Arka was walking among the ruins of Fellmoria. Everywhere she looked, her surroundings were absent of players or NPCs.

There was no one in sight... it has to be due to the mass distrust of Lightspire and the turning over of the DIVE Consoles. The population within Helamir dwindled in turn due to this.

The identity of the company still bothered Arka. Basing on Hels' story, Arka deduced that it has to be a fake company that the self-proclaimed goddess made. Failing in asking more details about this, it was still unclear to her. She will have to settle in getting more answers at a later time. Besides, she wants to be done with the task assigned to her to continue with the ideal life that she wanted.

At the center of the ruins of Fellmoria, the massive gate leading to her world was still there in all its enigma.

Arka's last session on her avatar was on the other end of the city. Because of this, she has to cross to the other side of the broken platforms again... and carefully. She didn't want to fall into the gate and experience the same encounter she has had in her world.

And so, she went and did this task in a pinch.

After crossing to the other side, she took one last look behind her.

This gigantic pit... a crazy thing to appear connecting this world with hers. This might be the last time she would be seeing it. Strangely, she felt sentimental about it.

That's when Arka realized that she hasn't really made many fond memories in her life.

She shook her head, shrugging away her further, unnecessary thoughts, and proceeded to walk down the narrow and broken path leading outside the ruined city—her destination, set in mind.

Almost an hour has passed since. The darkened-armored swordsman continued to walk in a slow, and seeming, unconscious pace. Her focus, directed toward the border to cross over to the other side.

Her arduous trek finally came to an end as she finally saw an earthly, rocky, mountain range split in two, with numerous holes in them.

This was the border. The mountain range acted as the border separating her current location with the other side leading to a larger world beyond. In-between it, was the exit where—

Just as I expected... it's infested with monsters. Arka thought.

They were a certain type of monster she hasn't fought before. Arka's only heard of them based on information shared by the previous people who were brute-forcing their way through the seeming, unpassable border.

They were creatures 1'6" in height, shaped like roundish insects. Many of them scrambled, clung, and crawled on the rough surfaces of the border's rocks and the barren land. Their skin, a fleshy-like substance Arka couldn't discern if whether it was similar to human skin. About forty of them were in sight, to Arka's estimate. What stood out the most however were their backs as they seem to resemble a distorted, human face. These creatures were amassed like a horde, scattered at different parts of this mountain range.

They gave off an uneasy feeling of pareidolia making Arka slightly disturbed... she tried burying these abstract thoughts as they did not help her situation. Right now, she was a hero chosen by the goddess Hels, herself... a goddess of this ruined world, whom she has to save.

Understanding the trust placed on her, Arka needed to stay resolute.

Observing this border from a distance, she understood it was a monster nest. That would mean more of these monsters would come out of the holes that were spread far and wide across this split mountain range.

Trusting only the information from the first players who tried crossing this place, Arka drew her sword from her waist and began to carefully approach.

She assessed these monsters... they were meant to attack you all-out once you've walked a certain distance among them.

Maybe she could thin out the small horde that would initially attack her first before she goes charging in at dead-center for the exit.

Seeing their numbers and having information about their possible attacks, she felt confident in her abilities. Forty of these creatures shouldn't slow her down... but she had to be cautious as well of the nest for reinforcements.

Besides that, she still needed to learn how to approach these beasts making her have no other choice.

The monsters screeched as she approached ever closer.

It was the signal for the start of her battle.

One of these beasts suddenly jumped at her from the mountain's wall. Arka swung her sword upwards in turn, splitting the creature that was about to land on her in half.

Sralks registered to the index

The Sralks were surprisingly easy to kill. More of these creatures jumped toward her making her swing her weapon in response, splitting more of the Sralks in two. She approached even close to familiarize herself more with these monsters. She might even be able to cross the border in a short time.

Arka continued her approach with incremental steps.

Minutes eventually passed hacking and slashing her way through each Sralks dying in one clean hit near her feet, and from above.

She then noticed that they were increasing in number... as she predicted, Sralks were exiting from the holes within the mountain range.

Arka foresaw that she was about to find it difficult to stay consistent with her current strategy. Mental fatigue would catch up to her before she can even reach part-way to the border's narrow entrance. Her escape route would be in vain.

I see now why they had a hard time running through this border...

She began to retreat. There was just no way Arka can pass this border like a cakewalk.

After splitting another Sralks in half that jumped at her, she turned tail and began to run.

However, she felt the weight on one of her shoulders shift, along with a numb sensation.

One of the Sralks was able to land squarely on the swordsman's shoulder and buried its sharp, copper-colored fangs through her darkened-steel armor.

She quickly yanked and threw the Sralks away that landed on her darkened-steel pauldron.

