Mara ran. Every muscle in her body burned, every breath scraped her throat. Still, she can't stop. The forest blurred around her as she threw herself forward, pushing her body beyond its limits.
The tiger was still on her tail, refusing to let go of her even though she was already far ahead. Thanks to the wind crystal, she received a speed boost, allowing her feet to barely touch the ground.
She glanced over her shoulder, making sure they had a safe distance for her to slow down. She sighed in relief.
Her leg muscles burned as exhaustion finally began to creep in. The wind under her feet weakened when her grip loosened, her speed faltering, allowing her to slow down.
At that moment, she heard heavy footsteps crashing through thickets and fallen branches.
Mara froze as a towering figure emerged from the shades — broad-shouldered, big, and it moved with terrifying speed. For a split second, she thought it was a man running straight towards her— whether it be a man or something else, she didn't have any time to react.
Until finally, the silhouette reveals itself. Black fur all over its humanoid frame, eyes glinting like a predator.
The panther-man struck from the side, the force of the impact slamming into her like a boulder and knocking the air out of her lungs. Her body crashed and rolled across the ground like a boneless puppet.
Everything turned blurry and white noise. Her fingers dug into the soil, trembling as she looked up and froze.
They surrounded her.
The tiger circled behind her, golden eyes fixed on her. But it was not rushing on her anymore, not sure what it was waiting for.
And now the black panther furry before her. It simply watched her silently as if he knows she didn't stand a chance.
No.
Mara swallowed hard. She couldn't bear the horror of being torn here, these beasts seem to be hesitating to attack her, and she's not going to let this chance slip.
Her eyes moved to some of her scattered crystals. Her fingers twitched as she activated her [Telekinesis] skill.
The black one seemed to notice her intention, but Mara reacted faster.
Flame erupted from the crystal, forming a circling wall of fire. Heat washed over her face as the fire surged higher, separating her from the shadow beyond.
Mara stayed on her knees at the center of the fire ring, breath getting shallow, her skin blistering from the heat. But at least they backed away and are hesitant now.
'Still, I can't waste time... or I'll be cooked alive here.'
[Mara. There's a limit to how long you can use the crystal.]
Mara said nothing. Her lips parted, but no sound came. The heat was starting to get to her. The pain in her ribs, the hesitation, her life flashing before her eyes. Her mind was clouded by her own smoke.
A harsh cough tore from her throat, 'I... can't breathe..'
[You must act fast or the fire will eat you alive before they can]
"Damn... I know...!" Her voice trembled. She pressed a shaking hand to her ribs.
Mara stared at her hands, blisters starting to form on her soft skin. She remembered when her brother scolded her for following him into this raid.
Even until now....
Mara didn't regret it. Not even a tiny bit. She'll make it out alive somehow, after all, luck won't even be on her side if she doesn't try.
This fire was not a protection. It's time.
She gathered all the crystals in front of her. The earth, fire, and water crystals are all she needs to create the materials.
And,
[Touch of Reality] A skill that allows the user to make anything without any blueprint, but a clear imagination and accurate materials. Success rate: 6%.
~~
Light erupted from the fire. The wave crashed through the flame, drowning the flame and everything with a hiss. Smoke clouded their sight.
BANG!
Mara raised her gun and aimed at the Panther's shadow in the mist. As the mist thinned, revealing the Black Panther again, Mara shot another shot at his chest.
Mara's arm trembled. Smoke coiled from the gun barrel. Her ears rang, breath hitched. The two wasted bullets had done nothing. It went through him like a shadow.
[Maung Hideng, Guardian of the Shadow]
A low growl rumbled behind her.
A sudden weight slammed into her back. Mara barely had the time to gasp before the claws tore into her shoulder. Pain surged up through her arm. The tiger's snarling breath was in her ear, its fangs snapping inches from her neck.
"Get off me!" she shrieked.
Her panic took over. She swung the gun around wildly and pulled the trigger.
Bang! The first shot tore through its jaw.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
She fired blindly.
[Guardian of the forest, Maung Loreng, has been defeated]
By the time the creature went limp, her ears were ringing, her chest heaving. Smoke curled from the revolver's barrel. Her ears rang. Her hands were slick with blood and sweat.
She stared blankly at the weapon, chest heaving.
Click.
Click.
"...No," she whispered, her stomach dropping.
