Unfolding Trouble

“K-Killing her? I know that she was in the wrong, but isn’t that too much?” Audrey asked with a surprised face upon hearing Elena’s question.

“You have to know that I’m not a human. I look at you as a friend and I trust you. But if you want to accept me as I am, then you have to know that I won’t be merciful with such people. I’m quite sure that she will start drilling holes under my feet and not stop before seeing me fall. That is something I don’t wish to wait for,” Frowning slightly, Elena answered, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Audrey sat down on the side of the bed, sighing loudly, she hung her head down. “You know… what you said is true. I can understand your reasoning and in the last two weeks, I also experienced how dark humans can be. But still, she just badmouthed you.”

Elena sat down beside Audrey. With their shoulders touching, she said, “You know, our opinions can differ. What really matters to me is that you won’t turn against me just because I’m different.”

Audrey looked at her with wonder, saying, “You think much more maturely than your age would lead others to believe, though you have grown a lot… about fifteen centimeters? I’d say…” leaning back to observe her, she remarked on her height. Taker her original position, she continued, “But what do you expect from me? Honestly, I don’t intend to take part in killing her. Although I’m displeased with her very much, for now, killing her is too much in my opinion.”

With a smile on her face, Elena stood up, patting Audrey’s shoulder. “I just want you to stay silent about it and I hope that you won’t stop me. I won’t fight you, in case you do, so it is your decision if you will let me kill her or not.”

Elena was deliberately dragging Audrey into this mess and she too knew it. If she were to stop Elena, then she would ‘control’ her, but if she were to let her go, then she would also take part in the killing by staying silent. With a mild headache, she laid down on the bed, massaging her temples. Turning around, with her face on the bed, she murmured with a muffled voice.

“Why do you have to make it so hard for me? But if you didn’t tell it to me, then I’d feel sad and betrayed afterward… Stupid emotions. Now that I know about it, I have to decide in your place! You are really evil!” Raising up her head, she looked at Elena with a frown. Getting that far, she voiced her decision.

“You won’t kill her! Maybe later. If she does anything bad once again, I’ll let you. Is that okay with you?”

Chuckling once, Elena put away the knife from her right hand. It was behind her back, ready to leave and kill her target. “It’s fine by me, but don’t think that I’ll be controlled by you. This was a one-time chance. I’ll see if your methods work. If it does, I’ll learn something new. If it doesn’t, then you will learn something new. Let’s see which of us knows humans more.”

Grumbling once, Audrey stood up and went towards the bathroom. While standing in the door, facing the other way, she said in a low voice. “I’m quite sure that you will win this little game of yours, but I’ll try to believe in our kind one more time. If you win, then I’ll lean towards your methods from now on. Troublemakers shall die, is it?” Finishing her sentence, she closed the door behind her.

She knew that Elena took a bath already, so she didn’t invite her. Elena went after her. Opening the door, she surprised Audrey. “I have one more thing to say. Once I kill her, I’m quite sure that most of the people will suspect me. The question is, what will happen at that point? That’s why I said earlier. My name might bring lots of trouble to your neck. I’ll also help you anytime if you need it, but a relationship with me has as many disadvantages as advantages. Decide until morning if you still want to stay my friend.”

Turning around, she shut the door, but Audrey’s words resounded in her ears. “Friends aren’t decided on. They are made. I won’t change how I look at you unless you change too much.”

With a happy smile on her face, she went to bed. I won’t change too much, but I’ll change you. Elena thought with a grin on her face, closing her eyes. Audrey didn’t even notice Dred, who was hiding in a corner. She literally forgot about him. Soon, Elena felt a pair of arms coiling around her body from behind. A slight whisper resounded in her ears. “Good night, you lonely little girl.” Smiling, she fell asleep.

Audrey went through a lot of things in these two weeks. She was attacked by a gang, making her think less about the worth of humans’ lives. After that, she experienced that group of four, who stole away their food, leaving them starving for one and half a day! They had to leave immediately and find some food for the community. These areas had a few other bigger territories and the stores were also targets of other such territories.

All of them had a talented leader and numerous powerful members. So Audrey and the others had to fight against the monsters and other powerful humans as well! Luckily, this hasn’t been going on for too long and since the food isn’t a huge problem yet, they just beat the other people. They don’t kill them. It’s like a contest for the food. They were normal humans not long ago, so killing each other for food felt wrong to them.

But as time passes by, they will learn of the darkest days. Humans are also animals in their own ways. Experiencing the surface of that darkness almost daily, Audrey wasn’t someone who would cower in fear upon the thought of killing. Humans could evolve quickly when they were in a tight spot. Be it their mind or body.

The next day, they woke up almost at the same time. In front of Elena’s eyes were thighs… “How did I turn around? What’s happening here?” She questioned herself and Audrey’s answer came from above.

“I don’t know, but you could pull your feet out of my face…” Elena pulled up her legs and stood up on the bed. Her shadows turned into her usual dress on her body, leaving Audrey in awe.

“Isn’t this like… cheating? I have to be careful if I don’t want to stay naked after a battle, yet here you are. All you have to do is will it and your shadow can take any shape on your body. I bet that you are good at sneaking.” Making an envious face, Audrey remarked on her ability. Elena pointed behind Audrey.

