Branches whipped and tore at Emilia's arms and hair as she sprinted blindly through the glowing undergrowth, the alien spores swirling around her in frantic currents. Her lungs burned, each gasp sharp and ragged, and her legs screamed for rest, but she didn't dare stop.
Behind her, the monster let out a chilling, otherworldly howl that shook the glowing caps of the towering fungi. Its heavy, pounding steps smashed through the roots and moss, relentless in its pursuit.
"Nononono—!" Emilia gasped, clutching her knife roll tightly as she zigzagged between the massive, arching roots. "This isn't happening. I'm supposed to be on a plane, not in some horror movie!"
Her boot snagged on a twisted root, and she stumbled hard, crashing to her knees. Sharp pain shot up her leg. She scrambled up, mud streaking her clothes, and ran again. The growls are closer now, so near she could almost feel the creature's hot, foul breath on her neck.
In pure desperation, Emilia ripped open her knife roll and grabbed her favorite chef's knife, its polished steel gleaming in the eerie, bioluminescent light. Heart hammering, she spun around to face the darkness.
The monster lunged, its glowing yellow eyes fixed on her throat. Emilia swung wildly, screaming in terror. For a brief moment, golden light burst from the knife, piercing the darkness like a lightning bolt. The creature yelped, staggering back, its flesh sizzling where the blade had grazed it.
Emilia froze, staring at her knife in disbelief. Then the blade shifted in her hands. Metal twisted like liquid, lengthening, reshaping. In a burst of light, the simple chef's knife transformed into a katana, its edge gleaming with sharpness.
"Finally!" a deep, husky woman's voice with a commanding tone boomed inside her head.
Emilia shrieked and nearly dropped the sword. "Wh-what the hell?!"
The voice chuckled darkly. "No time to panic, girl. If you want to live, find the deadliest mushroom in this cursed forest. Coat me in its venom, and I'll strike this beast down."
"What?!" Emilia's mind reeled. "I don't—how do I even—"
Her strange new knowledge flared to life. As if guided, her gaze snapped to a cluster of dark, writhing fungi growing near a glowing root. Instantly, the name of the mushroom showed in her eyes.
[Deathveil Cap—Lethal. Even a single touch means instant death]
Can be an antidote for any poison if it's brewed for twenty-four hours together with Mooncap fungus.
She bolted to the patch, ripped the largest mushroom free with trembling hands, and smeared its foul, black sap along the blade. The katana hissed, its golden glow darkening to a sinister green. The monster roared and charged. Emilia screamed, raising the sword.
"Strike now!" the voice thundered.
With every ounce of strength she had, Emilia slashed upward. The poisoned blade cut through the beast's throat in a clean, glowing arc. The creature froze mid-lunge, gurgled, and collapsed, its body dissolving into foul, black mist that sank into the ground.
Emilia stumbled backward, her chest heaving, sweat dripping into her eyes. The air was thick with the lingering stench of the beast's black mist as it sank into the glowing moss, leaving no trace of its body behind.
She stared at the katana in her trembling hands. The once-simple chef's knife now shimmered with a fading golden glow, its edge glistening faintly green from the Deathveil Cap's poison. The weapon hummed softly, like a living thing breathing in her grasp.
Her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground. "What… what just happened?" she whispered, half to herself.
Then, the voice came again, smooth and feminine this time, rich with an ageless elegance. "Calm yourself, young cook. The battle is over."
Emilia flinched, nearly dropping the blade. "You—you can talk?!"
A soft, bell-like laugh echoed in Emilia's mind, delicate yet carrying a sharp edge, like the ring of steel meeting steel.
"Of course I can," the voice purred, rich and alluring. "Did you truly think a sword like me would remain silent forever?"
The katana in Emilia's trembling hands began to glow, its golden light intensifying until it nearly blinded her. The warmth from the blade surged through her palms, then burst outward in a wave of shimmering energy. Emilia stumbled back with a gasp as the air rippled and warped before her.
