A tense silence enveloped the forest as the bandits caught their breath, each heart pounding with fear. Then, the sound of something massive approaching broke the stillness. The trees snapped like twigs under the weight of whatever was charging toward them.
Out from the shadows, the monster that had attacked them earlier emerged, blood still smeared across its mouth and body. Its eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger. The bandit leader's hand trembled as he unsheathed his weapon, but the man beside him, eyes wide with terror, whispered urgently, "We can't defeat that monster."
The leader's jaw clenched. "I know," he hissed. "But I'll take her to my grave." He spun around, weapon raised, but before he could make another move, the monster roared, the sound echoing through the forest like a thunderclap. It lunged forward, its claws gleaming in the dim light.
With a swift, brutal motion, the monster's claws slashed through the bandits. Blood sprayed the air, and their bodies crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The leader's eyes widened in shock as he collapsed, his last breath escaping in a choked gurgle.
The beast roared once more, the sound so deafening that she had to cover her ears, yet she could still hear it reverberate through her bones. The ground trembled as the monster, now on all fours, began to move toward her, each step causing the earth to quake.
She could feel the vibrations growing stronger, closer, as the beast's massive form loomed nearer. Her body, exhausted and weakened, refused to move. Her limbs felt like lead, her strength drained from the relentless chase and sheer terror.
The monster raised its claw, casting a shadow over her. She looked up, eyes wide with resignation, and watched as the claw descended. Her heart raced, but her body remained frozen, fatigue and fear rendering her powerless.
In that moment, she accepted her fate, closing her eyes as she awaited the inevitable.
She heard the sharp crack of wood splintering and a deafening thud as the ground trembled beneath her. Blinking her eyes open, she saw a man, his figure commanding and resolute, standing where the monster had been moments before. Shock was etched on his face as he stared down at the remnants of his shattered wooden sword.
Leo’s heart sank as the sword splintered in his hands. "Damn it," he muttered, frustration flaring for a split second. The wooden shards fell to the ground, useless now. But there was no time to dwell on it. With a deep breath, he steeled himself and met the monster’s claws with his bare hands, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he absorbed the force of the blow.
As he struggled to hold back the monster’s claws, he felt the familiar weight of the curse pressing down on him. The strength he once wielded with ease now felt like a distant memory, slipping through his fingers. He gritted his teeth, reminding himself of what Ai had said—his intelligence might be high, but the curse would make everything harder now.
"Are you alright?" came a voice beside her. Turning, she saw Ai, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around them. Ai's concerned eyes scanned her, while two cats, their fur bristling, sat alert beside her, their gazes fixed on the unfolding battle.
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In front of them, the man, standing tall and formidable, grappled with the monster, his hands gripping its enormous claw. The creature's claws were nearly as large as he was, but he held his ground, muscles straining. The girl next to her seemed to be speaking, but her words were lost to the her, who found herself mesmerized by the man's sheer presence.
Leo stood with his back to her, his black hair flowing like a dark banner in the wind. His broad shoulders and powerful stance spoke of a seasoned adventurer, someone who had faced countless dangers. He held the monster's claw with an iron grip, the creature visibly struggling to free itself. Each movement sent tremors through the ground, but Leo's resolve didn't waver.
His voice cut through the cacophony of battle. "Could you get me a sword?" he called to Ai, his tone surprisingly calm given the circumstances. He discarded the broken wooden sword, and a glow emanated from his waist, revealing a new weapon.
It was still a wooden sword.
Leo pulled it free, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. "Why is it a wooden sword?" he asked, exasperation coloring his voice.
She shrugged, her eyes reflecting a blend of apology and frustration. "This was the best I could find," she said, her lips curling into a slight, playful smirk.
The monster, undeterred by the conversation, swung its other claw at Leo. He retaliated, striking it with the wooden sword, which shattered instantly upon contact. With both claws now engaged, Leo's muscles bulged as he held the beast at bay, his face a mask of concentration and determination.
The Arcanite, still half-prone on the ground, couldn't tear her eyes away from Leo. There was something ineffably amazing about him, a blend of raw strength and unyielding resolve that captivated her. She watched as his grip tightened, the veins in his arms standing out against his skin, and felt a strange sense of awe and admiration.
She suddenly remembered the times when adventurers approached her, their eyes alight with hope and ambition, seeking her as their partner. Most were indeed strong, drawn by the allure of an Arcanite's power—the perfect weapon, as they called it.
Arcanites were legendary beings, born alongside the First Adventurers. These pioneers, endowed with immense innate powers, found normal weapons too fragile for their strength. Instead, they formed pacts with Arcanites, who could transform into various powerful weapons.
But after the Demon God's attack, most of the Arcanites perished alongside the First Adventurers. The few that remained were those fortunate enough to be away on adventures when the Demon God struck. Arcanites do not age and only dies if the individual they had a pact with perished. This made them living legends, relics of a bygone era.
Roxanne, however, was different. She had tried making pacts with strong adventurers, even system users, but her powers, for some inexplicable reason, never activated. Arcanites could transform into various forms of weapons—swords, bows and arrows, knuckles, and more. She tried forming pacts with adventurers of different classes and jobs, but nothing worked. Deemed a failure, she had been alone ever since.
Arcanites were easily distinguished by their glowing white skin with a faint bluish light, their hair like rays of moonlight, and their eyes as blue as the clear sky. These features made them targets for bandits, as Arcanites were defenseless on their own, relying on the individual with whom they had a pact.
Roxanne lived her life in the shadows, always cloaked in her tattered robe, until that fateful day when she was discovered by a group of bandits while sleeping inside a secluded cave near Brokrun village.
The memories flooded her mind as she watched Leo battle the monster. She had hidden herself well, surviving alone in the darkness, but now she was thrust into the light, her secret exposed. As the monster roared, trying to free its claws from Leo's grip, she could feel the raw power emanating from him.