Kiera_Yanagi

  The aftermath of the battle is a scene of eerie, heavy exhaustion. Yuki stands alone amidst the wreckage, her body battered and drained, a silhouette against the fading light. Her once unshaken form now feels alien to her, weakened by the weight of the battle, the toll of every movement. Blood and sweat stain her skin, mixing into a grim mosaic of her struggle. Her dark eyes scan the destruction around her—the carcasses of the shadow bear and the elf lying in the dimming light. The ndscape, once a battleground of life and death, now looks eerily still, a momentary lull in the chaos.

  Her void energy, once pulsing with a frightening potency, now surges weakly within her, responding to her commands but with far less efficiency than it should. It’s as though the very essence of the void itself is resisting her, sensing her exhaustion, her fragile state. Still, she pushes forward. She has no choice. The battle may be over, but the consequences are far from finished.

  Yuki exhales deeply, the air feeling thick in her lungs as she draws the tendrils of void energy from deep within her. They unfurl like dark, sinuous arms—shadows stretching outward from her body, extending in long, almost serpentine motions. She’s learned to manipute these tendrils with a precision that borders on instinct, as if they are a natural extension of herself. With a flick of her mind, they coil around the fallen elf’s body, lifting the limp form from the ground with ease, as though the elf were no more than a ragdoll. The shadow bear follows shortly after, its massive frame rising with a simir effortless grace. Despite its enormous size, it seems weightless in the embrace of Yuki’s void power.

  Every movement pulls more from her, however, and she can feel the drain. The void energy responds to her will, but it cks the raw potency she’s accustomed to. The feedback is sluggish, like a dying ember struggling to catch fme, but she doesn’t falter. There is no time to rest, no time to reflect on how much she has spent. She drags the two bodies toward the cave entrance with determination, each step a battle against the fatigue that clings to her bones.

  The void energy pulses faintly with each motion, and Yuki grits her teeth, forcing herself onward. Her stamina is waning, and her once-efficient control over the void feels more like a burden than an advantage. She stretches her energy once more, directing it toward the supplies she had stored near the cave entrance. The food and water, so vital for her survival, had been forgotten amidst the frenzy of combat. Now, her energy flicks toward them, grasping them with the same shadowy tendrils that carry the bodies. They are pulled from the ground, the materials coming to her like obedient servants, still untouched by the violence that had just transpired.

  Yuki’s legs tremble as she steps across the threshold of the cave, the weight of her exhaustion beginning to settle in. The silence within the cave feels almost suffocating, but there is a strange soce in it too. She pces the elf carefully on the bed of leaves she had fashioned for herself earlier—an arrangement she had prepared for the rare moments when she allowed herself to rest. The elf’s body slumps against the soft foliage, her breath shallow and uneven, but steady enough that Yuki doesn’t have to worry about her immediate survival. The faint sound of her raspy breathing fills the cave, a reminder that there is still more to do.

  Yuki moves toward the stone wall of the cave, her limbs heavy and slow. She slumps against it, the jagged rock digging into her back as she sinks to the ground. The tension that had built up in her body during the battle crashes into her all at once, and in a matter of moments, she passes out. Her mind bnks, and all that remains is the sharp sting of exhaustion.

  The hours slip away in a haze. Yuki’s body betrays her as she sleeps, her limbs feeling like lead, every muscle aching. She doesn’t dream, doesn’t think. Her body, so accustomed to constant motion and vigince, has finally colpsed in on itself, and she allows herself, for just a moment, to be at peace.

  When she wakes, it is to the strange stillness of the cave. The air is thick with the musty scent of damp earth, and the faintest trace of void energy lingers in the corners, like smoke that refuses to dissipate. Her eyes flutter open, and she winces against the dim light filtering in from the cave entrance. The shadows inside are thick, and her mind feels clouded, distant, as if she’s awakening from a long, deep sleep.

  But as her senses begin to return, the cold sensation pulls at her—the sharp, invasive sting of the skills she had used earlier. Her muscles ache, her limbs feel unreasonably heavy. She presses her hands to the cold stone floor, pushing herself into a sitting position, but even that small movement feels like a monumental effort.

  The notifications flood her mind almost instantly, and she stares at the words, trying to force her tired mind to focus on them.

  Hero skill: Stamina and health regeneration penalty activated.Celestial Armament: Penalizes stat growth by 50%, inflicts [Mortal’s Burden]. Stat reduction of 80% for 13 hours.A sharp, cold pang spreads through her chest as the weight of the debuffs settles into her bones. Her heart pounds as she takes in the full extent of what the system is telling her. The world feels sluggish, like she’s wading through mud, each movement slow and cumbersome. Her mind is foggy, but a memory fshes—an unspoken realization that she has already been incapacitated for eleven hours. The sensation is like a wave crashing over her, and she closes her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her breath.

  The penalties are severe. She had been unconscious for far longer than she realized, the consequences of her overexertion now fully manifesting in the form of these crippling debuffs. The weight of it presses down on her, and she feels it in the very core of her being. The toll the battle had taken on her was greater than she had anticipated, and now, she must pay the price.

