[Active Mana: 495.]
Tsss~
I circulate Mana in my body.
At the same time, the Active Mana, which was previously empty, now shows the amount of Mana value in my body.
[Skill Strengthening - Activated.]
I kicked the ground with all my might.
Stomp!
In a few steps, I came forward. After the third step, I threw the tree branch in my hand.
Swoosh!
The tree branch in my hand shot at high speed toward the Giant Bear's stomach.
We were about 40 meters apart, the Giant Bear and me. About half a football field separated us. That's pretty close to a five-meter-tall Giant Bear.
For that reason, I can feel the Giant Bear's footsteps.
A tremor echoed beneath my feet as the Giant Bear continued to approach.
However, as the tree branch in my hand approached, the Giant Bear's footsteps stopped.
Groaammm!
Just as the tree branch was about to hit its stomach, it had already swung its gigantic arm with its monstrous claws.
Crackle!
The branch of the tree just fell apart.
It's a shame, but I knew it would happen. Such an attack won't work on a Giant Bear from the Great Forest.
When I finished throwing the tree branch, I immediately ran forward.
Stepping my foot into the big tree, I walked up like a ninja. The tree I climbed was right next to the Giant Bear.
When I looked down, I could see a Giant Bear. In other words, I'm ready to attack.
After the Giant Bear crushed the tree branch, I slid down to the bottom, where the Giant Bear was.
In both my hands there are tree branches that I pulled straight from the tree, making the tip of the branch very sharp.
''Will it work?'
I poured Mana into the two tree branches that I was holding.
When I did that, surprisingly, the two tree branches in my hands became as hard as iron.
What was originally a twig, has now become a weapon similar to a nail.
[Congratulations! You have obtained Skill Amplification.]
The system message confirmed my success.
'Hoo.'
At this rate, it'll be easier.
This was a skill that required external Mana processing. So, I can only use it because I have the Stigma of Darkness.
Mana flow from the Stigma of Darkness came out and strengthened the tree branch in my hand.
I focused on staring at the confused Giant Bear.
Even though he was confused for a while, he immediately turned his gaze straight at me. His head was spinning as he looked at me, where I was above him.
However, he was too late to notice my attack.
"You're too late, big monkey!"
Tashuk!
I strike right into his eyes.
Swaaa!
His eyes, which were already red, were spitting out red blood as well, turning his entire body red.
The two spikes in my hands pierced his eyeballs.
Awoooo~
A loud scream resounded. Makes the birds fly away and the insects faint.
At least, that's what I thought.
Before his hand caught me, which was still on his face, I directed him to fall onto a large rock by pulling the two spikes in his eye.
I control it like a pilot controls a plane.
Finally, he managed to land a heavy blow to his own face. He did intend to hit me, but I managed to dodge because I let go of my grip on the spikes.
Thud!
What happened next was, the Giant Bear fell against a large rock as I predicted.
Unfortunately, the fight isn't over yet. The Giant Bear is still alive.
He tried to lift his huge body which was now covered in blood.
Even so, both of his eyes were blind and his body was badly injured. So, I can immediately launch an attack.
One by one I launched the attacks. Either using bare hands or using everything around me.
Finally, blood spurted in all directions from his body. He fell to the ground unable to move. It was a sign that the Giant Bear had lost his life.
That's how the fight between me and the Giant Bear ended.
My success in defeating Giant Bear was a great achievement.
Considering that Giant Bear, a C-rank monster, can only be defeated by B-rank, or C-rank Adventurers in large numbers, what I did was more than enough to receive praise from everyone.
However, I'm not a fool who would be proud of that. I'm still too weak when compared to the important characters in this world.
After the battle ended, I had to find out where Callie was.
It wasn't too difficult to find her.
Instantly, I could hear her.
I stared at a place far up in the trees.
"Isn't this enough?"
I told Callie, who was just watching.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
A sound of applause was heard. Emerging out of thin air, she descended downwards.
"Hehe, you're really good. Then, as per our agreement, I will agree to your wish."
