As Lycius and Elizabeth continued their magical cultivation, the intensity of their training heightened their mana sensitivity and presence perception exponentially.
Elizabeth, already a prodigious mage, could now extend her senses across nearly the entire expanse of Planet Azalea, an ability that placed her far beyond even the most revered sages. Lycius, though still young, had already reached a level that defied reason. He could sense the entirety of the Demonic Forest, a vast and perilous region covering nearly thirty percent of Azalea's landmass.
For any other being, such perception would have been an unimaginable feat. Most adventurers—veterans who had spent centuries honing their skills—struggled to perceive even a fraction of the world Lycius could already grasp. His growth was monstrous, a testament to the divine blood that coursed through his veins.
Yet, amidst the vast number of creatures and monsters he passively scanned, something caught his attention—something he had never seen before.
A presence.
No—a being.
Lycius's awareness locked onto the entity, his curiosity piqued.
There, amidst the towering obsidian trees and under the twilight glow of the forest, was a girl.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, but unlike his mother or aunt, whose beauty radiated a divine, almost untouchable allure, hers was different—a beauty that struck him in a way he did not understand.
Her skin was a rich shade of midnight purple, smooth like polished amethyst. A slender yet curvaceous figure, delicate yet strong, exuded a natural elegance that was rare even among the divine. Her face was adorably youthful, with large dark violet eyes that shimmered with an unspoken depth, a small button nose, and full, soft lips that carried an air of innocence.
Her long, silky dark hair, laced with subtle red hues, cascaded down her back, catching the faint moonlight filtering through the trees.
But what stood out the most—her wings.
They were delicate, almost ethereal, an extension of her essence rather than mere appendages. A soft, radiant glow pulsed around them, enhancing the mysterious allure she carried.
Lycius could not place what this feeling was—this new sensation of perceiving beauty that was not that of his mother or aunt.
But before he could analyze it further…
He sensed it.
Terror.
Not from himself, nor from any powerful beast lurking within the forest.
It was her.
The girl's heart pounded like a war drum, her every step fueled by pure desperation. She was running—fleeing for her life, her tiny frame weaving through the dense foliage with frantic, uncoordinated movements.
Chasing her was a pack of demonic wolves—ravenous, bloodthirsty creatures with crimson-black fur, razor-like fangs dripping with venom, and eyes gleaming with predatory malice.
To Lycius, they were weak—insignificant pests. But to her, they were death itself.
Though Lycius could sense that she possessed immense latent power, it was painfully obvious that she had no experience or knowledge on how to wield it. She was like a fledgling bird thrown from the nest too soon, instinctively trying to escape but lacking the means to truly defend herself.
Lycius did not hesitate.
With a mere thought, his body dissolved into the fabric of reality—space itself bending to his will.
In an instant, Lycius vanished from his meditative position, leaving Elizabeth behind.
Before the girl's panicked breaths could escape her lips, he appeared.
A sudden shift in the air, an overwhelming pressure, and the very essence of the forest seemed to freeze.
Lycius materialized between her and the wolves, his imposing presence stopping the creatures dead in their tracks.
The demonic wolves, feral and untamed as they were, instantly recognized who had appeared before them.
Their instincts screamed. Run. Run. RUN.
But they did not.
They could not.
This was no ordinary adversary.
This was Lycius.
The Behemoth Slayer.
The New King of the Demonic Forest.
A being whose mere gaze could make the apex predators of this land submit or perish.
A suffocating silence fell over the clearing as the wolves trembled, their feral confidence shattered into dust. Their instincts commanded them to flee, but their memories warned them otherwise.
They had heard the stories.
Lycius was a merciless hunter.
The moment one turned their back to him was the moment they ceased to exist.
Their bodies quivered, their breaths shallow. They prayed—to the Beast God, to whatever higher force ruled their fate—that this demon in humanoid form would turn and leave, sparing their miserable lives.
But the heavens did not answer their pleas.
Lycius raised his hand.
With a flick of his fingers, the temperature in the air skyrocketed, the very oxygen combusting in an instant. A fireball—no, a miniature sun—materialized above his palm, its radiant glow casting monstrous shadows across the trees.
The wolves, realizing their imminent doom, howled in terror.
And then—oblivion.
The fireball erupted, engulfing the demonic wolves in a blaze of pure destruction.
They never even had the chance to scream.
Silence returned to the forest, save for the crackling embers of the scorched ground.
Lycius lowered his hand, the overwhelming heat dissipating in an instant. His golden eyes, fierce and unforgiving just moments before, softened as they turned toward the girl he had just saved.
She was staring at him.
Wide-eyed. Unblinking.
Her entire body was shaking, though not from fear of him—but from the sheer shock of what had just transpired.
For the first time since he had arrived, Lycius truly looked at her.
His mind reeled, trying to comprehend this strange sensation bubbling within him. He had saved her without hesitation—not because she was weak, nor because she was in danger, but because…
He wanted to.
This was new.
Different.
Unfamiliar.
As their gazes locked, the realization dawned upon him.
He had never met another being outside of his mother and aunt.
But now, standing before him, was the first.
And that is bound to change everything.
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