The air was heavy with the aftermath of the brutal battle. Xyenn stood motionless, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths, blood still dripping from his wounds. The shattered remains of Death’s scythe lay scattered across the ground, the pieces glinting in the dim light of the domain they were trapped in. Yuuna hovered nearby, no longer ethereal, her draconic form now solid, her glowing eyes fixed on Xyenn.

He turned slowly to her, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. His voice was hoarse but steady.

"Now what?" Xyenn asked, his words laced with exhaustion. "How do we get out of here?"

Yuuna, still catching her breath from the intensity of the fight, crossed her arms, her sharp nails tapping rhythmically against her forearm. Her expression softened, but her tone remained matter-of-fact.

"It’s… complicated," she began, her eyes flickering toward the broken scythe. "When you died before—when I revived you—I didn’t just pump you full of my blood and call it a day."

Xyenn’s brow furrowed. "Yeah, I remember waking up, but…"

"Death had already taken you," Yuuna explained, her voice calm but tinged with a seriousness that Xyenn hadn’t heard from her before. "The moment your soul left your body, he had it. He had the keys to your soul, so to speak. That scythe he carried? It was the link between you and him. As long as he held it, your soul was his."

Xyenn glanced at the shattered scythe pieces on the ground, his eyes narrowing in realization.

"So… by breaking it…"

Yuuna nodded. "You severed the connection. Pure luck, honestly. If I hadn’t revived you when I did, there’s no way you’d be standing here now. You’re alive because I acted in that exact moment, and because you broke the link just now. But don’t get cocky—it’s not like I can do this again." She jabbed a sharp finger in his direction, her eyes flashing. "Next time, you die for real."

‘Her tone…she’s more serious now. When I was fighting, I definitely heard her yelling at me to slow down, but I ignored it. Wasn’t gonna go out like a wuss. She’s probably mad at me for it. I felt her desperation, her anxiety. Did she really care if I would’ve lost or not?’

Xyenn clenched his fists, his knuckles white as the weight of her words settled in. "So, I’m alive because of some cosmic timing and your blood?"

"Pretty much," Yuuna smirked, but there was no humor in her eyes. "You’re lucky as hell, but don’t think that makes you invincible."

Xyenn let out a slow breath, nodding. "And Death? What happens to him now?"

Yuuna’s smirk faded, replaced by a more somber expression. "Death can’t die, not permanently. He’s immortal, thanks to the First Dragon. Death is the conduit for the cycle of rebirth that powers draconic deities. Without him, the entire balance of life, death, and rebirth falls apart. He’s the one who keeps the cycle going for all of us," she explained, her tone steady and logical. "So yeah, he’ll rise again. He has to."

"Great," Xyenn muttered, running a hand through his blood-matted hair. "So he’s some immortal gatekeeper for your kind, huh? He’ll stalk us. I’ll just kill him over and over.”

"Exactly," Yuuna nodded. "Without him, there would be no rebirth. Dragons, gods, and everything in between depend on him to maintain the cycle. Without him, nothing dies right. Nothing comes back right. And that includes me."

Xyenn’s head snapped toward her, eyes narrowing. "Wait… you’re the draconic deity of darkness, right? So if Death can’t die and gets reborn, wouldn’t you…?"

Yuuna’s smile faded, her eyes darkening as she looked away for a moment, her expression uncharacteristically vulnerable. "No. For me, it’s different," she said quietly, her voice losing its usual sharpness. "I’m not like the others."

Xyenn’s brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"

"My heart," she said softly, her gaze distant, "it’s permanent. There’s no rebirth for me. If I die… I’m gone. Forever. The devourer's heart, it came from the First Dragon himself. Though I don’t have time to explain it all here right now.”

Xyenn thought, ‘She knows a lot, and right now, I want answers more than anything.’

Xyenn’s eyes widened, the weight of her words sinking in. He felt a strange pang in his chest, but before he could process it, a low, raspy voice interrupted.

