Chapter 9

A Quiet Evening on the Beach

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The air around us twisted and shimmered as the feather expanded, its translucent form unraveling into a swirling vortex. A low hum filled the space, resonating deep in my chest, as the rift grew larger, stretching into an unsteady gateway. Beyond the portal lay a chaotic realm of shadows and movement, its landscape shifting and contorting as though reality itself was fluid and unstable. The air buzzed with an unnatural energy, heavy with the scent of ozone and something burning. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing like a drum as I steeled myself for what lay ahead.

With a final glance at Arstria, who stood calm and resolute beside me, I stepped forward. Crossing the threshold felt like plunging into a thunderstorm, my breath catching as a wave of cold, alien energy washed over me. The world beyond was an assault on the senses, a twisted landscape where jagged rocks floated in the air, and distant storms churned in the sky.

“After we’re done here, let’s go to the beach.” – I said suddenly, my voice cutting through the oppressive silence of the dimensional fracture.

Arstria turned her head slightly, her curious eyes narrowing at me in a mix of surprise and amusement. For a moment, the weight of the realm around us seemed to lift, and the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips.

“You’re still thinking about that?” – She asked, her tone carrying both exasperation and warmth. – “Here, in the middle of this nightmare?”

I shrugged, gripping my weapon tighter as I scanned the area for movement. – “Hey, I’m just saying. We’ve been cooped up training for what feels like forever, and now that I’m done… a day at the beach doesn’t sound so bad.”

Arstria’s gaze softened as she stepped beside me, her hair catching the faint, flickering light of the vortex behind us. – “Considering your training is officially complete now.” – She said with a small nod. – “Yes. Let’s do it.”

As the rift finally closed, the distorted fragments of reality around us began to stabilize, settling into their true forms. The chaos of swirling lights and fractured dimensions gave way to an eerie stillness, leaving behind a landscape both alien and hauntingly familiar. The air shimmered with residual energy, a faint hum vibrating through the ground beneath our feet.

"Beasts being made from humanity's imagination was just a theory, then?" – I asked, my voice uncertain as I tried to grasp the enormity of what I was seeing. My eyes flicked toward her, my companion in this strange endeavor, whose calm demeanor stood in stark contrast to the surreal backdrop. – “They were dimensional aliens all along?"

She didn’t answer immediately, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon as though searching for something hidden in the folds of this dreamlike world. The silence stretched, the only sound the faint crackle of energy dissipating into the ether.

Finally, she spoke, her tone measured and thoughtful. – “No." – She said, shaking her head slightly.

“According to my experiences and observations, I've concluded something far more complex. Humanity has always dreamed of worlds beyond its own. From the earliest myths of gods and monsters to the intricate fantasies woven by your greatest storytellers, you’ve longed for something more, something other. The beasts we fight... they aren’t merely invaders or products of your fears."

Her gaze turned back to the horizon, her expression unreadable. – “They’re akin to dreams. Humanity’s collective unconscious gave them shape, purpose, and, ultimately, a bridge into existence. These worlds you see now? They are not where the beasts came from." – Her voice dropped, tinged with a quiet reverence. – “These places were created to sustain the beasts' existence. They're terrariums, if you will, entire realms forged to support beings born from human imagination."

As we ventured deeper into the surreal realm, the landscape finally revealed its true, eerily serene form. The ground beneath our feet smoothed into a plane of soft, cloudlike grass that shimmered faintly. Above, the churning storms parted to reveal a boundless expanse of blue sky, the light glinting off the reflective surface of the terrain. The air grew warmer, infused with a subtle sweetness that felt both inviting and otherworldly.

“It is beautiful.” – I remarked.

“Definitely one of the best-looking ones.” – She added.

We pressed on, the realm unfolding with every step. Towering topaz formations rose like mountains in the distance, their jagged spires catching and refracting the sunlight in a dazzling display. Streams of crystalline water flowed through the landscape, their currents carrying motes of energy.

As we approached the heart of the realm, a change in the atmosphere was palpable. The air grew denser, charged with an energy that set my nerves on edge. Ahead, a vast meadow opened up, its surface blanketed by a field of ethereal, glowing flowers. At the center of the meadow stood a creature, its presence both majestic and imposing.

The field of glowing flowers extended as far as the eye could see, their soft luminescence casting a surreal glow over the landscape. Each bloom pulsed faintly, as though alive with the rhythm of some invisible force. The sight was mesmerizing, almost tranquil, but the charged air hinted at an underlying menace.

“Stay alert.” – Arstria said, her tone sharp and focused. Her crimson eyes scanned the meadow, catching every flicker of movement among the flowers.

Her calm confidence was infectious, but a flicker of doubt lingered in my mind. I’d trained for months, but this was different. The stakes felt higher, the weight of the mission pressing down on me. Still, I nodded, forcing my nerves to settle. – “Got it.”

As we continued forward, the stillness of the meadow became oppressive, every step accompanied by the soft crunch of the ground beneath our boots. The pulsing glow of the flowers seemed to quicken with our movement, their light throbbing in synchrony with the heavy hum that filled the air. It felt as though the very field was alive, watching us, waiting for something.

Arstria moved with purpose, her steps deliberate yet light, as though she floated across the delicate terrain. Her eyes never stopped scanning the horizon, their piercing gaze sharp enough to cut through the haze of unease that hung over the meadow. She held her weapons close, the blade humming faintly in response to the tension around us.

“There.” – She said, her voice low as she pointed toward the creature.

I followed her gaze, my eyes widening as they fell upon a being unlike any I had ever encountered. The beasts that the stars had faced were fear inducing manifestations of humanity’s nightmares, bloodthirsty predators driven by an insatiable hunger for destruction. Yet this creature was different, so different that calling it a beast felt almost sacrilegious.

It stood by a crystalline river, its posture regal and unthreatening, drinking from the shimmering water with an elegance that seemed at odds with everything I knew about the beings we were meant to fight. Its body was a masterpiece of nature and myth, its coat a pristine white that caught the light like freshly fallen snow. Each strand of fur seemed to shimmer, as though imbued with an ethereal white glow.

Wings, magnificent and powerful, unfurled slightly at its sides. They were as vast as they were breathtaking, their feathers a mix of soft ivory and shimmering silver, each one catching the light in a way that made the creature appear almost heavenly. The tips of the feathers glowed faintly, as if kissed by sunlight.

Its form was a harmonious blend of strength and grace. Muscles rippled beneath its sleek fur as it shifted, its movements fluid and deliberate. The long, elegant neck arched gracefully.

But it was the creature’s eyes that struck me the most. Large and luminous, they held an intelligence far beyond anything I had expected. They were a deep, electric shade of yellow, and as they flicked briefly toward us, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me.

Grand Beast

Pegasus

“This… this can’t be what we’re here to fight.” – I murmured, my voice barely audible as I struggled to reconcile the majestic vision before me with the threat we had come to eliminate.

Arstria didn’t respond immediately, her gaze locked onto the creature with an intensity that made her look like a machine. Her expression hard and unreadable.

“Appearances can be deceiving.” – Arstria said finally, her voice low but firm, carrying a weight that made me shiver. Her crimson eyes, usually so warm, now burned with a grim resolve that made my stomach twist. – “This creature, for all its beauty, is no different from the others. If given the opportunity, it will kill humans as effortlessly as it breathes.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. For a moment, the only sound was the gentle murmur of the river as it flowed beside the Pegasus. Its serene stance, the elegance of its every motion, seemed so at odds with the horrific truth Arstria had just revealed.

She continued, her tone steady but edged with a bitterness I hadn’t heard before. – “It’s nothing new in this field, having to kill creatures like this, majestic beings that look like they’ve stepped straight out of humanity’s dreams. When they’re beautiful like this one, the battles simply aren’t shown on the media.”

Her words cut through me like ice, the raw truth of them unsettling in a way I couldn’t shake. I couldn’t help but glance back at the Pegasus. It stood perfectly still by the crystalline river, its head tilted slightly as if listening to some distant, unearthly melody. The sunlight glinted off its fur and wings, painting it in hues of divine light.

Arstria’s sharp gaze shifted to me, her expression hard as stone. – “Are you going to do it or not?” – She asked coldly. The girl who had been so warm and reassuring earlier was gone, replaced by a soldier hardened by countless battles.

“Yes.” – I said, forcing the word out even as doubt clawed at me. I tightened my grip on my sword, the golden blade humming faintly with the energy that had been imbued into it. Slowly, I crouched down, the tall grass of the field brushing against my arms as I tried to steady my breathing.

The Pegasus hadn’t noticed us yet, its focus still on the river, but its wings twitched slightly, a subtle reminder that it could take to the skies in an instant. I had one chance to strike, one chance before it escaped or retaliated.

I closed my eyes for a moment, drawing on the training I had undergone for months under Vian’s brutal tutelage and Arstria’s relentless supervision. Every strike, every movement, had been drilled into me a thousand times over. My body knew what to do, even if my mind rebelled against the act.

‘Just move.’ – I told myself. – ‘Just do it.’

The blood coursing through my veins wasn’t entirely my own anymore. Arstria’s blood, imbued with the strength and resilience of her immortal nature, had changed me in ways I was still coming to understand. It was what gave me the confidence to act now, to believe that I could succeed where a mere human might falter.

The Pegasus shifted slightly, dipping its head to the water again. It was now or never.

With a sharp intake of breath, I surged forward, every ounce of my training focused into a single, fluid motion. My feet barely touched the ground as I sprinted, the golden sword in my grip glowing faintly, its edge reflecting the dying light of the day. My heart raced in time with my pulse, adrenaline surging through my veins as I closed the distance between myself and the creature.

The Pegasus, however, was faster than I had anticipated. Its ears flicked back, sensing the disturbance in the air, and in a flash, its head snapped up. Its luminous eyes met mine, and for just a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze. There was no malice in those eyes, no fury, nor hatred. Only an ancient, unknowable sadness. A sorrow that transcended time itself, a grief so profound that it made my chest tighten and my sword falter. It was a moment of connection, fleeting and fragile, that made the weight of what I was about to do feel unbearable.

But before I could make sense of that fleeting bond, the Pegasus reacted. Its massive wings flared open. The wind whipped around me, threatening to knock me off balance as it began to lift into the air. I could feel the power radiating off it, the majesty of a creature too wild to be contained. The world around me seemed to grow distant, and I knew I had only one chance.

I lunged forward, my body driven by instinct. The sword in my hands gleamed, a silver streak of light cutting through the evening air. I thrust it forward with all my strength, every muscle straining, every fiber of my being focused on the mark. The creature was almost within reach, its wings beating with tremendous force, the wind howling as it pulled away from the earth.

But it was too late. In a single, graceful leap, the Pegasus took flight, leaving the field behind. Its powerful wings beat once, twice, and then it soared into the sky. My heart sank. The sword, which had been my steady companion, now felt like an unwieldy weight in my hands. I had failed.

No, I had spared it, that much was clear.

“Then it is my turn now.”

The voice was commanding and full of purpose. Before I could even process what was happening, a brilliant flash of light erupted from behind me. I turned just in time to see Arstria, the fiery star, ignite like a rocket, her entire being consumed by the force of her power. With a burst of flame and fury, she shot toward the flying beast, her form a blazing trail against the fading light of the sky.

I dropped to my knees, the earth beneath me soft and forgiving. My hands trembled as I watched the battle unfold above me. My sword still heavy in my grasp, I could do nothing but watch as the two forces collided in the sky.

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Chris’s blade faltered mid-swing, his attack falling short as the beast soared effortlessly into the sky. His face twisted with frustration, the spark of determination dimmed by the realization of his failure. It was supposed to be his moment, his first victory against a beast. But now, as the Pegasus vanished into the clouds, it was clear his chance had slipped away.

I stepped forward. The rapiers already flaring into life, their edges glowing with a furious intensity as flames licked hungrily along their lengths. – “Then it is my turn now.”

The fire surged, crackling as it danced along the blades, casting a golden hue over the battlefield. Without waiting for a response, I launched myself into the air, propelled by the searing heat of my own flames. The ground fell away in an instant, replaced by the open expanse of the sky as I ascended toward the fleeing Pegasus.

I lunged, my rapiers blazing with fire as I closed the distance, but just as my blade grazed the air where it had been, it veered sharply to the side, leaving me swiping at nothing. My flames, once a reliable extension of my will, seemed sluggish in comparison to its fast reflexes. I gritted my teeth, frustration mounting with every failed attempt.

Again, I surged forward, flames propelling me through the sky. I slashed in a wide arc, aiming to cut off its escape, but the Pegasus read my movements as if it could see into my mind. Its wings folded inward for a split second, sending it into a rapid dive that left me slicing through empty air. Before I could react, it snapped its wings open again, the sudden burst of wind nearly knocking me off balance as it spiraled upward, effortlessly reclaiming the high ground.

Most air beasts could fly, but this one… this one was different. Its movements were sharper, faster, almost impossible to predict. Each time I thought I had closed the gap, it twisted and spiraled through the air with an agility that defied reason, leaving me in its wake. My teeth clenched in frustration as I realized this was no ordinary beast. It was smarter, far smarter, than the creatures I’d faced before.

“Fine.” – I muttered through gritted teeth, the flames intensifying. – “If you’re so faster and dodges everything I throw at you, then let’s see how you handle this.”

With a surge of mana, I activated a technique I had honed specifically for airborne enemies.

“Firework Explosion!”

The flames on my rapiers fused into a single, incandescent burst, and with a roar, I shot forward like a blazing comet. My body became a missile of destruction, propelled by the sheer force of my own fire. This was my most dangerous technique, one designed for the sky, far from the reach of innocent lives below. It was a calculated explosion, a maelstrom of fire that consumed everything within its radius, including me.

As I hurtled toward the Pegasus, I felt the familiar heat enveloping my body, the searing pain a reminder of the price of using such a reckless attack. The burns, the draining of all my mana, the freefall after the explosion, it was a technique only possible through my immortality.

The Pegasus had nowhere to run. I was upon it, the gap closed, the moment perfect. I prepared to detonate, to engulf it in flames so powerful that not even its speed could save it.

And then it screamed.

The sound was otherworldly, piercing through the air like a blade, and in an instant, everything changed. Its pristine white coat, shimmering with the ethereal glow of its element, began to shift. Golden veins streaked across its body, pulsing like liquid lightning. The Pegasus wasn’t fleeing anymore, it was transforming.

