Falling, getting back up, and forcing her feet to keep moving forward. A torrent of tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision. She rubbed the tears running down her cheeks away, trying to stop the sobs from coming out of her mouth.
She was alone for the first time since entering this forest. The sound of nearby monsters howling and the movement of the leaves of the trees covering the area became more vivid than ever.
However, unlike her vast mana pool, her stamina was not something she could rely on completely in this situation. With each step, she became slower and slower, as did her hope, which was dwindling by the second. Navigating through such a forest was not her forte, and running was not even her forte in the first place. Her body was as delicate as a lovely snow globe.
The cold wind blew through Caserie, as did the silent flight of the person chasing her. A massive shadow of someone with wide wings flew across the afternoon sky.
It began with a snowflake falling on her hand, which she was using to wipe away her tears... Then another landed on her cheek.
Caserie sobbed as she looked ahead. Her eyes widened as she came to a complete stop, clutching her staff so tightly that her hands turned red. Her legs were trembling and she could no longer run.
The scene in front of her could only mean two things: Herold was already dead, and all of her chances of escaping had vanished.
Eon touched down and immediately closed his wings. His glowing blue eyes darted to Caserie, visible through his ice helmet. Eon approached Caserie without saying anything.
Caserie, on the other hand, raised her staff and used both Thunderstrike and Chain Lightning.
[Thunderstrike has dealt 160.72 damage to your Ice Armor.]
[Chain Lightning has dealt 281.5 damage to your Ice Armor.]
Two roaring electro skills struck Eon, but they didn't even slow him down. Caserie walked back and activated her skills, Thunderstrike and Chain Lighting, once more.
[Thunderstrike has dealt 160.72 damage to your Ice Armor.]
[Chain Lightning has dealt 281.5 damage to your Ice Armor.]
She tried again and again, but the result remained the same. The only difference was that she managed to crack Eon's helmet, exposing a small portion of his face.
And before Caserie knew it... Eon had already appeared in front of her. Even though Caserie wanted to walk back and try to survive, her feet had already lost their senses, as if they had already surrendered to the fate they were about to face.
Caserie raised her staff, but Eon's hand stopped it in mid-air. Caserie tried to prise it from Eon's grasp, but she lacked the strength to even move his hand.
"It's pointless," Eon said gently but chillingly.
Caserie exclaimed when she heard a voice from the armored monster in front of her. She averted her gaze and saw through a crack in Eon's helmet. Caserie saw a lifeless gray eye—no emotion, no life, no light, just a void circular gem-like eye.
She shook her head in surprise as the monster who killed her friends spoke to her, causing a flood of tears to fall down her cheeks. "You talk like a human, you're no monster; why are you doing this? Just for the pleasure of killing? Is that what this is all about?" Caserie asked, her voice trembling. "Do you view people's lives as a form of entertainment?"
Eon leaned forward, his face closer to Caserie, allowing her to see Eon's right eye more clearly. "I never enjoy killing and inflicting pain; if I don't have to kill to achieve my goal, I won't kill a single soul," Eon said, his voice genuine and gentle. "Unfortunately, that is not the case."
Caserie's body finally gave way. Her knees collapsed to the ground, and her eyes lost all hope. "I don't want to die," she said as she darted her lifeless eyes toward Eon, her last beg for her life.
Eon knelt in front of her and placed a gentle hand on Caserie's shoulder. "I'm afraid I can't let you go because something tells me it'll be bad for me to let you live," Eon explained. "Also, even if I let you go, you will die because about ten Bildabears are already on their way for you, and dying in their hands is not something I would call painless."
Caserie gave a shake of her head. "As if being killed by you wouldn't hurt."
"I promise this will be quick and painless," Eon assured.
Caserie did not respond, instead nodding and closing her eyes. There was no point in arguing because all of her hope was gone. So the only thing she could wish for was to die without pain.
And Eon would give it to her even if she didn't ask...
"Farewell," Eon said.
[Icy Touch has been activated.]
[Icy Touch has dealt 554 damage.]
Caserie's body transformed into an ice statue in a matter of seconds. Eon locked his gaze on her for a few seconds, as he always did. Remembering her beautiful image before she vanished from this world.
[Deceitful Shapeshifter: a new form has been acquired. The Human Elementalist form is now available for use.]
[Mana Absorb: You have received 91 MP.]
Eon stood up and took a step back from Caserie. Then he observed the surroundings with his superior smell, which he had added to his new human body. He remained motionless while attempting, but failing, to locate someone. The person Eon was looking for was completely hidden from him.
Eon took a look around. "It appears one of them managed to escape," he said casually, as if he hadn't just committed a heinous massacre.
And without the memories of his former self as a human, Eon saw humans the same way he saw monsters. He had no hatred for them, which was why he almost always chose the most painless method to end their lives, but killing them would make him feel nothing. After the ruthless slaughter, he felt nothing but relief at having completed a task... gaining a form that could communicate.
Eon had a human appearance, but he was no longer a human. He was a monster with a human mind, but he lacked the vital emotions that would make him human.
***
[Dark Augmentation has been activated.]
Lian drew her bowstring with an arrow tipped with black fog. Her bloodshot red eyes were fixed on Eon, who stood 30 meters in front of her. Tears flowed from both of her eyes, but not enough to cause her to lose sight of her target.
She had just returned from patrolling when she noticed continuous attacks coming from Mea and Caserie from afar. When she arrived, however, she discovered three statues of her friends, as well as an image of an armored human with wings flying away from the scene.
She hadn't even had time to mourn or be stunned by the death of those she considered her family. She immediately pursued the perpetrator. Caserie's attacks also aided her in tracking down the fast enemy. However, by the time she arrived to save Caserie, she had already been transformed into an ice statue.
Lian was unable to save anyone. Even if she arrived earlier, the outcome would have been nearly identical, with the exception that she was one of the slain.
She was now perched on a tree, aiming her arrow at the perpetrator.
RACE: Human Holy Healer [Level: 20/30].
HP: 200/200
MP: 380/380
Top Speed: 40 km/h
Defense: 2
The murderer of Lian's family was already in front of her.
Lian tightened the string on her bow, trying to focus his gaze on Eon, but the longer she held the shot, the blurrier her vision became. Her eyes and face were filled with rage, rage that compelled her to unleash and risk everything for vengeance.
Lian, on the other hand, deactivated her Dark Augmentation and, instead of exploding, covered her mouth with her hands and cried in silence. She just stood there watching Eon wave his wings and fly away without taking any punishment for what he had done.
Lian was well aware that if Eon could easily defeat their entire party, she would perish fighting Eon. If she had let her rage take over at this point, she would have lost all chance of vengeance.
The death of their entire party meant only one thing: they had found what they were looking for... But it wasn't a monster, but a human, or so Lian thought based on what she saw. And dying for nothing was the worst choice a disaster survivor could make.
"A dead adventurer has no voice to convey vital information."
Despite her overwhelming desire to take this matter into her own hands, Lian stood up and began her journey back to Deosa's capital. She moved quickly through the tree branches, carrying the bow and arrow on her back. She wiped her tears away, her eyes filled with determination.
She only had one goal in mind... And it was to reveal the existence of a dangerous being in Kegali's forest.