"You fool…" Death coughed, black blood dripping from his skeletal mouth as he slowly raised his head. His body was broken, but his eyes gleamed with a malevolent light. "You think you’re strong now… after fusing with a draconic she-devil?"

Xyenn’s expression hardened, his fists clenched at his sides as Death’s words dripped with venom.

"You’re gonna die," Death rasped, his voice growing weaker, "and guess what? She’s gonna replace you… just like she did the others—"

SHUNK!

Yuuna’s hand shot forward, her fingers elongated into sharp, deadly dragon claws. She stabbed Death through the chest, silencing him instantly. Black blood oozed from the wound as Death’s body convulsed, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and rage.

"That’s… not true," Yuuna whispered, her voice barely audible, but the intensity behind her words was unmistakable.

Xyenn blinked, his mind racing. "What did he mean by that?" he asked, his voice low but urgent.

Yuuna pulled her hand free from Death’s chest, her sharp claws retracting. She stood up straight, her usual mischievous smirk returning as her demeanor shifted back to her more casual self. "Eh, nothing you need to worry about! It’s okay.”

Xyenn thought, ‘I feel uneasy. Got the feeling I’m being used, I am actually. She’s stronger when she merges with a powerless vessel like I was. Maybe using me to survive against the draconic gods hunting her? And I'm allowing it? Not against it all? I’m not. I’m glad I’m being used, to get my revenge on those draconic bastards. Because of them, I was getting my ass kicked by magic people everyday. It was annoying. I blamed them for it. Wanted to off myself over and over. I was so alone. Now that Yuuna is here, I don’t feel as alone anymore. She’s alone as well in a world like this, whereas I thought the gods were against me, the gods are actually against her. I told her I’d make sure she doesn’t die. I do stand by it.’

Xyenn’s eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced, but before he could press further, the domain of death around them began to crack and splinter. The dark, oppressive air shattered like glass, and the world around them fell away.

In an instant, they were standing on cold, frozen ground. The towering peaks of Vördrheimloomed in the distance, their jagged edges cutting into the sky like the teeth of some massive beast. Snow whipped around them, but despite the freezing temperatures, Xyenn didn’t feel the cold.

Yuuna stretched her arms above her head, letting out a sigh. "Finally out of that dreary place. I’m starving!"

Xyenn blinked, still trying to process everything that had just happened. "You’re hungry? Now?”

Yuuna grinned, her sharp teeth glinting. "Yep! Didn’t I tell you? One of the side effects of being in a contract with a dragon deity is that you get hungry. Like, all the time. So you’ll start to feel it pretty quick!”

Xyenn stared at her, his mind still reeling. "Seriously?!”

"Oh, absolutely," Yuuna nodded enthusiastically. "You’ll probably feel it soon too. It’s just one of those things. You’ve got my power now, so, you know, eat up while you can. There’s gonna be a ton of side effects for you by the way.”

“Side effects?! Am I gonna explode?!”

Yuuna bonked Xyenn in the head, “No, bonehead brat! They’re harmless, kinda.”

“How long will they last…?”

“A few days, tops. Don’t worryyy, it’ll be entertaining!”

“…Damn she-devil..”

Yuuna twirled with a smile, replying, “You love meeeee.”

“Yep. Definitely.”

“If you start to hate me, you’re dead.” Yuuna said with a straight face, making Xyenn dash behind a tree in fear.

"Right right got it," he muttered, glancing around. "I’ve never been to this continent before. I don’t know where anything is… or the nearest town. I only came here to curse out your draconic buddies and then off myself.”

Yuuna’s eyes lit up, and she grabbed Xyenn’s hand, pulling him forward. "Don’t worry about it! I’ll lead the way. I’ve been around here more times than I can count."

Xyenn stumbled slightly as she tugged him along, but he couldn’t help but notice something strange. The cold… it didn’t bother him at all. The freezing wind, the snow, none of it seemed to affect him. "Hey, I’m not cold," he said, glancing at Yuuna. "Is that because of… this power?"

Yuuna grinned. "Bingo! You’re a draconic vessel now. You’ll find that a lot of things don’t affect you the way they did before. Cold? Heat? Doesn’t matter. You’re tougher than humans."