What…?

During my early years of fighting, Earth Beasts like the Scarab were common. Towering and unyielding, juggernauts of destruction, their hulking forms covered in impenetrable armor that seemed carved from the planet itself. But as the years passed, their numbers dwindled. Now, it’s a rare event to encounter an Earth Beast, their kind seemingly fading into obscurity as if the earth itself has withdrawn its champions from the fight.

In contrast, Water Beasts like The Livyatan have only grown in prevalence, their ranks swelling as though the element bears a personal grudge against me. These creatures are as cunning as they are relentless. They strike with precision, exploiting every vulnerability as if guided by some unseen hatred. Their presence is a constant, a grim reminder that some forces in this world will never rest until I am no more.

Air Beasts, on the other hand, are a relatively new phenomenon. Their arrival marked a shift in the battlefield, a shift that felt as sudden as it was unnerving. Creatures like this one have only begun to appear in recent years, but their numbers are slowly but steadily increasing. Unlike their terrestrial and aquatic counterparts, Air Beasts bring an entirely different kind of challenge. Their speed and agility make them elusive adversaries, their attacks precise and unrelenting from the skies. Their growing presence feels like a prelude, a harbinger of something far greater and more dangerous yet to come.

“Our souls resonate with one aspect of an element, binding us to its specific form. Some, however, can adapt their soul’s resonance, shifting between the main element and the alter.” – Sapphire’s words echoed in my mind.

Until now.

Grand Beast

Pegasus

The Bringer of Lightning

The Pegasus’s transformation shattered the rules I thought I understood. The air around it crackled with energy, its newly golden wings humming with raw power. Lightning surged along its body, building in intensity until it erupted in a blinding flash. The bolt struck me point-blank, a searing lance of electricity that tore through my body with merciless precision.

My nerves screamed before falling silent, my body locking in place as paralysis swept over me. The fire in my rapiers extinguished, the mana sustaining them torn away by the electrical onslaught. I was helpless, a burning comet turned lifeless projectile, hurtling toward the earth below.

My technique, my desperate gambit, it had failed.

Through the haze of pain and the roar of the wind, I saw it. The Pegasus hovered above, its golden veins pulsating like the heart of a star, its eyes glowing with an intelligence that sent chills down my spine.

The ground rushed toward me, the wind screaming in my ears as I plummeted, unable to move, unable to even brace for the impact. My body was a prisoner to the aftershocks of the lightning’s fury, the numbness spreading through my veins.

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When I opened my eyes, the world was cloaked in the quiet stillness of night. The cool, muted light of the moon filtered through the canopy of clouds above, casting faint silvery patterns on the ground around me. Rebirth, as always, was a strange and disorienting experience. Each time I died, the time it took for me to return seemed to shorten, but it was never predictable. Sometimes it was mere minutes, a fleeting pause in battle; other times, it dragged on for hours or even days, especially when my body was left in a particularly catastrophic state.

I sat up slowly, my limbs stiff but functional. My senses sharpened as the haze of my rebirth cleared, and I scanned my surroundings. The area was unfamiliar, a barren stretch of open land broken only by jagged rocks and patches of sparse vegetation. It didn’t take long to piece together what must have happened. The sheer velocity of my fall during the fight with the Pegasus had likely carried me far from where I’d started.

Speaking of Chris… where was he? He wasn’t here, which didn’t surprise me. I had left him behind in the sky, where he had been trying, and failing, to strike the beast. He wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the beast’s relentless speed or my explosive descent. Still, a pang of worry tugged at me. He was inexperienced, and without me there, he’d have been vulnerable if the Pegasus had turned its attention back to him.

My gaze swept across the horizon, searching the shadows of the night for any trace of the Pegasus. The silence was oppressive, the emptiness stretching out like a void. It was gone, vanished into the darkness, and the realization sent a ripple of urgency through me. The beast was still out there, somewhere, waiting, lurking, perhaps even preparing for its next attack. Rest wasn’t an option, not while the threat lingered.

I pushed myself to my feet, brushing dirt from my charred clothes. My body felt lighter now, the pain and paralysis from the lightning strike finally fading. I stretched my fingers, channeling mana through them, and felt the warm, familiar hum of power coursing through me. To my relief, my mana reserves were fully restored. The rebirth had done its work, I was ready to fight again at full strength.

My thoughts turned to the feather. It was the lynchpin of this chaos, the artifact that had drawn me into this battle in the first place. The portal it opened was still incomplete, but it wouldn’t remain that way for long. A few hours, at most, and the feather would fully awaken, unleashing its true power. I needed to eliminate the Pegasus before that happened.

Yet, as the urgency burned within me, another thought surfaced, unbidden and bitter. This fight hadn’t gone as planned. I hadn’t expected to face a beast like this today, a creature wielding an element I had never encountered before. Its adaptation had caught me off guard, and now I was forced to grapple with an uncomfortable truth: the more beasts I defeated, the stronger the next ones became. Every battle brought escalation, every victory pushing the boundaries of what I thought possible. The Pegasus was proof of that.

“If I can’t catch up to them.” – I muttered, the weight of the admission sinking in. – “I won’t be able to save anyone.”

My mind flickered to Sapphire, her calm confidence and unmatched skill. If she had been with me, this fight would have ended before it began. She would have cut the Pegasus down with a single decisive blow before it could even take off.

The rules of the feathers were immutable. When a star like me and Chris, entered through a feather, we were challenging the beast. The portal reacted, locking its energies to the challenger and sealing itself from others. Another star, no matter how powerful, couldn’t join the fight once the initial entry had been made. It was an unspoken pact, a trial that only the chosen star could face.

I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as the frustration boiled within me. The thought of Chris crossed my mind again. His inexperience had shown today, his failure to defeat it. But he was young, still learning, still growing. I couldn’t afford to let this setback distract me. Right now, the responsibility was mine, and mine alone.

Before I could think of my next move, rain began to pour in relentless sheets. The cold droplets hammered against me, soaking through my clothes almost instantly. I tilted my head back, letting the water splash against my face as I muttered under my breath. – “Great.”

My flames were tied to more than just physics, they were deeply entwined with the beliefs of humanity, with the collective perception of what fire could and couldn’t do. And to humanity, fire and water were opposites. A fire burning in the middle of a storm was almost unthinkable, and because of that, my power would diminish. Not because the rain extinguished my flames directly, but because the very idea of fire surviving in such conditions felt unnatural.

If I was using my true power like I was during my awakening, that wouldn’t be a problem. But unfortunately, I’ve yet to break that seal. But maybe it wouldn’t really matter, because inside of this dimension, humanity’s perception is even more significant.

Worse still, I couldn’t shake the implications of the Pegasus’s element. Its lightning-based abilities, already devastating, would likely become far more potent in this weather. Raindrops falling from the sky, pooling on the ground, connecting everything in a web of conductivity, it was the perfect environment for an electric beast to thrive. Fighting it now would be like walking into a battlefield where every advantage was stacked against me.

Pulling my damp cape tighter around my shoulders, I broke into a run, searching for shelter from the relentless rain. The downpour blurred my vision, but my senses, honed from years of magic and combat, guided me. I didn’t just see my destination, I felt it.

A faint pulse of energy tugged at my awareness, drawing me toward its source. One of the subtle gifts of being a magic user was the innate connection to your element. Just as Sapphire could sense the precise location of metal with uncanny accuracy — I once tried to trick her with a coin hidden in my hand, and she saw through it instantly — I could feel the flicker of fire in the world around me.

The sensation grew stronger as I pressed forward, until I found myself standing before the mouth of a cave. The shadows within seemed to beckon me, promising refuge from the storm. I hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside, the cool darkness enveloping me.

The air here was different, thick and warm, tinged with a faint acrid scent that clung to my nostrils. As I ventured deeper, my connection to fire sharpened, pulling me toward the source. The cave opened into a vast chamber, and there they were, tongues of flame flickering from vents in the ground, casting an otherworldly glow against the rough stone walls. The fires burned steadily, their light reflecting off the wet surfaces, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.

I crouched near one of the vents, studying it closely. The flames were natural. They seemed fueled by an invisible source, likely a combustible gas seeping up from deep within the earth. Fires like these could burn for centuries, feeding off the rich reserves beneath the surface. The warmth they provided was welcome, seeping into my soaked clothes and chasing away the chill of the rain.

My mind began racing, piecing together a strategy to take down the Pegasus. A surprise attack is still the best way forward, striking at the beast before it has a chance to react. Timing would be everything. I would need to catch it during a moment of vulnerability, when it landed. But with the storm raging outside, that wouldn’t be possible. The Pegasus thrived in these conditions, and it wasn’t likely to touch the ground until the skies cleared.

Still, I couldn’t shake an unsettling feeling. The Pegasus would eventually leave this pocket world, that much was certain. In just a few hours, the feather’s portal would fully awaken, releasing the beast into the city. But something about this terrarium felt off, different from the countless others I had entered before. It gnawed at the edges of my thoughts, an inexplicable sense that the usual rules didn’t fully apply here.

Why did it feel so alien? The energy within this space was unlike anything I’d encountered in other dimensions. It was strange, layered, almost deliberate. For instance, the fire vents scattered throughout the cave. They were undeniably elemental, but they had no logical connection to an airborne creature like the Pegasus. Fire and Air rarely intersected this way, and their presence here was a mystery that I couldn’t ignore.

I leaned back against the rough cave wall, my damp clothes now fully dried by the steady heat of the vents. I had spent nearly an hour in this strange space. The storm outside was beginning to ease. The relentless pounding of rain had softened to a steady drizzle, and I could hear the occasional gust of wind brushing against the mouth of the cave. If it continued at this pace, the skies would clear within half an hour.

Hmm?

I paused mid-step, my body tensing as an inexplicable sensation washed over me. It wasn’t a sound in the usual sense, not something my ears had caught, but it was there. A faint ripple that resonated within. My soul stirred, an unshakable awareness spreading through me.

There was something here.

The sensation was unlike anything I had experienced before, a vibration that wasn’t physical, yet it went through my being with clarity. It felt familiar, yet foreign. A presence that mirrored something within me.

Another star?

Could it be? Was there someone in this place that shared the same essence as me? The thought was unnerving. The resonance I felt now was undeniable, as if my soul had found something similar.

But this was different.

I had never felt this kind of connection when I was near Sapphire, her presence didn’t seem like this. The only other time I had felt something like this was with Chris. Maybe it could’ve been other ghouls?

No, this was something else entirely.

It was here, real and undeniable, its presence emanating from the very heart of the cave. The pulse was rhythmic, almost hypnotic, like a heartbeat resonating through the stone walls. The deeper I ventured, the stronger it became, each step pulling me closer to the unknown. My instincts flared with warning, urging caution, but my curiosity burned brighter. Whatever this was, it wasn’t ordinary, and the idea of turning back now was unthinkable.

The heat intensified as I descended further into the cavern, the air growing heavier with each step. Flickering fire vents lined the path, their glow casting erratic shadows on the walls that danced and shifted as if alive.

Then I saw it.

It stared at me from the depths of the fiery cave, its form illuminated by the flickering light of the surrounding flames. My breath caught as I took in the creature before me. It was unlike anything I had ever encountered. Its many eyes burned with an intense red light, unblinking and sharp, fixed on me.

For years, I had wondered why I’d never encountered one before. If the world was truly divided into four elements, Earth, Water, Air, and Fire, why had the beasts I fought always belonged to only the first three? But Fire Beasts? They were absent, a mystery I had chalked up to coincidence or some quirk of elemental balance.

Now I had my answer.

This creature was a manifestation of the element that defined my very existence. It radiated power, raw and untamed. Every breath it took sent waves of heat rolling through the cavern, distorting the air with its intensity.

Humanity has always been a species of storytellers. Through every age, our imagination has run wild, creating monsters. But no matter how fantastic these creations are, one thing has always held true: they are grounded, in some way, to reality.

Take the Pegasus I had fought earlier. It didn’t appear from the void. Its concept was rooted in the natural world: a fusion of two creatures that humans knew well. The body of a horse, majestic and powerful, paired with the wings of an eagle, dominating the skies. Individually, they were real. Together, they were a fantastical impossibility. No mammal could simply sprout wings, and such disparate species could never breed. But that’s how humans imagine: they merge, twist, and combine.

True hybrids, like a lion and a tiger producing a liger, exist within the bounds of nature. Their creation is limited to species with similar enough DNA. But these mythological beasts, creatures like the Pegasus or mermaids, are something else entirely. They are not hybrids but amalgamations, unnatural combinations of flesh and form that defy biology.

There is a name for such creatures, one used throughout history to describe monstrosities born of fusion. These are not hybrids but something more grotesque, an affront to the natural order.

Grand Beast

Chimera

Abomination of Lycia

And now, standing before me in the depths of this fiery cavern, was that very thing.

Its lion’s head, massive and commanding, was covered in a mane of thick, shaggy fur. But beneath that fur, I could see the glint of scales, hard and reptilian. Its claws, sharp and menacing, were an unnatural blend of feline and reptile, curved and serrated as if designed to tear through both flesh and stone with ease.

Behind the lion’s head, grotesquely fused as though the two were conjoined twins, was the head of a goat. Its demonic horns curled menacingly, blackened and jagged like the remnants of a scorched forest. The goat’s eyes burned with an unnatural red glow.

And then there was the tail. Slithering behind the creature was not a tuft of fur but a snake, alive, writhing, and alert. Its scales gleamed like polished obsidian, and its fanged mouth hissed venomously, as if it were a mind of its own.

Through the entire body of the Chimera, fiery energy coursed like molten magma. Veins of glowing red light pulsed across its limbs and torso, radiating heat so intense that even the air around it shimmered.

The lion’s head roared, a sound so powerful that it shook the very walls of the cavern. The goat’s head followed suit, letting out a guttural bellow that reverberated through my chest. The snake hissed and snapped, its body coiling tightly as though preparing to strike.

I tightened my grip on my rapier, feeling the familiar hum of fire coursing through its blade.

The creature didn’t respond, but it didn’t need to. Its sheer existence was a challenge, a statement of dominance.

But I wasn’t one to back down from a fight.

With a sharp exhale, I tightened my grip on my rapier and slashed the air, unleashing a torrent of fire slashes that roared toward the beast like a blazing storm. The flames burned fiercely, their heat scorching the walls of the cavern as they closed in on the Chimera. For a moment, I thought I saw the flames reflect in its molten veins, a hint of recognition in its lion’s gaze.

