A thunderous growl can be heard in the distance, and suddenly, a lively night forest now fell into a complete silence, as if they're trying to hide.
Not long after, everything seems to be back to normal again.
"W-What was that?" Luna questioned; her entire body is shaking in fear.
"It's the 'Apex' of this forest," Azure explains.
"A beast that appear once in a while, it feasts on whatever it come across and then back to its slumber."
"No one know what it looks like, because those who witness its appearance... they already gone."
"So, the only thing we know of is the noise that you just heard."
"So, you're saying that this 'thing' is dangerous and should be avoid at all costs?" Rei asked, curious and seem to think of something.
"Exactly, but it never come near this pond and with the pond protection, you should be safe."
"Hmm.." Rei pondering for a second.
"Seems good to me."
Rei walks toward the direction the noise coming from.
But before she leaves the pond area, she turns to Luna and said,
"I'll be right back, be a good kid here for a minute alright?"
Luna somewhat confused on what Rei is doing, nods.
"Alright, good."
With that, Rei continue on her way to the source of the noise she heard earlier.
When Rei came out of the pond area, she is now engulfed in the dark of the night.
But Rei finds it strange as she can still see her surrounding clearly.
"Well, this is nice, i guess the moon in this world is pretty bright."
|Inform: The moon has the same luminosity as the one in your previous world, but due to Nightvision you can see things clearly in the dark.|
"That convenient."
"Anyways, do you have an idea on what that 'Apex' is? i have quite a list."
|The analyze result show that probability of the source of sound being Dragon is 72%, Dragon Sub-Species 80%, Beasts like wolf, bear or similar 40%, Trolls or Orcs 13%, Legendary Species or Similar like Hydra 1% and Unknown or Unidentified Creature is less than 1%|
"Well, at least 1 of what i think is in there."
"But how far do i have to go? i already come quite far, that noise must be really, like really loud." Rei complains while running.
|You're here, it just right up ahead|
When Rei arrived, she sees something huge which resembled a deformed lizard, constantly changing its shape.
It eating a giant lizard, but this one seems to be bigger and different unlike the one Rei encounter when she first arrived at the forest.
"Oh? interesting, do you think the noise that i heard earlier belong to the one getting eaten or the one eating it?" Rei smiles a little and seems to be interested in whatever in front of her.
|Based on the sound these two are making... it seems that the one making the noise... is indeed the one getting eaten|
"Hah? I-" before Rei can say anything further, she got attacked by the beast.
Its speed is very fast, but Rei managed to dodge it.
"Oooo~ that almost got me."
|You also got hit by poison in the air but luckily it has no effect on you|
"Woah, you're saying that this thing emitted poisonous gas? i wonder what else could it do."
"Anyways, how strong am i and how can i beat this thing?"
|You definitely are stronger than average human so you can just beat it using your magic or just hit it with something|
Rei smirked, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect of a challenge.
"Let's see how strong it is compared to me."
She focused, mana in the air starting to flow as if they commanded to.
"I think i got a hang of it now." Rei said, channeling mana to enhance her physical capability.
As she channeling her mana, her dual amber-abyss eyes glowed.
She feels as if this is not first time she does something like this.
The beast, having recovered from its initial attack, lunged at Rei again.
Rei, finished channeling her mana, punched the strange beast in the face, causing it bounce and hit the tree behind.
It trying to get up again after received a blow, Rei noticed that it starting to change its appearance.
As it keep changing, it starting to look more and more like a human.
"Interesting... it was a human.. or?"
|Notice; This more like an imitation of the stronger one, it think that you are the stronger one, so it trying to take the same form as you|
Rei narrowed her eyes, processing the information.
"Hmm... so its like.. a newborn, learning the world."
She then walk toward the beast, which now resembling a human girl, she looks like Rei but with a few different.
Her eyes and hair are Black, and something similar to hoodie but it looks a bit too messy to be a hoodie.
"I see, it doesn't have a concept of color and doesn't know what clothes are..."
As she stopped changing her appearance, she noticed that Rei is approaching.
