The feeling of dread filled the entire field, and in an instant, all the guards, along with the four trainees and Bibek, were pressed to the ground in their original positions.
With time, the pressure increased so much that the few guards who were still standing also couldn't bear it, and their knees gave out. The only ones remaining standing were Instructor Brain and Sophia.
It was then that the name of Ravi escaped from her mouth, but nobody heard her except Brain, as he was the only one with a clear mind. Everyone else had fainted due to the increasing pressure.
When Brain looked around, everyone was pressed to the ground, deeper below the surface. If the pressure continued to rise, there would be no way they would survive. To resist the pressure, he released his own aura.
Without hesitation, Brain gave it his all and released another mountainous pressure. His aura covered not only the ground but the entire base, attempting to resist the otherworldly force. Both auras collided, one attacking and one defending, resulting in a devastating explosion. The ground trembled, but thanks to Brain's aura, all the guards and trainees were protected.
But it was all for naught. Soon, the pressure grew so intense that even Brain couldn't handle it. He was pressed against the ground, gritting his teeth as blood gushed from his mouth, unable to get up. Eventually, he, too, fell unconscious.
Only Sophia remained standing. She didn't know what to do. How was she still standing when even the most veteran guards were unconscious, blood dripping from their noses and ears?
She didn't know what was happening, but she felt a familiar presence in the aura—a presence she recognized all too well. It was Ravi, the childhood friend she had lost six years ago.
Her thoughts were in turmoil. The only thing she wanted was to stop this hellish pressure. So, with no other options, she screamed as loud as she could, "Stop it, Ravi! Everyone will die!"
Then something unexpected happened: the mountainous aura began to recede.
In an instant, the sky-reaching pressure vanished. Sophia let out a relieved sigh, but as she looked around, concern crossed her face.
She hurried to Bibek to check if he was alright. After confirming he was still breathing, she let out a sigh of relief. But when she tried to wake him, she couldn't. She moved to Brain, who, by now, had regained consciousness after being out for the least amount of time.
"Where is he?!" Brain asked anxiously as he looked around.
Sophia, understanding the gravity of the situation, immediately responded, "I don't know. When you went unconscious, I didn't know what to do, so I screamed for all this to stop, and the pressure went away."
Listening to her, Brain speculated that the man was still out there, and he knew he couldn't face him alone. Without a moment's hesitation, he pressed a button on his waistband. A blue screen with the logo of a man holding a sword appeared.
It was the call to the Warrior's Headquarters. After a beep, someone picked up.
[Warrior's Headquarters, how may I help you?] a girl's voice came through the line.
"Hello, this is Brain. A third-stage warrior, requesting backup as soon as possible. We've encountered a human-looking monster whose grade surpasses my abilities," Brain immediately stated.
[Is it at the fourth stage?] the girl asked with concern in her voice.
"I don't think so. It surpasses the fourth stage," Brain replied.
[Alright, I'll send backup immediately. How many guards do you have left?]
The girl asked urgently, knowing the gravity of the situation. A third-stage warrior facing an enemy who was probably at the fifth stage—this could lead to catastrophe.
Brain breathed out slowly before responding, "I'm the only one left. Everyone has collapsed from the aura of the monster."
The situation was dire—a third-stage warrior against a fifth-stage one. The outcome seemed inevitable. The only hope left was for the backup to arrive quickly and save as many people as possible.
[The backup is on its way. Stall for time and evacuate as many people as you can,] the girl instructed before ending the call.
Brain and Sophia exchanged a grim glance. They both knew the situation was critical. If the monster wasn't stopped, their village would meet the same fate as many others.
"I have to kill that monster," Brain said, pulling a pendant from his pocket.
When Brain mentioned "killing the monster," Sophia felt a sudden rage flare inside her. Her eyes glinted with an icy resolve, and a new, unfamiliar emotion stirred within her. She clenched her fists to calm her anger before speaking in a cold voice.
"And how will you kill him?"
Brain felt an icy chill at her words. He glanced at Sophia and found her eyes glowing blue, with the ground beneath her feet beginning to freeze.
He instinctively took a step back, readying himself for an attack.
Seeing his defensive posture, Sophia realized her power was spiraling out of control. She calmed herself, and the frozen ground returned to normal.
"Sorry about that," she muttered, but her voice remained cold. "How will you kill him?"
Brain, now standing at a safe distance, spoke carefully. "The pendant in my hand is special." He looked down at it. "I found it during my exploration. It grants power, but there's a cost."
He paused for a moment, recalling the time he had obtained the pendant. The inscription had promised to fulfill his wish—but at a price. His heart skipped a beat, and he gulped nervously. The memory of the demon's smile made him feel uneasy, but with a resolute expression, he continued.
"I will use this pendant to eliminate the monster—no matter the cost. If I have to sacrifice myself, so be it."
Brain's eyes were firm. He was willing to give up his life if it meant saving the village. His gaze conveyed a sense of pride. If he had to die, at least he would do so knowing the people would be safe.
But suddenly, the firm expression faltered when he felt a cold sensation creeping up his left leg. He looked down and found that his leg was frozen halfway.
He glanced at Sophia, who was looking down at the ground when she spoke, her voice heart-piercingly cold.
"If you call him a 'monster' one more time, I will kill you."
Brain was shocked. Was he wrong to call the creature a monster? No, but it wasn't a monster to Sophia. Even if it was, she didn't care.
Sophia herself was unaware of why she had spoken like that. The unfamiliar feelings surged again, and she was certain that if Brain uttered the word "monster" one more time, she would kill him.
Not wanting to engage with him further, she turned to confirm her suspicion: Was it really Ravi? Was he still alive?
With that, she sprinted toward the village entrance at full speed.
Brain, unable to follow her with his frozen leg, was left shocked at the speed with which she moved.
"How is that possible?" he wondered, but he couldn't track her movement as his legs were still encased in ice.
At the entrance gate of the village, Sophia arrived, but rather than being awestruck by her incredible speed, she was struck by fear. What she saw before her was nothing short of terrifying.
"What happened?!" was all she could think.
***
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