Forest of Beginnings 3

The spider monster that appeared now was even larger and more intimidating than the one previously defeated.

Was that one not fully grown yet?

There's no more strength left to spare.

My headache won't subside.

"Hey, Alex, hold it together. You're about to leave the path entirely."

A familiar voice echoes loudly, bringing an odd sense of reassurance.

"Kenny, please help me."

"Got it."

Kenny blocks the monster's leg attack with his innate strength and large shield.

Seizing the opening, Alex swings the battle axe, slashing at the leg.

But the outer hide is harder than expected, leaving only shallow wounds.

"Damn it, we need to stop its movement—just for a moment. We'll have to strike at the softer parts of its body."

"I'll aim for the eyes."

Clara draws her magic bow and fires a massive iron arrow.

The arrow hurtled toward the monster's eye at tremendous speed. Yet, at the very last moment, the creature twisted its body slightly.

The arrow struck the tough outer skin and stopped dead.

"Seriously, what's with you lately?! It's not piercing through at all, and you just keep dodging!"

"Please don't lose your temper. We don't have time for that."

The monster seemed surprised that its outer hide could be damaged, and redoubled its attack.

Kenny struggles to hold his ground, but is being pushed back.

The monster attacks with sharp claws and hard fangs, alternating rapidly.

"I'll help!"

Noel, having just defeated the first monster, rushes forward at high speed toward the next one, aiming to cut it at the body and leg joint.

But only a high-pitched sound echoes—no cut is made.

"What's going on?! It's completely different from before!"

While she was complaining, another soldier quickly caught up, completing the formation of the unit.

"Noel! Don't charge alone!"

"You're the ones who're slow. Besides, it's surprisingly tough—this thing."

"Yeah, same as the last one, but several times stronger."

The soldiers took turns enduring the monster's attacks. They tried to strike when they saw openings, but the thick, hard hide blocked their attacks, making it difficult to land a hit.

Just like when they'd defeated the monster and the Tsuchinoko earlier, the only way to defeat this monster was to strip off its outer skin. But there was no way to do that.

...Is there really no way at all?...Nothing?

There must be something.

The battle continued. From past experience, they knew they were still lacking one crucial element to defeat this monster.

Bit by bit, their strength was being worn down, and they would soon be forced to retreat.

If only I could use magic... I could at least unleash one more powerful lightning strike...

No, there's no time for such thoughts. No matter what, we must win this battle, or the monster will catch up to us before we even reach the town.

What should I do... For instance, could I absorb magic essence from something that has a large amount of it and convert it into my own... Even in a situation this dire, scenes like those in manga flash through my mind. As if trying to escape reality...

"Hey, Taro! What are you doing? Get up quickly."

I'm pulled to my feet by Coil, who must have come to pick me up without me noticing.

"Coil, why are you here..."

"Of course I'm here! I came to help. You really know how to act on your own."

Being dragged by Coil, I keep staggering forward with unsteady steps.

We're moving away from the combat zone.

Leaving everyone behind who's still fighting...

"Coil, we have to lend a hand. They won't win if we just leave them to fight alone."

I already know that much without you having to say it! But tell me, what good will it do for you to go? You'll be of no use at all—like a wall, you won't even stand firm. If I give you time, you'll recover.

Koishi came to a stop and turned around.

"If you recover, we can plan a strategy, use magic, coordinate with the other soldiers, and defeat that monster easily. Your magic is meant for fighting, not for fleeing and healing. You should be healing now."

Being pulled back again by Coil, they return to the location where the caravan is.

Rilka is safe too. I'll have her healed immediately with a recovery magic stone.

"Taro, go back to sleep now!"

Rilka forcibly makes me sit down. Even just sitting, I feel a heavy sensation.

Before I know it, the light particles emitted by the healing magic stone cling to me, and my wounds begin to heal.

The light from the magic stone quickly grows dimmer.

