'...That's new.'

In the cozy embrace of sleep, Kaiser’s instincts stirred, dragging him abruptly to full alertness. He lay there, still sleeping, his body unmoving as his mind honed in on the sensation. It was strange—this clarity that sharpened his awareness as if the darkness itself whispered of an intruder. His senses felt heightened, far beyond their usual sharpness, like a predator sniffing the faintest trace of prey.

This wasn’t normal. He had always been perceptive since receiving Zara's beastial capabilities through the result of his Sacred Bond with her. But this... This felt like a whole new level of acuity. He didn’t even need to open his eyes to know something—or someone—was approaching. The faint, almost imperceptible tremors in the ground told him the intruder was navigating the natural stone walls surrounding the camp, heading towards him. However, it wasn’t just physical awareness. It was as though his instincts were now finely attuned to danger itself.

As he lay there, Kaiser recalled the beastial woman, Zara. The Sacred Bond they had forged in the dark prison of their captivity by the bandits. She had explained it back then, the nature of the bond—how their powers would intertwine, strengthening each other and him becoming her master... Though, now that he thinks about it, that treacherous woman words were likely mixed with lies to convince the inexperienced and naive Kai back then. However, she is honest about the crucial parts which the Sacred Bond required to successfully form. The straightforward part of her power becoming his, and his becoming her's, sharing each other's strength for a greater output. And indeed, her beastial strength, her heightened senses, her animalistic reflexes—they had become his to wield. As for his immortality... Due to its extreme exceptionality, so potent that it could defy death itself, Kai wasn't so sure if she did benefit from him like he did to her.

That said, if memory serves him right, the last time they saw each other was weeks ago, two or three, maybe? Kai doesn't have the best mind in tracking time thanks to his agonizingly undying life that often felt like eternity. Nevertheless, she's apparently becoming stronger if her blessings to him are increasing, which justified why his senses suddenly heightened to this degree. But how? With the existence of Leveling, doing so isn't that hard as long as one knew how to kill, and that woman was the most dreadful reaper in his memory. Kai would never forget her savagery in slaying the Bandits with the chilling grace of a dancing reaper. However, Greenland's forest dwellers were weak, too weak in comparison to creatures of neighboring Realms, making even the veteran Hunters sacrificed many to kill a single lesser invader. Therefore, hunting in Greenland to strengthen herself would be a long and slow journey to power. Kai didn't even notice the effects of leveling until he defeated otherworldly invaders, making her current progress impossible to achieve in a matter of weeks in Greenland wilderness... Unless, she ventured to another Realm. Which isn't that strange for someone who doesn't belong in that relatively peaceful Realm in the first place because she's no human, at least, not fully.

A delightful realization dawned on him.

'If Zara was growing stronger... then so was I.'

Kaiser smirked mentally at the thought. Was she out there, tirelessly slaying monsters, pushing herself to the limit to grow more powerful for an unknown goal? If so, then it meant he was reaping the rewards of her labor thanks to the Bond of blood she insisted on him. He couldn’t help but chuckle lowly at the irony.

"I’m literally leeching off her hard work," he muttered, his voice low but tinged with humor. "How’s that for poetic justice?"

After all, Zara had betrayed him. It wasn’t exactly a shock—trust was a luxury he rarely afforded anyone—but her treachery still stung—Well, she did kill him cold blooded—But now, knowing she couldn’t escape the bond they had forged, the tables had turned in the most satisfying way. Wherever she was, he hoped she was cursing his name as much as she was swinging her claws at her enemies.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Kaiser also hoped she lived long and strong, so he could keep sucking at her efforts. He was really grateful to Zara for forming the Sacred Bond with him, in which she can't escape. He suddenly chuckled once again, thinking what comical expression would she make once he found out that she's stuck with the immortal him for eternity. That said, Kai was not sure if she was benefiting from him, as well, due to the peculiar exceptionality of his immortality, so potent that it could defy death, itself. Even if she did, immortality is more of a curse than a gift in Shattered Realms in his experience, it's like playing a cruel game without a choice of quitting.

'Good luck to that wolfy... Serves her right.'