"That's good."
Now, the things I have to do have improved. Although, from the start, I did plan to save the beastmen, so I didn't think much of it.
Then, she took something out of her pocket. What she took out was a crystal ball. The crystal ball was about the size of a fist.
Suddenly, she threw the crystal ball at me, which I took for granted.
[Name: Communication Crystal Ball
Description:
Magical Items for communicating. Can only send messages to connected Communication Crystal Balls.]
The function of this magic item is similar to that of a telephone. However, this magic item uses Mana's energy.
"When you have the latest progress or information on your investigation, you can contact me via that. You can also contact me if you need help. I've tagged the item using my Mana. I'm sure you know how to use it, right?"
I just nodded.
"Okay, let's go back."
After that, Callie carried me into Ryam City.
A few moments passed and we were already inside the city. Once there, she just left me on the roof of a building.
"Where will you go?"
"Hehe, of course, I'm going to meet the person I'm going to take care of."
As I stared at Callie's back as she left, I could see the tail hanging behind her.
***
After leaving the Mesties just like that, she headed off toward the center of town. After passing through various places, Callie finally arrived at the mansion where the Warwick family lived.
After arriving, she passed all the guards with ease.
She walked on the rooftop of the mansion as if she was walking on a playground.
After looking around, she came down from the roof and opened the window of one of the rooms like a thief.
As soon as she broke the window, she went inside.
The place she entered was Willa's bedroom, where the magic lamp was still on.
Just as Callie came in, across from where the bedroom door was, Willa came into the room.
"W-who are you?"
A frightened voice came from Willa's mouth.
Her body trembled slightly when she saw Callie.
Understandably, Callie is currently wearing a cloak all over her body.
For a young girl like Willa, she obviously thought the figure in front of her was scary.
And as for Callie, because she had such a childish nature, it was clear that she would tease Willa.
For that reason, she started to scare Willa until Willa's knees fell to the floor. Willa's eyes filled with tears as if a flood was about to come.
After feeling satisfied, she just stopped teasing Willa
"Hahaha. I was just kidding. Actually, I was sent by the Mesties here."
"Huh? My brother?"
"Hehe, yeah."
"Where is he?"
After hearing Mesties' name being spoken by Callie, Willa immediately came to her senses.
Understandably, she had been looking for Mesties, but couldn't find him. The plan was that, since she was going to Milestone Academy tomorrow, she wanted to discuss a lot of chatter with her brother for a while.
However, she instead heard from the maids in the mansion that Mesties had run away from home. Everyone says that the humiliating defeat to Jullian was the reason why the Mesties ran away.
'If Brother Mesties ran away because he lost to Jullian, according to what the maids said, then it must be all my fault.'
Willa's mind flew to the thought of the reason for Mesties' departure.
"Oh, Mesties said, he left a letter in your drawer."
Callie remembered what Mesties had said before parting ways.
Hearing that there was a letter left by her brother, Willa rushed to open the drawer and snatched the letter inside quickly. She opened it and began to read the words in the letter.
The letter contained the reason that Mesties' departure was his own wish. And furthermore, the letter contained that Mesties would assign a bodyguard to herself secretly.
"So you are the bodyguard that my brother secretly ordered?"
"Oh, is it written in the letter? Ahahaha, he is indeed great if he can predict it. Yes, I will be your bodyguard for some time to come."
Callie was amazed.
Returning to the letter in her hand, Willa read the last line of the letter.
<I will meet you outside the gates of Ryam City tomorrow when you will leave.>
After reading those words, Willa's worries began to be resolved.
"Hehe, nice to meet you, Young Miss Willa. My name is Callie Claws."
Callie lowered the hood that covered her face to show that she was harmless.
Even though Willa was briefly shocked by Callie's identity as a beastman race, she calmed down quickly.
"Nice to meet you too, Miss Callie Claws."
They both shake hands.
The handshake between them marked the beginning of their relationship.
But Willa didn't realize that she would often be teased and bullied by Callie.