But then, the impossible happened.

As the fire touched the Chimera’s body, it didn’t burn. The flames were consumed, drawn into the beast’s molten veins as if they were fuel rather than harm. The fire that should have scorched and seared was absorbed seamlessly, the beast standing unscathed, its glowing form almost mocking in its invulnerability.

I cursed under my breath. Regular flames were useless. It had no fear of my attacks because it was born of the very element I wielded. My usual arsenal would be meaningless here.

That left only one option.

I straightened, lowering my rapier for a moment as I drew a deep breath, centering myself. The cavern seemed to grow quieter, the flickering fire vents dimming as if responding to the gravity of the moment. The Chimera tilted its heads, its curiosity evident as it watched me. Perhaps it sensed the shift in the air, the gathering of power that was about to unfold.

My voice echoed through the chamber, steady and resolute, carrying the weight of my intent.

“Ultimate Magic: Ars Nova.”

The words were a trigger, a key that unlocked the deepest reserves of my mana. The air around me ignited, flames spiraling outward in a torrent of energy that radiated heat and light. This wasn’t ordinary fire, this was a manifestation of my very soul, the purest form of my power. The ground beneath me glowed red-hot, cracks spreading outward as the cavern struggled to contain the intensity of my magic.

The Chimera’s heads reared back, its molten veins glowing brighter as it seemed to sense the danger. For the first time, there was a flicker of hesitation in its movements, a recognition that what it faced now was unlike anything it had encountered before.

The flames of Ars Nova swirled around me, forming a blazing vortex that pulsed with raw, uncontainable energy. My body burned with the intensity of the magic, my skin tingling as the power threatened to consume me. But I held firm, my focus unyielding. This spell wasn’t just about overwhelming the enemy, it was about pushing past limits, proving that even the impossible could be undone.

With a cry, I thrust my rapier forward, the flames surging toward the Chimera in a wave of incandescent light. This was no ordinary attack, it was a judgment, a reckoning, fire that could pierce the invulnerable and sear the unburnable.

The cavern erupted in light and heat as the flames collided with the Chimera, the sheer force of the impact shaking the very foundation of the cave. The beast roared, its three voices blending into a cacophony of rage and defiance. The flames of Ars Nova engulfed it, swirling around its massive form as the cavern itself seemed to tremble under the weight of the spell.

For a moment, the Chimera’s molten veins flickered, its fiery essence dimming under the onslaught. The air was thick with tension, every second stretching into an eternity as the spell did its work.

However, as the firestorm subsided, the beast emerged from the inferno with a fearsome pride. Its once-lustrous fur had been entirely burned away, revealing the glistening scales beneath: hard and unyielding. The Chimera’s molten veins pulsed even brighter now, as though the flames I had unleashed only served to stoke its internal fire.

This wasn’t merely a fusion of flesh and bone. It was something far more profound: a walking concept, a creature that embodied the very essence of fire itself. No matter how powerful my flames were, there was no defeating a beast born of the same element. I clenched my teeth, frustration mingling with reluctant admiration. Perhaps it was a good thing I had never faced such a monster before.

But this was no time for defeatist thoughts. Fire might be its essence, but fire wasn’t my only weapon.

My mind raced as the Chimera prowled forward, its movements deliberate, exuding confidence born from invincibility. I tightened my grip on my rapiers, shifting my stance. Instead of conjuring more flames, I focused my mana inward, channeling it to bolster my physical abilities. Speed, strength, precision, those would be my weapons now. The fire, for all its destructive power, would serve only to enhance my movements.

The Chimera lunged, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying force. I sidestepped, my body moving with a speed that left an afterimage in the flickering firelight. My rapiers, though forged of steel, gleamed with lethal intent as I darted beneath the beast’s massive frame.

With a single, fluid motion, I slashed at the creature’s stomach. My blades scraped against its scales, sparks flying as they struggled to cut through the tough armor. But rapiers weren’t designed to cleave, they were made to pierce. And I knew exactly where to strike.

Adjusting my grip, I drove my rapiers upward, aiming for the vulnerable spot between its overlapping scales. The blade pierced through with a sickening resistance, and I could feel it puncture the soft flesh beneath. A low, guttural growl erupted from the Chimera as it writhed, its three heads snapping and snarling in fury.

Its insides were unarmored, soft and vulnerable, just as I had suspected. If my flames could burn away its fur, then they could ignite the flesh beneath.

“Firefly Burst.”

The words left my lips like a battle cry as I unleashed a torrent of concentrated flames through the blade embedded in its stomach. The fire surged into the beast’s body, snaking through its organs like a living inferno. The Chimera roared in agony, its lion’s head bellowing, the goat’s head screaming, and the snake’s hissing escalating into a furious crescendo.

It thrashed wildly, trying to dislodge me, but I held my ground, forcing the flames deeper. The heat within the beast became unbearable, the energy I poured into it consuming everything in its path.

The flames grew hotter, brighter, and more intense, until finally, they reached their peak. With a final, desperate roar, the Chimera’s thrashing ceased, its colossal body collapsing to the ground with a resounding thud.

I stepped back, panting, as the last embers of my flames flickered and died. The cavern was eerily quiet, the once-proud beast reduced to a smoldering, lifeless husk. Its organs had been completely incinerated, leaving behind only the charred remnants of its scaled form.

I stood over the fallen Chimera, my rapiers still gleaming faintly with residual heat. The cavern was silent, save for the faint crackling of residual flames lingering in the beast’s charred remains. For a brief moment, I allowed myself a breath of relief. It was over, the fire beast, the monstrous embodiment of my own element, had been defeated.

Or so I thought.

The lion’s head lay still, its once-burning eyes now dark and lifeless. The goat’s head, too, was unmoving, its grotesque features frozen in death. But just as I began to lower my guard, a sharp, searing pain flared in my leg.

I stumbled, gasping as I looked down. The snake, which I had assumed to be as dead as the rest of the creature, had struck with lightning speed and terrifying precision. Its fangs had sunk deep into my flesh, and I could feel its venom coursing through my veins, an fire that spread with alarming speed.

Before I could react, the Chimera moved. The lion’s head lifted first, followed by the goat, their eyes igniting once more with that eerie, molten glow. The beast’s massive body rose, unsteady at first, but soon it stood as tall and imposing as ever.

Panic clawed at the edges of my mind as the realization struck me like a thunderbolt. This wasn’t just a single creature. The Chimera wasn’t merely a lion with additional heads, it was three beasts fused into one, each with its own essence, its own will.

The snake wasn’t a mere appendage; it was a fully separate entity, its entire body hidden within the guise of a tail. And more importantly, it was the source of the fire resistance that had rendered my initial attacks useless. The scales that shielded the Chimera’s body weren’t born of the lion or the goat, they were the serpent’s, its essence extending over the entire amalgamation.

I staggered back, my leg trembling as the venom’s effects worsened. The pain was unbearable, but what frightened me most was the visible necrosis spreading across my flesh. The skin around the bite was already blackened, the poison eating away at me from the inside out.

My mind raced, weighing my options. Cutting off the leg was the first thought that came to me, but I dismissed it just as quickly. My immortality only worked if I was completely killed, partial injuries wouldn’t heal on their own. If I severed the leg, it wouldn’t regenerate, and I’d be left crippled.

But dying here wasn’t an option either. If the Chimera killed me, it wouldn’t stop at that. It would eat me, and I wouldn’t have a chance to escape its stomach. Immortality wouldn’t save me from being trapped in the belly of a beast.

The Chimera’s three heads roared in unison, their cries reverberating through the cavern as they advanced. The lion’s claws tore through the ground with each step, the goat’s horns gleamed menacingly in the firelight, and the serpent hissed with renewed fury, its fangs dripping with venom.

There was no escape.

----------------------------------------

Arstria and the beast vanished beyond my sight, their silhouettes swallowed by the horizon as if the sky itself had conspired to erase them. Despite the distance, I refused to give up. I kept moving, my steps deliberate as I tried to trace the general direction they had taken. Each stride was an act of stubborn determination, even though I knew I was leagues away from matching Arstria's speed or grace.

This world, I thought bitterly, had a twisted sense of fairness. Arstria's fiery powers seemed to encompass everything I could only dream of, strength, flight, and the freedom to soar across these endless skies. Flying must be exhilarating, the kind of freedom that transforms the world beneath you into a sprawling canvas. I'd asked her countless times to let me ride along, imagining what it would feel like to rise above the world on wings of flame. But every time, she had refused.

Why?

The terrain around me shifted gradually, a soft gradient of beauty that felt almost surreal. Rolling plains stretched out endlessly, their emerald expanse glittering under the gentle sunlight. As I walked, the occasional cluster of wildflowers dotted the grass with splashes of vibrant color, crimson, violet, and gold, swaying gently in the breeze. The hills ahead undulated like waves frozen in time, each one more verdant than the last, creating a sense of infinite depth.

If there was a paradise anywhere in this world, it would surely look like this. A terrarium crafted by divine hands, pristine and untouched by the horrors that plagued the rest of existence. The air was thick with the earthy aroma of grass and wildflowers, mingling with the faint hum of insects that flitted through the fields.

All I could do was follow. Always follow. Always a step behind, chasing the faint remnants of her power that lingered in the air like the scent of distant smoke. The thought twisted something deep within me. It was humbling, yes, but it was also infuriating.

And then, without warning, the sky shifted.

It began as a whisper on the wind, a low rumble that seemed to roll through the ground beneath my feet. The air grew thick, heavy with the weight of something unseen. I stopped in my tracks, glancing upward just as the first jagged streak of lightning tore across the sky.

The heavens split open with a furious roar.

Lightning screamed from above, sharp and violent, as if the sky itself had been enraged. Forked tongues of white-hot energy lanced downward, striking the distant hills with deafening cracks. The plains, so tranquil moments ago, were bathed in sudden chaos. The wind howled, whipping through the grass and sending waves rippling across the fields.

I stumbled backward, raising an arm to shield my face as the storm intensified. Rain began to fall, not in gentle droplets, but in heavy sheets that pelted the earth with relentless force. Each drop was cold, soaking through my clothes in seconds and turning the ground beneath me into a slick, muddy mess.

The horizon vanished, swallowed by the storm. What had once been a sprawling expanse of verdant beauty was now a chaotic blur of darkness and light. The hills, the wildflowers, even the faint traces of Arstria’s flames, all of it disappeared beneath the torrential downpour.

I clenched my jaw, shielding my face with one arm as the howling wind tore at my clothes and stung my skin. The storm was relentless, its icy rain slashing sideways like shards of glass, each droplet a testament to the chaos unleashed around me. This wasn’t a natural storm. Storms didn’t emerge from calm skies in an instant, nor did they roar with such ferocity without warning. No, this was something else, something unnatural, something alive. It was as if the world itself had been stirred to anger, its fury manifesting in the form of this raging tempest.

Arstria wouldn’t last long in this. Her fire, no matter how resilient, couldn’t sustain itself against this kind of elemental onslaught. Fire thrived on air and dry fuel, but here? Here, the rain poured in thick, unrelenting sheets, each drop extinguishing even the tiniest spark. The gale ripped through the air, smothering flames before they could take hold. If she tried to fight the storm directly, it would swallow her whole.

She’d know that, though. Arstria wasn’t reckless, impulsive, maybe, but not foolish. She’d seek shelter, a place to regroup and conserve her strength. As I squinted through the blinding rain, scanning the landscape for any sign of her, my gaze settled on a distant patch of shadowed green against the gray horizon. A forest.

The trees were thick and ancient, their towering canopies interwoven into a natural fortress. Even from here, I could tell that the forest would offer some reprieve from the storm’s unrelenting assault. The dense foliage would shield her from the rain.

The wind fought me every step of the way, screaming in my ears and pushing against my body like an invisible wall, but I pressed forward. My boots sank into the sodden ground, the mud sucking at my soles with every step.

As I trudged toward the forest, my mind raced with scenarios. Would she wait for me, or would she press deeper, putting even more distance between us?

The questions pounded in my head, their weight as heavy as the rain drumming against my back. I glanced at the horizon again, my eyes narrowing on the forest. The canopy loomed larger now, its silhouette a promise of sanctuary.

The passage of time had become an elusive concept, slipping through my grasp like grains of sand through clenched fingers. Minutes, hours, did it even matter? The storm had stolen my sense of reality, its relentless fury merging one moment into the next. Each step I took felt eternal, as though I were walking through an endless purgatory of rain and wind. How long had it been since she vanished into the distance? I couldn’t say. Time had always been a foreign concept to me, a measurement I struggled to fully understand. Now, under the weight of the storm and the gnawing worry that clung to my every thought, it felt more meaningless than ever.

The world around me was an unchanging blur of gray and shadow. The sky above, hidden behind a thick blanket of storm clouds, offered no clues, no shifting sun, no comforting stars, no telltale signs of the passing day or night. Even the ground beneath my feet, soaked and churned into a swampy mess, gave no solace. Every step was a battle, my boots sinking into the mud, the effort of pulling them free a constant reminder of my own exhaustion.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the landscape began to shift. The flat, featureless expanse of the horizon gave way to dark shapes, towering silhouettes that loomed in the distance, their edges softened by the haze of the rain. Trees. A forest. The sight of it brought a flicker of hope, a small spark in the overwhelming darkness. It was the first tangible sign of progress, the first clue that my journey was leading somewhere.

As I drew closer, the details of the forest emerged. The trees were massive, their thick trunks rising like ancient sentinels into the stormy sky. Their canopies interwove, forming a natural barrier that seemed to defy the elements. Rain still pelted down, but it was muffled here, the relentless roar of the storm dampened by the dense foliage. The ground beneath the trees was firmer, the roots forming a tangled web that offered a reprieve from the clinging mud.

I stopped at the edge of the forest, taking a moment to catch my breath. The air here was different, heavy with the earthy scent of damp wood and moss. It was a stark contrast to the sterile sharpness of rain-soaked wind out in the open. For the first time in what felt like hours, the storm didn’t feel all-consuming. The forest provided an illusion of calm, a sense of shelter that I desperately wanted to believe in.

