As the jet-black tree formed a maze of branches I could only hopelessly try to pry the branches apart but the lowest level of body levelling proved it's title true.

And so, I watched as another comrade of mine meet his end whilst I could do nothing but watch.

As the Wood-Shaman released a branch to pick the White-haired boy up it opened it's uneven mouth in delight.

What kind of hero can't even protect one comrade.

What kind of hero loses to a damn tree?

And as Amon was slowly lowered my intent burned.

My eyes lit aflame, my body and mind enraged as I tried to rip apart the branches before my comrade met his untimely end my inner desires reached their limit.

And went above the sky.

As rage filled me I screamed.

Shrieked.

Hit my fists into the branches so hard markings engraved themselves every second. And as I roared in outrage, time slowed and rage manifested.

But this time, physically.

Pure white flames burst from my hand in a vortex seemingly endless motion.

But it wasn't enough.

They were empty flames.

They merely smothered the branches.

The flames were empty?

Then i'd just have to fill them!

As my anger imbued into the flames the branches were ashes in seconds.

And next the wood-shaman.

It protected itself with all it had letting go of Amon in the process.

Burn

Burn

BURN

My mind had one desire for this tree and that was for it to be a burning wreck.

The white flames endlessly smashed into the Wood-Shamans defences until the Wood-Shaman was alone in an empty space with a sea of flames and a man who wanted revenge. I endlessly poured mana into my hand until I froze.

Mana.

I might've overused that a bit.

And then my flames diminished.

I coughed up blood uncontrollably.

In my fit of rage I over exhausted my mana.

But it wasn't over yet, right?

Right?

As the Wood-Shaman sent forth it's roots I dodged left and right over rocks and under rocks. Such a feat wouldn't be possible if the Wood-Shaman wasn't damaged causing it's roots to move much slower and more mechanically.

I dodged once-again it was getting predictable until my foot flew up and I fell down.

A root from the ground met my eyes as the perpetrator.

As an armada of pointed-branches aimed at my heart I felt my life-flash-through my eyes.

Or should I say his eyes.

The nearly eaten-man was back and with vengeance like mine.

"Go, now."

He said it weakly and it wasn't exactly motivational but it was I needed. I ran to the Wood-Shaman which was desperately attempting to pull back it's branches that were restricted by Amon who was constantly pulling back escaping Branches whilst healing his wounds at the same time. I made one leap of faith and found myself flying through the air, a monster in front of me, a comrade behind. And then I unleashed a sea of flames worthy for it's ugly face.

And as it became ashes and my blood became a paint-job for the floor, Amon and I lay side by side gazing at the distant clouds.

"Still think that was a tree?"

"I wouldn't be talking if I were you, we are lying on a pack of poisonous frogs."

And with a weak chuckle our adventure came to an end..

And with a coincidental side glance I saw a little girl. Maybe 4. With eyes red.

Demon red.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

With my injuries mostly healed by Amon, energy was all I lacked but the girl made no effort to run. I thought dangerously,

should I kill her?

If she was a subordinate of a certain Horned fellow then my comrade and I were in danger.

She slowly looked up to me and waved.

Safe.

I waved back trying to smile nicely but she just slowly scurried off.

Close.

I almost killed a child.

What am I becoming.

No.

I shut off my thoughts. They would help neither now or soon as my first task was getting a nice break. As I left the dungeon with Amon I checked my status.

It was an A rank that's at least 5 levels right?

"System."

Kyle Ratoy

Level: 45 (B rank)

New Skill:

Hollow flames

Flames that follow the users desire. They can heal, destroy or hide.

Extremely Mana Expensive.

Well at least I was 1 rank closer to beating the Demon King.

As we re-appeared at the entrance I saw a certain young-girl again. She waved lightly. I sent my goodbyes to Amon and then headed over. I was still suspicious although I hid it at the back of my mind.

"Uhm, Sir, the Demon King wants to congratulate for getting to B rank!"

And then she smiled lightly.

But not as light as the following explosion that proceeded to cover me in flames and send me 30 feet back.

I shrieked in pain and sorrow as I tried to keep a clear-head.

I summoned the Hollow Flames and overpowered the orange flames. I quickly desired for pain to stop and so the hollow flames acted as a pain-killer as they healed my wounds.

But danger was in every corner of my mind and this land. The Demon King knew where I was.

I looked back to see an Impaled Amon.

Blink

Or maybe not...

It was getting to me. And no matter how much I avoided it, it haunted me like a bad dream. A bad dream that could easily manifest in a single snap.

A snap I could hear from time to time. Getting closer. And more real...