The sound of liquid splashing into a puddle was audible in the silence that choked the room. The sight of golden ichor on the stone floor even as more drops joined the growing puddle disturbing.

The Gurser tilted its head as its eyes appraised the sight before it.

The female stood a hand latched onto the guard of its black sword. The situation was terrible, the danger in the air was creating sizzle-like steam. For the Gurser unfortunately.

It couldn't understand. Its sword was buried deep into its foe yet it was the one who felt the danger. The divine fires within its bones warned it to run.

By the time its confusion abated enough and it attempted listening to the crawling feeling in its marrows the air had long chilled. It looked up from tbe sword it had been tugging. A sword that refused to budge.

Its gaze raised to look into the eyes of the female and it stilled. Her eyes glowed. But it wasn't an incandescent burning glare of green. No. They were ice white with flecks of cold and ice spreading onto her eyes and nose.

Its eyes if possible would have widened as it realized what was about to happen. Its hands freed the sword as it attempted to escape.

Hilde had planned this to the Tee. She had borne the pain of a stab she wasn't sure about surviving were it not for the continuously churning stream of Divine Purity healing her even with the sword still there, keeping her alive. Her health performing an up-and-down dance.

The Gurser believing it could flee was pitiful.

The plans had already been completed when its blade struck true.

Its feet barely reacted as the ground was removed from beneath them. Nothingness washed out from her feet to erase the floor. Its body dropped from the lack of a foothold only for four earthen slabs rising from the four points around it to strike out and hold it in place. Its head was the only part of its body in view even as more rocks rolled up with the green glow guiding them to attach into the slab until it was nothing more than a mini volcano with a skull on display.

The next moment a cold wind like nothing it had ever felt blew over it. The rocks chilled and turned white as the sound of gathering ice and cold assured the Gurser it wasn't headed anywhere.

Her eyes which had become a kaleidoscope of colors as she used each power in turn settled. Slowly her hand pulled out the blade from her abdomen squirming at each movement of the blade while fighting for concentration to keep divine purity active.

Finally, the blade clanged on the ground and she moaned into the floor as the wound burned with the hot air touching it while blood flowed out thinning and abruptly till the wound was sealed.

Yet she lay there breathing in and out. Unbelievable it was, that she just got stabbed. But more unbelievable was how her plan had worked.

'Good job girl '. Akasha purred in delight.

The Gurser had been fast enough to avoid and react to her thrown rocks by watching the movements of her hands. Fast enough to deflect her attacks due to its insane swordsmanship.

Remove both factors from the equation.

The pang of pain in her brain already warned Hilde of the strain on her mind. This meant that the mind had a part to play in the use of abilities and skills, abstract. It made sense to her since one's imagination and then will worked hand in hand. Her hand had simply helped to focus the direction and movement of the earth.

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Like all muscles, the mind could be trained which was the pain in her head from overdoing the activities with Earthen Grace. It seemed that it was possible to earn stats outside of leveling up.

She figured that the only way to get the sword out of the way was to let it slack. What could make a foe slack in a fight? Victory.

So churning her Divine Purity within her at full force she'd taken the second attempt at her. It was the best and the most lethal. The Gurser not realizing anything due to its skill and reflexes which paled in comparison to her perception and speed. The only reason she'd been able to avoid all its counterattacks till now.

Trapping its blade then using her mind instead of hands she'd forged a prison of stone and ice for it.

The girl lay there for a few moments a smile on her lips while looking to the door where the few remaining Gursers stood.

'Like the Unknown ordered to hold off. It seems these NPCs all have a certain code of honor'. her smile deepened before she looked back to the entrapped Gurser. Why they weren't attacking even after their leader's defeat was beyond her.

"Fortunately, I am bound by no such chains." she rose slowly. "A being able to fight and hold a Creator in a one-on-one fight deserves no honor. Honor is a tool to give the weak a breathing chance."

Standing upright while ignoring the slight tingle in her abdomen, phantom pain it was called, she inhaled and exhaled before looking the Gurser in its eye.

Picking up the black sword that was still stained by her blood she walked to stand to its side.

