Walking inside a city, passing by a big wooden gate, they are greeted with buildings and stalls. Kuro, whistles as he looked around the city while following Mumei who's happily walking. Some of the stalls contain weapons such as swords, axes, bow, clubs, hammers, and so on. With their blades and edges sharp and shining.

Some of the other stalls, sphere-like stone with a glowing light generated from the inside as it spreads out like threads could be seen. It varies to many colours, Mumei took notice that Kuro is taking some peek towards the glowing stone. " Oh, right, Kuro, this is called Beast Orbs, judging by your curious gaze. Is it the first time you see Beast Orbs? "

" Yes, what do they do though? " Kuro asked, as he approaches the stall with Beast Orbs presented out in the open for customers to gaze upon it. The clerk, notices Kuro walking towards his stall and smiles, " Welcome! Are you interested in buying Beast Orbs? " the clerk said, as he motioned his hands in a motion of introducing things. Kuro take a small gaze before politely declining the offer.

As they walk away, Kuro asked Mumei about the Beast Orbs. " Mumei, can you explain to me more about Beast Orbs? " he asked, as Mumei nodded and began explaining to him about it, " Beast Orbs are dropped from a dead Mana Beasts. As you obviously know, in our body, we have Mana Cores. With stages consisting of Black, Red, Orange, Yellow, Silver, and White. Through absorbing the high amount Mana within the core, you are able to break through the stages from your Mana Core. "

Kuro, digesting all the information nodded, " Right... I'm at Yellow stage right now, that's what pops told me. I don't really remember about it though. " Kuro said, he shrugged as he finishes his sentence.

Mumei take a quick gaze towards Yagoo, as the man looked at her back and shakes his head.

" Also, pops why didn't you tell me about the Beast Orbs? " Kuro asked as he raised his right eyebrow, facing Yagoo with confusion laced in his tone. " Ah, well, I suppose this old man can't remember all information he had. " Yagoo said as an excuse, as he looked away while scratching the back of his head.

Sweatdropping, Kuro looked back to Mumei, as he asked another question. " Are those all that it can do? Any other things that's needed to be mentioned in case anything important I stumbled upon is not ignored? " Kuro asked, as he sneak a look to Yagoo, who's currently looking over a stall with weapons spread out on the table.

Mumei perks up, as she continue explaining more, " Oh right! Beast Orbs can also contain Beast Will that can provide you with the Mana Beast's unique strength or power. Unlike Monsters or Beasts that exist from the cause of crazed Yokais. Mana Beasts are sentient beings, although they do not talk, they do feel some emotions that beings such as Humans, Yokais, and so on felt. "

Mumei said, as her faces took quite of a sad expression, with a lingering pity plastered on her face. Kuro, nodded in silence, as they walked towards another stall. " We're here! " Mumei exclaimed happily, as the previous expression is now nowhere to be seen.

Kuro flashed a small smile, as he looked up to see a banner with some words presented. " Aradia's Best Culinary Shop. " Kuro repeated the word from the banner, as he raised an eyebrow. " That's quite the pretty self exclaiming, it's a good name, right pops? " Kuro said as he tilts his head with a snarky smile, sarcasm hinted out. As Yagoo chuckles, " Don't hurt someone's pride or ego Kuro. "

Kuro chuckled, as he walked inside the stall.

---

" Hh, I'm full. " Kuro said, as he sigh, his stomach felt quite restrained, and when he tries to straighten his body. He felt his stomach being tied around a knot, tightening his stomach in pain. " ow ow ow... "

Mumei blinks, as she looked at the amount of bowls beings stacked on top of each other. It seems funnily straight out of a comedic comic. Yagoo, noticing her surprised face chuckled, " Although this is now how much he usually eats, it seems that his appetite for food, combined with his hunger made this possible. "

" Now that we've satisfied my hunger. " Kuro exclaimed, as he slowly stood up, before grinning, " Where do I find these mana beasts? " he said, as Mumei perks up. " Follow me! " she said, as she quickly stood up from her seat and turned her body around. Walking away from the stall, as Kuro follows quickly, " Hey you two!- " Yagoo exclaimed, but they're already sprinting away.

Yagoo left his mouth open slightly, as he then sighed, before looking to the chef who's chuckling at him. " Kids, am I right? " the chef said, more to a statement than a question, as Yagoo nod. Standing up, he took out some money and placed it on the table. Before walking out, he said his thanks to the chef.

Outside the stall, Yagoo looked around, and walks to his left, ' They're probably going to Elswood Forest. ' Yagoo thought, as he walked through the pathway with crowds filling the streets. He noticed someone, a hooded figure with blue flames, burning a paper away with the tip of its fingertips. Furrowing his eyebrows, suspicion is raised, ' A high-rank affinity fire magic user... '

Suddenly, the hooded figure looked back towards Yagoo, as the both of them is locked in each other's eyes. Time seems to stop, as everything else doesn't matter to Yagoo as of now. He's focused upon the hooded figure, everything else doesn't matter, be it the noises from the crowd, etcetera. Yagoo then tries to sense his core, as he succeeded.