Turning around, she was surprised to see Dred, sitting right behind her. “The fuck? Ah! I shouldn’t curse in front of children. But I have a feeling that your language is colorful enough…” Audrey shouted with a surprised face.

Shaking her head sideways, Elena said. “It is…”

Standing up, Audrey dressed up and then left towards the canteen. This time, there were fewer people as it was quite late in the morning and most people were gone by this time. After receiving their breakfasts, they sat down at an empty table and started eating. Since Audrey finished it earlier, she left for a moment to give her plate back.

But trouble was following Elena since yesterday. Claire stopped behind Elena, with her hands on her hips. There were two guards behind her, looking like her monkeys. “Hey, you! Little bitch. Thanks to you, I was reprimanded by Raven when she heard of the things. Why is it that you can eat our food? I wonder?! What are these people thinking? Seriously! My family was killed by monsters like you! And yet here I am, watching one of them eating and living happily among us!”

She questioned Elena with a loud voice, catching the attention of many people. Some of them even started nodding. Darkness awaits you, bitch. Elena thought angrily. Her iron will which couldn’t be swayed by Claire’s words came in handy at these times. She knew that she had to take revenge only later and a plan was already forming in her mind!

At that time, Audrey also came back. Seeing the shouting Claire, she stopped between Claire and Elena. After a slap on Claire's face, she said, “What the hell are you talking about? She isn’t a human, yes. And? She didn’t hurt anyone and she even told us of a method to solve our food problem. While you? You are just walking up and down on a wall, doing an unimportant work. A few people would be more than enough to defend the walls.”

“Do you think that I, Jake, or the others at that don’t know about your cowardice? We know that there are people, who have traumas and such things, making it hard for them to progress,” she said while looking at a few people. “But the others are just freeloading, waiting for something miraculous to happen. I’ll tell you something. Nothing is going to happen and if you don’t do anything, then you will also die in the future because you were too weak!”

“The monsters are turning stronger day by day. Many of them are even stronger than us, humans. And none of us entered the forests. We have no idea what that place is like. What if monsters start attacking these cities from the forests? Do you think that you will be able to defend the walls with your puny strength? Instead of pointing at her - who is working hard to increase her strength and she even helped us - you should focus more on doing something yourself!” She finished her perfect speech with another slap on the face, making Elena so happy that she almost jumped up in her happiness.

YES! YES! YES! OH MY GOD! AUDREY, YOU ARE THE BEST! HAHAHA~ That’s how you slap a bitch! Elena thought in her mind, while she kept moving around in her chair restlessly, feeling excited upon seeing this fight.

Claire was holding her red face, with her mouth and eyes opened widely, feeling surprised upon hearing Audrey’s outburst. Audrey also attacked many of the guards, who were just freeloading. Although this has been annoying many of the powerful members for a long time now, they didn’t want to hurt those guards’ feelings. But after seeing how they behaved around Elena, Audrey couldn’t hold it anymore and berated them.

With furious eyes, Claire turned around and left the canteen with loud stomps. Elena looked at Audrey with a huge grin on her face, saying. “Haha, that was great~”

Switching to a slightly surprised face, she said. “And that was… unexpected. You seemed more of the silent type. Weren’t you a shut in? You said it yourself…”

Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Audrey answered, “Humph! I was. But becoming stronger has its own perks. I turned much more self-confident after feeling my strength and I’m not afraid of arguments anymore! I could kill her with a few moves!” Hearing her exclamation, many people made surprised faces.

“Alright, but don’t get it over your head. I also had to learn it the hard way just yesterday… also, you lost,” Elena’s voice turned into a whispering in the end. She hung her head down and looked at her breakfast.

“I’m not in the mood to eat this anymore. I’m a monster anyway, might as well go and find something outside of this place for myself.” She said loudly while standing up. Her words caused a few people to feel bad from those who disagreed with Claire before. Naturally, this wasn’t true when it came to the freeloading guards. Honestly, a few guards would be more than enough, but the walls were usually filled to the brim with them.

“I know. Now even I agree with you…” Audrey whispered as she picked up Elena’s plate and took it towards the kitchen. A few motherly women tore up upon seeing Elena’s pitiful figure leaving. To soothe their pain, they followed in Audrey’s step and reprimanded the guards. When no one could see it, Elena grinned with an evil smile on her face. Audrey also arrived beside her and caught her red handed.

“Hahaha, you are such a foul creature. So? How do you want to do it?” Audrey laughed upon seeing her face and then asked about Elena’s plans, hoping that she had something in mind.

“I’ll go to Triston for now. Alone. We can leave in the afternoon, alright? Rest until then or do whatever you want to,” Elena answered as she turned into a dark patch on the ground and disappeared from Audrey’s view. She went straight towards the smith. Knocking twice on the door, he opened it a few seconds later.

“Oh, you? Your weapon is done. But I’m not sure if I should give it to you… the guard captain was very much against you. Could you come in to tell me more about yourself? I don’t want to rely on others’ opinions. I’ll decide what to do after seeing you myself!” Triston said straightly, stepping aside.

