Kayn tore the pages from her notebook and tied them to a halberd. Attached by a rope were a few small pouches filled with various materials.
Then, she gave Rengar a small signal through the binoculars, pointing where to aim.
With superhuman strength, Rengar hurled the halberd toward the indicated area.
Secil couldn't see anything in time due to the smoke. She barely caught a glimpse of something approaching at high speed but couldn't understand what it was—
Until, in an instant, her book began to smoke… and she felt a massive explosion tear through the field, shaking the entire sect.
Inside, people stumbled, disoriented, completely shocked.
Secil, regaining her stance, looked forward—and her eyes widened in horror. Her entire defense line had been completely destroyed and rendered useless. She checked her book…
The pages with the mountain's map were gone.
All that was left was ash. Her expression didn't stay still for long—shock turned quickly to dread as she looked ahead again.
Hundreds of beasts were once again approaching the sect.
Secil hadn't expected her first line of defense to be annihilated before her supplies were even depleted.
This made the situation critical from every angle. But the horror didn't end there.
A much greater presence emerged from the smoky darkness—a terror worthy of any tale arose from the dissipating fog.
The large beasts grouped around it, seemingly afraid. Normal beasts, on the other hand, didn't even dare to be near its path.
A mythical beast had set foot on the mountain.
A ten-meter-tall demon with a grotesque body, four arms, absurdly long limbs, covered in black fur, showing signs of rot and bone protruding from its flesh—approached the sect slowly.
And each step it took, a grating sound echoed from its jaws, growing louder and louder—until a sonic beam suddenly blasted forth.
Secil couldn't even react to the impact. Only the barrier spell integrated into the sect for projectile defense managed to withstand the tyrannical blow.
She fell like a projectile from her position on the walls. Barely able to keep herself from screaming, she quickly raised her voice to the entire sect:
—FUNGI, TAKE EVERYONE! ABANDON YOUR DUTIES AND RUN TO THE MOUNTAINS! THIS IS AN ORDER!!!
The sect was thrown into chaos by Secil's anguished cry.
They had been in danger before—back when they carved a path through the jungle—but to hear the right hand of their priest scream in terror? That was definitely a bad sign.
Everyone began evacuating, waking those who rested in their homes outside the work zones. They all headed toward Fungi's house, who was already outside, expressionless, holding a lantern.
Everyone followed his light without question.
There were no discussions—just one order: follow in silence.
Their saint, who usually had words of encouragement, simply told them not to speak, in a muted tone. That alone threw the sect into a state of intense stress.
But no one disobeyed. Even the sect's mages didn't offer to help with what was happening—none of them were natural-born fighters.
And in this situation, there really was nothing they could do.
Meanwhile, as the people got far enough away, Secil began attempting to contact the Supreme Master as quickly as she could—while the barrier spell slowly crumbled apart.
But it was the Supreme Master who contacted her first.
—Secil, I've already sensed the presence and the impact of what's happened. Defend my sanctuary with the utmost urgency. They only drew in a decoy so I would protect it with my soul.
Secil didn't respond.
She picked up her notebook from the ground, tucked it into her tunic, and rushed toward the hidden part of the mountain—with a dagger in each hand.
Meanwhile, outside the mountains, a second great spectral presence was beginning to emerge—one capable of shattering any soul by its mere existence.
It had only one goal in mind: blood. And more blood…
On the opposite side of the mountain, two distinct figures were running at full speed through the narrow paths.
These figures were Rengar and Kayn. Rengar kept a neutral expression at all times, while Kayn looked slightly more exhausted compared to just minutes earlier when she had been scribbling furiously.
Rengar glanced briefly at Kayn, but she simply responded with a smile as if to say, "Don't worry."
They continued running across the mountain, searching for what could be a hidden entrance. But without warning, a storm of lightning crashed down toward them violently, even shattering the rocks around them.
Kayn was the first to dodge—but before she could recover, several knives were hurled through the air toward her. Rengar blocked them with his sword, bending them all with sheer force.
Then, at great speed, Secil launched herself like an arrow toward Rengar, wielding two curved daggers and attacking him in a relentless storm of steel. Kayn barely touched the ground before Secil delivered a kick to Rengar and immediately summoned a spell from her book—a storm of stone hands launched out, aiming to immobilize them both.
