—MARQUANDS ESTATE
The scent of fresh bread and lavender filled the air.
Kenjiro slowly sat up in the large, soft bed, blinking as the sunlight warmed his face through the glass window. The golden curtains danced gently with the breeze, revealing a scenic view of villages and hills stretching far into the horizon.
> "This room looks like it came straight out of a fantasy-themed hotel... Nope. Still not dreaming."
He stretched, still sore from the encounter in the mansion the day before. The memory of that cloaked man, the fight, and Lucia's ice magic played back like a scene from a game he never signed up for.
Just then, the door creaked open.
A tall, elegant maid entered, balancing a silver tray. She bowed gently, her expression calm and warm.
Maid: "Good morning, young traveler. I'm glad to see you're awake. Lady Lucia informed us you needed rest."
Kenjiro: "Uh—where exactly am I?"
Maid: "You are in the estate of the Marquands family. Lady Lucia insisted you be brought here after the battle."
Kenjiro blinked.
> "Wait... So she's not just some sword-wielding beauty... she's also from a noble family?!"
His gaze shifted toward the polished furnishings, the velvet drapes, the elaborate crest on the wall.
Kenjiro (thinking): "I knew she had that noble aura... I should've guessed the moment she pulled out a twin ice sword."
The maid placed the breakfast—an assortment of warm breads, meats, and a strange blue fruit—on the nearby table.
Maid: "Please enjoy your meal. Lady Lucia is still recovering in her room, but she's well."
Kenjiro gave a small nod. "Thanks... I mean, thank you very much... miss?"
She smiled and exited silently.
Kenjiro stood and walked toward the window, lifting the curtain fully. The view took his breath away. Villages surrounded by forest, cobblestone paths filled with people, and far beyond—he could spot the glint of a silver river.
> "So this is really... another world. No city smog, no traffic sounds. Just birds chirping and wind."
But just as he started to appreciate the peace—
His head throbbed.
A sudden sharp pain struck him like a jolt of lightning, forcing him to his knees. A voice echoed in his mind—deep, cold, almost ancient.
???: "Kenjiro..."
Kenjiro (gritting his teeth): "Who... Who's there?!"
His vision blurred, the world twisted—and then everything went black.
---
Within the Dream Domain
He stood again in that strange void. No sky, no ground—just emptiness that stretched forever. No time. No space.
The same place from his first dream.
Before him, the shadow entity hovered silently. Misty, shifting, like darkness given form. Eyes—if it had eyes—watched him from all sides.
Kenjiro: "You again... What are you? Why me?"
The shadow's voice slithered into his thoughts.
Shadow Entity: "Welcome again, vessel. This world will teach you many things... and in time, you will come to understand your purpose."
Kenjiro: "Stop being cryptic! What do you mean, 'vessel'?"
But before he could take a step forward, the entity faded into smoke.
Shadow Entity (fading): "The soul will seek its body... and you will stand between them."
---
Kenjiro gasped, waking up in the same room—afternoon sunlight now flooding in.
He looked beside him.
Lucia sat there, dressed in a simple cream tunic, her hair tied up. Her expression softened with relief.
Lucia: "You're finally awake again."
Kenjiro blinked, disoriented. "You're here... uh, thanks. I guess I passed out again?"
She nodded. "You were twitching a bit. I almost called the healer. Are you alright?"
Kenjiro chuckled nervously. "Yeah, just a... weird dream."
She tilted her head. "You keep saying strange words. Your accent, your clothes... You really are different."
Kenjiro looked away. "I'm... from far north."
Lucia: "Where? The northern borders of Veridia? The mountains of Solara?"
Kenjiro (thinking): "Crap. I should've studied this world's geography."
He panicked and changed the topic quickly.
Kenjiro: "So... magic. That sword thing you did. Can anyone learn that?"
Lucia blinked, then gave a small smile.
Lucia: "Of course. With training, focus, and mana awareness. But not everyone is born with the affinity. Why, interested?"
Kenjiro: "I mean... I saw a bird made of fire explode in someone's face. Yeah, I'm curious."