Nodding, Elena entered the building, while looking around curiously. She inspected almost everything she found. “These things are… good!” She said with an honest smile on her face while looking into Triston’s eyes.

Although Elena didn’t know this, there were very few people who praised his weapons. They just thought that it was natural for him to make weapons continuously, without anyone appreciating it. This was annoying him a lot. Seeing Elena’s honest praise, he decided to give the weapons to her. But he couldn’t do it immediately… since he said it otherwise just now.

There were four chairs and a wooden table, right beside the window. He pulled out one of the chairs and turned it backward. Sitting down on it, with his chest leaning against its backrest and his arms crossed on top of it, he asked a simple question. “What are you?”

“A monster,” Elena answered with a mysterious smile upon seeing his serious face.

“What do you want here?” Came the next question in the same manner.

“Hmm… I’d say that I wanted to meet your kind. I also felt slightly lonely. Now, I’ve got a friend as well. But nothing, in particular, I suppose,” shrugging her shoulders, she answered.

Triston nodded once and then stood up, saying. “I don’t believe the guard captain anymore. I’m sure that you aren’t an angel yourself, but you surely aren’t as bad and terrible as she said. I also heard from the idea you had about food. If you will not use my weapon to fight against us, then I’ll give them to you.” Saying the last sentence, he looked at Elena’s face from the corners of his eyes, waiting for a reaction.

“Hahaha, that’s a wise choice. I definitely shouldn’t be looked at as a human kid, but yes, I’m not necessarily bad.” Elena laughed up upon hearing his reasoning and agreed with him. With a smile on her face, she remarked on his last sentence. “I will use your weapons against humans as well, but only if I dislike them. As you can see, that’s not always the case.”

Chuckling, Triston went to the back of the building and came back with two shiny daggers in his hands. “After hearing what you are, I was quite sure that daggers would be the best for you. I mean, shadows and all, right?”

Switching to a curious face, he continued. “I don’t know how you and your body work, but I was always interested in mysterious things. So what I’m trying to say is that I’d be really happy if you could to tell me about your race. You are like a mystery to me, haha. But I can understand if you don’t want to…” He said such things while handing over Elena’s new weapons. Inspect.

Name: Iron Daggers

Rarity: Uncommon

Durability: 50 / 50

Effects: Strength is converted into slashing/piercing when used, increasing it by a few kilograms as these aren’t too heavy.

Description

A common iron dagger, which is uncommon in this new world. It was made by a beginner smith, but its quality is really good. Attacking accurately with these daggers isn’t just a dream for their owner.

Looking at Triston, she tilted her head to the side, saying. “This might seem to be a lot, but if you teach me how to smith weapons, then I’ll tell you a few of those ‘mysteries’. What do you say?”

Raising a brow, Triston made a thoughtful face. Feeling his curiosity growing, he nodded with an eager face, saying. “So? When do we start?”

Elena started laughing. “Haha, anytime. To start things, I’ll tell you a simple thing. What should it be…. Ah! My brain works differently than yours. I can use both of my legs and arms as proficiently as the other ones. Although I look human from the outside, there are a few things, which are different when it comes to my insides.”

Triston felt happy to hear something new, though this felt too little to him. Leaning forward, with his brows furrowed, he asked while pointing downward “You say from the inside. And… do you not have? You know…”

Elena’s face reddened. Shouting, she slapped him across the face, making him spin in the air before falling to the ground. “W-What the hell are you asking me? Of course, I have. Idiot! Pervert!”

Rubbing his face, he stood up. “Ugh… you are strong. But… I was curious! They never talked about such details when it came to alien movies!”

“You’ll never have a girlfriend with such a personality. How can you ask such a thing from a girl? It’s your lucky day because I’m quite open-minded, but I’m sure that others would have left you after such a question.”

“N-Never?! Teach me! And I’ll teach you! How is that?” The poor Triston bit on the hook and offered up his services. Nodding once, Elena went towards the hot furnace.

“So? How do we start this thing?” She asked while pointing at the tools. Laughing at her, Triston beckoned her towards the chairs. Sitting down, he explained everything she had to know. With new knowledge in her quick learning mind, they went back to the furnace.

Triston showed her an example of how to do things. Although his body was quite frail looking from the outside, his focusing face and the clear lines of muscles showed things differently. Naturally, Elena didn’t even notice it. She was looking at his work with an excited face. When he was done with a small knife, he wiped off the sweat from his forehead. Inspect.

Name: Simple Knife

Rarity: Common

Durability: 3 / 3

Effects: None

Description

An unfinished knife, which didn’t go through the tempering process. It’s very weak and could easily break after using it a few times.

Triston told her that if it was left alone, it would break easily, though Elena’s Inspect also warned her to it. He showed her everything in a detailed way. With her newfound knowledge, she took the hammer into her hands and got to work. Her first weapon was quite a big failure… but the second one was much better. She spent the first half of her day in Triston’s house, learning to smith weapons.