Rengar, faithful to his sword, smashed every hand that came near with savage precision. On the other side, Kayn used the rising stone hands as platforms to gain elevation.
But Secil never gave Kayn a break. She surged upward, running across the stone hands, racing toward Kayn's position and aiming to plunge her dagger into her.
She closed in for the kill, but Kayn managed to dodge the blades and hands simultaneously, moving from platform to platform atop the giant stone hands trying to pin her down.
She patiently waited for openings to strike back, though most of her attempts were ineffective—and risky.
She kept dancing on the edge of the blade for several seconds—until Rengar arrived, leaping like a wolf would a mountain, hunting his prey.
Rengar moved with his sword like an animal, attacking with every limb he had if necessary. His style was brutal—not only was the sword dangerous, but his whole body was a weapon.
Secil matched him in intensity, holding nothing back. Neither fought to preserve their lives—they fought to kill.
Their weapons clashed, fists collided—Secil met Rengar blow for blow while keeping one eye on Kayn, who continued circling around.
Kayn attacked opportunistically during brief openings. Secil tried to pull out her book, but Kayn launched thick needles like arrows in advance.
Secil kept trying to close in on Kayn, but she predicted her every move—and Rengar never gave her peace with his blade.
She found herself in a very uncomfortable position. In one exchange, she endured a powerful strike from Kayn, wounding her arm severely—but used that brief moment to open her grimoire, unleashing a sonic explosion.
Rengar, standing close, was blasted backward with brutal force. He stabbed his sword into the ground to stay near the fight, but Secil rushed in like a steel tempest.
Rengar tried to stop her with a kick, but Secil dodged expertly, and in one second, stabbed him fourteen times from his legs to his chest.
He attempted a desperate strike, but Secil kicked him away. Kayn rushed in with a needle-like dagger, but Secil backed away and summoned a hailstorm of icicles from her book.
Kayn helped lift the severely wounded Rengar into her arms, dodging the falling ice shards as Secil continued casting spells, tearing pages from her book.
Fireballs, roots from the ground, gusts of wind—projectiles flying in every direction. Kayn, carrying Rengar, struggled to move, unable to use both arms for acrobatics.
But Kayn's face showed no fear—only a strained smile and faint murmurs.
It unsettled Secil for a second.
Still, she didn't lower her guard and intensified her spells—but then something unexpected happened.
Her spells began disconnecting.
Kayn threw Rengar toward her. Despite his injuries, he pulled a knife and lunged. Secil ordered her spells to obliterate Rengar, but none responded—instead, they self-destructed, violently shaking her book.
She barely avoided having her chest torn open, jumping backward. But as Rengar landed on all fours, he launched himself at Secil again—giving her no time to block.
She tried to shield herself with her arms and book. Rengar hurled his dagger straight at her throat, and she had to choose which hit to block.
She tilted her neck just enough. The dagger sliced open the side of her neck, while she barely resisted Rengar's follow-up strike, slamming into the ground and trying to stand up. Her body language betrayed the pain she tried to hide.
Rengar was bleeding profusely, his body a mess from the stab wounds. He looked pale from blood loss, panting heavily—more dead than alive, but his eyes still burned with determination.
Despite looking nearly untouched on the outside, Kayn showed signs of extreme exhaustion. Her face was even paler than Rengar's, with a thin line of blood trickling from her nose.
Yet her tone and attitude hadn't changed in the slightest.
—"I couldn't expect less from the right hand of a powerful soul master. Your master chose well. But do us a favor and step aside now, if you still have any will of your own."
Secil gritted her teeth, fury in her expression, raised a dagger in front of her, and opened her book.
—"Do me a favor and shut up. Let me kill you before my master rips your souls to shreds."
Kayn scoffed, spitting blood onto the ground.
—"Wouldn't it be more beneficial for you to buy some time? Well, no matter—it's not like we have much either. You have great talent with incantations, but you're terrible at social skills. I guess that's your master's job in the sect."
Secil raised an eyebrow in doubt and replied with a slightly intrigued tone.
—"What the hell are you talking about?"
