Lumine led Asura out of the dense forest, where shadows and mist lingered in every corner. The weak rays of the sun pierced through the thick canopy, struggling to bring light to the still and oppressive gloom. The air was heavy, but the silence never lasted for long.
Suddenly, the ground shook. Deep from within the earth, strange sounds echoed, like the howls of an ancient monster. Red flashes of light appeared in the distance, tearing the space apart. The trees around them shook, and the leaves fluttered like they were caught in an invisible storm.
"Can you feel it?" Lumine tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with a challenge as a smile spread across her face.
Asura remained silent, his sharp gaze scanning the mist that surrounded them. From within the fog, a pair of crimson eyes opened — eyes of a creature not belonging to this world.
A gigantic phantom beast appeared, its body covered in sharp spines, its dark skin resembling a moving black mountain. Its breath sent a chill through the air, and waves of dark energy spread out like poison. Its roar echoed, like a curse from a bygone age, shaking the very sky.
BAM! A shockwave rippled out, shattering rocks and branches into dust. Lumine wasted no time, gripping her weapon as streams of bright energy ran down her arm, merging with the sunlight.
"I'll take care of it," she said coldly, her gaze as sharp as a blade.
But just as Lumine prepared to charge, Asura took a single, calm step forward. Each step he took seemed to tear through space, creating an invisible wave that silenced everything around them.
A dark flame, an enigma of light and shadow, appeared in his hand, half glowing, half void. The moment his hand reached for the sky, the air around him began to change. A violent vortex of wind erupted from the ground. The entire space seemed to be drawn into its center, as if life itself was being overpowered by the impending destructive force.
"Asura!" Lumine called out in concern. She wasn't sure if the young one could control his power.
But Asura did not respond. His eyes shone as he stood within the maelstrom of black flames, light and darkness spiraling together into an eternal column of smoke, obscuring his image in Lumine's eyes.
The power inside Asura was like a fire of destruction, waiting to unleash. Just as he was about to release his ultimate move, "Inferno Abyss"—a black fire capable of incinerating everything within sight—it suddenly extinguished.
The flame, just forming in his hand, shrank into a small, weak spark before flickering out completely.
Lumine blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback. But before her astonishment could settle, the giant beast had disappeared from view. There was no trace of movement, no sound, not even a shadow passing by.
It wasn't just fast—it had completely transcended the limits of reality.
A moment ago, it had been hundreds of meters away, but now it was standing right in front of Asura. The air around them trembled, as if the very fabric of space was being torn apart by its speed. Light seemed to bend under its terrifying velocity, leaving only a faint glow and glittering particles behind.
The beast's speed was incomprehensible. The entire space seemed to stretch as it swung its colossal arm down with a mighty force, sending Asura flying like a bullet, tearing through a mountain before crashing into the ground with an earth-shattering explosion.
"Asura!" Lumine screamed, rushing toward him, but just as she turned, the beast was already closing in on her. Its blood-red eyes glowed like lightning as it charged toward her at an unimaginable pace.
She quickly drew a sword, slashing it across the air, cutting the ground in half. Another swing cleaved the very atmosphere, and she lunged forward. Before she could register what had happened, the beast was already split in two.
Rushing toward Asura, Lumine was caught off guard when the creature quickly regenerated, its speed accelerating as it pursued her. Suddenly, a figure shot out from behind her. A blinding light flared as the large sword of the newcomer cleaved into the beast's body, halting its charge just before it could attack Lumine.
The collision between the sword and the creature's body caused a thunderous roar, shaking the entire forest. Lumine recognized him instantly — her companion, a seasoned hunter from the kingdom.
The one who had been through many dangerous missions with her.
"Aren't you okay, Lumine?" he asked.
"The strongest hunter among humans and yet you're running from a beast that's a global-level catastrophe?" he remarked, his tone mocking.
Before Lumine could say anything, he charged at the beast once more, his sword swinging with wild ferocity, driving deep into the creature's form. Its roar echoed through the forest, threatening to tear apart the very air, but he faced it with a smile.
The creature's screams reverberated throughout the forest, creating a violent tremor. Its breath hissed like a cold blade, thickening the air with tension.
Lumine's companion, Seraph, wielded his sword with precision and power. Each strike he delivered not only shattered the beast's form but also cut through the thick armor-like skin that protected it. Yet, despite being shredded, it continued to regenerate, its red eyes burning with madness, ready to retaliate.
The beast, consumed by uncontrollable rage, lunged toward Seraph. Its red eyes flared as its body expanded like a storm about to burst, surging with dark power.