Xyenn nodded, still trying to wrap his mind around it all as they walked through the wilderness of Vördrheim. The landscape was harsh and unforgiving, but there was a beauty to it—a wild, untamed beauty that reminded him of the power that pulsed through his veins now.

As they traveled, Yuuna started explaining the continent to him, her voice taking on a more excited tone, almost like a tour guide.

"Alright, so, Vördrheim!" she began, gesturing broadly to the landscape around them. "This place is massive. You’ve got these Jörngardr Mountains over there," she pointed to the towering peaks in the distance. "Those are the tallest in the world. Legend has it they’re the bones of the First Dragon. Pretty cool, huh? The Dragonkin live there in their little hidden cities, doing whatever weird draconic rituals they do.”

As they continued walking, they passed a broad, winding river that stretched out in front of them. The waters were dark and fast-moving, cutting through the frozen landscape like a vein of life.

"That’s the Skarvhir River," Yuuna said, her tone slightly more serious. "It’s sacred to the god of water and life, Værrun. The kingdoms around here worship it because the land’s super fertile along the banks. But don’t let the calm look fool you. There’s some nasty stuff that lives in there. I heard there’s a Leviathan lurking deep in the waters. Big, nasty thing. Eats ships like candy. Can’t stop us though.”

Xyenn couldn’t help but smirk. "Sounds friendly."

"Oh yeah, totally," Yuuna chuckled. "You should go for a swim sometime."

They continued on, passing through a dense forest with towering trees that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. The air was thick and humid, the sunlight barely filtering through the dense canopy.

"This is the Vargskog Woods," Yuuna explained, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "Super creepy. The trees are ancient, and the locals say the woods are haunted by the spirits of dead gods or something. The Faeborn live here, but good luck finding them. Their villages disappear and reappear whenever they feel like it. Oh, and watch out for the Fenrír Wolves. Big, scary, glowing eyes. They’ll eat you if you look at them funny."

Some Lurked in the distance, sleeping or hunting other animals, and Xyenn quickly got closer to Yuuna.

Xyenn scanned the dark woods, feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the cold. "Sounds… fun."

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Yuuna laughed, clearly enjoying herself. "You’re gonna love it here."

As they passed through the various regions, Xyenn couldn’t help but notice the patrols of heavily armored soldiers marching through the countryside. Their armor gleamed in the dim light, and they carried swords and spears adorned with draconic symbols.

"Those guys are the kingdom’s patrols," Yuuna said, nodding toward them. "They mostly keep the peace, but they also make sure no one messes with the draconic statues you’ll see around. People here are super into worshipping the deities. Like, really into it."

Xyenn watched as a group of villagers gathered around a massive statue of a draconic god, placing offerings at its feet. "They take this worship stuff pretty seriously. I Hate them all too.”

"Oh yeah," Yuuna said with a grin. "You’d think they were trying to bribe the gods or something."

“They can’t be bribed, right?”

“Hmm. You’d be surprised!”

Despite everything that had just happened, he found himself relaxing just a little in Yuuna’s presence. Her chaotic energy, her strange sense of humor—it was oddly comforting in a way he didn’t expect.

‘She is pretty, she surprisingly smells good, with some sort of ashy smoke scent but with some kinda charm to it, I don’t know how to describe it. I’ve never even been this close to a girl, nor have I been kissed by a girl. It felt amazing. I hope she does it again—.’

Yuuna got in his face, “You’re really deep in thought, you okay?”

Xyenn, flustered, staggered away, “CAN YOU READ MINDS?!”

Yuuna was shocked by that question, and chuckled, “Hmmm? Why would you ask that?”

“I mean, since we’re connected and all with a contract, I just wanted to know, I’m curious.”

Yuuna smiled with a cunning gesture, “Or is it because you’re having lewd thoughts about me?”

“I’m sorry! It’s an accident, it’s not that bad—.”

Yuuna smacked Xyenn on the back hard, laughing, “Hahaha! You’re adorable, really.”

