Sitting Exhausted... Resting her weary body, Mahiru Kanata stared at the hard object in her hand—a crystal sphere that reflected light.
The crystal was pure white, about the size of her palm. She was uncertain about the idea of swallowing something so large.
Hesitant, Mahiru Kanata slipped the hard crystal object into her pants pocket. In front of her was a campfire and roasted meat.
The meat was from the eight-headed monster she had killed. As she tasted it, she found the flesh tender and delicious, with a flavorful fat content.
Eating heartily, she eventually felt full and lay down on the ground. Reflecting on her fate, she began to question herself.
"I was supposed to compete in the national biology tournament next month. How did I end up like this?" she murmured softly. She was overcome with sadness, tears streaming down her face as she lay on the ground, lamenting her situation.
Slowly, Mahiru Kanata closed her eyes, falling into a deep sleep due to exhaustion. She forgot that she had yet to build a temporary shelter.
As Mahiru Kanata slept in the quiet night of the unknown forest, far from her location, in a place called the Serreich Empire...
On this night, the Golden Queen of Serreich commanded Unit 854 to go to the Lake of Silence region.
The mission assigned to Unit 854 was to monitor changes occurring within the depths of the Lake of Silence.
Unit 854 was ideal for this task due to their unmatched detection and surveillance capabilities, though their combat abilities were average.
After issuing the orders, the Golden Queen turned to her child, who stood by her left side, and with a radiant smile, asked:
"Leticia? What brings you here?" asked the Golden Queen, looking at her child.
"Golden Queen... let me go to the Forest of Dominance!" Leticia declared, demanding permission to go.
In response to her child's demand, the Golden Queen gave a smile that sent shivers down Leticia's spine.
The meaning behind the smile was clear. After sighing for a moment, she addressed her child.
"What do you intend to do there?" asked the Golden Queen, concerned about her child venturing into such a dangerous forest.
Leticia answered spontaneously, her tone elegant, as she looked into the Golden Queen's eyes.
"I... I want a True Dragon familiar!" Leticia revealed her goal to venture into the Forest of Dominance. Upon hearing her child's intention to acquire a True Dragon as a pet...
The Golden Queen responded reluctantly and lazily. "My child... why bother going to the Forest of Dominance? The Garden of Beasts is full of True Dragons."
Pouting at the Golden Queen's response, Leticia left the royal hall. Watching her child leave, the Golden Queen sighed at her child's spoiled nature.
"Despite her unique and formidable abilities, she still acts like a brat," the Golden Queen muttered, recalling her child's disposition.
Back to Mahiru Kanata...
She was startled awake by a noise from the bushes in the wilderness. Looking around, it was dark—pitch black. It was still night, and the forest's eerie atmosphere terrified her.
Unable to see anything in the darkness, Mahiru Kanata, filled with fear, quickly reignited the campfire for some light to illuminate the surroundings.
When the fire finally lit up, Mahiru Kanata felt a faint sense of calm, though fear still lingered.
Leaning against the large corpse of the eight-headed monster, she curled up, shivering despite the campfire's warmth.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings, wary of the suspicious noise coming from the bushes. Clutching her stone knife, Mahiru Kanata prepared herself to fight in case a monster attacked.
Minutes turned into hours as she stayed vigilant, but exhaustion eventually overcame her, and she fell asleep sitting upright.
The sound in the bushes persisted. As Mahiru Kanata slept, the creature hiding within the bushes revealed itself.
A small figure resembling a 5-year-old child appeared. However, its naked appearance, horrifying face, and wide, bulging eyes made it clear that this was no child.
The figure cast a giant shadow behind it, making it impossible for anyone to mistake it for an innocent child.
Most of its body was a shade of purple, though the campfire's light slightly distorted its hue.
The small figure stood silently, observing Mahiru Kanata as she slept. Watching her shiver in the cold, the figure opened its mouth wide—far wider than its head.
Its sharp, jagged teeth gleamed as it prepared to swallow Mahiru Kanata whole. But just as its enormous mouth approached her, it stopped.
Mahiru Kanata stirred awake. Startled, the creature retreated into the bushes, continuing to watch her.
Mahiru Kanata, now alert, stayed awake for the rest of the night. As dawn broke and the sunlight illuminated the forest, the mysterious creature was long gone.
Mahiru Kanata resumed her journey, carrying as much of the eight-headed monster's meat as she could. She continued her search for a settlement.
Further along her path, Mahiru Kanata encountered another monster. This time, it appeared to be an Eastern Dragon with bright, crystal-like green scales.
Its translucent, greenish hide exuded a terrifying aura. Mahiru Kanata's fear grew as she realized the sheer size of the creature.
The Eastern Dragon measured an astonishing 400 meters, soaring high above the forest with immense wings.
Not wanting to die again, Mahiru Kanata instinctively covered her mouth and hid behind a large tree, hoping the dragon wouldn't notice her.
In her haste, she left behind the meat she had been carrying, hoping its scent wouldn't attract the dragon's attention.
The Eastern Dragon circled above, surrounded by a massive storm of green lightning and dark clouds.
The colossal storm tore through the forest below, shredding trees into molecular fragments.
Mahiru Kanata was fortunate to be hiding behind a sturdy tree that withstood the storm's fury. The dragon let out a deafening roar, focusing on an intruder in its territory.
The intruder wasn't Mahiru Kanata but a person seated on a floating throne.
The figure on the throne stared intently at the Eastern Dragon, seemingly ready for a confrontation.
From Mahiru Kanata's perspective, they both appeared terrifying. She crouched in fear, hoping the ordeal would end soon.
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To be continued...!!!