As I moved deeper into the forest, the sounds of the storm above faded into the background, replaced by the muted whispers of rustling leaves and the occasional crack of a branch underfoot. Then, faintly, I heard it, a sound in the distance. It was subtle at first, a soft rhythm that seemed out of place amid the natural hush of the woods. My ears twitched in response, catching nuances that no ordinary human would notice. After all, being a human-turned-star had its advantages. Every part of my body had been enhanced: strength, agility, resilience. My senses were no exception.

Guided by the sound, I pressed onward, weaving between ancient trunks and low-hanging branches. The forest grew denser before opening suddenly into a clearing, revealing a scene that made me freeze in my tracks.

A lake stretched out before me, its surface smooth as glass. The trees that bordered it formed a natural frame, but they stopped short of the water’s edge, leaving the lake open to the sky above. I expected to see the storm raging here as it was in the rest of the world, but instead, the heavens above the clearing were calm, a serene, endless blue unmarred by clouds or rain. The tranquility of it was almost unnerving, as though I had stepped into a different world entirely.

But that wasn’t the most startling thing about this place. Standing at the edge of the lake, drinking from its pristine waters, was a creature I had hoped never to see again. The Pegasus.

My breath caught as my eyes locked onto the beast. Its powerful, majestic form was framed by the tranquil lake and the peaceful sky, a stark contrast to the violent storm and chaos it had left in its wake. I had tried to take it down once but failed. Its pristine coat, glistening in the sunlight, was no longer white as I remembered but a golden yellow, radiating a strange, otherworldly glow.

Confusion mingled with dread as my mind raced. This couldn’t be the same Pegasus, could it? I had heard of dimensions or terrariums housing multiple beasts, but those were always weaklings, never grand beasts like this. Could this place be different, a realm where more than one grand existed?

My thoughts snapped back to Arstria. If the Pegasus was here, then where was she? Panic began to creep in. Could it have defeated her? Was that even possible? No, it couldn’t be. Arstria was immortal. That fact, unshakable and absolute, had somehow slipped my mind in the moment. If she truly were dead, I would know, my powers, which were tied to hers, would vanish.

Still, the unease lingered. The mission, however, remained clear. My failure before would not define me. This time, I would see it through. Determination flooding my veins as I steadied my breath.

I would kill it.

Closing my eyes, I exhaled heavily, summoning every ounce of resolve I had. When I opened them again, I was ready to charge, to strike, to fulfill the promise I had made to myself.

“Niigh?”

The sound, sharp and curious, jolted me. I froze, my breath hitching. Slowly, I opened my eyes, only to find myself staring directly into the creature’s enormous, yellow eyes. The Pegasus stood in front of me, its golden muzzle inches from my face. My heart pounded wildly. How had it moved so fast? I hadn’t even seen it shift from the lake to here.

My hand twitched instinctively toward my sword, but I hesitated. The creature stared down at me with an expression that was almost... inquisitive. There was no malice in its gaze, no hint of the violence I had expected. Still, my muscles tensed. At this range, it could kill me with a single movement. If I drew my blade now, it might already be too late.

I closed my eyes again, bracing myself for the worst. The thought of dying here, a disgrace to the stars, made my chest tighten. How could I, a so-called star, falter so easily in the face of danger? I waited for the inevitable, for it to bite my face off.

Lick.

My eyes flew open in disbelief. The Pegasus’s massive tongue had just grazed my entire head, leaving it drenched in thick, beastly saliva. Before I could react, the creature leaned closer, its nose brushing against my hair as it sniffed me curiously. It tilted its head, as though trying to determine if I were food or some other curiosity.

I stumbled back, my boots scraping against the ground as I instinctively put some distance between us. But the Pegasus didn’t pursue. It simply stood there, watching me, its golden coat shimmering under the ethereal light that bathed the clearing.

Why wasn’t it attacking me? Every is driven by a primal urge to kill humans. Yet this one, this impossibly powerful creature, showed no hostility. Its behavior defied everything I knew about these monsters.

My hand moved without thought, raised tentatively toward the beast’s head. The Pegasus didn’t flinch. Instead, it lowered its head slightly, allowing me to touch it. My palm rested against the smooth, warm surface of its golden fur, the texture surprisingly soft beneath my fingers.

I didn’t understand it. This creature, this supposed enemy, was letting me pet it like some docile animal. As I stood there, hand resting on the Pegasus’s head, one thought burned in my mind:

What made this one so different?

This was a discovery unlike any other. A revelation that turned years of understanding on its head. A beast, one of the very creatures that had been humanity’s mortal enemy was not attacking me. It wasn’t driven by the urge to annihilate and destroy. Instead, it stood there, calm and peaceful, drinking from the lake as if it were a mere animal in the wild. This wasn’t just unusual, it was unprecedented. No one had ever reported an encounter like this.

This creature wasn’t humanity’s enemy, not this one, at least. What did that mean? Could there be others like it? Was it possible that not every beast was a harbinger of destruction? The implications were staggering.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

When the Pegasus eventually turned away from me, disinterested, and returned to the lake, I stood there, watching it carefully. It moved with a grace that was almost regal, its golden form glowing faintly in the serene light of the clearing. I couldn’t take my eyes off it, the weight of my thoughts almost too much to bear.

If the portal connected to the regular world fully opened and this creature stepped through, its fate would be sealed. The stars, trained to see all beasts as threats, would destroy it without hesitation. Even if I vouched for its innocence, they wouldn’t listen. Worse, they might decide to capture it instead. Study it, and twist its existence into some cruel experiment, just as they had done with me. The thought made my stomach turn.

Something deep within me rebelled at the idea of this creature being harmed. I didn’t know why I cared so much, it wasn’t human, and yet… It felt wrong to treat it like a mere monster. It deserved to live. To survive. But how could I help it? How could I protect it from the fate that awaited it?

The barrier around Sirius City would burn it down the moment it tried to escape. That was the truth of the defenses we relied on to keep humanity safe.

As I stared at it, a wild thought entered my mind. It’s a horse. The simplicity of the idea struck me. Horses had been companions to humans for thousands of years. Once, they had been wild creatures, roaming free, much like this one. And yet, humans had found a way to work with them, to form bonds and partnerships.

Perhaps this moment was no different from the one those old humans faced when they first laid eyes on wild horses. Back then, they hadn’t seen enemies, only potential. If those humans could do it, so could I.

I took a deep breath, the words forming on my tongue before I even fully understood them. – “Pegasus, I challenge you.”

The sound of my voice echoed through the tranquil clearing, reverberating off the surrounding trees. The Pegasus’s ears twitched, and its head snapped in my direction. Its golden eyes, radiant and intelligent, locked onto mine. There was no hostility in its gaze, only curiosity, a flicker of understanding that seemed to deepen as it studied me.

But when I took a step forward, its posture shifted. It lowered its head slightly, muscles coiling with readiness. It knew I was serious, that this was not a game.

“However.” – I continued, my voice steady and commanding. – “Not to a battle to the death.”

Turning to a nearby tree, I spotted thick, hanging vines draped over its trunk like nature’s reins. With a sharp tug, I ripped them free, their taut fibers snapping under the force of my superhuman strength. The vines were rough and uneven, but they would serve their purpose. I wound them into a makeshift bridle, the coarse texture biting into my palms as I tightened my grip.

“I will make you my ride.” – I declared, holding the reins aloft. – “Whether you want it or not!”

The Pegasus let out a sharp, resonant cry, a sound that was equal parts defiance and acceptance. It pawed at the ground, its golden coat rippling with energy as it prepared for the challenge. Then, with a burst of speed, it took off, galloping toward the far edge of the clearing. Its movements were impossibly fast, graceful yet powerful, each stride covering vast distances in the blink of an eye.

But I wasn’t just any human.

In an instant, I leapt into action, the world around me slowing as my heightened senses kicked in. The Pegasus was fast, faster than any horse or beast I had ever encountered, but I was able to catch up to it. The rush of wind tore at my clothes as I chased it, my legs pumping with inhuman strength, each step closing the gap between us. The trees blurred past, their trunks forming a chaotic tapestry as I surged forward, driven by pure determination.

The Pegasus darted left, then right, its movements sharp and unpredictable. It weaved through the clearing like a streak of golden light, testing my reflexes with every turn. But I stayed on its trail, my focus unyielding. Every muscle in my body burned, but I ignored the strain. This wasn’t just about catching it, it was about proving myself, showing the creature that I was its equal, not its enemy.

As the Pegasus bolted toward a narrow rise, I saw my chance. Timing my stride perfectly, I jumped, launching myself into the air with a burst of power that sent me soaring over the uneven ground. The wind roared in my ears as I reached out, my hands gripping the Pegasus’s mane just as it reached the peak of the rise.

For a split second, I hung in the air, the world suspended around me. Then, with a sharp pull, I hauled myself onto its back, my legs wrapping tightly around its flanks as I secured my position. The Pegasus bucked in response, letting out a shrill cry of protest. Its muscles rippled beneath me as it tried to shake me off, twisting and turning with wild energy.

But I held firm.

“Is that all you’ve got?” – I shouted, my voice cutting through the wind as the Pegasus reared back, its hooves pawing at the air. – “You’ll have to try harder than that!”

The beast let out another defiant cry and surged forward, its gallop transforming into a blinding sprint. The forest blurred around us, the trees whipping past in streaks of green and gold. My grip tightened on its mane, the makeshift reins hanging uselessly at my side. This wasn’t about control, not yet. This was about endurance, about showing the Pegasus that I could match its strength and spirit.

For what felt like hours, the chase continued. The Pegasus ran, leapt, and twisted, testing my resolve at every turn. But I didn’t falter. With every movement, I adapted, my body moving in harmony with the beast beneath me. Slowly, its resistance began to wane. Its movements grew less erratic, its cries less defiant.

Finally, the Pegasus slowed, its gallop easing into a steady canter before coming to a stop at the edge of the lake. Its sides heaved with exertion, its golden coat slick with sweat. I released my grip on its mane, my own breath coming in ragged gasps as I leaned forward, resting my forehead against its warm, shimmering neck.

Wrapping the vines around its mouth, I hoped they would serve as a makeshift bridle—something to direct the creature’s movements, to establish even the smallest semblance of control. But the attempt was laughable. With a single crunch, the Pegasus bit through the vines as though they were nothing more than brittle twigs. The remnants fell uselessly to the ground, and I stared at the creature in frustration, realizing just how futile this effort was.

For a moment, doubt clawed at my resolve. Perhaps this was impossible, an idea born of desperation and arrogance. But before the thought could take root, something extraordinary happened.

From the corners of its mouth, threads of radiant light began to form, delicate at first but quickly solidifying into glowing reins. The shimmering strands, as bright and crackling as lightning, arced around the Pegasus’s head, looping gracefully into a bridle. They materialized in my hands with a sudden jolt, the energy pulsing through my palms like a living current.

It had summoned its own reins.

The realization sent a shiver through me. This wasn’t just acceptance, it was an acknowledgment. The Pegasus had chosen to engage with me, to test me in a way no beast ever had. For a moment, I allowed myself to hope that it had accepted me as its partner, that our bond had been forged through this trial.

But then its wings unfolded.

The Pegasus’s massive golden wings unfurled with a sound like rolling thunder, each feather glimmering with the same ethereal light as the reins in my hands. The sheer size of them was breathtaking, stretching wider than I could have imagined, each powerful beat stirring the air with enough force to send ripples across the lake’s surface.

Before I could react, it leapt into the air, the ground vanishing beneath its hooves as it launched itself skyward. The sudden surge of motion nearly threw me off its back, and I scrambled to tighten my grip on the reins. My legs clamped around its sides, my heart pounding as the Pegasus ascended with breathtaking speed.

The world became a blur of light and motion, the forest below shrinking rapidly as we soared higher and higher. The wind roared in my ears, its icy fingers tearing at my clothes and stinging my skin. My breath hitched as the Pegasus twisted and dove, its every movement a deliberate attempt to dislodge me. This was no peaceful flight, it was a trial by fire, a battle for dominance in the skies.

It banked sharply to the left, the sudden movement jerking me sideways. My grip on the reins faltered for a moment, and I felt myself slide precariously across its back. Gritting my teeth, I threw my weight against the momentum, pulling myself upright just as it dove into a steep descent. The ground rushed toward us, the trees below blurring into a sea of green and gold. At the last possible moment, the Pegasus pulled up, the sudden shift in velocity nearly snapping my neck as I clung desperately to its mane.

“I’m a human, you damned beast, I won’t give up that easily!” – I yelled, more to myself than to the creature. My arms burned with effort, my fingers aching from the strain of holding on.

The Pegasus climbed higher into the sky, its wings cutting through the clouds with powerful, rhythmic beats. The storm that had once raged around us seemed far below now, a distant memory in this realm of endless blue. But the peace of the open sky was deceptive. The creature began to twist and turn, its movements wild and unpredictable.

I focused every ounce of my strength and determination on staying balanced, my body moving in tandem with the creature’s motions. It bucked and spiraled, its golden form a streak of light against the heavens. Yet no matter how hard it tried, I refused to let go. Each second I remained in the saddle was a victory, a step closer to earning its respect.

As the Pegasus leveled out, its breath came in powerful, heaving bursts, the exertion of its aerial maneuvers finally taking its toll. My own chest burned with the effort of holding on, my heart racing in time with the creature’s wingbeats. For a moment, we hung in the air, suspended in a fragile truce as the wind whispered around us.

The Pegasus let out a low, rumbling snort, its wings beating more slowly now as it circled back toward the lake. As we descended together, the clearing came back into view, the tranquil water reflecting the golden light of its wings. The ground rose to meet us, and with a final, graceful sweep of its wings, the Pegasus landed softly, its hooves touching the earth as if it had never left.

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, my entire body trembling from the effort and adrenaline. Sliding off its back, I landed on unsteady feet, the reins still glowing faintly in my hands. The Pegasus turned its head to look at me, its golden eyes unreadable.

Something was wrong. A strange unease settled over me as I stood beside the Pegasus, the glow of its golden wings casting a gentle light across the clearing. My eyes drifted toward the forest, and that’s when I noticed it, the trees were vanishing.

At first, it was subtle, almost imperceptible. A single tree near the edge of the clearing shimmered, its edges dissolving into faint particles of light before disappearing entirely. Then another. The forest was disintegrating, piece by piece. But what caught my attention most wasn’t just the vanishing trees. It was the pattern. The dissolution was spreading from one direction, a steady wave moving through the forest, but only in that single direction.

