Please. Go ahead.
Zayne stepped aside, not interested in arguing with Nia.
If someone wanted to live a peaceful and happy life, there was one rule to follow.
Never argue with an idiot, and never try to communicate with one.
Zayne had always kept this rule close to his heart.
Nia shot him a brief glance. Seeing Zayne cooperate so easily, she did not say anything more and walked past him.
Just when Zayne thought this trouble was finally gone, Nia suddenly stopped.
Right, let me ask you something. Did you see anyone else pass by here? That person is very strong, and extremely skilled in fire element control. They may have mastered Hellfire.
As she spoke, a spark of anticipation lit in her eyes.
Hellfire?
Zayne almost laughed. So that was why she came chasing after him.
It was because he had used Hellfire to light a campfire earlier.
Meaning the person she was looking for might actually be… him?
I saw him. Very handsome guy. He went that way.
Zayne casually pointed in a random direction, eager to get her away from him.
He definitely did not want to be tangled up with this woman.
Looked like from now on, he should avoid using Hellfire Armageddon unless absolutely necessary.
Thank you.
Seeing that Zayne truly was not pestering her, Nia's impression of him improved slightly.
She walked off in the direction he pointed. As she passed through the trees, the sky above suddenly gained two extra moons.
Three moons hung in the air altogether, forming an eerie scene.
A heartbeat later, Nia's face turned pale.
There were no extra moons.
The two new moons were the eyes of a giant beast.
A deafening roar erupted as a massive claw slammed toward her.
Nia dodged to the side, widening the distance. Only then did she clearly see the creature.
A level eight monster. A Dragonblood Troll.
But this area was not even close to the forest core. Why would a level eight monster appear here?
She had just reached level three. Against a level eight Dragonblood Troll, she had no chance at all.
Her gaze instinctively turned toward Zayne's direction.
If Zayne teamed with her, maybe they would not defeat the troll, but at least they could escape alive.
But when she looked back, Zayne was long gone.
There was no trace of him anywhere.
Coward.
Nia bit down hard on her teeth. Whatever positive impression she had gained earlier disappeared instantly.
She did not need to guess. The moment the Dragonblood Troll appeared, Zayne must have run for his life.
The troll lunged again, treating her as prey. Its massive frame pressed down with crushing force.
Phoenix Burst.
Nia quickly cast her spell. Several blazing fireballs formed around her and shot toward the troll.
The fireballs erupted on impact, scorching patches of blackened flesh.
But it was nowhere near enough to stop the creature.
Instead, it enraged the troll completely.
Its moon sized eyes turned blood red as it swung its claw again.
Nia lifted her leg, leaping backward to dodge. She cast another barrage of phoenix fire into the air.
This time, the Dragonblood Troll did not sit still.
It opened its enormous jaws and unleashed a roar that sounded like a dragon's cry.
Roar.
A visible shockwave tore through the air, blocking her phoenix flames mid flight and flinging them back toward her.
What?!
Nia's expression changed drastically. She had no time to dodge.
Her own burning fireballs slammed into her body.
Her clothes charred instantly, revealing large patches of pale skin beneath.
But she had no time to care. Horror filled her eyes as she stared at the troll.
A single word surfaced in her mind.
Death.
She would die here.
At this rate, she would be eaten alive. This monster was far beyond her level.
Her composed demeanor vanished. Fear washed across her face.
The troll's massive claw descended toward her.
Nia shut her eyes, accepting her fate.
There was no one here who could save her. On the first day of the beginner dungeon, a level eight monster was an insurmountable wall.
She had completely given up.
She never expected that an SSS class awakener like herself would die so pitifully to a mere level eight monster.
But when she closed her eyes, the pain she awaited never arrived.
Instead, she heard a deep and resonant male voice beside her.
Hellfire Armageddon.
A terrifying wave of heat blasted past her.
When she opened her eyes, her entire world froze.
The Dragonblood Troll she thought completely invincible was engulfed in violet red flames.
It did not even have time to scream before it crumbled into ash.
Instant kill.
The level eight monster was instantly killed.
Standing before her was a young man, back turned to her, his entire body wreathed in blood red fire.
That silhouette carved itself into her vision, etched deep into her heart.
The more she looked, the more dazed her eyes became, and a soft blush crept onto her cheeks.
Hellfire.
Hellfire again.
This man… was the mysterious genius she had been searching for.
What girl had never dreamed?
What girl did not hope that, in her moment of life and death, a cold and powerful young hero would appear to save her?
He had one shot killed something she could not even scratch.
It stood in stark contrast to Zayne, that coward who fled at the first sign of danger.
Even Nia could not help comparing them.
The difference between some people and others was greater than the difference between humans and monsters.
Thank you for saving me. May I ask for your name?
Nia walked toward him, her voice soft and gentle, sending chills down Zayne's spine.
He had never realized she could sound like this.
Seeing he did not respond, Nia stepped even closer, wanting to see the face of the man who had effortlessly slain an eight level monster.
But she was disappointed.
Zayne had covered his face with a black cloth, revealing only his eyes.
After a moment, Zayne said quietly,
Call me Shadowcaster.