When she felt that it was enough for one day, she sat down on one of the chairs, with her arms crossed, waiting for Triston’s questioning. Naturally, he immediately got on topic and bombarded her with one stupid question after the other. To Elena’s surprise, he wasn’t asking anything crucial, probably because he didn’t know what to ask! Haha, I got off really cheaply, she thought while laughing in her mind.

The knowledge she gained and she could improve in the future was a lot. But Triston didn’t get more than a few basic things, which Elena could tell to anyone. Even she felt bad for him, but he was the one who asked stupid things! Still… there was someone missing. The monster, lurking in Elena’s shadow. Dred was always with her, but this time, he was nowhere to be seen.

Elena knew what he was doing… When she entered Triston’s workhouse, he left her shadow and went towards Claire. She was sitting in a camp, along with a few other guards. Dred entered her shadow, without anyone noticing and laid there silently, waiting for the right moment.

“Tch… that damned bitch! I was slapped across the face and berated in public! Just who the hell does she think she is?! And why? Because of a monster!?” Claire grumbled angrily, telling her problem to the other guards.

A figure stepped behind her and put its hand on her shoulder, asking, “Have you done what I asked you?”

Claire nodded once and told the person how she was scolded by Audrey. “Don’t worry about her. She can’t do anything other than talking. Take this… it’s a good weapon which I’ve got from a monster at the twenty-fifth level. It’ll be good for you as a reward. Just wait patiently for my next commands.” After handing over Claire’s reward, she left the place without anyone noticing her. Feeling slightly better, Claire smiled.

But two shining green dots appeared in Claire’s shadow, which looked after the back of that figure. I’ll have you as well, Dred thought, feeling a raging bloodlust in his chest. Yawning, Claire stood up and went towards her tent after saying goodbye. She has been up ever since Elena came back from the city because she was on a night shift. And she had ‘dinner’ not long before Elena had breakfast.

Just as zipped the entrance of her tent, Dred jumped up behind her and swiped with his paw. He was as big as a normal sized Siberian Tiger at this time, but as the guard captain, Claire’s tent was quite big. She even had some space in it. Feeling a powerful gust of wind behind her head, she wanted to turn around, but Dred’s lightning quick paw reached her head. At first, her skin stretched as her head leaned to the side.

The strength in Dred’s paw was huge. Her neckbone broke, her veins were torn, and her blood gushed out as her head was torn off. Before he could be caught, he turned into his shadow form. Since he didn’t intend to leave behind any signs, he devoured her body alone. But he didn’t get anything out of her…

Followed by this, he went and devoured every guard he saw. Anyone who was against Elena had to die. That was how he felt. When he finished his assassination, he went back to Elena, who also finished her weapon. What he didn’t notice was the large patches of blood that sprayed on the insides of the tents, leaving behind visible signs.

As Elena finished talking with Triston about her own ‘mysteries’, she stood up and left with a smile on her face. Opening the door, she heard the shouting of other people. “Come! Quickly! Claire disappeared as well! What the hell is happening here?!”

Standing in the door, Triston raised his brows. There was a clear path from the gates to the school and his house was on the side of that path. Like a blacksmith on the side of the main road… Seeing Elena with Triston, those who felt suspicious of Elena were cleared of their doubts. She was with him, so she couldn’t be the one who caused trouble. Although they didn’t find bodies, there were large patches of blood on the ground. Fresh at that!

A few minutes later, Jake also arrived on the scene. Looking at Elena with a frown, he pointed at her and then made a come here motion. Evading trouble, Elena went there on her own accord. With a thoughtful face, with his arms crossed in front of his chest, he said, “Where is your panther?”

Dred raised out of her shadow and took up a physical shape. Seeing him, many were surprised, while Jake only nodded at this. “It seems like he is with you. Unless you have some weird abilities, you shouldn’t be the killer, right?”

Hearing his question, Elena shook her head sideways with a trustworthy looking face. One of the guards couldn’t help but talk at this time. “But Jake! It’s not sure that they died or were killed. What if they just-?”

Cutting into his words, Jake talked. “Don’t talk bullshit. Do you think that people leave behind patches of fresh blood and then just disappear?”

Frowning, the same guard said. “W-What if our food?!” Jake’s pupils contracted as he turned around and leaped towards the back of the school. They stored the things they gathered in its basement. Elena felt slightly bad that she was trusted so much by some people, yet she was the bad one here…

But she was surprised in the next second.

“AARGH! THE SECOND TIME ALREADY! THEY DARED TO LEAVE ONCE AGAIN?! FOR FUCK’S SAKE!” Jake’s shouting resounded from the backyard of the school.

Could this be a coincidence? She thought with her brows raised, not knowing what was going on.

Audrey came running and stopped beside Elena. Panting slightly, she asked, “What’s happening?”

Shrugging, she told her that she didn’t know. Audrey felt suspicious of Elena, but she didn’t understand why would Elena take away their food. Although there were groups of guards defending their food, all of them were killed by someone. These guards weren’t weak people either. This made Audrey question herself, as neither Elena nor Dred had the ability to kill them silently, yet. She knew that maybe they could kill those guards, but it would result in a long and loud fight.