This wasn’t random. It could only mean one thing: this dimension was beginning to collapse.

The realization sent a chill through me. If the dimension crumbled completely, we’d be pulled back into the real world. But there was something even stranger. If the Pegasus was truly the center of this dimension, its anchor, then the world should have been unraveling symmetrically, radiating outward from its location. Yet the destruction wasn’t balanced. It was directional, focused, as though the true heart of this dimension laid elsewhere.

I glanced at the Pegasus, its golden eyes watching the disintegrating forest with quiet intensity. It didn’t seem alarmed, but its posture was tense, its wings twitching with barely contained energy.

“This isn’t right.” – I muttered to myself, my mind racing. If the Pegasus wasn’t the center of this world, then what was? Something else was out there, maintain the dimension from a different location.

“Hey.” – I said, reaching out to place a hand on the Pegasus’s neck. Its head turned slightly, its eyes meeting mine with a flicker of recognition. – “Let’s go. We can’t stay here.”

The Pegasus snorted softly, as if in agreement, before lowering its body slightly, inviting me to mount. I climbed onto its back, the now-familiar glow of the golden reins solidifying in my hands. With a powerful beat of its wings, the Pegasus lifted off the ground, its hooves leaving the earth as we surged into the sky.

----------------------------------------

Leaving the cave behind, I got into the open, my breaths ragged and shallow. Each ignition felt like a monumental effort, my body trembling as the poison coursed through my veins. It had already claimed more than half of me, the insidious corruption eating away at my flesh like a relentless tide. I tried to summon the strength to fly, to escape even a little further, but my flames faltered. My balance was nonexistent. The pain was unbearable. I wasn’t going anywhere.

The truth was clear now: it was only a matter of time before the poison consumed me entirely.

I leaned against a jagged rock for support, my vision swimming as I looked down at the twisted remains of my leg. I should have severed it the moment the poison took hold. Maybe then I could have contained its spread, slowed its advance. But I’d hesitated, thinking I could endure it, that I was strong enough to fight it off. I’d underestimated its potency, and now I was paying the price.

Even so, cutting off my leg might not have saved me. The blood loss alone could have slowed me down, leaving me just as vulnerable as I was now. Either way, my fate seemed inevitable.

My strength gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground, the cold earth pressing against what was left of my body. My arms and upper torso were all that remained untouched, but even they felt heavy, sluggish. The poison was moving faster now, relentless in its destruction. I clenched my fists, the faintest sparks of energy flickering across my palms as I considered my last, desperate option.

Maybe I should just end it myself. Detonate my body and reduce it to nothing but scattered fragments. That way, the Chimera wouldn’t be able to trap me inside its stomach.

But I knew the cost of that choice. Regrowing from such a state would take too much time.

A deafening roar shattered my thoughts, the sound reverberating through the air like an earthquake. My eyes snapped to the horizon, and there it was the Chimera, a monstrous silhouette charging toward me with terrifying speed. Its grotesque form seemed to ripple with infernal energy, each of its heads snarling in unison as it closed the distance between us.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t fight. My body refused to respond, the poison locking me in place as if mocking my every effort. I tried to think of a strategy, some last-minute miracle that could turn the tide, but my mind was as drained as my body. The only thought that surfaced was a bitter one:

This is just another failure.

I gritted my teeth, the weight of my failures crashing down on me all at once. I had failed to stop this beast, like so many others before it. I had failed to fulfill my role as a star. I had failed to set an example for Chris, the one who looked to me for guidance.

Maybe Sirius had been right all along. Maybe the experiments, as cruel and inhuman as they were, were necessary.

The Chimera let out another roar, its massive claws tearing into the ground as it closed the final stretch between us. My breath hitched, my vision blurring as the inevitability of it all sank in.

And so, it would be Sapphire and the military again, cleaning up after my failures, ridding the world of another beast I couldn’t handle.

But in that moment, as death loomed closer, my mind turned to Chris.

Chris, the one who had received his powers through my blood. Not only him, but countless others, humans who had become cursed. They hadn’t inherited my fire, not the raw destructive force that defined me. But they had gained my healing factor. They could recover from wounds that would fell any ordinary human.

Yet even as the venom coursed through me, the thought struck like a splinter in my mind: how could that be? How could Chris and the others heal so naturally, while I could only do so through death? They recovered without needing to sacrifice everything, yet for me, regeneration required obliteration, annihilation, and rebirth.

It didn’t make sense.

That is because it is just your perception of it.

The words rang through my mind, unbidden and clear. My own voice, yet not my own thoughts.

Whenever reality isn’t making sense, it is lying to you.

The truth began to dawn, piercing through the haze of pain and despair like a flame rekindled in the dark. Perhaps the one holding me back all this time had been me. My belief, my understanding, had been flawed, chained by the cruel logic I had accepted without question. I hadn’t even realized I was immortal until someone had told me directly, shattering the illusion I had unknowingly clung to.

I could see it now.

All those times I had relied on death to save the day, all those moments I had embraced oblivion as a solution, had been a failure to grasp the truth of my own power. I had become a victim of the reality I had constructed, blind to the possibilities that lay beyond. Perhaps I never needed to die. Perhaps I had simply been too narrow in my understanding, too willing to sacrifice myself because it was the easy way out.

Exploding at once is easy, I thought bitterly. It spares you the pain. But living through this, letting the venom devour you piece by piece... this is agony.

And yet, it was this agony that had shown me the truth. Death was not a necessity. It was a choice. One I no longer had to make.

“Never accept to die.” – I whispered, the words barely audible as my lips moved for the first time in what felt like hours.

The Chimera’s jaws descended, and something ignited within me a fire so fierce it scorched the despair. My hands trembled, not with weakness but with newfound power, and the sparks in my palms burst into flame.

“Yes.” – I murmured, my voice growing stronger with each word. – “I won’t.”

Then rise up and fight.

At that moment, everything seemed to freeze. The Chimera, once a whirlwind of motion and fury, halted mid-strike, its massive heads locked in place as though caught in some invisible grip. The venom that had been consuming my body also stopped spreading, its relentless advance ceasing as if it had suddenly lost its purpose. For a brief, surreal instant, the world felt utterly still.

“My blood is a curse for all living things.” – I murmured, the realization hitting me with a weight that almost buckled my knees. It was the truth, though I had spent so long refusing to accept it. I had seen it before, countless times. When a ghoul had bitten me, its modified blood mingling with mine, I had watched the corruption burn away as though it had never been there. The creature had even reverted back to human, its monstrous form stripped away.

I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it, but this was the power of my blood, a force that wasn’t just a curse, but something far more complex. Something that could both destroy and heal, a double-edged blade I had ignored for too long.

Now, as I stood there, flames licking at my skin, I felt the poison within me begin to burn away. My body surged with newfound strength as I activated my regeneration, watching in awe as the damaged tissue, muscle, and organs that had been corroded began to rebuild themselves. It wasn’t death that triggered my healing. It never had been. I had simply been too blind to see it.

But then my gaze shifted to the Chimera, and my confusion deepened. Why had it stopped moving?

The answer came as a shudder rippled through its massive frame. Its three heads convulsed, their snarls twisting into pained groans. Its limbs trembled, claws digging into the ground as it struggled to maintain its balance. I stared in disbelief, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

Then it hit me.

The snake. The one that had bitten my leg and injected its venom into my body. When its fangs had pierced my flesh, it hadn’t just delivered poison, some of my blood entered its mouth.

Now, as I stood there with my regeneration in full effect, I could feel I, my blood inside the Chimera, a foreign entity invading its monstrous form. I could sense its presence, intertwined with the creature’s own life force, and I understood what was happening.

My blood was fighting back.

The same power that had created the ghouls was now working inside the Chimera, attempting to rewrite it from within. The beast’s convulsions grew more violent, its heads thrashing wildly as though trying to shake off the invisible force attacking it. Its flesh rippled unnaturally, and for a brief moment, I thought I could see veins glowing faintly beneath its skin, pulsing with a light that wasn’t its own.

But I knew this wasn’t sustainable. The Chimera was no simple human; it was a grand beast, a creature of immense power and resilience. While my blood had the ability to invade and disrupt it, the Chimera wasn’t about to surrender so easily.

The air around the creature began to shimmer with heat, waves of intense energy radiating outward as its body temperature skyrocketed. I felt the shift immediately, the oppressive heat prickling my skin even from a distance. The Chimera’s flames weren’t directed outward this time, they were turned inward, a desperate defense mechanism designed to burn away the invader within.

I watched helplessly as the glow in its veins began to fade, the remnants of my blood evaporating into the superheated air. The beast let out a guttural roar, its heads snapping back into focus as it regained its composure. The convulsions ceased, replaced by a renewed, seething rage.

It was back to normal.

From the sky, descending with an elegance that defied belief, came the Pegasus. Its golden wings glowed with a brilliance that rivaled the sun, their sheer power cutting through the tension in the battlefield. But it wasn’t just the creature’s arrival that left me stunned, it was its rider. Sitting astride the mythical beast, gripping golden reins as if he’d been born for it, was Chris.

The sight of him left me momentarily speechless. His face was alight with an unrestrained grin, the kind of expression one wears when they’ve uncovered something utterly world-changing. It was a look of triumph, of discovery, of fire.

“Hello, Premiere.” – He said, his voice carrying down to me. – “It’s been a while.”

“What the hell?” – I muttered, barely able to comprehend the scene before me. A human riding a grand beast? This was beyond anything I had ever thought possible.

“Get your thoughts together later.” – Chris replied, his grin fading into a serious expression as he turned his gaze to the Chimera. – “Right now, we’ve got a beast to take down.”

He was right, of course. Whatever the implications of this were, they could wait. The Chimera loomed before us, its three heads writhing with unrestrained fury. It let out an earth-shaking roar, its lion, goat, and snake heads each contributing to the terrible cacophony. The Pegasus, undeterred, answered with a powerful neigh, the sound reverberating like a war cry through the battlefield.

For a moment, the two beasts locked eyes. It was a meeting of opposites, light and darkness, order and chaos. The realization struck me then. These two were rivals, not just in battle but in existence itself. In mythology, they were opposites destined to clash, their very nature tied to one another. This dimension, I realized, must have originally been the Pegasus’s realm, a place of serenity and light. But something from humanity’s collective unconscious, a fragment of fear and shadow, had intruded. This was the first true double terrarium, a rare phenomenon where two apex beasts occupied the same domain.

It all made sense now. The Pegasus hadn’t allowed Chris to tame it out of trust or affection. It had accepted him out of necessity, a temporary alliance formed to eliminate its natural rival.

The Pegasus sprang into action, its golden wings propelling it forward with blinding speed. As it closed the distance, it summoned a bolt of lightning from the heavens, the crackling energy splitting the air as it targeted the Chimera. The Chimera’s snake head reacted instantly, diving into the ground and drawing the electricity into its body like a living lightning rod. The energy dissipated harmlessly, and the Pegasus faltered, its speed diminishing as the strain of summoning such power took its toll.

The Chimera seized its chance, lunging with its massive claws aimed directly at the Pegasus.

“Not on my watch!” – Chris shouted, pulling the golden reins with precision. The Pegasus veered sharply, dodging the attack by a hair’s breadth before taking to the sky once more.

I watched the scene unfold, my mind racing. They couldn’t do this alone. As powerful as Chris and the Pegasus were, the Chimera’s cunning and raw strength were overwhelming. This battle wasn’t one they could win without me.

“Hey, Chris!” – I called, drawing my rapiers from where they had fallen. – “You’re just in time to see my new move!”

Without hesitation, I slashed both my wrists, the blades cutting cleanly through flesh. Fresh blood spilled from the wounds, pooling in my hands before cascading down the blades. The red liquid shimmered unnaturally, coating the rapiers like molten metal.

“Bloodborn Blades.”

I murmured, the words carrying with them a weight I hadn’t felt before.

The Chimera, sensing the shift, turned its attention toward me. The lion’s head opened wide, unleashing a torrent of hellish fire. But fire was nothing to me. My natural resistance, combined with my constant regeneration, rendered the flames little more than an annoyance. Using the inferno as cover, I darted forward, the fire cloaking my movements as I closed the gap.

By the time the Chimera realized my position, I was already there, staring into the goat’s eyes.

“Drink.” – I hissed, driving both rapiers into the beast’s mouth. The blades pierced its tongue and drove downward, embedding themselves deep into the scales beneath its head. The goat’s head thrashed violently, but my grip held firm, locking it in place.

Before the snake could retaliate, I leapt back, landing with practiced grace just as the Chimera began to convulse. My blood, still coating the rapiers, seeped into the beast’s body, spreading like an infection. A black miasma began to rise from the Chimera, its form writhing as my corruption took hold.

“Become mine.” – I commanded, raising a hand toward the beast. The Chimera’s struggles intensified, its heads shaking violently as the miasma engulfed it. I couldn’t help but wonder, would it become like the ghouls I had transformed in the past? Would I be able to command it as Chris commanded the Pegasus?

But my hope was short-lived. A sudden, sharp pain tore through me, emanating from deep within my blood.

There is already a master.

The words echoed through my mind like the tolling of a distant bell, clear and undeniable. The Chimera wasn’t just a wild beast, a creature born from chaos and instinct. No, it was bound, its very existence tied to a higher force, an unseen master who had created and controlled it. The realization hit me like a blow to the chest. The same power responsible for unleashing beasts upon our world still held the Chimera’s leash, its influence palpable even now.

I felt the sting of my failure as my blood, coursing through the Chimera’s veins, faltered in its attempt to dominate it. My power wasn’t enough to override its master’s command, to claim the beast as my own. But there was no time to dwell on the implications.

“I see.” – I muttered under my breath, clapping my hands together as a surge of resolve washed over me. – “Then let’s finish this.”

Above me, Chris and the Pegasus were already in motion, the two of them descending like a streak of golden light. Chris had abandoned the reins, his focus now on the shimmering golden sword in his hands. The weapon radiated an energy that seemed to pulse in rhythm with the Pegasus’s beating wings, the two of them moving as one.

“AAAAAHHHHH!” – Chris’s battle cry tore through the air, raw and powerful, as they dove toward the Chimera with a speed that defied comprehension. The golden sword cleaved through the Chimera’s lion head first, the blade slicing cleanly through flesh and bone as though the beast’s defenses were nothing. The severed head fell with a heavy thud, blood spraying across the battlefield.

