Chapter 55: Lord of the Hunt

The dense trees of the Forest of Lament stretched high above Lars as he moved through the foliage. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, and every crackle of a leaf underfoot sent his senses into overdrive. He was alone for now, having split off from the group to take a more direct approach—his sharp instincts telling him that the disturbance ahead wasn't something that could be handled lightly by a large group.

He gripped the chain of his scythe, feeling its familiar weight. The scythe wasn't just his weapon—it was an extension of his mind, a perfect tool to harness his unique Mind Magic.

Up ahead, the ground was churned and scarred, as if something large had recently passed through. The trees here had been shredded, and the earth itself had cracked open in places. There were traces of energy in the air—wild and untamed, just as the reports had suggested.

His pulse quickened.

Something's here.

And then, he heard it.

A low, guttural growl emanated from the shadows of the trees, a sound so unnatural it made the hairs on the back of Lars's neck stand on end. His eyes darted to the source of the sound, and he saw it—a creature, twisted and enormous, covered in bark-like scales, its glowing red eyes fixated on him.

The beast took a lumbering step forward, its massive form causing the ground to tremble beneath its feet. Its claws, longer than Lars's arm, scraped against the earth, leaving deep gouges as it moved.

Lars's gaze hardened as he swung his scythe off his back, spinning it to prepare for battle. His mind raced, calculating the best way to approach this. His eyes flashed as he activated his Mind Magic.

"Here we go," he muttered under his breath. "Mind Magic: Telekinetic Sweep!"

With a fluid motion, Lars swung his scythe, but instead of a regular swing, he focused his mind on the blade itself. As the scythe cut through the air, a burst of psychic energy surged outward in a wide arc, ripping through the air in a devastating wave. The creature was forced to stagger back as the telekinetic blast struck its side, knocking it off balance.

It roared in fury, shaking off the attack like it was nothing more than an annoyance. The beast reared back, its massive jaws snapping, saliva dripping from its mouth.

Too strong for a direct hit, Lars thought quickly. He had to get creative.

"Mind Magic: Resonant Concussion!"

In an instant, the air around Lars shimmered as a barrier of psychic energy surrounded him. He manipulated the barrier, focusing his thoughts to turn it into a shield that could withstand the creature's strikes while he set up his next move. The barrier pulsed with power, and Lars could feel the energy humming, waiting for the right moment to unleash it.

The beast charged, its claws slashing through the air as it lunged at him. Lars sidestepped at the last second, using his chain to pull himself out of the creature's reach. The massive claws raked through the space where he had been, leaving deep grooves in the earth.

But Lars wasn't finished. He had the creature right where he wanted it.

"Mind Magic: Telekinetic Sweep!"

With a sharp twist of his body, Lars swung his scythe again, this time channelling even more of his mental energy into the swing. A shockwave of psychic force erupted from the blade as it cut through the air, striking the beast head-on. The impact sent it flying backward, crashing into the trees with a mighty crash.

The creature screeched, now visibly wounded. Its bark-like skin was cracked in several places, and it roared again, this time in pure rage. But it wasn't finished yet.

Lars gritted his teeth. This wasn't enough to finish it. But what else could he—

His eyes narrowed as a sudden idea sparked in his mind.

"Mind Magic: Virtual Insanity!"

Lars reached deep within himself, calling forth the ultimate technique he had just recently begun to grasp. His mind stretched out, warping the creature's perception of reality, bending the very logic that it relied on. The creature's senses flickered—its vision distorted, its hearing becoming twisted, and its very understanding of its surroundings imploded.

The beast staggered back, confused, its massive body swaying as if it was suddenly unsure of where it was or what it was seeing. The ground beneath its feet seemed to warp, the trees around it bending in unnatural directions. It roared, but its voice came out in distorted, garbled waves, its mind struggling to hold onto what was real.

Lars's breathing was heavy, the strain of using Virtual Insanity making his head pound. The creature's confusion was a sign of the spell's success, but Lars knew the more he used it, the more dangerous it became. If he lost control even for a moment, the spell could backfire, and he might break his own mind in the process.

