An arc of brilliant, searing red light flashed, and a Zombie Hound—twice the size of the others—fell lifeless to the ground, instantly turning to ash.
The scarlet luminescence originated from a deep red sword wielded by a blonde girl: Reina. Every slash she executed emitted beautiful, dangerous arcs, burning with destructive cinders that sliced through everything in their path. She moved across the battlefield like a seasoned warmaiden, gloriously dancing with the wind, cutting down every monster in sight.
In a breathtaking flash, she single-handedly wiped the area clean of demonic beasts. The stench of blood no longer bothered her; this was far from the first time she had killed. If sacrificing her innocence and embracing violence was the only path to return home and protect those she cared for, she would gladly take it.
Splash.
She flicked her sword, casting off the sticky blood, then sheathed it with acute composure and let out a small sigh.
'Finally, it's over.'
"Nice job, Reina! You didn't even need our help!" exclaimed Michelle, one of her classmates, in utter amazement.
"I think you can do it too, Michi," Reina replied, offering a genuine, encouraging smile.
"Do you really think so? My magic isn't that strong, though."
"Of course you can! There's no such thing as 'not good enough,' Michi. It's how you use the power you have." Reina reached out and held Michelle's hand, her smile dazzling and comforting—the kind of smile that could make even another girl feel utterly charmed.
"Reina!"
Michelle was unable to restrain herself. She immediately lunged forward and buried herself in Reina's embrace.
"Eeeeh!? A-Are you alright, Michi?" Taken completely by surprise, Reina stumbled slightly.
"Reina... Reina..." Michelle sighed contentedly, pressing her face between the "two amazing mounds" of Reina's chest, allowing herself to savor the moment of relaxation. It was so soft, warm, and comforting, sending an electric feeling of satisfaction through her. "I don't regret my choice," she said, her voice muffled as she squeezed tight.
"So soft!" she cuddled even more aggressively.
"I-It tickles, Michi!"
"Just a little bit more," she requested, utterly lost to the heavenly pleasure.
Watching the scene unfold, the two boys on the team nearly choked on air.
"What the—is this the legendary boob-pressing scene?" one boy gasped, clutching his nose to prevent a nosebleed. The sight of the two mounds moving as Michelle burrowed between them was pure, sweet poison to the eye.
"Oh my God," the other whispered, eyes wide.
"Uhmmmm! That's enough, Michi!" Reina retorted, gently but firmly pushing Michelle away until their bodies separated.
"Ehehehe, sorry! I was just lost in the moment," Michelle replied, not sounding remorseful in the slightest.
The Seeds of Love Bloom
Reina's group decided to take a short break. They had already met their quota for the day, granting them plenty of downtime. The girls shooed the boys away, forcing them to click their tongues in disappointment, while they began the legendary 'girls' talk.'
"Gabby, I heard Joshua is into you," Michelle opened the conversation, immediately diving into the essential topics of romance and secrets that bonded them.
"Well, we... we hooked up about three weeks ago," Gabriel confessed, blushing deeply as she confirmed her new relationship with Joshua.
"Waah! That's so cute! How did he confess?" Mika giggled, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"D-Do I really have to tell you everything?" Gabriel was beet-red with embarrassment, but Mika's glittering eyes were a hypnotic force compelling her to spill the details.
"I-It was after we were summoned. I was really depressed. That's when he started talking to me and comforting me every day. It was awkward at first, but he told me he would protect me, which made me really happy. I don't know why, but my heart started pounding so hard every time we spoke. Then, I asked him why he cared so much, and he said he liked me, and I said I liked him, too. I feel like such a shallow girl, don't I?" She hid her face behind her hands, giggling in shame.
"That was so romantic!" Mika and Michelle exclaimed in unison.
"But I never thought Joshua was so aggressive!" Michelle added, amazed. "Did you guys already kiss or something? You know!" She finished, pouting her lips suggestively.
"O-of course not! Like hell we would do that!" Gabriel shrieked, instantly denying the insinuation.
"Oh, too bad!"
Reina was quietly listening to the conversation, sipping her fragrant tea, seemingly indifferent. Back on Earth, she had prioritized her studies above all else; love was a distraction.
