After months of battling formidable monsters, I had gained new skills and grown stronger, but the isolation in the cave was suffocating. I searched tirelessly for a way out, even tried breaking through the walls, but the maze seemed endless. Even Miss Chronos, with all her knowledge, couldn't locate the exit. Despite being an invaluable guide, this time she offered no solution.
The cave had become my home, albeit unwillingly. Every nook and cranny seemed familiar now, yet every turn still felt like a dead end. I couldn't deny the suffocating feeling that came from being alone for so long. My victories against the formidable beasts that lurked in the shadows had come with pride and newfound strength, but as the days stretched on, the absence of companionship gnawed at me.
I walked through the cave's seemingly endless halls, running my hand along the jagged stone walls. The cold surface brought a strange comfort, but it wasn't enough to fill the void of human interaction. How long had it been? I wondered. Weeks? Months? Time had long since lost its meaning in this dim labyrinth. Miss Chronos, with her ever-constant guidance, was the only voice I had heard, but even she couldn't replace the need for another presence—a tangible, living being.
Then, after a particularly brutal fight with a B-rank monster, Miss Chronos made an unexpected suggestion. She proposed using one of my inherent abilities: Summoning. It was a skill I had always known but had rarely considered using in this context. The skill allowed me to call forth a creature, though it couldn't be stronger than me. It could be anything—an orc, a goblin, or perhaps even a demon.
Summon something here? I thought, turning the idea over in my mind. The risks were obvious. Whatever I summoned would likely be at least as powerful as an A-rank monster, and I'd have to defeat it to assert my dominance. If I failed, the creature would tear me apart in my weakened state. But after countless battles, I had confidence in my strength. I had already defeated several A-rank foes—this would be no different. With renewed determination, I prepared to summon the unknown, ready for whatever challenge awaited.
I began chanting, but then it hit me—what the hell am I chanting? I didn't even know the spell! It was instinctual, something I had been trained to do during summoning practices, but I had never truly understood the mechanics behind it. Frustrated, I cut myself off mid-chant and groaned.
"Who am I kidding? I don't need to chant like some second-rate magician!"
I turned to Miss Chronos. "Please, use the skill for me."
"Understood! Using inherent skill: Summoning."
For a moment, nothing happened. I stood there, waiting, the silence in the cave amplifying my doubts. But then, I felt a strange sensation—a draining, like my very life force was being siphoned away. Within a minute, I collapsed, falling to my knees as if the energy had been pulled straight from my core. My head spun, and for a moment, I couldn't see straight.
It was more draining than when I crafted a skill. Nearly 50 percent of my essence, I realized, had vanished in an instant.
The cave fell deathly silent. It was as if the air itself had frozen in anticipation. The area was well-lit, likely thanks to my dragon vision, but I could feel the atmosphere shifting. Something was emerging from my magic essence, and it was casting an eerie, purplish-black glow over the entire cave.
Gradually, a figure began to materialize before me. A being entirely born from my magic, taking form and substance. Its body, its clothes, its flesh—everything was shaping itself from the very essence I had poured into the summoning. As the entity's flesh began to solidify, I saw the familiar human-like structure, but something was different, more refined, more dangerous. The essence continued to coalesce, and its hair started to form, long and silky.
I watched, transfixed, as the being took on more recognizable features. A tall woman stood before me, her hair a striking mirror of my own, her skin pale—almost unnaturally so. It was reminiscent of frostbite, like the color of death in its most elegant form. As I struggled to regain my composure, the woman slowly opened her eyes, revealing crimson irises that glowed like embers in the dim light of the cave.
For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, without warning, she fell to her knees, bowing deeply.
"Master! I am the demon you summoned! I am forever in bliss because you have called me!" Her voice was firm but reverent, her eyes lowered in complete submission.
Her sudden display caught me off guard. I had expected a battle, some show of resistance, but here she was, kneeling before me, ready to serve.
"Stand up!" I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady. The power I held over this creature was still sinking in, and I wasn't sure how to handle it. "What is your name?"
She remained on her knees, her head still bowed. "I… Master! I don't have a name. Feel free to call me whatever you like!"
I paused, her words hanging in the air. A being without a name, entirely at my mercy. There was something strange, something powerful, about having the ability to name another creature. But what would I call her? What name could possibly fit this demon that had been born from my very essence?
I thought back to the cold, the frost-like appearance of her skin, and the silent strength she exuded.
"I think I should call you Samui," I said after a moment of consideration, watching her face for any sign of approval.