He pushed through the headache, focusing everything he had on maintaining the spell. The creature was lost, stumbling around like it was caught in a nightmare, trying to make sense of its own warped reality. Its claws swiped at the air, slashing at imaginary foes.

Finally, Lars saw his opening. With a swift movement, he dashed forward, his scythe in hand. His eyes locked onto the creature's vulnerable side, the one exposed during its disoriented flailing.

With one final, decisive swing, Lars buried his scythe deep into the beast's side, his mind fueling the strike with all the power he could muster. The creature screeched once more, its body spasming as it crumpled to the ground.

Lars stood panting, his mind still spinning from the effort of using Virtual Insanity. The beast's body twitched before going still, the echoes of its death fading into the silence of the forest.

Lars wiped his brow, the weight of the battle settling in. He had done it—but at a cost. His head throbbed from the exertion of maintaining such a powerful spell. He glanced around, making sure the area was secure before stepping back and releasing his scythe's chain.

One more down. And I've still got a long way to go.

"What even are these things?" he asked no one in particular. Lars stood over the fallen creature, still catching his breath, when a soft voice reached his ears.

"They're called Virilis. They were thought to be extinct," Iskra said, her voice quiet but firm as she emerged from the shadows of the trees, her presence graceful yet unmissable. "A rare and dangerous species that once roamed these forests. They were known for their regenerative abilities and their intense connection to the earth's magic."

Lars frowned, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Virilis? What are they doing here, then? I thought the whole species was wiped out."

Iskra's eyes glowed faintly as she gazed at the creature. "They were believed to have been eradicated centuries ago, after a catastrophic event. But it seems some survived, deep within the forests, hiding from the world." She looked over at him, a hint of concern in her gaze. "It's strange, though. The resurgence of these beasts... It's not just a coincidence. Something is causing them to emerge again. I've been observing, and there are more over here."

"I suppose we should go, then," Lars said, slinging his scythe over his back as he and Iskra ran into the forest.

…

"Hohoho!" Ezequiel laughed, clearly not taking himself too seriously. "These magical beasts certainly are whimsical creatures!"

The big man, for all his size, was clearly very limber, as he dodged the strikes of the giant white snake that he was facing down, using his newly thought up spell, Diminuendo, to boost his movement. Every time he was about to get hit, he used little yet powerful sound waves to manoeuvre himself out of the way.

"Sound Magic: Tremolo Shockwave!" Ezequiel shouted, spinning on his heel to release a powerful, oscillating blast from his body that hit the snake square in the side. The creature was momentarily knocked off balance, but its massive coils quickly regathered themselves, and it struck once more with lightning speed.

Elijah, meanwhile, was having trouble fighting his giant white snake. Its eyes glowed red as it snapped at a now hovering Elijah, who used his Combus Flight to lift himself into the air. Every flame attack he sent at it didn't seem to have an effect, and he snarled in frustration as he sent another Scorching Crescent at the great beast, which barely flinched as it came straight for him, baring its curved fangs.

"Sound Magic: Violent Aria!" Ezequiel sang, as he released a volatile sound blast from his mouth that knocked the snake on Elijah back, disorienting it.

"Thanks for the assist, guy!" Elijah yelled. "I guess it's not over until the fat man sings, right?"

Ezequiel chuckled in spite of his slight annoyance at being called fat - though he couldn't exactly complain, he was a fair bit on the heavier side - and sidestepped a tail attack of the snake he was facing. "Good one, m'boy! Now let's focus on beating these things."

Suddenly, Elijah had an idea. He smirked.

This was going to be good.

With a determined look in his eyes, Elijah held his hands out, gathering the air around him and turning it to fire with a quick motion of his fingers. "Wildfire Magic: Infurnus!" he shouted, directing a concentrated blast of fire toward the serpent's massive mouth. This time, the fireball hit with a sickening crunch, and the creature let out an enraged hiss.

"Chew on that, ya big bully!" Elijah yelled, satisfied with himself.