Without hesitation, Chris pivoted mid-air, guiding the Pegasus into another sharp dive. This time, the sword struck the goat’s head, the sheer force of the blow sending a shockwave rippling through the ground. The Chimera staggered, its balance faltering as it let out a guttural, choking roar.

But the battle wasn’t over yet.

Even as the beast reeled from its injuries, its final head, the snake, reared back, its venomous fangs gleaming in the dim light. Its eyes locked onto me, and I felt the weight of its hatred, its primal hunger. It struck with lightning speed, a blur of motion as it lunged straight for my throat.

I stepped forward, my hand shooting out to meet the serpent head mid-strike. My fingers wrapped around its neck, the scales slick and burning hot against my skin. The snake thrashed violently, its powerful muscles writhing as it tried to break free, but I held firm.

My fingers dug into its flesh, the sound of cracking bones and tearing sinew filling the air. The snake hissed and snarled, its venom dripping uselessly to the ground as I applied more pressure.

With a final surge of strength, I squeezed, the sound of its skull shattering beneath my grip echoing across the battlefield. The last head let out one last, deafening roar, a sound that was both defiant and mournful, before collapsing to the ground. Its massive body convulsed once, then stilled, the light in its veins flickering out like a dying ember.

I stepped back, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I surveyed the scene. The Chimera’s lifeless body lay sprawled before me, its once-mighty form reduced to nothing more than a smoldering heap. The ground around it was scorched and torn, a testament to the ferocity of the fight.

Above me, Chris and the Pegasus circled back, their golden glow a stark contrast to the chaos below. As they landed gracefully beside me, Chris dismounted, his golden sword still shimmering faintly in his hand.

“Well.” – He said, his voice a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. – “That was one hell of a fight.”

I turned to face him, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. – “You tamed a beast.” – I said, the disbelief still evident in my voice. – “And rode it into battle. Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?”

Chris smirked, brushing a lock of sweat-dampened hair from his face. – “No clue. But it worked, didn’t it?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, a rough, breathless sound that felt foreign after everything that had just happened. – “Yeah.” – I admitted, glancing at the Pegasus, which stood silently by his side.

But even as the adrenaline began to fade, the weight of what I had learned pressed heavily on my shoulders. The Chimera’s true master was still out there, still pulling the strings. This battle was over, but the war was far from won.

The Chimera had been different, born of a unique element, but at its core, it was still a beast. The realization gnawed at me as I stared at the Pegasus, its golden coat shimmering in the aftermath of the battle. If the Chimera had a master, then it was illogical to assume it was the only one. There had to be someone, or something, responsible for the appearance of these creatures in our world. A mastermind pulling the strings.

My thoughts darkened as I stepped closer to the Pegasus. The possibility that beasts of all kinds, even this one, were not truly free weighed heavily on me. – “Who could they be?” – I murmured aloud, the question hanging in the air like a blade waiting to fall. My eyes narrowed as I studied the Pegasus, now standing regally beside Chris.

It was a beast, after all. And it should follow the same master as the Chimera.

A macabre thought took hold of me, a chilling hypothesis that demanded testing. Taking a step forward, I addressed the creature directly. – “Hello, Grand Beast.” – I said, my tone steady but tinged with sorrow. – “Do you have a master?”

“NEEEEEEEEEIGH!”

The Pegasus’s reaction was immediate. Its serene demeanor evaporated, replaced by a sudden surge of bloodlust that seemed to electrify the air around it. Its wings flared out, their golden feathers bristling as it fixed its gaze on me with an intensity that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“What are you doing?” – Chris’s voice was sharp, laced with confusion as he stepped between me and the Pegasus. His body was tense, protective, as though shielding a trusted companion. – “This one is different! It should be born of humanity’s hopes, not their fears!”

I shook my head, my expression firm. – “No, Chris. Stars are born from humanity’s hopes. Beasts, no matter their form, are still our enemies.” – My hand drifted toward my rapier, but I didn’t draw it. Instead, I pointed the hilt toward the Pegasus, which responded by opening its wings wider in an effort to appear larger.

Chris clenched his fists. – “It’s not the same. If it were like the others, it would have attacked me long before now! It’s proof that this one’s different!”

“Chris.” – I said, softening my tone. – “I promise you, I won’t attack it. But I need you to step back. There’s something I have to test.”

He hesitated, his eyes searching mine for any hint of deception. But there was none. My promise was sincere, spoken with the conviction of someone who understood the weight of their words. I wouldn’t betray his trust.

“Okay.” – He said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. – “I’m trusting you.”

Chris took a few cautious steps back, putting distance between himself and the Pegasus. As he moved away, the beast’s demeanor shifted again. Its body began to tremble, a convulsive motion that seemed to ripple through its muscles. Its golden eyes flickered with a strange light, and its bloodlust returned in full force.

The Pegasus reared back, releasing an unearthly cry before taking to the sky. From above, it summoned a bolt of lightning, the energy crackling as it hurtled toward me with terrifying speed.

I didn’t flinch. I wasn’t afraid, not of pain, not of death. After all, I would simply be reborn. But even so, my instincts demanded I act. Gripping my rapiers, I dove to the ground, driving the blades deep into the earth. The grounded steel absorbed much of the lightning’s force, reducing the damage I would have taken. Pain surged through me as the residual energy seared my flesh, but my healing factor kicked in immediately, repairing the scars as quickly as they formed.

Chris rushed toward me, panic and confusion written across his face. – “What the hell is going on?” – He shouted. – “Why is it attacking you?”

I staggered to my feet, brushing the dirt from my rapiers as I met his gaze. – “See, Chris?” – I said, my voice calm despite the chaos. – “This beast is just like any other.”

Chris turned to the Pegasus, which had landed nearby, its wings tucked against its sides. Its golden glow dimmed as it lowered its head, a somber expression replacing its earlier aggression. – “Why does it only attack you when I’m not close?” – He asked, his voice tinged with desperation. – “I don’t understand.”

I sheathed my rapiers, taking a slow step forward. – “It’s not the Pegasus that’s different.” – I said, my words deliberate. – “It’s you, Chris.”

He blinked, confusion clouding his face. – “What are you talking about?”

I sighed, the truth heavy on my tongue. – “Beasts are programmed to kill humans. That much is certain. But the reason this one doesn’t attack you is simple. You’re not human, Chris.”

His eyes widened in disbelief. – “What?”

“You’re a ghoul.” – I said, the words cutting through the air like a knife. – “When my blood entered your body, it changed you. Your natural state now is that of a ghoul, and that’s why the Pegasus doesn’t see you as its enemy. You’re not human anymore.”

Chris stared at me, his expression a mixture of denial and acceptance. Deep down, he had always known, but hearing it spoken aloud made the truth impossible to ignore.

“I see.” – He said finally, his voice trembling. – “Then that means…”

Without another word, he turned and ran toward the Pegasus. Climbing onto its back, he gripped its mane as it spread its wings and took flight. The golden light of the beast and its rider faded into the distance, leaving me alone on the silent battlefield.

----------------------------------------

“This place should be fine…” – I murmured, lowering myself to the ground. My legs ached, and my body screamed for rest. The battle had taken everything out of me. Now that the other beast was gone, the Pegasus had returned to being the anchor point of this dimension. It was the lynchpin that held this world together. If we moved too far from Arstria, she’d have no choice but to follow us here.

The Pegasus stood silently beside me, its golden coat glimmering faintly in the peaceful light of the blue sky. It wasn’t the same creature I had fought beside moments ago. Now, it seemed tranquil, serene, as though the chaos of battle had never touched it. I sighed and leaned back, letting my gaze wander across the endless expanse of sky above.

“You’re just like another beast.” – I said quietly, the words bitter in my mouth. – “An enemy to humankind…”

But even as the words escaped me, they rang hollow, a lie I couldn’t bring myself to believe.

“All the beasts that the stars have been killing all this time.” – I continued, my voice soft – “They aren’t actually evil, are they? They don’t wake up one day and decide to be humanity’s enemy. They just have this… this bloodlust, this uncontrollable urge when they see a human. It’s not their fault.”

I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. – “That completely sucks, doesn’t it? Imagine your entire existence being reduced to one purpose, taking others’ lives. No choice, no freedom, just a compulsion to kill.”

The Pegasus didn’t react. It stood still, its gaze fixed on the horizon, as if contemplating my words. Or maybe it was simply enjoying the rare peace of its own world.

“This world of yours.” – I said, glancing around at the tranquil landscape. – “It’s so peaceful. And I bet the same is true for all the other terrariums. But before the dimensions even have a chance to clash, before these creatures appear in the real world, the stars come to your homes and take your lives.”

The thought made my chest ache. I looked at the Pegasus, its form radiating strength and grace, and felt a pang of guilt. – “It’s weird, really. I’ve only known you for a few hours, but I want you to live. Everyone deserves that much. But to save, it’s necessary to kill.”

As the words left my lips, the Pegasus stirred. It let out a soft, almost mournful neigh before rising to its feet. Its hooves struck the ground with purpose, each step deliberate as it moved closer to me. Then, it did something unexpected, it raised one of its forelegs, pointing its hoof toward me.

Or rather, toward my sword.

“What are you doing?” – I asked, confusion creeping into my voice. – “Do you… want to fight?”

The Pegasus didn’t react with aggression. It stood there, its hoof still raised, staring at me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

“I won’t fight you.” – I said, shaking my head. – “Take this time to relax. Soon, you’ll have to fight again. And likely…” – My voice faltered. – “Likely die.”

But the Pegasus didn’t relent. It tapped its hoof against the ground, once, twice, its gaze never wavering from my sword.

Understanding dawned slowly, like a distant sunrise breaking through the fog. My hand moved to the hilt of my weapon, hesitant, unsure. – “You can’t mean…” – I began, trailing off as I drew the blade.

The Pegasus’s reaction was immediate. Its wings folded tightly against its body, and it lowered its head until its golden mane brushed the ground. Its eyes closed, and it stood perfectly still, a monument of grace and dignity.

“I see.” – I whispered, my throat tightening. – “You want to go by the hands of a friend.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as the weight of the moment settled over me. – “What kind of monster would I be if I refused, right?”

The Pegasus remained motionless, its trust absolute. It wasn’t asking for mercy or pleading for its life. It was making a choice, a choice to end its existence on its own terms, to avoid the violence and inevitability of the coming battle.

That was when I saw it.

A faint glow appeared on the creature’s forehead: Its core. The Pegasus had purposefully illuminated its weak point, guiding me to where the blade should strike. It was offering itself to me, sparing us both the pain of uncertainty.

My vision blurred as tears began to fall freely, streaking down my cheeks and onto the ground. The blade in my hand felt heavier than ever, a weight I wasn’t sure I could bear.

With one swift motion, I raised the blade and brought it down, slicing cleanly through the core.

The Pegasus let out a soft, almost relieved sigh as its body shimmered with golden light. The glow intensified, enveloping it in a radiant aura before slowly dissipating. When the light faded, the beast was gone, leaving only a faint warmth in the air where it had stood.

I sank to my knees, the empty sword falling from my hands as I pressed my palms into the dirt. The tears wouldn’t stop, a torrent of grief and guilt that I couldn’t hold back.

In that moment, the world before me began to fracture. The serene skies and lush surroundings shattered like the glass of a kaleidoscope, splintering into jagged shards of light. The peaceful dimension, once anchored by the Pegasus’s presence, dissolved into chaos, its beauty fading into nothingness. I didn’t fight it. There was no point. Within seconds, the ground beneath me vanished, and I felt the strange, weightless pull of reality reclaiming me.

When I opened my eyes, I was back in the real world.

The shift was jarring, the cold bite of the air, and the distant hum of a world still teetering on the edge of survival. The silence that followed was deafening. My hands instinctively reached for the ground to steady myself as my knees threatened to buckle beneath me.

“You did it…” – A familiar voice said, breaking the stillness.

I turned to see Arstria standing behind me, her expression unreadable. Her golden eyes, always sharp and calculating, now held something softer, a flicker of acknowledgment, perhaps even respect.

“The first to befriend a beast.” – She added, her tone lighter, almost teasing. – “I never thought I’d see the day.”

Beside me, the short girl offered a faint smile. But she too was somber. I swallowed hard, the ache in my chest threatening to overwhelm me.

“When my blood entered the Chimera.” – She said, her voice hoarse and uneven. – “I felt something. A presence. It wasn’t the beast’s fault, it was something else. The true culprit behind the feathers and the fall of humanity.”

I tilted my head. – “A mastermind, huh.”

She nodded. – “Will you fight beside me, so we can avenge your friend?”

I rose slowly to my feet, wiping the tears from my red, swollen eyes. The loss of the Pegasus still burned like an open wound, but Arstria’s words gave me something to cling to. A purpose.

The mastermind. The one responsible for all of this. But as I opened my mouth to speak, something strange happened. A sharp, searing pain shot through my face, spreading like wildfire. My vision blurred, and my hands flew to my cheeks, only to come away slick with a dark, viscous liquid.

“I guess you’ll have to do that alone.” – I said, my voice trembling. The words came unbidden, my lips moving of their own accord. My legs wavered, the strength draining from me as the ichor poured freely, staining the ground at my feet.

----------------------------------------

A week had passed since Chris had slipped into a coma. The sight of him lying motionless in the sterile confines of the Hospital Division of STR… His breathing was shallow but steady, and the faint hum of medical equipment filled the room with an oppressive rhythm.

Fortunately, the blood vials he had strapped to his belt had been enough to halt the progression of the ghoulification. If those vials hadn’t been there, we might have lost him entirely. But while they had been a temporary reprieve, they hadn’t been enough to reverse the process.

According to Sirius, the cause of Chris’s condition was clear. During the battle, he had pushed himself too far, tapping deeply into his newfound powers during the removal of the feather. The strain on his body had triggered the corruption’s return, its relentless nature taking hold the moment his strength faltered.

Three vials of my blood had been enough to pause the process, but it couldn’t bring him back. It was a standoff, a fragile equilibrium maintained by my blood’s unique properties. To keep him alive, Chris was now undergoing constant blood transfusions, an endless supply of the crimson liquid keeping the ghoulification at bay.

Getting the blood wasn’t an issue. Not anymore.

My newfound power had made the process almost trivial. I could generate more of my blood than ever before, my body adapting to the demands of the situation with an efficiency that was both awe-inspiring and unsettling. Each day, I would sit in the sterile donation chamber, watching as the medical staff collected vial after vial of the cursed gift that flowed through my veins.

