"Hmm~?"

This monster let out an audible hum as it looked at me lazily. It looked disgusting, Its body barely resembling a human. Its limbs, chest, and even head looked like a bunch of black tentacles intertwined with each other. It was not an exaggeration, It really did look like it was made of tentacles.

They seemed to have been intertwined, making its entire body. It had rather long, sharp claws, and its eyes were scarlet red as if piercing into my soul. What most surprised me was the pair of ordinary, maybe a bit large bunny ears.

"That's odd," The creature muttered while munching on the meat, Its teeth extraordinarily sharp, "I don't remember taking you."

I didn't answer, instead just stared at him with a blank expression.

This thing looked powerful, and it could very well kill me with a single attack. But, should I say that's it?

I could tell it was powerful and fast, but I don't feel that much of a threat from him. Sure, it could probably kill me with a single swipe, and I feel like I'm insane for saying this, but that doesn't feel that bad. Ordinary people would've probably run in the opposite direction once they realized this astonishing strength difference, but not me. I don't feel that much of a threat from him.

"Are you the one responsible for making those doors, and the building?" I said calmly, not a hint of fear in my tone.

"Oh~?" The creature gulped the food, and turned its entire body towards me, "Did you perhaps enter through those doors? If so, then tell me, which door did you come from? The city? The green hill?"

The creature calmly smiled at me, although his smile was rather creepy. Mostly because of its appearance.

I shook my head, and answered, "I came from the building in that sea of blood."

"...What?"

---

---

---

Third-Person POV

It was odd, Albert thought. He was happily enjoying his meal when this unknown, naked person suddenly appeared. His appearance was not anything noteworthy. He had short, black hair, was relatively muscular, and the only piece of equipment he had was a sword and its sheathe. However, his eyes were disgustingly empty, even worse than looking at a corpse. Just looking at him could make someone uncomfortable.

He was sure he didn't know him, and he didn't capture him, either. After all, when he went to a city through one of the doors, he explicitly remembered he only took three people with him and was sure no one has followed him.

Furthermore, ordinary people cannot enter this realm unless he brings them himself. It was simply impossible. The doors will not be visible or tangible to them, only for himself, people with extraordinary souls, or people whose souls have drifted. In other words, people with a different soul compared to ordinary people. It has been quite a long time since he encountered a soul who managed to enter this realm on its own.

He was quite delighted at first when he noticed the naked man. He thought he was a stumbling idiot, or a beggar that had an extraordinary soul and have encountered a door to this plane.

But that delight softly faded away when the person said that they got here through one of the most gut-wrenching places he ever knew, the sea of blood. That place is specifically reserved for people whose souls have either drifted or dead people whose souls were filled with so much vengeance that they couldn't rest after they have died.

It just seemed ridiculous, so Albert naturally had his doubts. Something seemed odd, he didn't feel the person in front of him was a drifted soul, as it's quite easy to notice for him to sense those souls with his exceptional soul-sensing power.

He also didn't feel it was a soul that couldn't rest. He couldn't sense any hatred emanating from his soul, and those souls were usually insane maniacs who tried to destroy everything in his path.

'How odd,' Albert thought, 'Claims to come from the sea of blood, and yet he lacks the characteristics of either of the souls who inhabit that place.'

Oh well, there are always exceptions. Perhaps the man has lied to him, or perhaps he really did come from that wretched place. Alas, it didn't matter. Albert could feel the man's strength, and it wasn't strong. Although it was much stronger than ordinary people, it was a laughingstock in front of Albert. He was sure a single swipe could kill the man.

"Tell me," Albert calmly said, "Are you here for you to unlock your potential, or have you simply wandered off here?"

This man had previously asked him if he made this place, which should have already told Albert that he was simply a poor soul who wandered here by accident. He still wanted to make sure, though. Who knows, one time a single soul had wandered here knowing full well what this realm was, but it still asked similar questions to this man. Curiosity, you could say.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

This entire realm was made specifically for people to unlock their potential, granting them extraordinary and supernatural powers. However, In order to do so, they had to defeat the guardian.

And unfortunately for those poor souls, Albert was the guardian. The previous guardian died at the hands of a single human, as such, Albert was nominated to be the current guardian by the benevolent system. Many humans, monsters, and even guardians had this. Even the previous guardian that died had it. But Albert was far superior to the previous guardian. Until now, no one has defeated him or even inflicted a wound.

"...?" The man simply tilted his head at the question, not knowing what he meant. Albert laughed inside his heart, feeling delighted. It has been quite a long time since someone with a unique soul appeared, so he was happy to munch on him and absorb his soul.

"How unfortunate," Albert said with a mocking tone. "Oh well, at least you'll serve a purpose to strengthen me. I shall thank you in advance for your soul!"

Without waiting for the person to respond, Albert immediately disappeared from his spot, and with an astonishing speed that the eye couldn't track, Albert slashed the man, his claws aimed at his head, wanting to slice it to pieces. Albert anticipated the feeling of his claws tearing through his bones and flesh.

