A splash of a vigorous and dazzling light, splurged into the cave, expelling the dark shadows.

Like a moth, I am drawn to this warm light.

I hear birds singing, winds whispering, leaves rustling. If I strained my already amplified hearing, I can even pick up the sounds of water running.

My entire mind and soul, directed solely at the radiant entrance at the end of the straight path.

In a trance-like state, my feet brings me closer and closer to the light.

It may just be imagination but my hands are calm. They aren't shaking.

Fear, despair, hate, all those dark aspects are forgotten the moment I laid my eyes on the light in front of me.

Six silhouettes stand in the radiant light. Two of those dark figures, smaller than the others, beckoned to me with waving arms.

One with slim figure and waist-long hair, reaches out a hand. My mind is isolated with only the desire to take that hand.

Unconsciously, my walking pace quickened.

The light expands further and further as I close in.

With it being only inches away from me now, I throw myself into the light as I grasps onto the offered hand, the hand of my beloved, Senna Tenrun.

I'm finally out.

"Nothing changed much." Angie commented at the view before us, a sea of trees, and rivers slithering all over it.

"Kyu." Citra nodded at Angie's words.

We are currently standing on top of a cliff, just outside the former entrance to a cave.

I said former because it was no longer. I have closed it. I didn't just close the entrance. I even cause a landslide to cover up the entrance's outline.

Hopefully, no one will ever discover it.

Anyways, the view is everything I have ever hope for. It really brings out the fantasy feel. Natural green all the way with only bricks or wooden houses in the interlude. Not a metallic infrastructure in sight.

"Beautiful." said Kirin, who is in my arms. I'm carrying her in my arms because she is too short to see the entire view. Naturally, that incurred some jealousy from Angie. Although she isn't staring here directly, the air of jealousy emanating from her is apparent.

"It is." I responded to Kirin's remark.

"Nature is beautiful, that is the absolute given." said Djin.

I agree.

It has been roughly a month since the last time I saw daylight.

Judging from the position of the sun, it must be afternoon right now, closing in on dusk.

"It's plain though~?" Indara tilted his head with a finger on his bottom lip. Cute.

"That is part of nature's charm." explained Djin. "Unsullied. Untouched. Nothing concealed. Its lushes of wonder laid bare for all to see."

I get what Djin is trying to say but there's a few points I would like to retort on but I'm not fond of debates or arguments. So I keep my mouth shut.

"Kyu~!"

"Ah. Sorry, Citra."

Citra who is on top of Indara's head almost fell when he tilted his head. Why is she on top of Indara's head? She usually attached herself to Bartholomew or Cormac.

I look over to Cormac.

Ah. That's why.

The only ones who aren't basking in the magnificent are Cormac and Nilin.

Both of them had their gaze cast down. Nilin is even shedding tears.

Besides me, these two probably have the closest relationship with Tom. Their face had darkened intensely when I told them everything that transpired. Nilin was even trying to brush the news off as a jest. In the end, she couldn't do anything but accept reality when she realized that I am completely serious through my expression.

"I'm sorry." I told them.

"It's okay, master." Cormac forced himself to smile at me. It was a clumsy one. "You did your best. You did what you could."

"I did...." How many times have I heard these words.... It's too overrated to be used as a consolation, in all honesty.

"But it wasn't enough...."

"Mwu, Nilin." Kirin reproached at Nilin's words.

"She's right." I calm Kirin down by patting her head.

"You promised me that you'll save Tom...."

I did? I don't think I did.

"Nil, master did what he could. He saved us. Don't you think you're being too--"

I stop Cormac right there. I don't want this to get blown out of proportion.

Without waver, I look at Nilin. "I will not make any excuse. I wasn't strong enough to save him. I was weak. Therefore, I'm sorry."

After my apologies, Djin steps forward to Nilin.

"Nilin, we would not be standing here, enjoying the magnificent view of mother nature in front us, if it wasn't for Lord Creator."

Um.... should I retort that Nilin is sort of nature herself?

"Djin is right, Nilin." Angie chipped in.

Cormac looks like he wanted to nod along but he changed his mind halfway and ended up swirling his head instead.

Wiping away her tears, Nilin looks straight at me. "I'm not blaming you, Hyx. I was just...."

Even if she didn't finish her sentence, I know what she is trying to say. "I was just as helpless. I didn't manage to do a single thing to help."