The snake reared back, clearly stunned but not defeated, its glowing eyes flashing even brighter now. It seemed to be learning—adapting to their tactics.

"Looks like we're dealing with a smarter one, huh, m'boy?" Ezequiel mused, still bobbing and weaving around his snake's furious strikes. "Don't think they're gonna go down as easy as the others."

"Tell me about it," Elijah said through gritted teeth, narrowing his focus as he shot another Scorching Crescent at the snake's side. This time, the blast seemed to have a greater effect. The snake hissed and writhed, its scales now scorched and smoke curling from its back.

Ezequiel grinned, seeing an opening in the snake's defence. "You know, maybe it's time to up the ante a little." He took a deep breath, his chest expanding as he prepared another spell. His lips curved upward in a playful grin. "Sound Magic: Conductor's Command!"

With a swift movement, he cupped his hands and let out a commanding note that reverberated through the air, a wave of sonic force that hit both snakes with precision. The sheer volume of the sound vibrated through the very ground, shaking the creatures to their core. They reeled back, disoriented and vulnerable.

"Now's our chance!" Ezequiel yelled, his eyes alight with the thrill of the fight. He dashed forward, his massive frame moving with surprising speed as he swung a punch at the snake's face, a concussive blast of sound following his blow. The snake flinched violently, its head snapping back as if stunned.

Elijah saw the opportunity and followed suit, his flames intensifying as he dove straight at the beast's exposed underbelly. "Wildfire Magic: Inferno Barrage!" He launched a series of rapid-fire fireballs that struck the snake repeatedly, finally causing it to collapse in a heap, smoke rising from its scorched body.

One down.

Ezequiel wiped his brow, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "Not bad, eh? Let's finish the other one off now."

Elijah grinned back, his frustration melting away as the adrenaline of the fight gave way to satisfaction. "Don't need to tell me twice. Let's make it quick."

They turned their attention to the remaining snake, now slightly disoriented from the combination of Tremolo Shockwave and Conductor's Command. It wasn't as coordinated as before, its strikes slower and more erratic. Ezequiel jumped into the fray, using Diminuendo to once again weave around the creature, closing the gap between them.

"Sound Magic: Subito Forte!" Ezequiel shouted, his hands alight with concentrated sound energy. He released a high-pitched, rapidly rising blast that exploded just behind the snake's head, sending a shockwave through its skull. The beast howled, its head jerking back in pain.

Taking advantage of the opening, Elijah swooped in. "Wildfire Magic: Inferno Burst!" He slammed his hands together and, once again, released a concentrated wave of fire at point-blank range. The flames engulfed the snake's head, burning it to a crisp.

With a final hiss, the last snake crumpled, its glowing eyes fading into darkness as its massive body went limp.

Elijah floated back to the ground, wiping his forehead. "That was a good team-up."

Ezequiel clapped him on the back, grinning ear to ear. "What did I tell you? Fat man sings, and giant snakes fall. Now, let's make sure there aren't any more of them lurking around. We've still got a job to finish."

"Yeah, let's get to it," Elijah agreed, his eyes scanning the forest warily.

…

The trio moved cautiously through the dense Forest of Lament, the towering trees casting long, shadowy fingers across the ground. Sharya's clones scouted ahead, darting between gnarled roots and low-hanging branches, while Oda used his Spatial Magic to clear obstacles from their path. Yul, ever the stoic presence, brought up the rear, his sharp gaze scanning their surroundings. The occasional growl or rustle of leaves hinted at unseen predators, making the air feel charged with tension.

It wasn't long before they entered a clearing, their steps slowing as they took in the unsettling sight before them. Perched casually atop a boulder in the center of the clearing was a man who exuded a dangerous, almost feral energy. His wiry frame was draped in loose harem pants, and a patchwork of animal pelts hung over his shoulders like grim trophies. Long, shaggy hair cascaded past his shoulders, its pale color darkening at the roots, giving the impression of creeping shadows. His skin was pallid, almost sickly, and his golden eyes glinted with a predatory light. A smirk stretched across his face, revealing unnervingly sharp, pointed teeth that gleamed like a predator about to pounce.