“Shut up..”

‘I have never been intimate with a woman, and I’m only 19. They all avoided me, mostly because I was avoided by some adventurers and hunters in towns because of my lack of strength, the women didn’t want to be seen with me, they all sucked up to the magic people. Bastards. If I have weird thoughts of Yuuna, I can’t help myself. It’s like some sort of weird urge. I promise I’m not a pervert or anything. Damn hormones…I have to try and control it.’

As they continued walking through the frozen wilderness of Vördrheim, Xyenn couldn’t help but think about everything that had been said. Death’s words lingered in his mind, but he pushed them aside for now. He had power—real power—and he wasn’t about to lose it.

For now, though, he wouldn’t press the issue. He had more important things to worry about.

Like not starving to death.

And maybe, just maybe, keeping Yuuna happy.

The cold northern air filled Xyenn’s lungs as he and Yuuna approached the town nestled at the base of snow-covered hills. The town, Brimholt, was modest but bustling with life. Its stone walls stood sturdy against the harsh winds of Vördrheim, and the buildings, made of dark timber and stone, had smoke curling from their chimneys, giving the town a feeling of warmth despite the freezing climate. The streets were lined with snow, yet the townsfolk moved about with purpose, undeterred by the cold.

As they descended into the town, Yuuna casually waved her hand, and the dark pink jagged halo that hovered above her head — a dead giveaway of her draconic deity status — flickered and vanished.

Xyenn raised an eyebrow. “You got rid of the halo..”

Yuuna glanced at him and smirked. "Oh, I just made it invisible." She tapped the top of her head with a mockingly innocent expression. "Yeah, that thing’s kind of a giveaway, huh? It’s in all the scholars' books — anyone with half a brain would recognize it as the mark of the draconic deity of darkness. But without it?" She grinned mischievously. "I’m just a really, really pretty girl with dragon powers. Everyone is aware of the super scary draconic demonic goddess of darkness, that halo would easily give me away.”

Xyenn chuckled, shaking his head. "Right. Because you being a really pretty girl is subtle."

“Aww, did you say I was pretty?”

Xyenn blushed, looking away, folding his arms, “Tch. Nope.”

Yuuna took in a deep breath of the cold air, her eyes gleaming with nostalgia. "Ahhh, it’s good to be back after so long. This place hasn’t changed a bit."

Xyenn, on the other hand, stood there, his stomach suddenly growling loudly. His teeth began to sharpen, his pupils narrowing into thin slits, and his fingers elongated into claws. A faint but feral*red aura began to leak from his body, swirling around him like a predatory mist. His breath quickened as the hunger took hold—too hungry.

‘What’s this weird feeling I’m getting?! Some primal feeling?!’

Yuuna turned to him, her grin widening as she watched the transformation begin. "Oooooo, it’s happening!" she teased, her voice gleeful.

Xyenn’s breath came in short, rapid bursts. His body tensed, muscles coiling like a spring ready to snap. And then, in a flash, he dashed through the town. His body became a blur as he moved with impossible speed, darting from one stall to the next.

First, Xyenn slammed into a meat stall, the vendor barely having time to scream before Xyenn tore into the slabs of raw meat hanging from hooks. His sharp teeth sank into the flesh, ripping it apart with savage ferocity. Blood dripped from his mouth as he devoured everything in sight.

The vendor, a portly man with a thick beard, staggered back in shock. "HEY! What the hell are you—?"

But Xyenn was gone before he could finish, already darting to the next stall.

At the bakery, Xyenn crashed through the front door, startling the baker, a middle-aged woman dusted with flour. Xyenn’s claws snatched up loaves of bread, devouring them in mere bites. Crumbs flew everywhere as he stuffed his face, his red aura flaring wildly.

"Wha—what are you doing?!" the baker cried, hands flailing as she tried to comprehend the madness unfolding before her.

"HE’S EATING EVERYTHING!" a child squealed from behind the counter, his eyes wide with a mix of horror and awe. "MOM, HE’S LIKE A MONSTER!"