Rengar pointed his sword forward, taking a battle stance.
—"Don't play dumb. We know the white-haired priest is just one of your puppets, and the real body is hidden somewhere around these mountains."
—"Now move aside, or tell us where the main body is—Kayn won't need to melt your head to get the location out of you."
Secil stood there, confused for a few seconds, then shook her head and looked forward with a serious expression.
—"I'm sorry, but I don't think we're talking about the same person."
Kayn showed a slight expression of confusion.
—"What do you mean?"
Suddenly, without warning, the ground trembled violently, as if something were emerging from it. Kayn and Rengar jumped back to avoid being swallowed by the earth, but Secil tore a page from her book and summoned a massive cube of light that trapped them both.
She tore out another page and shrunk the cube to the size of an apple, trapping them in a glowing box.
Lowering her voice, she stared at them with rage and then raised her voice with authority:
—"You two will have to speak to the Grand Supreme Master and explain who sent you—and more importantly, what the hell you wanted with Fungi."
Kayn looked confused for a moment at the mention of Fungi, but after a few seconds of thought, her tone turned lively.
—"So that young man's name was Fungi? What a curious name… Funny how life works through accidents."
She turned momentarily to Rengar, eyes sparkling with excitement.
—"Then I wasn't wrong, Rengar. This is incredible! There really is a soul mage outside the influence of the Mother of Darkness! That little bastard seems to have gotten ahead of any unforeseen events."
Secil frowned and shook the cube violently.
—"Silence, both of you. You'll have plenty of time to talk and explain the context of your little conversation."
Kayn looked at her mischievously and smiled, shaking her head.
—"Forgive our lack of manners, but we don't have time to waste here. We're switching routes before your master arrives."
—"Rengar, get us out of here."
Rengar said nothing. He sighed in frustration as a dark aura wrapped around him, crimson highlights bleeding from his wounds. No chants, no whispers. No mercy.
With a quick motion, he cut his hand and smeared blood on the inner walls of the cube. The blood released a dreadful aura, black and crimson, that spread throughout the area. Secil began to feel a disgusting stench burn her nostrils.
She felt sharp pain just from touching the cube—and by instinct, gripped by terror, threw it into the air.
The cube exploded violently in all directions. A heavy aura blanketed the area after the shockwave. Secil was stunned, collapsed on the ground, her senses failing, hyperventilating in desperation as she staggered to find fresh air.
Saliva and blood dripped from her mouth—she was on the verge of passing out.
But she managed to breathe fresh air and looked around. Finally, the thick black-crimson smoke began to dissipate.
She glanced around in horror, unconsciously touching the wound on her neck.
All vegetation was dead. The rocks were cracked. The soil—completely infertile. And everything still reeked of death and decay.
Secil removed her hand from her neck and saw oxidized blood, her body trembling. She searched for the two mages—but they had vanished as quickly as they came.
Only now did she begin to process everything. Her once unshakable expression was broken. She felt a terrible premonition—it would not be the last time they crossed paths.
But next time, it would be the last.
She had countless thoughts, especially why they were actively searching for Fungi—and what might have happened if they had actually found him.
Now, the feeling of Fungi's betrayal and escape turned into relief at his absence. Turning toward the other side of the mountain, the sounds had stopped. Silence reigned.
She leaned against a cracked rock and began treating her wounds as best she could.
Every time she examined herself, she noticed her clothing was falling apart as if rotting. Her fur cloak had lost all color, its hairs falling out. Her once white-and-gold robe was now yellowed and stained, the gold completely faded.
Minutes later, as she lay there, a spectral figure approached—a small serpent settled on her leg. She reacted sluggishly.
—"Master… they—"
The serpent interrupted in a calm voice.
—"I know, Secil. They escaped. You did well protecting my original body—but your task is not over yet."
The serpent began to glow on Secil's legs, and a white light intensified around her, spreading across her skin, reaching her wounds, regenerating flesh and sealing cuts, restoring a bit of vitality.
The serpent gazed deeply at her and rested on her shoulder. Both took a short moment to recover.
Secil looked toward the sect. Much of the main gate was destroyed, and the surroundings weren't any better—she could see beast corpses everywhere.
