Siraj was walking down the road with steady steps, his hand clutching a map that he glanced at from time to time. He looked up briefly at Miro and Zoe and said calmly:
"We're going to a nearby forest about seven hundred meters from town. We'll be there in a few minutes."
Zoe clung to his shirt as soon as she heard this, her eyes filled with tension:
"I'm scared… What should I do?"
Siraj smiled lightly without turning around much:
"Don't be afraid. My priority will be to protect you both—you and Miro."
Then he looked at Miro and saw that she had lowered her eyes with obvious shyness, as if trying to hide her confusion.
He turned back to Zoe and added calmly:
Just stay by my side.
Zoe nodded quickly and said:
Okay…
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she slowly let go of his shirt.
A few minutes later, the edge of the forest appeared before them. The place was different from the road—silent and heavy, as if the air itself had slowed down. The trees were dense and tangled, and shadows covered the ground in patches.
Siraj stopped, bent down slightly, then picked up a stick and drew a clear mark on the ground with it.
He raised his head and explained the plan in a calm voice:
First, you, Miro, will lure a monster to this spot. Use any method you like; the important thing is that you succeed in bringing it here.
Then he pointed to the ground where he had drawn the mark:
Second, Zoe and I will hide here. When the monster or any creature approaches, we'll attack it immediately and finish it off with a single blow. Understood?
Miro raised her hand hesitantly and said:
I object… Why do I have to lure it?
Saraj looked at her with cool calm, without getting overly emotional:
Do you see anyone else who can do it?
She fell silent for a moment, then looked at Zoe and Siraj, and whispered:
No… there's no one else.
Siraj replied immediately:
Then let's do it.
They all stood up from their spots, and at that moment, Siraj whispered to himself quietly: System
A transparent screen appeared before him for a moment, then vanished immediately, while the Blood Curse daggers appeared in his hand
On the other side, Miro raised her sword and gripped it tightly.
They ventured deeper into the forest, and with every step, the sounds around them grew clearer. Leaves rustling, twigs snapping softly. Then suddenly, Siraj stopped and raised his hand in a signal for silence.
They approached the bushes slowly, peering through them.
There was a white rabbit, but its eyes were unnaturally red, and it had two small horns on its head. It was calmly eating the grass as if...
Siraj whispered in a low voice:
That's our target.
Then he turned to Miro:
We'll head to the end point… lure it there.
Miro's body trembled slightly, but she tried to steady herself and said:
Okay… I'll try.
Siraj nodded slowly:
Start in a few minutes.
Siraj and Zoe moved away and hid among the trees, their eyes watching silently, ready for the moment of attack.
Meanwhile, Miro stepped out into the open clearing and raised her sword nervously, then began moving erratically to attract its attention.
The rabbit raised its head immediately, then darted away swiftly among the trees.
Miro ran after it, trying to guide it toward the designated path, her steps quickening and her breath uneven.
And inside, she whispered to herself:
Everything is going according to plan… Now it's your turn, Siraj.
The rabbit approached the designated spot, and in an instant, Siraj moved with lightning speed, lunging with the Dagger of the Blood Curse, striking a blow that brought it down to the ground, motionless.
Before the rabbit breathed its last breath, it let out a piercing scream that shattered the forest's silence,
Siraj's steps froze as a sharp ringing struck his ears violently.
Zoe quickly covered her ears with her hands, her eyes widening in fear, while Miro took a step back, feeling a slight tremor beneath her feet.
Even the trees around them trembled, and some leaves fell as the echo continued to reverberate through the forest.
At that very moment, the system screen appeared before Siraj:
[System]
Target eliminated
Name: Demon Rabbit
Class: E
Daily Quest Completed:
Eliminate a Demon Source
Remaining: 2 quests
Points added: +3
Blood Curse Dagger upgraded
+1 Power
The screen slowly faded away.
Siraj approached the fallen body, bent down to pick it up with his hand, and a faint look of satisfaction spread across his face.
Just as Miro was about to speak, her voice suddenly froze.
Siraj felt a heavy presence approaching from behind him.
His entire body froze, and cold sweat began to slowly trickle down his face.
He whispered in a low, broken voice: "Wh… what is that?"
He tried to turn around, but something massive lunged at him before he could complete the movement.
A demon rabbit… but of terrifying proportions, far larger than the one they had killed. Its red eyes blazed with frightening rage, and its hot breath struck Siraj's back directly.
In a single second, the beast attacked with its claws.
Just one strike…
Saraj's body was violently hurled into the air, his back smashing through tree after tree until he crashed violently into the trunk of a massive tree.
The ground and trees shook from the force of the blow
(System)
Warning!..
Health points low...
Body in critical condition...
Fatal damage detected...
Act immediately or automatic procedures will be initiated...
Zoe and Miro screamed at the same moment: Siraaaaj!!
Zoe ran toward him immediately, tears filling her eyes, while his body barely moved.
She quickly sat beside him, shaking his trembling shoulder: "Answer me, Saraj! Hold on… please!"
Her hands trembled as she saw blood flowing from his arm, so she quickly tore a piece of her dress and wrapped it around the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
On the other side, Miro raised her sword with trembling hands.
Her breathing was ragged, and her feet could barely hold her steady, but despite that, she stood before the beast.
She shouted in a trembling voice: "Stop… right there!"
The beast took just one step forward.
Then it let out a terrifying scream that shook the entire forest.
The trees shook violently, and a sharp ringing echoed in Zoi and Miro's ears, so loud it nearly knocked them off balance.
Miro's face went pale, and sweat poured down her face unceasingly, but she did not back down.
She tightened her grip on the sword and whispered:
I… won't let you kill Siraj.