Grey kept moving and soon stepped into the mist.
The unknown didn't terrify him. What was there to fear when he had nothing to lose?
Death? He didn't know how much time he had left—a few years, perhaps only a few days.
Even back then, he'd had nothing. No family. No friends. Only a relentless desire to see how strong he could become. He had lost nothing before, so what was left to lose now?
He began to whistle. A soft, beautiful melody filled the cave, weaving through the darkness like a warm thread.
Even in this place, full of shadows and unseen dangers, the sound felt soothing. It was a tune that could make even a child feel safe in the depths of this terrifying abyss.
Grey glanced at the cat resting on his shoulder. It stirred, its small body shifting slightly, and after a moment, it opened its eyes.
The instant it regained consciousness, it froze.
A shudder ran through its tiny frame as it felt the overwhelming, invisible pressure that blanketed the air around them.
The cat turned its head, its gaze meeting piercing oceanic blue eyes that seemed to see through everything, through it.
Its matted fur bristled, disheveled and damp, while its ears pressed flat against its head in a feeble attempt to shrink into itself.
Grey's gaze alone was enough to evoke the most primal emotion in its purest, rawest form: fear.
"You pathetic little cutie, next time think thoroughly..." Grey said, his voice calm yet sharp.
He paused, and with that, the crushing pressure lifted from the cat, vanishing as though it had never been there.
He continued, his tone steady but laced with an unspoken weight.
"Before you attack someone, think it through. I made the same mistake once, and... something bad happened. Something I still don't like."
With that, Grey resumed his melodic whistling.
The tune filled the air, soothing the small creature. Slowly, the cat began to relax, nuzzling closer to Grey's neck for comfort.
It didn't dare run. Fear lingered in its tiny body, a reminder that something worse could happen if it tried.
"Ssssss, what a foooolish human, daring to enter thissss strange misssst..."
A raspy voice echoed around Grey, slithering through the air like the mist itself.
Grey, unfazed, continued walking.
"Hssss, the blind one, stumbling into doom. How... amusing," the voice taunted again, dripping with malice.
Spat!
Grey snapped his fingers, and the venom spat by the unseen creature froze mid-air. With a flick of his wrist, it evaporated into nothing.
"You filthy lizard—oh, wait, my mistake. No legs? A filthy snake, then," Grey said casually, his voice laced with mockery.
"If I can see through the deepest darkness and even pierce the heart of your mist, did you really think I couldn't see you hiding in it?"
Grey smirked, his tone sharp and cutting. "Your brain size might be fine, but your intelligence? Not so much."
Grey moved his hand in a certain direction and made a casual "come here" gesture with his fingers.
A sudden sharp sound echoed.
"What?! Holy Vasuki! Why am I moving? I... I can't control myself!" the raspy voice hissed, panic lacing its words.
From the shadows, a venomous serpent slithered into view, its long, glistening body twisting against its will. Slowly, it came to a halt at Grey's feet, unable to move any further.
"Lord Morta—I mean, Lord Sir—please don't kill me! I was foolish! My intelligence is... very low, please forgive me!" the snake pleaded desperately.
Miraculously, its voice was no longer raspy but smooth and trembling with fear.
It had realized the dire situation it was in.
"Take me to the dungeon boss," Grey commanded.
The snake trembled, its voice quivering. "S-sir—"
"Spare my master, Lord!" a small, childish voice suddenly cried out.
"Keep your voice low!" Grey snapped, rubbing his ears as the sudden noise startled him. He pushed the cat off his shoulder, his irritation clear.
"Who said I'm looking for your master to kill?" Grey asked, his tone sharp, his piercing gaze fixed on the cat.
The small creature trembled under his glare, its voice now meek and hesitant. "B-because you're strong?"
Grey scoffed. "What else should I expect from beasts? Intelligence is clearly too much to ask."
With a casual wave of his hand, the serpent demon disintegrated into ash, its remnants scattering into the dark soil. Grey turned to the trembling cat.
