I followed Elizabeth, her rapier steady as she moved with grace, severing through the vines which writhed like living parasites, her movements fast, but giving pace for me to follow on a steady footing behind her.

  I dashed, holding my breath, severing a stray vine which lunged at me, I pivoted as I used the momentum created by the uneven ground to leap over the sea of roots encompassing the entire land now, as I dodged a roots shot in my direction.

  Elizabeth leapt with me, her body somersaulted in the air, as her mana signature surged like a star, the wraithwood’s attention turned to her completely as most of the vines and roots lunged at her with unimaginable speed.

  Just at that moment, I saw Elizabeth press her heel against the base of a vine and surge forward as her sword blazed with a blindly streak of light, which soon transformed to bright crimson flames which lurched at the vines like hunger beasts.

  Her mana moved, influencing the attribute of fire and allowing the fire to spread farther, devouring more land and the beast.

  I took that moment and circulated my mana, manipulating the attribute of fire and allowed flames to encompass the white blade in my white, as I swung my hand with practiced precision, cutting down a path forward, the wraithwood still having its attention focused on Elizabeth as she kept a strong hold over her mana to divert the wraithwood.

  Elizabeth pored her all in her next attack, she jumped and then the air around her shimmered like fireflies swarming around her, making the temperature to significantly rise.

  I felt the push almost instantly, the air shrieked from the sheer force of her attack, the element of fire around us swirled, wide and massive javelins made of flames erupted like a sun rising, Elizabeth moved her rapier and all of the javelins struck at once, piercing deep into the wraithwood’s husk frame, the beast shrieked in agony as I saw green sap releasing from some vines which had been hidden deeper in the main body.

  I took this opportunity and struck down with my sword at a green vine which was protruding out from the bulk of vines and roots which covered the area, my sword was covered by the green gooey liquid as I felt pressure against my right flank, as I was lunged in the air like a ragdoll.

  It was only after a second, I realized that one of the stray vines had struck my right flank, but the body suit I was wearing had protected me from taking any serious damage, but I still felt a sting, most probably the hit had been strong enough to even pierce through some of the defences and had swollen my flank.

  I supported my body with my sword and rose to my feet, Elizabeth was still engaged in a back and forth battle with the wraithwood, but I could feel it, her mana was depleting, fast, and she was being overwhelmed by vines and roots which grew in number after each hit they exchanged.

  The battlefield reeked of smoke, sap, and something older—the rotting toxins which released from the wraithwood’s body, were enough to choke on. The Wraithwood shrieked without sound, its massive limbs crashing through the ruined landscape, sweeping trees like twigs and sending shards of bark hissing through the air like shrapnel.

  Elizabeth moved like fire incarnate—her golden hair whipping behind her, lit ablaze by the fire she had conjured, she conjured blazing javelins again, each one humming with heat, each one slamming into the writhing limbs of the Wraithwood. The impact was immediate—flames sizzled across its bark, blackening and splitting the wood as it howled with a voiceless fury.

  But it wasn’t enough, with only two of us, it would be hard to win in a situation like this. Unless, we made a more advantageous situation for us.

  But from the side, I saw Elizabeth rush forward, avoiding roots, but some still pierced her armour and cut through her flesh as fresh, warm blood spilled down, but she didn’t stop, adrenaline pumped through my veins as I saw her, my own mind reeling over her determination and confidence to not give up even in this situation.

  “Jiyoung!” Elizabeth’s voice cut through the chaos. “The maw! Get inside—now!”

  I didn’t answer. I knew I didn’t have to, I understand my purpose here, Elizabeth had given me the opportunity by distracting the wraithwood. My body moved, mana reinforcing every muscle as I surged forward with each step, dodging a vine that crashed into the ground where I’d stood a heartbeat ago. The roots lashed out in every direction, a flurry of living whips, and I slashed through them with desperate precision, severing as many as I could, but there were just too many. My sword danced, glinting with blood and sap, but I was slowing.