Surely not something that happened. Seeing that Elena really had nothing to do with the food thing, she looked at the people present. Kale, who was the guard talking before, talked at this time. “I think that those bastards made this scene to divert our attention! While we were looking for them and the killer, they backstabbed the guards at the food storage and took what they could!” Making a gripping movement, he exclaimed angrily.

His daughter was killed by one of the monsters, which made him very sad. He also felt sorry for Elena since she was hated by many. In his eyes, she was still just a little girl. Since he didn’t interact with her, he didn’t know the truth about her. That was the reason why he was no more than a broken man, who decided to protect the children staying in this territory. Seeing Claire and the others’ reactions when meeting Elena, he felt annoyed by them a lot.

Hearing his thoughts, Audrey frowned. She wasn’t happy. Now that they were short on food once again, she will have to leave and go on a mission. This was supposed to be her free day!

Jake also came back. Standing with his hands on his hips, he said with an angered face. “Those who are members of my territory. You accepted my ruling. Now I call you to go on a hunt! Everyone! A few people can stay to defend our place, but the others should go and find these bastards! I want them to pay for their crime!”

Jake was the strongest leader in the area, with the largest territory. But the other places were more united, while he had to deal with such cases as this one. Especially since Elena arrived, the number of troubles he had, increased! If only the other humans would be simpler! He thought while holding the sides of his head. At least, Elena’s advice worked. The plantations were made in a nearby park by this time. He was also there and he came back only to see the shouting people and the bloody tents.

The plants were growing quickly under the usage of Nature Magic. This meant that their problems would be solved in the near future! Thinking that far, he patted Elena’s shoulders, saying in a low voice, “Thanks for that advice of yours. It’ll help a lot.”

Smiling, she told him that it was her pleasure. Raven and Krin also came out of the school, along with many other powerful humans. After deciding on the directions, everyone rushed out to find Claire and the others. Naturally, Audrey and Elena went together, with Krin and Raven in tow. Since Dred has grown enough in these two days, Elena was using him as a mount. He was quicker than her since he was stronger…

With a hundred and fifteen strength, Elena felt as easy as foam on his back. Thanks to him growing, his strength was increasing by itself. He could have easily left behind everyone other than Krin, though he would be much quicker with the same stats since he had four legs…

They arrived in front of the same park, Elena found yesterday. Instead of the trees and the monsters, there were plantations. Jake and a few top-notch people, cleared out everything at night; and using their Mana and Magic, they solved the food problem for the future!

They went further away from the park. But something was wrong! Raven was collecting Mana in her hands. Audrey looked at her with her brows raised. “Did you sense something?” Nodding, Raven held out her palm.

But it was facing the back of Elena. A ball, with a diameter of two meters, which was a swirling mix of Fire and Light Magic, left her palm. Feeling a huge amount of Mana behind her, Elena turned around with a surprised face, at the same time as Krin towards Elena.

He charged at her and swung his sword in an arc. Knowing who was the bad girl, Dred was expecting such a move, so he jumped to the side in time. Elena saw Krin’s sword cutting through Raven’s attack. Frowning, he stopped to look at her with a serious face. “What is this supposed to mean?”

Clicking her tongue, Raven answered. “Tch. You should have let me kill her, you idiot! Guys! Come out!” Hearing her shout, a few people came out of the buildings nearby. Seeing them, Raven smiled as she looked at Elena and the others with an evil smile.

“See? Inspect her! They are raising a monster in their own territory to attack you, humans! All of them should be eradicated!” Raven shouted, feeling enraged. Inspecting Elena, many people didn’t see anything, but there were a few who could.

Jumping off of Dred’s back, she asked with a curious face, “Were you the one who stole away the food?”

Raising her hand, Raven showed her a ring on her finger. Inspect.

Name: Lesser Void Ring

Rarity: Rare

Durability: N A

Effects: +3 cubic meters of storage space.

Description

A very useful storage ring, which is perfect to store smaller items in it.

Seeing it, Elena’s eyes shined with greed. Frowning, Audrey questioned her, “When did you get this?”

Raven smirked upon hearing her question before answering. “Haha- When we killed that Forest Troll, I found this on the ground and put it away. It’s been with me ever since.”

Shaking her head sideways, Elena remarked on her stupidity. “Seriously. Why are you telling everything? It’s good for us, but it is bad for you…”

“Nah, dead men tell no tales. All of you will die anyway!” Shouting, she shot another ball of fire towards Elena, while the others also encircled them.

“Why? What happened to you?” Feeling dismayed, Audrey questioned her as she extinguished the fire with water.

“Why, you ask? My son was only four! He was killed by some kind of shady monster! And here we are, feeding a similar kind of monster! This thing killed Claire and the others as well. That wasn’t me! But I did tell them to bully her so that she would suffer some more. Unfortunately, you idiot woman was always there for her like a damned mother. Why are you helping this thing?!” Raven burst out angrily, pointing at Elena, her spit flying all over the place.

Krin, Audrey, Dred, and Elena grouped up. Raising her brows, Elena questioned Krin. “Do you not want to betray me? I’m a monster, you know? Also, I’ll be honest with you. At first, I thought that you were the one who spread the word about my race.”

