Night inside the goblin encampment had changed.
The ground that had once been covered in battle marks was now riddled with massive cracks, fallen trees, and deep slashes carved into the earth like long wounds.
The air felt heavy.
Filled with the scent of black blood.
And in the middle of those scattered ruins—
Lilya still stood.
Calm.
The soft golden aura of [Veil Resonance] still wrapped around her body, pulsing gently like a second breath intertwined with her own.
The blue blade of light in her hand extended steadily.
Unshaken.
Unwavering.
Her gaze remained fixed ahead.
Toward the only enemy left standing.
The axe-wielding Hobgoblin.
"GRAAAAHHHH—!!"
The monster roared in fury.
Its massive body was covered in wounds.
A deep slash stretched across its shoulder down to its chest.
Another brutal cut at its waist continued to spill black blood.
And for the first time since the battle began—
its wounds no longer regenerated.
The black aura surrounding its body moved erratically, as if something inside it had begun to panic.
"...so it's true."
Lilya narrowed her eyes slightly.
Her breathing remained calm.
"...as long as [Veil Resonance] lands on them..."
Her gaze flickered briefly to the monster's injuries.
"...their regeneration stops."
She understood now.
And that meant—
this battle had changed.
It was no longer about survival.
It was about ending things.
Yet—
Lilya's eyes shifted.
Because the Hobgoblin did not retreat.
Did not stagger.
Instead—
it changed its stance.
Its large body lowered slightly.
The massive axe shifted position.
Its left foot stepped forward.
Its right hand tightened.
That stance—
was different.
"...?"
Lilya's instincts reacted instantly.
[Battle Instinct]
The world narrowed once more.
And then—
the Hobgoblin moved.
WHOOSH!!
Faster than before.
Its axe pulled back—
then its body spun.
A red-black aura coiled violently around the weapon.
Wild.
Dense.
"GROOOAAHHHH—!!"
[Whirl Axe]
BRRRAAAAAK—!!
A massive spinning strike tore through the surroundings.
The ground split apart.
Nearby trees were hacked down violently.
A shockwave burst outward like a localized storm.
Lilya's eyes widened slightly.
"...another skill?!"
Her body moved instinctively.
[Quick Step]
WHOOSH—
She disappeared for a split second.
The devastating strike passed inches from her face.
But it wasn't over.
The Hobgoblin twisted again.
Its axe reversed direction violently.
Without stopping.
Without leaving an opening.
[Crimson Cleave]
The axe burned crimson.
Heavy pressure crushed the air around it before a gigantic horizontal slash tore toward Lilya.
"...it has other [Sword Skills] too?!"
Lilya's heartbeat quickened slightly.
Surprised.
Because until now, the creature had fought mostly through brute force and only one combat skill.
But now—
it fought like a trained warrior.
As if someone—
or something—
had taught it.
Still—
the surprise only lasted a moment.
Lilya's gaze turned calm again.
Cold.
Measured.
"...it doesn't matter."
Her body lowered slightly.
The blue blade in her hand trembled softly.
"...as long as your regeneration doesn't work..."
Her eyes sharpened.
"...I can still win."
CLAAANG—!!
[Parry Counter]
Her glowing blade moved swiftly.
The angle was perfect.
The axe was deflected off course.
The giant Hobgoblin lost balance for a brief moment.
Yet—
the monster didn't stop.
Instead—
it leapt.
BOOOM!!
The ground shattered beneath its feet.
Its massive body launched high into the air.
Higher than before.
Its axe spun rapidly overhead.
Faster.
More violent.
SUUUUUMMM—
A red-black aura gathered chaotically along the blade.
The air screamed.
Dust rose.
The surrounding trees trembled violently.
Lilya narrowed her eyes upward.
"...?"
The Hobgoblin roared thunderously.
"GROOOOOAAAAAAAAA—!!!"
Then—
from the air—
it brought the axe crashing downward.
Straight at Lilya.
But—
[Quick Step]
WHOOSH—
Lilya vanished from her position an instant before impact.
A violent explosion shook the area.
The earth shattered.
Rocks and splintered wood burst into the sky.
The shockwave rippled outward, rattling the surrounding forest.
As dust still swirled—
Lilya already stood several steps behind it.
Her breathing short.
But her eyes sharp.
Calm.
The Hobgoblin remained bent over from its tremendous strike.
Its body exposed.
A perfect opening.
"...it's over."
Her feet moved.
[Chain Strike]
WHOOSH—
Lilya lunged low.
Fast.
Almost invisible.
First strike—
SHHHK—!!
Her glowing blade sliced across the Hobgoblin's side.
A deep wound split open from shoulder to ribs.
Black blood sprayed.
"GROAA—?!"
Before it could roar—
the second slash came.
SHHHKK—!!
Diagonal.
Deeper.
Cutting across chest and abdomen.
The monster staggered violently.
Its eyes widened.
But Lilya—
did not stop.