"Samui?" She repeated the name slowly, as if savoring it. "Such a wonderful name! I am in eternal bliss that you, my master, have named me!" Her face lit up with a joy I hadn't expected.
Suddenly, I felt a slight drain on my magic essence—not much, but enough to notice. I frowned, confused. "Ahem, what just happened? Did my magic essence get drained?"
Samui's face flushed, and she looked up at me with wide eyes, still kneeling in reverence. "Master, when you give a name to someone, some of your magic essence naturally flows into them. The name you've given me is now engraved in my soul, making it a part of me forever." She lowered her head even further. "Now, I, Samui, hereby pledge my eternal loyalty to you, my lord and master! Please accept my undying devotion!" Her eyes, those striking crimson orbs, bore into mine, brimming with allegiance.
There was something in her gaze—something dark, something dangerous—but I pushed the thought aside. She was my subordinate, a creation of my own magic. She wouldn't betray me, not when I was the one who had given her life.
"Yes, I, Akira, accept your pledge," I said, forcing confidence into my voice, hoping to diffuse the intensity of the moment.
"Master! I am overwhelmed with joy!" Samui suddenly clung to my leg, her face pressed against me as if she had no intention of letting go.
"Y-Yeah, I get it," I said, awkwardly trying to peel her off without seeming rude. Her overwhelming display of loyalty was becoming a bit much. "Now, stand up. We've got a lot to discuss."
"Yes, Master! As you command!" Samui immediately sprang to her feet, her posture perfect, her expression eager to please.
We walked for a bit until we found a smooth, flat rock. I sat on it, but Samui, true to her earlier words, sat on the ground, lowering herself below me. For some reason, it looked uncomfortable, and the whole dynamic made me feel... uneasy.
"Hey, Samui, why don't you sit on the rock with me?" I offered, trying to bridge the gap between us.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Master! I am merely your servant! I cannot sit at the same level as you!"
I sighed, realizing this would be a battle of its own. Without another word, I slid off the rock and sat on the ground beside her. She gasped, visibly startled by my action.
"Master! Please, you must not lower yourself! Sit back on the rock!" she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly, as if my sitting next to her was some kind of sacrilege.
"No," I replied firmly. "I'll sit here, next to you. It's fine."
Her gaze softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of emotion pass through her crimson eyes. "If that is your wish, Master." She hesitated for a second before reluctantly moving to the rock and patting the space next to her, inviting me to sit beside her again. I took the seat without hesitation.
Once we were both settled, I started asking her the questions that had been on my mind since the moment she appeared. "So, Samui, where exactly are we right now?"
"Master, we are inside the Cave of Death, which is located within the Freedom Forest of Monsters," she answered confidently, her posture still straight, her tone respectful.
I blinked, surprised by the name. "The Cave of Death?" I repeated, looking around at the cave's dark, looming walls. It suddenly seemed much more ominous. "So, do you
know how to get out of here?"
"Yes, Master! I can guide you to the exit," she said eagerly, her eyes lighting up with a sense of purpose.
"Then let's go!" I said, feeling a surge of excitement and relief.
With Samui leading the way, we began navigating the cave's winding paths and treacherous terrain. Every step felt like progress, a tangible movement toward freedom. Boulders, stalactites, and ancient carvings littered the walls as we walked. There were traps, pitfalls, and even remnants of long-dead creatures, but Samui expertly guided us through the maze.
Hours passed. My body ached from the journey, but there was a determination that kept me going. Samui, too, remained ever-vigilant, checking for potential dangers at every turn. Then, finally, after what felt like an eternity, we saw it—a faint light at the end of the tunnel.
With a final push, we moved a massive rock, revealing the cave's exit. As we stepped outside, I squinted against the bright sunlight, my eyes unaccustomed to the sudden brightness. The fresh, cool breeze hit my face, carrying the scent of earth and pine. The sound of rustling leaves filled the air, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I felt... free.
I took a deep breath, letting the air fill my lungs, and looked out at the vast, open world before me. The landscape stretched out in every direction—dense forests, mountain ranges, and open fields as far as the eye could see. It felt surreal, almost like stepping into a dream after being trapped in that cave for so long.
"We're finally out," I said, my voice barely a whisper as I marveled at the sight before me.
Samui stood by my side, silent but attentive, her crimson eyes scanning the horizon as if assessing the new world she had just stepped into.
As we stood there, basking in the fresh air and sunlight, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited us in this vast, open landscape. I had escaped the cave, but what lay beyond its dark confines? What challenges, what new enemies, and what alliances awaited me in the world outside?
Only time would tell.