Roxanne continued to walk towards Leo, each step filled with purpose. Sensing no malice from her, Leo turned his head slightly and asked, "What do you need?"
She stopped an arm's length away from him, her presence radiating something profound and ancient. Feeling a powerful connection, Leo threw the monster away again with a mighty push, sending it crashing into the trees. As the dust settled, a magic circle began to materialize beneath them, its intricate symbols glowing with a soft, ethereal light.
As Leo slowly turned to face her, Roxanne began to descend, her movements graceful and deliberate. Her voice, filled with a blend of hope and determination, resonated through the clearing. She chanted as she knelt, each word echoing with power.
"By the ancient bond of Arcanites, I, Roxanne, call upon the power of our ancestors," she began, lowering herself to one knee as the light of the magic circle intensified.
Leo, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly asked Ai, What's happening right now?
"In this moment of need, I seek to form a sacred pact with you, Leo. Let our energies intertwine and our strengths merge as one," Roxanne continued, bringing her other knee to the ground, her eyes never leaving his.
Telepathically, Ai replied, her voice calm and informative.
Roxanne is an Arcanite, a legendary being capable of forming powerful bonds with adventurers. She is requesting a pact with you.
Usually, it's the adventurer who does the asking and kneeling, but this time, Roxanne has taken the initiative.
"Through this union, may we become an unstoppable force against the darkness that threatens us. I offer my essence, my power, and my unwavering loyalty," Roxanne declared, raising her hand towards him, the magic circle's glow reflecting in her eyes
"Will you accept this bond, and together, shall we forge a path of victory and honor?" she asked, her hand steady despite the trembling in her voice.
Understanding dawned on Leo as he turned his gaze back to Roxanne. Her hand was still extended, her eyes filled with hope and determination. The magic circle beneath them pulsed with life, awaiting his decision.
Back in his life on Earth, whenever Leo found himself clouded by irrational thinking or simply unsure of what to do, he often thought of his idols, both real and imaginary. This time, he thought about how Keanu Reeves might respond to this kind of situation.
Keanu was well known for his kind heart and being a true gentleman. The stories of his generosity and humility were legendary—he would give up his seat for someone in need, engage in heartfelt conversations with fans, and even take pay cuts to ensure his colleagues were well-compensated.
Having a legendary companion like Roxanne was not even a question for Leo; it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Although, he chuckled to himself, this was technically his second life. But what really bothered him was how to respond to a situation where a woman was kneeling before a man. Never in his life did he think this would happen to him.
So, if Keanu were standing there, what would he do? Leo imagined him standing where he was, responding with the utmost grace and respect. In his mind's eye, he saw Keanu gently taking Roxanne's hand, helping her up, and then kneeling himself to show humility and honor.
With Keanu's image guiding him, Leo reached out and grasped Roxanne's extended hand. Her skin was warm and soft, and he could feel the pulse of magic between them. Slowly, he pulled her up until she was fully upright, her eyes widening in surprise and gratitude.
Then, with a deep breath, Leo descended to one knee, the light of the magic circle casting a soft glow around them both. As he knelt, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently, his eyes meeting hers with a look of solemn respect and commitment.
"Yes," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "I accept this bond."
The magic circle erupted in a dazzling display of light, enveloping them both in its radiant glow. Roxanne's core began to fill with Leo's mana, the pact forming and solidifying. The air around them hummed with power as their energies intertwined, creating a bond that felt unbreakable.
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As she felt her core starting to get full, Roxanne readied herself for another failure. Her hand tightened its grip a little as she gently bit her lip, bracing for the familiar disappointment. But then, as the core filled, she was elated, her heart racing with joy—she had finally succeeded in forming a pact.
However, she sensed that the pact was not yet complete. Something was still missing, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was until she felt the mana from her core spill over and begin filling another core. Roxanne was ecstatic;
she had never experienced this before. The second core was larger, and as it filled, she marveled at the sensation.
Throughout the process, she felt waves of energy coursing through her. Each new core that was filled was aligned in a circular path, resembling a mandala design. The energy flowed smoothly, creating a harmonious pattern within her.
