His new friend pulled his finger back and, carrying her body, jumped out the window to escape the place as it began to collapse.
Ebon, hanging awkwardly due to the bindings, looked like a damsel in distress, but he didn't care about that.
"(Damn it… If I don't find that stupid seed, no girl is ever going to want to be with me if I'm stuck next to this stupid lunatic!)" Ebon thought, trying to hold back his tears of desperation.
The elf didn't stop moving through the tree branches. However, they weren't alone. Men in black robes began to chase them.
"Damn thieves, return the dagger, you have nowhere to run!" shouted the leader of the squad of humans pursuing them.
He wore a white mask with lines that resembled trails of bloody tears running down his cheeks.
"(That guy looks dangerous, he's definitely at least C-rank… I don't think we can win… Hell, maybe dying wouldn't be so bad if I won't even get to f—)"
His thoughts were interrupted when the elf leapt off a cliff toward a raging river.
"What the hell is wrong with you, psychopath, I'm tied up, I can't swim!" Ebon shouted, struggling.
"I have a plan, just trust me," the elf said, pointing downward and uttering a word that sounded more like a whistle than actual speech.
{{Forest Summoning: Great Growth}}
Mid-fall, the elf activated a magic circle using only one hand. From a crack in the cliff, a tree instantly sprouted, slowing their descent. With one final jump, they reached the riverbank safely.
The cultists arrived at the edge of the cliff, but their leader stopped them from attempting the same maneuver. Seconds later, the tree rapidly aged and collapsed into the river.
"Boss, what do we do now?" asked one of the hooded men, watching the thieves escape with fury.
"Calm down, I'll handle it," said the masked leader as he extended his hand.
The leader removed one of his gloves, and a bluish magic seal formed over his palm. Since the rest of the squad weren't mages, they could only wait for their leader's help.
Then the river responded immediately, shaping itself into a tentacle that slowly climbed up the cliff.
Meanwhile, the elf caught his breath on the riverbank, but upon witnessing that, the brief rest turned back into a retreat.
"That masked one is a mage, in that case we won't be able to run forever, it's best to finish them off, tell me miss, do you know what abilities your new body has?" Lucian asked the girl slung over his shoulder.
"How would I know… It doesn't matter, I won't be able to fulfill my dream anyway…"
"What? Where did that fire to live go?"
"It stayed in your burned-down shack."
"Stop joking around and check your Mirror already."
"Mirror? You mean the status window?"
"Everyone in this world has one and it's called a Mirror, stop talking like a Visitor and check your abilities, you bipolar miss."
"(Whatever… System, show me my Status)"
[------------------------]
Below is the Status of your incarnation:
Name: (Undefined)
Age: 21
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Role: Healer
Stats:
- - - Strength: Terrible {F} (1)
- - - Magic: High {C} (20)
- - - Spirituality: Terrible {F} (1)
- - - Intelligence: Average {D} (10)
- - - Endurance: Terrible {F} (2)
- - - Vitality: High {C} (11)
Traits:
- - - (????): ??? {?}
- - - Healer of the Helpless: High {C}
- - - Visitor from Another World: Immeasurable {i}
- - - (Undefined)
[------------------------]
"Nooo, this is the last thing I needed, what the hell!" the girl shouted angrily.
"What is it, did they catch up already?" the elf asked, worried.
"Something much worse… I'm a freaking Healer, a walking Tylenol!"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but this is perfect," Lucian said as he stopped retreating, standing on a tree branch before setting the girl down and freeing her bindings.
"Listen, I'm a Summoner Warrior, I can win against most of the cultists, but the masked one is a different story."
He touched the tree and it responded to his magic. He felt the trunk twist until, from one of its sides, a curved wooden sword formed.
"My strongest move is a double-edged sword, so I'll end up badly injured, and I'm sure the masked one will too, that's where you come in."
"Heal you and then you deal with the guy, great plan, but there's one tiny problem, I don't know how to use spells!"
"What? Then what good are you to me? I'm starting to regret the contract."
"Go screw yourself, you fucking idiot, if you hadn't drawn that dagger we wouldn't be in this mess, those daggers have tracking magic."
"Seriously? And how was I supposed to know that, I'm not a cultist, besides my original plan didn't include keeping you alive to begin with."
There was no time to keep arguing. He could feel presences approaching. He assumed it was a natural ability of Supports to detect life.
The elf began infusing his magic into the wood. It vibrated softly. At that moment, he looked at her.
"You're basically a child anyway, you'd better pray that everyone dies by my hands and we won't need your magic."
"What a great speech, I feel so hopeful, at least teach me how to cast magic."
The elf was about to reply when a ball of water grazed past his face.
"You're surrounded, we won't allow you to escape with a blank dagger, if you return it intact I promise I won't torture you too much."
Without giving them more time, the presences began to surround the tree, keeping a wide distance.
The elf jumped down from the branch and landed gracefully. He adjusted the sword at his waist as if ready to draw at any moment, though it was still just wood against iron blades.
"So a half-elf, didn't think I'd see one in these lands, and with a wooden sword, that's new to me, are you going to make us eat our vegetables with that little twig?"
Laughter rose from the group.
"Of course not, I'll make you spit out your guts."
The leader tilted his head and, with a gesture, ordered the attack. The entire squad charged at the elf. The smug bastard closed his eyes and once again uttered a word in the elven tongue.
{{Forest Summoning: Guardian's Sword}}
In an instant, the sword emitted a soft glow. Its exterior transformed into leaves, revealing a real blade within.
Without wasting a second, the elf drew it with force, shattering the swords aimed at him. The cultists were left stunned just long enough for him to advance, slicing through their bodies. However, a black sword stopped his charge.
"I knew a long-eared one wouldn't disappoint me, come on old man, give me your best shot."
The masked man also drew his bastard sword. The black blade radiated a curse.
The battle between them began as the leader's allies fired arrows without restraint. Their coordination was flawless. The elf barely managed to dodge the projectiles and block the black sword.
"Surrender, old man, the Cult of Promises holds no grudges, we only want the thief, you don't have to defend her."
"What makes you think I'm not her accomplice, can't an elf be a thief?"
"Not one like you, after all that dagger is only for contracts and no one would bind their blood with a mixed-blood abomination."
The elf's face twisted with rage. Seeing the cultists advance step by step, he made a risky decision.
"Then let's see if you survive this abomination."
He whistled that sound once more and stabbed the sword into the ground. A magic circle devoured the terrain. At first it was small, but it grew until it became enormous, surrounding them all.
{{Forest Summoning: Sleeping Giant}}