One year earlier ...
The yellow dimension tore open above the forest.
The sky cracked with a sharp, ugly sound, like something was forcing its way through. Yellow light spilled down between the trees, wrong, unnatural, painting everything in a sick glow.
Something inside it growled.
Lexi didn't even look up.
She was already in position.
Flat against a thick branch, body low, breath steady. Her fingers tightened around the bowstring, eyes locked below.
Ten.
Green. Ugly. Loud.
The demons moved between the trees like they owned the place, claws dragging across the ground, snapping branches under their weight. Stupid creatures… but fast enough to kill you if you got sloppy.
Lexi exhaled slowly.
"…alright."
Her mana stirred.
Seven arrows formed in front of her, glowing faintly, vibrating with unstable light.
A small smirk tugged at her lips.
"Try this, you disgusting pieces of shit."
She released.
The arrows shot down one after another, cutting through the air with sharp whistles.
One pierced straight through a skull.
Another tore into a shoulder.
One landed right between the legs of a charging demon.
The rest hit wherever they could.
The demons stopped.
They blinked.
One scratched its head like it didn't even feel it.
Lexi frowned.
"…are you serious?"
Then—
Boom.
Light burst from inside them.
One after another, their bodies shattered, exploding into glowing fragments that scattered across the forest floor.
The sound echoed.
Silence followed.
Lexi blinked.
"…oh."
Then she grinned.
"Yeah. That worked."
She dropped from the tree, landing clean.
Her legs dipped slightly on impact.
A small shake.
She steadied herself immediately, annoyed.
"20 percent…"
She clicked her tongue.
"Great."
She glanced at her bow, then back at the remaining three demons.
They had already locked onto her.
Screaming.
Charging.
Fast.
Lexi rolled her shoulders and smirked.
"Hey!"
She stepped forward.
"You three idiots—come here."
She spread her arms slightly, inviting them.
"Let's make this fun."
The first one lunged.
Too fast.
Lexi's eyes widened just a bit.
"Shit—"
She twisted at the last second, claws slicing through the air right next to her face. A sharp gust brushed her cheek.
Close.
Way too close.
Her heart kicked hard.
Then she moved.
Her foot snapped up into the demon's face with a crack, knocking it sideways. She didn't pause. An arrow flashed into her hand and drove straight into the second demon's eye.
It screamed.
Lexi flipped backward, landing low.
The third one didn't hesitate.
It rushed her.
She threw an arrow.
It knocked it aside.
"…seriously?"
It was already on her.
Its claw dragged across her stomach.
Not deep.
But enough.
Lexi froze for half a second.
Pain flared.
"…fuck."
Her jaw clenched.
Her eyes darkened.
"You're dead."
Lightning sparked around her fist, small arcs snapping through the air.
Five percent gone.
She didn't care.
Her fist drove upward.
The hit landed clean.
The demon lifted off the ground, thrown back like it weighed nothing.
Lexi chased it.
No hesitation.
She jumped, pinned it down, and slammed the arrow into its throat.
Once.
It twitched.
Then went still.
Silence.
Lexi stayed there for a moment, breathing hard.
Short breaths.
Her hand trembled slightly as she pulled the arrow out.
"…pathetic."
She stood, wiping her hand against her armor, then picked up her bow.
The forest flickered.
The trees bent, stretched—
And collapsed.
She stepped back into Taros.
Noise hit her instantly.
Lights. Screens. Voices. People moving like everything was normal.
Dimensions floated in the distance, hanging in the sky like wounds.
White. Yellow. Green. Red. Purple.
Black ones… rare.
Her interface blinked.
+60,000 XP
Next Rank: C
Required: 2,000,000 XP
Lexi stared at it.
Then slowly rolled her eyes.
"…you've got to be kidding me."
She dragged a hand through her hair.
"Six years…"
Her voice dropped.
"Six fucking years stuck like this."
Her jaw tightened.
"I need something stronger."
Her eyes lifted.
"Green… red… anything."
"Leiky?"
A hand tapped her shoulder.
Lexi turned instantly, body tense—
Then paused.
"…Liron?"
Red hair. Green eyes. Freckles.
That same stupid, perfect smile.
Liron didn't even hesitate.
She pulled her into a hug.
"Leiky! I missed you!"
Lexi froze for a second.
"…don't call me that."
Liron pulled back, grinning.
"You love it."
"I don't."
"You do."
Lexi sighed, already done with this.
"…how was it?"
"Messy," Lexi muttered. "Finished it, but the reward's trash."
She crossed her arms.
"I'm going for a red dimension next."
Liron raised an eyebrow.
"…or we could sit down like normal humans and eat something?"
She grabbed Lexi's wrist.
"Come on. Coffee."
Lexi paused.
"…croissant?"
Liron's eyes lit up.
"Obviously."
A small smile slipped out before Lexi could stop it.
"…fine."
Ten minutes later, they slowed down.
A green dimension hovered nearby.
The interface flickered.
Mission: 5 Spirits, 3 Demons
Recommended Rank: C+
Reward: 300,000 XP + Mana Recovery + Skill
Lexi stared at it.
Quiet.
"…after we eat," she said.
"I'm going in."
Liron didn't answer right away.
She just looked at her.
They stepped into the café.
"Bliyosu."
A waiter approached, forcing a smile.
"Can I take your—"
"Yeah," Liron cut him off. "Do your job properly and don't look like you hate it."
She pointed at the menu.
"Croissant. Milkshake. Cake. Toast. Pizza. Thanks."
Lexi stared at her.
"…you're not eating all that."
Liron grinned.
"Watch me."
The waiter walked off, clearly annoyed.
"I'm bulking," Liron said proudly. "Also… I want to be a warrior like you."
Lexi snorted.
"Yeah. Dream life."
Liron tilted her head.
"Don't do that."
"What?"
"You act like it's nothing. You've been doing this for years."
Lexi looked away.
"…yeah. Lucky me."
The food arrived.
Lexi grabbed the croissant and took a bite.
She froze.
"…okay."
Another bite.
"…this is actually good."
A pause.
"…dry, but good."
Liron laughed, already sipping her drink.
"Want some?"
"No."
Lexi leaned back slightly.
"…and don't follow me into missions."
Liron blinked.
"I'm coming with you to the green one."
Lexi's eyes snapped to her.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you'll die."
Silence.
Liron smiled, a little stubborn.
"I'm tougher than I look."
Lexi stood up suddenly.
"I'm serious."
Her voice sharpened.
"Don't come."
She grabbed the croissant and walked out.
Behind her, something crashed.
"Hey!" Liron snapped. "You had one job!"
She rushed outside.
But Lexi was already gone.
The green dimension,
Gone too.
Liron stopped.
"…how the hell…"
Her breath hitched.
"…shit."
To be continued