Third strike—
CLAAASH—!!
Her glowing blade carved into the monster's right arm.
Deep.
Nearly severing it.
The giant axe slipped from its grasp.
The Hobgoblin stumbled.
Wide open.
No balance remained.
And Lilya—
ended it.
Her blade moved once.
Calm.
Precise.
[Air Cut]
—SHHHHHK!!
The air split.
A thin line of light shot forward.
Silent.
For a split second—
nothing happened.
Then—
the Hobgoblin's head...
slid off.
BRUK—
Its massive body froze.
Its right arm—
still clutching the axe—
split apart and crashed heavily onto the ground.
Black blood slowly spread across the damp soil.
The enormous body swayed once—
twice—
then—
BRUUUKKK—!!
Collapsed.
Still.
No movement.
No regeneration.
Only silence remained.
And amid the ruined battlefield—
only Lilya's breathing could be heard.
"Hhh..."
"Hhh..."
Her breathing remained heavy.
Yet—
for the first time since the battle began—
there was no enemy left before her.
"...finally..."
Her shoulders lowered slightly.
"...I can fi—"
"Eh...?"
Her body suddenly wavered.
Her legs lost strength.
BRUK—
Lilya dropped to one knee.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The golden aura surrounding her—
disappeared.
Gone.
Just like that.
The blue sword of light shattered into tiny fragments—
before vanishing.
Leaving behind—
an ordinary branch.
Thin.
Fragile.
Just like in the beginning.
"...?"
Lilya stared at her hand.
Her fingers trembled faintly.
Her body suddenly felt heavy.
Far too heavy.
As though all the strength sustaining her had been ripped away at once.
"...what..."
Her breath caught softly.
"...what's happening to my body?"
Her thoughts became noisy.
Her heart beat faster.
She tried to stand—
but her legs felt weak.
Empty.
As if wrung dry.
And then—
something crossed her mind.
Status.
Before this, Lilya had avoided checking her status completely, unable to face the overwhelming changes that had occurred after the soul synchronization.
But now—
she had no choice.
She had to see it again.
=============================
STATUS PANEL
=============================
Name: Lilya Asthon
Race: Human
Class: Village Girl (Sword Saint – Partial Awakening)
Subclass: None (Sword Dancer – Dormant)
Level: 100 (Max)
Title: None
CORE ATTRIBUTES
HP: 98,500 / 98,500
MP: 31,000 / 62,000
Stamina: 72,000 / 120,000
=============================
"...hah?"
Lilya's eyes widened slightly.
Her gaze stopped at one line.
Sword Saint – Partial Awakening
No longer—
Dormant.
Her breath caught.
"...it changed?"
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Her thoughts raced.
Before—
it had still read:
Sword Saint – Dormant.
Sleeping.
Inactive.
Not yet awakened.
But now—
Partial Awakening.
An incomplete awakening.
Not whole.
But unmistakably different.
Lilya tried to understand what had happened during her battles.
Combat instinct.
Basic combat techniques.
Defensive skills activating one after another whenever she had been cornered.
Now—
it all made sense.
But that wasn't what shocked her the most.
Her MP and stamina had dropped drastically.
"My MP dropped by half? Then..."
Her gaze shifted lower.
"Forty-eight thousand stamina gone? That's even over ten percent more than my MP loss..."
Lilya thought it through again.
Since entering the camp, she had fought goblins and hobgoblins relentlessly.
Every skill consumed MP bit by bit.
And strangely—
despite exhaustion, she had kept fighting.
But now—
the fatigue hit all at once, forcing her to kneel after losing nearly sixty percent of her stamina.
Still—
it wasn't enough to knock her unconscious.
Lilya's breathing remained heavy.
The night air felt cold in her lungs, yet her body burned from the remains of battle.
Her gaze lowered.
To her hands.
Her fingers moved slowly.
Opening.
Closing.
Opening again.
A little sluggish.
A little stiff.
"...?"
She raised one hand closer to her face.
Her fingertips felt strange.
Numb.
Not completely dead—
but like they had been overworked far beyond their limit.
She clenched her hand again.
Then opened it.
"...my hands are numb..."
Her voice soft.
Honest.
Calm.
"...but I can still fight."
Her expression hardened.
There was no time to rest.
Not now.
Cecilia was still missing.
And the longer she delayed—
the worse things could become.
Lilya stood again.
Her gaze turned toward the narrow trail leading deeper into the goblin camp.
The very path she had wanted to enter from the start.
Lilya took a deep breath.
Slow.
Steady.
Her eyes closed.
Silence.
She focused inward.
Feeling the flow of mana within her body.
Mana moved slowly.
Circling.
Merging.
The branch in her hand trembled softly.
Blue light spread from its surface.
Extending.
Forming a blade.
Solid.
Sharp.
The blue sword of light returned.
At the same time—
the soft golden aura wrapped around her once more.
[Veil Resonance] had activated again.