A fear is visible in her face, as if she trying to tell Rei not to eat her.
"Hm? so it does have emotion too... very interesting..."
Rei stopped, now in front of a little girl, Rei reaching her hand to the girl.
The girl closed her eyes, accepting her fate.
But Rei place her hand on the girl's head gently.
"I decided."
The girl look confused, she did not expect Rei to do that.
"I will raise her."
After Rei said that, she carry the girl on her shoulder and walk on her way back to the pond.
As Rei carried the girl back to the pond, Luna's eyes widened in surprise.
"Who is that girl?" Luna asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Rei glanced back at Luna with a playful smile.
"Do you remember the noise we heard earlier?"
"Y-Yeah? why?" Luna answered, feeling uneasy.
Rei smirk and said,
"That's her doing."
Luna shocked and confused with Rei's answer.
"T-Wha-Th-Huh? You're saying that this girl is the 'Apex'?"
"Ehhh, you're half right." Rei swaying left and right as she trying to find a way to explain.
"You see, The 'Apex' is indeed making that noise BUT because she eating it that why it make the noise... so she basically a new 'Apex' now?"
Luna lost for words with Rei's answer.
"So, does she dangerous?" Luna asked to make sure everything is safe.
Rei shrugged playfully.
"Who knows? She doesn't seem hostile now, though."
As Rei looked back to check on the girl, she seems to already fell asleep while hanging on Rei's shoulder.
Rei chuckled, adjusting the girl on her shoulder to a more comfortable position.
The moonlight cast a gentle glow on Rei's face as she continued her journey back to the pond, the sleeping girl nestled against her shoulder.
Luna watched the scene unfold, a mix of curiosity and concern in her eyes.
She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, despite Rei's reassurance.
"Should we really be bringing her with us?" Luna asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Rei glanced back at Luna, her expression softening.
"I decided to raise her."
Luna nodded in understanding, though still unsure, trusting Rei's judgment.
As they reached the edge of the pond, Azure emerged from the water, his form shimmering in the moonlight.
"Back so soon? And with a guest, I see." Azure remarked, eyeing the sleeping girl on Rei's shoulder.
Rei nodded, a sense of determination in her eyes.
"I've decided to take responsibility for her. She need some guidance, and i think i can provide that," Rei explained.
"This kid and i are similar."
Azure nodded, his watery form rippling with understanding.
"Very well. It seems you've made up your mind." Azure said, his voice echoing softly.
Rei gently lowered the girl onto the grass near the pond, tucking her in with a blanket made from her Materialization ability.
"Rest well." Rei whispered, placing her hand on the girl head gently.
"What's her name?" Luna breaks the silence with her curiosity.
Rei look at Luna.
"Not sure if she have one, lemme check."
Rei looking at the sleeping girl, trying to check her status.
"Let's see..."
[spoiler]
Name: -
Race: N/A
Age: N/A
HP: 73/930
Mana: 1/1
Additional Information:
Seems to be a newborn of something which its origin can be something similar to Rei's.
High physical capability.
Learning capability is very high at the moment.
Ability:
> ???
> Shape Change: Change appearance as one's wish.
> Poison Gas: Emit poisonous gas from body.
> Illusion: Manipulating one's surroundings perception to create illusion.
> Adaptability: Adapt to unexpected or unknown situation quickly.
> Regeneration: Regenerate wounds faster than physically capable.
> Fast Learner: Understand and learn things easily and fast.
...
[/spoiler]
Rei focused at HP, it seem to be very low because of her attack.
"I-I am sorry..." She murmur, with a sorry face.
"She seems to have no name." Rei respond to Luna question.
Luna, observing the scene with a mix of emotions, nodded in understanding.
"I see... So, what will you name her?" Luna asked, her voice gentle.
Rei paused, contemplating for a moment.
She glanced at the sleeping girl, her expression softening.
"I have one in mind."
"You have? what is it?" Luna curious about what name Rei will give to her.
"Nodeva, a new star that shone bright in the vast of madness of the unknown, that's her name."
[End of the Chapter]