Mara's fingers trembled. She slowly lowered the revolver, her gaze darting toward the only one remaining.
Her heart pounded in her ears.
[Run! Run for your life!]
She didn't need to be told twice. Her body already moved on instinct; she pushed off the ground, her knees burning, her lungs screaming again.
The wind crystal in her hand flickered weakly—but still, it responded. A sudden gust of wind surged beneath her feet, pushing her forward through the smoke and shattered trees.
Mara ran, half-limping, half-stumbling through the undergrowth. Every breath tore through her lungs like fire, every heartbeat thudded painfully in her chest. She wasn't running toward anything—only away. Away from the monsters, from the pain, from the thought of being torn apart.
The wind crystal at her hand pulsed faintly, its glow flickering like a dying ember. Each surge of air beneath her feet grew weaker, faltering with every step.
Frustration welled up inside her chest, mixing with terror until it burst out in a raw, strangled cry.
"ARYAAA!"
Her voice cracked through the trees, echoing wildly across the forest. She screamed again, louder, until her throat burned.
"ARYAAAA!!!"
The sound ripped through the canopy, scattering birds into the sky. Tears blurred her vision. She wasn't thinking anymore, wasn't aware of the ground trembling beneath her or the fact that the panther was closing up to her.
She just wanted her brother.
Her breaths came ragged, desperate. The crystal blinked its last weak flash of light— once, twice before it went dark.
The wind beneath her feet vanished.
Her next step faltered. Pain shot up her leg as her ankle twisted beneath her weight, and she crashed hard onto the ground.
The impact knocked the air out of her lungs. Dirt filled her mouth; her fingers clawed weakly into the soil.
~~
The wolf came to a sudden halt. Its massive paws dug into the forest floor, scattering damp leaves into the air. Its ears flicked sharply, head lifting as if sensing something unseen. A low growl rumbled from its throat.
Arya leaned forward, gripping the creature's thick fur. "What's wrong with this dog now?" he snapped, irritation edging his tone.
Ryan, who sat behind him, shifted nervously. "I-It may have sensed something, Your Highness," he stammered.
Before Arya could respond, the wolf suddenly turned—its entire body twisting in one swift, powerful motion. The beast's muscles tensed, and then it bolted in the opposite direction, away from the path the eagle had been leading them through moments ago. The abrupt movement almost threw them both off balance.
"Fenrir! What are you—" Arya's voice cut short.
A sound pierced the forest—a scream. High-pitched. Distant, but sharp enough to echo between the trees. The air itself seemed to tremble from it. Arya's blood ran cold.
The forest fell silent for half a heartbeat, and then chaos erupted above them. Birds burst from the canopy, hundreds of wings flapping all at once as if fleeing from danger.
"Your Highness!" Ryan's voice cracked in alarm.
Arya's jaw tightened. He didn't need to think twice. "Hurry! Tell it to go faster!"
Ryan raised his voice, clutching the wolf's mane. "Go, Fenrir!"
The wolf roared, it shook the ground beneath them. Then it surged forward, racing through the trees and undergrowth with terrifying speed. Branches whipped past.
Above them, the eagle screeched—a long, sharp cry that echoed like a command—and dived ahead of them, cutting through the gray clouds that hung low over the forest. Arya's eyes narrowed, his mind racing.
~~
Mara cried. Fear flooded her mind until it felt like liquid in her veins. Dirt smeared her cheeks, blood streaked her lips and ran from her nose in a thin, hot line.
She scrambled backward as her shadow moved, it stretcged across the ground like spilled ink.
The shadow rose, pooling and folding in on itself. Two eyes opened within the formless darkness. It slowly loomed over her, the darkness spread itself as if it wanted to swallow her whole.
Mara's whole body went rigid. Breath stuck in her chest.
Then a sudden, thunderous screech split through the sky.
KAAWWWW!
An eagle dove out of the canopy, wings a blur of motion and shadow. Talons opened wide as the bird struck down, precise and brutal.
It landed and slammed on the shadow.
Mara blinked, stunned, and lifted her head slowly. The eagle stood between her as the shadow slowly withered away.
Mara could only stare, her jaw slack, her body frozen between awe and disbelief.
"Wha... what..." she breathed, her voice trembling.
The eagle turned its sharp gaze toward her, eyes and intelligent. For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
Her savior.
Her guardian.
Her G.O.A.T!!!