Ashe's sword art was sophisticated and harmonious. He appeared before the monster without any unnecessary movements, evenly distributed the weight of the sword in his body, and swung it three times in one second.

Sunveil didn't expect such speed from the boy. It barely managed to dodge two out of the three attacks, but the third one inflicted a wound. It tore open his stomach, from which a black liquid flowed out.

This feat wasn't enough to kill him.

The monster had a long arm and deep reach. As soon as it felt a piercing pain, it moved to counterattack.

It swung its limbs in Ashe's direction and didn't even try to block.

The boy himself could barely detect the creature's movements. But his instincts kicked in and always put the sword in the right place. As a result, he cut Sunveil's hands a couple of times.

'It's tough!' determined the boy. 'He's stronger in a pure physical sense.' His wrist hurt; he had to block a powerful force that wasn't easy for his frail hands.

The actual difference in strength wasn't that big. 'I am much faster too.' He recognised and decided against blocking and resolved to go full attack. Protection wasn't for show. Managing the barrier wasn't his strongest suit, but he could still defend himself while he tried to attack.

Everything else that came towards him was his body's duty to evade. He guided his hands to inflict maximum damage and used his agility and battle sense to the fullest.

Avoiding attacks would force him to lose momentum. That was the time for barriers to shine.

He converted fragments into Shards and utilised them throughout the entire battle.

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The fragments that came out of his body were encircled in an attempt to protect him. The total amount of fragments was diminishing, but he had more than enough to last through this exchange.

Then he shifted his hands, aimed at the neck and shoulders as he stood at a tight range with Sunveil. The monster's long arms would make it challenging to operate at such a distance.

Ashe knew this well.

He had his sword prepared and, holding it in both hands, he plunged it straight into the monster's already injured stomach.

Sunveil couldn't even hide his anger or the pain that this impact caused.

The boy turned his sword mercilessly to inflict more damage.

Turned out this wasn't enough as the monster aimed his hands even at this close range. Ashe had to jump back. He left his sword there, which was dripping with black blood.

He couldn't fully trust the barrier's durability. As soon as he jumped back, he slammed his feet to the ground and ducked without realising it as he barely escaped the hands that were coming for him.

With the help of the barrier, he altered said attack a few centimetres. This was sufficient to create an opening that would determine the winner of this conflict.

He reached for the hilt of his sword a second time. He pulled the sword back.

The monster shrieked and went completely wild; it switched to kicking its legs without any coherent thought in its mind.

Ashe intercepted only once. After that, he aimed the sharp edge precisely at the bent limb and sliced it in half. This action required a lot of force. His head ached as he used all the power he could muster; he had to finish it in one go.

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Once more, the boy directed his sword at the wound. It was bleeding and was full of black liquid, which made it easier to spot the creature.

Ashe plunged the tip of the sword deep inside.

Not once. Not twice.

He didn't twist the sword; it wouldn't work. He pulled it out and picked a new place to pierce.

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Ashe repeated the same process three more times until the monster finally stopped struggling.

He didn't try to confirm if his kill was successful. It was a time-consuming risk he didn't want to take, as there was no information on what else might appear from all the noise he caused.

He didn't even bother cutting off the ear. The boy received a small amount of the fragments, and with close to little observation, he noticed a new expression of his skills.

He had to analyse it. But not now; it was time for escape.

Ashe left the forest at once, ran to the Bone Village, and returned on the road. Now his options were divided.

With no ear or any proof whatsoever, he couldn't prove his deeds. The thing was that he didn't even want to prove his successful endover. Nor could he remove Sunveils from the village, since there was more than one.

As such, he couldn't declare the mission accomplished. He wouldn't even receive a reward for it.

He should wait in the street and try his luck again.

That was what he was going to do. But before that, he had another task. He would have to fulfil it first with fragments, and it would involve warning the city.

Ashe could extract the data he received from the Scar.

This wasn't limited to just substantial narration; Ashe could also spread the fragments and share knowledge. This was one of the fundamental manifestations of prophecy.