The man's hands rested lazily on his thighs, but his fingers tapped a rhythmic beat against his knee, toying with a small bone charm. His grimoire pouch hung loosely at the back of his belt, its worn leather scarred as if it had seen many battles.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the man drawled, his voice low and smooth, with an undercurrent of malice that sent a shiver up Sharya's spine. "A pack of little Coral Peacocks strutting into my forest. How delightful."

Oda froze, his eyes narrowing as recognition dawned. "Yrul," she spat, her tone venomous. "The 'Lord of the Hunt.' You were supposed to be locked up in Ravenshade Prison. How did you—?"

Yrul's grin widened, his sharp teeth catching the faint light filtering through the trees. "Oh, Magic Knight, you wound me! Escaping was merely… a creative reimagining of my circumstances. Did you really think Ravenshade could hold someone like me? Please." He stretched leisurely, as if he had all the time in the world. "I've been busy, you know. Driving these beasts into a frenzy, creating the perfect little hunting ground. And now, you've wandered straight into it. Isn't fate kind?"

Yul, standing a step behind Sharya, let out a slow, deliberate sigh. "Yrul… and Yul. Of course. That's not confusing at all." He folded his arms, his expression flat. "If anyone calls me by his name, I'm putting them through a tree."

Sharya stifled a laugh, her clones flickering as they moved closer to Yrul. "Good thing you've got the extra 'r,' huh? Otherwise, I'd start wondering if you two were separated at birth."

Yrul threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally through the clearing. "Oh, I like you lot. You've got spirit. Shame I'll have to break it." His grin sharpened, and he stood, his movements unnervingly fluid. "But hey, what's a hunt without a little challenge?"

He raised a hand, and his grimoire floated behind him, glowing as its pages flipped rapidly. "Beast Magic: Savage Command!"

The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the shadows around them seemed to thicken. From the edges of the clearing, three massive beasts emerged, their forms twisted and grotesque. The first was a stag, its antlers jagged and razor-sharp like shards of obsidian. Its eyes burned with a malevolent red light, and its hooves cracked the ground with each step. The second was a wolf, its fur bristling with bone-like protrusions that jutted out along its spine. Its growl was low and guttural, a sound that made Sharya's clones falter. The last was a raven, its feathers metallic and glinting dangerously as it spread its enormous wings, the tips of which sliced through the air like blades.

"Those aren't natural," Sharya muttered, her fists clenching. "What the hell did you do to them?"

Yrul tilted his head, his grin unfaltering. "A little twist here, a little nudge there. You'd be amazed at what Beast Magic can do to creatures that already teeter on the edge of madness."

Oda's jaw tightened, his hands glowing with the faint light of his Spatial Magic. "You're a lunatic, Yrul. These creatures… they're suffering because of you."

"Ah, but suffering makes the hunt so much sweeter," Yrul replied, his voice dripping with mockery. He snapped his fingers, and the beasts roared in unison, their frenzied eyes locking onto the trio. "Let's see if you can survive the hunt, little birds."

The stag charged first, its antlers gleaming as it barreled toward Yul. He barely had time to raise his arm before his Steel Magic encased it in armour, deflecting the strike with a metallic clang that sent vibrations up his arm.

Sharya's clones surged forward, intercepting the wolf as it lunged for Oda. "Clone Magic: Doppelganger Blitz!" she shouted, her duplicates hammering the creature with strikes, though it barely flinched under the assault.

The raven took to the sky, circling ominously as Oda narrowed his eyes. "I've got the bird," he called, warping himself into position with a flash of blue light.

Yrul watched the chaos unfold with an air of amusement, his hands glowing as he prepared another spell. "You're amusing, I'll give you that. But let's see how long you can last in my domain."

