Yuki's breath began to steady, the wild adrenaline of battle fading, leaving behind only the exhaustion of a hard-fought victory. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, the rush of newfound strength still pulsing through her veins like a fire that hadn't quite extinguished. The sounds of the battle—of wind sshes cutting through the air, of wolves howling, of the csh of dark energy and flesh—still echoed in her mind, the memory lingering like a ghost. For a moment, she allowed herself a fleeting luxury: peace. Her body, however, betrayed her. Every muscle ached, trembling with exhaustion, but there was no time to linger in weakness. She had survived this fight, but there were always more challenges to come.

  Taking a slow, deliberate breath, she rose from her crouch. Her legs were unsteady, the effort of standing causing her to sway slightly, but she forced herself to stay upright. She had no choice. She had to keep moving. As she surveyed the aftermath of the battle, her eyes took in the scattered remains of the silver-tail wolves. Their sleek, silver fur, once a beautiful and dangerous sight, was now matted with blood, darkened by the violence of the fight. Their bodies, torn and lifeless, littered the ground around her. Each wolf had fought with ruthless coordination, and now they were nothing more than carcasses.

  She paused for just a moment, staring at the bodies. Part of her wanted to turn away, to ignore the reality of what she'd done, but survival was more important than guilt. These wolves had been relentless, and she had fought back with everything she had. The harsh truth was clear: in this world, it was kill or be killed. She swallowed hard, pushing the remnants of the battle from her mind. The job wasn’t done yet.

  Yuki moved methodically through the fallen wolves, her steps deliberate. She had learned the value of their remains long ago, the importance of making every kill count. With practiced hands, she began to strip the pelts from their bodies, pulling the silver fur from the dead wolves with a precise, efficient motion. The pelts would be invaluable—warmth in the cold nights that awaited her, protection against the elements. And the meat, though tough and gamey, would provide sustenance. She knew how to preserve it, how to cook it to make it more patable. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Every little bit counted in this harsh, unforgiving world.

  Her void tentacles—still pulsing with residual power from the battle—emerged from the shadows at her command. They moved in unison, grabbing the heavy wolf carcasses and lifting them with eerie grace. It was a task she had become all too familiar with—moving heavy objects, lifting and carrying, without tiring. The void energy made these tasks easier, but even so, it required focus and energy to control the tentacles effectively. She focused, channeling the power into them, willing them to lift the remains as she prepared for the next stage of her routine.

  Her mind, though tired, already shifted to the next set of tasks: securing water and food. She had learned to keep a steady supply of both, knowing that without them, her survival was precarious. Her leather water skins, made from the hide of a cow-like creature she had hunted days before, were rough but sturdy. The work of stretching and softening the leather had taken time, but now it paid off. She had created the skins with care, knowing they would be essential. They were rough to the touch, but once filled, they would carry fresh water—something vital in this world where even the streams were often tainted or hard to reach.

  Yuki walked toward the nearby stream, the sound of rushing water growing louder with each step. The cool air felt refreshing against her skin as she knelt beside the stream. The water was crystal clear, the coldness of it a stark contrast to the warmth of the battle that still clung to her. She took a moment to scoop water into the skins, her hands steady despite the lingering exhaustion from the fight. It wasn’t much, but it would be enough to get her through another day. The act was a small one, but it reminded her that survival depended on the basics—water, food, shelter. It was easy to forget, easy to get lost in the chaos of combat, but she always returned to these simple truths.

  Once the water skins were filled, she stood and looked around the forest. Her eyes scanned the underbrush, searching for edible food. The forest was an unforgiving pce, but it was also generous in its own way. She had learned to recognize what was safe to eat and what was deadly. A small bush of berries caught her attention. The fruits were small, their color a deep purple, and they gleamed in the soft light of the fading day. She carefully plucked them, making sure to select only the ripe ones. They were tart, but the sweetness they carried was a welcome relief after the battle. She dropped the berries into the bark bowls she had made—crafted with her own hands from the supple wood of nearby trees. The bowls were rough but effective, a testament to the skills she had honed during her time here.

  She also gathered roots and mushrooms, packing them into the bowls alongside the berries. She had become adept at foraging, knowing how to spot the edible pnts and how to avoid the poisonous ones. The roots and mushrooms were a welcome addition to her meager diet. They were filling, if not entirely pleasant to taste, but in times like these, sustenance was sustenance. There was no room for picky eating when survival was at stake.

  With her provisions secured, Yuki straightened, her back aching from the work. The weight of the gathered resources settled heavily in her arms, but she didn’t mind. She had learned to carry heavy loads without compint. It was a simple fact of life in the wilderness. The journey back to her cave was not long, but it felt like an eternity. The forest was quiet, oppressive in its stillness, the shadows closing in around her. Every step was deliberate, each movement calcuted. Her body ached, but there was no time to rest. She had a cave to reach, a pce of temporary soce amidst the chaos of the world.

  As she walked, her mind wandered to the days when she had first arrived in this pce. Everything had been overwhelming, chaotic. The forest had seemed like an endless maze of dangers, and she had been weak—frail, barely able to defend herself. But with each battle, each victory, she had grown stronger. And now, as she walked through the oppressive silence, she could feel the weight of her progress. It wasn’t just about surviving anymore. She was changing, evolving, becoming something more.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the rustle of leaves ahead. The path to her cave was familiar, but something felt wrong today. She stopped in her tracks, her body tensing as her [Alert] skill flickered to life. Her senses heightened, every detail of the forest coming into sharper focus. Something was out there. Something—or someone.

