After seeing the injured wolf in front of me, my memories slowly came back. I moved closer and looked at his wound, but I sensed someone moving closer.

I drew my sword and blocked the attack. When I looked at the one who attacked me, I saw Astra, and his body was covered in black mist. He looked around 25-30, and was using a gray colored katana.

I pushed him back and sent a few lightning swords to his body, but it was eaten by the mist.

“Faeran, are you ok?”(Sania)

“Nuu”(Faeran)

He released his lightning form and collapsed. There was a cut on his side and blood was flowing out of his body. I couldn’t run to him since Astra blocked my path.

I cut one of his arms off, but he was able to cut one of mine too.

Received 387 damage from Astra

It didn’t seem like he felt anything and attacked me again. I deflected his attacks and kicked him on the shin, which broke and slowed down his movements. I used the opportunity to cut his remaining arm off and kicked him away from me.

I don’t know what happened, but I am sure that Astra is now an enemy. I’m hesitating a bit and I want to ask some questions, but Faeran and my life comes first. I’m not soft enough to let someone trying to kill me get off. Although we did stay with each other a bit, hurting Faeran to that extent is something that I won’t forgive.

I took a piece from my clothes and covered Faeran’s wound with it. After making sure his wounds were temporarily sealed, I looked back to the man that once traveled with us.

He was already running to me when I looked around. He didn’t have any arms to hold the katana, so he left it on the floor and just ran to me without a proper plan. Without any arms or weapon, I easily beheaded him.

The head rolled to the ground, but instead of blood, smoke came out from his body.

0 exp gained

I was shaken by my own actions. Everything was a mess, I don’t know what’s happening…but I had to protect Faeran.

I grabbed Faeran and started moving, inside the dark path. It looked like we were inside a cave, and the only light we could use was my lightning magic. Since I fell downwards, I thought there would be a hole above me, but all I could see was a dark ceiling.

The whole cave was covered in thin mist, and I felt something wrong so I was alert the whole time. My arm started to regenerate after the battle, it seems that the regeneration only starts whenever I am not at combat, so I can’t rely on it during battles.

This is the first time Faeran got hurt badly, but what I don’t understand is…why is he not healing? My regeneration ability comes from our contract right? Why is his wound not closing when I already regenerated a lost limb?

I suddenly felt a chill on my back and in a few moments, I felt a person running to me. As I turned back, I saw Astra with a katana on his hands.

Mother don’t leave me

I was quite sure that the voice inside my head came from him, but how can I understand it when we have different languages?

I left Faeran on the ground and welcomed Astra with a sword wave. He easily dodged them, but I already entered my lightning form.

The difference in strength, lead to an easy victory. I cut his body to pieces and observed him for a while. He was supposed to be dead earlier, so how was he able to catch up with a fully healed body?

0 exp gained

Red light appeared from the ceiling and entered one of Astra’s body part. His body lost form and became smoke. The smoke gathered around and dispersed, leaving a fully healed Astra in the middle. Without any delay, he took his weapon and ran after me again.

Mother, why did you reject father? Why did you reject me? Why did you reject our race? Why did you destroy the kingdom?

Just like before, I was too strong. It was a one sided battle, but I was starting to get tired.

0 exp gained

Another light appeared and I tried to stop it, but nothing I did could prevent Astra from reviving. It was obvious at this point that this cycle will continue. I was confused at first since Faeran wouldn’t lose to someone at this level if he was in his lightning form, but if the enemy kept reviving, then Faeran’s strength would deplete and lose at some point.

I killed Astra again and grabbed Faeran. If I couldn’t win, then I’ll just run away…but I couldn’t. Just like in the village, I kept returning to the place where Astra was. The cave probably loops after I ran a certain amount of distance, so I will only end up in the same place no matter how much I run.

I had to kill, and kill, and kill…

___

What’s happening? When did this happen? Why did this happen?

I kept asking myself as I repeatedly killed Astra. At this point, I have gotten used to killing someone that looked like a human. I was getting tired from the endless battle, and I could feel sadness and despair building up on my heart.

Faeran was in a bad condition, but we couldn’t get out. I still couldn’t fully understand what is happening. Did everything start when I met him, it does explain the 0 exp from the armored men. So, does that mean those were all a part of his plan?

He planned to drag all of us here from the start? What about the times we spent together? That one week isn’t a long time, but I started to get attached to him…He was a bit creepy at times, his growth was odd, but his smile was pure. Are you saying it was all a lie? I was just playing around his palm the whole time?

0 exp gained

I was already at a bad state. I was clearly stronger at first, but the endless battle tired me out. As the battle continued, I got weaker and weaker. I ran from time to time to regenerate, but the stress piled up.

Why mother? Why?

This is probably the last battle I could fight, I’ll die shortly after he regenerates…this is how it will all ends. Faeran, sorry I couldn’t protect you and thank you for trying to protect me.

