"Do you know who I am?" Her voice thundered, rough and brimming with bravado. "I am a Lower Saint, not even a thousand years old, and—" She paused, waiting for the weight of her title to send shivers through us. "I am Bai—"
[Labyrinth of Souls]
My voice cut through, cold and precise, the spell unleashed like a swift arrow.
The beast halted mid-breath. Her arrogance unraveled into bewilderment, then dissolved into raw panic. She strained to move, but it was futile—her mind was already ensnared, dragged into the abyss of my magic.
Within the illusion, she endured an unending torment: battles that fractured her spirit, one crushing defeat after another. Out here, her body quivered. Her legs gave way beneath her, and a muted thud resounded as she crumpled onto the wet earth.
I drew a deep breath, the dense forest air flooding my lungs. "I thought it would be harder. More… thrilling." Frustration laced my words, a quiet ache for a challenge worthy of my strength.
Nael turned his gaze toward me, stirring at last. His eyes betrayed no feeling, only a distant void, as though he observed the world through a faint haze. "Elowen…" My name slipped from him, flat yet heavy, pulling my posture straighter. "What did you expect?"
"That it would be a bit difficult," I replied, aiming for nonchalance, though a defensive edge crept into my tone.
"If you needed much to kill a Lower Saint… and an injured one at that…" He let the silence hang, heavy as stone. "It would be a waste. And you should think twice before following me."
"Hah, that stung." A brief laugh escaped me, an attempt to lighten the air, but his expression didn't shift. Typical Nael.
"It was meant to." His eyes drifted to the beast's fallen form, the trees' shadows twisting across us like dark veins.
I knelt beside the corpse, my fingers grazing its coarse, cold hide. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll take the core, the meat, and the bones."
"For what?" His question was curt, but a faint lift of his brow hinted at curiosity.
"Well…" I began, peeling back the skin with a firm tug. "If I'm not mistaken, we have no money. No food. So… this solves that." I held up the core—apple-sized, aglow with a pulsing blue light that seemed to breathe. A playful smirk tugged at my lips as I met his gaze.
Nael gave a faint shake of his head, so subtle it nearly vanished. "Do as you wish." With that, he turned and strode down the path, his steps steady against the earth.
I lingered a moment, my eyes tracing his retreating figure. That's just how he is, I thought, slipping the core into my pocket. Cold as stone, but there's something beneath it. Something I'll uncover.
Casting a final glance at the beast's remains, I stood and hastened after him, my boots' rhythm merging with the wind's soft murmur.
Nael's footsteps faded into the forest's restless hum. I crouched beside the beast's body, hands slick with blood as I carved through its flesh with deliberate cuts. The silence pressed around me, thick and vibrant, pierced only by the wet sound of my blade parting skin and sinew. The woods seemed to pause, shadows flickering in the faint light as if some unseen presence lingered, watching.
A hoarse chuckle broke from my throat, shattering the stillness. Instantly, Ave's voice—my system, my sharp-tongued companion of years—rang in my mind, dripping with that familiar mockery I both loathed and cherished.
"Hey, Ave, buy me an Eternal-level cooking technique… and the recipes too," I said, cradling the beast's core, its warmth still throbbing against my palms.
"Of course, hostess," she replied, her tone smooth yet edged with sarcasm. "But admit it… you want to impress him, don't you?"
I froze, the slick core nearly slipping from my grip. A lopsided grin spread across my face. "And if I do?"
"I knew it!" Ave's laughter tinkled like impish bells. "The great Elowen's heart, snagged by a guy who barely blinks!"
"Come here, you wretched system, so I can slap that fat ass of yours!" I fired back, tossing the core into my dimensional bag and leaping to my feet. My words were teasing, but a quiet heat bloomed in my chest—a truth I pushed aside.
"So aggressive, hostess!" Her laughter swelled, reveling in the jab. "I've never seen you so eager. He doesn't even notice you, you know?"
I clenched my fists, a smile tugging at me despite myself. "Maybe not. Maybe…" My voice wavered, and I shook my head. I won't let her get the last word, I resolved, drawing a steadying breath.
Now, Nael and I walked side by side, our steps resounding on the damp ground. The wind whispered through the leaves, carrying scents of moss and decayed wood. He broke the quiet with his voice, sharp and unyielding.
"How do you plan to make money?" he asked, staring ahead as if the surrounding world held no claim on his focus.
I arched a brow, glancing at him. "Let's hunt some demonic beasts," he added, his tone so matter-of-fact it felt like a foregone conclusion.
"You mean I'm going to hunt for both of us, right?" I shot back, folding my arms with a wry smile.
"Yes." His reply was blunt, delivered without a flicker of doubt, as if I'd asked the color of the sky.
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "Sure, why not? Just me sweating while you watch." Yet beneath my jest, a flicker of excitement sparked to life.
After hours of trekking, the forest parted to reveal a Winged Tiger from the Minor Holy Domain. It emerged like a tempest given form, its fur shimmering with golden stripes that caught the dim sunlight. Vast wings rose like dark shrouds, eclipsing the sky, and its eyes burned—two furious coals fixed on me. Its roar shook the earth, a primal sound that rattled my bones.
"Good luck," Nael said, leaning against a tree with arms crossed, his face a mask of indifference.
"Thanks for the support," I quipped, sarcasm thick as I settled into a ready stance.
The Tiger surged forward, swift as a thunderbolt. Its claws cleaved the air, and I dove aside, the gust brushing my cheek. The scent of moist soil rose as I rolled and sprang upright, my pulse hammering.
[Labyrinth of Souls]!
I called out, my voice slicing through the clamor.
