Morning came, and Mahiru Kanata continued to wander the forest in search of a settlement, hoping to find people or clues such as a flatland suitable for habitation.
As she journeyed, Mahiru Kanata came across various fruits resembling the ones she had eaten previously. The memory of being poisoned and fainting caused a wave of nausea to surge within her once more.
She resolved to avoid repeating that mistake. If she fainted and a monster appeared, she would die without a chance to defend herself. Not wanting such a foolish fate, she steeled herself and pressed on toward her original goal—finding a settlement.
Mahiru Kanata hoped to locate a river, reasoning that a clear river would lead her to a settlement. Walking through the forest without a clear direction, she clung to the hope that nothing dangerous would cross her path.
Fate, however, had other plans. Along her way, Mahiru Kanata encountered a massive, eight-headed monster resembling a dragon. The creature towered at 90 meters in height, its wide wings casting a shadow over the forest.
Its dark, thick skin exuded an aura of invincibility, and Mahiru Kanata knew that if the monster detected her, her death was certain.
She crouched and moved as silently as possible, sweat trickling down her face as she crept behind a bush, praying the eight-headed beast wouldn't notice her. But her luck ran out when a snapping twig echoed beneath her foot.
The eight-headed monster turned its many eyes toward Mahiru Kanata. Unable to react quickly enough, she was struck by the creature's long, thick tail, her body ripped in two. Blood spattered across the forest floor as her remains were crushed beyond recognition.
The eight-headed monster studied Mahiru Kanata's broken body, faintly illuminated by a dim light surrounding it. Within the light was a small Roman clock-like symbol, its hands ticking toward XII.
Mahiru Kanata's shattered body began to glow as it reconstructed itself, forming a new, sturdier version. Fully reassembled, Mahiru Kanata awakened, disoriented by her sudden resurrection.
She looked at her unblemished hands, better than before. But her confusion was short-lived as she noticed the eight-headed monster staring at her once more.
The creature roared, and four of its heads opened their mouths, white light gathering inside. The monster unleashed a torrent of white fire, its heat reaching 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The inferno consumed everything in its path, including Mahiru Kanata.
Reduced to ashes, Mahiru Kanata died once again.
Satisfied, the eight-headed monster snorted and began to leave. But before it could retreat, a bright light flashed behind it. One of its heads turned to see Mahiru Kanata's fully restored body, standing in pristine condition.
Mahiru Kanata, now aware of her mysterious ability to revive from death, was overwhelmed with fear as the beast turned back to face her. The monster prepared to unleash its white flames again.
*Woosh!*
The flames engulfed Mahiru Kanata once more, reducing her to ashes. This cycle of death and revival repeated 20 times. Each time, Mahiru Kanata adapted, her body becoming resistant to the monster's flames.
Eventually, the white fire ceased to harm her. Standing amidst the flames, Mahiru Kanata, fed up with her repeated deaths, summoned the courage to fight back. With bare fists, she charged at the massive creature.
But her punches were ineffective against the monster's tough, impenetrable hide. The eight-headed beast remained unbothered by Mahiru Kanata's futile attempts, even as she struck its body repeatedly.
"Arrgh!" Mahiru Kanata screamed in frustration, her desperation growing.
Limping toward a nearby tree, she broke off a sharp branch and climbed onto the monster's back, aiming for one of its necks. She stabbed at the creature's thick hide, breaking the branch repeatedly. It wasn't until the 14th attempt that she managed to pierce the monster's neck.
The monster thrashed in pain, its other heads lunging to bite Mahiru Kanata. Relying on adrenaline and instinct, she dodged the attacks while continuing her relentless assault.
After 45 grueling minutes, Mahiru Kanata succeeded in killing the eight-headed monster. Exhausted but triumphant, she felt a surge of strength as if she had "leveled up."
With the beast defeated, Mahiru Kanata decided to remain nearby temporarily. She intended to harvest some of its meat and began crafting a crude knife by chipping away at a hard stone.
Once the knife was complete, she set to work cutting through the monster's tough skin. Despite the tool's sharpness, it required immense effort to slice through the thick hide. Beneath the hide, she found the creature's flesh, surprisingly easy to carve.
Delving deeper into the monster's body, Mahiru Kanata discovered a hard, spherical object embedded near its heart. The orb sparkled like a crystal, reflecting the surrounding light.
"Is this its core?" Mahiru Kanata wondered aloud. "If I consume this, will I gain its abilities, like in those games?" She gazed at the perfect, gleaming orb, her thoughts racing.
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To be continued...!!!