Three days later after I acquired the rune markings on my back, I decided to call them The Runes Of Essence. Pretty cool name if you ask me. I still don't have a clue what they look like, never in my life did I think I'd wish for a set of mirrors. The first time I activated them I blacked out due to my mind being overwhelmed but after these past three days, I've been activating them constantly throughout the day until my head begins to ache. It's a small experimental exercise that gave fruit to desirable results as now I can have them active for a decent amount of time.

Currently, we just arrived at a rocky environment. The ground was composed of hard stone instead of the soft soil that laid in the distant pastures. Ragged stone pillars and rocky mountains decorated the area instead of trees and rivers.

As we stared out into the distance, we just confirmed that the people Asonius and the others were ordered to find were hiding out here in a nearby mountain cave. Outside guarding that cave were many beasts which I did not recognize along with a lone centaur who seemed to be the one in command of the army. All of them had armor and weapons which I assume were given to them.

We were looking at them from a safe way away, hiding on a small rocky hill overlooking their hideout. The three Centaurs were looking at their ex-fellow village member with open hostility. "There they are," Deleina said then turned to Dominic. "So, what's the plan?"

"Asonius, you take care of Oris," Dominic said referring to the centaur that fled their village. "Selena, you, Arata, and I will take care of the rest. Now, let's go."

Hearing his words we all agreed. And so, we slowly walked up to them, exposing ourselves to the enemy while I hid on Dominic's back. At first, they were against me joining them in the fight, saying that it wasn't my battle to fight. But I made a convincing argument mentioning how I wanted to repay their kindness by helping out as much as I could. Eventually, they gave in and allowed me in.

"Hm?" The centaur, Oris, let out in confusion as we drew closer. The army of monsters readied themselves but didn't attack. "What's this?" He said with a smirk once we were in front of him.

"Oris, by village Chief Elilus, you are hereby ordered to return with us to Amphion Village. Know that the actions you took have made you an enemy to our people. Return now, so that you can get an appropriate punishment," Asonius said.

"Come now, I just came to take a little walk. There's no need for you to get all angry with me," Oris said with a grin.

"You turned your back on the village. You even killed a few of our guards in order to escape," Deleina said. "We've known each other since we were kids. So why did you do this?"

"You're right, we have known each other since childhood. So you should know exactly why," Oris said. "I've always been the weak one. Everyone always laughed at me for it, even now. They promised us power. And when I get my hands on more power I'm going to show everyone what I can really do."

"We never made fun of you for being weak. We accepted you and treated you as a friend for many years." Asonius said.

"You're right, I'd hate to fight you. So turn back and leave," Oris said.

"You know we can't do that," Asonius responded.

"Well, that's a shame," Oris said as he reached back and took out his sword. Without hesitation, he swung down at Asonius.

Asonius quickly blocked and locked swords with Oris. "You were always the weakest one. So how do you expect to win," he said.

"I don't plan to win. I just need to hold out long enough until they get here," Oris responded. "Then you'll die."

"Ha! You were never the type to last long in a battle," Asonius laughed mockingly. Oris clicked his tongue in annoyance.

By this time the army of monsters was already coming at us. Charging forward, I lost sight of Oris and Asonius as I got ready to fight my own battle. "Get ready kid," Dominic said as he ran straight into the crowd of monsters ahead of us.

As we met the small army head-on, I jumped off Dominic's back. Immediately after, he went on a rampage, slicing through several beasts at once with just one swing of his sword. Sheesh! What a show-off! I thought as I looked back at him.

Just then a group of four-legged beasts surrounded me. They had sharp claws, oversized teeth, and a long heavy tail. Its skin was made up of scales with fur in a few places.

One of them rushed in close and swung its claws at me. With a quick sidestep, I moved out of the way and dodged its attack. Then, the beast using all its momentum spun around, its tail swinging through the air. Pushing my head back I was able to feel the strong breeze from the force of the attack.

Sensing hostility from behind me. I moved to my side, evading the sharp fangs of another. Taking advantage of the opportunity I raised my leg and kicked the beast on its side. With a high-pitched whimper, the beast pulled back.

