Kiera_Yanagi

  Yuki’s footsteps were steady and deliberate as she moved through the winding streets of the city. The evening air was cool against her porcein skin, a reminder of the distance she had traveled, both physically and mentally. Her cloak billowed softly behind her, fluttering gently in the breeze, its fabric whispering against the air with each step. The final rays of the setting sun stretched long, casting shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly across the nd. The day was ending, but the weight of her mission was just beginning to settle into her mind. This wasn’t a mere task—it was a necessary step toward something much rger. Something that had been haunting her thoughts for days, for weeks.

  Her thoughts drifted toward the lingering questions that had yet to find answers: How would she escape this world? What of Lirien? The promise she made to bring her back to life was a burden that still weighed heavily on her chest, a constant pressure that never relented. Yuki moved without haste, her expression neutral, betraying no sign of the turmoil swirling within. The city around her felt distant, as though she were walking through a dream—a mere fragment of something she had to pass through to reach her true goal. The streets were quiet, the usual bustle of the day having faded with the sun, leaving only the echoes of her footsteps as she walked.

  She reached the outskirts of the city, the buildings thinning out and giving way to a sparse ndscape that stretched endlessly ahead. The cave was near, just beyond the hills that rose from the earth like jagged spines. Thick trees grew in abundance, their limbs reaching out like the hands of forgotten specters. The air grew heavier with each step, thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint, almost imperceptible sound of distant water dripping somewhere far in the darkness. It was a strange pce, one that felt as if it had been untouched for centuries, the kind of pce that whispered secrets to those brave—or foolish—enough to listen.

  Yuki’s eyes narrowed as she approached the cave, its entrance yawning before her like a dark void. The opening was wide and unwelcoming, an empty darkness that beckoned her forward with a silent, unspoken urgency. Her cloak fluttered slightly in the growing wind, and for a moment, she stood still, feeling the chill settle over her skin. It was a cold that went deeper than the air—it seeped into her bones, reminding her that there was no turning back. She stepped forward, her movements slow and purposeful, her resolve firm. No matter the cost, no matter the dangers she would face within, she would not falter. Not now.

  Inside, the cave was damp, its oppressive air clinging to her like a second skin. Each step she took echoed loudly in the stillness, the sound of her footfalls reverberating off the cold, stone walls. The light from the outside world quickly faded, swallowed by the vastness of the cavern, leaving her to navigate by instinct alone. The darkness closed in around her, thick and suffocating, but Yuki was undeterred. She had become accustomed to navigating the shadows, to moving through darkness as if it were a part of her. Her mind was sharp, every sense heightened, aware of every shift in the air, every tiny sound. She moved quietly, her steps soundless, as if she were a ghost in this ancient pce.

  The path twisted and turned in ways that seemed unnatural, as though the cave itself was alive, guiding her deeper into its heart. There was no clear direction, no obvious path to follow, but Yuki didn’t need one. Her instincts, honed through years of survival, told her exactly where to go. The cave seemed to speak to her in whispers—an ancient, unsettling presence that both guided and challenged her. The air grew colder as she pressed on, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were focused elsewhere, on the promise she had made, on the rger goal that pulled her forward.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity of winding passageways, Yuki emerged into a vast, open cavern. The space was dimly lit by the faint glow of bioluminescent moss clinging to the walls, casting eerie shadows across the jagged stone surfaces. The air was thick with the scent of dampness and decay, and the low growls of unseen creatures filled the space, sending a shiver down her spine. The scraping of cws against stone echoed in the distance, a reminder that this pce was not empty. She stepped cautiously, her eyes scanning the darkness, her mind calcuting every possible danger.

  The air was heavy with tension as Yuki’s senses sharpened, detecting the subtle movements of approaching enemies. Her eyes narrowed, and a cold calmness settled over her. Emerging from the dark shadows ahead, a group of five grotesque, humanoid monsters took shape. Their twisted forms loomed in the dim light of the cave, grotesque faces marked by cruel sneers, and sharp, jagged teeth gleaming menacingly. Their skin, sickly gray and slick with some unknown substance, almost seemed to shimmer under the pale glow of the moss on the cave walls. Their eyes burned with malevolent hunger, glowing a faint yellow in the darkness. Their crude weapons were raised, the intent to kill unmistakable.

  Five monsters, each more twisted and dangerous than the st.

  Yuki’s expression remained unreadable, her posture unflinching as the threat presented itself. She didn’t flinch. This was just another challenge, another obstacle she would crush underfoot on her path to a goal that burned more intensely than anything else—the resurrection of Lirien. The monsters before her were nothing compared to the trials she had already endured. And they would not stand in her way.

  Her fingers flexed, instinctively reaching for the power that surged within her—Void Resonance. This dark energy, a part of her now, thrummed within her veins, offering both strength and destruction. It was dangerous, votile, but it was hers. It had become an extension of her will. And she would wield it mercilessly.

  Her eyes fshed as the energy gathered around her. The [Void Resonance TII] fred to life, intensifying her connection to the dark power within. But this would not be enough to defeat the monsters. She needed more.