Krin chuckled upon hearing Elena’s question. “Haha- no, it wasn’t me. I don’t give a shit about your race. Before this thing happened, I always wanted to turn into a dragon! Although I can’t be one, I won’t hate you just because of such a stupid thing!”

Audrey put her hand over her mouth, saying - “Oh, my! A harem seeker, male reader? You are one of the lots! Did you turn into a Death Knight for that purpose? You bad boy!”

Krin facepalmed and shook his head sideways. But there was a tint of red on his face. Seeing it, Audrey realized that she was spot on. As a fellow shut in, she knew what were the young boys thinking… Tugging on her clothes, Elena remarked that they should focus on the matter at hand.

Elena turned into a shadow and crept up on Audrey’s back. “Focus on one point and let’s break out. Don’t mind me. I could leave anytime.” She whispered into her ears and then left her shadow. Audrey turned around and nodded at Elena, who was standing beside Dred once again. She conveyed her thoughts to Krin, who also nodded.

“Hahaha! Look at her movements! Is that something a human can do? But seriously, what are you planning to do? You can’t escape anyway! I know your abilities more than anyone else! I told everything to my new friends. Once I’m done with you, I’ll join their community and destroy those monster loving idiots! That damned Jake as well…” Raven laughed upon seeing their futile planning and then turned enraged, remembering how they were feeding a monster.

Not saying anything, Elena’s shadow extended out and caught Raven’s. Raising her eyebrows, she soon realized that she was in trouble. Tiny patches of her skin started decaying.

You have been afflicted by a curse: 3 Damage / Second

Seeing the window appear in front of her, and feeling the pain of rotting, Raven panicked. She was a mage type with only three hundred health. Her body wasn’t that sturdy and her regeneration wasn’t too good either. She would die quite quickly if this continued!

Jumping up from the ground, her shadow moved aside. But she was terrified to see that Elena’s shadow followed her. It was like a glue! Seeing big patches of gray skin on her arms and feeling the pain, she quickly shot a huge ball of fire towards Elena.

Turning into her Shadow Form, she evaded it easily. But her Devouring also stopped working. With a smile on her face, she raised out of the ground. “Anyone else wishing to taste it? Hehe~ Did you like my present?” Elena asked the others with an evil grin on her face. But her show was more than enough as no one noticed that Dred disappeared. His presence was so thin, that they simply forgot about him.

Elena’s shadow turned into a circle under her feet, which extended towards every human around her, meaning ten ‘arms’. These inexperienced and fearful humans, jumped up to evade her attack, fearing their fates. Meanwhile, others jumped backward. Even the sun was helping Elena. This is why she never cared about the other classes. Why would she? Hers was one of the best, though this was a result of her specialization as well.

Seeing Dred jump up behind a guy and bash his back with his paw, Audrey and Krin charged towards him. Reaching her goal, Elena turned into a part of Audrey’s shadow and left with her. As the humans landed, about half of them held out their palms and shot their magical attacks towards the back of Audrey and Krin, while the others rushed towards them.

Seeing an incoming fireball, Elena appeared and used Water Magic to stop it. Thanks to her own understanding, her Magic was quite effective, but it was still weak… The fireball, which decreased to the size of a fist, flew through her shady body and struck Audrey’s right foot. “Ah! Sorry! I forgot…” Elena exclaimed upon realizing her mistake.

Audrey screamed out in pain as she stopped for a moment, but she didn’t blame Elena as anyone would evade a deadly attack, reflexively. Elena raised her up and put her on Dred’s back, who then left everyone behind. Seeing the incoming blades of two melee fighters, she turned into her shadow form. Just a second later and she would have been beheaded! There weren’t many warriors in the other communities as they didn’t have a weapon.

Shadows were everywhere and connecting to those didn’t cost more to Elena than her Mana. Using ShadowStep, she appeared behind Krin. Reaching a corner, they jumped towards it. After rolling on the ground, Audrey turned around on Dred and used Nature Magic to grow roots on the ground. Elena used Earth Magic to make a thin layer of earth in front of the roots.

Since Krin was able to run more quickly, he sped up, along with Dred, while Elena just used her Shadow Form to follow someone. As Raven and the others turned over the corner, they got around the walls, slowing them. But the melee fighters jumped over it and fell on the roots. Their chins and faces smashed into the ground, making it impossible to catch up with their targets.

By the time they stood up and were ready to charge towards them again, Elena and the others were nowhere to be seen. “FUCK! IDIOTS!” Raven shouted angrily, stomping on the ground. She was nice to children, but her hate for these monster, especially to shady ones… was unbearable. She would never let go of her hate unless something changed her.

Not slowing down, Krin and Dred ran straight to the school. Seeing the usual walls appearing, all of them felt happy. Without even stopping, they jumped over it, surprising Audrey in the process.

As they landed, Elena raised out of Audrey’s shadow and stood behind Dred. Except for her and Audrey, everyone was panting heavily. They ran a few kilometers in a few seconds… Soon, Jake and the others came back with downhearted and angry faces. But upon seeing that Raven was missing, Jake questioned them. “What happened to you?”

