Tessa had been absorbed in her surroundings, her eyes scanning every flicker of shadow, while Mike… well, he was there. A silent observer in her mind.
But even she began to lose focus eventually. Her thoughts drifted—his did too.
Neither of them knew how long they’d been walking when—
A deep, rumbling growl shattered the silence.
Tessa froze. Her hand shot to her sword, her eyes darting through the trees. An enemy? A beast? Finally—some action?
Then she realized.
The growl hadn’t come from the forest.
It had come from her stomach.
A beat of silence.
Then Mike’s amused voice echoed in her mind:
“Was that… your stomach?”
Tessa grimaced in disgust.
“Tsk… apparently.”
She patted herself down, reaching into every pouch and strap on her armor—but found nothing.
No provisions. No waterskin. No dried meat or crusty bread.
Absolutely nothing.
Another growl—louder this time.
Tessa clenched her fists.
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“Damn it all.”
Mike, of course, sounded much more relaxed.
“Well, that’s unfortunate. Good thing I’m not the one who gets hungry.”
Tessa bared her teeth.
“I swear, Mike…”
“What? Just stating facts.”
She growled—not from hunger this time, but pure frustration.
“I’m a goddess. And now? I’m starving in a damned forest?”
Mike couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Well… you are a warrior. So?”
Tessa raised an eyebrow.
“So what?”
“So go hunting.”
Tessa froze. Then slowly looked down at herself—black, heavy plate armor, a skull-shaped helm hanging from her belt, a massive broadsword strapped to her hip.
She could see it.
A fully armored death goddess, roaring as she chased a deer through the woods, swinging a two-meter blade while the poor creature ran for its life.
…
She closed her eyes.
“No.”
Mike was losing it.
“Oh god, I need to see that.”
Tessa growled.
“Mike…”
“No, seriously! Just imagine it! Empress Tessa Sturm, unstoppable divine warlord, bumbling through the trees trying to decapitate a rabbit.”
Tessa opened her eyes and glared at nothing.
“Shut. Up.”
Mike laughed.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a grump. It’d be epic!”
Tessa took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
“I am not going to go crashing through the woods like a lunatic because you think it’s funny.”
“Don’t speak too soon.”
Tessa stopped walking and clenched her fists.
“Easy for you to laugh! You’re not the one starving!”
Mike mentally shrugged.
“Perks of being a disembodied voice.”
Tessa snorted.
“I should just go kill something. There’s gotta be prey out here somewhere.”
“Right. You, sneaking up on wildlife in full metal armor. Good luck with that.”
Tessa glared into the void.
“…I hate you so much.”
Mike grinned.
“Only because I’m right.”
Her stomach growled again—louder, angrier.
Tessa placed a hand over it and glared down at the mossy earth.
“Screw you, Mike.”
Mike chuckled.
“Believe me, I would—if I had a body.”
Tessa let out a long, seething breath and turned away.
The situation was clear.
They needed food—and fast.
End of Chapter 6