Then another one came balancing itself on its back legs while swinging its claws rapidly at me. Every attack it threw at me I dodged. And as I was about to strike, another came charging at me. Then another, and another. And soon all of them were on me.

I was surrounded. Each beast attacked and I was in constant motion. If I miss even one step I could be in serious trouble. But dodging forever won't get me anywhere either because eventually, I'm going to end up running out of stamina. And I can't focus my mana on a strong attack while moving around this much.

This is getting annoying... Letting out a repulsive gravitational force I pushed away all the lizard-looking dogs that were attacking me. Those same beasts quickly stood up and surrounded me once more. I then lowered my stance and took out my sword ready for any incoming attack. But none came. They just walked around me in a circle watching me closely.

Until one charged at me from behind. With a loud growl, the beast swung at me. I easily dodged but as I was about land a blow on it two more rushed in and I wasn't able to go through with the attack. All three beasts retreated back to the circle. Ah? You wanna play that game, huh? I thought, feeling a bit annoyed due to their tactics.

Then the cycle repeated. One rushed at me and as I was about to land a killing blow two others came to prevent it. This reminds me of one of my earlier battles since coming to Canavar. But... I've grown a lot since then.

As one charged at me, I evaded its attacks easily until two others came. But I knew they were coming so I prepared something in advance. Focusing solely on the two of them I extended my hand and pushed them back with gravity magic. And as for the first that rushed in, which was the closest one to me, I swung my blade slicing off its head in one clean slice.

Having seen what I did, the beasts stopped moving entirely. They all growled loudly as if angry that I had killed one of their companions.

Then with a loud roar, all of the beasts rushed in at the same time. Idiots. I thought as I was on the receiving end of all their combined attacks. "Discharge," at my command lighting exploded all around me eating away at anything in its path.

As a result, all the beasts now laid on the floor, unable to move. And now... Die. Using the full force of my gravity magic I crushed all the beats to death.

"Arata!" Dominic yelled as soon as I had finished killing the monsters. My ears perked up at his call as I looked around for him until I found him still in battle. "Go in the cave to see what's going on inside," He said.

"Shouldn't we all go in together?" I asked.

"Whatever's inside I'm sure you can take care of yourself," He said looking at me with a small smile. "Plus we can't fit through the entrance," he added.

That makes sense considering that throughout most of our journey, I had to do some reconnaissance by myself as the centaurs were too big to fit in tight spaces. "Okay, I'll go," I said.

"Be careful kid," He said giving me one last look as he then turned his attention back to the battle.

The entrance to the cave was some distance away from where I was and the way there was crowded by deadly monsters. Concentrating my gravity magic down to a single point, I launched it forward, that was the gravity core spell. It traveled in a straight line ahead of me pulling in the nearby creatures with so much force that some even got crushed on impact. Having let go of the spell I then focused mana down to my legs and began to run.

A few monsters got in my way as I ran toward my destination. I didn't bother going into full battle mode and just ran past them or slashed my way through others. And soon enough I had made it. I quickly made my way inside the cave and ran through the straight tunnel. Then as I came to a stop I immediately took a look behind me to make sure no other monsters followed.

Seeing as none did, I looked around only to find several more tunnels, all going in different directions, like a maze. Okay, now where exactly do I go? I thought as I looked at one of the many tunnels. Maybe this way?

'If you go that way you'll get lost even more,' I heard a voice say, coming from nowhere in particular. 'Keep going straight instead.'

Even though I couldn't pinpoint exactly where the voice had come from I still turned around with my sword clenched hard on my hand. Once I saw that there was no one behind me I turned in several different directions, somewhat frantically.

'Don't bother looking around for me. I'm nowhere near you,' the voice said. 'Don't worry I'm not an enemy,' It assured. The voice sounded so soothing and calm that I could probably fall asleep to it.

"Huh? So where are you? What are you?" I said out loud as I began walking straight ahead of me.

'You don't have to speak out loud. I can read your thoughts... Your existence is quite unusual,' It said then paused. 'Reincarnation.'

