In the heart of an ancient forest, the serene stillness was suddenly shattered by cries of help echoing through the trees. A white-robed youth, Leon, was making his way along a narrow path when the sounds reached his ears.
"Do I have to help them?" Leon grumbled, his voice carrying a hint of irritation as if addressing the very air around him.
"It's called collecting good karma," an aged voice retorted, sounding as if it came from an unseen observer. The voice held a tone of gentle admonishment, like an old mentor chiding a stubborn student.
"Even when I know it's a trap?" Leon replied, his skepticism clear.
"Well, it's for a good conscience. You should at least check it out," the voice argued back, persistent in its persuasion.
The debate continued a curious interplay of internal dialogue that seemed to be happening entirely within Leon's mind. Eventually, the argument settled with the decision that he would investigate the cries for help.
Leon's footsteps were silent as he moved through the underbrush, the forest around him thick with towering trees and dense foliage. The canopy above filtered the sunlight into dappled patches on the forest floor. After a short walk, he arrived at the source of the cries and was met with a grim scene.
An old man, ragged and disheveled, was pinned beneath a large, menacing wolf. The beast's eyes glowed with a predatory gleam, and it was salivating, its fangs glistening in the muted light.
Leon sighed with a mixture of reluctance and resolve. He waved a hand nonchalantly, and a small, sharp stone shot out from his direction, striking the wolf's leg.
The creature whimpered in pain and scrambled away, its pride wounded, but its retreat swift and erratic.
The old man scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt from his tattered clothes. He approached Leon with a look of deep gratitude.
"Thank you for saving me, young hero," he said, his voice shaky but sincere.
Leon, still maintaining a casual demeanor, asked, "What are you doing alone in the forest?"
The old man explained, "I was here collecting wood when I was suddenly ambushed by this beast."
"Why would you come here knowing there would be beasts in the forest?" Leon inquired, his tone hinting at the absurdity of the situation.
"The forest wasn't' like this a month ago," the old man explained. "Recently, the beasts have turned aggressive. Something in the forest must have changed."
With a decisive gesture, Leon caused the particles of light to disappear as if they had never been there.
In a blink, the light had pierced all the beasts below. Flames erupted from the particles, incinerating the horde in an instant, leaving only ashes scattered on the forest floor.
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"You've improved from the last time," the aged voice echoed in Leon's mind, a tone of praise tinged with critique. "But it's still not perfect."
"Couldn't you praise me without throwing in a backhanded comment?" Leon grumbled, his irritation evident.
"Why would I praise something that is not perfect?" the aged voice replied with a hint of smugness.
"Here we go again with your perfectionism," Leon sighed, rolling his eyes. "Forget I asked."
Descending back to the surface, Leon approached the cave-like entrance of the ruin. As he entered, it didn't take long for him to reemerge, flying out in haste.
"Oops, almost caught me," Leon said, his voice tinged with a touch of amusement as a dark, shadowy hand reached out to grasp him. He soared higher into the sky, out of the shadowy hand's reach.
"I don't want to waste my time here," Leon called out, his tone resolute. "I need to reach the Jul Empire before the Entrance test begins."
"I'll finish this in a single strike," he muttered with resolve. He extended his palm toward the ground, aiming directly at the ruin.
A swirling vortex of flames materialized in front of his palm, its intense heat radiating outward. Flecks of lightning crackled around the fiery sphere, adding menacing energy to its presence.
[Inferno]
The ball of flame shot from Leon's hand, descending toward the ruin below. The shadowy hand, sensing the impending danger, manifested countless smaller hands that reached out to intercept the descending inferno.
The shadowy hands wrapped around the flame, but as soon as they made contact, they melted away in sizzling streams of dark smoke. Despite their relentless attempts, the shadowy hands were powerless against the inferno's heat.
The flame struck the ground with explosive force. The impact sent a shockwave through the forest, causing the earth to tremble.
A massive plume of smoke and flame erupted, consuming everything in its vicinity. The forest, a one-mile radius around the ruin, evaporated into nothingness, leaving behind a vast, glowing crater. The explosion created a colossal mushroom cloud that soared into the sky, a spectacle visible from distant kingdoms.