Chapter 65: Strong Monster

’Haah, when is he coming back? I thought he was close, watching. Did he run off somewhere else?’ Yenna thought, leaning against a tree while throwing a core up in the air multiple times. She caught it with a soft thunk in her palm, her gaze drifting to the mangled remains of the hounds she had just dispatched. A sigh escaped her lips. This new power was exhilarating, intoxicating even, but it was also… lonely. She missed the reassuring presence of Vell, the silent promise of his protection.

’I hope he did not get himself into trouble,’ she mused, a hint of worry creeping into her thoughts. She tossed the core up again, higher this time, tracking its arc with a practiced eye. It was a small, blue stone, pulsating faintly with residual corrupted mana.

“Maybe I should go look for him,” she muttered to herself, catching the core once more. “But what if I leave and he comes back here…” Her fingers tightened around the stone. She wanted to go, but she controlled herself and stayed put.

She closed her eyes. Although she was worried about him, she could not help but appreciate the breeze, and the corrupted mana in the air felt good against her skin. ’He made me like him,’ she thought, a flicker of amusement crossing her mind. ’A crazy player that loves fighting, just like him.’ The thought, which would have terrified her before, now brought a sense of belonging, of shared identity. She opened her eyes, her gaze settling on the blue core in her hand. ’I-’

Her skin ran cold, and she jumped to her feet, sweat running down her spine. ’What is this dangerous presence I am sensing?’ She spotted a moving monster not too far, and she knew it was something too strong for her. She hid behind a tree, holding her breath with trembling hands over her mouth.

’Where did such a thing come from… I am scared… I am scared, please just pass-’ She felt a strong breeze right behind her. ’…Please no.’ She slowly turned her head, and the monster was standing right behind her, its red eyes staring at her with an intensity that made her knees weak.

It was a creature of nightmare, a hulking mass of twisted flesh and bone. Its body was a patchwork of different beasts, as if several creatures had been fused together in some horrific experiment. Jagged spikes protruded from its back, and its limbs ended in wickedly sharp claws that dripped with a viscous, black fluid. But it was the head that truly terrified her.

It resembled that of a sheep, but far larger, with a maw filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Its snout was elongated and twisted, and its ears were pointed and twitching, as if constantly listening for any sign of prey. And those eyes… those burning red eyes that seemed to pierce right through her soul.

Yenna froze, her body paralyzed with fear. The blue core slipped from her numb fingers and fell to the ground with a soft thud, unnoticed. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her heart pounded so much that her head felt dizzy. She wanted to scream, to run, to do anything but stand there, frozen in the gaze of this monstrous creature.

The monster tilted its head, its red eyes narrowing as it studied her. A low growl rumbled deep within its chest, a sound that vibrated through the air and seemed to shake the very ground beneath her feet. It took a step closer, its massive frame blocking out the light. She could smell its foul breath, a stench of decay and death that made her gag.

’Vell…’ she thought, her mind desperately reaching out for him through the bond. ’Vell, where are you?’ It was a silent plea, a desperate cry for help in the face of overwhelming terror. She was trapped, alone, and facing a creature that was clearly far beyond anything she could handle. And in that moment, as the monster loomed over her, she knew that her power was nowhere near enough. The monster’s head inched closer, its maw parted slightly, and she was given a close-up of the dagger-like teeth.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable. She could almost feel the teeth sinking into her flesh, the searing pain, the end. But it did not come. Instead, she felt a hand on her head, and she knew, he was here. She slowly opened her eyes, seeing Vell with a pissed-off look on his face. “Run.” His tone was low, calm, but she knew that behind that was rage.

She nodded and ran away.

The monster still did nothing. It now focused its deadly eyes on Vell, but unlike Yenna, he stared back, without any fear in his eyes. “Were you just about to eat her?” His mana was overflowing, his eyes turned black as his power continued to rise. “Do you have any idea how much I went through the last time she almost died? Do you think I will let something like that happen again?” His sword was already fully drawn and covered in mana. He was angry, but not stupid, he knew how strong this thing was.

The monster was unfazed by his power. It let out a deafening roar made up of the different creatures that made up its form. The sound was both a challenge and a threat, echoing through the forest and sending shivers down the spines of any lesser creatures nearby.

Vell gripped his sword tighter. “You picked the wrong day to mess with me,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

[Careful, master. This creature is far stronger than anything you have faced before. Its corrupted mana levels are off the charts. A direct confrontation could be fatal.]

’I know.’ This was a red-dotted monster, and the dot was bigger than others, which meant that whatever this thing was, it was way above his level, but despite that, he stood his ground.

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