“What, you ask? Oh, just Raven decided to attack Elena and turn against us as well because we were ‘helping’ a monster. She probably wants to raid our place in the near future, with Davis’s help. His territory is quite powerful and Raven is a big loss on our side… not to mention the other guards who were killed,” Krin explained what happened in a simple way and also forewarned the troubles of their future.

“Davis? But why would he help her?” Frowning, Jake questioned him.

Krin shrugged his shoulders, but after thinking about it for a bit, he said with an enlightened face, hitting his fist on his palm. “When Raven called out to the others, she said something about us, raising a monster to attack them. I don’t know when, but she probably stuffed their heads with her lies.”

Although the humans were feeling afraid of what was to come, Elena was happy about it. If things went the way they imagined, this would turn into a war between two territories, and grasping that chance, maybe others would join as well. She could gain lots of strength in such a position! In this school and its territory alone, there are around five hundred people. Even if just half of them were to die, the evolution she could go through would be enormous!

“In that case, let’s prepare for the worst. Those who don’t wish to stay with us, leave now. Please…” Jake’s voice turned sad upon getting that far. Quite a lot of people made thoughtful faces. Staying in this territory could turn ugly. They weren’t proud warriors. They were used to the consumer life. One workplace pays more than the other? Let’s go there!

Faithfulness and perseverance? That couldn’t be turned into money. They were here because they felt safe. Now that the feeling of safety was perishing, like a fog, they also wanted to leave. But the problem was that they would have to leave this place and walk among the monsters to reach another one. Without the help of a high-level human, none of them dared to step on the path to another territory.

Seeing their expressions, Elena felt disgusted by them. Such is the way of the humans, it seems. They are an interesting and colorful bunch, I guess. I’ll have to be careful when I meet new humans in the future… She thought while thinking of her future. Seeing how easy it was to make enemies out of the humans, she knew that they would bring lots of trouble to her head if she were to stay with them.

But they were also a good source of experience. Elena turned around and went towards the back of the school, seeing that she was leaving, Audrey frowned. “E-Elena? Do you want to leave?” Reaching out towards her back with her right hand, Audrey asked. She would feel sad if that were to be the case.

Turning around, Elena laughed. “Haha- yes, but only temporarily. I’ll be back by the evening. You should prepare for them. Expect my arrival when the light fades away.” Before waiting for anyone, she left silently, in the blink of an eye.

Behind the school was a forest. That was a place no one entered before and that was Elena’s destination. It was likely that even the first monsters would be around the fourteenth level if not higher. The place she was born at was an exception as her race was always born at places with weak monsters. The World System took care of that.

Sighing, Jake asked when she left. “So, in the end, what happened to the guards? I mean, Raven was the one who stole away our food, right?”

“Yes, she had a storage ring she hid away. With the trust people had in her, along with her strength, it was easy for her to ambush those guards and take away everything. It was planned out on the spot, probably. But she couldn’t catch the only person she really wanted! Hehe,” Audrey explained with a small laugh escaping her lips and then added. “And I’ll admit that the guards were killed by Elena, but don’t charge her for that. I was the one who let her do it.”

Raising his brows, Jake asked. “So you were planning behind my back… Such a problematic group of people!” He finished as he slapped his palms on the sides of his thighs in an exaggerated way.

“B-But I took a liking to her and they were also mean and freeloading people. I didn’t feel too much remorse, even when I learned that they were killed,” Audrey said to defend herself. Looking sideways, she remarked on Jake’s personality as well. “Also, I understand that you were a soldier. Defending the people of your country was a duty of yours. But after talking a bit with Elena and seeing the changes humans went through, I’m not sure that you should continue to take your duty too seriously. Honestly, it’s better to just take their lives.”

Hearing her words, he was surprised. She changed a lot in his eyes. Shaking his head sideways, Jake said. “Since we are labeled as people who are raising monsters, we shall raise a monster! Screw it all! I was trying to build a safe place for the people. As a retired soldier, I thought that it was necessary. But they just kept causing trouble for me and restricting me. If not for you people, then I could have turned even stronger…” Jake muttered to himself, with small exclamations, which were heard by the people close to him.

“Let’s go to the plantations and build up a few walls. The park will be perfect for traps and we can also use the buildings as covers. Those who don’t want to participate, go and hide in the basement like the cowards you are!” Jake shouted as he turned around and went towards the school with loud stomps. He wanted to meditate and stand ready for the forthcoming fight. This girl is really a monster… Ever since her appearance, things turned for the wrong really quickly. He thought, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.

Audrey looked one last time towards the way Elena went, before turning around and doing her own work. That, and she had to heal her leg…

----

After leaving the territory of the school, Elena entered the forest. It was strangely silent. No chirping of the birds. No movements. But Elena’s and Dred’s steps were just as soundless. Feeling the smell of nature, seeing that greenery, she couldn’t help but smile. These two days felt long to her in that concrete jungle. Using her Sense continuously, she soon found her first opponent. With her bow in her hands, she leaned out from behind a tree to look at her target.