  Her limbs are heavy, each movement sluggish and bored. It’s almost impossible to stand, but she forces herself to do so, her hands pressing against the ground to push herself upright. She stumbles slightly, but catches herself against the cave wall, her fingers curling into the stone for support.

  She takes a slow, shaky breath, her eyes darting toward the elf. The elf’s condition is not much improved since she st saw her. The shallow, rasping breaths still come and go, but they are a little steadier, a little more even. Yuki is impressed by the elves healing factor. They’re wounds are healing slowly, and the elf is in no condition to wake up any time soon. The healing process is surprisingly quick, even if elf’s body is still battered, just as hers is but the elves legs are looking a lot better now. And due to the rate of healing Yuki theories the elf might be able to walk by herself again in maybe a weeks time Yuki sighs softly, her energy waning as she focuses on the elf’s condition. She will need time.

  With a deep breath, Yuki shifts her attention to the shadow bear. There is no time to waste. The conditions for the [Harvest] skill had been met, and despite her exhaustion, she knows that the longer she waits, the less beneficial the harvest will be. She can’t afford to waste any more time.

  Yuki kneels beside the bear’s carcass, her hands trembling as she activates the [Harvest] skill. A surge of energy rushes through her, and the system responds almost immediately.

  [System Notice; [Harvest] Skill: Tier Up Conditions Meet! Use Harvest On A Creature A Ascension Higher Then The Skill.][System Notice; [Harvest] Has Now Tiered Up To Tier II][System Notice; +300 stat points to all attributes!][System Notice; [Harvest] Has Harvested The Trait [Shadow Affinity TI] From Shadow Bear Second Ascension][System Warning; Harvest took too long. Stat points reduced by 40%.][System Notice; Title Gained {Beast Syer}]Yuki stares at the message, her sluggish mind trying to process the meaning of the words. Her heart sinks as the penalty becomes clear. The dey had cost her, and she can feel it in the pit of her stomach. The stat points gained were far less than she had hoped for, but even still, 180 stat points is not an insignificant amount. She can feel the surge of power as the energy from the harvest settles into her body, but it’s not enough to overcome the weight of her exhaustion, not enough to counterbance the penalties she is now suffering.

  The cave feels colder now, the chill of her weakened state seeping deeper into her bones. Yuki takes another shaky breath, her fingers curling into the dirt as she forces herself to her feet. The bear’s harvest is done, but there is still much to be done. The elf is still unconscious, her healing slow, and Yuki knows it will take time for her to fully recover.

  The reality of the situation presses down on her, and she feels the full weight of her fatigue, the consequences of pushing herself too far. Her body aches, her mind is clouded, and her stat penalties loom rge in her thoughts.

  She gazes at the darkened cave entrance, her thoughts heavy with the realization of just how much strength she has lost. The journey ahead will be even more difficult than it was before, and she knows that her current state is far from ideal. But for now, she has no choice but to wait, to allow herself to rest, and to recover. The elf will heal in time, and she will regain her strength. The battle is over, but the war is far from finished.

  For now, Yuki allowed herself to slip into a fragile state of rest, knowing that the next battle, the next challenge, will require far more from her than she currently has. And for that she will need to be well rested and also many help from the elf girl she just saved. Whatever that other syer skill was could come ter.

  The Next DayThe dim light of dawn filtered through the mouth of the cave, casting soft shadows over the rugged walls. Yuki was already awake, seated cross-legged near the entrance, her back resting against the cool stone. Her energy had partially returned, though the penalties from her overexertion still lingered. She gnced toward the makeshift bed of leaves where the elf girl, Lirien, y unconscious. Her breathing had steadied over the night, and Yuki could tell the wounds were healing—albeit slowly.

  Then, a soft, pained sound broke the silence. Lirien stirred, her pale eyelids fluttering open. For a moment, her gaze was unfocused, her mind sluggish as she adjusted to consciousness. But when her eyes settled on the scene before her, they widened in abject horror.

  Directly in her line of sight was the massive corpse of the shadow bear. Its dark fur was matted with dried blood, its gaping wounds a testament to the violent battle that had unfolded. The sheer size and presence of the beast, even in death, radiated menace.

  Lirien gasped sharply, her body trembling as reality crashed into her. Memories of the battle, the loss of her comrades, and the sight of the monstrous bear filled her mind in a chaotic torrent. Her breathing became erratic, her chest heaving as she started hyperventiting. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she struggled to process the overwhelming grief and fear.

  “No… no… this can’t be real…” she whispered, her voice trembling as panic took hold. Her hands clutched at the bed of leaves beneath her as if anchoring herself to the physical world. “They’re all gone… the bear—” Her words dissolved into sobs, her entire body shaking.

  Yuki was on her feet in an instant, moving toward the elf with careful, deliberate steps. She knelt beside her, her void-infused eyes softening as she reached out. “Hey there miss calm down,” she said, her voice low and steady. “You’re safe. The bear is dead. It can’t hurt you anymore.”