But deep down, the seeds of love had already been planted in her heart a long time ago. Though she was unaware, a certain boy—one who was now consciously keeping his distance—had already held her heart captive.
"By the way, I once saw Reina visiting Andre at night," Michelle suddenly smirked, looking directly at Reina.
Reina immediately coughed out the tea she was drinking. "Hah!?" She nearly dropped her cup.
"Well, I saw you going to Andre's room that night. I was just wondering if something was going on between you two."
"O-of course not! We just talked, and he's my childhood friend! We're just friends, that's all." A sharp pang of loneliness shot through Reina's heart as she uttered the word 'friend.' It felt like rubbing salt into a wound.
"Oh! Is that so?" Michelle wasn't convinced.
"Yes," Reina replied, regaining her calm composure.
"Then, is it okay if I confess to him? You wouldn't mind, right?"
Reina instantly froze. Her mind blanked, unable to process the casual question. Her smile vanished, and her carefully cultivated composure turned to ash. Something inside her snapped.
Her eyes turned arctic cold, and her entire aura shifted into something unrecognizable and terrifying. Michelle, Mika, and Gabriel felt a sudden, profound chill run down their spines, as if they were facing a different, dangerous person entirely. They realized with sinking horror that they had stepped on a powerful landmine.
"It's a joke, Reina! A joke!" Michelle quickly retracted her words, her voice laced with genuine panic.
"Oh." The frightening black aura dissipated. Michelle and the others let out a profound sigh of relief.
"But... if you don't confess to Andre, he might be stolen by somebody," Michelle pushed, accidentally stepping on an even more powerful, emotionally nuclear landmine. The resulting aura was beyond the freezing point.
"Aieeeeeeeeee!" They shrieked in unison, witnessing the return of the terrifying presence.
"I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry! I didn't know you were so in love with him! I won't do it again!" Michelle blurted out, tears welling up as she begged for mercy.
Reina instantly blushed crimson upon hearing the words "in love." The realization hit her with undeniable force: she was in love with Andre. The seeds of affection had rapidly bloomed into a radiant, everlasting flower of emotion.
'That was quick,' Michelle thought, sighing and offering a silent prayer: "I hope you will be fine, Andre!"
Harvi's Vile Smirk
Meanwhile, in a deeper, more hostile part of the Arsibal Canyon, a tall young man stood before a truly colossal, towering Two-headed Zombie Hound. This beast was far larger and more fearsome than the one Andre's group had faced—a true mini-boss monster.
The young man was Harvi. He wore a majestic, deep-red robe embroidered with elegant gold lines and held a staff of deep crimson ironwood, tipped with a black, pulsating orb.
The monster was growling, its two heads shaking violently at the single figure. Harvi lifted his staff, chanting specific words to invoke his destructive magic. Energy rapidly gathered at the tip, forming a red, blazing spherule of pure fire. With astonishing speed, the fireball grew, approaching the sheer size of the hound itself.
Harvi shot the massive sphere directly at the two-headed beast.
"GRRAAAAHHHHHKKKKK!!" the monster roared in sheer agony as its skin instantly began to melt and blister. It tried to resist, but its massive size was useless against the intense heat. It was immediately incinerated, collapsing into crisp ash, leaving only a huge, smoking beast core.
"Tch! Another damned weak monster!" Harvi cursed, disappointed with the creature's lack of challenge. He had always despised weakness, believing that sheer strength—physical, magical, or financial—was the only absolute solution. Only the strong survive. Strong enough to dominate.
He retrieved the beast core and tossed it dismissively to one of his lackeys.
"So, what's the plan for tomorrow, Harvi?" the lackey asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"It's time to collect the debt Andre owes me," Harvi declared, his lips curling into a vile, predatory smirk.
( A/N: I tried to showcase the heroine this chapter. I also want you to see the heroine's side. does it suits your taste?
I also gave a glimpse why Hatvi hates Andre. Why does Harvi want to be strong? and hate the weak? What was his purpose? his story?
I want the readers to see in my story that everyone has its own story.
By the way if you have any feedbacks just comment below and I will be happy if you vote and give some power stone :) )