Lucia chuckled for the first time. "Then I'll help you. After all... you did try to protect me. Even if your sword skills were a bit... questionable."
Kenjiro: "Hey! That sword was heavy, alright?"
They both laughed. For the first time since arriving, Kenjiro felt like maybe... just maybe, this world wouldn't be all pain and monsters.
—
The Marquands Mansion was nothing short of a palace.
Marble floors polished to a mirror shine. Walls adorned with paintings of heroic ancestors and long-dead nobility. Every window looked out onto a view you'd see in a postcard. Birds chirped. Flowers bloomed. Everything smelled like expensive soap and elegance.
But for Kenjiro, every day was a mix of wonder… and minor existential panic.
---
Day 1
Cue clattering noises.
Kenjiro (panicking): "I swear I didn't mean to break the vase!! That table was wobbly!!"
A maid held her cheeks in horror.
Maid 1: "That vase was over 200 years old… a gift from the Elven King...!"
Kenjiro (thinking): "Why the heck are you putting stuff like that next to a hallway?! What is this, an art museum!?"
---
Day 3
Kenjiro was assigned a "light" chore by the head maid: cleaning the outer garden fountain.
Easy enough, right?
Until—
THWOOOSH!!
He slipped on wet stone, flipped backward, and landed directly into the freezing water.
Lucia walked by just as he emerged, soaking wet, hair flat like a drowned cat.
Lucia (smirking): "Impressive technique. What do you call that? The Waterfall Warrior Splash?"
Kenjiro (sarcastic): "Yeah, and this is the part where I unlock water magic from trauma."
---
Day 4
Kenjiro was handed a training sword by the mansion's guard captain.
Guard Captain: "You said you wanted to learn combat, right?"
Kenjiro: "I meant like magic training! You know, cool sparkles and elemental beams—not bruises!"
Guard Captain: "Bruises build character. Now, stance up!"
Kenjiro (thinking): "They really treat swordsmanship here like PE class back home..."
He lifted the heavy blade. Two swings later, he was already flat on the ground.
---
Day 5
Lucia invited Kenjiro to the library.
Not just any library—this thing was gigantic, with floating ladders and glowing books.
Lucia: "This one teaches about elemental circles. Here, the basics of mana flow. And this is a light novel about a slime who becomes king."
Kenjiro: "Wait, wait, hold on. Even this world has light novels!?"
Lucia smiled. "They're actually called 'Mana Scroll Fables.' But yes, they're very popular."
Kenjiro flipped through a scroll labeled "Reincarnated in Another World as a Talking Cauldron".
> "Okay… I feel personally attacked."
---
Despite his chaos, clumsiness, and occasional freakouts over insects that were way too big for comfort, Kenjiro was slowly… adjusting.
He woke up in a real bed. He ate food that didn't come from a convenience store. And at night, he looked out from the balcony and saw a world so vast, so alive—it still felt unreal.
But it wasn't peaceful for long.
Because that shadow inside him… it stirred more and more with each passing night.
And soon, peace would be replaced with fire.
The golden light of sunset spilled through the windows of the Marquands estate. Kenjiro leaned against the balcony railing, chewing on a flaky fruit pastry. Below, the sprawling garden swayed gently in the wind.
Kenjiro (thinking): "Peaceful… it's almost unreal. Just a week ago, I was cramming for midterms in Tokyo. Now I'm living in a medieval estate with sword fights and magic."
The door behind him creaked open.
Lucia: "There you are. I figured you'd be here."
She stepped out beside him, her usual cloak traded for a simple tunic and soft boots. Her short dark-blonde hair fluttered in the breeze, golden in the evening light.
Kenjiro: "Wow, you're not dressed like someone ready to stab someone today. That's new."
Lucia (chuckling): "Well, not everyone walks around in strange clothes and talks about… what was it yesterday? 'Cosplay'?"
Kenjiro (coughs): "Slip of the tongue. Regional dialect."
Lucia: "You're weird, you know that?"
Kenjiro: "I get that a lot."
She smirked and leaned on the railing beside him.
Lucia: "You've adjusted quickly, though. Most guests take a while to feel at home."
Kenjiro: "Your parents were… surprisingly kind."