And each day, I would visit Chris’s room afterward, standing at his bedside and staring at his motionless form. The staff assured me he wasn’t in pain, that his condition was stable, but it didn’t make the sight any easier. His once vibrant face was pale, his expression peaceful but devoid of life. It felt wrong to see him this way, the fire that had defined him reduced to embers.

I couldn’t help but wonder what he was dreaming about, if he was dreaming at all. Did he know I was there? Could he hear me when I spoke?

Sirius had tried to reassure me, saying that the transfusions would sustain him until he woke up, but even their confidence wasn’t absolute. Chris’s condition was uncharted territory. Ghoulification wasn’t something we’d ever truly understood, and my blood was an unpredictable factor in an already precarious equation.

“You won’t be able to get rid of me that easily.”

The sound of his voice stopped me dead in my tracks as I stepped into the room. My heart leapt in my chest, relief flooding through me so intensely that I nearly stumbled. He was awake, after all these days, Chris was finally awake.

“Are you okay? Are you feeling alright?” – I asked, the words tumbling out of me in a chaotic rush. My voice trembled, a mix of joy and desperation spilling over as I moved closer to his bedside.

Chris looked up at me, his blue eyes meeting mine. But they weren’t the same as before. There was a heaviness in them, a somber weight that pierced through my happiness like a dagger.

“Never better.” – He said, forcing a small, strained smile. – “Or at least I’d like to say that.”

My own smile faltered, replaced by concern. – “Why? What’s happening? Tell me, please, I need to know.”

Chris hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the IV drip that delivered my blood into his veins. The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating, before he finally spoke. – “I’ll tell you. But first, I need you to promise me you will do me a favor.”

“Anything.” – I said without hesitation. – “I promise. Just tell me what you need.”

He nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. – “It all started a few days after the experiment ended. At first, one vial of your blood was enough to hold the corruption back. It kept me stable, or at least, I thought it did. But then something changed.”

“What do you mean?” – I asked, my throat tight with dread.

He continued, his voice calm but filled with a quiet anguish that made my chest ache. – “Soon, one vial wasn’t enough. I had to take one and a half. Then two. The day you beat me up at school for fighting that bully, do you remember?”

I nodded, the memory flashing through my mind like a jolt of electricity.

“I didn’t forget to take my dose that day.” – He said, shaking his head. – “It just wasn’t enough. That was the third vial I drank on that day alone.”

His words hit me like a blow, but he wasn’t done. – “And after the months of training, it got worse. Ten vials. That’s what I needed to keep myself together by the end of it. And now…” – He trailed off, his eyes flicking back to the IV line. – “Now, it must be way more than that. I’ve lost track.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” – I asked, my voice rising with emotion. – “Why didn’t you say anything? I could have tried to do something! I thought the corruption was being held back.”

Chris laughed bitterly, the sound hollow and laced with self-loathing. – “Deep down, I knew the truth. I knew I wasn’t human anymore. I’m not even close. I’m probably an even worse monster than the beasts you fight.”

“That’s not true.” – I said, stepping closer.

He shook his head. – “It is. And I was scared… No, terrified. I didn’t want to admit what I was becoming. That’s why I started getting into fights, pushing myself into danger. I wanted to do all the things I never could while I was human. It was like… a promise list. A desperate attempt to live before I lost myself completely.”

His voice cracked, and for a moment, I thought he might cry. But he didn’t. Instead, he looked at me, his gaze steady and piercing.

“That’s why you empathized with the Pegasus.” – I said softly, the realization dawning on me.

“Yes.” – Chris said, his voice barely above a whisper. – “That’s why. Because we’re the same, it and I. Two monsters with an urge to kill we can barely keep at bay. I might be holding it back now, but it’s only a matter of time before I lose that fight. Before it takes over completely.”

“No.” – I said firmly. – “We’ll find a way to…”

“I’ve made my peace.” – Chris interrupted, cutting me off. – “I know what I am. And that’s why I need you to promise me one more thing.”

Tears began to well in his eyes, his voice trembling as he spoke the words I never wanted to hear. – “I want you to be the one who takes my life. Do it, please.”

The room seemed to close in around me, the air heavy and suffocating. I shook my head, backing away a step. – “No. No, I can’t…”

“Please.” – He said, his voice breaking. – “You’re the only one I trust to do it. I don’t want to hurt anyone else. I don’t want to be like them.”

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over, streaking down my face. – “Chris, don’t ask me to…”

“I’m not asking.” – He said, his expression resolute despite the pain in his eyes. – “I’m begging you. If you ever cared about me, if you ever thought of me as a friend, then promise me.”

The silence that followed was unbearable. My heart felt like it was being torn apart, but I knew there was no other answer I could give.

“I promise.” – I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of the words. The gravity of the moment settled between us like an immovable force, but even as I spoke, I refused to let despair take hold. My eyes locked with his, and I steeled myself. – “But first, you need to fulfill the promise you made to me.”

Chris tilted his head, his expression puzzled. – “Promise? What promise?”

“I can’t believe you forgot!” – I said firmly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips despite everything. Before he could argue or protest, I reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him up from the bed with more force than he was ready for.

“Hey, what are you?” – He began, but his words trailed off as he stumbled to his feet.

“We’re going.” – I said simply, my grip unyielding as I led him forward. There was no room for hesitation now.

----------------------------------------

“I always wanted to fly with you! That was incredible!” – Chris exclaimed as we landed on the warm, sunlit sand. His voice was filled with genuine excitement, and the grin on his face was so infectious that I almost smiled despite myself. His energy was palpable, his enthusiasm unrestrained, but I couldn’t let it sway me, not entirely.

“What do you think I am, a ride?” – I shot back, my face flushing crimson as I avoided his gaze. The memory of his arms wrapped tightly around me as we soared through the sky was still fresh, the weight of it lingering more than I cared to admit. My tone sharpened as I added. – “I only did it so we’d get here faster.”

Chris chuckled, completely unbothered by my retort. – “Sure, sure.” – He said with a wave of his hand, a teasing lilt in his voice. Then his gaze shifted past me, drawn to the shimmering expanse of blue ahead. The playful glint in his eyes softened, replaced by something quieter, something reverent. His expression changed as he stared at the horizon, the endless stretch of water glimmering under the sun.

“I see.” – He murmured, almost as if speaking to himself. His voice was low and filled with wonder. – “I remember now.”

“Yes.” – I said, stepping beside him. My own gaze followed his to the vast, endless ocean that sparkled like a sea of diamonds. The sun bathed the water in golden light, its rays dancing on the surface. Gentle waves rolled onto the shore, the rhythmic sound soothing in a way I hadn’t expected.

“The sea.” – I said simply.

Chris smiled then, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. He turned to look at me, and for a moment, our eyes met. Without meaning to, I found myself smiling back. It was a simple moment, fleeting yet profound, and it stretched on longer than either of us had anticipated.

The silence grew awkward, and I cleared my throat. – “So, what now?” – I blurted out, breaking the stillness.

Chris blinked, startled. – “What do you mean?”

“I’ve never been to the sea before.” – I admitted, throwing my arms out toward the water. – “What do people normally do here?”

“Well, for starters.” – He said, gesturing to our attire with a smirk. – “I’m in a hospital outfit, and you’re still in your military uniform. Not exactly beach-ready, are we?”

I glanced down at myself, my boots sinking slightly into the sand. He wasn’t wrong.

“We should find some swimsuits.” – Chris continued, his grin widening. – “You can’t come to the sea and not swim. It’s practically illegal.”

I let out a small sigh, shaking my head as I glanced toward the distant cluster of shops that dotted the edge of the beach. The idea of walking through them in full uniform, boots and all, didn’t exactly thrill me. But Chris’s grin was impossible to ignore, his excitement practically radiating off him.

“Alright.” – I said, relenting. – “Let’s go find something. But don’t get any weird ideas, okay?”

“Who, me?” – Chris said, feigning innocence as he gestured toward himself. – “I’m the picture of restraint.”

“Sure.” – I replied dryly, stepping onto the paved path that led away from the sand. The warm sunlight bathed us as we made our way toward the shops, the ocean breeze carrying the faint scent of salt and seaweed.

The small strip of stores was bustling with life, a mix of locals and tourists weaving through the colorful displays of beach gear and souvenirs. Chris’s hospital outfit drew a few curious glances, and I caught more than one person raising an eyebrow at my military attire.

We ducked into a modest-looking shop filled with racks of swimsuits, towels, and other beach essentials. Chris immediately wandered off, browsing the racks with a childlike enthusiasm that was almost endearing.

“What about this one?” – He called, holding up a pair of bright, neon-green trunks with an exaggerated floral pattern.

“Absolutely not.” – I said without hesitation, eyeing the garish design.

“Aw, come on.” – He teased, grinning as he put it back on the rack. – “You’re no fun.”

“Just find something that doesn’t hurt my eyes.” – I shot back, scanning the options on my side of the store.

Eventually, we both managed to find swimsuits that were, by some miracle, reasonably tasteful. Chris’s was a simple pair of dark blue shorts with a subtle wave pattern, while mine was a sleek black one-piece that offered both practicality and a hint of style.

Chris held up his selection with a grin. – “See? I can be serious when I want to be.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” – I replied, heading toward the counter to pay.

After changing in the small, slightly cramped dressing rooms at the back of the store, we stepped out into the sunlight once again, our beach attire drawing fewer curious glances than our previous outfits had. Chris stretched his arms out wide, tilting his head back to soak in the sun.

“This is the life.” – He said with a contented sigh.

“You’re acting like we’re on vacation.” – I muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

“Well, we might as well make the most of it.” – He replied, flashing me a grin. – “Come on, let’s hit the water.”

I followed him down to the shore, the sand warm beneath my bare feet. The ocean stretched out before us, its waves crashing gently against the beach. Chris waded in first, letting out a laugh as the cool water splashed up around him.

“Come on!” – He called, turning back to look at me. – “You’re not scared, are you?”

“Of course not.” – I said, stepping into the water. The chill sent a small shiver up my spine, but I kept going, determined not to let him see me falter.

As we swam out a little further, the weight of the world seemed to fall away, replaced by the gentle rhythm of the waves and the warmth of the sun on my skin. For a brief moment, everything felt… normal.

“See?” – Chris said, floating beside me with an easy grin. – “You’re smiling. Told you this was a good idea.”

I splashed water at him, a rare laugh escaping my lips. – “Don’t push your luck.”

Chris laughed as the water splashed across his face, wiping it away with an exaggerated flourish. – “Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be, huh?” he said, mischief glinting in his eyes.

Before I could react, he retaliated, sending a spray of water in my direction. I turned away just in time, shielding my face with my hands, but his aim was annoyingly precise.

“Chris!” – I shouted, trying to sound stern but failing miserably as laughter bubbled up instead.

“Hey, you started it!” – He countered, grinning as he treaded water a few feet away.

I shook my head, a mixture of exasperation and amusement settling over me. It was surreal, how light this moment felt. For just a little while, it was as if all the burdens, all the battles, had melted away, leaving only the two of us and the endless sea.

As the playful splashing subsided, we both floated quietly for a moment, letting the gentle waves carry us. Chris tilted his head back, his gaze fixed on the sky above, where the sunlight broke through scattered clouds in radiant beams.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” – He said softly, his voice devoid of its usual teasing edge.

I followed his gaze, watching the light dance across the water’s surface. – “Yeah.” – I admitted, the single word carrying more weight than I expected.

Chris turned his head to look at me, his expression uncharacteristically serious. – “Thanks.” – He said suddenly, his voice quiet.

“For what?” – I asked, caught off guard.

“For bringing me here.” – He said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. – “I didn’t realize how much I needed this. To just… be.”

I felt a lump rise in my throat, but I pushed it down. – “You deserve it.” – I said simply.

----------------------------------------

The sand beneath us was cool, softened by the gentle breeze that carried the salty scent of the sea. The horizon burned with the hues of a dying sun, streaks of amber and violet blending into the darkening sky. We sat close, our shoulders nearly brushing, watching as the last slivers of daylight slipped away.

“I never thought I’d enjoy the water this much.” – I admitted, my voice quiet, almost lost in the rhythmic lapping of the waves. – “I always believed I was someone born of fire, tied to its wild, untamed nature. But… my life as the First Star feels so distant now, like it belonged to someone else entirely.”

Chris smirked, his expression as easygoing as always. – “Told you.” - He said simply, leaning back on his hands.

I smiled faintly, but the lightness didn’t last. There was something I needed to say, words that had been building inside me for longer than I cared to admit. Slowly, I shifted closer, the soft sand shifting under me as I turned to face him.

“Chris.” – I began, my voice trembling slightly. – “I need to be honest with you. I’ve never felt this close to anyone before.” – My cheeks flushed with heat, as vivid as the embers of a dying flame.

His response wasn’t what I expected. – “Really? I thought you and Sapphire were, like, sisters. Or… whatever’s going on with you two.” – He scratched the back of his head, his casual tone cutting through my vulnerability like a cold wind.

“No.” – I replied, shaking my head. – “Sapphire and I… we’ve never shared anything like this. She honestly scares me sometimes.” – My thoughts drifted to her unnerving precision, her sharp, calculating nature. – “She feels more like a machine than a person. There’s no humanity there. Not really.”

Chris nodded, his face thoughtful. – “I get that. What about Sirius?”

The mention of Sirius brought a different kind of weight to my heart. – “Sirius… He’s the one who found me, gave me a name, and a purpose. But he never really felt like a father. More like a leader, someone who expected things from me. And there are things he’s done, things I can never forgive.”

“Yes. That terrible experiment… but without it, I wouldn’t have met you. Don’t you think?”

His words caught me off guard, and I blinked at him. – “That’s… an interesting way to look at it.” – I murmured, unsure whether to feel grateful or bitter.

The sun dipped lower, the colors of the sky fading into twilight. Chris turned to me, his gaze steady and thoughtful. As the moment stretched between us, I felt my pulse quicken. Without thinking, I leaned closer, my eyes fluttering shut as I moved toward him, closing the space between us.

“Wait, no!” – Chris’s voice rang out, and before our lips could touch, he pushed me away.

“Why?” – I gasped, my face burning with humiliation. The perfect moment had shattered like glass.

He looked away, guilt etched across his features. – “Arstria… you’re too young for me.”