"Bring me there. I just need the door to leave this dungeon," he said, his tone calm but firm.
The cat froze, staring into his unrelenting oceanic blue eyes. It nodded furiously, its head bobbing as though to stop would seal its fate alongside the snake.
Its legs shook with every step, beads of sweat falling to the ground, as it led Grey toward its master.
The room was unlike the rest of the dungeon.
It was vast, with smooth, polished walls that contrasted sharply with the rugged cave outside. At the center of the back wall stood a massive throne of black marble. Though cold and unadorned, it radiated a quiet majesty.
Seated upon the throne was a regal black cat with piercing golden eyes.
This cat was unlike any other, its very presence exuded grace and an air of unquestionable royalty. Its aura spoke of intelligence and understanding far beyond that of ordinary creatures.
Its golden eyes gleamed, their light flickering like molten gold, as if sensing the approach of an intruder.
Grey looked at the lofty cat seated on the throne, one eyebrow raised. He wasn't surprised, just mildly amused.
"Where's the exit?" he asked, his tone direct and impatient.
"You come here uninvited and dare speak to me so rudely. What do you think the consequences will be?"
A mature, feminine voice echoed through the room, each word carrying a melodious and captivating beauty.
"Uninvited?" Grey said, his tone calm yet firm. "I was in this place long before you came here."
His piercing oceanic blue eyes locked with the golden gaze of the cat on the throne—the undeniable source of the feminine voice.
Neither of them moved, their gazes locked in an unspoken battle.
"What special eyes you have... Are they the source of your confidence, even knowing my strength?" Grey asked with a smirk.
The cat's golden eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know?" it asked, its voice tinged with astonishment.
"Few things can hide from my sight," Grey replied calmly.
"You... have special eyes too?" the cat asked, tilting its head in confusion.
Grey shook his head. "No, cutie, but I'm certain I can use the abilities of other eyes if I want to."
The cat tilted her head further, clearly puzzled and completely ignoring the "cutie" remark.
"Enough chit-chat. Tell me the exit," Grey said, his tone firm and final.
"I'll tell you where the exit is, but first, you'll have to fight me. It's not every day I get to meet someone stronger than me," the cat said, her voice tinged with excitement.
"As you see fit," Grey replied, a faint smirk on his lips. "It's been years since I've had a proper fight. A little corrosion might've set in."
The smaller cat, who had been quietly listening to their exchange, slipped away, clearly not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.
The regal cat leapt from her throne, landing gracefully in front of Grey. In an instant, an overwhelming surge of magical pressure filled the room, distorting the air around them.
"Quite the pressure you've got there," Grey remarked, a faint smile creeping onto his face.
The cat's golden eyes flared intensely. She opened her mouth, and a dark, bluish-black orb of mana began to form, growing larger and denser with each passing second.
The ground beneath them cracked and trembled under the weight of her power. Then, with a fierce motion, she unleashed the orb, hurtling it toward Grey at an incredible speed.
Grey stood his ground, raising his palm upward. A green circle, intricately designed, appeared just above his hand, and a tiny green flame flickered to life.
With a fluid motion, Grey turned his palm toward the oncoming orb. The flame shot forward like a bullet, colliding with the mana orb.
BOOM!
The resulting explosion shook the room, sending shards of the cracked floor flying in every direction. Smoke and dust filled the air, shrouding the aftermath in a dense haze.
When the dust began to settle, the cat felt an icy chill crawl down her spine. She turned her head and froze.
She was in Grey's strong arms, held firmly but gently.
"W-What?!" she managed to stammer, her golden eyes wide with shock, her voice a mixture of disbelief and confusion.
"Haha so soft and fluffy" Grey laughed, a rare, genuine smile spreading across his face. "I've always wanted a cat."
"Eh?" she let out a small, confused sound, her golden eyes blinking rapidly.
She stared at Grey's unexpectedly cheerful expression, her confusion deepening.
"Eh!?!" she repeated, louder this time, completely baffled.