Lucia smiled warmly.
Lucia: "Of course they are. Father can be grumpy sometimes, but he means well. Mother says he's just bad at showing it."
Kenjiro (thinking): She really has no idea… about what she is. About her past. And I can't say anything, can I?
Lucia: "I used to sneak onto this balcony all the time when I was younger. Pretend I was watching over a kingdom. Guess some things stick."
Kenjiro: "You planning to rule one someday?"
Lucia (smirking): "Not a chance. I'm no queen. I just want to protect this place — the people I love, the peace we have."
Kenjiro: "That's… a pretty solid goal."
They stood in silence, listening to the soft hum of cicadas and the rustle of trees. Fireflies flickered in the fading light below.
Lucia (quietly): "You're not from around here, are you?"
Kenjiro stiffened. She looked at him, curious but calm.
Lucia: "Your accent. Your clothes. Your mannerisms. They're all… different."
Kenjiro (awkwardly): "Yeah. I guess you could say I'm from a faraway land."
Lucia: "You're a strange traveler, Kenjiro Satoshi. But not a bad one."
She smiled — genuinely — and walked back toward the door.
Lucia: "Come on. Dinner's going to get cold."
As she vanished into the hallway, Kenjiro looked up at the starlit sky.
Kenjiro (thinking): No idea how long I'll be here… but I guess I don't mind staying a bit longer.
The dining hall of the Marquands mansion glowed softly under the golden flicker of chandeliers. The long, polished table was decorated with fine silverware, roasted meats, and steaming plates of vegetables and bread. Laughter echoed as the family enjoyed a rare peaceful evening.
Lia Marquands: "Kenjiro, how are you adjusting to life here in Aestheria?"
Kenjiro (smiling awkwardly): "It's... quieter than I expected. And the food's amazing. Definitely better than cafeteria noodles."
Lucia: "Cafeteria...?"
Kenjiro (clears throat): "It's a kind of tavern… where everyone eats alone and cries inside."
Luke Marquands (chuckling): "That's either very poetic or very tragic."
The table burst into light laughter. Even Lucia smirked as she passed Kenjiro a bowl of spiced potatoes.
Lucia: "You're definitely the strangest traveler we've ever met."
Kenjiro (with a mock-sigh): "That makes me feel oddly proud."
But just as Kenjiro lifted his spoon, something flickered in the back of his mind.
"…Kenjiro…"
His hand froze midair.
The candlelight around him dimmed for a second, as if the world itself blinked. A sharp pain surged through his temples — not like a headache, but something colder, deeper, like a spike of ice crawling through his skull.
"…Kenjiro…"
The voice was eerie and deep — like it echoed from a bottomless well inside his mind.
Kenjiro (thinking): Not now… not again…
"Kenjiro?" Lucia's voice broke through the haze.
He blinked. Everyone was looking at him.
Kenjiro (forcing a smile): "S-Sorry. Must've eaten too fast. I think I'll head to my room for now."
Lia: "Oh dear, are you alright?"
Kenjiro: "I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy. Maybe I need to lie down."
He stood up and excused himself quickly, his heart thudding in his chest. The voice hadn't stopped — it was still whispering. It knew his name. It was crawling through his consciousness like smoke through cracks.
---
Cut to: Kenjiro's Room
Kenjiro shut the door behind him and stumbled toward the bed, gripping the bedpost for balance. The whisper faded for a second… then came back stronger.
"You cannot run from me…"
Kenjiro dropped to his knees, clutching his head.
Kenjiro (muttering): "Who the hell are you? What do you want from me!?"
Silence.
Then, nothing.
The voice vanished. The pain evaporated like steam. Kenjiro panted heavily, sweat clinging to his forehead.
Kenjiro (thinking): That thing again… The shadow…
He slowly pulled himself onto the bed, breathing shakily.
Kenjiro: "No way this is normal. I thought that dream… that thing… was just part of being thrown here. But this…"
He looked at his shaking hands.
Kenjiro (whispering): "What the hell did I bring with me?"
---
Morning sunlight spilled across the stone balcony, bathing the Marquands mansion in a golden hue. Birds chirped in harmony with the rustling leaves, and the air carried the scent of blooming lilies from the garden.