It was a deer. But it went through strange mutations as it had sharp teeth and it was eating the corpse of a boar… Fresh blood colored its pointy antlers. Aiming at its head, Elena pulled up her bow, while an invisible Wind Arrow and a bow string formed between her fingers. With her chest stuck out, her shoulders pulled back, and a pair of focusing eyes, she stopped breathing.

Upon releasing the Wind Arrow, it whistled as it passed through the air. Although very blanch, the arrow still had a small shadow since it turned into a swirling mass of wind. Dred joined with its shadow, which started thinning as the arrow started losing strength. The deer looked up, only to feel its neck being penetrated. As the shadow disappeared, Dred appeared and bit towards the wound on the Deer’s neck.

It wanted to pierce Dred’s chest, but it wasn’t quick enough to do so. Dred caught its throat and tore it out with one swift movement. After devouring its corpse, they were surprised to see the notifications.

You have leveled up to Lv. 13!

You have gained: +3 Strength; +3 Agility!

Well, it is no wonder. This monster was at the seventeenth level… Elena thought as she put her hand on her chin. Squatting down and putting her bow on her shoulder, she used her Sense. Her Mana discharged out of her body and went through the forest, making her feel everything in her surroundings.

Thanks to devouring the deer, her body went through another smaller mutation. Her eyesight turned sharper and her senses turned more accurate. Standing up, she jumped onto Dred’s back and went deeper into the forest. By this time she has grown up to be around a hundred and thirty-eight centimeters tall. Her female parts also started budding as small bulges were growing on her chest.

Dred was sniffing the air continuously besides using his Sense. At the moment, his nose was much better than his Mana Sense, so he was just using it to increase his proficiency with it. Feeling the smell of another monster, he turned towards his next target. Elena patted his back as she pulled up her bow and poured her Mana into it. It took the shape of a black arrow, which was mixed with a flickering bolt of lightning.

Seeing the tree trunk in front of him, Dred stepped onto it and jumped through the air, while Elena was facing to the left. With her eyes focused, she looked at a huge dog, which looked back at her. Releasing the arrow, it flew through the air and penetrated the side of the dog. It wanted to flee, but it wasn’t quick enough, so the arrow struck its side.

It cast a wide blade of wind and shot it towards Elena and Dred before dying. Elena’s arrow was Dark Magic. It rarely killed instantly. As the arrow penetrated its side, the rotting effect reached its heart, killing the dog. Dred landed on the other side of the ditch, while the dog’s wind blade attacked only the air. Dred turned around in the forest and while running, they devoured its corpse. Not even stopping, they continued on their way.

Since Dred wasn’t using his full speed, he could go on for a longer time. Still, he knew that he needed vitality to keep on running. Feeling numerous smells, he decided on one randomly.

They found a river, which had a turtle on its bank. Dred let out his claws while rushing towards the turtle. Jumping up into the air, he landed on its back. Under his weight and strength, the turtle’s body was bashed into the ground. With its body pushed down, the turtle used Magic, trying to defend itself.

The water raised out of the river and slapped towards Elena and Dred like a whip. Elena jumped off of Dred’s back with a somersault to the left side, while Dred jumped to the other side of the monster. She formed a black arrow and shot it towards the hard shell of the turtle while in mid-air, and then landed gracefully on the ground, only to see the rotting back of the monster. Dred pounced on it and tore out the turtle’s naked back, killing it on the spot. Devouring it, they gained two intelligence and two wisdom as a result, which was great!

Your skill has leveled up: Devour Lv.4

They followed the river and killed numerous monsters on their way, leveling up and gaining benefits. They soon found themselves in front of a cave, which was on the right side of the river. Dred’s wet paws stomped on the ground as he puffed out a breath of air, like an angered bull.

He bellowed out loudly, causing the forest to resound and echo with his roar. They heard a booming coming from the cave in front of them. A huge bear, reaching four meters on all fours, came out of the cave. It roared loudly, making even the ground tremble. Stomping on the ground, it cracked under its strength.

Race: Evolved Giant Bear

Rarity: Rare

Level: 25 (Threat Level: 7)

“Fuck… that level is so sexy… Can you like… turn around and sleep?” Elena talked to the bear with a stiff face. After another roar and lots of spit, she realized that it wouldn’t.

“Listen, I have a small scale war to fight today, so it would be really good if you could spare my body. Fighting with heavy wounds on my body is not something I want…” Seeing its never changing face, she continued. “Hey, but really. What if you turn around, we turn around and everyone can live happily? It’s not like there are no other monsters in our surroundings…” Though I’ll be sure to come back and kill you in the future, she added her thoughts silently.

Standing up, it stood at six hundred and sixty centimeters tall. After roaring and showing its threatening posture, it charged towards Dred and Elena on all fours. Using his superior speed, Dred quickly took Elena to the other side of the river, who shot a Lightning Arrow towards the bear.

Her arrow struck its body, and although it had some paralyzing effect, it was nothing serious. Using up her last chance to focus on the monster, she collected her Mana, to make her Lightning Magic advance to the second level.

I should have focused more on leveling up these damned elemental kinds of Magic. She thought, feeling wronged.

She was about to have a serious fight, which would be a first in her life!