In the ruins of the facility, a piece of rubble shifted among the burning buildings and scorched trees.
The piece of rubble flew up, revealing Satel and Shin hidden beneath it, protected by a green mana bubble.
Satel looked around, her heart filled with sorrow and grief. She fell to her knees, tears welling in her eyes.
"Damn you, goddess!!" Satel yelled as she let the tears flow, putting out the little fires that had bloomed beside her.
Shin stood with a look of indifference on his face. He walked toward Satel and held her close—a silent offer of a shoulder to cry on.
Satel wailed for hours, clutching Shin harder and harder until she finally passed out.
Shin got up and laid her gently on the ground. He looked around for any remaining resources and managed to find some food, clothing, and money that had survived on the lower floors.
He packed them in a bag he had found along the way and ran back to Satel. Scooping her up, Shin leapt from the ruined building into the forest.
He bounded from tree to tree, occasionally stopping to scan the area, continuing toward the nearby mountain.
I hope there's a cave nearby.
RRRRAAAAAAHHHH!
Just as Shin was lost in thought, he heard a creature roar nearby. He quickly ran toward the sound.
When he reached it, he was met by a towering Brire Bear.
A massive bear-like creature, flames spewing from the sides of its open mouth. Skeletal armor covered its head, shoulders, and ribcage, leaving only its underbelly exposed.
The creature had just scared off a pack of smaller beasts when Shin arrived.
It growled, looking up at a tree—sensing Shin's presence.
Well, crap. It saw me.
Shin quickly looked around and spotted a cave behind him. He dashed toward it with lightning speed.
The Brire Bear tried swatting Shin with its massive paw, but he managed to use the limb as a foothold and vaulted around the beast.
Landing, Shin rushed into the cave, quickly setting Satel and the bag down. He frantically searched through it and pulled out a sword hilt with a button.
Well… close enough.
Shin rushed out and immediately had to leap aside to avoid another paw strike. He landed on the bear's massive arm.
Dashing up its length, he appeared behind the beast—only for the Brire Bear to snap its head around with lightning speed, catching him off guard.
Shit. It's fast.
The bear swatted him away, but Shin clung to its paw as it whipped through the air.
Just as the creature raised its paw toward its face, Shin pressed the button on the hilt. Sword pieces shot out, snapping into place to form a blade.
He immediately drove it into one of the bear's eyes. The beast roared in pain and tried crushing him with its other palm.
Shin braced himself, holding the sword firm as the blade pierced into the creature's paw.
The Brire Bear glared at him and opened its mouth wide, unleashing a torrent of flames.
Shin leapt up, the fire scorching its own paw instead. The beast turned to face him again, jaws gaping.
I got you.
Shin raised his hand, and a massive arrow of wind formed above it.
"Wind Magic: Tier 2: Falling Arrow!"
He flung it directly into the creature's mouth. The arrow shot inside with a deafening whistle—then exploded, blowing the bear's head clean off.
Its body collapsed with a heavy thud.
Shin landed beside it, walked to the carcass, and pried his sword free from its burnt paw.
Just as he was about to head back into the cave, he heard a chorus of growls from the nearby forest.
"Guess I'm not sleeping tonight," Shin muttered with a sigh as he stood before the cave, ready for another battle.