Kenjiro stretched as he stepped out of his room, still thinking about the strange voice from last night. Maybe I just need fresh air, he told himself.
That's when he saw her.
Lucia stood near the front entrance of the mansion, wearing a soft beige dress with intricate silver embroidery along the sleeves. A white cloak rested over her shoulders, her short dark-blonde hair swaying gently in the breeze. She looked… different.
Not the same cloaked sword-wielding girl who nearly died fighting a mysterious assassin. Not the icy warrior who summoned blizzards.
Just… a girl, about to take a walk.
Kenjiro (raising a brow): "Whoa. You clean up nice."
Lucia turned, a hint of pink coloring her cheeks.
Lucia: "I always clean up nice, thank you very much. You're just always seeing me during sword practice or near-death situations."
Kenjiro (chuckling): "Fair point. So, what's the occasion? Sneaking off for a royal meeting I wasn't invited to?"
Lucia: "I'm heading down to the village. It's market day, and I thought I'd stretch my legs."
She paused for a moment, then tilted her head.
Lucia: "Want to come along?"
Kenjiro blinked. Did she just—?
Kenjiro (grinning): "If I say no, will you drag me anyway?"
Lucia: "Probably."
Kenjiro: "Then I might as well say yes and keep my pride intact."
They walked together down the cobbled path that curved through the Marquands estate, the trees on either side forming a natural tunnel of leaves. The village roofs peeked from the distance, smoke lazily rising from chimneys.
Kenjiro: "So… your parents?"
Lucia: "They left for Aestheria's capital this morning. Royal knight matters. Won't be back until tomorrow night."
Kenjiro: "So it's just us and the haunted mansion staff?"
Lucia (smirking): "They're not haunted."
Kenjiro: "You're saying that because you're one of them."
Lucia rolled her eyes, but her smile didn't fade.
As they approached the village, the cheerful sounds of life surrounded them—children playing, shopkeepers shouting prices, the clatter of hooves and carts. Kenjiro's eyes lit up at the sight of meat skewers roasting over an open flame.
Kenjiro: "Okay, okay, this world might not have Wi-Fi, but it does have street food. I'm sold."
Lucia: "Wi… what?"
Kenjiro: "Nothing. Magic word. Only wise sages understand it."
Lucia gave him a look of sheer confusion mixed with amusement.
The two wandered deeper into the village, unaware of the shadows stirring beyond the trees… and the faint, invisible ripple that pulsed from the direction of the corrupted forest.
---
The sun had climbed its way high into the blue sky as Kenjiro and Lucia reached the small stone gate that marked the entrance to the village. The wooden arch above it was adorned with hanging flower garlands—simple but full of color and care.
As the pair stepped in, several villagers looked up from their morning chores, and smiles quickly spread across faces.
Villager 1: "Ah! Lady Lucia! You've come!"
Villager 2: "And who's that young man beside her? My, my…"
The chatter buzzed softly.
An older man with a broad frame and a kind face approached them. His walking stick tapped against the cobbled path as he gave a respectful bow.
Village Chief: "Lady Lucia, it's always a joy to see you. And I see you've brought a fine young man with you today."
Lucia smiled politely.
Lucia: "Good morning, Chief Ewald. This is Kenjiro. He's… staying with us at the mansion for the time being."
Village Chief (grinning): "Ahhh, I see, I see… A noble guest. The way you two walk together—you'd fool anyone into thinking you're already married."
Lucia & Kenjiro: "Wha—?!"
Their voices overlapped in a burst of awkward surprise. Lucia quickly turned her head, trying to hide her flushed cheeks. Kenjiro scratched the back of his head with a nervous laugh.
Kenjiro (thinking): I'm getting anime protagonist flashbacks... I'm definitely getting isekai harem vibes now.
Suddenly—
Child 1 (pointing): "Look! Big Sis Lucia brought her fiance"
Child 2: "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
Kenjiro: "W-Why are kids in this world so savage?!"
Lucia was too stunned to reply, her face redder than a tomato.