  With a sharp breath, Yuki activated the [Elemental Coat: Necrotic] skill. The transformation was immediate. Her body seemed to shimmer for a moment before tendrils of dark, greenish-bck void energy spiraled outward from her form. The air around her hummed ominously, the scent of decay filling the cave as the necrotic aura spread. The tendrils wriggled and twisted with malevolent purpose, a manifestation of death itself. The very walls of the cave seemed to shrink away from the aura that surrounded her, as if the stones themselves were afraid of the power she now wielded.

  Yuki moved with deadly fluidity, extending her hand as the tendrils shot forward, coiling around the nearest monster’s limbs. A sickening hiss followed as the necrotic energy sank into its flesh, draining its vitality with horrifying speed. The creature let out a guttural roar as its movements became sluggish, the life force draining from it with each passing second. But it was not yet done. The others reacted quickly, their crude weapons shing out toward Yuki, desperate to halt her advance.

  But she was faster.

  She was already moving, her body a blur as she activated [Evasion Mastery TI], enhancing her agility and dodging their strikes with fluid grace. She danced around their attacks, her bde, gleaming with deadly intent, cutting through the air. She moved like a shadow, her strikes precise and merciless. Yuki unsheathe her sword from her waist each swing of her sword was a calcuted act of destruction, her bde cleaving through flesh and bone with unerring accuracy.

  The first monster fell with a guttural scream, its body withering as the necrotic energy devoured it from within. But the others pressed on, undeterred by the loss of their comrade. One of them—a hulking brute—swung its jagged club with all its might, but Yuki had already anticipated the strike. Her feet barely touched the ground as she activated [Expel Mana TI], propelling herself forward in a burst of speed, by releasing a burst of mana in an instant. She sidestepped the attack effortlessly, her sword slicing through the brute’s chest in a single, decisive motion. The creature staggered, its life fading as it crumbled to the ground.

  Another monster—a lithe, quicker creature—lunged at her with surprising speed. But Yuki was already prepared. Her mind sharpened as she activated [Smite TI] striking the creature down with a pilr of holy light. It's form colpsing into a smoky mess.

  The remaining two monsters, a snarling, cwed creature and a nky, armored being, exchanged wary gnces. They were desperate now, cornered by Yuki’s relentless assault. The armored creature raised its weapon, ready to strike. But Yuki had already made her decision. She activated [Swordsmenship TI], causing her sword became an extension of her will, cutting through the air with precision that could slice through steel. She moved like a force of nature, each strike a guarantee of death.

  With a final, swift motion, Yuki’s sword pierced through the armored monster’s chest. It crumpled to the ground, defeated. The st monster, a desperate creature with cws like daggers, made one final attempt to attack. But Yuki had already anticipated its move. As it lunged, she used [Expel Mana TI] to unleash a concentrated shoot of mana, sending the creature sprawling to the ground with a fatal blow.

  The cavern was silent once again. The air heavy with the scent of death. Yuki stood in the center of the carnage, her breathing even despite the intensity of the battle. Her eyes glowed faintly, her focus unwavering. The monsters had fallen, and she had emerged victorious. She had used the full range of her power, each skill amplifying the others to bring about their end.

  Yuki stood for a moment before she activated [Harvest TII]

  [System Notice: [Harvest] has Harvested 150 Vigor From Ascension one Windi-beast] [System Notice: [Harvest] has Harvested 205Magic From Ascension one Windi-beast][System Notice: [Harvest] has Harvested 80 Strength From Ascension one Windi-beast][System Notice: [Harvest] has Harvested 65 Spirit From Ascension one Windi-beast][System Notice: [Harvest] has Harvested The Skill [Devour TI] From Ascension one Windi-beast]

  Without hesitation, she began her grim task. Her movements were efficient, precise, and devoid of emotion as she severed their hands, one by one. She didn’t need their weapons or their decaying bodies. But their hands would serve a purpose—proof for the adventurers' guild, a tangible reminder of her strength, of what she was capable of. She tied the severed appendages to her waist with a length of rope, the grisly trophies swaying lightly with each step she took.

  The weight of the death she had dealt settled in the silence, but it didn’t faze her. She had a promise to fulfill. Lirien would be brought back. She would return home. No matter the cost. Every step she took now was one step closer to that goal. And nothing would stand in her way.

  As the lights of the town came into view, Yuki quickened her pace, eager to return to the guild before it closed. She had completed the quest, collected her spoils, and now it was time to cim her reward. The evening was fading, but her work was far from over.

  Back at the guild, the bustling chatter of adventurers filled the air, but Yuki moved with purpose toward the counter. The receptionist, ever efficient, looked up at her with mild surprise as she pced the severed hands on the counter.

  "You completed it?" he asked, his voice edged with a hint of admiration.

  Yuki nodded, her gaze as unreadable as ever. "I did."

  He inspected the gruesome trophies with a practiced eye, nodding once he verified everything. "Well done," he said, processing her quest completion. "here is your reward. Ten silver coins plus an additional 5 for bring back alchemy ingredients."

  [System Notice: Quest Complete]

  [Receiving Reward; 20 Unallocated Stats Points]

  Yuki took the reward without a word, her focus already drifting back to her rger mission. As she left the guild, the night was fully upon her, but her path was clear. Each quest, each battle, each step forward brought her closer to the ultimate goal: to escape this world and return home. But for now, she had more to do.

  Kiera_Yanagi