  Immediately, I released the first form of the Samarthyang style; still waters guard. I held my guard, until I severed all the roots and vines in one single sweep, but just as I thought, an innumerable amount of them lunged at me. I panicked for a moment, but allowed my body to flow into the second form; breath of the stream.

  I easily avoided the parasite like vines, but that wasn’t enough.

  I ducked beneath a horizontal sweep, rolled across the charred ground, and felt the air twist behind me as another vine aimed to gut me. I twisted again, narrowly escaping it, but it grazed my ribs, tearing cloth and skin alike—the armoured suit no longer working. I bit down hard, tasting blood as my knees slammed against the soil. Still, I pushed forward.

  Elizabeth’s voice came again—this time, a scream, and it shook me to my core.

  I snapped my head around in time to see a thick vine spear through her shoulder like a lance. The force hurled her back like a ragdoll, flames sputtering out around her as she slammed against a rock, her body limp for a moment too long.

  Time stopped.

  I thought of the worst, but I could see her squirm as she severed the vine and stumbled back, her rapier went loose in her hand.

  I couldn’t think—I just felt it. Panic. Rage. Helplessness. I turned back too slow, and another vine came hurtling toward me. I barely managed to move, but not fast enough—a glancing blow tore across my wrist, white-hot pain flashing up my arm. My sword almost dropped.

  But instinct saved me.

  Breath of the Stream. The second form. The most basic movements—the foundation of every flow. I inhaled sharply, feeling the world narrow, my feet shifting like water over stone. My body dipped and slid, avoiding the follow-up strike by inches, the air hissing as the vine passed by as I avoided it successfully.

  I stumbled. My body screamed. I couldn’t breathe, not properly. Blood clogged my throat, and the heat from the fires scorched my skin. But when I turned to look at Elizabeth, she wasn’t done.

  Through sheer will only, she rose, blood streaming from her shoulder, one arm dangling, the other raised high. Her lips moved, eyes burning with fury and determination.

  I could feel the massive surge in the air, the temperature rose even higher around us, like a hot summer day which left you sweating buckets.

  And then the spell came.

  A surge of fire erupted from her palm—no form, no finesse, just raw, overwhelming power, there was no incantations, no intent behind it, only uncontrolled power which blitzed and manifested by Elizabeth’s rage. The flames exploded outward in a massive arc, engulfing the surrounding forest and the Wraithwood’s vines in a blaze so bright it turned the sky white.

  The Wraithwood howled, limbs flailing in pain, its maw gaping wide as its roots curled back in agony, the fire eating away at whatever was left of it.

  Just as the spell finished, I could see Elizabeth’s aura dim, her mana hitting its limit, with all the spells she had conjured, it was a miracle she hadn’t collapsed sooner.

  But...

  This was my chance.

  I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t. Not with Elizabeth still standing. Not while I still had a blade in my hand.

  I ran, every step an agony, every breath like knives—but I ran.

  My feet felt like lead, so heavy that each step was unbearable, but I still moved, the wraithwood had taken notice of my presence now with Elizabeth barely having any mana left, but I didn’t care, it was enough to give me the chance to reach near its maw.

  I was only a few steps away from the maw as the wraithwood retrieved all of its roots back and shot them at me.

  I tried to avoid all of them, but some still struck me, forcing me to slow down, but using the basic movements of the Samarthyang style, I twisted my heel, lunging without the need to take in the whole environment around me as my senses sharpened, now only inches away from the maw.

  Then, a jagged root lashed out in a final, desperate strike with several more, I warded off almost all of them, but one tore free and grazed my throat with a sickening tear. I twisted at the last second, barely shifting my vital point out of the way, but a sharp, searing pain bloomed in my neck. My breath hitched—then choked. Warm blood flooded my throat, drowning any sound before it could escape.