Still, despite the teasing, both couldn't help but laugh. The villagers welcomed them in, offering seats under shaded canopies, while others brought fruits, bread, and roasted meats.
Lucia played with the children, showing them small magic tricks—harmless floating orbs of light and tiny frost petals that shimmered in the sun. The kids giggled, eyes wide in wonder.
Kenjiro, meanwhile, was busy trying everything that looked edible.
Kenjiro: "Yo, this stuff is insane! What is this? A meat pancake?"
Lucia (smiling): "That's flatbread with wildboar strips and sunberries."
Kenjiro: "I don't care if it's wilddragon tail—this slaps."
Lucia: "Slaps… what?"
Kenjiro: "You'll get it eventually."
The day passed like a breeze.
They walked down wooden bridges connecting village platforms over narrow streams, explored the old bell tower, and tried a mysterious drink from a blue jug that made Kenjiro hiccup and Lucia nearly spit it out laughing.
For the first time since he arrived in this strange world, Kenjiro forgot his confusion… forgot the voice… forgot the shadow.
And as they watched the sun begin to dip behind the trees, casting warm orange across the sky, neither of them noticed the dark mist beginning to crawl at the edge of the distant forest.
—
The sun dipped lower—its final rays stretched like fingers across the horizon, painting the village rooftops in warm hues of amber and rose. Lanterns were being lit. Children laughed in the distance. Villagers bustled to prepare their evening meals.
Kenjiro and Lucia sat by a small stone well in the village square, sipping warm herb tea as a cool breeze began to roll in.
Lucia: "Today was… peaceful. It's been a while since I felt that way."
Kenjiro (grinning): "I'll take credit for that. Clearly, my Tokyo city charm is rubbing off."
Lucia (tilting her head): "Tokyo?"
Kenjiro (choking slightly): "Uh—Toki… Tokiwood. A fictional kingdom. Far. Very far."
Lucia: "You say the strangest things sometimes."
He shrugged and laughed awkwardly.
But then—
The air suddenly shifted.
The warm wind turned cold. Deathly cold.
The leaves on the trees trembled. Birds fled from the woods. And then…
GRRRRRRAHHHHH!!!
A monstrous roar echoed from beyond the forest. The cheerful hum of the village died in an instant.
Kenjiro stood up, nearly dropping his cup.
Kenjiro: "W-What the hell was that!?"
Lucia (serious, firm): "Everyone—TO THE SHELTERS! NOW!!"
She rushed to the center of the village, her voice booming with command. Villagers immediately obeyed, some already running with their children in hand.
Kenjiro's heart pounded in his chest. The peaceful scene had warped in seconds.
Kenjiro: "Lucia, what's happening?! What was that!?"
Lucia's eyes were locked onto the darkness of the tree line. Her expression was cold and focused.
Lucia: "This night isn't natural… That wasn't a wild beast. Someone summoned it."
Kenjiro's brows furrowed.
Kenjiro: "Summoned?"
Lucia (grimly): "Abyssal monsters. Creatures of pure dark magic, born through forbidden summoning spells… But this—this shouldn't be happening. Not this close to Aestheria. Not here."
Suddenly—
From between the trees, black, pulsing creatures began to slither and crawl into view. Some were small like rabid hounds, others stood upright, their twisted figures covered in void-like skin and glowing eyes—yellow, red, and even soulless white.
One large beast stepped forward, its form hulking with claws made of bone, dragging chains behind it as it snarled.
Kenjiro (panicked): "THOSE ARE NOT NORMAL MONSTERS."
Lucia: "They're not. They come from beyond… from the Abyss."
Kenjiro (thinking): Abyss…?
Lucia began chanting—her hands glowing with icy mana. Shards of frost formed mid-air, creating twin blades.
Lucia: "Stay close to me. We protect the village first. Questions later."
Kenjiro took a step back, overwhelmed—but then clenched his fists.
Kenjiro (gritting teeth): Get it together, Kenjiro. You've read this kind of scene a thousand times… except now you're living it.
He glanced toward the village gates, where more monsters were beginning to creep.
Kenjiro (grabbing a nearby metal rod): "Alright… Let's do this, Lucia."