—"Master, what is your next move?"
She asked with a steady tone.
The serpent replied seriously:
—"You are now in charge of hunting those who invaded the sect. Go to the cave immediately. Take any materials you need—no restrictions. Prepare your spells and seal them in your book."
—"Spare no expense. Take this soul serpent as a storage vessel. Use it to dominate a beast for transportation. You have until tomorrow to depart."
She frowned.
Secil always remained calm, rarely questioning her master. But this time—the experience left a bitter taste in her mouth. She didn't doubt his decisions, but she couldn't stay silent this time.
—"Forgive my boldness, Master, but I don't believe this is our best move. I faced them in battle."
—"The girl… she has a terrifying sense of foresight. And I believe she can unravel any spell. She was the one who destroyed my defenses, knowing exactly what she needed. I'm sure it was her who summoned that mythical beast to the surface."
—"As for the man… he was a horror machine. Unfazed by pain. A skilled warrior. And worst of all, when I trapped them… by just a command from that woman, he unleashed a black and crimson aura inside the cube. It almost killed me just by being close to whatever he released."
She sighed deeply before continuing.
—"And about Fungi… he betrayed us. Seems like he abandoned the sect a long time ago. The invaders had him as a priority—they left quickly to find him."
Her master paused. He wasn't truly surprised—but kept his voice firm and calm.
—"That changes a few things."
He coiled around her neck and stared at the distant migrating members of the sect.
—"Then bring me Fungi. We must find him before they do—and force the assimilation. Don't worry—he shouldn't have strengthened his soul enough to resist, and his tricks shouldn't be a problem for you."
The serpent's gaze turned dark. It looked over the dead terrain around them, and its tone grew heavy.
—"But those mages… they must never return. Stay alive, Secil. Don't hesitate to flee when things no longer benefit you. Even if you have to abandon Fungi—don't think twice. Just go."
Secil's eyes widened. She had never seen her master so tense and serious. She knew he was weakened—but still powerful.
Yet to receive a warning from a Supreme Master... the threat was beyond what he could manage.
She rose and walked toward the shelter where the sect members were regrouping. Her master also requested to see the decoy—to use it to connect his soul sense with Fungi's and track him.
Thus, the preparations for the hunt began...
And they wouldn't be the only ones.
In the mountains, Rengar and Kayn were camping inside a shadowy cave. Neither of them was in good shape.
"AHG!!!"
Rengar vomited a mouthful of brownish, oxidized blood onto the stone floor, which began to crack slightly under the pressure of his hand. His body was intact, with no visible wounds, but the expression on his face was one of unbearable pain. He was sweating and drooling like a dog, his eyes wide open.
His teeth were clenched tightly, mucus dripped from his nose, and he was hyperventilating, nearly collapsed on the ground.
Kayn, on the other hand, had blood flowing from every orifice, including her ears. Her face was completely white, and an expression of unmeasurable exhaustion rested on her features. Yet, she still wore a faint smile as she lay back against the cave wall, silently watching the stars.
Rengar didn't take long to speak once he could finally form words, even if his breath was short and broken.
—"Kayn... do you have any idea where we're headed now?"
Kayn slowly turned her head toward him and shook it, her voice faint and weak.
—"If my divination methods were extremely fast... we wouldn't have wasted our time at the sect."
She paused for a long moment before continuing.
—"But we could try moving south... look for ships that could get us off the continent, in case he's staying somewhere else on the islands..."
—"But regardless, I won't be able to use my divination methods properly for a few days. I'm extremely exhausted, I barely have the strength to speak... so this time, you won't be able to count on me."
Rengar nodded wearily. Kayn gave him one last smile.
—"Alright then, it's time to hibernate for a while."
After saying those final words, Kayn's entire body began to glow faintly. Rengar extended his arm toward her hand.
He removed his glove and gently held her hand. Little by little, Kayn began to fade away completely, leaving behind only her clothes—and a small centipede tattooed on the palm of Rengar's hand.
Carefully gathering Kayn's garments, Rengar pulled a small pouch from his belt and placed everything inside his storage bag.
He looked southward, let out a quiet sigh, and with his sword resting against his arm, lay down to sleep.
It had been a long campaign.