"WHAT!!!" I yelled out loud, caught off guard by his words. "How do you know that?"

'Quiet down you'll be found out and what part about me reading minds don't you understand?' It said.

"Sorry," I mumbled quietly. "So? Do you happen to know how I got reincarnated? Or why?" This was one of the questions that was always on my mind. Since this new world that I see every day through this new body. I thought that maybe it was just by chance that I got reincarnated.

'Yes, that certainly is a possibility... However, I don't know much about reincarnation. So I can't give you any answers... Anyway, I think it's about time I introduce myself.' the voice began.

"Well, go on," I said sounding a bit impatient.

'I am the leader of the wolf clan, Amarok of the Lycaon tribe,' He said. Lycaon tribe? I'm sure I've heard that before. 'Oh, I'm sure you have. We are only one of three races that is part of what you people call the extant magic races... The reason I can communicate with you is because of my race's Clairvoyant prowess,' he explained.

"So why did someone like you reach out to someone like me?" I asked. The extant races are one of the many famous groups comprised of three different clans that are known throughout the whole world.

'I want to ask you for a favor. . .' he said.

"Well, what is it?" I replied. I can't really refuse him. If he's truly who he said he is then I shouldn't get on his bad side.

'Great so you'll do it...' He said. Dammit, I forgot he can read minds. 'Anyway, I ask that you save my people from where they are held in...' he spoke. 'Some time ago our village got attacked by an army of monsters who captured and took my people just to use them as fuel, once they've served their purpose they'll die,' he explained.

"No offense but aren't you like all-powerful?" I asked.

'Some unknown individual came to keep me busy while my people got the full brunt of the attack. Once they got enough people whoever the person was that I had been fighting, left,' he said with no change in his tone of voice. 'I failed. I couldn't save them. So please, save as many as you can. I would go there myself but I exhausted too much of my strength.'

"I'll do my best," I said. At my reply, Amarok gave me directions as I made my way through the cave.

After some walking, I was some distance away from an opening where he told me to stop. "What is it," I whispered.

'There are two people ahead of you. Both are a race of demons from the Utaryon continent. They're enemies so you'll have to fight one of them. From your memories, I can see that you are a strong individual. So you have a chance.'

"One of them?" I questioned as I hid on the wall before the opening. Just then the entrance opened up exposing me. In front of me, some distance away, were two people. One man with brown hair held a staff and the other had black hair and carried a sword.

"You think we didn't notice you," I heard one of them say, his tone arrogant as both men faced my way.

At his words, panic rose in my chest and I instinctively took a step back. 'Stay put,' said Amarok in my mind, his voice snapping me to the reality of the situation. 'And don't move a muscle."

As they made their way to me, they both stopped abruptly as they took in my figure. "Ha! Are you serious!? When I sensed a large mana source nearby, the last thing I expected was a kid to show up," the black-haired man mocked, chuckling in amusement. Doing as Amarok said, I stood still and didn't dare to say a word. "Since this kid was able to sneak in," the man continued, turning to face his partner as he pointed a finger at me. "I'm going outside to see what that idiot Oris is doing."

"Make it fast. Once the Exousia is done we're moving out," the man with the staff responded. At his words, I felt an odd sense of anger deep within me. No, not my anger... Amarok's.

"Yeah, yeah!" the black-haired man replied, waving him off with his hand as he walked past me to the tunnel leading out.

Amarok mentioned I was only going to fight one of them. Did he know this was going to happen? 'Yes,' following my train of thought came Amarok's reply. 'Now, don't drop your guard.

"Listen, kid, unlikely that... Acquaintance of mine," the man began, hesitant to establish an appropriate relationship with him. His gaze turned to the tunnel where the black-haired man had just left through. "I'm merciful. So leave now and you won't get hurt."

"No," I said as I took a step closer to him.

"Then you leave me no choice," he spoke, bringing down his staff to rest on his shoulder as his head lowered slightly. "I really didn't want to kill a child but whatever, there will be no one here to see it," He said, turning to face me, his determination unwavering. 'Well, I'm here,' Amarok jumped in. "Die!" at the man's words, the mana amplification stone embedded in his staff began glowing as the ground beneath me began trembling.