As if the Sralks gauged the difference in strength with their prey, more of them began to jump off the mountain walls to begin their hunt for the isolated swordsman on flat terrain. They even began to land directly on her avatar.

They were fast creatures. Their movements weren't what she was expecting... they can outrun any human.

Sralks were clinging onto her earthen-green cloak, helmet, and below her sabatons. She kicked and slew her blade more at them away while she ran... but an organized swarm not sooner, restrained her legs; impeding anymore further movement.

From that point on, it was checkmate. Her options were limited to hacking and slashing; grabbing, and throwing them away.

She noticed the HP on her HUD drop rapidly. It was now at 50%.

No way... it can't— A thought shot through Arka as she threw another Sralks away on her armor, and slashing one crawling on her sabatons.

The Sralks continued crawling at a ridiculously fast pace. The unnatural speed was menacing. She couldn't tell whether the pareidolia made the fake faces on their backs appear with inhuman-like, smiles along with their dark eyes. Their jagged, copper, fangs underneath their bellies were even teetering as they approached with their long, eight-legged limbs... sounds of screeching and clashing of their fleshy anatomy were ramming against her ears in multitudes.

Arka lost her balance as the weight of these Sralks finally towered over her.

Her avatar was being eaten alive.

Numerous, numb sensations everywhere... the Sralks' fangs crushed and pierced through her darkened-steel armor. Only one free hand of hers was left reaching out toward the rust-colored sky.

As the brink of death came nearer, she began assessing her mistakes in a flash.

Maybe I should've approached the border from somewhere else?

No... maybe if I had waited for the Sralks to sleep first in their nests... I could've waited it out and then made my strike on the nest...

A nest... she needed special tools which only a certain, speedy rouge would have—

—Or probably with the help of a magic archer able to shoot numerous arrow spreads—

—Or a tank to mitigate damage...

Maybe, she should have also learned how to do magic, herself? If she had practiced using magic first in the fields with the same monsters, then maybe she could have—

My inventory...! She suddenly recalled. She was risking it all at this point. She might lose her armor and weapons.

More powerful, damning, numb, sensations on her torso... her avatar's stomach and intestines were being eaten away.

Her vision, hazier—the noisy flesh swarm of Sralks fogged her thoughts.

Maybe if I had a party... this quest would be—

She saw her darkened-steel gauntlet broken and crushed along with her avatar's hand after more powerful bites from these creatures. It all happened in a brief instance.

The Sralks covered her sight and then—

—blackness.

Arka's eyes opened and finding herself standing within the city ruins of Fellmoria. She respawned.

Urgent matters—she quickly dropped her bag on the ground and opened it.

She lost all of the teleportation crystals she bought, rainbow stones for backtracking dungeons, most of her healing potions, most of her armor crafting and enhancement materials and herbs for potion brewing... she even lost 80% of the Fels she collected—the currency she needs using in Helamir.

It was a lot to assess...

"No...!" She looked up, and flailed an arm to the side in reflex; throwing a fit declaring her disbelief. "Wh—!"

Will she still be able to complete her journey now as a hero?

And then, Arka suddenly recalled—

She immediately dropped to her knees and rummaged through her things in haste to find this missing object.

She felt her palms touch a circular object which was being covered underneath her bag. She slowly pulled it out of her bag while heaving a sigh of relief.

It was the strange object she found when she ventured with Banelfsing and Mikrim at Great Atrophy’s Barrow. She didn’t know its importance, but she did feel it was something valuable both economically, and sentimentally that she has to keep with her.

Aside from this object, only a tinderbox, and a map remained... the map however, would not prove to be useful for her upcoming journey outside the border, however.

Arka furrowed her eyebrows and made a crooked, lip bite. She was agitated underneath her darkened-steel helmet.

"What the fuck...?" She screamed silently and threw another fit by shooting her hand on top of her helmet as if it was to scratch her pate.

Arka paced around for a bit, flailed her arms around some more, and placed her armored palm on her helmet. Eventually, she calms down and drops her arms. She wanted to try forgetting what just occurred.

Then she remembered her own equipment.

She looked all over herself to see if she was missing any piece of gear. Thankfully, everything she has equipped were all still worn by her.

She sighed, finally easing her heart rate.

"Fucking—fine... it's fine. At this point, it's not like it matters anyway..." She talked to herself, reassuring this. Perhaps this was relieving for her... a new beginning.

There was nothing else she can do but accept what happened.

"Thinking about it, I can try to focus better on how to get out of here... so, it's fine."

Despite her saying this, the loss of her items bothered her like a haunting scar.

She blamed the whole game design on why did Hels even make the death system so punishing like this. It was just plain horrible. Hels was a horrible game designer if she ever truly wanted to develop a game for real.