And deep within him…
A faint, dark pulse.
An eerie, familiar voice whispered in his mind—soft, malicious.
> "Let me show you… what fear truly is."
Kenjiro's breath hitched—but he shook it off.
The village square, once glowing with peace, was now the battlefield of an incoming nightmare.
---
The monsters crept forward, shadows in motion—eyes glowing, teeth bared. The village's joyful energy was long gone, swallowed by an overwhelming pressure.
Lucia's eyes flared with pale blue light as she raised her hand toward the rooftops and streets.
Lucia: "Protecta Florea."
A dazzling web of crystalline light expanded from her palm, shooting across the village in streaks of magic. One by one, shimmering domes of transparent frost formed over each home—encasing them in glowing protective barriers.
Kenjiro (staring, in awe): "That… that's insane. She protected all of them—just like that…"
He turned to look at her—no longer just a mysterious girl in a cloak, but a battle-hardened warrior, steady and radiant.
Lucia (firmly): "I'll handle the front. Watch my back if you can!"
Kenjiro gulped, gripping the metal rod tighter.
Kenjiro: "Y-Yeah…! I got you."
But he didn't move.
The monsters charged.
SCCCRREEEEEECHHH!!
One beast leapt toward them with an unnatural speed—its form a mess of twisted bones and dripping shadows.
Lucia: "Cryo Mirage: Twin Image!"
Two identical copies of Lucia split from her body in a flash of blue light, each wielding icy blades.
The clones dashed like lightning—engaging the monsters with flawless coordination.
CLANG!—SLASH!—SHING!
One clone struck from above, slicing a creature in half with a beautiful spiral of frost. The other impaled a beast through the chest before kicking it back into the tree line.
Kenjiro watched, frozen. His arms trembled. The rod in his hand felt heavier by the second.
Kenjiro (thinking): This isn't a game. This isn't a manga panel. This is real. This is blood and death.
Another monster lunged at him from the side—
Kenjiro: "GAH—!!"
He swung wildly—barely clipping it before falling back.
The beast's claw grazed his side. Blood soaked through his clothes.
Kenjiro (clutching his ribs): "D-Damn it…"
Lucia turned her head sharply as another monster tried to pounce on him.
Lucia (shouting): "Shatterstep!"
With a burst of icy energy, she vanished—and reappeared between Kenjiro and the monster, cutting it clean through with a single horizontal slash. Its body evaporated into black mist.
She turned to Kenjiro, furious.
Lucia: "Are you insane!? I told you to stay back!"
Kenjiro (panting): "I… I thought I could help…"
Lucia (softening): "Not like this. You're hurt. Just fall back—please."
Kenjiro looked down, ashamed. He tightened his jaw, blood dripping down his fingers.
Kenjiro (thinking): Why am I always the one being protected? Why do I always freeze?
But deep in the shadows behind him…
The eerie whisper returned.
> "You are weak now… but not for long."
KENJIRO: (breathing heavily) "Hah… hah…"
His arms shook as he lowered the dented rod, its edge stained with dark, sickly blood. Around him, a few slain monsters melted into the earth, leaving nothing but tainted dust.
He collapsed onto one knee, gasping for breath. His hands were trembling—but not from fear this time.
KENJIRO (thinking): I… I actually killed a few… I did it…
A harsh pain burned in his ribs, and a gash on his shoulder bled freely.
Lucia was still fighting off the final wave with her clones, blades glinting with icy magic under the moonlight.
But then—one of her clones was suddenly shredded in half by a swift, monstrous claw.
Lucia: "Tch!"
She turned just in time to see another beast leap toward Kenjiro.
Lucia: "Kenjiro—!"
SHWING!
Lucia moved like lightning, ice blades forming mid-air as she dashed forward.
SLASH!
The monster's torso split in two before it could touch him, dissolving into ash.
Lucia landed beside Kenjiro, panting. Her clothes were tattered, and her magic aura flickered weakly.
She turned to him and knelt.
Lucia (softly): "You idiot… why'd you keep fighting?"
Kenjiro (weakly smiling): "Didn't want to be dead weight…"
She sighed and placed her hand over his chest. A soft blue glow surrounded her palm.