  I didn’t have the time to withdraw back and consume a potion, every second, every movement count. So, I ignored my condition for the time being and only focused on the wraithwood. But just that one moment of distraction had given it the leverage to strike again, the roots took hold of my limbs, rendering me immobile.

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  I panicked, my grip loosening over my sword, but my gaze went to my wrist, which the parasitic roots encompassed, I saw a shining light of a gem.

  I didn’t have an opportunity to use this artifact that father had given me before entering the dungeon. But...

  Without another thought, I focused all of my mana toward the bracelet wrapped around my wrist as I saw the gem spark with a blindly light as I kept pouring mana into it, not minding the roots tightening around me.

  With a tearing spark, the artifact activated and like a thunderclap, a blinding spell of white lightning tore through all of the roots which were wrapping around my body, all sounds seem to halt for a moment as the wraithwood’s movement stopped, and the ground shook as the beast shrieked in agony.

  I took this moment, smelling charred wood and blood which escaped from my wrist after overloading the artifact with my mana—hopefully it hadn’t exploded. I firmed my grip on the handle and struck down at the roots which protected it like a shield. The remnant tendrils sparked away as I lunged forward, the wraithwood still disoriented by the lightning spell—this artifact’s capabilities had far exceeded my expectations.

  Adrenaline rushed through my veins as I jumped and finally I laid eyes on the bundle of vines which were hidden inside its maw.

  The wraithwood sensing its demise closed its maw as it hurled all of its roots at me in a final attempt to subdue me. Just as I was about to take down the roots which were about to stop my path, I saw a flash of bright light crash against the roots and vines, feeling the heat reach my skin.

  I twisted my body, avoiding the next roots and vines, they were too targeted by the spears of fire which sizzled through the wraithwood.

  In that moment, I caught sight of Elizabeth, her left hand limp, but she fired spell after spell.

  “Jiyoung, go!!!” She shouted, and without a word, I burst forward.

  My body screamed with every step as I surged forward, dodging a vine that crashed into the ground where I’d stood a heartbeat ago.

  The Wraithwood moved like smoke given form—shifting, twitching, never still. Its limbs writhed through the ground— everywhere—, and each step I took forward felt like it was swallowed by the forest’s breath. My heart was hammering, but I tightened my grip on the sword, trying to steady my mind.

  I ignored the agony my body felt as I flowed into the third form of the Samarthyang style.

  Ripple Form.

  I inhaled slowly. Then, I moved—light strikes, one after the other, each meant to flow into the next, like gentle ripples spreading across a still pond as I warded off the attacks from the wraithwood and closed the distance immediately. My sword wove through the air, my wrists guiding it with as much control as I could muster, but the sting from the burns of my wrist were growing unbearable.

  ‘Let each strike build...’ I remembered my father had told me during practice.

  But the beast didn’t care for rhythm. Every time I struck, the Wraithwood shifted out of reach, and my body lagged behind my intent just inches from the target. My form faltered, the ripples breaking too soon, the momentum stuttering. I tried to correct, again and again, forcing myself to feel the rhythm father had spoken of. I could hear his voice in my head—calm, patient, maddening, guiding me through it.

  ‘Don’t force it.’ I whispered to myself.

  I was forcing it. I had to. My arms ached. My breath caught. I wasn’t him. I couldn’t make it look effortless, not now, not here. The ripple wasn’t enough. The Wraithwood surged forward, and in that moment, I knew—I had to go further if I wanted to get the chance I was looking for to triumph this battle.

  My stance shifted like an earthquake through a calm pond, and before I could even think, my body answered the desperation screaming through my veins. I spun inward, tight and fast. My grip firmed around the handle and the sword followed my motion in a circular arc, and I felt the rhythm break into a spiral.

  Current Coil.

  The world narrowed. Every motion demanded extreme precision, fluidity. I twisted through the branches as if slipping through smoke, pulling them off balance with my movement, forcing my presence into their space. My vision blurred and narrowed. Pain bloomed like fire through my right arm, my muscles squirming, but I didn’t stop.

