As I ran, I activated my talent. The Generator Core stirred to life, absorbing energy from the surroundings.
I pushed 10 units into Strength, making room for more Essence. I wasn't focusing on condensing or creating Essence right now. That wasn't the goal. What I wanted was fights.
Buildings lay in ruins around me, their skeletal remains littering the landscape. I barreled through the wreckage, leaping over collapsed walls and shattered stone, when a sharp shriek cut through the air.
I skidded to a stop and turned toward the sound.
My staff rested in my right hand as I sprinted in its direction.
A tilted building stood in my way, its foundation cracked and broken. Without slowing down, I jumped, my boots slamming against the slanted surface. Two quick leaps, and I was on the roof.
I scanned the area.
"There."
[Level 32]
I grinned.
"Found you."
Bending my knees, I activated [Seismic Burst].
Essence and Strength surged through my legs. The next instant, an explosion erupted beneath my feet, launching me forward like a cannonball. Behind me, the weakened building collapsed, crumbling into dust.
The noise caught the Abomination's attention. Its head twitched toward me, then it shrieked, a piercing, ear-splitting sound.
I kept my grin as I soared toward it.
The creature spread its arms wide. Then, with a sudden motion, it slashed both arms in an X-formation toward me.
Something felt off.
I narrowed my eyes. Then I heard it, the sharp whooshing sound cutting through the air.
A split second later, I sensed the shift in Essence.
My eyes widened slightly.
'Wind blades.'
Instinct took over, and I raised my staff in front of me mid-air.
A powerful impact slammed into me. My body flew backward, crashing into the ground. Dust and debris exploded around me as I tumbled across the wreckage.
I rolled to a stop and got back on my feet.
Glancing at my knuckles, I noticed a few nicks on the skin.
I exhaled.
"Wind blades."
So, this one could use the wind element.
I dusted off my uniform and cracked my neck.
"Alright, bat. You have my attention."
I activated [Psynapse Boost], and another [Seismic Burst] exploded from my legs, launching me straight at the creature again.
My perception flared to life.
The world around me shifted. Essence filled my vision, swirling in chaotic waves.
I saw it all, fire burning in streaks of orange, darkness curling in wisps of black, water flowing in ripples of blue. The very air pulsed with power, shifting and changing in unpredictable ways.
The creature's ears twitched. It shifted its weight.
I caught every movement in slow motion.
It raised its right hand, claws lifting high, then slashed downward.
Wind gathered instantly, spiraling around its arm. Essence twisted, bending to the creature's will, and in the next moment, a sharp, near-invisible blade formed in front of its claws.
Then it slashed.
The wind blade shot toward me.
I locked onto it.
Two meters away.
I focused, slamming my will into the wind element, trying to seize control of the Essence inside.
A meter and a half.
I activated [Essence Shift].
The green glow of Essence flashed in my vision as I commanded the wind to revert.
A meter left.
I kept my mind locked on the wind blade, my will wrapped around it like a vice. But in the end—
I still failed.
The wind refused to obey me.
I spun my staff and raised it to block at the last second.
Boom!
The impact smashed into me, hurling my body backward. I crashed into the ground again, skidding through the rubble. Dust exploded into the air.
I exhaled sharply and got back on my feet.
This was going to take some work.
The creature shrieked once then again but didn't move.
I tilted my head.
"You really think I'm dumb enough to rush in the same way a third time?"
I scoffed, bent my legs, and fired off another [Seismic Burst].
My body rocketed forward, straight toward the creature.
But there was no way I was letting it get away with tossing me around twice.
Mid-air, I activated another [Seismic Burst], adjusting my trajectory in an instant. The bat had barely begun to raise its hand when I was already in front of it.
I planted my feet firmly, twisting my body. My left fist snapped back—
Then slammed into its gut.
The impact sent the creature flying. Its body crashed through the wreckage, smashing through slabs of concrete and twisted metal.
I flexed my fingers and shook out my hand, then stepped forward.
"That's one."
The bat twitched and dragged itself up from the rubble, shaking its head. Its elongated ears flared as it turned to face me again. I cracked my knuckles.
"Come on, bat. You're supposed to be a wind-type, aren't you?" I spread my arms, daring it.
"Where's the wind? Where's the fancy slicing blades?"
The creature screeched and sprinted forward, but this time, there was no wind, no tricks. Just raw speed and claws aiming for my throat.
I scoffed and swayed my head to the side, letting its claws swipe past. Before it could pull back, I lifted my staff and slammed the butt of it into its ribs. A deep thud echoed as the impact caved its side inward, sending it staggering back.
"Not good enough," I muttered.
The bat shook off the hit and rushed me again, claws flashing. I weaved through its strikes, watching its movements. It was fast, but that was all it had.
"Are you messing with me?" I dodged a swipe and spun my staff in a downward arc. The weapon crashed against its shoulder, and its body crumpled under the weight of the hit, smashing into the cracked earth.
The bat hissed and forced itself up again, trembling but still fighting.
I sighed.
"No wind? Seriously? What kind of wind-type abomination are you?"
The bat snarled and leaped again. This time, I let it come closer before pivoting on my foot, and my right leg shot forward, striking it squarely on the head.
The creature flipped sideways and crashed into a broken pillar.
I rolled my shoulders.
"Maybe I hit your head too hard. Forgot how to use your element?"
It clawed its way out of the rubble and charged again. I greeted it with an upward swing of my staff, catching it under the jaw. Its feet left the ground as it soared upward, flipping wildly before crashing onto its back.
Still, it twitched and got up again.
I tapped my staff on the ground.
"Use the wind, idiot."
No response.
I sighed and walked toward it.
"Alright. If you don't use it, I'll just have to find another one of your brothers."
Step by step, I approached. The bat twitched, ears flaring.
Somehow, it understood. The threat worked.
Its arms shot up.
I grinned, my entire focus locking onto the creature. My perception expanded, and the world became nothing but swirling Essence.
The bat slashed down.
I watched.
Wind gathered, swirling like invisible threads weaving together. The air twisted, compressed, sharpened into twin blades that hovered in front of its claws. The moment they solidified, they shot toward me.
Faster than before.
I stood my ground, gripping my staff, eyes locked on the approaching blades.
Five meters.
I pushed my will outward, feeling the chaotic wind element. It was fast. Unstable. Rushing toward me like a beast ready to carve me apart.
Four meters.
I activated [Psynapse Boost].
My mind sharpened, processing every movement, every ripple in the Essence around me.
Three meters.
[Essence Shift].
My will crashed into the wind blades, surrounding the Essence within them. They wavered, but the bat's command still held strong. The pressure against my mind was immense, but I pushed harder.
Two meters.
A crack.
Like shattering glass, the Essence inside the wind blades trembled. I tightened my control, forcing the chaotic wind to break down.
One meter.
The blades flickered.
Then—gone.
Green Essence flared in my vision, swirling as I ripped it from the bat's control.
I tightened my grip around the staff.
The Essence came to a halt just before reaching me, turning docile.
It swirled around me, calmer, almost eager, freed from the Abomination's grasp.
It had returned home.
Back to the Noblesse.