Shun flinched. His heart soared through the roof.
He scanned the room, but the darkness swallowed everything. He couldn't see past it.
Should I warn Rakina? No… it'll alert Them. But how can They even be here? Shun pondered silently.
"Thank you for granting me an audience, great Fools." Rakina bowed deeply, her voice calm yet respectful. She tugged on Shun's sleeve, forcing him to bow with her.
"Rakina, who do you take us for?" a grand voice echoed, deep and thunderous.
Rakina straightened her posture, Shun following.
"Forgive my audacity, esteemed Fools. I came to speak with you about the recent event."
"There is no need for further discussion. You are a danger to this world," a hoarse old man's voice growled.
"The Hideous Sage's consciousness has calmed. It will no longer threaten this world. I am not your enemy. In fact, I might be able to help the association."
"Help? Daring words, child. What can a Disciple of the Hideous offer us but turn our minds into leeches, feeding on forbidden knowledge?" a woman's melancholy voice chimed in, sharp yet sad.
"I might know how to end His curse—the one tormenting our kin!"
"How can you be so sure, Rakina?" a calm, even voice asked.
"His memories," she said quietly. "I carry His memories.
When the Sage's consciousness dimmed within me, I saw flashes of them."
…
Silence fell. Heavy. Loud.
"You saw His memories?" the old man's voice rose with fury. "More reason to erase you from this world!"
"Do you not realize what this means, child? He chose you as His favorite. You will bring calamity! A mortal shouldn't peer into a god's memories!" the melancholy lady shouted, her voice trembling with anger.
"What exactly did you see, Rakina?" the calm voice asked again.
"…A library."
They waited for her to continue. Nothing came.
"That's it? A library?" the grand voice seemed stunned.
"Yes."
"Are you mocking us, child?"
"No," Rakina said, steady. "That library holds the answers we need to remove the curse."
"Where is this library?" the grand voice asked.
"I… don't know yet. But please, give me time to find it."
"We cannot stake the safety of the world on empty promises," the grand voice replied, now laced with disappointment.
"Then how long will you stay like this? Live like this?" Her voice shook, but she raised it. "I'm sorry for my bluntness, but aren't you the great Fools?
Why do you cower before the path revealed to you? This is our only chance!"
"Impudent!" the grand voice roared. The air thickened, heavy, crushing their lungs. It felt like they were sinking underwater.
The situation grew dire.
Shun whispered, "Things aren't looking good, Rakina."
"I can see that," she replied, calm despite the weight.
Rakina's gaze locked on the darkness. "If we do nothing, our kin will remain trapped in endless torment. Is this truly the decision you desire? To let this cycle continue forever?"
"Watch your tongue! One more insult, and I will not spare you!" the grand voice warned.
"Enough," the calm voice cut in. Instantly, the room stilled.
"Rakina, your death sentence stands. The problem lies within your very body. It is safer this way. We will not take chances.
"As for the library you spoke of… we will find it without you.
"That is all. You are dismissed."
The air lightened. The crushing presences faded, one by one.
"No… please!" Rakina called out.
Silence.
"Please, come back!"
Only silence replied. Louder. Heavier.
Her gaze fell, empty. It was as if the world beyond her feet no longer existed.
"Rakina."
Shun stepped off the sleigh. The floor tiles cracked beneath his weight. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
Her eyes flickered faintly, then lifted to meet his. "Shun… what should I do?"
"We'll find a way," he said.
"But I'm out of options. The Fools won't listen. I'm a target. They won't stop until I'm dead!"
"Then what? Will you die here, like they want?"
"I…"
Her gaze trembled.
And then—Shun felt it. New presences slipping into the darkness.
His eyes narrowed.
"Show yourselves."
Flame burst forth, forming a floating fireball, revealing the intruders.
Zirgo. And his partner, Lucias. A wide, mocking smile stretched across Zirgo's face.
"See? I told you. It's useless. You're just prolonging your death. And honestly? It's a drag for us. We haven't even eaten since this morning."
"Zirgo."
Rakina swung her arm. Hundreds of magic circles bloomed into existence.
Shun transformed. Living Alloy. His hair lengthened, spilling white down to his waist.
'His form is… changing?' Zirgo's grin faltered.
Shun assessed quickly. Mages have weak bodies. I have the physical edge. But… the level gap might bridge that weakness.
By the same logic, Rakina should be physically weaker too. Yet, remembering her academy feats, she'd always been at the front lines.
What makes her different?
It didn't matter now. Shun fixed his sight on the battlefield.
The pros and cons of the terrain engraved themselves in his mind. If he played it right, they could win.
But still—this was his first time fighting mages. His heartbeat thundered. He exhaled, calming himself, recalling his training.
"You got a plan?" he asked.
"Yes. But I'm not sure it'll work," Rakina whispered back.
"Spit it out."
She whispered in his ear.
Shun smirked. "It'll work. You underestimated me too much because of my low level. Despite how it looks, this is still the power of a god."
"You're right. Forgive my oversight."
"Are you done with your little plan?" Zirgo scoffed. "It won't work. This is our turf."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shun muttered.
"Mana recovers twice as fast here."
For real? Then—!
Shun smiled. He slammed his palm to the ground.
A wall erupted behind him.
"What the—?!"
Spikes grew from the wall, glowing yellow with aura, then shot forward.
Swoosh!
Lucias swung his arm upward, tearing the space in front of him. The spikes vanished.
But Shun only smirked.
"That's not the end!"
He poured mana into the ground. The earth shook violently as countless walls rose, shifting the battlefield to his favor.
"How are you using advanced magic?! You're just a hunter!" Zirgo shouted, bewildered.
Shun chuckled. He skimmed aura over his legs and charged—
But then—
[You have run out of mana.]
"…Already?!"
I thought mana recovery was twice as fast! His aura fizzled. Yet strangely, his transformation didn't fade.
He paused. So the transformation uses a different energy? Then what is it…?
He tapped into his Root.
Inside was a dried, empty chamber. In the center, a steel flower grew. Its roots pierced the floor. Red spores leaked from its petals.
Shun stepped closer.
Without warning, the petals lunged.
He didn't flinch. He'd seen this before. They pierced his body, slithering under his skin, moving like they knew exactly where to go. The sensation was revolting.
Information flooded his mind. It lasted a moment before the petals retracted.
Shun sorted what he'd learned.
Living Alloy mode doesn't consume mana… it draws from cursed energy. Energy born from human emotions. As long as humans exist, it won't run dry.
But that didn't mean he could stay in this form forever. When his stamina drained, he'd revert.
Time passed—only a second in the real world.
How long can I stay like this?
Maybe this fight would answer that.
And there was something else—his attacks in this form had interesting side effects.
"Rakina!"
"On it!"
Weapons of ice rained down on Zirgo and Lucias.
"Amateurs!" Zirgo bellowed. Hundreds of fire serpents swirled, colliding with the ice. BOOM! The impact turned into a thick, rolling mist, swallowing the room.
Vision dropped to barely three meters. Shun slowed his steps, cautious.
I can't see anything! He grit his teeth.
Then—a fire arrow hissed toward him.
He jerked his head aside. The arrow barely missed, its heat licking his cheek.
It vanished into the mist.
Too damn close! His pupils shrank.
Before he could think how they knew his position, more flaming arrows appeared—countless, blotting the mist with red.
His body froze in shock.
When he could finally move, it was already too late.
"I'm dead."
And then—
[Mana has recovered!]