  The strikes came faster, curved tighter. My body screamed with every turn, every correction, but I refused to slow down. I couldn’t. The energy around me felt like a whirlpool now—I was its centre, and I dragged the Wraithwood into it.

  A loud crack echoed as my sword connected—too hard, too fast. I felt something give in my arm. Not the Wraithwood—me.

  I staggered. My hand trembled. My arm—wasn’t responding right.

  I gritted my teeth. Pain was sharp and raw now, but I held the sword steady, letting it stabilise in the crook of my elbow. My breath was ragged, but my eyes stayed locked on the enemy.

  I’d forced the Current. It cost me. But I wasn’t backing down.

  Not yet.

  With a curved swing, I finally found the narrow jap which led to the opening to its maw, and I barely slipped in before pain bloomed from my abdomen, my gaze registered blood from a root which had pierced me, I tried to scream, but chocked on blood as I couldn’t find my voice with my larynx damaged. All I did was tasted blood as my throat ached from the wound which bled.

  I pushed all of the mana through my body and swung my sword as I created a strike which coiled around the mass of vines which encompassed the inside of the wraithwood’s maw, and finally after what felt like an eternity, the blade severed all of the green gooey vines which sustained the beast.

  I felt the adrenaline wear off in the instant the vines went dry, all the gooey liquid stored inside burst out as the beast shrieked and I fell backward, the root in my abdomen shrivelled and pulled back.

  My eyes grew heavy as I crashed on to the ground with a tight thud which forced unimaginable pain to tear through me, but the last thing I saw was the beast collapsing and dying as its final shriek tore through the forest.

  ***

  My body ached with pain, unimaginable, limbs, abdomen, every muscle ached with fatigue and sores that made it impossible for me to move even an inch.

  I slowly opened my eyes and felt the dim light sting my eyes as I blinked several times before finally finding myself lying inside a bed, syringes attached to my forearm as I took in the sight of the expensive room.

  A crisp floral scent captivated the inside of the room, warm light of dusk filtered inside through a window at the far end of the room which coloured the room in hues of gold-orange which added to the soothing feeling.

  My gaze moved and I forced my body to move, leaning back into the bed, I gazed at my arms, bandaged up to the shoulders—hell, not that, perhaps my entire body was covered in them, but due to the anaesthetic I wasn’t able to feel the pain at its full capacity.

  I tried to express a sigh, but felt a searing ache cut through my throat as my fingers went to touch the bandages covering the wound I’d received from the wraithwood.

  I tried to form words, but my throat wasn’t able to express them as my voice died down.

  In that instant, the door to the room hummed open with two familiar voices reverberating through the opening as I turned my head and saw father walking gracefully into the room with Baek-Hyun by his side.

  Both of them passed, seeing that I was awake on, without a moment wasted, father approached with a steady pace which felt slightly rushed, Baek-Hyun was similar, his wrinkled brows knitted in concern.

  “How are you feeling now?” Father asked, his words filled with concern he didn’t try to hide, his ocean blue eyes examined my entire body from head to toe, his hand held out to support me if need be.

  I nodded as I tried to speak, but my voice came out like a groggy undercut of a grunt—out of habit, I’d momentarily forgotten that my throat had been slit open.

  “Don’t force yourself to speak. Your larynx was damaged during battle, so it’s best if you don’t speak for the time being.” Father said, reassuring, his words settled into my chest like quiet strength, his eyes displayed something far deeper, perhaps, fear—the fear he could’ve lost his daughter to that dungeon.

  His hand went to pat my head, an action too unexpected for both me and him. But his warm hand moved gently, caressing my hair and scalp, grounding me to the comfort of here.

  “Young Miss, is there any discomfort you might be feeling? Is there anything you require?” Baek-Hyun asked, his aged eyes moved with care, his demeanour slightly shaken, but it didn’t take him time to correct it.