The cacophony of battle echoed through the forest as Yul's steel-clad arm deflected another charge from the antlered stag. Sharya's clones swarmed the wolf in a dazzling blur of magic and determination, while Oda's Spatial Magic warped her around the raven, trying to pin it down. The chaos was relentless, and Yrul stood at the edge of the clearing, grinning with predatory glee as if conducting a symphony of madness.

Then, a surge of radiant energy cut through the noise, silencing everything for a moment. The beasts faltered, their movements jerking erratically, and even Yrul's grin flickered, replaced by a curious scowl.

"What now?" Yrul muttered, his sharp teeth bared as he turned toward the source of the disturbance.

A figure emerged from the shadows of the trees, a faint glow emanating from his body. Lars stepped into the clearing, his scythe slung over one shoulder, his grimoire hovering at his side, pages flipping as his magic pulsed around him. His presence felt different—stronger, more purposeful, and yet otherworldly, as if the air itself shifted to accommodate him.

Sharya called out, "Lars! Took you long enough! We've got a lunatic on our hands, and—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing as she noticed something. "Wait… what the hell is that mana?"

Yrul stiffened, his predatory amusement melting into suspicion. His voice trailed off as he observed Lars more closely, his sharp gaze narrowing. "No. It can't be."

Lars stepped closer, his movements deliberate, his magic building in intensity. A golden shimmer surrounded him, faint and fleeting, but unmistakable. His mind magic seemed infused with a force that wasn't entirely his own, an aura of instinct and primal energy. His scythe gleamed brighter than ever, its edge glinting with traces of celestial power.

"Instinct Celestial," murmured Iskra, her voice manifesting in Lars' mind like a whisper carried in the wind. "It's not his own, Lars. He's forcing it. That celestial force doesn't belong to him—it's bound, enslaved."

Lars' heart clenched at her words, but he didn't falter. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Yrul. "You're controlling the Instinct Celestial, aren't you?" His voice was sharp, accusing. "That's what's driving these beasts insane—it's not just your magic, Yrul. You've forced this celestial power to obey you."

Yrul's grin returned, though it was strained now, his eyes darting toward the forest's edge as if seeking escape. "Ah, so the little bird recognizes power when he sees it. Very astute, Lars Mertens." He spat the name like venom, his voice laced with mockery. "But you don't understand. This isn't control—it's harmony. Bashir and I are… partners. Isn't that right, old friend?"

For the first time, Lars felt a foreign presence in the clearing—something ancient and raw, like the echo of an untamed wilderness. It wasn't Yrul's magic; it was something else entirely. A faint outline appeared behind Yrul, a spectral figure of a hulking beast with glowing eyes and a mane of ethereal flames. The instinct celestial, Bashir.

"Bashir…" Lars whispered, his grip tightening on his scythe. The celestial spirit's gaze locked with his, and Lars felt a jolt of recognition—an understanding passed through their shared energies. This celestial wasn't free. Its power was chained, its instincts warped by Yrul's magic.

The celestial's voice rumbled through Lars' mind, faint but clear: "He is no partner. He is a parasite."

Yrul's grin faltered again, as if sensing the exchange. He raised a hand, his grimoire glowing. "Enough of this. You may have celestial power too, Lars, but you've barely scratched the surface of it. Bashir has guided me well, and I know when a battle isn't worth fighting."

As Lars took another step forward, Yrul's instincts screamed at him to retreat. A flicker of panic crossed his face, and before Lars could attack, the celestial spirit behind Yrul surged forward, its spectral form curling around him protectively. Yrul's body shimmered with Bashir's power as he activated a spell.

"Beast Magic: Hunter's Escape!" Yrul yelled. A wave of energy exploded outward, forcing Lars and the others to shield their faces from the blinding light.

When the light faded, Yrul and the celestial were gone.

Sharya cursed under her breath. "Coward ran off! What a surprise."

Oda turned to Lars, her expression a mix of relief and confusion. "That was… something else. You're glowing, Lars. Care to explain?"

Lars looked down at his hands, which still shimmered faintly with celestial energy. His mind raced as he tried to process what had just happened, but Iskra's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Bashir is in pain," she said, her tone uncharacteristically sombre. "This isn't over, Lars. He'll come back—Yrul and Bashir both. You need to prepare."