Usually, to achieve this, one had to either recount the fable, turn it into writing, or introduce the corresponding item.

Ashe was excused from this limit. He could easily influence the fragments and take them wherever he preferred.

He had to warn the city. But in a way that no one could suspect or pinpoint him.

As a Chosen One, his public image couldn't help him. Finding someone trustworthy in the first place wasn't easy to do. And even then, his understanding of the prophecy said nothing about his companions.

Besides, the chancellor was looking for him, and it wouldn't be wise to turn himself in. Even if he had God's safety net.

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The fragments that became shards and returned to his body started to recover. The process was flowing at a speed acceptable to the boy.

Ashe made a plan and set out to act. He had one more day to act. Returning to the city, he stole a cloak from the merchant. Darkness was his friend.

Then he visited all the guilds he could find, one by one, and placed the corresponding fragment at the door.

It contained a date that spoke of the unknown Scar. The boy's traces were concealed; he had his fragment under control and did nothing suspicious.

Not everyone could see the fragments he hid. This would need a Binder with a certain rank in the Covenant. A Seeer could also be used to decipher.

The entire city was covered in fragments, and he would return to the village unnoticed.

He even did some pre-calculation. By restraining the fragments, he could manage their appearance and visibility. Thus, no one would find them unless he allowed them to.

He arranged that the fitting time for this would be when he locates another Sunveil to kill.

So that he would have some kind of alibi that proved that he wasn't even in the city. It was excessive, but Ashe was willing to go to such lengths.

He returned the cloak as unnoticed as he took it. Not because he was dreading the act of stealing, but because he didn't want to evoke any suspicion.

After a while, he returned to the Bone Village, as if he hadn't even left.

Sunveil wouldn't come out in the dark, so he had to wait until dawn and try to track it. He had to do it quickly. Before, the guilds saw his report and released their members.

Ashe's entire effort was risky, but he was reassured several times that he was safe.

He didn't want to put so many people in danger because of his fear for his own life.

He was a Chosen One. It was his duty to help others. Especially when he had such an adequate prospect.

Arriving at the edge of the village, he found the tree. The one he used to hide from the monsters.

Ashe was so used to sleeping in the tree that he was going to do it again. He climbed up on it, lay down with his sword, and closed his eyes.

He spent the entire night searching for guilds and had only a couple of hours to rest. Tired, he used this little time to sleep.

The next time he opened his eyes, the sun was already up. He could hear voices from the village. Residents started work early in the morning, and animals already needed food.

The same could be said about Ashe. His condition was even worse. He was covered in black blood, a pile of dirt, and distress.

This time he was recognised. Grannies gave him more food and water than the day before.

He switched his location. Selected an unoccupied spot on the road and left behind what food his empty stomach could spare.

Ashe found a small mountain hill and knelt behind it. He kept an eye on the basket and would instantly attack Sunveil.

He would no longer follow it, nor was he interested in walking in the forest. The boy wanted money so he could rent a room, bathe, eat, and buy some cheap clothes.

His wait lasted at least half an hour. No one saw the hidden fragments, and it would remain that way until he decided otherwise.

He detected the monster by the sound. Then he saw the fragment floating around it. It was a small number, and it belonged to the Exarch alone.

Ashe thanked his destiny. He pointed the still-clean silver sword at Sunveil and silently advanced toward it.

He decreased the initial ten meters to five. Out of caution, he walked slowly and with controlled breathing.

His heartbeat was preserved, but he could not hide the smell, which forced the monster to look at the boy.

Given the creature's invisible body, Ashe could not even comprehend it.

He immediately covered the remaining distance. Plunged his sword into the body without warning, and, using yesterday's experience, didn't trust only one strike.

He repeated this several times. His body was covered in more blood; the sword also became stained.

After everything he did, Sunveil revealed itself. He put his hands to its ears and cut both of them off.

'Finally.' He stood up, satisfied and with a smile, as he received the small fragment of the monster.

Then he made his hidden fragment visible and allowed the guilds to find it.