of place this is—whether it's a planet or something else entirely. There's no sign of a star like our Torrina to anchor it. If I had to guess, this is likely a created realm. But even so, the light levels seem to be changing. I don't know how they manage it with a sky that is completely empty."

"Now that you mention it, the brightness really has changed," Finn said, his gaze narrowing as he studied their surroundings.

The shift was subtle, barely noticeable, but undeniable. What had earlier been a brightness akin to midday now resembled the softer glow of late afternoon.

"You asked a good question, Finn," Yukha said, nodding thoughtfully. "If there really is a day-night cycle here, we'll need to find a safe spot to rest when night falls."

"Thankfully, corrupted elementals are less active at night."

"Why's that? Do they need to rest or something?" Finn asked.

"That's anyone's guess," Yukha replied. "Maybe they need rest. Maybe they can't see well in the dark. Whatever the reason, it's fortunate for us. Without it, we would never get any rest ourselves."

The road to the next teleport point was easy enough to follow. A barren, brown path stretched ahead of them, devoid of grass or any signs of life. It looked as though countless feet had worn it down over time, though Finn suspected it was intentionally created by whoever built this realm.

"We've been walking for a while now, but we haven't seen anyone. Do you think they're already dead?" Finn asked, his tone edged with concern.

"No," Yukha replied. "I suspect the others encountered only gray-colored monsters weaker than themselves. After exploring and finding little of interest, they likely decided this realm wasn't worth their time and effort and teleported to the next one."

"That makes sense," Finn said, nodding. "But do they really need to rush like that?"

"Many see this as a competition," Yukha said with a faint smile. "I understand that mindset—I used to be like them. But that drive is for the young. I've learned to value patience over haste."

Yukha suddenly stopped walking, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings.

"This spot should work as a resting place for the night," he announced. "We don't need to worry about finding water—I can handle that—and we can buy food from the shop, so any flat, open area will do. The only real threat is corrupted elementals, and even though they are less active at night, we should still take precautions. The creatures in this realm are probably not strong enough to break through a simple barrier."

He stepped off the road and onto a patch of grass, pausing to focus on something Finn couldn't see. Moments later, a tent materialized before them.

"This shop feature really is convenient," Finn remarked, tracing the the outside of the tent.

"It is," Yukha agreed.

He gestured toward the tent. "We'll leave this here as our base. Before night falls, let's begin your plan."

"You mean corrupted elemental genocide?" Finn asked with a smirk.

"Yes," Yukha replied. "A crude way to phrase it, but accurate. We'll start by clearing the area around this spot. We will circle outward, killing every corrupted elemental we encounter, and return here before it gets dark."

"Mark this location on your map," Yukha added. "If we get separated, you will need to find your way back."

Finn did as instructed, then followed Yukha's lead as they began moving south. To Finn's dismay, Yukha insisted they run.

"You need to improve your stamina," Yukha said bluntly, though he added, "Right now, it's comparable to a child's."

Finn rolled his eyes but didn't argue, knowing full well even children probably had better stamina than he did. So, he ran.

Their plan was simple: move south, then circle clockwise in a spiral until they returned to their base. It would give them enough time to cover a significant area before nightfall.

It took a while before they encountered their first prey.

The journey up to that point was uneventful, consisting mostly of Finn checking his palm for signs of corrupted water elementals—though the mark didn't glow, indicating they were far from any such monsters. Yukha used the time to teach Finn basic combat strategies while Finn focused on maintaining the pebble-sized flame hovering near him since the first time he'd summoned it.

His mana had nearly replenished after being drained earlier. As Yukha had said, the small flame consumed only a negligible amount of mana, making it perfect for practicing control.

For now, Finn knew he needed every edge he could get.

Yukha came to an abrupt halt, forcing Finn to stop as well. His sharp gaze fixed on the distance, eyes narrowing as if trying to discern something elusive.

"What is it? What are you looking at?" Finn asked, panting slightly from the run.

"I sense movement," Yukha replied, pointing toward the horizon. "That direction."

Finn squinted but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "I don't see anything."

"It's difficult to spot. Focus your eyes and approach slowly," Yukha instructed, his voice low and steady.

Finn nodded, shielding his peripheral vision with his hands to concentrate on the specific direction. Step by cautious step, he advanced, his breaths steady but his heart pounding. It took a moment, but finally, the outline of something faint came into view.

The creature was semi-translucent, almost blending with the air around it. Its oblong body was covered in tiny, undulating bumps that seemed to wiggle beneath it like minuscule legs. Hovering lazily, it drifted up and down like a gentle breeze carrying a cloud. At first glance, it appeared harmless—even oddly adorable. But Finn knew better. The corrupted elementals always had a way of revealing their malice, often in horrifying fashion.

"A floater," Yukha whispered from behind him.

As Yukha named the creature, Finn saw the green-colored text above it:

[Floater] Lvl. 10

"Attack it the same way you dealt with the blobs earlier," Yukha instructed. "Their core is at the center of their body. It's an easy target, even from this distance. And don't forget the flame you're maintaining—keep it steady."

The two crouched low behind a boulder, its height just enough to obscure them from view. Finn took a deep breath, steadying himself.

He extended his hand and summoned another flame. It flickered into existence, starting small and gradually growing until it was the size of a marble. With practiced focus, he continued feeding it mana, enlarging it until it doubled in size. The process was smoother now than when he first tried it.

Managing two flames felt oddly natural—like holding one object in each hand. He briefly wondered how difficult it would be to control more, but he pushed the thought aside to concentrate on the task at hand.

He decided to increase both the size and intensity of the new flame simultaneously, a more efficient approach than tackling each aspect separately. Though challenging, it was manageable. The flame shifted from a bright red to an intense orange, its heat palpable even from a distance.

Finn glanced at the creature, still drifting aimlessly, unaware of its impending attack.

This should be enough, he thought, feeling the flame reach its current limit of heat. He suspected his fire affinity restricted its potential, but for now, it would have to do. While he could sense there was still room to expand the flame further, its current size seemed sufficient for the target.

Taking a deep breath, Finn honed his focus on speed and precision. He visualized the flame piercing through the creature's core, just as Yukha had advised.

Faster than before. I can do this.

With a sharp exhale, he launched the fiery orb. It streaked through the air, straight toward the wind drifter's center.

But the moment the flame made contact with the creature's body, it sputtered. The fire flickered violently, struggling against an unseen force, before extinguishing entirely.

Finn froze, eyes widening in disbelief.

"What—?"

Before he could finish, the wind drifter turned, its translucent form now facing them. Its body pulsed faintly, and the air around it seemed to ripple.

Behind the creature, invisible gusts began to gather, their presence betrayed by the frantic rustling of grass. The calm, cloudlike figure had transformed into a looming threat, and Finn felt a chill run down his spine.

"Brace yourself!" Yukha warned, his voice sharp.

The wind drifter let out a low, resonant hum, the gusts intensifying as it prepared to strike.

************

Author's Note

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