Just like the time with the kinsmal ape, time slowed down. My body was numb, but I continued moving. We were fighting at equal strength now…no, he was already stronger than me. Only my instincts are making my body move right now.

Despite the disadvantage, I was able to push away his sword. I moved my body one last time, and waved my sword to his neck…but I lost consciousness.

___

When I woke up, I was in a dark isolated place. I couldn’t see anything, I couldn’t feel anything, but I could hear someone crying. I don’t know if I was moving my legs, but I wanted to go to where the sound came from.

The sound got louder and louder, so I was probably walking. I couldn’t feel anything, but at some point, I felt that the one crying is right beside me.

“Why are you crying?”(Sania)

At this point, I’m probably at the afterlife…or a place before I get my memories erased. Compared to my past life, I have a few regrets on this world…but it is all over now. The least I can do is to stop a child from crying, before I completely forget about myself.

“M-mother betrayed me.”(?)

“…tell me your story, maybe I can help you.”(Sania)

___

The child I was talking to was actually Astra. He was the first prince of the Natria Kingdom, a kingdom for the Exelia race, a race with a mix of human and animal features. Their country was peaceful, they didn’t have any enemies, in fact, they were allied with the kingdoms around them.

Astra was raised to be the next king and did his best to become one who could govern and protect his people. He studied in different fields, but excelled the most in combat. He was smart, but his real forte was fighting.

The people loved him as he loved them. He continued his studies for the sole reason of making their kingdom prosper. All that he wished for was to see his people smile.

On a certain day, the kingdoms around them declared war. It was their kingdom against 3 other kingdoms of different races. There was no clear reason as to why the war even started, until the king died.

A year after the war, the king was killed by his own parter…Estalia Elois Crysalia, the queen, and Astra’s mother. News spread that the king was assassinated by the enemy, but he knew it was his mother who killed his father. There were also a few that knew it, but the queen ordered them to be killed for treason.

His mother persuaded him to join her cause and become the next king, with her as the queen. Astra acted a bit and got information from his mother. Estalia wanted to unite the world, she wanted to create one big country, with her as the leader. She secretly got the cooperation of the other kingdoms.

It was a peaceful solution to ask the leaders of each kingdom for cooperation, but Estalia’s plans were a bit different. If a kingdom didn’t want to join, then the whole coalition will attack and conquer them. The king didn’t want to start a war, so he persuaded his wife…but got killed in the process.

Hearing his mother’s words made him realize something. The one in front of him was different from the one he knew before. The mother in front of him right now will bring ruin to the kingdom and as the next heir, it was his duty to protect his people.

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He cooperated, but tried to secretly stop his mother’s plan. Along the way, he was able to meet a few people with the same ideals as him and soon, created the Alzan Forces.

Astra asked his mother’s permission to create a village near the canyon. His mother didn’t ask anything and simply gave him the right to do so. Thus, the Alzan village was created. It was a place where his forces slowly gathered strength.

The years continued and they successfully conquered the continent. Despite the bad start, the queen actually helped the continent prosper. There was no point in stopping his mother when his people were living a good life…there was no reason to protect someone when there is no threat.

Seeing the change in his mother, he erased the thought of rebelling. Instead, he tried his best to give the people a better life. The Alzan village no longer had a reason, but they were presented a chance to live a peaceful life.

One day, when he visited the village, it was abandoned…no, everyone was killed. There were still fresh corpses so it happened not too long ago. When he heard voices, he ran. The thing he saw was something he did not expect.

A group of armored men were killing the citizens, and they had the emblem of the queen with them. Males were killed and females became a plaything for the soldiers, he ordered them to stop, but he was cut in the process.

The soldiers started attacking him, but he didn’t know the reason why it’s happening. He fought back to protect his own life, but he was outnumbered. At his final moment, one of the soldier told him something.

‘Your mother ordered us to kill you. With your death, the continent will be under the queen’s rule. I can’t wait for the reward the queen will give us hahahahaha.’(Soldier)

___

It has been a hundred thousand years since then, and he couldn’t rest until he was sure that his people were safe. His soul could only move a few kilometers away from the village, so it was impossible to check. The only thing he could do, was lure people to the village and kill them, to erase the possibility of a threat.

He killed and killed so that no harm will reach his people. It didn’t matter if the people were good or bad, as long as there was one less threat for his kingdom. It was only a few hundred years when he learned that the kingdom was no more.

A few bandits were walking to the canyon, so he lured them to the village. The bandits somehow told him what he wanted to know…the Natria kingdom fell a long time ago, because of the queen that tried to conquer more land.

In a few years, the kingdom prospered, but changed drastically when the prince died. The queen’s rule was centered on herself and herself alone. She made people worship her, she made people work for her and she experimented on people to prolong her life.

Her tyranny lasted for a few decades, but was defeated when the whole continent united and rebelled against her. Astra, who was doing his best even after death, no longer had a reason to continue.

He no longer needed to protect, when there was nothing to protect. He could finally rest, but he couldn’t. He felt empty, all of his efforts were for naught. All he could do was continue killing until the pain of his soul fades.

