Extra's Magic



"Come forth, Vanara!"

Whoosh...

Mana started to swirl within my palm and I could feel the strange energy surging through my body.

The grey rune on my palm began to glow in bright blue color and particle by particle a longsword started to materialize in my hand.

The weapon was truly a sight to behold...

Its slender, gleaming blade shimmered with a radiant aura, reflecting the ambient light around it. The steel was masterfully crafted, honed to perfection, and adorned with intricate engravings that depicted ancient symbols and mythical creatures.

As my gaze traveled along the length of the blade, I noticed the engravings that seemed to be dancing on the blade. Each mark seemed to hold a secret as if whispering tales of battles fought and victories won.

The hilt of the sword was a stark contrast to the radiant blade. It was wrapped in black cloth, soft to the touch, yet emanating an air of mystery and power. The cloth was tightly wound around the grip, providing a firm hold and ensuring precise control in combat.

Swish... Swish...

I slashed the sword through the air, testing its weight and balance and I was not disappointed.

The sword felt light yet sturdy, perfectly suited for fast and precise movements. It is perfect for my combat style which emphasizes agility and speed over brute force.

Also, my Weapon Style could benefit from the length of this sword, since it provides a longer reach and allows for versatile strikes from various angles.

"I want to test it..."

Muttering to myself, I turned toward the exit of the cave, looking at the curtain of water that separated me from the outside world.

"It's going to be cold..."

I thought, before taking in a deep breath and charging forward, allowing the water to engulf me.

Splash...

I fell straight into the freezing water, which felt like a thousand needles piercing my skin. The heat that was previously released by the strange rock structure was now completely gone, replaced by the bitter cold of the lake.

"..."

Nevertheless, I rose to the surface, feeling the cold water seeping through my clothes and chilling my bones.

Splash... Splash...

I began to swim toward the shore, my dark coat and hair trailing behind me like black tendrils.

"Fuck..."

As I reached the shore, I emerged from the water, my teeth chattering and my body shaking with cold.

Sure, I was resistant to pain and my mental fortitude was that of a monster, but I could not ignore the physical discomfort.

So, anyway, ignoring the cold, I gripped my Authority and swung it in a wide arc, feeling seeing the water droplets being pushed away as the blade sliced through the air effortlessly.

For a second it seemed as if the raindrops themselves were moving to avoid the blade, or perhaps it was just my imagination.

As I continued to practice with the sword, it became clear that its black cloth-wrapped grip not only provided comfort and control but also concealed unique properties

Since I only had limited time to test the sword, I couldn't determine exactly what those properties were. There was also not a single mention of them in the Status Window when I checked it.

All it wrote was:

<-- ???????????????????????????????????? -->

[ ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ]

???????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ????????, ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

There was not a single mention of its unique properties, leaving me to speculate it had abilities I needed to unlock by mastering the Authority.

"I need a dummy..."

Looking toward the forest, I felt a creepy smile spreading across my face. What better way to test the sword's abilities than by practicing on a monster?

Tap... Tap...

Walking through the rain, I made sure to cause some noise, walking loudly and carelessly to attract any nearby monsters.

Oops, I accidentally slipped on the rock!

Oops, unfortunately, I stepped on a twig!

Wow, my sword accidentally cut down an entire tree!

My silly antics continued until I finally noticed a glimpse of movement in the nearby bushes. I instantly positioned myself toward it, gripping my Authority tightly and readying myself for a fight.

Growl...

The monster slowly emerged from the bushes, revealing its grotesque appearance. It was a foul-looking creature with large claws, like those of a bear and rough scales covering its skin, like that of a reptile.

The creature seemed like a mix of different animals, perhaps a result of a weird mutation or just a specimen of this area, however, I, for sure, hadn't encountered anything like it before.

"Let's see what this sword can do..."

My eyes scanned the thick scales covering the monster's body and I smirked, realizing that it was a perfect dummy to test my new weapon's capabilities.

Growl...

The creature lunged at me, but I avoided its claws with ease, stepping to the side and dodging it smoothly.

I could hear the raindrops falling on the ground, as I spun around and slashed the monster's abdomen, expecting my Authority to bounce off the scales, however...

Pluck...

My blade sliced through the scales like butter, splitting the monster in half and ending its life instantaneously.

"..."

I stood there stunned for a moment, my eyes shifting from the monster's lifeless body to my sword.

"What the hell..."

In the end, only three words came out of my mouth. I expected the sword to be good, but not to be that powerful. My previous Katana was nowhere close to slashing the monster in two with such ease.

Looking at the blood of the creature, I realized that the sharpness of this Authority was something only a mid-tier weapon could have.

"..."

For some reason, it seemed as if the sword was stronger than it was in the game or else I would've abused it endlessly.

"I need to do more tests..."

I treaded deeper into the dense forest, my senses heightened and attuned to any sign of movement. The rain continued to pour relentlessly, but I paid it no mind. Every droplet that drenched my clothes only fueled my determination.

After a few minutes of careful exploration, I stumbled upon a clearing where a majestic creature stood, its eyes glimmering with a mix of curiosity and hostility. It was a massive tiger, with silver fur glistening in the rain, and its fangs bared in a menacing snarl.

A Tiger of this size and strength would undoubtedly provide a worthy challenge. The perfect opportunity to test the true potential of my Authority. With a surge of adrenaline, I charged forward, closing the distance between us.

Whoosh...

The tiger lunged at me, its jaws aiming to tear into my flesh, but I deftly sidestepped its attack. Swift as the wind, I retaliated with a precise slash, aiming for the creature's neck. My blade cut through the air, leaving behind a trail of shimmering blue light.

Clang...

The sword struck the tiger's neck, meeting with surprising resistance. The creature's dense fur and robust muscles absorbed the impact, but the blade didn't falter. I felt a surge of power flowing through me, Mana enveloping the blade of the Authority.

With renewed determination, I twisted my grip on the hilt and executed a swift, circular motion, guiding the sword along the tiger's neck. The blade effortlessly severed sinew and bone, leaving the creature's head hanging by a thread. In a final convulsion, the tiger collapsed, lifeless.

"..."

All I could do was stare at the majestic creature, now nothing but a carcass on the ground. It didn't quite feel like this was a real fight, but rather an assassination.

The entire battle had lasted only for a dozen seconds and my opponent was already lying on the ground, his blood spilling out into the damp earth.

Tap... Tap...

The rain continued to mix with the blood on the ground, creating a surreal scene that I somehow found beautiful.

***

Rose looked outside the window, seeing the heavy rain pouring down relentlessly. The scenery outside was blurring into a hazy mess, but she found herself fascinated by the way water droplets seemed to cling onto everything they touched

Maybe it was because her Mana Art was ice-based, but Rose couldn't help but admire the fluidity and beauty of water.

Thud... Thud...

Suddenly, someone knocked at her door, breaking her from her trance-like state.

"Coming..."

She quickly got up from her seat and approached the door, wondering who could be visiting her at such a late night.

As she opened the door, Rose was surprised to see a dark figure standing before her, it was one of her attendants.

"Princess..."

The man bowed respectfully, before extending an envelope toward her.

"The man you've assigned us to observe has left the city..."

Quickly briefing Rose about everything that had transpired, the attendant bowed his head, disappearing back into the pouring rain before she could even respond.

"..."

Rose looked at the envelope and then into the night sky.

"You are hell of an interesting person..."

Grabbing a phone off the table, Rose quickly dialed a number before throwing on a coat and heading into the rain.

Ring... Ring...

"Locate Aiden's whereabouts"