Lucia: "Frysta Sano."
The pain dulled immediately as his wounds began to close. Kenjiro stared at her—half in awe, half in embarrassment.
Kenjiro: "You… saved me. Again."
Lucia (smiling faintly): "That's what allies do, right?"
But before they could exchange another word—
RRRRUUUUUMMMMMBLE—
A heavy pulse rolled across the village. The ground cracked, and a sickening, unnatural wind swept through the trees.
The corpses of the fallen monsters twitched… then began to disintegrate into black ash.
Kenjiro (confused): "What the hell…? Why are they turning into dust…?"
Lucia's eyes narrowed as she stood up, ice swords still drawn.
Lucia: "No… this isn't normal. They're being… used."
From the pile of dissolving remains, something began to form—shadowy particles swirling, merging… reshaping.
A new creature rose.
At least ten feet tall, muscular yet misshapen, with twisted horns, glowing red eyes, and spiked armor forged from pure black mana. Its aura suffocated the air around it.
Lucia (grimly): "A… fusion-type Abyssal Beast."
Kenjiro (eyes wide): "Fusion…?"
The creature opened its mouth—emitting a guttural snarl that shook the trees.
Lucia (urgently): "Kenjiro. Get back—this one's on a whole different level."
Kenjiro (gritting his teeth): "You're barely standing—"
Lucia: "I'll handle it. Just go—!"
The beast slammed its fists together, and a massive pulse of dark energy erupted from its body, shattering what was left of the ground beneath it.
Kenjiro took a step back as the pressure crashed into him like a wave.
Kenjiro (thinking): I… can't move. Is this what real power feels like…?
But from deep within him…
> "This… is just the beginning."
A faint black aura pulsed around his chest—unseen by all but the trees.
The fusion beast roared, its distorted voice shaking the nearby trees. Shadows coiled around its body like smoke, and its eyes locked onto Lucia and Kenjiro with unrelenting malice.
Lucia: "Tch… this thing is stronger than I thought."
She took a step forward, her hand glowing with dual-colored mana.
Lucia: "Time to stop holding back."
She raised both hands. A blue and crimson circle formed in the air.
> "Flaren Kryos!"
A massive wave of flames intertwined with razor-sharp ice spikes shot from her hands, spiraling together toward the beast like a tornado of fire and frost.
BOOOOOM!
The fusion beast was engulfed in the blast, but within seconds—it burst out of the smoke, charging forward, steam hissing off its body.
Kenjiro (shouting): "Lucia, it's not down yet!"
Lucia grit her teeth and jumped back, panting.
Lucia: "My spells barely scratched it…!"
Kenjiro looked down at his sidebag and pulled out two ancient scrolls—one marked with a lightning bolt, the other with a strange glowing sigil.
Lucia (startled): "Wait—where did you get those?!"
Kenjiro: "Uh… the mansion library? They looked important, so I stuffed 'em in my bag."
Lucia: "Those are my father's! Those scrolls contain high-level magic—why would you even—?!"
The fusion beast let out another roar, interrupting her.
Kenjiro (grinning nervously): "Guess now's a good time to find out if they work, right?"
He unrolled the first scroll.
> "Voltarian Blitz!!"
Suddenly, the sky cracked with thunder.
ZRAAAAK!!
A massive lightning strike rained from the heavens, crashing down on the fusion beast's back and causing it to scream in pain. The blast pushed it back—but only for a moment.
Its muscles expanded. Its claws grew sharper.
It adapted.
Lucia (alarmed): "It's learning?!"
Kenjiro: "Of course it is…"
Kenjiro (thinking): Of all times to pick up boss-level enemies, why now!?
Kenjiro unrolled the second scroll.
A bright light formed beside him—and with a crack of energy, a wolf made of lightning appeared, howling toward the sky.
Kenjiro: "No way… I just summoned a Pokémon! Sorta!"
Lucia (confused): "What's a poké— never mind, just tell it to attack!"
Kenjiro: "Alright buddy—shock that bastard!"
The lightning wolf bolted forward, fangs crackling with energy. It lunged at the fusion beast, biting into its leg and paralyzing its movements momentarily.