"Stay back!" the baker shouted, trying to shield her child, but Xyenn had already moved on, leaving a trail of crumbs and chaos in his wake.

Next, Xyenn dashed through the market, devouring fruits, vegetables, and anything edible he could get his hands on. Vendors screamed as their stalls were decimated, their carefully arranged produce reduced to scraps in seconds.

"Who is this guy?!" one of the workers yelled as Xyenn zoomed past, biting into an apple and tossing the core over his shoulder without breaking stride.

"Is he even human?" another vendor gasped, clutching his wares protectively.

The entire time, Yuuna’s laughter echoed through the streets, her voice filled with manic amusement as she watched Xyenn wreak havoc on the town. "Yes! That’s it! Eat everything! Don’t hold back!" she cheered, practically doubled over in laughter.

Amid the chaos, the town crier stood on a wooden platform near the town square, ringing his bell loudly, trying in vain to hold the attention of the townsfolk as Xyenn’s feeding frenzy continued. His voice boomed over the commotion, delivering the news of the day:

"HEAR YE, HEAR YE! NEWS FROM ACROSS THE CONTINENT!"

- "The Kingdom of Draugrheim has declared war on the Eastern Isles! Reports say the Draconic God of War has been seen leading the Draugrheim forces personally!"

- "Rumors spread of The First Flame flickering in the Jörngardr Mountains! Scholars believe it could signal the return of the Old Gods!"

- “In that same area, there’s been reports of loud booming and laughter, and flashes of power around the statues! What could it have been?!”

- "A massive Leviathan has been spotted in the Sea of Ægi, devouring ships whole! Sailors are warned to stay clear!"

- "In the Frostlands of Norðvyr, the nomadic tribes report strange auroras in the sky, believed to be the work of the Sun God Solvár!"

- "Locally, the Trade Guild has announced a price increase on all iron shipments due to bandit activity along the Skarvhir River!"

But even as the crier’s words reached the crowd, most people were too distracted by Xyenn’s rampage to care.

Xyenn’s next target was a pub—a large, wooden building with a roaring hearth and the smell of roasted meat wafting through the air.

“Mertha’s Hammer” Is the name of it, a public tavern strictly for hunters and adventurers alike.

He slammed through the door, his eyes wild with hunger as he scanned the room. The patrons—burly hunters and warriors—paused mid-drink, their eyes narrowing as they noticed the draconic energy radiating from him.

A large man with a thick beard and scars down his arms grunted, standing up from his seat. "Oi, look at this one." His voice was deep and gravelly. "He’s a vessel."

Another hunter, a woman with an eyepatch and a massive sword strapped to her back, cracked her knuckles. "Looks like he’s got a bit of draconic blood in him. Thinks he can eat our food, eh?"

The group of hunters all stood, their weapons drawn, their eyes glowing with the telltale signs of magic. They were warriors—mercenaries who took on quests for the king, posted on notice boards scattered throughout the kingdom.

"Think you can take our food, boy?" one of them growled, brandishing a glowing axe. "Let’s see how fast you really are."

In a flash, they charged at Xyenn, their weapons crackling with magic. But before they could land a single blow, Xyenn moved. His body blurred as he zipped around the room, dodging every attack with ease, his movements so fast they couldn’t even track him.

“He’s fast!” A hunter exclaimed.

“No shit! He’s a draconic vessel!” Another or spat.

“Yeah but which one, is the question?!” An adventurer cried, guarding his food with his life.

In the midst of the chaos, Xyenn snatched pieces of food from their plates, laughing as he ate. He zipped past a hunter’s sword strike, grabbing a roasted leg of boar from the table and tearing into it mid-dodge. One of the hunters swung a massive hammer, only for Xyenn to sidestep it effortlessly, stealing a tankard of ale and downing it in one gulp.

"You’re too slow!" Xyenn jeered, his voice muffled by the food in his mouth.

The hunters roared in frustration, their attacks becoming more desperate as Xyenn continued to devour their meals while dodging every attack with casual ease. Food was flying, tables were overturned, and the entire pub was descending into chaos.