The aura moved like breathing.
Warm.
Stable.
And when Lilya opened her eyes—
their color had changed.
Golden yellow.
With a faint gleam of light hidden within her pupils.
Sharp.
Focused.
A brief silence.
Then—
her lips moved.
"...Cecilia..."
WHOOSH—!!
Lilya shot forward.
Fast.
Far too fast.
[Quick Step]
The bushes shook violently as she disappeared into the narrow path.
WHOOSH—
WHOOSH—
WHOOSH—
Her movements were almost invisible.
The damp ground barely retained her footsteps before they vanished again.
But not far ahead—
"GRAAAAHHH!!"
A shadow leapt from the bushes.
Goblin.
Then another.
And another.
Empty eyes.
Foaming mouths.
Bodies cloaked in black aura writhing like living smoke.
[Berserk]
But—
Lilya didn't even slow down.
SHHK—
Her sword moved once.
Straight at the shoulder joint.
The first goblin collapsed.
Not dead.
But crippled.
WHOOSH—
The second lunged.
CLASH—
One flat strike shattered both knee and wrist.
The monster collapsed screaming.
The third attacked from the right—
Lilya spun lightly.
SHHK—
A precise slash.
The weapon arm severed.
The monster crashed down.
No wasted movement.
No wasted energy.
Fast.
Efficient.
Disabling.
Then moving forward again.
WHOOSH—
WHOOSH—
[Quick Step]
Deeper.
Farther.
Yet—
the path began to change.
Narrower.
The trees grew denser.
Branches intertwined like a living corridor.
The air turned colder.
Heavier.
And then—
Lilya stopped.
"...?"
Ahead—
two gigantic trees stood fused together.
Their trunks pressed tightly against each other.
Blocking the entire path.
Far too large.
Far too unnatural.
Roots jutted outward like walls.
No opening at all.
Lilya saw two floating blue status windows.
Her eyes widened slightly upon realizing what they were.
Treants.
Level 30 and Level 40.
Both—
in [Berserk] mode.
"...Treants?!"
She knew these creatures.
From Hikaru's memories—
Treants were guardians of the forest.
Ancient tree beings that should never attack humans without reason.
But now—
they were [Berserk].
Just like the goblins and hobgoblins before.
Lilya had no time to waste fighting them.
But the road ahead was sealed shut—
their roots and branches forming a living wall.
"What choice do I have..."
[Battle Instinct]
Her eyes sharpened.
"I'll fight anything standing between me and the most important person in my life!!"
And with that—
she charged straight toward the Treants.
Meanwhile—
several hundred meters away along another forest path—
Rhett gritted his teeth.
Before him—
the Level 56 Elder Treant roared.
Its massive body slammed into the earth while enormous roots swept violently across the battlefield.
Branches sharpened like living spears shot through the air, forcing the search team backward.
"Darian! Bram! You guys still alive?!" Rhett shouted while deflecting a giant branch.
"Still alive! But this is insane—!!" Bram roared back, swinging his axe to cut through a root nearly wrapping around his leg.
"It won't stop!" Kael darted aside, narrowly avoiding two branches at once.
Darian said nothing.
His sword simply moved.
Cutting.
Cutting.
Cutting.
Every branch severed—
grew back.
Behind them—
Harlan sat slumped against the ground, breathing heavily.
His hands trembled.
Not from fear—
but exhaustion.
The potions in his bag were nearly gone.
"We... can't keep this up..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Rhett knew.
If no miracle happened—
they were all going to die here.
Inside the sacred chamber—
the white stone throne stood proudly atop a marble platform.
Carved with dragons and swords.
The throne of the First Sword Saint.
And seated upon it—
the Goblin Shaman lounged casually.
One leg hanging loosely.
Its hand gripping the purple crystal staff.
Its gaze fixed upon the giant crystal ahead.
Once—
it had glowed a brilliant crimson like the world's beating heart.
Now—
black corruption covered nearly all of its surface.
Pulsing slowly.
SUUM...
SUUM...
Like the heartbeat of something dying.
"...mo...re... black..."
Its voice rasped.
Satisfied.
"...soon..."
"...that person's... wish..."
"...will come true..."
Below the throne—
Cecilia lay weakly upon the white altar.
Her hands bound overhead.
Her legs unable to move.
The pentagram on her stomach pulsed darkly.
With every pulse—
mana drained from her body.
With every passing second—
she felt emptier.
"...hhh..."
Her breathing weak.
Broken.
Her tired eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then—
KRAAAKK—!!
Black lightning burst from the pentagram.
Her entire body arched violently.
"AAAAAAHHHH—!!!"
Her scream shattered the silence.
But no one heard it.
The Goblin Shaman merely smiled.
Its crooked fangs visible beneath cracked lips.
It enjoyed this.
Waited patiently.
Because the longer Cecilia endured—
the more mana was extracted.
And the darker the crystal became.