"You, my friend, have my respect. You've earned it" the sword raised. "For you, while not as strong have proven yourself capable. And the capable are strong. The strong need no honor. Just respect. My respect to you is death by your blade ". And the sword descended.

"You've shown yourself smart before and even now. So I'll give you a pass on this. Still, I'd say this is quite straightforward don't you think? Theatrical even."

The sword froze just an inch from tbe Gurser's neck, or spine. Hilde turned to stare at the familiar voice with dead eyes.

"Hey, Cole. I'll just be a minute. Execution in place". She nodded to the Gurser who had barely moved. It looked like it accepted its fate or something.

" Tell me, before you complete this morbid ancient Knight beheading, what do you think of the game". A smile lit up the right corner of his face while the left stayed straight.

"Right now. I just wanna kill this thing and get some shard and ORP which I don't know how to use but there's a reason it's given right". She watched him fight the several facial features popping up on his face, his eyes twitching before he spoke.

"I'm sure you're on a quest Hilde. So I'm not gonna waste your time. I'll just ask. What does it mean to conquer?".

Hilde frowned. Thinking it over she paused a bit before shrugging. "Subdue. Capture and..." she looked to the Gurser.

"...Control".

"Hilde, I'm gonna quote a poem for you. It's very very interesting. You should listen to it".Cole at this point was now seated on nothing legs crossed as he gazed into space. Then in a voice worthy of never getting heard he sang.

"If there are gods. Save us. But if you can't or are unable, then avenge our mortal husks. We pray thee". It was a more watered-down version of the quote from the quest prompt.

Cole's eyes stared at her like an old sage. His eyes though revealed pain in them as he watched her.

"What a prayer Hilde. Don't you think so?"

"Just tell me." she sighed. She was in no mood to peel apart every word the system showed. She'd hoped that had just been a Molliwag thing. Obviously not.

"I would honestly love to. But even if I did, I can't or more like won't dare to" He shivered

"Someone can be scary I assure "he sighed with a dramatic look of terror that Hilde knew was fake.

"Honestly though. I can't help you or any of the creators. I'm not even supposed to be here"

"And still, here you are. Why?" she kept looking at him sword pointed down.

"Why?"

"Why are you here then?"

"Our deal. Why else?" he reminded.

"We made no deal. Yet" she added.

"But you've considered it. Haven't you?. " Cole asked as he gazed at her. "You've noticed something from this fight. Have you not, Fearghal".

Hilde frowned. Being manipulated didn't feel right to her.

"Ironstone. And yes. Doesn't mean I'll accept your deal though. " she glared.

"Hildelith Fearghal Ironstone. Number 1 Creator Player. One who cares not for the fame or the glory. Just the pure joy of her adventure. You're not special Helen" he murmured. Her eyes dilated as she glared at the use of her real name.

"You just like many others are the victims of several crimes. Ones that break many, shatter most, and snuff the life out of others." he frowned and looked at her.

"Yet you came here to tame your demons. Not conventional but what matters is you sought and paved a path to defeat your fears. You and I, here and now, are evidence of the tiny victories you've gained".

Hilde shook while keeping herself still wondering where this was going. The black sword in her hand pulsing with golden energy as divinity flushed through it in her annoyance.

"I gave you my quest because of this. Unlike many who will be strong. Who will be fast, swift, and deadly you, dear creator show an insight that dulls these other savages. You see things that others don't. Look from vantage points that others would ignore. " He eyed the glowing blade.

"I wasn't exactly sure of my quick choice in selecting you. However, after a thorough appraisal of all your 100 siblings".

"They're not my siblings". It was almost a growl. He paused, shrugged, and continued.

"You alone understood your mission on the first lost world. You don't know how great a task it is to dissect the words of Ma" he paused and looked her over before mumbling to himself.

"Or it's a gender thing". Coughing he continued.

"That's why I'm here. Hilde. For your help. But first. You are going to figure out the truth of this tower and how to use it to your benefit" " He sounded so sure of himself.

Hildelith was both stunned and frozen. Did he just bash, praise, encourage, and show confidence in her, all in one go?