Finally, Xyenn reached the back of the pub, where the kitchen was located. The smell of freshly cooked food was overwhelming, and his hunger drove him forward. But as he barged into the kitchen, he was met by a towering figure holding a massive black hammer.

Standing in front of him was a tall, muscular woman with a bob cut of fiery red hair, dark red eyes, and freckles dotting her strong features. She wore a white, intricately detailed cooking gown and had a look of pure determination on her face.

She hefted the hammer onto her shoulder with ease, her voice deep and commanding. "Oh, I’m gonna have fun crushing you, little man."

Xyenn smirked, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Bring it, oaf."

The woman’s grin widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ooooh, I’m gonna enjoy this."

Before either of them could make a move, Yuuna burst into the room, her voice excited. "Big Mertha!"

The woman’s demeanor shifted instantly. Her stoic, battle-hardened expression melted away, replaced by a cutesy, almost childlike enthusiasm. She dropped the hammer and rushed over to Yuuna, scooping her up in a bone-crushing hug.

"Goddess!" she squealed, her voice suddenly high-pitched and bubbly. "I was about to crush your vessel’s little fucking head!"

Yuuna laughed, hugging her back. "Yeah, I figured you’d try. But he’s mine, so hands off, okay?"

Mertha pouted, still holding Yuuna. "Awwww, no fun! But I’m glad you’re back! It’s been sooooo long!"

Xyenn, standing there with his claws still out and his teeth bared, blinked in confusion. "Give me food…or die.”

This wasn’t exactly how he expected things to go.

Xyenn stood in the kitchen, his body still tense, his claws digging into the floor as his hunger surged once again. His red aura flared, growing wilder by the second. Despite the brief distraction with Mertha, Xyenn’s feral instincts were taking over, and he could barely control himself. His stomach growled louder than ever, his muscles twitching, his teeth sharpening once more.

Yuuna, sensing the shift in his energy, gasped dramatically, throwing both hands to her face like an actress in a poorly rehearsed play. "Oh no! Whatever shall we do?! He's gone berserk! He won’t be able to calm down unless he’s full!"

Big Mertha, catching onto the theatrics, immediately joined in, her deep voice booming with mock horror*. "We must do something! We must—COOK!" She struck a pose, her large black hammer still resting on her shoulder for extra flair.

Xyenn, meanwhile, was too far gone to care. His laughter continued as he lunged toward the nearest pile of food, but before he could get far, Mertha whistled sharply.

"Hold him down, My Maidens!”

Suddenly, the kitchen doors burst open, and a group of Mertha’s female workers rushed in, their bodies glowing with magic as they charged at Xyenn. The women, clad in aprons and wielding various cooking utensils, moved with surprising speed and precision. They tackled Xyenn, piling on top of him, their hands glowing with restraining magic as they tried to hold him in place.

"GET OFF ME!" Xyenn roared, laughing the entire time as he struggled beneath the weight of the workers. His muscles bulged as he tried to break free, but the women held strong, their bodies infused with magical energy.

Yuuna, seeing all the females pile on Xyenn, gave Mertha a side-eye of jealousy, saying, “So they had to be all girls on top of him, huh?”

One of the workers, a young woman with bright green eyes and a freckled face, giggled as she pinned one of Xyenn’s arms to the floor. "Wow, he’s so strong! And kinda cute, too!"

Another worker chimed in, her voice teasing. "Yeah, I wouldn’t mind getting held down by him!"

Yuuna, who had been watching with a bemused expression, suddenly flared with jealousy, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Excuse me?" Her voice was sweet, but her tone was murderous. "I’ll burn every single one of you alive.”

Mertha, ever the peacekeeper, quickly stepped between Yuuna and the workers, holding the deity back with one massive hand. "Now, now, goddess. We need them to hold him down, their bodies are amplified with a weight spell, and since he’s not in his dragon form, he’ll have a hard time getting up without you. You can set them on fire after we’re done cooking."

Yuuna’s eye twitched, but she reluctantly nodded. "Fine. I’ll burn them later."

