Falling Thunder
"Aah......" I ended up coming inside after all... The thick texture of mana brushed against my skin. And an earthy scent stabbed at my nose.
"Hah... huff...!" Before I could even properly survey the terrain around us, rough breathing came from the side. When I turned my gaze, the man who'd shoved me earlier was slumped on the dirt ground, pointing at me with a face frozen in shock. His pupils were shaking wildly.
"You... why are you here! Why did you come in!"
"......"
"Why... haa......" He ruffled his hair in a despairing expression and collapsed fully onto the ground. His face, a mix of self-recrimination and bewilderment, was quite the sight.
I looked down at him with impassive eyes and asked, "Mister, did you come in by mistake?"
At my words, the man's head snapped up. His eyes brimmed with injustice.
"What...? Mister? I'm only 18!" Up close, his face did look distinctly youthful, far from 'mister' territory. Handsome features, but right now, terror had ruined his looks completely.
"I see. But why'd you... no, not mister... big bro...? Why'd you come in here?"
"Well... I... After shoving you out, I was trying to steady myself and... I just slipped......" His voice trailed off into a mumble. I stared at him silently with half-lidded eyes. He flinched under my pitiful gaze.
"W-Why are you looking at me like that......"
"So, you're an awakener?"
"Yeah, but......"
"What's your rank?"
He fidgeted, straightening his clothes, then answered in a small voice. "M-Me? D-rank......"
"Hmm......" I narrowed my eyes and scanned him head to toe once more. White hair, refined features. The kind of face that would be popular with girls his age. But...
"W-Why do you keep staring like that..."
"No reason."
He'd look perfectly fine if he just kept his mouth shut, but he had a surprisingly clumsy side.
"Then... you're an awakener too, kid?"
"Yes."
Complex emotions flickered in his eyes at my curt reply. Probably guilt over dragging a child into this. I turned away from him to survey our surroundings. Towering ancient trees packed so densely that the sky was completely obscured. We were right in the heart of a thick forest.
"Kid, let's find a place to hide first. Stick right behind me and don't stray. If you move carelessly... Wait, where are you going!"
As I stepped toward the underbrush, he jumped in shock and blocked my path.
"I said don't move carelessly! For now... we need to hide until the other hunters come to rescue us. This place is too dangerous......"
"I think it's already too late for that."
"Huh......?"
Before his words could finish.
Awooooooo—!!!
A sharp howl that tore at my eardrums echoed through the forest. Only then did realization hit him; his face drained of color in an instant. From the dark thickets, beastly eyes glinted one by one as their owners emerged. Wolves with long, slit eyes and razor-sharp fangs. Dire Wolves.
Just oversized wolves, but grown fat on mana, their presence was intimidating. E-rank. A typical D-rank hunter could handle them easily... but surrounded by this many, survival wasn't guaranteed.
"Damn...! Kid, run...! I'll buy you some time somehow!"
His voice trembled violently. Even with his face pale with fear, he stood in front of me and drew a battered dagger. But.
"No need for that."
"Huh......?"
I slipped out from behind his back. At the same time, mana gathered in my palm with a crackling sound.
You've discovered a new application of the Lightning Magic unique trait!
A derived skill has been generated!
Thunder Needle (E-rank)
Minute, sharp blue needles of light appeared in the air. Without hesitation, I slowly walked toward the pack of Dire Wolves.
"W-Wait!"
Ignoring the shocked shout from behind, I locked eyes with the first one charging at me. As it opened its massive jaws to bite my head off, I fired the needle from my hand straight at its forehead.
Pew—!
The blue needle streaked through the air, piercing the wolf's scalp and embedding in its brain core.
"—!!!"
Without even a death cry, the lead wolf convulsed and tumbled to the ground. The electric current had paralyzed its nervous system in an instant. And without stopping, I kept moving. Dozens of Thunder Needles shot from my hands, slicing through the air toward the foreheads and hearts of the encircling wolves.
"—!!!"
Heavy thuds of beastly bodies hitting the dirt echoed from all sides. Moments ago, they'd been snarling like they would devour us—now they lay scattered lifelessly.
"......"
The forest fell silent again. Behind me, he'd watched the whole scene frozen like a statue, still gripping his dagger, mouth agape. And then...
Thud.
"......!!!"
"Eugh......"
I collapsed straight to the ground.
"Kid...!"
"Tired..."
"......Huh?"
I lay spread-eagled on the ground, staring at the void above.
"......"
When I rolled to the side, he flinched in surprise.
"Y-You're... okay?"