' A silver core..? ' Yagoo thought, as he could also make out some of the man's appearance, the hooded figure's skin tone is dark chocolate. The figure is obviously a male, with a mask covering his mouth. His pupils are blue coloured, a diagonal scar on his eyebrows could also be seen.

The hooded figure, looks away hurriedly, breaking the contact as he walks away. Yagoo, furrowed his eyebrows.

- Elswood Forest -
- Kuro -

Walking in a pathway of dirt, I stepped over some dead leaves, as the sound generated from it alerted many animals in the forest. They quickly ran away, leaving me and Mumei to ourselves. I looked around, drowning myself in the view of this calm forest.

" For a place containing beings that are capable of killing some Mages, this is quite peaceful and calming. " I joked, as Mumei didn't respond, I took notice at this and snap my fingers, as she snapped and giggle sheepishly before nodding, " Yes, but as you can see, this is only the exterior, you can find some Mana Beasts. Although they are not strong, and that they varies from E, D, C, and B rank. They still drop Beast Orbs, though not much, you can use the Beast Orbs in emergency if you need Mana. "

I nodded, a bit confused at her reaction, but I ignored it. As I looked around in case of spotting some Mana Beast, though it seems that there are none as of now. Only animals.

Sighing, I asked Mumei, " Mumei, are Mana Beasts quite rare upon entrance or some few walk inside here? " I finished, as Mumei looks hesitant for a moment, before answering. " No, but, it could be possible that some people already wiped out the smaller Mana Beasts around this area. "

" Right. " I said quietly, nodding once, I suppose it is true but it may be quite unusual for this to be happening. My eyes scan the surrounding terrain of the forest, trying to spot any danger incoming or anything that is eye-catching.

Walking further inside the forest, I grew wary and kept my guard up, my eyes searching for any sign of danger. I took a small peak towards Mumei and notice that she is tense too. Furrowing my eyebrows, I continue on the walk silently and my guard up. Waiting for any moment notice of attack or something.

The pressure as we walked further inside the forest grew, as sweat ran down. A feeling of something, watching me dawn upon me, I couldn't help but feel that this was a bad idea for going in the forest. Less animals are present the further we go in, why is it less than when we're in the entrance?

At the edge of my vision, I could see some white mist slowly entering my field of vision. Although, it's only a strand of mist, that means we're about to step in in a field of mist.

And as I suspected, we arrived in a field of mist, although it's not completely blocking my vision with only mist. I could still spot some trees.

I let Mana escape from my Mana Core, as they travel towards my eyes from my Mana Channel. Before slipping out to my Mana Veins, the flow of Mana then reach towards my eyes. Enhancing my vision, as I could see more clearly.

I stopped on my track, as Mumei did so too, the pressure now is plain and obvious. My heart beats rapidly, as if it's barraging some punches towards my chest. Trying to get out from my insides, I looked around, trying to find the source of the pressure. My eyes landed onto a fur, brown coloured fur covering the space in between two trees. The fur is massive, it seems to be towering over two meters or so, is it a bear? I siphoned Mana from my Mana Core, as the Mana flows towards the channels and went through the veins before arriving at my ears.

With my hearing enhanced, I tried to listen to what activity the bear is probably doing. Other noises interrupted in, such as dead leaves being stepped upon. Wind cutting through the space inside the forest and some small noises generated from what I guess, are animals. But, then, I heard some crunching, from the place where the bear is.

' It's eating something... a meat? ' I thought, as I stopped transfering Mana to my ears and tries to sense the mana contained within the bear.

My eyes widened, as my left hand travels down towards my sheath, placed next on my left hip. I take a look at Mumei, as she too notice the bear and is looking at it. A sweat ran down from her forehead, as I grit my teeth.

I thought over the possibilities and future that could happen, the bear is powerful. I think I could go toe to toe with it considering his mana input, but I don't know about Mumei, hell I'm not really sure if I can go toe to toe with it. Should I fight it? I've never fought a Mana Beast, this could be a great chance to test my limit fighting against someone. No, something that could kill me, that wouldn't be hesitant to shred my whole body.

But, with Mumei here, would I be able to fight against it and protect her at the same time? Although, I don't know about her that much, she doesn't seem to have magic. As I can't sense her core nor have I seen her use magic or feel any magic being used.

Shaking my head, I decided to drop the thought of fighting the bear and ran away instead from here. I walked over to Mumei and opened my mouth, " Mu- "

*Crack*

I stopped on my track, widening my eyes and Mumei, I quickly took Mumei's arm and carry her with my arms. As she yelped, surprised, siphoning Mana from my Core and delivering it down towards my legs. I augmented my legs and bursts forward, in a flash. Trying to get away from the location.

Feeling a mana fluctuation in the air, and my instincts telling me to dodge, I do so and rolled down to the ground. Before throwing Mumei out of my grip, again, my instincts told me to move away.

I jerked my right shoulder backwards, a slash, no three invisible slash managed to slit through my right shoulder. Leaving gashes on my shoulder, as small droplets of blood splash away from my shoulder, I grit my teeth in pain. My teeth slamming against each other, my left hand quickly travels down to my sword. I press my thumb down on the handle before pushing my thumb down.