Rilka isn't perfectly capable of using the healing stone.

Its effect fluctuates—strong at first, but quickly weakens.

She repeatedly activates and deactivates the magic stone, gradually healing her wounds.

The healing stone activates once more, enveloping her in mysterious light.

Having stepped away from the battle, her focus completely shatters, leaving her dazed.

It's nothing unusual—she barely noticed it, but the light isn't coming from the magic stone...

What exactly is this light emanating from the healing stone?

Is this light promoting healing? It melts away like snow when touched, as if seeping into the body.

All magic stones activate their mysterious effects through mana.

Then, is this the mana itself, emitted during the healing process?

The wound on my foot hasn't healed yet. I'll try imagining a flow of mana between the stones, like a transfer.

The result is unchanged. Naturally.

Mana transfer requires fusing the magic stones together.

"Wait... I should be healing your arm wound, right? It's not healing. Sorry, Taro. Let me try again."

"Thanks. Take your time, please."

I repeat the same process once more.

"Hey Taro, don't absorb it— I'm healing your arm!"

"Huh?"

By the time I realized it, my foot injury had already healed. And around my foot, a glow was clinging to the skin.

Immediately I sense it. Had I absorbed it?

But why now... or rather, why could I do it?...Was that light magic essence?

Stunned by the suddenness, my thoughts scatter. Yet somehow, an overwhelming confidence wells up.

My instinct is telling me to keep going like this.

Why did I only manage to absorb the magic essence now?

Flashes of knowledge about sensing magic essence race through my mind like a fleeting film—was it chance, or fate?

"Yikes, Taro, you're bleeding from the nose. Stop staring off into space and stop it!"

In magical essence perception, there's a distinctive pattern—allowing one to receive magical essence and roughly understand its concentration. When applied to magical beasts, it can even reveal the flow of magical essence.

Being able to perceive the flow of magical essence means that a significant amount is entering and being gathered.

Now that I think about it, both techniques are quite similar. There might be some common element between them.

"Hey, Taro. You've got blood pouring from your head! Hurry up and stop the bleeding."

Mana transfer is a technique that swaps mana within a gemstone. It's currently achievable only with gemstones that are highly reactive to mana, but theoretically, it might be possible to move mana through any substance...

Mana sensing is a technique that absorbs mana from space, allowing one to perceive the distribution of mana in matter or space. Right now, it's something only I can do.

A special pattern must be drawn using liquid mana stones, which possess properties similar to regular mana stones.

It's highly likely that liquid mana stones are also composed of mana essence.

Moreover, mana essence has a strong affinity with living organisms.

If... if... I could control the mana essence within myself, draw a pattern identical to that of mana perception inside my body, and absorb surrounding mana essence...

If I could transfer the absorbed mana essence directly into a mana stone, maybe I could cast magic.

It was nothing but a chain of wild speculation built upon speculation.

Yet, an inexplicable confidence pushed me forward.

Concentrate. First, my hand. Control the mana essence in the hand holding the stone, distributing it like the pattern I'd drawn with liquid mana stone. Then, imagine drawing in the surrounding mana essence.

"Whoa, Taro's doing something weird again with the healing crystal. It's gathering in his hand."

Good, going smoothly.

The back of my hand is hot. I can feel the mana intensifying.

Next, I focus the gathered mana in my hand into the crystal. Naturally, I use the light crystal. Without even thinking, I channel mana into the light crystal I've unconsciously picked up.

And suddenly, the familiar sound begins to echo around me.

"Taro, you're doing magic again..."

No headache. Because I'm not using my own magical essence.

I can do it.

Expand my mental image to absorb magical energy from every part of my body.

"Thanks, Coil, Rilka. My head feels cool now."

"Hey, the bleeding hasn't stopped yet..."

"I have to go. My magic is meant for helping people."

Activate the wind magic stone and increase its output. My body gently lifts off the ground, then shoots upward rapidly.