Aoi, a student in a seemingly ordinary classroom, was thrust into an extraordinary world when a mysterious glowing circle disrupted her daily routine. As she awoke in her cabin to the pulsing of mana, she tried to recall the significance of her dream, but it eluded her.
She tried to maintain her composure, feeding mana into her surroundings to create a soothing blue light. The runestone lights flickered with the energy fluctuations, emphasizing the instability of her world. As she sat down to eat breakfast, the mana pulses struck again, spilling her coffee and further underscoring the severity of the problem.
Outside, her farm was in disarray, with runic aqueducts broken and fountains spouting across her fields. Aoi examined the runes and deduced that the enchantments intended to siphon excess mana were functioning correctly, but the material used for the aqueducts was inadequate to handle the power surges.
With her remaining Aswalt, she made temporary repairs, knowing that it was a temporary solution due to the frequent mana pulses. Her thoughts drifted to the need for more materials.
However, as she headed back to her cabin, a catastrophic mana pulse shook the farm, leaving her in agony. This pulse was different, corrupted and malevolent. It forcefully invaded her mana veins, causing her to convulse. With sheer determination, Aoi fought to purify the corrupted mana, a battle that lasted for hours.
Finally, after purging the last of the corrupted energy, she staggered to her feet, disoriented and weakened. A hoarse voice sounded in the distance, indicating that the cause of the disturbance might have been related to humans. Aoi knew she had to rest and prepare for what lay ahead, for a journey was on the horizon. With a heavy heart, she turned in for the night, ready to face the unknown and confront the mysteries of this changed world.
In a distant and ornate kingdom, an intense burst of light suddenly illuminated a grand chamber. As the brilliance subsided, a group of bewildered young adults found themselves standing within a complex runic formation. They slowly gathered their senses and noticed an elderly man in white robes approaching them. He introduced himself as Cardinal Ryes and expressed his gratitude for their presence, explaining that their help was desperately needed.
Amidst their confusion, a scream pierced the air, and the group's attention was drawn to a lifeless body in their midst. Panic and fear surged among them, with one of the youths shouting in terror. Another voice quivered, "It's Sakura?"
Cardinal Ryes urgently tried to calm the summoned heroes, emphasizing that this grim incident was precisely why they had been called. He revealed that the demons and their beastkin heretics were responsible for this death and the ongoing threat to their lands. The group's mixed reactions were evident, with some displaying eagerness to assist, while others remained overwhelmed by fear and grief at the loss of their friend.
The cardinal wasted no time and urged the young heroes to follow him, as the situation was dire, and time was running out before the demons would fully awaken. The group reluctantly followed him, passing through heavy doors that were slammed shut behind them.
But as the doors sealed, the atmosphere cracked and shattered, dispelling an illusion that revealed a grim reality. The room was surrounded by piles of shattered beastkin corpses, a haunting reminder of the danger and deception that awaited these summoned heroes in their new, perilous role.
Aoi's journey through Yggdrasil Forest was a testament to the world's ever-shifting nature. The ancient trees, filtered sunlight, and the name of the forest itself were markers of a bygone era, one that Aoi had witnessed for eight centuries. She couldn't help but ponder the changes that time had wrought upon this land.
As she ventured deeper into the forest, Aoi contemplated her decision to hunt monsters. The options were vast, from the elusive Shadow Foxes to the formidable Crimson Dire Wolves, each with valuable resources. However, she found herself stumbling upon a Tri-horned Salamander, a creature capable of wielding lightning magic. Swift and decisive, she struck it down, securing her a valuable catch. The lizard's scales, meat, beast core, and horns all held significance, serving as resources for various purposes, from armor to runic magic.
Her journey continued, marked by encounters with more Tri-horned Salamanders. While she managed to get the upper hand in most encounters, one battle proved more challenging, leaving a section of the forest in ruins. Aoi decided to settle down for the night, establishing a camp by a river.
As dusk fell, Aoi enjoyed a hearty meal of soup made from the salamander's meat, savoring the blend of flavors and spices. She cleaned her cooking tools by the river and then, after trimming the singed fur from her own body where she had narrowly escaped the creature's attacks, she indulged in a refreshing bath.
While relaxing in the cool river, she couldn't help but reflect on the world's changing dynamics. Monsters were leaving their natural habitats, and Aoi feared what other upheavals were occurring. She left the river feeling clean and rejuvenated, using a firewind spell to dry herself before preparing for a well-deserved rest.
Exhausted from the day's exertions and the mana she had expended, Aoi quickly drifted off to sleep, unaware of the challenges and mysteries that lay ahead in her ever-evolving world.
Aoi had been awakened by her alert wards, and she quickly masked her presence with mana and heightened her senses. The disturbance revealed two groups, one seemingly pursued by the other. Following the presence that had approached her, Aoi stumbled upon a heavily armored human in full plate, who seemed to be in pursuit of the other group.
The armored human confronted the group he had been chasing, casting down two ominous metal collars. Aoi struggled to understand the human's language but grasped the gravity of the situation when the armored human seemingly accusing them of being demon worshippers, and the collars were fastened, their nature and purpose sending shivers down her spine.
Aoi had a choice to make - intervene to help the smaller group or watch silently from the shadows. As she observed the group, she noticed it consisted of three humans and an ox-kin, which puzzled her. Beast kin aligning with demons didn't make sense, given the historical animosity between them.
Before she could make a decision, a surge of mana and an attack disrupted the situation. Aoi couldn't ignore the feeling that the mana had become corrupted, similar to the energy that had affected her earlier. She launched an attack on the armored human, causing a skirmish to unfold.
Aoi's intervention led to casualties on both sides, with her targeting the armored human. Despite suffering injuries, the human refused to back down and engaged in a fierce battle. Aoi, aided by her enhanced abilities, managed to defeat the opponent before they could unleash a deadly spell.
With the immediate threat neutralized, Aoi attempted to communicate with the group she had helped, but the language barrier proved insurmountable. Frustrated, she decided to postpone further communication and led them back to her camp. The night fell, and the unlikely allies settled in for some much-needed rest. Tomorrow, Aoi would try to decipher the mystery surrounding this enigmatic encounter and the unusual alliance formed in the midst of chaos.