Most importantly... if she was on a task to save the world, why wasn’t she left with any other tips or a blessing to aid her journey at least?

A mount could have been convenient... She thought.

Arka's tired of thinking right now... what matters at this moment was Helamir, the world she has to save—

All by myself... Arka looked down, realizing her current situation.

This was what she wanted, wasn't it? It was a responsibility that has a purpose behind it. Something that only she can do... both worlds on her shoulders.

There was no turning back.

Arka looked around... it was a familiar scene. She respawned at the same place where she, Mikrim, and Baneflsing met up after their fight with Lily.

She looked over the sizable gap she crossed with the party prior.

I have to cross all the way again...? What a pain in the ass! Her thoughts shouted, welcoming the unpleasant scene before her with a scowl.

And so, she crossed the broken platforms once again.

As she finished crossing the platforms, she looked back at the same place that was behind her, with the portal and broken ground.

This might not be the last time she would be seeing this place after all. Somehow, she felt miserable about it.

I guess this is going to be a long, long, fucking grind... She started to worry about the number of times she will have to go back to this spot. She has no other choice but to simply deal with this fact.

Will respawning to inconvenient spawn points become the hero's most tragic enemy?

It didn't take long until she once again exits the ruined city.

On her way back to the border, Arka stopped halfway through next to a dead forest. Arka recalls her painstaking journey—a thought shot through her mind.

This is the choice I wanted, right?

To be a chosen hero that she unmistakably accepted...

"W-What... am I even doing...?" She told herself this with her head down, looking at the barren ground beneath her.

Then—

A sudden creak, and a snap of wood. It resounded within the dead forest, twitching her ears.

Footsteps—one person was beyond the dark, and dead trees.

The unwelcoming atmosphere of the forest was uninviting, but Arka wanted to investigate further.

She walked carefully not wanting to alarm the person she was approaching. She couldn't believe there was even someone in this place at this hour.

Behind some trees she approached, she finally saw this person... a young woman with long, straight, hair, naturally gray in color. She wore a brown, cape coat over a cream tunic complementing it further with her chartreuse pants and black boots. Slung on her back was an object wrapped in cloth wraps which were the most eye-catching from all her get-up.

A player at this hour...? She thought.

Arka focused above this person for her avatar's username... but it wouldn't appear.

She finally understood what this meant.

She wasn't a player, but an anomaly. An original inhabitant of the world of Helamir.

A demon rather, just like Stan and Lily.

The woman was standing at a familiar spot Arka recognized.

That spot is where I first ran into those two...

She meant the black and white-haired demons that started this whole mess.

As if the woman noticed she was being eavesdropped, she turned to look at Arka from behind her. Just as she expected, this woman has the same, supernatural instincts of sensing another, nearby, presence.

Arka was startled as their eyes met—her yellow eyes seemed to pierce through her darkened-steel helmet.

She braced herself with this person expecting a battle.

"Y..." Arka held onto her sword's handle sheathed on her waist. "You're a demon, a-aren't you...?" Arka wanted to confirm her suspicions.

The grey-haired woman answered. "A demon...? Me? Why do you think that...?"

"You have yellow eyes... only demons have those set of eye colors."

"I see..." the brown, cape coated demon said. "So, you understand that that is all it takes to discover my true nature... but why are you cautious around me?"

"Why...?" Arka was slightly perplexed at her question. "B-Because... you demons... destroyed this land."

The woman held a silent look at the darkened-armored swordsman.

"I see..." She said calmly, briefly looking away "...so that is the current situation," She then shook her head as if confirming her personal assumptions.

Arka held her low stance with her hand on her Kampilan's handle and then—she drew her sword and assumed her battle stance ready for the grey-haired demon's attacks.

However, her tense anticipation began to slowly betray her after more seconds passed... the grey-haired demon didn't make any sudden movements. The demon remained still, with crossed arms, looking directly at Arka patiently.

The gray-haired demon then briefly glanced at her keenly from head to toe.

"You seem to have experience in dealing with us," she told her as if deducing something from Arka’s avatar.

"Yeah," Arka answered. "I've fought a few of you on this exact spot, and during the invasion."

"I see... we did have a scheduled invasion... but more importantly, this spot? So, the one who fought here with one of the demon generals... is you?"

"Y-Yeah..."

Arka felt she shouldn't have admitted that. It could only mean more trouble for her.

The cape coated demon held a look for another brief moment. And then, "I can hear your heartbeat has not changed in the slightest. So, it means you are telling the truth... color me impressed."

Arka was confused by this statement.

"So... so, then what...? Aren't... aren't y-you going to attack...?" She asked, still with her guard up.

"Maybe..." the cape coated woman said. "But first, will you be willing to hear me out?"

"What is it...?"