I was only one of the people that ventured near the village. If what he said is true, then he has been alone for a long time. But he killed me and probably Faeran too, so I can’t really sympathize.

But Since I’m gonna forget everything anyway, might as well help someone move on...Isn’t my personality a bit loose now? And why can I understand his words?

“Astra, you have done enough. You don’t have to suffer anymore.”(Sania)

“No, it’s not enough, I have to kill more, I have t…”(Astra)

I imagined hugging him and patting his head. Just like before, I sang a lullaby. I don’t know how much time passed in this world of darkness, but I continued to sing. Light slowly appeared around and I could see a child at the age of 14-16 crying.

As I sang, more and more could be seen around. We were not in a cave like I was expecting, in fact, we were at an open field. At first it was empty, but life slowly sprouted from the ground. Trees, plants, and grass appeared around us.

“You should rest now, you’ll only be hurting yourself if you continue.”(Sania)

“But”(Astra)

“Look, I’ll go there with you, so you won’t be alone.”(Sania)

“Bu-”(Astra)

“No buts. A man can’t continue crying for a hundred thousand years.”(Sania)

“B-“(Astra)

I moved both of my hands on his face and pulled it closer to mine. Our foreheads touched and I looked him in the eye.

“You don’t have to continue this anymore, so rest.”(Sania)

He cried after that and I stayed with him until he calmed down…I mean, I don’t really have a place to go now that I’m dead. Sigh…I wonder where Faeran is? Maybe he is still alive and got out since I can’t see him around here. If he is alive, then that’s good.

The sun didn’t set, but I was sure quite a long time passed already. About a few days, or even a week. Astra tugged my clothes one last time, and asked me.

“Can I call you mother?”(Astra)

“Sure”(Sania)

Astra wiped his tears away and faced me. He closed his eyes for a bit before smiling at me. As he opened his mouth, his body started to fade.

“Thank you, mother.”(Astra)

Before he completely disappeared, I patted his head and replied with a smile. With that, it’s my time to be reborn without my memories.

Of course I was scared, but I knew there was nothing I could do, so I just accepted my fate.

___

Surprisingly, when I opened my eyes, I was back to the dark cave. My body was moving to Astra and as it is now, my victory was certain…was it all just a dream?

Right before my sword connected to his neck, all the mist vanished and I could see him smile.

“Thank you”(Astra)

I was able to kill him and this time, no light appeared to revive him. The place started to collapse, and due to stress, I fainted.

7500 exp gained

GHOST VILLAGE(ALZAN) CLEARED

DUNGEON RANK: ****

ACHIEVEMENT REWARDS:

Defeated Astra without holy magic: 250000 exp

Defeated Astra with 12 or less people: 150000 exp

Helped Astra move on: 100000 exp

Level raised by 9

___

When I opened my eyes, I was in the middle of the plain. Faeran was there, but he was still injured. I looked around but the village was nowhere to be seen and beside me, there was the katana that Astra used.

Luckily, it looks like my bag was in one piece. I used a clean cloth to cover Faeran’s wound and started running to find a lake; to wash his body. I was carrying Faeran, Astra’s katana and my bag.

Azaroth(Myth)

Durability 150/150(regenerates by 3 per day)

+50% strength

+25% magic attack

+10% dexterity

+10% agility

+5% defense

+5% magic defense

+10% resistance to all types of magic

+recovers 5% hp based on damage dealt

+recovers 2.5% mp based on damage dealt

Faeran woke up a few days after that. He was in a really bad shape, but with me taking care of him, he slowly recovered. By this time, all the monsters around were at a level where a level 15 person could survive…or at least a level 15 me can.

I believe that the difficulty of the monsters will drop as I go further. I get the feeling that I’ll see people on a place with weak monsters…or should I call them animals? I just hope that instead of ghosts, a real person shows up this time.

A week after the events at the plain, Faeran recovered completely. He is now wagging his tail as he walks beside me.

“It’s almost time for lunch. What do you want to eat?”(Sania)

“Nuu” Faeran jumped to my shoulder and pointed his small fluffy paws at an animal.

_________

Author’s Note:

Spoiler :

I left a lot of things unanswered as it is about ghost. I felt that I had to leave some mystery like, how did the house not fall when she attacked? Where was the cave located? How did she meet 2 Astras?(one in the dream and one in the cave) Where did Astra get Azaroth? Why was there a high leveled dungeon in the middle of a field for level 20 people? And a lot more that she won’t encounter unless another ghost type enemy appears. Just hope that she has holy type magic by then…or not, to get higher rewards.

For other information such as her regenerative abilities or other things about her, it would naturally show itself in the future. It probably looked to easy, but she just did the right thing at the right place and at the right time.

I could have just gone past her training arc, but I felt like I had to add more. I had to show what she had to go through to become strong. The thing is, instead of repeated grinding, I showed a sudden life and death situation via high level dungeon. Well, she is growing too fast because of her passive.