I stood up slowly, brushing dirt from my palms. Sylvia wasn't angry at the question—but I saw it, the pain behind her eyes. Her voice came soft, yet resolute.
"Night… I'll tell you the answer the day you can land a real blow on me."
She walked past me, her presence weighing heavily on the air. The dread surrounding her made my skin crawl. There was something she was hiding. I didn't know what it was… but maybe, just maybe, it was connected to my past.
---
Dodging attacks from every direction, I burst into the air, twisting mid-jump as my foot planted firmly against a tree trunk. With a push, I launched forward—my wooden blade connecting cleanly with the body of an abomination. It shrieked, black blood spraying across my face as its form collapsed.
The Hex's voice echoed in my mind.
[You have slain Twilight Horror, Tide Howler.]
[You have slain Twilight Horror, Tide Howler.]
[Your Flame grows stronger.]
It was a new kind of spawn I hadn't encountered before—stronger, faster. But what surprised me more was that Ren had slain one at the same time as I did. Our growth… it was starting to show.
Still, my goal wasn't complete.
I leapt to another tree, surveying the ocean's edge. More creatures crawled out of the dark waters, their cries shrill, almost desperate. Something was changing. The number of spawns was increasing rapidly—and I realized, my time here was limited.
I dived back into the fray. My wooden sword, already cracked and worn, felt light in my grip. Damaged or not, I could still fight.
---
Wiping the black blood from my face, the Hex rang out again.
[You have slain Twilight Horror, Tide Howler.]
[You have slain Twilight Horror, Tide Howler.]
[You have slain Twilight Demon, Tide Breaker.]
[Your Flame grows stronger.]
Panting, I dropped to one knee. My breath caught in my throat—not because of fear, but disbelief. I'd killed a Twilight-ranked demon… without even using the Flame. And yet, I felt it. It had seeped out of me naturally, like instinct. It was more alive than before—more powerful. The toll it took on my body remained, but its force had grown.
The sun was setting. I looked out over the bloodied field. I still wasn't strong enough—but I was getting closer.
---
I stepped into the cave. Ren was already there, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. Something was wrong. His face was stiff, unreadable—but I didn't ask.
What truly disturbed me was Sylvia. Her presence was off—unsettling. Not weaker… but colder.
"Night, you're back," she said, her tone too calm—like she was hiding something behind her smile.
And I knew, then—this wasn't over.