  Yuki’s eyes narrowed as she cautiously stepped forward, her heart rate picking up in response to the change in the air. She had learned to trust her instincts—and they were telling her that trouble was near.

  As Yuki neared the mouth of her cave, her senses began to tingle with a strange unease. The peaceful silence of the forest, which had accompanied her since her departure earlier in the day, suddenly felt fragile—like the calm before a storm. And then, as if to confirm her suspicions, a distant sound sliced through the stillness. The unmistakable csh of combat—a mix of grunts, the sharp snap of cws, the dull thud of heavy impacts—echoed through the trees, vibrating in the very air around her. Her body went rigid, her [Alert] skill humming to life inside her like an electric current. The world around her seemed to sharpen, each sound and movement amplified as her instincts kicked into overdrive.

  What is happening? she thought, her heart rate picking up as her muscles coiled in readiness. No time to waste. I need to move.

  She didn’t hesitate. Her feet carried her forward, through the underbrush and deeper into the forest, following the sounds of struggle with a speed and precision born of necessity. She was no stranger to danger, but something about the intensity of the noises ahead made her senses scream in warning. This wasn’t an ordinary skirmish.

  After several tense minutes, she finally broke through the trees and into a clearing, her breath catching at the sight that greeted her. Her eyes quickly took in the chaos before her: a battle unlike anything she had seen before.

  At the center of the clearing, an elf staggered back, her face contorted in agony, her wild eyes wide with fear. Blood soaked through her clothes, turning the fabric a deep crimson, and her legs—torn and jagged—left a trail of blood behind her, painting the ground in a gruesome path. Yuki’s stomach clenched as she observed the elf's condition. This wasn’t a mere animal attack. The wounds were too precise, too deep. Something—someone—had deliberately pierced her with sharp, jagged weapons. The punctures were not from cws or fangs; they were surgical in their cruelty, deliberate strikes that spoke of a purpose beyond simple predation.

  The elf colpsed to the ground, her breath ragged, each inhale sounding like a struggle for life itself. She shifted, trying to crawl away with what little strength she had left, but every movement seemed to cost her. Yuki's eyes followed the elf's path through the dirt, and that’s when she saw it—the threat. The creature that was the source of this chaos.

  A massive bck bear-like creature lumbered through the clearing, its dark fur sleek and almost unnatural in its sheen. Its eyes gleamed with an eerie intelligence, far too aware for an ordinary animal. The creature's muscur frame rippled with raw power, each movement deliberate, slow, and imposing. With every step, the ground seemed to tremble beneath it, the weight of its form sinking into the earth as though it was unbothered by the very ndscape beneath it.

  Yuki felt her heart rate spike again as her [Alert] skill fred. Her mind processed the details rapidly. This creature is different... It was far rger than any predator she had encountered before. Not only that, but there was something deeply unsettling about its aura, something that screamed power. This was no ordinary beast—it was a monster, the likes of which she had never seen, and it was closing in on the elf without hesitation.

  Bigger than the wolves, Yuki thought, her mind racing. Faster, stronger... It’s a beast, but... something more. I don’t know if I can face this alone.

  The bear’s immense body loomed over the elf as it advanced with terrifying purpose. The elf, despite her clear injuries, attempted to crawl away, each movement strained, desperate. Blood pooled beneath her, staining the earth, but she fought against the weight of her pain, pushing forward with whatever little strength remained. Her legs—shredded beyond recognition—betrayed her efforts, forcing her to drag herself inch by inch away from the predator looming above her.

  Yuki’s heart clenched with a deep, unexpected wave of compassion. I don’t know who she is, but I can’t let her die like this. Not here, not now. Her gaze hardened with determination as the weight of the situation settled over her. The elf was on the brink of death, and Yuki could not allow that to happen—not if there was anything she could do about it.

  Her mind flickered to the bear—a beast, a monster, but still a target—and a pn began to form. She needed to act, and quickly. The elf’s life was slipping away, and if Yuki didn’t move now, it would be too te. She took a steadying breath, closing her eyes for a moment to center herself. Dark energy swirled in her chest, cold and sharp, as she called on the power of the void. Her hands began to hum with energy, the dark tendrils that once felt alien now familiar, responding to her will as if they were extensions of her very being.

  The weight of the situation pressed down on her, but she steeled herself. No hesitation, she thought fiercely, her resolve hardening like steel. If I hesitate, it’ll be over.

  She crouched low, her body primed for action as her [Void Resonance] fred to life around her, the power coursing through her like an unstoppable tide. The energy thrummed, a dark promise of destruction that sent a shiver down her spine. Her gaze locked onto the bear, calcuting, analyzing, every step bringing her closer to the decision that would shape the outcome of this encounter.

  The creature’s monstrous mouth opened in a gaping maw, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth that gleamed in the dim light. It was preparing to strike—to end the elf’s suffering in its own way. Yuki’s pulse quickened. She couldn’t let it. Not if she had the power to stop it.

  With a quiet, almost imperceptible breath, she released the tension in her body. Her muscles coiled, ready to spring into motion, every part of her attuned to the moment that was about to unfold. The bear took another step toward the elf, and Yuki knew it was now or never.

  Kiera_Yanagi