Hmm? My eyes are on Cormac's hand, slipping his fingers between Nilin's. I don't think Cormac has any ulterior motive to that act and Nilin seems to understand.

Oh? Indara approaches Nilin. His hand reaches out for her head.

"Indara?" Nilin blinked at Indara as he stroke her head.

"There there." As innocent as he could be, he continues to stroke her head.

"Why....?" Nilin sheepishly asked.

"Nn? Isn't this what Tom always do when you're down?"

If this was a cartoon, I can see a cupid's arrow going through all our hearts.

Angie even has a strained face at Indara's adorable display. She's refusing to show her sweet face but her strained face already says enough. This is something I noticed just recently about her, she doesn't show any excessive emotions to anyone other than me or her rival-in-love a.k.a Kirin. If I were to put her into a group, I would say she belongs in the Onee-san (big sister) group. She's not going full "ara-ara" yet but I think she's close.

I would not categorize her as Yandere either. Yet.

"T-thank y-you...." Nilin returned to her usual docile nature.

As expected, her dere power is higher than her tsun power.

"What's our next move, dear?" asked Angie.

While contemplating the straight ball question, my nose twitched at a scent coming from the forest below. "We're going hunting. We're having meat for dinner."

From the memories of Clammis and Muo Li, there is a monster, a magic beast called Steel Tusk Boar. Its tusks are made of steel as its name stated and it's use as material for weapons. Their meat is a delicacy among adventurers. I can recognize the boars' scent from the memories. Truly convenient.

"That's your first worry?"

"One of the first, my love."

Angie jerks back at my words with her face flushed red.

Is she not accustomed to sudden sweet nothings?

Besides meat, which is something I'm dying to get my hands on, we have to prepare our identification papers which is our "Status Card".

From what I can tell from Clammis and Muo Li's memories, status cards are available in adventurer's guild or governmental offices.

However, those two options are out of the question. It will raise too much questions and suspicions. Although, Clammis did knew of some offhanded method to acquire status cards but the price is steep. Still, it is better than going through the legitimate channels. The offhanded method will be discreet and no questions asked.

Okay then, food first, IDs second. What comes next, we shall figure it out along the way.

No wait.... Food doesn't come first.

I gently put Kirin down who was in my arms. I ignore her pleading look for more.

"Dear?" Angie stares blankly at me as I spun her to face me.

I kneel down and plant a kiss on her navel. Of course, my lips and her navel is separated by a thin piece of clothing.

"H-Hyx~!" Angie shrieked.

"Mwu~!" Kirin stomp her foot on the ground with bloated cheeks.

"I have been remiss, Angie." I looked up at her, who was looking down at me. "This one should be my first worry."

"T-that w-was.... sneaky of you...." She muttered silently.

I stand back up and raise her face to meet mine with my index finger. "I should find a place for you to rest first before anything else."

I wasn't such a sweet talker before and I don't think I would talk like this to another girl from the same world as I am. Those who are familiar with fiction pieces would find this incredibly cheesy and lame but I finally understood why couples do what they do. It's more like a mandatory action than a choice. You just can't help but wanting to show your affection this way.

I feel like, for my child, I would even able to slay Gods.

"Of course, my love." She responded with a face tinged with slight pink and a gentle warm smile.

"Mwu."

Kirin is trying to break the pink space formed between me and Angie by rubbing her face on my leg.

And now she's pulling my shirt-- No. It isn't Kirin tugging at me. It is Nilin. Looks like she has something she wants to say. This may seems imprudent of her but her face tells me she really has something she needs to say.

"Hey, Hyx...."

"Hmm?" I parted from Angie to face Nilin. Of course, after I received a nod of consent from Angie.

To quote a famous Chinese actor who played a martial art master, "There is no man who fears his wife, only a man who respects his wife." Well, we aren't married yet but that's not the point and I'm getting off track here.

"You said that the.... V-Void Demons.... Aedrox is the not the last one, is it?"

"Yes." I answered promptly.

"Are y-you going to h-hunt them down?"

"Well, I wouldn't go out of my way to look for them but if I do encounter one on the way, I will make sure to neutralize the threat."

"I-I see.... Then.... can I help?"

"Help? Aren't you already helping? I mean, we're a team now. We are helping each other, no?"