*Clank!*

'...What?' But that moment never came. Instead, he was met with the sound of metal clashing, and a slight sting in his hand. Moreover, he realized he was holding his claws high when they should've cleaved through the man's flesh.

Albert noticed the man holding his sword high and then dashed towards Albert, his eyes piercing through Albert's soul.

'D-Did, did he just deflect my attack?' Albert's thoughts were in a disarray. How did this man manage to deflect his attack? He was sure the man wasn't that strong or fast! His attack should've torn him to pieces before his mind could even register the attack!

The man slashed at Albert, his eyes not leaving Albert's. The slash was slow, and Albert should easily be able to dodge it.

And yet, when Albert dodged and leaped a few meters to the side, he felt a small sting on his shoulder.

'What?!' Albert immediately turned his attention toward the stinging pain, and noticed a small cut on his shoulder. How? That didn't make any sense. The attack was painstakingly slow, and he should've dodged it without any injuries, and yet, here it was.

"You're strong," Albert's attention immediately turned towards the man when he heard his voice, "Disgustingly so. Your strength and speed far surpass mine. But..."

The man trailed off and looked at Albert with an expression similar to pity, which made Albert furious.

"That's it. You might be powerful, but you lack technique and skill. Your attacks are easy to read and counter. You are predictable, which is why I was able to block your attack beforehand."

Albert didn't understand. Even the man acknowledged the strength and speed difference, and yet, he managed to injure Albert simply because Albert's attacks were predictable?

"Nonsense!" Albert let out a furious shout. His 'muscles', which were tentacles intertwined with each other, started to pulsate and increase in size, just like normal muscles.

Regardless if his attacks were predictable or not, it doesn't matter in the face of overwhelming strength and speed! It simply didn't make sense!

Albert dashed towards the man once more, his leap being so strong that the ground cracked.

And yet...

*Clank!*

*Clank!*

*Slash*

"Ugh..."

*Clank!*

"Hah... What in god's name is going on?" Albert weakly said between his breaths, a tone of disbelief apparent. He had been fighting for god knows how long, and yet he didn't manage to land a single attack on that man. On the other hand, Albert was coated in injuries and cuts, and his left arm was threatening to fall off any moment now.

He couldn't understand it, he really couldn't. How could a human with far inferior strength and speed be able to beat him this hard? Was being predictable really the reason?

"You seem surprised," The man said with an empty tone. Albert let out a groan in response, "That body of yours— although it's much different than mine—still seems to have functions similar to ours."

Albert didn't understand what the man meant. He knew his body was not immortal. Although it was superior to humans, it also had vital functions, regardless of how its appearance suggests otherwise. His tentacles had all functions that were similar to humans, such as a heart, muscles, stomach, etc...

"When you attempt an attack, I can see and examine your 'muscles', gaze, footwork, breathing, attack patterns, rhythms, timing, and habits."

'What?' Albert didn't understand, was the man really paying attention to all of that while he was fighting? He couldn't believe it. This man has been reading him like a book and was easily able to dodge and counter all of his attacks. Meanwhile, Albert was just attacking without any thought behind each hit, just wanting to kill the man with a single hit.

"Anyone who is worth their salt in terms of fighting will easily be able to read all of those cues, and will similarly beat you as well."

'Utter nonsense!' Albert was a few seconds away from exploding, all of what this man said was simply nonsense! Albert had caught and fought against many humans with extraordinary souls, and many of them were swordsmen or knights with tens of years of experience, and yet, none of them were like this man.

"It seems... hah... I have no choice." Albert muttered under his breath before his body began to glow a dim red. His eyes were now glowing red, looking like an insane beast, and his stomach began to glow even more violently than his eyes.

"Die, you rotten bastard!" Albert shouted with all of his strength. His stomach began to slightly open from the middle, revealing a small, red sphere made of unknown energy.

This was his trump card. He only used it once when he fought his first ever human, and never used it again. The answer is simple, It's exhausting.

This ability lets out hundreds upon hundreds of energy blasts, although a bit small, they were frighteningly fast and destructive, and they even had the ability to bounce a few times.

Albert knew it was over for the man, for there is no chance he could deflect or dodge all of these attacks at once. It was over.

"Let's see if you can predict this!" Albert let out an ear-deafening laugh, clearly filled with delight. At any moment now, before the man could reach him, the sphere will unleash its attack.

But, something seemed off. Just as the sphere was about to unleash all of the smaller spheres, Albert managed to catch a glance at the man's face.

The man's eyes were still blank, and empty. However, what weirded him out the most was the fact his pupils were moving at a high speed as if he was examining Albert's body. His legs, his arms, his breathing, the way his muscles move, even the way the energy is shining and moving.

Albert knew the man couldn't avoid this attack or parry it, but for some reason, he felt a certain chill all over his body.