A mandala design is a complex, often circular, geometric pattern that is rich in symbolism and spiritual meaning. The word "mandala" comes from the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit and translates to "circle." However, mandalas are more than just circles; they typically feature intricate, symmetrical designs that radiate out from a central point.
As each core filled, it emanated different hues—vibrant blues, radiant greens, fiery reds, and soft purples—each color dancing and merging in a symphony of light.
Her experience was out of this world. With each core that filled, the colors grew more intense, creating a breathtaking display. And then, a last core began to fill, it was the largest of them that housed all the previous cores, forming a grand orb that pulsed with a dance of vibrant colors.
This final core was a kaleidoscope of hues, each one more brilliant than the last, swirling in an intricate, harmonious dance.
As the final core filled, Roxanne’s heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of victory. For the first time in centuries, she had succeeded. The crushing weight of failure, which had haunted her for so long, evaporated in an instant. Tears welled in her eyes, but they were not born of sorrow—they were a testament to the joy and liberation she felt. She had found her partner at last.
The forest around them seemed to come alive with their newfound energy, the trees whispering and the air buzzing with magic.
A soft, almost imperceptible notification appeared—
Achievement unlocked: Meet a Legendary Figure!
As the achievement notification flashed in front of him, Leo couldn’t help but smile. Meeting a legendary figure, forming a pact, unlocking new power—it was everything he had dreamed of when he first entered this world. But now, it meant something more. With Roxanne by his side, the path ahead seemed clearer, the obstacles less daunting.
But it was like a whisper that was lost in the air, overshadowed by the moment's intensity. Then, a familiar feeling of danger emerged as the monster, ever ferocious, prepared to attack again.
The ground beneath the monster crashed as it jumped into the air, its limbs spreading wide. Its tails, previously coiled around its body, unfurled, displaying numerous limbs all tipped with deadly talons. The air seemed to freeze with its menacing presence, but Leo remained undaunted.
Roxanne's body suddenly dispersed into countless crimson butterflies. They danced around Leo, swirling in a mesmerizing display of red wings shimmering with magic. The butterflies gradually converged into his hand, forming a sword.
The blade was a deep, blood crimson, its surface smooth and gleaming, with minimal but striking features. It had an aura of ancient power, elegant in its simplicity.
As soon as the Bloodmoon Blade manifested in Leo's hand, multiple notifications appeared—
Achievement unlocked: Obtain the Bloodmoon Blade!
Multiple sword skills are being unlocked but Leo glanced at the last skill, its name stood out among them.
He marveled at the blade in his hand, its crimson hue glowing softly in the dim light of the forest. He could feel Roxanne’s presence within the weapon, her energy humming in harmony with his own. For a brief moment, the forest stood still, as if the world itself acknowledged the gravity of their bond. But then, the ground shook violently as the monster roared once more, its rage undiminished.
Its tails whipping around it as it prepared to strike. Leo's grip tightened on the blade, feeling the energy of the weapon coursing through him. He then coiled his arm around himself as he bent, gathering mana into the blade.
With a powerful motion, Leo executed a full arc slash. The force from this action propelled him into the air doing a 360-degree spin, releasing a crescent-shaped energy slash that traveled forward, cleaving through the air.
"Celestial Arc Slash!" Leo shouted, his voice echoing through the forest.
The monster’s body convulsed violently as the attack tore through its flesh. Its once-imposing form was reduced to a broken, twitching mass. Dark blood gushed from the deep gash running down its middle, pooling beneath it as its tails thrashed weakly. The creature let out one final, gurgling roar before collapsing into a lifeless heap, the last remnants of its aura flickering out like dying embers.
The slash was so powerful that it divided the clouds above, creating a momentary gap in the sky. The crimson energy trail left behind by the slash shimmered, illuminating the clearing with an eerie, yet beautiful light.
The monster's body convulsed, its once formidable form now reduced to a twitching mass of severed body and dying fury. The forest seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as the threat diminished, the oppressive atmosphere lifting.
Leo stood tall, the Bloodmoon Blade glowing softly in his hand, the remnants of its power still humming in the air.