Nilin shook her head. "N-no.... More than that.... I...."

"Nilin. It's okay to start out slow. You don't need to rush."

"I-I don't mean it like that...." She cast her gaze back down on her hands, intertwined with one another, fumbling with her fingers.

"Nilin." I said with a firm voice. "I won't know what you're trying to say if you don't put your words properly."

She stops fumbling her fingers. Her hands went for her dress, grasping on the sides as she raise her head.

"I do not wish to just cower behind you all under the pretense of providing support. I want to fight on the front lines, like you, Djin, and Tom."

"Nil?" Cormac stared worriedly at Nilin who just said something unexpected but not incomprehensible.

"I don't know how to fight like you could but.... f-for Tom.... I am willing to learn.... So, can you teach me how to fight?"

Before giving an answer, I look to Kirin but she is giving a look of approval and understanding. I though she would disapprove Nilin's decision but she didn't.

And I come to understand why when I see Kirin's stats.

HP : 1200/1200

MP: 12000/12000

Overall Power Ranking : S+

Effective Combat Power: 9500

- Attack: 100

- Defense: 100

- Magic: 8000

- Resistance: 1200

- Speed: 100

She now possesses Effective Combat Power stats which means she has been recognized as a combatant by the system. But unlike Nilin, she wasn't exiled or anything. Is it because of her position as the Matriarch or her Divine Art?

She didn't know either when I asked her.

But man, she has the highest combat power and power rank among us, so to speak, but her stats are really unbalance. Still, I don't think anyone of us here would lose against her in a fair fight, except for Nilin of course.

With hope gleaming in her eyes, I returned a positive look at her.

"Yes. Yes, I can."

After I answered her, I noticed a title with a long name that is shared among us.

The title reads,

We really did it, huh.

Current Characters' Stat Sheet

Name: Hyx Atlas / First Beast

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Race: Human / Violet Tail (Magic Beast)

Standing: Tenrun's Heir

Job: None

Class: Battle Mage

Titles:

-Unparalleled Evolver

-Monster Slayer

-Pain Monger

-Relentless Reaper

-Kin Eater

-Ascended Being

-Goblin Butcher

-Friend of the Spirits

-Dryad's Beloved

-Liberator

-Nephilim's Beloved

-Arcane Blacksmith

-Miracle Alchemist

-Primordial Beast

-One Who Defies Death

-Sworn Enemies of the Void

-Trickster

-The Satrical One

-The Astute One

-Redeeming One

-One Who Challenge The Unknown

-Conqueror of Rising Valley Ruins

Arcane Arts

-Spirit Magic - Lv. 6

-Spatial Magic - Lv. 8

-Sealing Magic - Lv. 4

-Magic Melee Arts - Lv. 4

-Herculean Strength - Lv. 5

-Alchemy - Lv. 5

-Transmutation - Lv. 6

-Forge Fire - Lv. 6

-Magic Enchantment - Lv. 4

-Awakening (Legacy) - Lv. 3

-Death Inhibitor (Legacy) - Lv. 3

-Mana Overseer (Unique) - Lv. 8

-Soul Harvest (Unique) - Lv. 5

-Blaze of the Depths (Unique) - Lv. 6

HP : 3500

MP: 5000

Overall Power Ranking : A

Effective Combat Power: 7000

- Attack: 1100

- Defense: 500

- Magic: 2000

- Resistance: 800

- Speed: 2500

Divine Arts

- Exemplar of the Void, Aedrox -

Name: Senna Tenrun

Gender: Female

Age: 217

Race: Nephilim

Status: Conceived (Healthy)

Standing: None

Job: None

Class: Ascended Magus

Titles:

-The Impure

-Lady of Light

-Taboo Princess

-Unparalleled Evolver

-Saintess

-Relentless Reaper

-Black Archmage

-White Archmage

-Twilight Spell Lord

-Champion of Lumine

-Insatiable Partner

-Primordial Beast's Beloved

-One Who Challenge The Unknown

-Sworn Enemy of The Void

-Conqueror of Rising Valley Ruins

Arcane Arts

Light Magic - Lv. 10

Shadow Magic - Lv. 10

Abyss Magic - Lv. 8

Space Magic - Lv. 6

Time Magic - Lv. 2

Body Strengthening - Lv. 4

Twilight Providence (Unique) - Lv. 8

HP : 2200

MP: 8000

Overall Power Ranking : S

Effective Combat Power: 7000

- Attack: 350

- Defense: 50

- Magic: 4000

- Resistance: 2000

- Speed: 600

Name: Kiralhirin

Gender: Female

Age: 20

Race: Dryad (Spirit of Nature)