"Cautious as you may be, I would like to express to you that I am not a threat."

"A-And why should I believe you?" Arka stayed wary.

"You see, if I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead where you stand... but here I am, obviously waiting for a chance to defend myself—and it seems we are both alike on the matter of intentions."

"Y-you... that makes sense. But what proof do you have that you won't be killing me once I let my guard down?"

Not like it matters to Arka, as she can just resurrect and continue with her quest... the only downside is that she would lose more of her stuff... maybe all her armor and weapons this time.

The grey-haired demon, knowing she doesn't have any proof to show, only had her story to back her up. "I am a demon defector.... but right now, I am a mere, traveler and investigator," She continued. "One, who records history," She emphasized. "A lore master, is what you would rightfully dub me as."

Arka wanted to ask for further proof from this demon woman, but this was all getting tedious for her. From what she has experienced, facing a demon was like a game of chess. The only option she has was to fight or die. There was physically no way of outrunning them from what she has seen.

Arka was well-aware of the overwhelming differences in their strengths... but she cannot be wary of her forever. Maybe this woman did have no ill intentions? She wanted to come to a compromise.

Arka started to slowly sheathe her sword. "V-Very well then... b-but one thing still bugs me... What are you doing at this place, wandering about at this hour...?"

"To record and track history, obviously," The demon woman answered in a snap, giving her the impression of her quick-wittedness. "You freely scrutinize my motives... although, I think ‘tis stranger to wonder about what you are doing—and at this hour...?"

That can't be right... Arka found her just as suspicious as herself. However, among secrets, hers has to be the weightiest now that she was back in Helamir.

She recalled her mission... she needs to—

"Well, I..." Arka almost choked. "I-I want... to cross the border," she told the woman. It was partly true, but true nonetheless. "Well, trying to..." She added.

"The border...? But that is—" The lore master demon replied with a sudden, elicit of surprise.

And then, the woman smiled, as if changing her mind and realizing something from her. "I see... you are just in time, then... for I, too, wish to cross it."

Arka suddenly has a strange reaction hearing her say this... she felt butterflies in her stomach.

"Wait, you mean—"

"Assuming you are the adventuring type, I would like to join you on your quest, yes." The lore master interrupted.

Arka's gut was right on the mark.

"What? But... wait, I... I don't know if we should be traveling together!" Arka interjected and waved an open hand at her. She thought it wouldn't be good if they join up. The proclaimed lore master with the brown cape coat was a demon after all. Why did she want to travel with Arka all of a sudden? What if she was just there to sabotage her journey?

And if she did come, it wouldn't be good if Hels found out, right?

Was the goddess of this world herself, even omniscient?

She had to decline. Steer this conversation in—

"You do not know...?" The lore master reiterated Arka's statement to support her logic. "See this, I can help make your journey easier for you. There is a lot of monsters out there that you do not understand after crossing that border... and now that you are here, this should be a good way in helping me record and catalogue more of this world's events. It is a win-win, as you humans call it. Think about that."

The gray-haired woman then approached Arka and began walking in circles around her as if sizing up her avatar. Arka flinched, fearful of the demon's approach. She wanted to draw her sword—

But she didn't need to.

"Besides, the way you are now, you will not be able to survive... actually, knowing about your false body and your endless resurrections, you would have a hard time finishing your journey. So, that is why, if you need to cross that border along with what comes after that, you are going to need my help."

"Y-You mean... you've been to the other side of the border?"

"Yes."

This woman felt too convincing for her. In fact, her sudden appearance was even too convenient; too good to be true.

However, this demonic lore master's reasoning was also sound. She was aware that this journey would not be a walk in the park—freely passing through the continent all, willy-nilly. Arka will need help from an experienced traveler.

She was considering her request.

"F-Fine, you can come," Arka gave in and agreed with her.

Arka was also curious about how her race was knowledgeable about their avatars. She was starting to see how it would be beneficial for the lore master in joining with her.

"Excellent," The lore master said with a steady, and satisfied tone, ending it with her widened lips forming a smile.

Arka still needed to steer this mutual alliance in a direction she wants though.

"I... I have one condition though b-before you join me,"

The demonic lore master loosened her smile. "And what is that...?"

"We have to stay fifteen meters apart,"

Arka thought this was a good condition. She just can't readily trust her yet, and it should be enough time for her to react if she makes any sudden movements of ambushing her considering their differences in abilities.

The cape coated demon smiled. "Is that it? I understand, that is fine with me. I was just about to tell you I don't want to get my hands dirty on these poor monsters,"

"Alright..." Arka nodded at her. "Then, there's one more thing I need to tell you,"

The lore master looked at her attentively.

Arka recalled—she's a demon defector, and now a lore master recording history. It does not necessarily mean she was against her own kind... but she left them for a personal reason.