I sprang up and said, "Just tired. I'm fine."
"......"
He stared at me like I was some monster. Anyway, this wasn't the time. I pointed at the sprawled Dire Wolves.
"Those. Still alive."
"What......?"
"Just paralyzed temporarily."
"So that means..."
"Yeah. Better finish them off quick."
I pointed at his dagger.
"......"
Back in the day, I'd have roasted them crisp. All I could manage now was anesthesia.
He approached slowly and slit their throats one by one. And after a moment...
"Oh..."
I'd gotten stronger. Not the way I'd wanted, but still.
"D-Done."
"Good job."
Confusion filled his eyes.
"Kid... what the hell are you...?"
"......?"
Well, yeah... I'd wonder too if an 11-year-old kid fought like this. I smirked and put a finger to my lips.
"That's... a secret?"
"What...?"
"Let's focus on surviving and getting out first."
"......Right."
He extended a hand in introduction. "I'm Jeong Iden."
"Kim Shina."
But that lasted only a moment.
Grrrrr...
"......!!!"
Another growl from the bushes... A wolf-shaped monster emerged. But...
Its oppressive aura was on another level. Four or five times larger than a normal wolf, its body covered in scars from countless battles. Battle Wolf. Danger level... C-rank or higher.
The Battle Wolf circled us slowly, like it was sizing up prey. Cautiously. The guy in front of me seemed to be in full panic already, frozen in place without a word.
I fired a blue needle from my hand. But it dodged with a flick of its head.
"Tch."
I said to him, "Get it together."
"Huh...?"
"We can win."
I opened my Status Window.
User: Kim Shina (Kim Shinwoo) | Age: 11
Class: Mage | Level: 4
Available Points: 9 → 0
Unique Traits
Lightning Magic (Lv.1)
Skills
Thunder Needle (E)
"Adding 9 points to Intellect."
I invested the stat points and said to him, "Buy me just 20 seconds."
"What...?"
Then I closed my eyes and focused.
"......"
With my current stats, it was a stretch. But I had to make it work. To hit that fast bastard, I needed something even faster.
"Hah... damn it. Whatever happens, happens...!"
Iden swallowed dryly through trembling lips, muttering under his breath. His legs shook before the Battle Wolf's overwhelming presence, but he gripped his sword tighter.
'Buy 20 seconds? Easier said than done...!'
If that monster charged for real, it'd rip him apart in under 3 seconds. But strangely, his instincts—deep in his gut—were screaming. There was only one way out of this absurd situation. Trust the girl behind him, standing silently in concentration.
"Gotta do it...! Yeah, let's try!"
Iden assumed a battle stance. But perhaps the prey's defiance amused it. The Battle Wolf's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Grrrrr...!"
'It's coming...!'
In an instant, the massive shadow kicked off the ground like an arrow.
"Graaaargh!"
Iden dove sideways on instinct. The beast's claws pulverized the spot he'd just stood. By a hair's breadth. The wind alone stung his cheek.
'Almost died... really almost died...!'
After rolling on the ground, Iden gauged the time amid ragged breaths. It felt like an eternity, but only about 10 seconds had passed. Were 20 seconds always this endless?
The Battle Wolf turned, coiling its body for the next strike. Iden was certain he couldn't dodge this one.
'This is it...?'
As he squeezed his eyes shut— the Battle Wolf, mid-stalk, suddenly froze and whipped its head around.
"......?"
Its gaze fixed on the girl standing motionless behind him.
"Grrrrrrrr...!!!"
A low growl laced with clear wariness rumbled from its throat. The beast's instincts had finally realized who was the most dangerous thing in this forest.
It veered sharply, charging straight at the girl to eliminate the threat.
"No...!!! Dodge!!!"
Iden's scream echoed through the trees. But the girl was serene. No—the moment she slowly opened her eyes, the entire forest's air stilled.
Thoom—!
Her pupils churned with fierce azure-white lightning.
She raised a small finger toward the sky.
Rumble...
A low reverberation shook the forest. Not the beast's howl.
The leaping Battle Wolf twisted mid-air, forcing a clumsy landing. Its whole body visibly trembled. A predator beyond any it'd ever faced. From high above—the sky's roar.
Dark clouds had blanketed the heavens, blue flames twisting within, aimed at the ground.
The girl's cold voice fell.
"Fall."
Rumblerumblerumble—!!!!!
Falling Thunder (B-rank)
A blinding flash swallowed the surroundings in an instant. A pillar of light from the heavens pierced straight through the Battle Wolf.