  I shook my head, but coughed, my throat hurt with unimaginable pain, father steadied me, I grabbed his hand and he allowed me to straighten properly.

  His eyes looked hesitant, but just as quickly, his expression smoothened and he settled into a chair Baek-Hyun had fetched from the lounge inside the room.

  I pulled at father’s sleeve and with a only a few gestures, he nodded and brought his phone out and unlocked it as he handed it to me.

  I grabbed the phone in both hands, feeling the cold surface press against my skin as I wrote a question.

  I turned the phone in his direction and he read the text calmly.

  “What happened after we defeated the Wraithwood?”

  A worrisome expression skimmed past father’s face again, as he spoke. “What I’ve read through the report given to me, after you defeated the Wraithwood with Elizabeth’s help, she dragged your unconscious body to the exit portal.” His head tilted slightly, his calm demeanour returned and he continued. “Elizabeth too, was heavily injured and mana depleted, and when you both arrived back at the facility she collapsed just by the dungeon gate, thankfully Baek-Hyun was present there at that time and had taken immediate action to bring you both to he hospital.”

  His brows furrowed as his hands took my bandaged hand, caressing and kind, a sigh left him after a moment, more of relief.

  His gaze lingered over me for a moment longer, unsure what he wanted to say, perhaps, even a scolding, but somehow being cared for by him made even the feeling of wanting to be scolded pleasant.

  From the side, Baek-Hyun stepped away as he answered his phone. Father spoke kind words at me, and I replied with typing as fast as I could. After a few more seconds, Baek-Hyun returned and he held the phone by his side.

  “Master Yujin, I apologize, but I believe you must take this call. It’s regarding the matter involving the Dexus Guild and the Shadow Guild—Mr. Mikhail Crane, the Guild Master, is on the line and requesting to speak with you,” Baek-Hyun said, looking at father for a fleeting moment, taking a slight bow whilst handing him the phone.

  Father looked at me for a moment and I nodded, knowing the responsibility he shouldered as the Guild master. He gave me a look of understanding, patting my head as he took the phone from Baek-Hyun’s hand and stepped out of the room.

  But, this development made me feel unsure, that father had been involved in business with Mikhail Crane, the guild master of the Dexus guild, one of the strongest guilds in this world, being solely selective of their hunters and being a beast tamer based guild.

  But if father had decided to collaborate with them, then it meant he had some goal in mind.

  My thoughts trailed on over the matter, seeing Baek-Hyun silently looking at me by the bedside.

  I moved my lips, but didn’t generate any sound, and the old butler understood what I was saying.

  “It’s just, seeing you like this, I was wonder if it was right to let you go off into the wraithwood dungeon.” Baek-Hyun said, his word laced with care and concern, eyes calm but his expression betrayed him. “I do know that stopping you would just be a selfish demand, but, just the thought of losing you too...it’s unbearable, Young Miss.”

  Baek-Hyun turned to the door through which father had just walked out of and then turned his gaze back to me. “Ever since he found out about what happened, he left all work and rushed over to the hospital. He’s been staying here for the past three days and staying by your side, Young Miss.” His words seem to pierce deeper than I thought. “Because, he’s already aware of the absence your mother has left, and just the thought of not being able to save his children—being there for you two—it breaks him to the core.”

  I knew what Baek-Hyun was talking about, and I had no words against it. Father had endured the loss of the woman he loved, which had changed him drastically over the years, and even now, I could perfectly see the worry and fear in his eyes.

  I took the phone and typed over it.

  “Tell him he doesn’t have to worry—I’m not going anywhere.” I tried to make the words appear warm through my expression, quietly strong, and giving reassurance not just to him, but to father as well.

  Baek-Hyun looked at me, he really did, a look he hadn’t given me in a while. The look of looking at a fledgling finally leaving the nest and trying to fly with it’s own two wings.