Lucia took her chance—she raised her hands again.
> "Cryo-Burst: Shatterfield!!"
The ground beneath the fusion beast froze solid, massive ice spikes erupting upward and impaling it through the sides.
BOOOOOM!!
For a moment… the monster froze in place, smoke rising from its wounds.
Lucia and Kenjiro stood panting, their magic nearly drained.
Lucia: "Did we get it…?"
The fusion beast suddenly let out a low, echoing snarl. Its shattered armor began to regenerate, and its body twisted, becoming even more demonic in appearance.
Kenjiro (wide-eyed): "…Seriously?! It evolves too!?"
The monstrous form roared as it stood tall—nearly twice the height of a man—its body forged from the dust of fallen creatures. Black mist slithered from its joints, and glowing red veins pulsed beneath its skin.
Kenjiro (wide-eyed): "Oh c'mon… it leveled up?! What kind of game logic is this!?"
Lucia (calm but serious): "No… this isn't a game anymore."
She stepped forward, her hands glowing with a mix of red and icy blue light.
Lucia: "I'll handle the front. Cover me however you can!"
Kenjiro: "R-right!"
Lucia extended her arms and began to chant:
> "Spirits of frost and flame… heed my call.
Dual Surge: Flaren Kryos!!"
Two magic circles spun into life beneath her feet, one radiating intense heat, the other icy wind.
A twin wave of fire and ice shot toward the beast, colliding with its chest and staggering it backward—but not down.
Kenjiro unrolled another scroll from his bag. It shimmered with lightning symbols.
> "Voltarian Blitz… just like last time…"
The sky cracked above.
ZRAAAAK!!
A lightning strike rained down on the monster's shoulder, searing its flesh and causing it to roar.
Kenjiro (panting): "Did that… work?!"
The creature growled louder. Then—it moved. Fast.
In the blink of an eye, it appeared beside Kenjiro and swung.
WHAM!
Kenjiro was sent flying, slamming into the wall of a house.
Lucia (shouting): "Kenjiro!!"
Kenjiro (coughing): "Still alive... I think I saw my ancestors, but I'm good…"
Lucia growled. Her mana was running low.
She formed an ice clone, commanding it to flank the monster while she prepared another spell.
The clone dashed forward, parrying the beast's claw with its twin blade, while Lucia began launching ice shards from a distance.
> "Pierce it, Shard Storm!"
Dozens of razor-sharp spikes flew through the air, slashing across the monster's limbs. But it kept coming.
Kenjiro (pulling himself up): "I'm not letting her do this alone…"
He limped toward a nearby crossbow leaning against the village watchtower. Grabbing it, he aimed, held his breath…
> TWANG!
The arrow flew, embedding itself in the creature's side.
It wasn't much, but it distracted it long enough for Lucia's clone to strike the back of its leg, forcing it to stumble.
Lucia summoned the last of her energy.
> "Kryos Bind!!"
Chains of ice erupted from the ground, wrapping around the creature's arms and legs.
It thrashed violently.
Lucia (gasping): "I… can't hold it for long!"
Kenjiro (reloading): "Just a bit more!"
Kenjiro spotted another scroll—a rare red one—that had fallen from his bag earlier.
> "Summon: Crimson Wing!"
A flare of light burst forth—and a blazing hawk emerged, screeching toward the skies before diving into the monster like a comet.
BOOOOM!
The explosion engulfed the creature in crimson fire.
Smoke blanketed the area.
Silence.
Then… a thud.
The fused abyssal monster collapsed, its corrupted form turning to ash and blowing away in the evening wind.
Kenjiro fell to one knee, breathing heavily. Lucia stumbled toward him and caught his shoulder.
Lucia (softly): "You really fought well…"
Kenjiro (grinning weakly): "And here I thought I'd just die looking cool."
They both chuckled, despite the pain.
In the distance, villagers peeked from their shelters. The village was safe… for now.
Kenjiro (thinking): What… was that monster? And why do I keep hearing that voice in my head…?
The moon rose over the quiet village as the last embers faded.
To be continued—-