Other than that, she was about to join her on a long and arduous journey. Arka had to make it clear what her intentions were as to why she came back to Helamir in the first place.

She would probably kill her on the spot after telling her that she was a hero that needs to kill the demon lord. But knowing that this person will be coming, she knows she has to come clean.

It was especially that she was a demon, that she had to tell her. Arka herself, was technically an enemy of her race. She wouldn't feel comfortable keeping secrets.

"I'm also a hero, chosen by Hels in this world. And... and I need to kill the demon lord,"

"A hero...?" The gray-haired demon tilted her head a bit, furrowed her naturally gray eyebrows, and suddenly changed her voice to a serious tone. "So, you're saying..."

"That's right—I'm here to bring peace to this land... and stop your kind's invasion,"

"I see... you are a hero, and you intend to bring peace... and you are able to tell me this so willingly...?"

Arka was beginning to second guess her choice.

"I thought... if... if you'd be joining with me... and we had to trust each other, I had to tell you... what I really am,"

That's right... she needed her trust. For Arka, to keep secrets would just be damaging... it would hurt more than help others.

She recalled her experiences in her world... people on job hunts with employers leading potential employees on for days—making them think they have a chance for a place in work and society...

Relationships with people she knew—she recalled how much damage keeping secrets can have... even for her—how long people have kept her in the dark of what they truly think of her.

There was no justice for what was done not only against her, but other people like her. It was wrong.

"Besides... I think it's not good to keep secrets between us. A-Aren't lies and deceit... one of the reasons why there are even wars in the first place?"

For a brief moment, Arka thought she saw the gray-haired demon's eyes widen in astonishment... her yellow irises more distinct. Afterward, she made a smile barely noticeable to Arka.

"You know, I could just change my mind right now about letting you go..." The gray-haired demon told her. "But thankfully for you, I am not one of those demons... if you had told that to any other demon, they would have killed you on the spot, surely."

Arka felt tense as the lore master said this.

"However, you are right. It is not good to keep secrets... especially with your soon-to-be companions," She agreed with her. "I feel much better about deciding to travel with you, now... I'm glad you have let me know about this," Arka saw the demon relax. That was one step in clearing the air between them.

"Is that all?" The demonic loremaster asked.

"Yeah, t-that's it," Arka said.

Arka noticed a change in the woman's tone. As if, lighter. "Then, lead the way, hero," she told her.

Arka turned to look around finding the direction she needs to go. And then, she started to travel west to exit the dark forest. The gray-haired lore master followed in suit.

"By the way, I forgot to ask... but what's your name?" Arka asked.

"Neferah," She spoke. "And yours, hero?”

"Arka,” Arka decided to use her real name.

"Excellent," Neferah said. "I look forward to what awaits in our adventures as we travel together, Arka."

And with that, they departed.

Arka and Neferah soon reached the mountain border, greeted by the same nest of Sralks. They both stopped on a barren hill to see the monster nest at a distance.

"We're here."

"I see... so ‘tis Sralks that you're dealing with... How would you go about overcoming them?"

"I-I'm not sure. I thought I could hack away their numbers steadily until a few of them remain. After that, I can finally pass through."

After Arka said this, Neferah began to laugh. "That way of thinking is as extreme as such,” She said in a mocking tone.

Arka's face flushed in embarrassment. She wasn't used to people teasing her. "W-Well, do you... do you have any better ideas?"

"Oh, indeed I do. We can begin by burning their nest with a fire."

I... Why didn't I thought of that?! Arka became more flustered as her eyes widened behind her close-helmet.

"Sralks' nests are usually packed tightly with inner workings lacking any protection. Each cell of their hive is actually highly flammable—"

Arka completely slipped her mind that Helamir was actually another world. Environmental damage exists, starting fires, manipulating terrain... real-world physics. This wasn't a game anymore.

"—against similar nests, fire always solves a lot of problems," Neferah said.

She talks eagerly about fire like that, yet claims my own thinking’s extreme... Arka thought.

Still, the solution Neferah offered arose an abundance of motivation for the swordsman. She felt that her goal of crossing over that other side, was close at hand.

"So, we just have to burn their nest, and it'll help stop their reinforcements,"

"Exactly. ‘tis the best way to handle Sralks nests," Neferah nodded.

Arka reached in her satchel, and pulled out a tinderbox from within. "Then, some wood..." Arka looked behind her and saw a single, dead tree. She walked toward it, reached up, and broke one of its branches.

She rubbed her hand over the bark to feel its roughness. It was dry enough to be easily ignited.

"Alright, you stay here, then... I'll deal with the mobs."