His words struck like a blow, sharp and cutting. – “But you’re the one who’s always teasing me… Why?” – My voice cracked as tears welled in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them.

Chris clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. – “I’m sorry! It was just for your reaction, I swear!”

I slapped him, the sound sharp in the quiet air. – “It was just a joke to you?!” – I shouted, my voice trembling with hurt.

He winced but didn’t pull away. – “I’m sorry, Arstria. Really, I am. It’s not that you’re not pretty, you are, and one day you’ll be beautiful. But when people told me you weren’t human, I thought of you as this… goddess or something. But now, I realize you’re just a child. In both mind and body.”

“I’m a star! Your human definitions don’t apply to me!” – I screamed, my voice raw with emotion.

Chris’s expression darkened, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced by something far heavier. – “No, Arstria.” – He said firmly, his voice carrying an unshakable conviction. – “You’re more human than anyone I’ve ever met. Star should just be a role assigned to you.”

His words cut deeper than I wanted to admit, forcing me to confront something I wasn’t ready to face. – “You don’t understand.” – I began, my voice trembling with defiance. – “I’m not human. I can’t be.”

But then he said something that froze me in place. “I’m dead.” – His voice was quiet, yet it carried the weight of a storm.

The breath caught in my throat. – “What… what do you mean?” – I whispered, fear lacing my words.

Chris looked away, his gaze fixed on the horizon, as though searching for answers in the fading light. – “When I was in that coma.” – He began, his voice low and steady. – “I found something: a seal inside my mind. Memories that were mine, locked away. This world we’re in… it isn’t the real one. It’s a lie, a construct. And me? I’m not what I thought I was. I’m something else entirely. I’m a wraith put on the role of a human.”

“Not this again.” – I muttered under my breath, anger and disbelief flaring to life. Sapphire had spoken similar words before, cryptic nonsense about false realities and sealed truths. I couldn’t bear to hear it again, not now, not from him.

But Chris didn’t flinch. He didn’t back down. – “Please, Arstria.” – He said, his tone earnest and pleading. – “Discover the truth of this world. If anyone can do it, it’s you.”

I recoiled, his request igniting a fiery resentment deep within me. – “What?!” - I spat, the words dripping with venom. – “After everything, after rejecting me, now you want me to follow your orders?”

Chris nodded solemnly, the weight of his words pressing down on me. – “If you’re angry, take it out on me.” – He said, his voice soft but unwavering. – “You promised to kill me, didn’t you? Maybe it’s time.”

His words knocked the air from my lungs. I opened my mouth to respond, to yell, to scream at him, but before I could form the words, his body convulsed violently.

“Chris?” – I stepped forward, panic lacing my voice.

He doubled over, his breathing ragged and erratic. Black ichor seeped from his eyes and mouth, thick and unnatural, pooling on the sand beneath him. His skin began to writhe, as though something alive clawed beneath its surface.

“No!” – I cried, rushing to him.

My hands trembled as I reached for my blade, a desperate plan forming in my mind. Without hesitation, I slashed across my wrist, letting my blood flow freely. The crimson stream shimmered faintly, alive with the power that had saved him before. I pressed it to him, letting it bathe his trembling body.

“Please come back!” – I begged, my voice breaking with desperation. – “Don’t leave me, Chris. I can’t lose you!”

But it was no use. The corruption surged, consuming him entirely. The ichor shifted, twisting and reforming, reshaping his body in ways that defied explanation. His claws elongated, razor-sharp and glinting in the fading light. His skin turned pitch black, a void-like darkness that seemed to absorb the world around it. His eyes glowed crimson, their human warmth replaced with a terrifying, otherworldly intensity.

“Chris?” – I whispered, my voice trembling as I stared at the monstrous figure before me.

The creature raised its head, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition. But then it spoke, and my hopes crumbled.

I staggered back, tears streaming down my face as I tried to comprehend what I was seeing. This wasn’t Chris, not anymore. The person I loved, the one who had given me hope, was gone, replaced by a being I couldn’t begin to understand.

Yet as I looked closer, something caught my attention. His claws began to retract, his skin lightening until it resembled human flesh. His form shifted again, the inky blackness giving way to a powerful, well-defined figure. For a fleeting moment, he almost looked human again, almost.

His eyes, though… they were no longer his. The vibrant blue I’d once found comfort in had vanished, replaced entirely by a crimson glow that radiated an unrelenting hunger. His mouth parted slightly, revealing pointed fangs that glinted in the dim light.

Bloodborne Demon

Vampire

“Chris?” I tried again, my voice barely audible.

The creature tilted its head, studying me with a strange, detached curiosity. – “Chris is gone.” – It said, the words sharper this time, colder.

My chest tightened, a sob catching in my throat. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to save him. All I knew was that I couldn’t bring myself to strike him down, no matter what he had become.

I stepped forward, my hands trembling as I reached out. – “If there’s anything left of you in there, please… fight this. Come back to me.”

The creature’s gaze bore into mine, unblinking, unyielding. – “I only returned to what I once was.” – It said, its voice carrying an edge of finality that made my blood run cold.

I fell to my knees, the weight of the moment pressing down on me like the world itself had collapsed. The waves crashed against the shore, distant and muted, as though they belonged to another reality: a quieter, kinder one far removed from this nightmare. My heart ached, torn between love and despair, as I stared at the monstrosity that had once been Chris.

“No.” – I whispered, shaking my head as tears streaked down my face. – “No! I won’t accept this!”

He tilted his head, those glowing red eyes boring into me with an unnerving calm. His presence radiated power, a force that made the air itself heavy.

I clenched my fists, rising unsteadily to my feet. – “Then I’ll beat you down until he returns!” – I screamed, my voice breaking as flames erupted from my hands, their heat scorching the very air around me.

As I flew back, I quickly grabbed the rapiers that had been laying on the sand near my folded uniform.

“Ultimate Magic: Ars Nova!” – I roared, my voice carrying over the chaos.

The fire roared forward, a living storm of destruction aimed at the creature before me. Yet as it hurtled toward him, the monster simply stepped forward, unbothered by the blazing heat.

“What a joke.” – He said, his tone dripping with scorn.

The confidence in his voice sent a chill down my spine.

“But if you want to compete…” – He raised his hands, and as he did, the blackness of his hair shifted, turning into a vivid, fiery red.

“Ultimate Magic: Ars Nova.” – He echoed, a cruel mimicry of my incantation.

From his hands, two tornadoes of black fire appeared. I watched in horror as he merged them, creating an infernal maelstrom that mirrored my own. His flames surged forward, colliding with mine. But where I had expected resistance, my fire was devoured, consumed entirely by the overwhelming force of his inferno.

“No!” – I screamed, but it was too late.

The searing flames engulfed me. I barely had time to register the pain as my body was consumed, every fiber of my being turned to ash in an instant. The fire didn’t stop there, it tore through the city behind me, carbonizing everything in its straight path. Buildings, streets, people, nothing was spared.

But I couldn’t stay down. I wouldn’t.

The power within me, the gift bestowed by this world, refused to let me end here. I summoned every ounce of my soul’s strength, forcing my body to reform. Pain coursed through me as I clawed my way back to existence, and when I opened my eyes, I felt the connection between our blood.

The air was thick with despair, the weight of sixty-six stolen lives pressing against my chest like a suffocating shroud. I could feel it, through the bond that still tethered our souls together, Chris’s monstrous rampage. Each life he drained left a hollow echo within me, a void that screamed of loss and failure.

And yet, amidst the chaos, a sound pierced the air, cutting through the oppressive weight like a blade. The rhythmic thrum of a helicopter approached, growing louder with each second. My heart skipped as the craft came into view, its sleek frame cutting through the smoky haze.

The helicopter hovered for a brief moment before its passenger leapt from the open side, landing with a force that sent a ripple through the sand. The figure straightened, her movements fluid and deliberate, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, hope stirred within me.

Sapphire.

Her piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, steady and unyielding as always. Her blonde hair was untethered, flowing freely in the wind, and her fitted blue military uniform seemed to radiate authority.

“Is that Chris?” – She asked, her voice calm and measured, as if she hadn’t just arrived on the battlefield.

“Yes. Please sa—"

In that fleeting moment, I wanted to scream. To beg. To plead with Sapphire to save him, to find some way to pull Chris back from the abyss. I hadn’t given up on him, not yet. Not ever. But before I could utter a single word, she moved, faster than thought, faster than I could comprehend.

Her hand clenched into a fist, the motion deceptively simple. For a split second, it seemed as though she was preparing to strike the very air in front of her. And then it happened.

A spear materialized before her fist, its surface gleaming like molten silver, humming with untold power. The instant it formed, a shockwave exploded outward, the sheer force of it silencing the world around us. My words died on my lips as the thunderous blast rattled my skull, leaving my ears ringing painfully.

A servant that will follow any orders that her master says. That is the contract she has with me. However, she knew what I was going to ask, and created a loud sound just to silence me, after all, she didn’t have to follow orders she couldn’t hear.

I staggered, my hands flying to my head as I tried to steady myself, but Sapphire was already in motion. She surged forward, her piercing blue eyes locked on Chris.

The monster, no, the thing that had taken Chris’s form, turned to face her, a sinister grin splitting his face. His crimson eyes burned like embers, filled with malice and cruel delight.

“Ooooh, Acte.” – He cooed, his voice an unsettling mockery of familiarity. – “I’ve missed you!”

Sapphire didn’t flinch. She didn’t even hesitate. – “It’s been a long time.” – She said, her voice cold and even, though a faint smile played on her lips. – “But I go by Sapphire now.”

The monster tilted his head, the grin on his face widening. – “I know. Then it’s time to fight to the death.”

“Gladly.” – She replied, summoning another spear with a flick of her wrist, its form coalescing from nothingness as though the air itself obeyed her command.

The two of them spoke in unison, their voices overlapping in a deadly harmony.

“Ultimate—”

“Ultimate—”

“Realm—”

“Magic—”

But Sapphire was faster. Before Chris could finish his incantation, her spear tore through the air with terrifying precision, slamming into his chest with a sickening crack. He staggered, his glowing eyes flickering briefly as he clutched at the weapon embedded in his body.

“You cheated…” - he growled, his face in the largest smile he had put so far.

Sapphire stepped forward, her expression unchanging.

“Ultimate Magic: Gungnir.”

Sapphire had always been stronger than me, whenever I reached her strength, she just revealed she was holding back yet again. But the simple idea that she had a ultimate just like me never even crossed my mind, how long had she been hiding her strength?

The sky above us darkened as if responding to her words. The air grew heavy, thick with the weight of her magic. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath.

Then the heavens erupted.

Spears rained down in a relentless cascade, their shimmering forms streaking through the air like falling stars. The first struck Chris square in the head, snapping it back with a force that made me flinch. Another followed, piercing his chest, and then another, driving into his stomach.

The onslaught continued, unyielding. Two spears tore through his legs, pinning him to the ground. Another pair struck his arms, immobilizing him completely. And still, the storm raged.

I watched, frozen in place, as uncountable spears fell upon him. Each one struck true, piercing his form with unerring accuracy. His once-mighty body was reduced to a helpless figure, trapped beneath the unrelenting deluge of weapons.

Their gleaming shafts standing tall like gravestones. The ground was scorched and cratered, a testament to the overwhelming force of Sapphire’s magic.

I forced myself to move, my legs shaking as I stumbled toward the devastation. The monster was gone, buried beneath the countless spears that now littered the sand.

Sapphire stood at the heart of the destruction, her posture calm and composed, though I could see the faint tension in her shoulders. Her breathing was steady, but her eyes betrayed the strain of what she had done.

My chest ached with a pain that words couldn’t describe, a hollow void that threatened to consume me.

“Why couldn’t I save him…” I whispered, my voice trembling.

She turned to me, her blue eyes meeting mine. For a moment, something softened in her expression.

“It’s over.” – She said simply, her tone steady.

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Ever since that day, Arstria was no longer the same. To the citizens of Sirius City, she remained the beloved First Star: their shining symbol of hope, the celebrity they idolized. Her image graced posters, broadcasts, and merchandise, a constant reminder of her role as their savior. But beneath the surface, that persona had become nothing more than a carefully maintained mask.

Inside, she was hollow.

The spark that had once driven her, the fiery determination to protect humanity, to grow stronger, to overcome any obstacle, was gone. The battles she once fought with unrelenting vigor now felt like empty rituals. Beast exterminations became tasks to check off a never-ending list, devoid of meaning or passion.

Her strained relationship with Sapphire, once her closest ally, had disintegrated into a chasm of silence. Arstria refused to meet her gaze, her feelings twisted into a tangle of betrayal, anger, and sorrow. Sapphire’s unwavering strength, her ruthless efficiency. It only served as a painful reminder of the day Arstria had failed.

In the end, she was still just a child. A child who had lost someone she loved, someone who had once been her anchor in a chaotic world.

Her training stagnated, her strength waning as her mind drifted further from the battlefield. Her movements were sluggish, her once-flawless instincts dulled. In the eyes of her admirers, she remained the unyielding protector, but those who knew her better: Sirius, Sapphire, and a few trusted others, saw the cracks forming beneath her flawless facade.

Yet, amidst the despair, a single fragment of hope lingered in her soul. One voice had entered her mind moments after the death of the vampire that had taken over Chris’s body. It was the last words of the one she loved.

“Arstria, I’m sure that you will be happy. You will find someone who will love you and save you from this horrible world.”

It was a message engraved into the core of her being, a voice she couldn’t silence no matter how hard she tried. And though she didn’t understand how or when, those words became her lifeline, the thread that kept her from unraveling completely.

Perhaps that was the only reason she continued living.

One day, Sirius summoned her. His presence, always commanding and unyielding, felt even more so now as he delivered his instructions. – “I’ve sensed the presence of a molecular cloud.” – He said, his tone grave but tinged with hope. – “Someone with the potential to become a star.”

Arstria blinked, the words taking a moment to register. A new star? It had been so long since she’d felt anything close to excitement or anticipation, and even now, the sensation was dulled.

Sirius continued. – “You’re to retrieve her from Procyon, a neighboring town where I’ve established a barrier similar to the one protecting Sirius City. It is untrained and unaware of its potential. Bring it back safely, no matter the cost.”

Arstria nodded mechanically, her mind already numbing itself to the task.

There, Arstria will meet someone who will change her existence completely.

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