As Zainab bid farewell to her subordinates, I couldn't help but watch with mild interest. The massive serpents bowed their heads, one a deep brown, the other a shimmering blue. E-rank creatures, as I analyzed before. For all their strength, they were still nothing compared to her. They hissed in unison, a sound that sent a ripple through the air, and slithered off into the depths of the forest.
I felt no attachment to them, but Zainab seemed oddly sentimental as she watched them disappear. Strange, for a creature like her to care about anything. I suppose it was in her nature, though—a queen looking after her loyal court.
With her farewells done, we pressed on, leaving behind the vibrant underground jungle for a more desolate terrain. The edge of the forest was stark, almost lifeless. Jagged rocks rose around us like the teeth of some ancient beast, and the ground beneath our feet turned to rough gravel. It was a land that had been carved and abandoned by time.
Zainab wasted no time.
"Step back, little human," she rumbled, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I did as she asked, watching as her massive body coiled. She unleashed a barrage of rock shells, each one slamming into the jagged walls around us. Stone cracked and shattered, debris raining down like hail. When brute force wasn't enough, she conjured high-pressure streams of water, slicing through the remaining rock with precision.
I stood there, arms crossed, observing every detail. Every motion, every strike, every ounce of mana she poured into her attacks. Her movements were calculated, efficient, and far beyond anything I could hope to replicate. It was a bitter reminder of just how small I was in this world.
I observed every movement, committing it to memory. Zainab's attacks weren't just powerful—they were efficient. Each strike was perfectly executed, wasting neither mana nor energy. She was a creature built for destruction, superior in every way.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Her mana reserves dwarfed mine, her physical strength could crush me like a twig, and even her grace in combat was beyond what I could hope to achieve. Humans were frail in comparison.
But I didn't let the bitterness consume me. The world was unfair—I'd learned that lesson long ago. I tightened my grip on my spear. If this were the playing field, then I'd adapt. I'd become stronger.
The rocks finally gave way, revealing a narrow passage just large enough for Zainab to squeeze through. She moved forward, and I followed close behind.
Zainab froze, her massive frame going rigid. Her eyes locked upward, and for the first time, I saw fear in them.
"What is it?" I asked, stepping beside her.
She didn't respond. Her gaze was fixed on the sky—or what should've been the sky.
I looked up, and a wave of dread crashed over me.
The sky was gone, replaced by an endless black expanse. A massive, pitch-black gate loomed above, stretching across the horizon. There was no edge of the gate visible, It wasn't just darkness—it was an absence. A void that swallowed everything, including hope.
I forced myself to breathe, my mind racing. How many monsters were trapped behind that gate? How many had already slipped through? Could I survive in a world where something like this existed?
The thoughts were suffocating, but I shoved them aside. This wasn't the time to break. I had too much to do.
"Move," Zainab finally said, her voice low and strained.
We pressed on, the air around us heavy with tension. The terrain was unrecognizable—jagged rocks, loose sand, and scattered debris stretched as far as the eye could see. Nibbles, perched on my shoulder, was unusually quiet, his tiny body tense.
We moved forward, the air heavy with tension. Nibbles perched on my shoulder, his tiny body rigid. His whiskers twitched, and I caught the subtle shift in his emotions—unease, then alarm.
Something was coming.
I tightened my grip on my spear, scanning the area. Nibbles jumped down, his paws moving in quick gestures. Enemy. Many.
I stopped, raising my spear. The ground trembled faintly, followed by the rapid thud of footsteps.
They came into view moments later.
The creatures were horrifying—twisted mockeries of life. Their dark red fur bristled with malevolent energy, and three glowing, crimson eyes stared hungrily from each grotesque head. Tentacles writhed from their backs, dripping with acid that hissed as it hit the ground. Their movements were unnaturally jerky, as if they were being controlled by some unseen force.
{Crimson Stalkers: Elite Abominations Corrupted by Demonic Energy. Rank: E+}
Forty of them.
"Perfect," I muttered sarcastically.
Zainab let out a low growl, her tail coiling in preparation. I fell into my Flowing Style stance, my grip on the spear tightening. The first Crimson Stalker lunged, its tentacles flailing wildly.
"Flowing Style: Second Form – Ice Glide!"
My feet slid across the ground, a thin layer of ice forming beneath me as I evaded the attack. The Stalker stumbled, and I countered with a quick thrust, the tip of my spear glowing faintly with water energy. A burst of pressurized water shot through its torso, sending dark blood spraying across the ground.
Another Stalker lunged from the side.
I spun the movement fluid and delivered a horizontal slash. The spear's blade left a shimmering arc of water in its wake, slicing cleanly through the creature's neck.
Nibbles joined the fray, darting between the chaos. His small body shimmered with faint light projections as he leaped onto a Stalker's head.
[Skill Activated: Light Projection]
A concentrated beam of light shot from his paws, piercing the Stalker's skull and dropping it instantly. He moved to another, using a flash of light to propel himself forward at unnatural speeds.
"Good work, Nibbles!" I called, narrowly dodging a tentacle swipe.
Zainab, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of destruction. She slammed into the Crimson Stalkers with raw power, her tail crushing several of them in a single swing. When one got too close, she fixed it with a cold, unblinking stare.
The creature froze, its body turning to stone within seconds. She shattered it effortlessly.
The fight was relentless. I danced between the abominations, every move a calculated step in the Flowing Style.
"Flowing Style: Fourth Form – Torrent Barrage!" (Upgraded from water spear)
I thrust my spear forward, unleashing a series of rapid water blasts. They tore through the Stalkers, leaving gaping wounds in their twisted forms.
But the numbers were overwhelming.
"Zainab, a little help?" I called out as three Stalkers closed in on me.
She responded with a volley of rock bullets, each one finding its mark. The creatures exploded into a mess of blood and gore, their remains splattering across the battlefield.
Despite the chaos, I couldn't afford to lose focus. The Flowing Style demanded precision and even a moment's hesitation could be fatal. I adjusted my stance, preparing for the next wave.
"Flowing Style: Fifth Form – Frost Breaker!"
I slammed my spear into the ground, sending a shockwave of ice through the earth. The Stalkers nearest to me froze mid-charge, their bodies encased in crystalline frost. A quick follow-up strike shattered them into bloody shards.
Nibbles was relentless, darting between the remaining Stalkers. His light bolts found their marks with deadly accuracy, each one striking a critical point.
Then, the ground shook.
A deafening roar tore through the air, silencing the battlefield. Even the Crimson Stalkers hesitated, their three glowing eyes flickering with fear.
I turned toward the source of the sound, my blood running cold.
A massive figure loomed on the horizon, its silhouette growing larger with each passing second. Wings spread wide, a body covered in jagged, earth-like scales. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and its presence radiated pure malice.
"An Earth Dragon," I whispered.
It roared again, the sheer force of it making the ground tremble. The Crimson Stalkers scattered, their primal instincts taking over.
But there was no escape.
The dragon's gaze locked onto us, its massive form descending from the sky.