---
Gabriel had been walking for about twenty minutes when he abruptly halted, his eyes narrowing as if he sensed an unseen presence. His instincts kicked in, and with a fluid motion, he materialized his staff in his right hand while his left began to channel his spell, [Light Hurricane]. With pinpoint accuracy, he hurled the spell into a specific direction.
As the spell shot through the air, it seemed to collide with something invisible before dropping to the ground, rustling the leaves around it. Gabriel, his senses now fully heightened, spotted a shadow flitting through the forest, precisely where he had aimed his skill.
"Is someone there?" he called out, his voice steady but edged with caution. His eyes swept the area until they caught the briefest glimpse of a silhouette retreating swiftly.
Reacting without hesitation, Gabriel sprinted after the elusive figure, casting all his buffs along the way. His heart pounded in his chest as he pursued the shadow, which weaved through the trees, heading toward the eastern gate of Reid City.
Even as adrenaline surged through him, Gabriel couldn't help but notice the beauty of his surroundings—the way sunlight dappled the forest floor, the sweet fragrance of blooming wildflowers, and the melodic chirping of birds. But he quickly refocused on the chase. "Ha! Do you think you can flee?"
Relying on his buff, [Tail Wind], Gabriel pushed himself to keep up with the figure, who seemed almost to be flying. Despite the challenge, Gabriel was determined, and the gap between them gradually closed.
Suddenly, Gabriel reached into his magic bag, pulling out a scroll he had looted from the Fallen Undead Mysterious Realm. With a swift activation, he felt a surge of lightness in his body, propelling him forward with an additional burst of speed. The world around him blurred as he honed in on the shadow ahead.
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[Name: Blood Escape Scroll]
[Type: Miscellaneous]
[Grade: Common]
[Description: A scroll crafted from blood. By sacrificing a portion of your HP, your movement speed will increase by 50%. Sacrificing a quarter of your HP boosts your speed by 150%. Once the usage limit is reached, the scroll will self-destruct.]
Usage: 1/2
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As a healer, Gabriel could maximize the scroll's potential. He chose to sacrifice a quarter of his HP, knowing the speed boost was essential. This sacrifice made him faster and more agile, allowing him to close the distance swiftly.
After some time, the shadowy figure finally came to a halt atop a tall tree in a dense forest, about thirty miles from Reid City. It seemed as though the shadow was waiting for someone.
Noticing the figure's pause, Gabriel followed suit, leaping from tree to tree until he reached the one nearest to his quarry. Narrowing his eyes, Gabriel studied the figure shrouded in thick black fog, unable to discern any details of their appearance—not their gender, nor their face—filling him with unease. "Excuse me, but who are you?" he asked warily. "And why were you following me? We don't know each other."
The figure responded with a series of eerie laughs, "He he he he he." Gabriel stood uncertain, unsure of how to react, when suddenly, the shadow launched a fierce attack, using the dark fog as a weapon.
With a dry chuckle, Gabriel watched the shadow's assault and decided to act. He summoned his protective buffs, fortifying himself against the incoming dark fog. Yet, a sense of dread lingered as he braced for the attack.
Instinctively, Gabriel darted aside as the ominous fog neared him. The black haze brushed against the tree he had been behind, and within moments, the tree was reduced to rotting debris.
Gabriel's eyes blazed with anger. "You're ruthless! You intended to kill me!" he shouted, realizing he couldn't afford to remain defensive. Concentrating his mana into his hand, he prepared to strike.
With his spell ready, Gabriel unleashed a potent hurricane of compressed light, directing it at the dark, fog-enshrouded figure. The force of the hurricane was so intense that it tore through the surrounding trees, scattering debris in every direction.
The night air was shattered by deafening explosions that reverberated across the forest, shaking the ground beneath Gabriel's feet. When the cacophony subsided, a thick cloud of smoke and dust hung in the air. As the haze slowly cleared, Gabriel surveyed the destruction.
The once-lush greenery was now a barren wasteland, every tree reduced to rubble. And amid the devastation, the dark figure that had caused it all had vanished.
Gabriel was scanning his surroundings when he suddenly sensed a presence above him. The sound of movement prompted him to shift his position swiftly, his face twisting in fear as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
A loud explosion followed, making Gabriel's heart skip a beat. He turned to see a black sword embedded deep in the ground where he had just been standing. Gabriel's mind raced, recognizing the narrow escape he had just made, and he couldn't help but feel grateful for his quick reflexes.
As he stood his ground, Gabriel looked up at the sky, his gaze locking onto the ominous figure hovering above. The figure's dark silhouette was stark against the moonlit sky.
Gabriel's eyes widened in shock. The shadowy figure wore a black tank top and a skull-shaped mask, and was defying gravity, floating in mid-air with a black sword in hand.
Recognition struck Gabriel like a bolt of lightning—this was the same man who had nearly killed him (the former Gabriel) in the testing dungeon. The memory of that terrifying encounter surged back, sending a shiver down his spine.
"F*ck! Idiot!" Gabriel cursed under his breath, frustration boiling over. He had sworn not to repeat his predecessor's mistakes, yet here he was, recklessly pursuing someone who could very well be his killer.
...
Gabriel's emotions churned, but he maintained a composed demeanor as he faced the skull-masked man. His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he asked, "So, who the hell are you?" Despite the stunning moonlit backdrop, Gabriel had no time to appreciate it. The man's aura was steeped in danger and violence.
In response, Gabriel summoned his [Conqueror's Haki], countering the man's killing intent. The ensuing clash of energies was a spectacle—sparks flew, lightning crackled, and the ground beneath them shattered.
...
Gabriel remained focused on the skull-masked man, noting his opponent's silence. Without delay, Gabriel prepared to use [Light Hurricane] again. This time, he paused for a few seconds before releasing the skill, a technique he had developed while battling undead creatures in the Fallen Undead Realm. He was curious about the effects of stacking his skills.
As Gabriel channeled his energy, he felt wind pressure gathering at his hand, tiny sparks of lightning crackling around it. He kept a close watch on his opponent, ready to react.
Suddenly, the skull-masked man whispered, "Oh, you can block my killing intent? Let's see how long you can maintain that." His sinister laughter echoed through the air as he drew his sword and charged at Gabriel with blinding speed.
The battlefield resonated with a vacuum-like sound as the skull-masked man darted around Gabriel, his laughter maniacal and chilling. With his sword crackling with lightning, the man seemed almost otherworldly. The sound of thousands of birds chirping filled the air, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
"Ahahahahah!" the skull-masked man roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Let's see how you block my next attack!"
In an instant, the man screamed, "DIE!" and his sword vanished, only to reappear moments later, hurtling toward Gabriel at lightning speed.
BOOOMM!!!
-910 HP
[Prompt! Your shield withstood the damage!]
Gabriel narrowly avoided the explosion caused by the skull-masked man's attack. Thanks to his powerful protective spell, [Shield], Gabriel had cast before the battle, he was able to withstand the initial assault. The [Shield] spell was so potent that it could block damage equivalent to six times Gabriel's own health points.
Yet, the skull-masked man was relentless. He continued his unyielding onslaught, determined to bring Gabriel down.
CLANG!!!
[Prompt! Your shield withstood the damage!]
CLANG!!!
[Prompt! Your shield withstood the damage!]
CLANG!!!
[Prompt! Your shield withstood the damage!]
The battlefield had transformed into a scene of intense combat, the clash of sword and staff resounding through the area. Each collision sent a shower of sparks into the air, with shockwaves that reverberated across the battlefield. The noise was deafening, creating a disorienting effect that made it hard for Gabriel to focus on anything else but the fight for his life.