As I walked closer to the cottage, the air grew heavier, thick with an oppressive, menacing aura that made my skin crawl. The forest around me seemed to hold its breath, the usual chirping of birds and rustling of leaves replaced by an eerie silence. My instincts screamed at me to turn back, but I pressed on, my hand instinctively gripping the hilt of the sword at my side. Just as I reached the edge of the clearing, the system chimed in, its voice cold and mechanical.
[System Alert] Mitsuiri, the Dark One's right hand, has breached the force field.
My heart skipped a beat. Mitsuiri was not someone to be taken lightly. Known for her cunning and ruthlessness, she was the Dark One's most trusted lieutenant, a master of dark magic and manipulation. Without a second thought, I activated Swift Step, a skill that enhanced my speed, and sprinted toward the cottage. The world blurred around me as I pushed my body to its limits, the urgency of the situation driving me forward.
When I arrived, the scene before me was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Mitsuiri stood at the center of the clearing, her presence commanding and ominous. Behind her loomed a pack of dragons, their scales glistening like polished obsidian under the pale moonlight. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and their low, rumbling growls sent shivers down my spine. Mitsuiri herself was a vision of dark elegance, her crimson eyes piercing through the shadows, her lips curled into a sly, almost playful smirk.
"Oh, you came to partake in the fun," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. She shifted her weight slightly, her movements fluid and deliberate, as if she were performing a dance rather than preparing for battle. Her hips swayed with a seductive grace, and her ample chest bounced with each step she took toward me.
I forced myself to remain calm, though my mind raced with strategies and contingencies. "What fun are you talking about?" I asked, my voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Her grin widened, revealing a row of perfectly white teeth. "You remain calm even when threatened. My, my, you are one wonderful boy," she purred, her tone both teasing and dangerous. She took another step closer, her presence overwhelming. "For what purpose did you come here, Mitsuiri?" I demanded, my eyes narrowing as I tried to gauge her intentions.
"Oh my! You called me by my name," she taunted, her voice laced with amusement. She closed the distance between us, her hips swaying hypnotically, her every movement calculated to unnerve me. "I want to show you the power of the Dark Army on behalf of the Dark One. I want to know how strong Lupin's husband is," she said, her smirk widening as she mentioned Lupin.
I clenched my fists, my mind racing. "Sorry, I do not intend to find out how strong the Dark One's army is. I'm not into conflict, and I don't think I'm strong enough," I replied, trying to de-escalate the situation.
But Mitsuiri was relentless. "Oh, come now. Don't be so modest," she teased, her voice dripping with mockery. "I've heard so much about you. Surely you wouldn't disappoint me."
Before I could respond, Lupin emerged from the cottage, her eyes blazing with fury. The dragons' growls had drawn her out, and she was not pleased. "Mitsuiri? I hope you're not here to try and mate with my husband," she growled, her voice low and threatening.
Mitsuiri's laughter rang out, sharp and mocking. "Of course not, but it would be nice to actually try it, you know," she said, her eyes locking with Lupin's, daring her to make a move.
Lupin's growl deepened, her body tensing as she prepared to lunge at Mitsuiri. I stepped between them, my hands raised in a placating gesture. "Fine, I'll indulge in combat with you, but leave Lupin out of this. Please," I said, my voice firm.
Mitsuiri's smirk returned, and she tilted her head to the side, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "That's more like it," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. She shifted her weight to the other side, crossing her arms over her chest. "Let's take this to a more suitable location, shall we?"
We moved to a combat area designed for large beasts, a vast open space near the training grounds. The ground was scorched and scarred from previous battles, a testament to the intensity of the fights that had taken place here. Mitsuiri stood at one end, her dragons flanking her, while I took my position at the other end, Lupin watching from the sidelines with a mixture of anger and concern.
"The rules are simple," Mitsuiri said, her voice carrying across the field. She swayed her hips as she spoke, her movements almost hypnotic. "The first one to be pinned down or surrender loses and must obey the winner." Her confidence was palpable , and I could see why she was the Dark One's right hand.
"Isn't including the dragons cheating?" Lupin snapped, her voice sharp with indignation.
"It's alright, Lupin," I said, trying to calm her down. "I can handle this."
Lupin growled in annoyance but remained silent, her eyes never leaving Mitsuiri.
I took a deep breath, centering myself as I accessed the system to review my skill suitable for pinning an opponent. I needed to end this quickly and decisively, without any unnecessary casualties. Mitsuiri made the first move, sending all her dragons at me at once. The ground shook as they charged, their roars echoing through the air.
I raised my hand, summoning Holy Magic: Godly Thunder. The sky darkened, and bolts of golden lightning rained down, striking the dragons with unerring accuracy. The creatures let out agonized roars as they were reduced to ash, their forms disintegrating before they could reach me. Mitsuiri's eyes widened in shock, her confident smirk faltering for the first time.
"What powerful magic this guy controls," she muttered, barely above a whisper. "Those were the strongest dragons in the Dark Army."
But she wasn't done yet. With a snarl of frustration, she charged at me, her movements a blur of dark energy. "Even if he controls that amount of power, he couldn't possibly outsmart me," she said, her voice filled with determination.
She leaped into the air, her hands glowing with dark energy. "Dark Impact!" she shouted, slamming her hands into the ground. The earth trembled, and ominous flames erupted from the cracks, surrounding me in a ring of fire.
"Now that he's distracted, I'll cast another spell to end this immediately," she thought, a sly grin spreading across her lips. "Dark Magic: Dimensional Disruption!"
The air around me warped and twisted, the very fabric of reality seeming to unravel. Mitsuiri's grin widened as she prepared to deliver the final blow.
[System Alert] Second spell released.
"Noted," I said calmly. I raised my hands and snapped my fingers. "Dispel."
[System Alert] Dark magic dispelled.
The flames and dimensional distortion vanished in an instant, leaving Mitsuiri suspended in mid-air, her expression one of utter disbelief. Before she could react, I cast another spell. "Holy Magic: Heavenly Crucifixion."
A golden cross erupted from the ground, its light blinding. Tendrils of holy energy shot out, wrapping around Mitsuiri and binding her to the cross. Her skimpy clothes tore slightly under the strain, but she was left otherwise unharmed.
"What? Impossible!" she gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "He dispelled both spells at once and cast another one immediately after? Who exactly are you?"
I met her gaze, my expression calm and composed. "I am just an ordinary adventurer," I replied.
Mitsuiri struggled against her bindings, but it was no use. The holy energy held her fast, leaving her no room for movement. Finally, she let out a sigh of defeat. "I surrender," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I released the spell, and she fell to the ground, landing gracefully on her feet. She looked at me, her crimson eyes filled with a mixture of respect and frustration. "It's not over yet," she said, her voice low and dangerous. With the last of her magic, she teleported away, leaving behind only a faint trace of dark energy.
Lupin rushed to my side, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
I nodded, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm fine. But we need to be prepared. Mitsuiri won't give up so easily."
As we walked back to the cottage, the weight of the encounter settled over me. The Dark One's forces were growing bolder, and I knew that this was only the beginning. But for now, we were safe, and that was enough.