"Hold on," Neferah paused Arka's approach. She couldn't help but notice her remark of dealing with the mass of Sralks alone. "There is still many of them... even if you burn one of their nests, the large remainder that roams outside will still outnumber you. How will you approach that?"

"It's fine... I... I got to see at first glance how many I can handle," She went back to Neferah and placed the dead branch on the ground and readied her tinderbox. "On estimate, I should be able to deal with the remainder."

"So, you already have a way of approaching them? Are you telling me that you have been trying to cross this border before we met earlier?"

"Yeah, but only once." She began to start a fire on the dead branch with the flint and firesteel she took out of her tinderbox. "I guess I didn't tell you beforehand that I've been at this for a while now," She struck the flint and firesteel to ignite the branch.

"Persistent, are you?" Neferah smiled as the branch Arka was igniting was finally set ablaze. "Surely, the qualities of a fine hero."

Ignoring Neferah's comment with the burning branch in hand, Arka approached the nest. The Sralks made another loud shriek upon seeing her.

Arka threw the burning branch into one of the multitudes of holes in the mountain range. In mere moments, it was set alight. Then, she ran toward the Sralks and started her attack. This time, with a better understanding of her situation.

She used the same strategy—quick, sword strikes at the Sralks that jumped in on her. Every creature was again, torn apart in one hit. She approached even closer this time, more confident, having less trouble than before.

There were still more Sralks on the other side. Arka approached hastily. It was a matter of quick reaction and decisiveness at this point. The weight of her armor made her feet drift on the barren ground with each, sudden, stop.

As the multitudes of Sralks attacked, she made sure she cut and slashed the ones pouncing down at her from above the mountain range. She didn't want them immobilizing her the same as before once again.

There was a distance set between her and the large group of monsters taking each other down in a battle of precision and endurance—her reactive attacks, versus the Sralks' sheer numbers.

Neferah was watching from afar on their agreed fifteen-meter distance. She did not want to bother with Arka's dirty work. Whilst watching, she recognizes the swordsman's potential battle prowess. She found her movements and decisions each moment, just as astonishing as the tracks and details she uncovered earlier in the forest from what her demon eyes saw.

To see her in action profounds her. Arka was indeed telling the truth of her nature.

During Arka's onslaught, she suddenly noticed another group of Sralks at the corner of her eyes acting strangely. She scanned her surroundings—scanned back and forth. Within brief moments, this group was forming into some kind of larger creature.

And then, the Sralks group that was attacking her suddenly retreated altogether and decided to help the other group form their odd, massive, form. It appeared soon that the Stalks was trying to form into this massive, pale, and brownish worm from their combined swarm. It had a gigantic face with closed eyes, eliciting an emotion painted with glee as its head. It was able to move upright, revealing all the Sralks and their human-like faces on its formed belly. A mish and mash of continuous creeping and crawling were heard throughout this strange, new, tall creature standing at fourteen meters high, and three meters wide.

It made another shriek. The sound was ear-piercing for Arka, as its cry carried a powerful force, making her stagger backward. She discovered that it also deafened her avatar's ears.

A status effect appeared on the left side of her HUD.

Deafness

The massive creature suddenly dug into the ground it stood on, and disappeared into the earth.

Where's it going?! She thought.

Arka recovered her footing after that and immediately made a battle-ready stance. She was trying to understand what this new creature was trying to do.

No—it isn't going anywhere else... it's going to ambush me! Arka realized.

Any second, and it's going to pop out from underneath.

With her ears deafened, she couldn't hear anything... she couldn't hear which direction this new creature would be heading into.

I can't hear a thing but... the earth—I can still feel it rumble.

She knew how she was going to respond to the giant worm's next move.

Only for a small window of opportunity...

And she was right. The earth shook beneath her. This massive creature kept burrowing underneath the earth in the rashest manner allowing her to tune in to its vibrations.

And then—

Now!

Arka dove away, back-first. The massive Sralks suddenly jumped out from beneath the ground as the other Sralks creatures that were latched onto it, spill out from the massive worm.

The massive worm grazed a part of her leg armor, unable to make her dodge as smoothly which made her lose her balance.

The Sralks turned to see Arka in an upright stature and its Sralks brethren that spilled out forcibly gathered back together to its massive worm form. And then, it charged in toward her.

Arka rolled away to the side into a crawl. Only one thing was on her mind:

Will I even hurt this thing? A weak point... there's gotta be...!

As the massive worm missed and recovered from its massive tackle, it then attempted to dig into the barren earth once again accompanied by a set of strong quakes.

Arka thought she saw an opportunity. As the creature was still digging on the dead earth, she ran toward it and made quick, wide, arcing strikes with her Kampilan, chopping off several of its nested Sralks that formed the worm. She cut them apart, as the fleshy creatures shrieked in death.

The worm finally dug its whole self into the ground, leaving a massive hole thereafter.

