Chapter 68: So This Is Death

The monster screamed in pain, taking a few steps back, its confidence shaken. Vell, seeing this, tilted his head, an unsettling grin spreading across his face. “What is wrong? Feeling a little exposed?” His voice dripped with mockery, his confidence growing with each passing second.

It clutched its wound, slowly healing itself, but he was not the type to just sit back and watch. He enhanced his legs and propelled himself at high speed, landing a kick to its face. It tried to catch him, but he easily dodged and landed a punch to its back that made it fall.

’What the hell is going on? He is fighting way better than before. His power is the same, but it is like he is a different person. Dammit, I cannot lose to a human, mother will be disappointed.’ It started releasing a poisonous gas, thinking this would do something, but Vell charged through the gas, kicking it up into the air.

He wound up a punch, exhaling a black smoke of mana. “I have not used this one in a while, last time it broke my core. Let us see how it goes now.” The mana in his core began to spin, which caused his body to begin emitting a very hot and dangerous steam.

[Master, is that?..]

’Oh, you are back, thought you went to sleep like last time. Yeah, this is the same move I used back when escaping the city, this time I will pull it off and even go one step further.’

[Well, with your current power, it should not be a problem.]

He activated a new skill that he got from eating the grasshopper’s core. The power in his legs was rising as he slowly crouched like a spring. The steam intensified, swirling around him like a vortex, the air shimmering with heat. The ground beneath him began to crack, the sheer force of the power he was building threatening to shatter the very earth.

The monster, sensing the immense power gathering around him, felt a primal fear grip its heart, but there was nothing it could do while in mid-air.

“Hoho, this is going to be a good one.” His crouch reached its limit. With a roar that shook the forest, he unleashed the pent-up energy, launching himself upward, an unstoppable force of heat and power. The ground exploded beneath him, sending chunks of earth and rock flying in all directions. The air was filled with a deafening boom, followed by the sound of tearing wind.

He appeared in front of the monster in an instant, his fist a blur of motion.

“W-Wait, please—”

The punch connected, and the world seemed to explode. The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the sky and forest, flattening trees and sending debris flying for hundreds of yards.

’Ah, so this is what death feels like, what a strange sensation… I am sorry, mother, please, be careful of this human, he is… a hunter.’

It vaporized, not a single scrap of flesh, bone, or chitin remained. It had been completely vaporized, reduced to nothing more than a wisp of smoke that quickly dissipated into the wind. The only thing that remained was the massive red core that fell to the ground.

Vell, momentarily suspended in the air, slowly lowered his fist. The steam that had enveloped him began to dissipate, revealing his slightly flushed face. He glanced at his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I am so cool…” He began to fall, out of energy, but Yenna ran over, catching him.

He looked at her with tired eyes. “Hi there, cutie, my name is Vell, and yours?” She did not respond, just stared in his eyes with a smile. She was very happy he won against such a powerful thing.

[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT: ELITE MONSTER DEFEATED!]

[Reward: 100 EXP and Skill Acquired: Body Refinement.]

’Cool, a new skill, but that is not important right now. We need to get back to the cave.’

[Master… I am sorry for doubting you, I jus-]

’Shut it, it is all in the past, but next time I tell you to do something, do it. If you are not doing what is being asked of you, then how can you call yourself useful?’ He got up, using Yenna for support.

[…I will keep that in mind.]

They made their way over to the core, one touch and he could tell just how much mana was inside. He looked at Yenna, she did not show any signs of wanting it, but still, “Do you want it? I am sure it will be helpful to you.”

She shook her head immediately. “You almost died fighting that monster, how can I accept this knowing that? Do not worry about me, I have some cores of my own from the monsters I fought, I am sure they will be useful too.”

He smiled. “Well, if you say so.” He absorbed the mana from the core into his body and quickly sent half to her before she could react. “Oops, I messed up,” he said sarcastically.

She blinked rapidly, her cheeks glowing a deep pink as the power entered her body. She fidgeted nervously, her fingers clutching at her shirt. “Y-You did not have to do that…” she murmured, barely above a whisper, her voice soft and trembling.

He chuckled, his eyes half-lidded with exhaustion but still carrying a teasing glint. “You are welcome. Do not worry about it, I promised to make you stronger, I am just keeping that promise,” he quipped, his tone playful despite the sweat still clinging to his brow.

She peeked up at him, her expression a mix of concern and awe. “B-But you should use it for yourself… You have been fighting so hard…” Her voice faltered, and she looked down, scuffing the dirt with her boot.

He reached out, lightly tapping her forehead with a finger. “Hey, it is fine. Think of it as a team effort. You kept me going, after all.”

Her heart fluttered at his words, but she quickly looked away, hiding her face behind her hair. “I-I did not really do anything,” she stammered. Her voice grew quieter, as if unsure whether to continue. “You are… so strong, and I-I just stood there…”

He tilted his head, smirking. “What are you talking about? You caught me when I fell, did not you? You saved me from face-planting into the dirt.” He gave her a wink, causing her face to turn an even deeper shade of red.

“I-I… Th-That was nothing!” she protested, her voice rising slightly before dropping back to a timid murmur. “I just… I did not want you to get hurt more…”

“Well, I appreciate it,” he said with a warm smile, his tone more genuine now. “Besides, I could not have done all this if I did not have someone to fight for.”

Her breath hitched, and she clutched her chest as if to steady her racing heart. “S-Someone to fight for…?”

He nodded, his expression softening as he leaned against her for support. “Yeah. You.”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she forgot how to speak. Her mind raced with a flurry of emotions—joy, embarrassment, and disbelief all mingling together. “M-Me?!” she squeaked, her voice high-pitched.

“Of course, you are my partner, right?”

The word ’partner’ rang in her ears, and she bit her lip to suppress a smile. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire, and she could barely meet his gaze. “Y-Yes… I… I suppose I am…” she finally managed, her voice trembling.

He chuckled softly, his exhaustion catching up to him as his legs threatened to give out again. She instinctively tightened her grip on him, steadying his weight.

’Partner… he called me his partner!’ Her heart was beating fast from joy.

“Let us get back to the cave, we have earned some rest.”

“Y-Yes… O-Of course,” she stammered, her heart still fluttering as she guided him back.

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