The roar rattled my bones. The Alpha burst from the treeline, its massive body wreathed in black veins pulsing with corruption. Horns curled from its skull like jagged blades, and its eyes glowed like embers.
The militia froze. Even Bran, who'd been so ready to kill me, took a step back.
Elira slid in front, her daggers gleaming. "Stay behind me."
"Uh sure, except, small problem!" I waved my bare arms. "I don't have a weapon! Or armor! Or clothes!"
Her cheeks pinked even in the heat of battle. "Then at least cover yourself!"
[Observation: Prioritize survival over modesty. Clothing does not improve HP.]
"Advisor, shut up!"
The Alpha charged. Its claws slammed into the dirt, tearing up earth. Elira leapt, her daggers flashing, but the beast's hide was thick her blades barely scratched it.
The shockwave threw me back. I hit the ground hard, groaning.
"Okay… note to self: legs are wobbly. Running is… complicated."
---
The Alpha swiped again, sending soldiers flying. Its presence was crushing. This wasn't like the small hounds this thing was a monster.
Elira dodged, rolling beneath its claws, slashing at its underbelly. "Spirit! Do something!"
"I'm TRYING!" I focused, shaping raw mana into my hand. A glowing blade shimmered into existence jagged, unstable.
It flickered dangerously.
[Warning: Mana Shaping at this scale is inefficient. Blade integrity: 34%.]
"Thirty-four percent is better than zero!"
I charged forward then immediately tripped, landing flat on my face.
"OW! Damn it, new body, work with me!"
The Alpha's shadow loomed over me. Its jaws opened wide.
---
At the last second, Elira yanked me back by the arm. My unstable mana-blade sliced across its snout as it snapped down, leaving a smoking scar.
The Alpha howled, staggering.
I stared at the glowing cut, my hand trembling. "…Wait. That actually worked?"
[Observation: Congratulations. You have discovered that stabbing things is effective.]
"No kidding!"
---
We fought together, Elira striking high, me slashing low with my shaky mana blade. Each hit drained my MP further.
MP: 150/300 → 120/300 → 90/300
My arms burned. My blade kept flickering, but I forced myself to keep swinging.
Elira shouted, "Focus your energy! Time your strikes with me!"
"Right!"
The Alpha lunged. Together, we dove in opposite directions, our blades slashing its legs. Black ichor sprayed, the beast collapsing to one knee.
It roared, thrashing wildly. A shockwave burst outward, tearing through the barricades. My mana blade shattered.
I stumbled, completely exposed.
And then, of course, my only cover a loose cloak from a fallen soldier slipped right off my waist.
The Nerulians in the huts screamed.
"HE'S FIGHTING NAKED!"
"AGAIN?!"
"IT'S NOT ON PURPOSE!" I shouted back, scrambling to tie it again while the Alpha advanced.
Elira's face burned red. "FOCUS ON THE ENEMY, YOU IDIOT!"
---
With a roar, the Alpha charged. Elira darted left. I stood frozen, mana flickering uselessly in my hand.
Then instinct kicked in.
I clenched my fist, forcing mana to solidify not as a blade but as armor. A glowing gauntlet wrapped around my arm.
The Alpha's claw came down.
I met it head-on.
The impact shook my bones, but the gauntlet held, light flaring. My feet dug into the earth, but I didn't fall.
Elira's eyes widened. "You!"
"NOW!" I shouted.
She leapt, spinning high, both daggers stabbing deep into the Alpha's neck. Black ichor sprayed as the beast howled.
I roared, punching upward with my glowing gauntlet. The blow cracked against its skull with explosive force.
The Alpha staggered, reeled and collapsed with a thunderous crash.
---
Silence.
The corrupted hounds scattered into the night, their glowing eyes vanishing into the trees.
The militia erupted in cheers. The Nerulians poured from their huts, shouting, weeping, praising.
"He saved us!"
"The spirit ...he's our protector!"
"…Even if he's indecent."
I collapsed to my knees, panting. My MP flickered dangerously low.
MP: 5/300
HP: 78/120
Elira landed gracefully beside me, daggers dripping black blood. She studied me with those piercing jewel-blue eyes.
"…You're reckless. Clumsy. And embarrassing."
"Thanks," I wheezed.
Her lips curved, just slightly. "But… you fought well."
I blinked at her, stunned. Was that… a compliment?
Then the world tilted. My vision went black.
---
When I woke, I was lying in a small hut, a blanket over me. My cloak was neatly folded at my side.
And Elira sat nearby, a kind of cute girl, polishing her daggers, watching me with unreadable eyes.
"…You're a strange one, Spirit," she said softly. "But maybe… just what we need..
---