The fallen tree finally settled on the forest floor with a heavy, echoing thud, scattering dust and leaves into the humid air. As the cloud cleared, the mysterious figure that had been attacking them emerged into full view. Alvin's breath hitched. Kazien narrowed his shimmering golden eyes.
Under the rays of sunlight that pierced through the thick canopy above, the creature's scales gleamed like countless small mirrors. Smooth yet razor-edged, bright yet ominous… and undeniably unnatural.
But it wasn't a reptile.
It was something far more dangerous.
Kazien's voice broke the silence, calm yet sharp.
"I've read about it in a book. It's an S-rank monster— the Silver Pholidota. Its scales are pure silver, extremely hard, polished like armor crafted by a master blacksmith."
Alvin's throat tightened. "Then… how do we defeat it?"
"We need to reach its lower body!" Kazien replied, eyes locked on the creature, analyzing every twitch. "But that won't be easy. It uses its body like a living fortress. It rolls to defend, rolls to attack… and its momentum becomes a weapon."
As if to demonstrate the truth of his words, the creature crouched.
A split second later—
BZZT!
Electricity surged across its silver scales like a storm of sparks dancing along metal wires.
Alvin's eyes widened. "My dear—!"
"Alvin, dodge!"
WOOSH!
CRACK!
BOOM!
The Silver Pholidota shot forward like a massive, electrified cannonball. The wind pressure alone split the tree trunks behind Alvin. Bark exploded. Leaves spiraled into the air. Several trees collapsed in a chain reaction as the monster's missed attack plowed through them.
Alvin spun backward, landing on one knee, gasping.
"That… that was too fast!"
Kazien didn't look away from the monster even for a moment.
"It spreads its scales, charges lightning magic, and fires itself forward. Like launching a silver spear at supersonic speed." He clenched his fists. "A normal High Elf would've been torn to pieces if hit by that."
Another crackle of electricity rippled along the monster's body.
"Now what should we do?" Alvin asked urgently.
"Just dodge for now!" Kazien shouted. "I have to analyze its rhythm. Find its weak point."
Alvin nodded, repositioning himself, his steps light but tense.
"It's coming! Dodge!"
ZAP!
The monster turned into a flash of silver and blue lightning once more— and Alvin barely escaped death by leaping sideways, feeling the electric heat brush his cheek.
Kazien's eyes tracked everything. Every vibration of the ground. Every crackle of mana. Every shift in the creature's posture.
For a few long, suffocating moments, the forest became a deadly stage where only two things moved: Alvin and the silver blur trying to shred him apart.
There it is…! A four-second interval between attacks. And… six charges per cycle. Even for an S-rank monster, its pattern is too predictable. Too linear. Too simple for my eyes.
In Kazien's perspective, thanks to his gift, the Pholidota's lightning speed looked sluggish— almost slowed by half. He could see the electricity gathering beneath its scales. He could see its weight shifting a heartbeat before it leaped. He could even count the sparks forming its acceleration point.
And, deep down, he couldn't help thinking:
The Shadow Tiger King was much stronger than this.
If Kazien and Alvin were ordinary adventurers, they would already be dead. But they weren't.
"Alvin," Kazien called, voice steady despite the chaos. "The interval is four seconds. And it can only attack six times before needing to recharge. I'm going to prepare my counterattack."
Alvin smiled faintly despite the sweat on his forehead.
"Okay, my dear! Just tell me what to do!"
Kazien's heart thumped for a moment— but he forced himself to focus.
"Watch out! It's coming again!"
ZAP! — First attack avoided. Alvin rolled under a branch, feeling the electric wind scorch the leaves above him.
ZAP! — Second attack avoided. He jumped back, the ground exploding where he stood only a moment earlier.
ZAP! — Third attack avoided. This time the air trembled like thunder, but Alvin danced aside.
ZAP! — Fourth attack avoided. Kazien called the rhythm like a conductor leading a deadly orchestra.
ZAP! — Fifth attack avoided.
"Alvin, get ready!" Kazien shouted.
Alvin inhaled deeply, bracing himself.
ZAP! — Sixth attack avoided. The instant the monster slid to a halt, electricity dimming as it reached the end of its attack cycle—
Kazien's eyes sharpened.
"My dear— the monster is in the east!"
"I got it!"
BZZT!
Kazien blurred into motion, pushing mana into his muscles, accelerating with a force that cracked the ground beneath his feet. The forest seemed to freeze as he launched himself.
He appeared beside the monster in less than a breath.
Then—
ZAP!
He blinked.
Not closing his eyes— but teleporting.
In a flash of golden light, Kazien reappeared beneath the creature, exactly at the vulnerable point the books mentioned.
His palm flashed. A magic circle ignited.
A blazing sword of fire was born in his grip— its aura scorching the air.
"Goodbye."
ZRASH!
He thrust the sword upward.
It pierced through the Silver Pholidota's lower body, stabbing past the armor-like scales that protected the top of its body. The monster convulsed violently, electricity flaring uncontrollably.
Kazien clenched the sword.
"Burn."
The flames obeyed.
FWOOSH!
A torrent of fire erupted from the blade, spreading inside the creature's body. Its internal organs ignited instantly. Smoke billowed out between the silver scales.
The monster screeched— a sound sharp enough to rattle bones— then collapsed with a dull, final thud.
Its silver scales dulled, electricity fading.
It was dead.
Kazien exhaled slowly, retracting his sword. "Hahaha! I did it! He's been defeated!"
Alvin, hearing his voice, sprinted through the trees toward the eastern side of the forest.
From above, Lidaz circled in the sky, wings beating with power.
As expected of them, he thought proudly. My master and his future wife… truly unmatched. Even we griffons hesitate to fight such a creature. Yet they defeated it head-on.
Kazien approached the corpse, placing his palm on the charred wound.
He released gentle healing magic, repairing the internal burns. Not resurrecting— just restoring the body to good condition.
Alvin arrived moments later, breathing hard. "My dear! Are you okay?"
Kazien turned with a smile. "Of course."
The battle was over— but the tension lingering in the forest was unmistakable.
A wind blew.
Cold.
Wrong.
Both Kazien and Alvin felt it at the same time— an instinctive shiver that crawled down their spines.
Something deeper in the forest...
Something watching...
Something much more powerful...
Had died before them both.
Kazien canceled the magic of his light elemental sword and looked at the silver pholidota's body. Meanwhile, Alvin approached Kazien and stood beside him with a sweet smile, looking at the handsome face of his future husband.
Neither spoke.
The forest, suddenly too quiet, answered for them.
—They could both enjoy the moment after the fight ended with a sense of relief.