The rhythmic pounding of hooves echoed through the dense woods as Luci and Daniel pressed forward. Every step their horses took seemed to echo louder than it should, as if the forest itself were listening. The birds chirped above, oblivious to the danger lurking nearby. Daniel raised his hand in a swift, sharp motion, his body rigid with tension. Luci, despite the signal, was slow to respond, pulling his reins lazily as his horse came to a stop just before the thick underbrush.
Before either could speak, the peaceful stillness shattered. An explosion echoed from the shadows, and without warning, an Exploder Demon burst out, flinging itself onto Luci's horse. The creature was small but deadly, its crackling, unstable energy threatening to detonate at any moment. Daniel reacted instinctively, leaping down from his horse with the grace of someone used to such ambushes. Luci, on the other hand, remained seated, his posture unchanging, bored even, as if the demon wasn't perched inches away from him, ready to blow.
Without a word, a gaseous fist appeared, punching through the demon's chest. The explosion was far less devastating than it should have been, a muted detonation that left Luci's horse unharmed. Slowly, Luci turned his head, his gaze falling on Daniel, who now stood, eyes glowing with divine power. "Calling the God of Matter: Gaseous State, Fist of Gas," Daniel intoned, his voice calm yet firm, like he'd done this a hundred times before.
Luci's smirk widened slightly, his usual disinterest giving way to curiosity. "So this guy's chosen by the God of Matter, huh?" he muttered to himself, his tone more amused than impressed. "He's going to be quite the fighter."
Before Daniel could respond, a rustling in the bushes around them grew louder. More Exploder Demons appeared, their bodies flickering with unstable energy. They moved with terrifying speed, hurling themselves onto Daniel in a frenzied attempt to detonate and destroy. One by one, they exploded in blinding flashes of light, but even as their bodies disintegrated, they reformed. Small liquid pools on the ground began to gather, the remains of the demons pulling together into their original forms, ready to attack again.
Daniel didn't flinch. His voice rang out once more, steady and sure. "Calling the God of Matter: Liquid State, Liquid Body."
At once, his body dissolved into a fluid mass, slipping away from the demons' attacks. The explosions did nothing to him as he slid across the ground like a flowing stream, untouchable and unstoppable. The demons watched in vain as their attacks missed again and again. From the nearby shadows, Luci observed with growing amusement. Despite his aloof demeanor, he was paying attention to every move, intrigued by the extent of Daniel's abilities.
"Luti!" Daniel shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Get me those two swords from my horse!"
The swords were strapped securely to the side of Daniel's horse, wrapped in brown leather bindings. Without a word, Luci retrieved the blades, tossing them toward Daniel with a casual flick. "How many times do I have to tell you?" Luci asked, his voice dripping with feigned annoyance. "My name is Luci."
Daniel caught the swords effortlessly, his eyes never leaving the demons. "Yeah, yeah, I heard you." His voice dropped lower as he called upon his powers again. "Calling the God of Matter: Solid State, Sword Harden!"
The two blades darkened, their edges gleaming with a newfound hardness. With swift, deliberate movements, Daniel charged forward, slicing through the demons with ruthless precision. Each strike found its mark, cutting through the demons' chests and severing the four hearts that kept them alive. The creatures let out a final, high-pitched screech before exploding one last time, their bodies unable to reform as they dissolved into nothing.
More demons appeared, these ones more reckless and desperate. They flung themselves forward, detonating without hesitation. The air filled with fire and smoke, the heat growing more intense with each blast. The forest began to catch fire, flames licking at the trees and spreading fast. But Daniel remained calm, his form shifting once more into gas. He moved through the chaos, unseen and unfelt, slashing through the demons without them realizing it. Each one fell before they even knew what had hit them, their bodies exploding harmlessly in the burning forest.
Despite Daniel's flawless victory, the heat from the flames began to spread, the fire threatening to consume everything in its path. Luci narrowed his eyes. "Something's not right…" he muttered under his breath.
Just then, the sound of hooves pounding the earth filled the air. Through the thick smoke, a white horse emerged, galloping toward them. Brianna, her golden armor gleaming even in the dim light of the forest fire, rode toward them with determination. Her sword hung at her side, her expression unreadable as she dismounted from her horse.
"Brianna!" Daniel called, his eyes wide with surprise. "Why did you come? This place is dangerous! You need to leave! Did Brown—" He paused, correcting himself quickly. "Did Brian let you come?"
Brianna's cold eyes met his, her voice as sharp as her sword. "My brother's name is Brian, not Brown," she corrected icily. "And yes, he let me."
Her words triggered a memory, one that played out in her mind like a scene from a distant past. Outside the warriors' keep, Brian had tried to stop her.
"You can't go. You're still injured from the last battle," Brian had insisted, his voice filled with concern. But Brianna was unyielding.
"I'll go," she had said firmly, her voice devoid of hesitation. "You know why. What happened What did they always say? Grow stronger, no matter what."
The memory faded, and Brianna found herself standing once more in the burning forest, her gaze locked on Daniel. He shook his head, frustration etched on his face. "Brian shouldn't have let you come. But it doesn't matter now. I'll protect you."
Brianna's eyes narrowed, her voice icy as ever. "I don't need your protection, Daniel. Focus on the mission."
Luci had been watching their exchange in silence, amusement flickering across his features. His smirk deepened, and without breaking his gaze, he muttered to Daniel, "Now, what danger are we going to face next?"
Before Daniel could answer, the crack of snapping twigs echoed from the shadows. Luci's sharp gaze turned toward the sound, catching the frantic movement of a woman running through the forest. Her clothes were torn, her face streaked with dirt and sweat, and her eyes wild with terror. She stumbled over roots and fallen branches, her breath coming in panicked gasps as she fled blindly through the trees.
Luci's smirk widened, but his expression grew cold, his eyes darkening with a predatory glint. He took in the sight of her, stumbling closer, her panic palpable in the air. Whatever was chasing her wasn't far behind. "Is it going to be satisfying?" .