Sword God in a World of Magic

A majestic stag slowly walked through an icy forest. The trees around it had a blue sheen, and some of their needles had seemingly transformed into icicles.

The Stag's body was only 1.5 meters high, making it only a bit taller than a normal stag. However, its antlers were majestic beyond compare. The antlers were a deep blue, and white veins seemed to travel through them, releasing a blue glow periodically.

The antlers stretched upward and to the side like a tree, making one believe that this Stag was some sort of envoy sent by nature.

Whenever the Stag passed an icy tree, the blue color of the trees slowly subsided until the trees no longer shone in any color, and after that, they simply looked like normal, almost lifeless trees made of ice.

The Stag absorbed the Ice Mana in the Ice Wood Trees as it passed them. The Ice Mana in the trees acted as the Stag's sustenance and energy.

Humans weren't afraid of this Stag.

Why?

Because this was a peaceful beast.

It was one of the few beasts that didn't consume meat.

One of the few?

But weren't there many herbivores?

Well, one had to differentiate between animals and beasts.

Beasts were animals that took their first step towards power. Beasts were the animals that managed to come into contact with the Mana in the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, animals were just animals.

As beasts became more powerful, their diet slowly transitioned into one mainly made of meat. The reason for that was that there were not as many plants that came into contact with Mana.

Yes, the Ice Wood Trees were one of these kinds of plants, but the Ice Wood Trees were not powerful. A beast in the First Realm could become more powerful by consuming them, but they would be useless for beasts in the Second Realm.

This Stag would also only consume these trees while still being in the First Stage.

As soon as it became an adult, it would change its diet to water beasts.

This Stag was the very beast that the Elder had asked Alex to kill.

It didn't injure or endanger the villagers, but it consumed all the Ice Mana in the Ice Wood Trees, making them nearly worthless.

So, while the Stag didn't directly threaten the villagers, it was essentially softly pushing them into stagnation and poverty just by existing.

'That's it!' Alex thought as he narrowed his eyes.

the Stag consuming

should be the Frozen Lake Stag,' Alex

watched the Stag

gave the surrounding forest a kind of peaceful

like this place

sucks for you. I

the Stag's antlers closer, and a frown spread over

Elder's fears have proven to

the words the

Stag's antlers pulsate with a white aura, it is close to becoming a beast of the Second Realm. This would essentially

white aura emanating from the

before,' Alex thought. 'However, I'm actually glad that it became stronger. The God said that I should push myself, and I'm certain

came at just the right

still want Alex to kill the Frozen Lake Stag if he knew that it was about to change

Yes!

Why?

of Ice Mana to reach the Second Realm, and it

until a big part of this forest was without Ice

Alex checked his equipment.

coat was on

was numb due to its

in his

Everything was ready.

deep breath to ready

BANG!

with his full

and saw Alex charging at it. As soon

fast, but its gigantic antlers made it difficult for the Frozen Lake Stag to navigate. It was powerful

gaining ground, even though his body was weaker than the Frozen Lake Stag's

Was it fleeing?

No!

It was fighting!

side as he felt Ice Mana

SHING!

ice spire shot out of the ground, and Alex had

Ice Mana into the

the future. A water beast that came close to the shore would suddenly be

sudden appearance of the ice spire had slowed Alex, but he had expected it. After all, the Elder wouldn't send Alex blind into the

Mana of the surrounding trees entered its antlers, refilling

the Frozen Lake Stag in its most favorable

there were Ice Wood Trees, it