Lars nodded, gripping his scythe tightly as determination settled over him. "Next time, I won't let him run."

…

"Why do you train so hard, Lars?" Sharya said, polishing her war fan. It was late afternoon, and the Coral Peacocks had just gotten back. Ezequiel had just gotten a new composition idea, and Oda needed a nap, so they had both gone upstairs to their rooms. Yul had taken the responsibility of going to report the squad's last few missions to the nearest Magic Knight HQ, and Elijah was craving something sweet, so they both went out together.

This left Lars and Sharya at the base, and now she posed a question that Lars did not know how to answer. He was deep in thought until Sharya snapped him out of it.

"Earth to Lars," she said, knocking the side of his head with her knuckles. "I asked you a question."

"And I'm thinking about the best way to go about answering you," Lars said, unfazed by Sharya's annoying assault.

He leaned back on the couch they were on. "When I was younger, I wasn't really in a position of power in the family dynamics of my own home. I felt like a passenger in my own life, so naturally, when I heard about the most powerful position in all of the land, that of Wizard King, it was my goal to become successful, to spite those around me who said I would never amount to anything."

He took a long sigh before continuing. "Now I realise that was a selfish goal. When I saw how the Magic Knights could change lives, despite being glorified soldiers - I was impressed. In awe, even. In truth…" He stood up, turning to face Sharya.

"Becoming Wizard King isn't my top priority. When I met Iskra in my mindscape… something clicked for me. She said that the two purposes of intellect are to change and to create. So I know what I'm going to do." The mind mage smiled dazzlingly, his eyes blazing with renewed conviction.

"I want to create an invention that will change the way people live in all the four kingdoms and beyond. Why do I train so hard, you ask?"

"And how is this related to training hard?" the Hansen girl said, clearly confused by Lars's declaration.

Lars chuckled softly, his smile shifting into something a little more reflective. He rubbed the back of his neck as he searched for the right words to explain himself.

"It's related because... if I'm going to make a difference, if I'm going to create something that truly changes the world, I can't be weak. Ideas are powerful, sure, but in this world, strength gets you the voice to share them. It's the foundation. If I'm strong enough, people will listen. If I'm strong enough, I can protect what I create—and the people it's meant for."

He turned back toward Sharya, his scythe now leaning against the armrest of the couch. He tapped it lightly with his fingers, his expression growing serious. "I've seen too many people suffer because they didn't have the power to make their ideas real, or because someone else crushed their dreams before they even started. I don't want to be one of those people—and I don't want anyone else to be, either."

Sharya's brow furrowed as she listened. She leaned her chin on her hand, war fan forgotten on her lap. "You're saying your training is... what, insurance? A way to back up all those big ideas of yours?"

Lars grinned, tilting his head to the side. "In a way. It's not just about me. If I can't defend the people I care about—or the changes I want to bring—then all my goals are meaningless. Strength isn't the endgame, Sharya. It's the tool that lets me reach the real goal: making the world better. For everyone."

Sharya's lips curled into a small, lopsided smile. "You know, you could've just said, 'I want to be strong to protect people,' and saved me a long-winded speech."

"Where's the fun in that?" Lars shot back, sitting down beside her again. He leaned back and closed his eyes, as if to signal the conversation was over. "Besides, I thought you'd appreciate a deep, philosophical answer."

Sharya huffed, picking her fan back up. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't get all weepy on me next time. I'm not great with emotional stuff."

Lars smirked but said nothing, enjoying the rare moment of calm. Sharya, for all her teasing, didn't press further. For now, she seemed content to let the conversation rest.

But as she twirled her war fan absentmindedly, she couldn't help but think: This guy's really something. Maybe his dream isn't so crazy after all.

A/N: I saw that this story was veering slightly off course of "oh I wanna be the Wizard King" and decided to give Lars a motive that changed from his original one altogether, to highlight how he's changed as a character.