This is annoying. Although White has only been training for 4 months, he's already better than me. Even though I trained hard with my father long before White started, it's really annoying! This is injustice!

Strolling deeper in the forest whilst letting off steam by butchering the chimeras heading my way, I just kept on slashing to cool my head. It's not like I am bad at using swords, Dad said I was actually good. Although I kinda doubt that cus he says it creepily.

White though. At first, his features kind of looked funny. His white hair reaches his shoulders and his expressions are always so funny to look at that it just makes you want to tease him. Even if he tries to ignore me, I could tell that he couldn't because of the sour look on his face.

But every time I see him use a sword, it's like he's a completely different person. Even when I tease him, he doesn't pout annoyingly like he used to, and instead just has a smile plastered in his face like some painting.

I do know that he is still White though, but it's annoying when someone you deem as cute began being better at what you're good at.

"Huff... Huff.." My ragged breathing seems to be the only noise in the forest. I moved linearly to make sure I can come back to the site, and I also have this ring that would serve as a tracker in case I get lost. The trail of butchered chimeras would also serve as waypoints, so being lost is something I can't even imagine.

I looked up to see a trail of blood that my sword has spilled. "I've made a mess.." Even if White is better than me, he did it through hard work for the past 4 months so that's not something I should feel unjust about. Besides, he is still the cute effeminate looking White I know of. *grumble* Maybe because of my exhaustion, I started feeling hungry. So I turned around to go back when suddenly the environment dimmed.

It was the middle of the day and the sun was shining brightly just a moment ago, yet now it feels like I'm strolling in a fairy's den. The trees were no longer swaying with the wind but in hush silence. Is there a beast here? I ask myself mentally but it's useless as I already know the answer.

I looked up at the sky to see if I'm mistaken, I hoped I'm mistaken, but I was not. Violet and indigo motes rose from the ground up as it levitated in the air before dying out when it reaches above the trees. That confirms it; there is a beast here, and a high-level one at that. I need to go.

High-tier beasts are best known for their ability to influence the environment around them by releasing their pure aura alone. However, since there are two colors of motes here, it could only mean that two high-tier beasts are coming this way. I'm lucky it just happened, which means I can still escape before the beasts themselves get here. I sheathed my sword and ran full speed back to the site when suddenly a sound breaking screech ruptured the air catapulting me to a nearby tree.

More than the pain echoing throughout my entire body, fear erupted from my heart. I can barely move, my throat was dry and my body was exhausted which makes me an idle meal. Even if these beasts were unseen, the fact that they were able to attack me without me seeing them is already troublesome. I stood up and attempted to hide inside a hollow tree, it would be useless to run

so the best thing I can do is hide my presence.

Moments after crawling inside a hollow tree, another screech erupted from the beast. But this cry was different as if it was in pain. Noticing the small hole, I took a peek. A winged giant snake with three-horned heads about the size of a tree was in a clash with a white-winged lion with a bird head.

I've heard of the three-headed snake from dad before. It was a beast known as a Hydrangaea which the demon army used during the great race war. Hydrangaeas were titled "fortress destroyers" because of their ability to use their massive bodies like a giant ram and corrosive breaths that could melt even steel.

As for the lion..? Eagle? I haven't heard of a beast like this. Although it isn't big as the Hydrangaea, it was still fairly big similar to a bunker bed. Despite the size, however, it was still putting up a fight using wind magic and its sharp claws. *Screech* the bird-head lion let out a ferocious screech. The sound itself wouldn't be a problem, but its screech was infused with mana that was able to visibly shake the Hydrangaea as well as deleaf the trees around it. It then flew high above and sped up to the Hydrangaea with an astonishing speed as it used its front claws to try and dice the giant snake.

But the corrosive breath the Hydrangaea released was able to instinctively alarm the bird-head lion to back off. The Bird-head lion crashed and stumbled before releasing another wave of its aura as it aggressively attacks the Hydrangaea. The giant snake did the same as both beasts savagely attacked each other both physically and magically as they use their thickening aura to both attack and defend.

From what I can see, it was a stalemate. The bird-headed lion, however, seemed to be exhausting at an alarming rate. Scars, burns, and corrosion were all present in its body as if it was fighting other beasts before this thing.

Right now, however, I need to circulate enough mana in my body so I can get out of here. Since both beasts are still busy with each other, my presence shouldn't be noticed unless I let out bloodlust.

Right as I was thinking that, a streak of white flew straight above the hollow tree I'm currently hiding, crashing like a cannonball on another tree before falling and sprawling unconscious on the ground. It was the Bird-head lion.

As if it was showing its dominance, the Hydrangaea slowly made its way to the bird-head lion. I covered my mouth to silence my heavy breathing as the Giant snake slithered its way just a few feet away from where I'm currently hiding. After it passed through, I let out a sigh of relief as this giant monstrosity wasn't able to notice me. But as if the Gods of Dorr Valia were playing with me, the tail of the Hydrangaea whipped the hollow tree as if it was forgotten trash.

Surprised, I accidentally let out a small shriek as the hollow tree I'm hiding in rolled and crashed in the bushes. The Hydrangaea must have heard my feeble shriek as it stopped in its tracks before one of its heads turned my way.

Because of the force of impact from the Hydrangaea's tail, the hollow tree almost cracked like an egg revealing me. Luckily, the bushes served as a cover for that hole, or at least that's what I thought. The hydrangaea turned all three of its head towards me revealing a savage, hungry look.

It saw me! Fear, panic, despair-- everything was present. I can't do anything, I'm already exhausted and my body won't listen to me. I felt light-headed while I was covering my mouth's heavy breathing, desperately hoping that this beast hasn't really seen me. Tears begin to form from my vision as the blood drained from my head and the only thing I could think of is a desperate plead for someone, for anyone to save me.

The giant monstrosity loomed above me with its constant hissing. As our eyes met, I felt the snake's six red eyes penetrate my soul through and through. Why was I here again? What kind of stupidity did I have to hunt alone? My breathing became more and more rapid as every regret, memory, reason, desire, and despair I'm feeling right here and now was like fighting for my sole attention.

It's hopeless I finally thought before losing consciousness from the overload of thoughts and emotions.