  But the elf didn’t hear her, lost in her spiral of panic. Her breathing grew faster, her hands gripping her chest as if trying to contain the storm of emotions. Yuki hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to handle such raw emotion—something she wasn’t accustomed to dealing with. Finally, she reached out, her cool fingers resting lightly on Lirien’s shoulder.

  “Breathe,” Yuki urged gently, her tone firm but not unkind. “In through your nose, out through your mouth. Focus on my voice.” She demonstrated the breathing, exaggerating the motions so Lirien could follow.

  It took several minutes, but slowly, Lirien’s breathing began to steady. The wild panic in her eyes dimmed slightly, though tears continued to fall. Yuki stayed by her side, her presence quiet but grounding.

  When the elf finally calmed enough to speak, her voice was hoarse. “My… my party. They’re all gone, aren’t they?” She looked at Yuki with a mixture of desperation and heartbreak, though she already knew the answer.

  Yuki stood still before nodding hesitantly, her expression unreadable. “I didn't see them when i found you. So there death is likely. I’m sorry.”

  Lirien broke down again, her sobs quieter but no less anguished. Yuki stayed silent, giving her the space to grieve.

  Hours LaterThe sun hung high in the sky as Yuki stood while Lirien keeled in the clearing where the battle had taken pce. The once chaotic battlefield was now eerily serene, save for the bodies of Lirien’s fallen comrades. Their lifeless forms y scattered, their weapons still clutched in stiff hands, their armor battered but intact. The sight was enough to bring fresh tears to Lirien’s eyes, but she held herself together.

  Yuki stepped forward, standing in range of the bodies. Her gaze was calcuting as she activated her [Harvest TII] skill. The system responded immediately, the familiar flood of notifications filling her mind.

  [Harvest] Has Harvested A Skill![Detection TI] Has Been Harvested!+250 stat points to all attributes!Warning: Harvest took too long. Stat points reduced by 50%.Despite the penalty, Yuki felt a tinge of happiness as the surge of energy ripple through her body as the stat points integrated into her system. She clenched her fists, feeling the faint increase in strength and vigor. It wasn’t as much as she had hoped for, but it was still a meaningful boost.

  Lirien, meanwhile, knelt beside the bodies of her fallen guildmates. Her hands folded in prayer, her eyes red and swollen from hours of crying. She murmured soft words in her native tongue, her voice trembling with grief. Yuki watched her from a short distance, silent as always.

  Lirien reached out, brushing a hand against the forehead of one of her comrades. “They didn’t deserve this,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “They were good people. Brave, loyal… And now they’re gone.” She sniffled, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “Thank you… for helping me bury them.”

  Yuki nodded, her void energy moving around them to dig graves with mechanical efficiency. It was a grim task, but one that needed to be done. Together, they id the bodies to rest, Lirien murmuring prayers for each one as tears streamed down her face. Yuki stayed quiet, focusing on the task at hand.

  When it was over, the clearing was marked by freshly turned earth, the graves a silent testament to the lives that had been lost. Lirien lingered for a while, her hands csped in prayer, her head bowed low. Yuki stood nearby, her gaze drifting to her system interface as she reviewed her updated stats.

  Updated StatusName: —Race: Void-Infected HumanLevel: 1Status: No Job Css

  Attributes:

  Vigor: 891/891Magic: 545Strength: 783/783Spirit: 727/727Skills:

  Uncommon: [Swordsmanship TI]Rare: [Foreign Energy Absorption TI], [Overwhelmed TI], [Detection TI]Unique: [Void Resonance TI], [Harvest TII], [Survivor TI]Legendary: [Hero TI], [Celestial TI], [Infernal TI]Traits:

  Passive F: [Alert TI]Passive B: [Shadow Affinity TI]Passive A: [Survivor T1], [Easily Forgotten TI], [Mana Overflow TI], [Ether Overflow TI], [Death Faded TI], [Touched by the Void TI]Passive S: [Hero’s Charm TI], [Infernal Aura TI], [Celestial Spirit TI], [Soul Damage TIII]Passive X: [Void Infection TI], [Soul Circuits Internal Break TII], [Soul Fracture TI]Titles:

  Epic Titles: [Overcoming]Css-Based Titles: [Jobless]Curse Titles: [Touched by the Void], [Death Faded]Unique Titles: [System Survivor], [Mortal Celestial]Fate Titles: [Discarded], [Survivor]World Titles: [Summoned Hero], [Forgotten One], [Celestial], [Infernal]New Title Acquired:

  [Overcoming]: Defeat an enemy of a higher tier than yourself single-handedly.Yuki let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of her own progress against the backdrop of Lirien’s grief. The elf was still kneeling, her tears falling onto the freshly turned soil.

  For a moment, Yuki looked away from the system screen and back to Lirien. A pang of something unfamiliar stirred in her chest—pity, perhaps, or guilt. She didn’t know. All she knew was that they would have to move forward soon, no matter how heavy the burden they carried.

  “Lirien,” Yuki said quietly, her voice cutting through the silence. “We should go. Staying here won’t bring them back.”