I took my tranquil blue sword out of the sheath with my right hand, a beautiful long thin sword with the blade gleaming slightly. It's like a diamond, with the insides seemingly able to see through the other side. The sword has a black handle, and no cross guard on my sword could be seen.

My shoulder ache in pain, as I jerked my body to roll away from an attack to the right. Again, a pain erupted from my shoulder as I finished rolling away.

Stopping the roll, I positioned my body in a stance, with my left leg folded, the knee touching the ground. While my right leg is bended 90 degree, my left palm stretches out in the ground. While my right hand is stretched out, as I held my sword.

My eyes are hooked towards my opponent, the same bear that launched the slash. It stood tall, taller than before, even from quite afar, it's height is roughly three meters or so. The face of the bear is as the usual one, a normal bear's face, although it's obviously bigger. Although, the most noticeable thing is the head of a pig, with fresh blood dripping out from the ripped head. The face of the pig is distorted in pain and tears, as if it's a human.

The bear, looked down upon me before spitting the head out of its mouth. I gulped down a saliva, as I groan.

Augmenting my whole body and deploying a protective transparent barrier around me. I dash forward from my position, not using any unnecessary moves, I moved only when dodging rounds of attack coming from the bear who simply stood like twisting my body, or dipping down from an attack, I can't block it as I don't know where it's going to target me. At this point, I'm simply dodging blindly, I also noticed how the distance is growing.

Did the bear move away and gain distance from me as to not let me get closer to him?

I thought, but, in exchange for losing focus, some attacks had reached me, as it cracks the transparent barrier,

' I need to conserve my Mana. ' crackles of lightning starts appearing around parts of my body, generating it. My reaction speed are heightened, as more Mana is siphoned from my Core.

I stopped generating the protective barrier, as it is taking more Mana from my Core. Already heightening my reaction speed, there's no need to keep up the barrier.

I yanked my upper body downwards as I felt a gust of wind passing atop of my head, I quickly fold both of my arms in a 45 degree. Placing both of my palms on the ground, I launched the both of them forward. Unfortunately, my right palm holding the sword jerked backwards from a cannonball-like attack, as I feel the bones inside my fingers breaks. I screamed in pain, letting go of my sword as it flew away, suddenly I noticed another incoming attack towards me.

With my heightened reaction speed, I placed both of my arms in front of me and generate a protective barrier in front of my arms, with panic clouding my head. I didn't manage to fully cover my whole body with the protective barrier.

*CRACK*

I fell flat, face first to the ground, as pain erupted from my legs, it was a excruciating feeling. My knees' bone are separated from the bones in my thighs as tears ran down from my eyes. I can't move my leg from knee to my feet, my bones ache in pain, as if it's being sharpened. But I'm conscious and is feeling the process of the sharpening.

Thoughts began racing in my mind, as I think of my next move.

I put up a protective barrier around my whole body this time. While also generating wind blades with the shape of a cresent to shot out towards the bear. As I then noticed something.

' !!! '

The bear got struck by the wind blades, as the wind blades slit through the bear. It growls in pain out loud, as it punched the air, again, I feel something approaching me.

Suddenly, I see blue lights generating in front of me for a second, before it suddenly gets replaced with a wall. I widened my eyes, as I felt someone rolling me over. Facing the sky, I'm met with Mumei looking over me with worry apparent in her face.

" Don't move, let me heal you. " Mumei said softly, " Mu...mei? " I let out a hoarse voice, shocked. But a light took my attention, as I looked down to see a white light covering my legs.

My head jolted backwards, as it slammed onto the ground, pain exploded once more. But this time, it felt like thousands of bugs biting and crawling all over my lower bones. I grit my teeth in pain, as the pain slowly subsided after a few seconds.

An explosion-like sound rang in my ears, as I feel the tremor on the ground. It seems like the bear is attacking from behind, trying to crumble down the wall and kill it's prey.

" I'm going to heal your injuries now, bear with the pain, okay? " Mumei said, as I nod.

After a few seconds of pain, I feel my broken bones now better, trying to feel my fingers. I clench and unclench my fingers, as the fingers does so.

Letting out a breath of relief, I looked to my legs, apparently fine now because of magic. Looking over Mumei, questions arises in my mind, as Mumei tilts her head.

I sighed, before shaking my head, " I have many questions, but for now, it's better that we dispose of the Mana Beast first. " I said, as Mumei nod.

Next to Mumei, is my sword as I chuckled in relief, " Thanks for getting my sword. "

" No problem. " Mumei said, as I groaned before standing up, " I have a plan. "

---

Standing behind the wall, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, before letting it out.

Opening my eyes, the wall, still strong crumbled down out of a sudden. As the bear locked eyes with me, finally noticing its opponent is out. The bear notice my injury nowhere to be found, as it let out a growl of annoyance. Before letting out a loud, deepening roar, as wind cut through the space, blasting towards me.

" Round two. " I said, with grin creeping up to my face, before slashing in an arc.

---

A/n : Guess who's back? Me.

If I have any typo or wrong grammars and so on please tell me