Chapter 24 - First contact
In the middle of a clearing shaded by dense trees, Rygar watched intently as his group faced a pack of Leaf Tigers. These rank B monsters were known for their ferocity and tendency to hunt in groups. However, his companions were making progress. Taes and Kidar, the most experienced warrior, led the charge. Eidar and Taes moved in sync, keeping the Tigers at bay with precise strikes and elemental magic.
Kidar stood tall and muscular, his bronze skin crossed by scars, with feline ears twitching at the slightest sound. His piercing red eyes matched his short, graying hair, emphasizing his beast-like heritage.
Most male members of the Adoldia and Dedoldia races didn't wear shirts, and Taes had embraced this trend. Rygar, however, decided to keep his on for now, planning to follow suit when he was older.
Perched on a tree branch, Rygar analyzed the battle. His golden, magically enhanced eyes gleamed like a predator's. A subtle movement in the underbrush caught his attention—a Leaf Tiger, braver than the rest, creeping toward him, thinking it could take him by surprise.
The moment the Tiger leapt, Rygar was ready. With a fluid motion, he dodged, letting the creature brush past him. A faint glow ran along his arm as he concentrated his touki with precision, channeling the energy into his right fist before striking the beast's side.
The impact was devastating. A sharp sound echoed through the clearing as the Tiger was hurled away like a cannonball. The sickening crunch of breaking bones and crushing flesh was immediate. Rygar stood still, critically observing the now-motionless creature.
"Still not good enough," he muttered, flexing his fingers.
Touki control was a skill he had been honing tirelessly. Inspired by Tsunade's chakra-enhanced strikes, he sought to replicate a similar effect. So far, he had managed to slightly amplify his strikes, making them marginally more powerful. The process, however, was risky. A mistake in channeling could cause the energy to recoil, inflicting serious internal damage. He allowed himself to experiment only because of his healing magic.
"Maybe that's why no one does this," he pondered. "The risk is too high. But if I can achieve perfect control, this could be viable."
The idea of transforming touki into more than just a defensive layer or raw amplifier was challenging, but he was determined. This was just one of the many concepts simmering in his mind now that he could consciously manipulate the energy.
He was also eager to explore new boundaries in magic. Lightning magic, with its speed and lethality, was a priority on his list. He was currently improving his water magic to complement this and felt success was within reach. Another concept intrigued him deeply: the relationship between the mana within his body and the ambient mana. He noticed no fundamental difference between the two, which raised an intriguing question: could touki be imbued with elemental or even healing properties?