Maybe this was the solution to defeating this creature—another test of patience, and her persistence.

This time, Arka began to circle around the battlefield. It would help throw-off the creature's precision and accuracy in jumping at her. She also tried to feel for the vibrations of the earth beneath her. Any strange shaking—any off-putting rumbling.

Her avatar's deafness right now indeed made it harder for her to deal with this creature. She acknowledged the worm's intelligence for even doing so.

She only had short, fleeting moments for her attack opportunity, even.

And then, there was a sudden, strong rumbling.

It's coming!

Arka jumped away this time. She was able to minimize her bursts of movement due to her running around. Again, the creature went for the same strategy of attacking her immediately upon resurfacing.

The worm stormed in for another tackle—

—Arka was partly hit, grazing and hitting her armor, knocking her away.

Half of her HP was gone.

She stood back up immediately, keeping in mind to be more careful this time around. The giant worm dug itself back underground and Arka closed in the distance to slice it apart from its remaining tail-end. Reddish blood and guts of several decapitated Sralks spilled all over the barren earth.

Arka understood its attack pattern. All it does was the same, repeated cycle of attacks.

Second, upon second, she continued hacking and slashing the beast away as it dug itself into the ground each time. She was right, the giant creature did not change its strategy.

Soon, the worm was shortened enough, with only a few Sralks left holding it together. It has reached its last, and final movements.

As it forcefully resurfaced, Arka committed for a decisive kill.

She swung her sword at it head-on after assessing all the minimal risks involved in attempting this action. She shouted, feeling the mental exhaustion that this repetitive battle has exerted her.

The giant, Sralks worm was finally immobilized. Only its gigantic, human-like gleeful looking face was left—still, and unmoving on the barren dirt. Numerous corpses of its Sralks brethren littered everywhere on the field.

Arka looked at her sword and saw it was also covered in the Sralks' blood. She swung it to the side with a flick of a wrist, to take off the blood stuck onto it.

She sheathed her weapon seeing that now it was a satisfactorily, cleaned sword.

She turned around thereafter to head back to Neferah, exhausted from the fight.

As she was walking back, she saw Neferah making odd gestures toward her as a dark flame formed on her left hand.

Nefarah?!

She looked like she was casting magic.

After that, her deafness debuff disappeared. As Arka’s hearing returned, she could suddenly hear another mish-mash of crawling and creeping, that intensified.

With Arka’s back still turned, there it was—a giant, distored, human-like face in a gleeful-like expression with razor-sharp, teetering teeth. Its false face splitting in half.

Arka tried to immediately turn around to see the beast behind her, but a strong blast from a dark, orb of energy quickly devoured the creature in a brief instance.

It burned alive and melted in a black, blaze.

A notification window suddenly appeared on her HUD.

Gatekeeper Sralks registered to the index

She also gained 128 Experiece points from this encounter.

As the creature burned to the ground, Arka turned to Neferah.

Her eyebrows were slanted looking at Arka. She was displeased at what happened.

Disappointed—Arka thought. Neferah was upset.

"You celebrated too early, fool," Neferah told her as the dark, flame dissipated on closing her left hand. "If I had been late in casting that even for a minuscule of a second, you would have been devoured like an engorged, mutton rack,"

Although, Arka was more interested about her demonic companion’s magical ability though. "Neferah, what was that just now...?"

"That..." she closed her eyes and crossed her arms as if contemplating what to say next. "...was simply magic, fool," She opened them as she said her statement. "It was something taught to me before I left home."

"I—I see," Arka didn't mean to sound like she was prying in another person's personal life. She was just astounded seeing someone else able to cast magic in Helamir. "I was just surprised... You saved my life,"

She looked at Arka keenly for a brief moment, still with her crossed arms, "Is that so... then, is this how you thank someone after they saved your life?"

That's right... Arka even told her to keep away from her. Maybe she sounded rude at that time... but she was just afraid of her. Now that Neferah has saved her from certain death avoiding a painstaking respawn point, she can't help but feel gratitude towards her.

"Right... What just happened—I have to thank you for that," Arka told her. She was beginning to think how dumb of a request she made earlier. "If you want, we can just forget about that distance rule we made,"

"No, I actually prefer keeping our distance. I was amused in watching you struggle in that heat of battle." Neferah then put on a painted smile from ear to ear.

"How about you will be just my source of entertainment for the time we will spend?”

Not how I thought I'd be thanking someone!

"W-Well, if it makes you happy—!"

Neferah laughed hard after seeing Arka stiffen up. She held her belly from the almost uncontrollable laughter. As she laughed, her teeth could be seen with a single fang protruding.

Arka was serious about what she said though. However, she can’t say a word about that now, can she?