Lumine entered the fray, her body like a beam of light cutting through the darkness. She swung her sword, leaving behind bright trails that seemed to tear the air apart.
Together, she and Seraph moved in harmony, like seasoned warriors, dodging and counterattacking in fluid synchronicity. The air was filled with killing intent, and waves of dark energy crashed into everything around them, making this a battle beyond description.
Amid the chaos, Lumine saw Asura slowly rising, his expression empty. Stepping out of the debris, his hand raised, preparing to recreate the "Inferno Abyss."
The beast sensed the coming destruction and let out a furious roar. Everything seemed to freeze in that moment as Asura summoned a column of black flames, twisting and swirling around him. This fire was no longer a small, fleeting spark—it was a massive, unstoppable force, carrying the full power of Asura.
"Asura!" Lumine called out over the beast's roars.
The black flame hurtled toward the beast like a wave of annihilation. The fire engulfed its entire body, burning everything it touched. It swept across the landscape, consuming everything in its path. The beast's roar turned into an agonized scream as the fire consumed its essence.
When the column of fire finally died down, the beast lay motionless, its form reduced to ash. Its soul had been burned away, leaving nothing but a pile of smoldering remains. The forest around them continued to tremble lightly, the remnants of the battle leaving behind a breathtaking and dramatic scene.
Lumine and Seraph stood side by side, eyes wide with astonishment. Yet, there was no triumphant smile on their faces. Instead, they were filled with a sense of dread at the unimaginable power of the young boy.
"Did he control the target's influence?" Lumine murmured, her gaze fixed on Asura in shock.
The inferno had the potential to destroy everything in its vicinity, but only the beast had been affected.
Just as they were processing what had just occurred, a cold gust of wind swept through, filling the air with an uneasy sensation.
"Seraph, look at the boy," Lumine said.
It seemed that this victory was just a part of a larger game, and that greater challenges awaited them.
As they left the forest, the sunlight bathed the path, casting shimmering rays onto the ground. The air grew lighter, and the surrounding scenery became more familiar.
"Seraph," Lumine spoke up, "thanks, but I didn't need your help. I can handle it myself. You should remember who I am and the title that you'll never have," she laughed haughtily.
Seraph smiled faintly, the light gleaming in his bright eyes. "We've been together for quite a while, haven't we, Lumine? Perhaps that's become part of my duty... Besides, I only happened to be assigned the escort mission and ran into you."
In the past, we saw Lumine and Seraph meet for the first time during a difficult mission. At that time, Lumine was still a young hunter, just joining the kingdom. She was tasked with investigating the appearance of a terrifying monster in the northern region.
In a small village, Lumine met Seraph for the first time. He was hosting a small celebration to commemorate his victory in a recent mission. With his handsome appearance and cheerful smile, he made everyone feel at ease. But behind that friendly demeanor was a mysterious man, hiding many secrets.
When Lumine approached, she was captivated by Seraph's confidence. He was not only an exceptional warrior but also someone who knew how to motivate and encourage others. That was why, despite her inexperience, she decided to ask Seraph for help.
Together, they faced their first monster, a trial filled with challenges and difficulty. Seraph proved not only his remarkable fighting ability but also taught Lumine how to assess the situation and work as a team. His cooperation and expertise impressed Lumine, and from that moment, they became a duo.
Returning to the kingdom, they were hailed as heroes.
Seraph, with a mysterious smile, turned to Lumine. "There's something I think we should discuss."
"About what?" Lumine asked, her gaze filled with suspicion.
Seraph looked into the distance, toward the horizon where the sunlight was slowly fading. "There are things we don't fully understand yet. These battles are just the tip of the iceberg. I feel like something bigger is waiting for us."
Then Seraph bid farewell and walked away.
The clouds drifted gently across the sky, casting shadows on the ground, highlighting distant mountain ranges and forests. They were like soft halos passing through, reflecting the remaining sunlight and creating hazy, ever-moving shades, as if part of a mysterious dance of nature.
On the ground below, the gentle light of the setting sun sparkled on the surface of a vast lake, like a giant mirror. The light ripples on the surface created shimmering reflections of the sky, making the lake appear like a velvet cloth full of stars. The trees along the lake stood motionless, casting dark, mysterious silhouettes on the water, forming a wondrous natural painting.
As the light gradually faded and the darkness began to take over, the entire scene seemed draped in a dreamy and mysterious cloak, preparing for the stories and adventures that would soon unfold.
...
Hmm?
In a forest that only S-rank hunters are allowed to enter, where did a mission for escorting come from?
-End Chapter 2-
To be continued.....