"…What are you talking about? You can see that black mist?" I nodded, confirming her question.
"…So, you can see the black mist that comes from the animals?" Once again, I nodded and replied, "Yes." I explained to her that I had been seeing such things since my first encounter with mutants. Whenever they were near death, I would witness a black mist enveloping them.
"…What?" She looked genuinely surprised after my brief explanation.
Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming killing aura—dense and suffocating—rushing toward us from the depths of the forest.
Just as I turned my head, something massive and dark moved at incredible speed. Though its form was unclear, it was undoubtedly enormous. My mind raced—should I fight or flee?
"…What are you doing? Let's go!" Fia grabbed my hand and pulled me into a sprint.
Instinctively, I followed her lead, running as fast as I could. The ground beneath us began to tremble violently, making it difficult to maintain balance. Cracks appeared, spreading rapidly and growing wider. Large holes opened up in some areas, while sections of the ground rose unpredictably.
Fia, who was running ahead of me, nearly slipped and fell. Without hesitation, I scooped her up and carried her forward, continuing our desperate escape.
"…What is happening?!" I shouted over the chaos, dodging every obstacle in our path.
Suddenly, a colossal figure emerged in front of us, blocking out the light. Knowing there was no time to be stunned, I veered sharply to the left.
At the same moment, the creature swung both palms onto the ground, causing a deafening explosion. Dust and smoke engulfed the area around the impact.
Though I managed to evade the direct hit, the shockwave knocked me off my feet. I fell hard, clutching Fia tightly to shield her from injury.
I quickly scrambled back to my feet, hoisted her once more, and resumed running.
Again, I sensed the creature striking the ground with immense force. This time, the tremors were even stronger, throwing me off balance. Looking down, I saw a crack forming between my feet, spreading rapidly ahead—wider and deeper.
Everything unfolded in the blink of an eye. Before I realized it, the ground beneath me gave way, and I plummeted into the gaping chasm.
Even as we fell, I refused to loosen my grip on Fia. I held her tightly, unwilling to let her go.
Ten meters—or perhaps more—I couldn't tell how deep we descended. Suddenly, an invisible force pushed me from behind, propelling us further into the abyss.
Ahead, I spotted what appeared to be a vast cave, and I was forcibly drawn inside.
The interior was pitch-black, shrouded in gloomy darkness. Not wanting to risk any harm to Fia, I twisted my body so she faced the cave. Moments later, my back collided with something solid, bringing us to a halt.
Pain shot through my spine, as if my bones had fractured. Yet, I suppressed any groans or complaints, focusing instead on her safety. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?" I asked urgently.
She lifted her head, staring at me with a soft smile. "Is it me, or have you not changed even a bit?"
Confused by her words, I asked, "What do you mean?"
"…Groan if you're in pain; cry if you feel like it. Shout if you can't hold back your frustration; get angry if something feels wrong. Don't hide it. Just let it out, and you'll feel free. You're human—there's no need to act strong."
Her response only deepened my confusion. I ended up asking her directly, "Who are you?"
She continued to smile, offering no other expression. Gently cupping my face, she whispered, "…I am your fated one. Destined to be with you—and only you."
Her words grew increasingly cryptic. What was she trying to convey? Her enigmatic nature made me think harder, but reality soon demanded my attention.
We were trapped in an unknown, mysterious cave. Yet, something seemed peculiar. Despite the darkness, I could clearly see her face—it was as though a faint light illuminated her features. She was breathtakingly beautiful, especially up close like this.
"You lied to me," I said, my tone serious. Her expression shifted to one of confusion, questioning my statement. "…You must be a Goddess. No ordinary human could act the way you do."
She chuckled softly, teasing me. "Then you must be my God."
Realizing the conversation was heading nowhere productive, I swiftly changed the subject. "How do we get out of here?"
Instead of answering, she posed a different question. "How and since when have you been able to see those dark mists?"
I began recounting my experiences…
It started during my first battle with mutants. My squadron had been ordered to protect the city. At the time, I fought something resembling an ox. It wasn't just its appearance that set it apart—it was surrounded by something unusual. Like dark mist, fog, or perhaps smoke.
Initially, I assumed it was normal for mutants. But when I mentioned it to my comrades, they claimed they hadn't seen anything similar. It was strange, almost surreal. From that point onward, I kept this phenomenon to myself. If I told others, they might think I was insane.
What shocked me even more was that I began seeing the same mists around humans too.
"…Wait. Did you just say you've seen the same mists on humans?" she interrupted, her eyes widening.
I nodded. "Yes." Then, I continued sharing my story.
I recounted everything—the events in the office, the plane incident—all in detail. I didn't embellish or omit anything.
As I spoke, her expression gradually turned to one of shock. By the time I finished, she looked even more astonished than before.
"…Do you realize what you've seen is incredibly dangerous?" she asked gravely.
I shook my head.
"That was the work of Demons. Everything surrounded by black or dark mists is influenced by their actions. Their presence infects other living creatures. Those harboring negative emotions, when near them, become infected too."
"…These Demons prey on the hearts of living beings, consuming their negative feelings. Eventually, they devour the heart entirely, leaving behind empty vessels—puppets without souls. In truth, these beings are possessed by Demons."
I cut her off abruptly. "What should I do if someone has already been possessed?"
"…The answer is simple. Demons thrive on human emotions—negative feelings, specifically. If people can set aside those emotions, they can return to being normal."
"Then what should we do now? Can we eliminate all the Demons on this planet?" I asked, hoping for a solution to end this nightmare.
She leaned closer, her face mere inches from mine. I could feel her breath against my skin. "Why do you want to help this world? Wouldn't it be easier to close your eyes and pretend nothing is happening? Run away, live far from the cities, start a family. You wouldn't need to worry about anything else. And if you wish, I could stay with you—for the rest of our lives, we'd always be together."
I shook my head, smiling softly. "That's impossible for me…"
"…My friends' parents died because of those monsters. So did my own. I don't know how many people have lost their families, relatives, friends, and loved ones. I want to end this terror, this fear. I hope that someday, people can live freely and peacefully—without fear of monsters or mutants."
"Besides, if I turn a blind eye and pretend nothing is happening, what kind of future would that leave for my children? I want them to experience the peace I envision. Do you think I'm too naïve? Is it unrealistic to dream of such a world?"
She smiled warmly. "No, you're not naïve. I'll help you. Together, we can send these Demons back to where they belong. I'll stay by your side until the end of our days."
I thanked her sincerely and asked, "How do we get back to the surface? And what about the monster that attacked us earlier? Is it still alive?"
"…Don't worry. Everything has been taken care of. Now, shall we go?"