Oh, right, he had a guess coming, he should really give them some attention. Kai thought for a moment before shrugging, deciding to continue his slumber while tracking whatever the intruder is. For now, this was... training. A lazy smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he thought about how Garba would berate him for such carelessness. Then again, how the heck does his mentor expect this disciple of his that killed himself to act?

There was no time to dwell.

The intruder was closing in.

Kaiser shifted slightly, repositioning himself for comfort as the presence grew closer. Rather than rousing himself fully, he decided to stay as he was—half-asleep but fully aware—using this situation as an impromptu exercise for his heightened senses. Whoever was approaching would reveal themselves soon enough, and if they had hostile intentions, he would deal with it.

The intruder was now inside the camp, their steps cautious but deliberate. From the sound of their gait, they were more like staggering rather than walking confidently. He expected it to be some odd monster attracted by the mysterious sight of flame within the tent due to how cautious it seems, seemingly thinking beyond an average human in approaching a deserted camp with lit fire inside and for some reason, it doesn't walk like a human, but to his surprise. As seconds ticked by, Kaiser’s perception began to piece together more details. Whoever it was moved on two legs—not a beast, then—but their balance was off, as though they were injured.

'An injured human?'

The soft shuffle of feet against the cold, obsidian ground carried subtle elegance. Even in her staggered state, her movements possessed the grace of a woman. And then there was the faint trace of her scent—a youthful, sweet, indescribable fragrance carried by the chilled air, the odor, despite being mixed with blood was noticeably more pleasant than men's.

Kaiser frowned in his sleep. 'Great. It’s a girl.'

The stranger paused outside the tent, keeping a safe distance, seemingly assessing the scene. For a moment, he wondered what she might be thinking. The firelight dancing through the torn fabric, the lone figure sleeping within—it must have looked like a trap or some kind of illusion. Yet, instead of barging in recklessly, she began circling the tent, seeking an angle that allowed her to peer inside through the tears of fabric without exposing herself.

'Smart. I wouldn’t have thought of that,' Kaiser admitted silently.

Only then did she approach the tent in haste, but Kaiser didn't move, just considering what she'll do to a sleeping human, will she rob him? Worse case, she'll kill and eat him, in any case, what she'll do will determine what he'll do with her, Kai has been betrayed enough times already.

The sound of her steps grew more urgent as she approached the tent. She briefly paused outside to confirm that there was no danger within, her presence lingered before she ducked inside, rushing towards the seemingly sleeping young man.

Kaiser’s senses tingled as she knelt beside him. Her hands hovered uncertainly for a fraction of a second before gripping his shoulders. She pushed him onto his back with surprising care but undeniable urgency. The next thing he knew, her hands were pressing firmly against his chest.

"Stay with me!" she commanded, her voice sharp and trembling with both fear and determination. Her hands moved rhythmically, pressing down with practiced precision. "Come on, don’t you dare give up on me!"

Kaiser remained still, amused by the situation but also curious. He hadn’t realized how cold these Undersea mountains had made him appear—cold enough for this woman to mistake him for a victim succumbing to hypothermia.

Her voice cracked slightly, revealing the pressure she felt in this moment. "You’re not dying on my watch!" she declared, her tone shifting between stern professionalism and rising panic. Her movements sped up, desperation creeping into her actions.

Her fingers brushed against his face, searching for signs of life. "His temperature didn't improve, Argh, why did you fall asleep on these cold stones, of all places." she muttered, though the worry in her tone outweighed her frustration.

Little did Kai know that sleeping on these stones was a grave mistake for it's almost akin to laying on ice for a prolonged period of time without proper protection from the cold, therefore, killing his body's warmth gradually in his slumber, the flame only slows it down. Yes, his actually dying here... Nothing new. Just, slow and numb, far less painful than the agonizing deaths is accustomed to.

As she leaned closer, her breath warm against his skin, Kaiser smirked inwardly.

'How long is she going to keep this up?'

Strangely enough, his kinda enjoying the CPR.

But then she did something unexpected. She began murmuring to herself, her voice soft and resolute as she continued pressing on his chest. "If this doesn’t work, he'll die... His dangerously cold, I need to increase his blood circulation by hasting his heart pumping rate. Chest compressions aren't enough. Should I try mouth-to-mouth? B-but, that'll be my first..."

Meanwhile, in his flabbergasted head.

'No way... Will, I finally get my first kiss?'