The illusion enveloped it like a silent fog. For a heartbeat, the Tiger stilled, its gaze glassy, trapped in a vision only it could endure. Then, with a roar that stripped leaves from branches, it tore free, its sheer might shattering my spell like brittle ice.
"Interesting," I murmured, leaping back as its wings beat, hurling dust into my eyes.
It lunged again, fangs glinting like black daggers. I slid beneath it, the heat of its bulk searing my skin. A spiritual blade flared to life in my hand—a shimmering thread of blue—and I struck its underbelly. Golden blood sprayed, thick and scalding, soaking my clothes. Its bellow was a deafening tide, forcing me to grit my teeth.
But it didn't falter. With uncanny grace, it twisted, its tail lashing like a steel whip. I crashed into a tree, air exploding from my lungs. Pain flared across my back, darkness edging my vision. Get up, Elowen, I urged myself, rising with the metallic taste of blood on my tongue.
The Tiger charged anew, its blazing eyes locked on me. Claws tore the ground, flinging dirt and pebbles. I dodged, but a claw snagged my arm, shredding fabric and flesh in a fiery gash. Blood welled, stark against the forest's chill.
"Elowen!" Nael's voice pierced the fray, dry and unshaken, yet it struck me like a spark.
"I'm alive!" I shouted, my arm throbbing as if aflame. I won't fall—not where he can see, I swore, jaw tight.
The Tiger leaped, wings unfurling like a storm's shadow. The air thickened with its menace, a whiff of death on the breeze. I summoned every ounce of will, adrenaline roaring through me. "[Eternal Soul Sword]!" I cried, and a blade of radiant light blazed forth, banishing the gloom.
It faltered, eyes widening at the brilliance. I struck, the blade singing as it carved its flank. The jolt rattled my arm, but I pressed on, plunging it into its chest. The Tiger roared—a sound torn between rage and ruin—as its wings thrashed, whipping up a maelstrom of leaves and dust.
Its claws slashed again, narrowly missing as I ducked, the air stinging my face. My body ached, screaming for rest, but I drove the blade into its neck. Golden blood gushed, molten and bright, pooling on the earth. The Tiger staggered, then fell, its collapse a tremor through the woods.
I stood, breathless, sweat falling in rivulets to the ground. My trembling hands released the fading blade. I glanced at Nael, still propped against the tree, his half-lidded eyes studying me like a riddle.
"First money secured," I said, striving for steadiness, though my voice cracked.
He shrugged, a ghost of a motion. "Not bad," he murmured, a hint of something—respect, maybe—warming me through the pain.
I approached the Tiger's body, hands unsteady as I began to dismantle it. Nael drew near, his steps silent as a predator's. He paused beside me, staring at the carcass wordlessly. Our eyes met briefly, and in that blood-streaked, weary moment, a quiet connection flickered—unspoken, yet real.
"You fought well," he said, his tone soft, almost tender.
"Thanks," I replied, a faint smile breaking through my exhaustion. "But I know I can do better."
"There's always room to improve," he agreed, his gaze shifting to the shadowed forest ahead. "But today… it was enough."
He walked on, his stride sure, and I followed, my heart pounding—not just from the battle, but from the rare thrill of matching pace with someone who challenged me to rise.
A heavy silence draped the forest, the air still trembling with the Winged Tiger's final cry. I stood panting, sweat tracing paths down my face to drip onto the earth. Blood and soil mingled on my tongue. I shot a look at Nael, slouched against a gnarled tree, arms folded, his cool stare sizing me up with maddening calm.
"Two to zero for me," I said, aiming for confidence, but my voice rasped like a whisper.
He tilted his head slightly, as if conceding, "Fair enough." No fanfare, no judgment—just that unrelenting gaze. I wiped my brow with a grimy hand, took a steadying breath, and we moved on. The forest closed around us once more, the trail tightening, the air growing warm and alive, syncing with my every step.
The Second Beast: The Fire Serpent of the Infernal Valley
The valley yawned before us like a scar on the earth, its fractured ground exhaling smoke, heat rippling upward in shimmering waves. Each breath scorched my lungs with sulfur's bite. At its heart, lava churned, a vivid, ravenous red, and from it rose the Fire Serpent, streaking skyward like a spear of flame.
Its eyes glowed like twin coals, brimming with a fury that felt aimed at me alone. Scales shifted between fire and ash, mesmerizing yet dreadful. Its hiss churned my gut.
"This time, I won't make it easy," I muttered, steeling myself. I raised my hands, and a spiritual barrier shimmered into being—a fragile blue glow quaking against the heat.
It struck like a viper, jaws wide, fangs flashing like molten blades. I rolled aside, the spot I'd stood sizzling into slag. Heat singed my hair's ends. Too close, I thought, pulse racing.
"[Frozen Flame]!" I yelled, casting a blue blaze at it. The collision cracked sharply, ice crusting its scales in a white sheen. The Serpent thrashed, fire warring with frost, then shattered the ice with a valley-shaking roar, fragments flying like jagged glass.
Not that simple, I thought, teeth clenched. I sprang forward, the searing air resisting me, and landed atop its head. Spiritual energy surged, shaping a lance of light that pulsed with life. With a howl born of defiance, I thrust it between those ember eyes.
Time stilled. Then it erupted, flames bursting outward in a wave that nearly swallowed me. Its remains fell, the lava hissing as it claimed them.
I sank to my knees, heat still clawing at my skin, my chest constricted. I glanced at Nael, unmoved, his eyes steady on me, unshocked.
"Two to zero for me," I said, forcing a crooked grin.
"For now," he replied, his voice a quiet taunt. I rose, unsteady, knowing he spoke true.