At the same time, I charged up my lightning. Utilizing it at its maximum until dark purple lighting crackled in the air. Convent rating it all down into one point I raised my hand and shot it out. Sensing the amount of power behind my attack the man conjured up several thick walls. With a loud resounding crash, my lightning broke straight through most of them. But that wasn't enough to reach his body.

'Jump!' Amarok rang through my mind. Taking his warning, I quickly jumped back. As I looked in front of me I saw that stone spikes had erupted from the ground. 'He's an earthen mage,' he continued. 'Mages are weak in close combat, so get close.'

"Hm? You're one of those special-born kids huh?" The mage said, coming out from behind his conjured wall. "No matter, you'll still die."

Charging forward I unsheathe my sword and leaped off the ground as I neared my target. With my hands firmly gripped on my blade I raised it and poised it for action before swinging horizontally. Before my blade reached him he put up a thick wall of stone that blocked it. In one quick motion, I repositioned myself and spun around, my attack now aimed at the opposite side that wasn't protected.

Then again, my blade hit another stone structure. This one was different, he had elevated himself up on a cylinder-shaped pillar. Without wasting any time I jumped after him. When I did, he hurled an earthen projectile at me. Immediately the large boulder slammed against my body.

But before I got crushed under the weight of it, I focused my gravity magic and pushed it out with so much force that it went flying back toward him. The boulder didn't hit him directly, but it hit the pillar he stood on causing it to break and fall over.

As the man fell alongside the pillar I landed on the ground and charged at him. Focusing mana down to my legs I leaped off the ground, taking advantage of his figure in the air. I swung my sword at him with all my strength but before my blade hit him a stone manifested out of thin air in a way that protected his body, like armor.

My blade hit the hard stone again. As soon as we both hit the ground I pulled back and saw that he had protected himself by conjuring up a cacoon of thin stone around his body. In the next moment, the stone shell cracked open and he readied himself quickly as he stood up.

'You're not getting anywhere here. I might have thought too highly of you,' Amarok said.

"Shut up! If you're going to start talking you better say something helpful!" I said out loud, frustrated at myself for not being able to land a single hit.

The earthen mage tilted his head in confusion as I said that but didn't speak up. 'Well, you sure are a rude one. I was going to help but I guess not,' Amarok said, his cool demeanor unchanged even after my rude comment.

I immediately realized the person who I was talking to. I didn't mean to talk to him like that. The adrenaline buildup from the fight made me forget. "I'm sorry I take all back," I said quickly in the most sincere way possible.

'Hm? Well, the lives of my people are at stake here. So just this once I'm willing to forgive you,' He told me. Thank goodness. 'Now listen, earlier when you launched the first attack your lightning was able to destroy his conjured stone completely. The only reason he survived was because he placed several layers of it. Earth is weak against lightning so get close and land a lightning attack.' he said.

"Got it. And... thanks," I said expressing my gratitude.

'Thank me by saving my people,' he replied.

Taking in a deep breath I charged up my lighting keeping it at its strongest level and coating my sword with it. I looked at my opponent and charged forward. Within an instant, there was an earthen projectile launched at me. I swung my lightning-coated sword, Lightning Slash, and destroyed his projectile.

The slash continued racing through the air toward the mage. In turn, he put up several walls in the path of it, since the distance between us wasn't that great he wasn't able to put enough in place to block it completely. And so, the slash cut through all of them. In the end, the man had no choice but to move out of the way. Amarok was right! I realized. Now he's trying to put some distance between us. He won't get far.

The man was too focused on my slash that he didn't see me as I charged straight for him. And I ended up slicing him across the chest.

"That's it you've lost," I told him. This is my first time slicing through the flesh of another person. The cut was shallow due to my hesitation but even so, I don't think he can keep going. I let out a breath of relief as that last stunt burned through a large amount of my mana in just a short span of time, leaving me with the feeling of a head rush.