From that blinding radiance, a figure stepped forth. She's breathtaking and terrifying. Towering over Emilia, the woman's long, silvery hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall of moonlight, framing a face of flawless beauty and imperious strength. Her eyes glowed faintly, like distant stars seen through mist, both mesmerizing and unreadable.
Her kimono, dark as midnight and embroidered with silver and teal floral patterns, billowed as though stirred by an unseen wind. The high slit along one side revealed legs etched with long, living tattoos, coiled dragons, and ancient runes that shimmered faintly with magic. At her side, the physical katana now rested in her hand, its blade gleaming like sunlight reflected on water.
The sheer power radiating from her made Emilia's breath catch in her throat. This is not just a lesser sword spirit; this is a being born from countless battles and centuries of bloodshed.
The woman tilted her head gracefully, a faint, amused smile curving her lips. "I'm Hikarimetsu," she declared, her voice like silk sliding across sharpened steel. "The blade of light that severs both shadow and flesh. You, little chef, are my new master."
Emilia gawked, completely overwhelmed. "M-Master? Me?! I… I'm just a cook!"
Hikarimetsu chuckled, low and dangerous, taking a single step closer. Each click of her high heels on the forest floor reverberated. "A cook, perhaps," she murmured, lifting the katana with effortless grace, "but one with potential."
Emilia's mouth opened and closed, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. "Hikarimetsu…? Wait—hold on!" she stammered, pointing a trembling finger at the towering woman before her. "You were my chef's knife an hour ago! What is even going on here?!"
Hikarimetsu's soft, bell-like laugh echoed through the clearing, smooth and strangely comforting, yet with an undeniable edge of authority. "Our worlds have intertwined, master," she said gently, though her tone carried a quiet command that sent a shiver down Emilia's spine. "This realm is brimming with mana—raw, unshaped magic. It has given me form, allowing me to manifest before you like this."
Emilia blinked rapidly, struggling to breathe. "M-Mana? Manifest? This… this sounds like something out of a fantasy novel!"
The spirit's expression softened, but her voice remained steady. "You were chosen, Emilia Kato. The humble chef's knife you once wielded to slice vegetables was forged from the remains of my true self, long ago. You were always meant to awaken me."
"Chosen?!" Emilia's voice cracked as she shook her head violently, panic bubbling up in her chest. "No, no, no! I'm a chef, not a warrior! I don't know how to fight monsters like that thing!" She jabbed a finger toward the darkness where the guttural growl of the pursuing beast still echoed.
"Does it look like you have a choice?" Hikarimetsu asked smoothly, tilting her head with a sly, amused smile. Her tone is playful, but there's a sharpness beneath it that makes Emilia's skin prickle.
Emilia's breath hitched, her desperation spilling out as she cried, "Why me?! Why choose me of all people?! I just want to be a chef! I'm not some hero destined to save the world!" Her voice cracked, trembling with fear and frustration. She could still taste the metallic tang of terror in her mouth, the echo of the monster's growl haunting her ears.
Hikarimetsu's smile softened, though her golden eyes remained unreadable. "Well," she said lightly, almost teasing, "someone out there clearly thinks you're worthy. Perhaps they saw something in you that you cannot see yourself." Her words carried a strange weight, like they're hiding a truth Emilia isn't ready to hear.
Emilia's shoulders slumped, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. "I just wanted to cook," she whispered, her voice breaking. "To create dishes that make people happy… not to fight monsters or save worlds I don't even understand."
The sword spirit chuckled softly, reaching out to rest a cool, ethereal hand on Emilia's trembling shoulder. "You'll have plenty of time to despair later, little master," Hikarimetsu said, her tone suddenly brisk and commanding. "For now, we must move."
Emilia swallowed hard, glancing nervously toward the glowing fungi and shifting shadows around them. "Move… where?"
Hikarimetsu turned, her kimono swirling like dark water as she began walking with confident, measured steps. "To find civilization," she said simply, her voice firm and decisive. "If you wish to survive, master, you'll need allies and answers. Come. The night is young, and our journey has only just begun."