Mana erupted outward in an invisible wave, rippling from the pond's edge and shuddering through every living thing nearby. Birds shrieked before taking flight, the pond's surface trembled, and the bear **jerked its head up.** Its eyes widened for a split second—it had sensed Kaelen's presence. Now, it didn't just face a threat.
It faced **the whisper of death itself.**
**But this display of power came at a cost.**
In this state, Kaelen could only last three minutes.
And those three minutes had just begun.
Kaelen took a deep breath. As his chest rose and fell gently, a few leaves resting on his face remained perfectly still. He was now in his "Kai" form—the form of calm, of invisibility. His mana had withdrawn deep into his body; not a ripple, not a glimmer... He seemed like an ordinary man. None of the mana-sensitive creatures around could sense his presence.
But this was only the quiet before the storm.
Kaelen closed his eyes and turned inward. One by one, he began opening his mana veins. These veins were like ancient pathways within his body, each connected to his mana core—and now, that core was awakening. The energy hidden deep within stirred like a tempest. At first, it spread through his chest like a warm wave, then to his shoulders, arms, legs... until it enveloped his entire body.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in his "Peak" form.
This form was the manifestation of pure power. Kaelen's surroundings suddenly began to glow. The white mana overflowing from his core transformed into an aura around him, so dense it became a visible haze. The waves of energy radiating from this luminous aura sent every living thing nearby into panic. The mana had become almost tangible—a mist-like presence spreading three meters wide, dominating the earth and air.
Kaelen was no longer hiding.
In this state, he was a direct threat to every mana beast in the area. They were like prey caught in the eye of a storm—except the storm wasn't approaching; they were already inside it.
Kaelen's gaze shifted to the massive creature a few meters away. Its thick brown fur was barely visible through the bushes. The bear-like beast, sensing Kaelen's mana, suddenly lurched forward. Its muscles tensed, pupils dilating. Its instincts screamed: *Run.*
But it was too late.
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. His breath turned cold. At that moment, the bushes beside the beast rustled violently, and two mages burst out. Each held iron spheres coated in mana, vibrating like mana bullets. In near-perfect sync, they swung their arms.
The tension in the air shattered into a predatory strike.
The spheres shot forward like lightning, embedding themselves in the beast's hind legs. The mana fused with steel seared through flesh, scorching nerve endings. The bear-like creature let out an ear-splitting screech.
***"Aghhhhhh!"***
This was more than a cry of pain—it was a death knell. The beast staggered, then instinctively bolted toward its planned escape route. Its massive body shook the ground as it ran. Kaelen's eyes tracked it for a moment before scanning his surroundings.
Everything... was going perfectly. The plan was unfolding with terrifying precision.
And that unsettled Kaelen.
He stepped out from behind the boulder he'd been hiding against, brushing dust off his shoulder. He released his "Peak" form, reverting to "Kai." The roles were clear now—hunter and prey.
Then Olivia and Liam appeared, eyes sharp, bodies tense.
Kaelen began walking in the direction the beast had fled. His steps were light against the earth, but the feeling rising in his chest was the opposite—hard, jarring. His instincts screamed a warning. A chill shot up his spine, leaving an icy numbness at the base of his neck. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
***"Stop!"*** he suddenly roared, his voice cutting through the forest.
His hand shot up. Olivia and Liam must have sensed it too, freezing instantly. Silence fell—even the birds went quiet.
Then it happened.
In less than a tenth of a second, a thin streak of light flashed where the beast had been running. At the lakeshore, as if the air itself had been torn open, a figure emerged. The creature was flung into the air and then slammed headfirst into the ground. A gleaming sword pinned it down, running from its skull straight through its spine. The mana vibrations from the blade were still palpable.
The dust settled slowly. The silence confirmed one truth: the beast was dead.
For a moment, Kaelen couldn't believe what he'd just witnessed. Then an involuntary smile tugged at his lips. A genuine one. A familiar presence, a familiar energy... and someone he never expected to see here...
A graceful figure emerged from the shadows.
Slender, yet radiating menace. Thanks to her "Peak" ability, she had remained invisible up to six meters away—but now she was here, visible in all her terrifying glory. Her clothes were stained with blood, not a drop of it her own. Her crimson hair, darkened by blood, framed piercing green eyes—eyes that held abyssal depths.
Her gaze first flicked to the mana beast impaled on the ground, then to the three stunned figures behind it—Kaelen, Olivia, and Liam.
Kaelen's steps faltered. Time seemed to slow. His eyes locked onto the figure before him, pupils dilating.
He recognized her.
**Estelle Escard.**
*"What the hell is this lunatic doing here?"*
Kaelen cursed inwardly.