Fingers tensed, then a paw rose - aimed dead at the Grey Prima - as the blob pulled together and sprang. Mid-leap, its form twisted too far, the gelatinous shape quivering above the earth, with that inner glow flashing open, bare for an instant.
"Stone Shot."
Fragments of sound burst from Ethan, high and jagged, yet the meaning cut through without delay.
Something responded.
A shiver ran through the dirt beside his lifted paw. Not slowly, but suddenly - gravel, dust, and broken bits leaped upward like something unseen had grabbed them mid-air.
Spinning wildly, crashing into one another with a harsh grind, the pieces pressed closer, forced into shape by pressure without warning.
What remained behind was hard, stretched like an egg made of cracked stone. Edges were sharp, trembling just slightly - as though holding back more than it could contain.
It hung there - just for an instant. Then stillness took over.
Then it launched.
A sudden rush carried the rock ahead, tearing through space like something launched at high speed. Behind it, debris scattered, kicked up by force alone.
In mid-leap, still rising, the Grey Prima had no time - not a single instant - to shift or turn. The impact came hard, punching deep into its soft, quivering mass.
There was little resistance.
A rock flew straight through the goo like fog and hit the bright blue core without slowing. That inner glow snapped apart - suddenly, quietly, sharply - the sound barely rising above rustling leaves.
Blue pieces arced into the air, dimming fast before they touched moss and roots below. The creature dropped, its form crumpling while still drifting downward.
Blobs of goo struck the floor with a damp smack.
What had been solid now lay shapeless, oozing into the ground like water tipped from a cup, utterly still.
But the stone didn't stop.
Fueled by Ethan's magic, the stone raced ahead without slowing. Right in front of it loomed a huge tree, unmoving. Hitting head-on, the rock tore through bark and timber alike - a crack echoing like split thunder.
Through the center it bored, leaving a neat gap where the solid trunk once was. Only after passing through the tree did the projectile finally lose its energy, tumbling to the ground somewhere beyond with a dull thud.
Silence followed.
Ethan's foot remained rooted to the ground as he stared at what was left of the Grey Prima. Slime spread in patches, vanishing into soil like mist on stone. Blue shards lay cracked, their glow sinking into silence. Life had left it - there was no doubt about that.
His gaze shifted.
His eyes moved towards the tree.
A round gap, ripped right through the tree's center.
Then he looked down at his own paws.
Seconds passed before his thoughts matched the sight in front of him.
…Did I do that?
Air slipped out of him, short and shaky. It was not fear - this time it was surprise that made his heart slam against his ribs. The grin started small, then took over, widening across his rabbit features until nothing else fit on his face.
HUH. THAT WAS AMAZING.
The words echoed in his head as his excitement surged uncontrollably. His heart jumped - this was real. It had happened. He had killed a monster. Not with borrowed power. Not with a beast at his side.
With his own magic.
Staring at his paw, Ethan did not blink once. Slowly, he raised it - angling it sideways, then back again - as if maybe a shift would make things different. Heat pulsed inside him, that strange hum still alive under the skin of his ribs.
So this is what it feels like…
Using magic. Real magic.
Spells in Blizzard Online usually followed a pattern. Press a key. Say the words. See damage appear on screen. Yet something shifted this time. Energy built up inside him first. It moved through his arms. Then out into the world.
A pull before the push. Weight giving way to emptiness. Power that did not just happen - it arrived.
Who knew using magic felt this incredible?
A slow smile took hold once he understood. Though small, like a rabbit - with weak arms and a thin hide - he found ways to push back. Victory remained possible. That truth stretched his grin even wider.
Yet happiness faded fast.
Frozen air snapped with a high note slicing between the trees - clean and sudden. That ring cut deep into silence.
DING!
A twitch passed through Ethan when the tiny purple rectangle appeared before his eyes. Smaller than the last display, it shimmered with a dimmer light - still strange enough to stir discomfort.
[SSS-RANKED SYSTEM]
[Soul Energy: 20/300. +Recovers over time).]
Frozen in place, Ethan looked hard at the digits.
Once.
Twice.
His eyes suddenly grew wide.
WHAT THE HELL?!
A noise burst through his skull, yet only sharp little squeaks came out as he clenched his teeth. His body trembled with disbelief and anger as he stared at the screen again, wishing without reason that it might show something different.
They didn't.
JUST ONE SPELL?!
His thoughts raced, boiling over.
TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SOUL ENERGY - GONE?!
Ethan's foot thudded hard on the dirt, but he barely noticed the ache racing through his limb. His breathing was rough and fast, and he clenched his small teeth tight. Rage swallowed every trace of what had thrilled him moments before.
That spell nearly drained me dry!
He glared at the empty space where the Prima had been, as if blaming the dead creature for the cost.
A bitter feeling settled on his tongue. Had that single Stone Shot missed - or worse, what if some creature appeared at this very moment - then he would have nothing left to fight back.
Before he could spiral further, another chime cut through the air.
DING!
This one sounded heavier.
A sudden shift - the small display blinked out, giving way to a broad purple surface that stretched into view. Along its borders, odd markings and broken patterns shimmered slightly when fresh data arrived.
[SSS-RANKED SYSTEM]
Name: Ethan White
Title: Chosen One
Class: ???
HP: 140/230 (+30)
Soul Energy: 20/340 (+40)]
[Stats:
Strength: 10 (+5)
Agility: 18 (+5)
Magic: 22 (+6)
Defense: 9 (+5)]
[Skills (2):
Water Ball
Stone Shot]
Ethan stared at the screen.
Silently.
Something left his body, fast, like wind out of sails. His air moved through his chest at a lower pace now.
Each mark on the screen caught his gaze, held it - especially those figures, the rising bits in green next to them.
His HP had increased.
His soul energy capacity had increased.
Every single stat had jumped.
Strength.
Agility.
Magic.
Defense.
All higher than before.
A slow, satisfied smile crept back onto his face as the meaning sank in.