Standing: Ancient Queen (Spirit of Nature)

Job: None

Class: Healer Mage

Titles:

-Matriarch

-Last Ancient

-Gaia's Apostle

-Young Dryad

-Conqueror of Rising Valley Ruins

Arcane Arts

-Nature Magic - Lv. 10

-Spirit Magic - Lv. 10

-Mana Control - Lv. 8

-Soul Magic - Lv. 9

-Alchemy - Lv. 10

HP : 1200

MP: 12000

Overall Power Ranking : S+

Effective Combat Power: 9500

- Attack: 300

- Defense: 20

- Magic: 7500

- Resistance: 1400

- Speed: 280

Divine Arts

- Floral Matriarch, Gaia -

Name: Cormac Atlas

Gender: Male

Age: 14

Race: Shadow Goblin

Standing: Servant (Hyx Atlas)

Job: None

Class: Magic Archer

Titles:

-Novel Goblin

-The Unchained

-Friend of Serpents

-One Who Evolved

-Shadow Dweller

-Divinity Slayer

-Survivor

-Dark Ranger

-Conqueror of Rising Valley Ruins

Arcane Arts

Shadow's Embrace (Legacy) - Lv. 4

Magic Melee Arts - Lv. 3

Wind Magic - Lv. 1

HP : 1000

MP: 1500

Overall Power Ranking : D+

Effective Combat Power: 1300

- Attack: 300

- Defense: 100

- Magic: 400

- Resistance: 100

- Speed: 400

Name: Djin Sol

Gender: Unknown

Age: 1 Week

Race: Steel Titan (Metal Golem)

Status: Bound (Hyx Atlas)

Standing: Hyx's Golem

Job: None

Class: Mage Fighter

Titles:

-Unbound

-Rogue Puppet-

-Sentient One

-Knight of the Primordial Beast

-Relentless Reaper

-Fearless One

-Conqueror of Rising Valley Ruins

Arcane Arts

Scarlet Storm (Unique) - Lv. 5

Magic Melee Arts - Lv. 4

Body Strengthening - Lv. 2

HP: 2000

MP: 2000

Overall Power Ranking: B

Effect Combat Power: 5200

- Attack: 700

- Defense: 2700

- Magic: 600

- Resistance: 600

- Speed: 600

Name: Citra

Gender: Female

Age: 2 Months

Race: Wyrm (Lesser Magic Beast)

Standing: None

Job: None

Class: Support Mage

Titles:

-Orphaned One

-Unchained

-Guardian of the Primordial Beast

-Conqueror of Rising Valley Ruins

Arcane Arts

Arcane Serpent (Legacy) - Lv. 4

Foresight - Lv. 3

HP: 500MP: 300

Overall Power Ranking: D

Effect Combat Power: 800

- Attack: 50

- Defense: 50

- Magic: 400

- Resistance: 200

- Speed: 100

Name: Nieumilin

Gender: Female

Age: 2463

Race: Wisp (Spirit of Nature)

Standing: Apprentice (Hyx)

Job: None

Class: Support Mage

Titles:

-Exiled

-Unchained

-One Who Breaks The Taboo

-Oni's Beloved

-Guide of Rising Valley Ruins

-Conqueror of Rising Valley Ruins

Arcane Arts

Spirit Magic - Lv. 4

Soul Magic - Lv. 4

Wind Magic - Lv. 2

Water Magic - Lv. 2

Will O' Wisp (Legacy) - Lv. 3

HP: 300

MP: 400

Overall Power Ranking: D

Effect Combat Power: 600

- Attack: 20

- Defense: 50

- Magic: 450

- Resistance: 50

- Speed: 30

Indara

Type: Greatsword (Intelligent Living Magic Weapon)

Power Strength: S

Mana Conversion Rate: A

Mana Threshold: S

Status: Bound (Owner: Hyx Atlas)

Innate Abilities

Spell Edge

Aura Blade

Arcane Medium (Unique)