With Xyenn pinned down and struggling beneath the pile of giggling, complimenting workers, Mertha turned to Yuuna and the male kitchen staff. "We need to cook something big. Something that’ll fill him up for a long time.”

With a dramatic flourish, Yuuna snapped her fingers, and dark pink and black flames erupted from her hands, swirling around her like a storm of fire. "Let’s get cooking..then we cook those whores over there.

The workers chuckled at Yuuna, seeing how jealous she was, it amused them.

Mertha nodded and grabbed her massive cooking tools —She hefted a massive iron skillet over her shoulder, while the male workers brought out large slabs of mythic boar meat, laying it across a long stone table in the back of the kitchen.

"This boar," Yuuna began explaining, her voice taking on a theatrical tone, "is no ordinary beast. It’s a Frostback Boar, a creature that roams the frozen tundras of Vördrheim. Its meat is so rich in magical essence that even a dragon vessel like Xyenn will feel full for days."

Xyenn, still struggling beneath the pile of workers, mocked her tone between fits of laughter. "Oh, is that so, wench? Tell me more about this magical meat. I’m so interested."

Yuuna’s eye twitched again, her smile becoming increasingly strained. "I swear, I’m going to kill him."

Mertha, holding back a laugh of her own, gently patted Yuuna on the back. "Now, now, let’s focus on cooking before you murder your vessel."

Yuuna’s flames danced around the kitchen, heating the massive iron pots and pans with precision. Her flames didn’t burn like normal fire—they moved with intention, searing the meat to perfection. The male workers chopped vegetables, stirred cauldrons, and prepped spices, all while Yuuna and Mertha took the lead.

Mertha, her muscles bulging with every movement, slammed a massive cleaver into the boar meat, cutting it into thick, juicy slabs. "This is gonna be the finest feast this town has ever seen," she declared, her voice full of pride. “Or not see.”

Yuuna, flipping the meat in midair with her flames, smirked. "Damn right. He’ll be so full, he won’t be able to move for a week."

They worked in perfect tandem — Mertha’s brute strength and cooking expertise paired with Yuuna’s magical finesse. The kitchen became a whirlwind of activity, with ingredients flying through the air, pots boiling over with rich, hearty stews, and the smell of roasted boar filling every corner of the pub.

At one point, Yuuna launched a slab of boar meat into the air, and with a snap of her fingers, her flames grilled it mid-flight before it landed perfectly on a plate.

Mertha grinned, not missing a beat. She grabbed a massive ladle and, with a flick of her wrist, launched a perfectly seasoned stew into a row of bowls, each landing without spilling a drop.

As they cooked, Xyenn continued to laugh from across the room, mocking their efforts. "You two better hurry up! I’m getting hungrier by the second! Wenches!”

Yuuna and Mertha scoffed at Xyenn, “Die, fool!”

Xyenn mocked their tone, “diE fOOl.”

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of cooking, the long table at the back of the kitchen was filled with an enormous spread of food. The centerpiece was the roasted Frostback Boar, its meat glistening with juices, surrounded by bowls of rich stew, roasted vegetables, and thick slices of bread.

Mertha wiped her brow, grinning from ear to ear. "Now that’s a meal."

Yuuna, her flames finally dissipating, nodded with satisfaction. "He won’t be hungry for a while after this."

Before anyone could say anything else, Xyenn, still held down by the workers, suddenly broke free. His eyes gleamed with hunger as he dashed toward the table, his body moving faster than anyone could react.

In a single, blurring swipe, Xyenn devoured the entire feast. His claws tore through the boar, his teeth ripping into the meat with wild abandon. The stews, the bread, the vegetables—it was all gone in an instant, consumed in a flash of red energy and laughter.

The entire room went silent. The workers, Mertha, and Yuuna stood there, mouths agape, staring at the now-empty table.

Xyenn stood at the center of it all, licking his lips, a satisfied grin on his face. "Now that hit the spot."

THUMP!

Xyenn hit the floor, snoring loudly. He was asleep.