She was stunned at this demon's outbursts of laughter. She wasn't used to this situation—being teased.

Neferah finally calmed down after a while. Her laughter broke the tension between them. "I was just jesting, hero. Still, ‘twas delightful witnessing you in action. I got to see that you were not lying through your teeth, after all,"

And then, Neferah cuts to the chase.

"Tell me then... who taught you how to fight like that?"

Arka too, loosened her shoulders. "I-I learned it myself," Arka answered.

Neferah nodded. "So, your swordplay is self-taught..."

"W-Well... it's nothing really special." Arka began gesturing with a hand as she began to explain. "Back when I thought this was as a game, I just kept on playing... trying to grasp—how to deal with all this... a-and I guess I just... kind of got used to moving like this,"

"That was a mere, three weeks ago since you have arrive was it not?" Neferah closed her eyes, and squinted. "I admit... indeed, you are talented." She nodded, and opened her eyes after. "But, if you want to defeat the demon lord, skill and talent aren't going to get you far."

Neferah then extended an open hand toward her.

"Let me see your weapon,"

Puzzled by Neferah's request she uttered a crack in her voice—reluctant to handing her weapon over.

"Y-Yeah, sure,"

Or so, she thought...

"But, why?"

"Just let me look at it for a second, I promise I will not chew on it,"

Arka unsheathed her Kampilan. For a brief moment, she held it at a ninety-degree angle and examined it.

She lowered her weapon and held it on the grip and its blade with both hands.

With the fuller of the blade faced toward Neferah, Arka handed her weapon over. "Here."

After this, Neferah took Arka's sword in a lax manner; holding it in a reversed grip. She inspected it and saw just how worn out it was. The iron was slightly bent, and its edge was tearing, with parts of it chipped away.

Clearly, this swordsman didn't maintain her weapon well.

But this examination was far from her real reason for taking her blade.

"No, no... this will not do at all," Neferah said, shaking her head. "Tell me, again... are you serious that you want to defeat the demon lord?"

This repeated question... Perhaps Neferah saw some hesitation with her? "O-Of course I am!" She exclaimed. "I've come here to save this world, and... and maybe even change it for the better."

"I see..." Neferah handed Arka's sword back to her in the same, lax way.

Arka took her sword, and sheathed it on her waist.

"Up ahead, our journey will have more monsters—more bizarre and abundant in capabilities and magic of sorts. Seeing as you are now, clearly, you are ill-equipped for this journey."

Arka thought the same. But what choice does she have? Was there a way to improve her current state?

There was little she could do. She was pretty much left helpless and encouraged to deal with this quest alone. Maybe she should have asked help from the self-proclaimed goddess before she set out on her journey. Maybe she should've asked for aid or a goddess' blessing.

Although, it was too late. She doesn't even have the right to be mad about it.

"It is settled then..." Neferah then glanced behind her back. "I feel it is much better if you use this," Neferah slung the thick, wrapped object on her back and placed it in front of her. After that, she started to unravel its cloth wraps.

As Arka watched this thing being unwrapped revealing the object underneath, she still couldn't tell just what she was looking at. It was thick and unfamiliar.

After it was unwrapped, Neferah carried and rested the large object on both hands and handed it over to Arka.

Arka was puzzled just looking at this. "What..."

Inhuman was a fitting description for this object. She thought her eyes were tricking her after seeing what was being handed over to her at first glance. There was disbelief as to what she was witnessing. The only way she could discern the type of thing Neferah was holding, was the way she handed it over to her; meant to be a weapon—a sword is what it was.

"What the hell is this...?"

The sword was something that couldn't be called a sword at all no matter which way she looked at it though. From the blade to its thick, cross guard, was covered in a fleshy-like, organic mass in the colors of black and white. There were ornaments dispersed throughout the weapon's fleshy blade that resembles malignant, embellished, red, eyes that covered the weapon—some looked to be opening and closing as if it was alive. She can't help but see distorted faces along with the eyes that covered the weapon which was asymmetrical with one another. The hilt of the blade ended what looked like it was melting away which complemented the sword underneath the mass that was infused with it.

Arka began to hesitantly take the bulky weapon from her. Second thoughts arose, but she eventually took it with both hands after seeing its handle.

She examined it. A description window appeared showing cryptic question marks and indescribable values for this said weapon. It couldn't be registered to her index.

"That weapon you hold is called, 'Willesse'. It disrupts the mana flow and life essence of any living creature struck by it. Thus, transforming them back into their most fundamental compositions." She then opened her eyes to see Arka wielding the blade. "For the upcoming journey ahead riddled with varying, magnificent creatures of unknown, you will need that."

Arka swung the weapon, feeling the ergonomics, and felt it was impressive to the bone despite its looks. It even holds a certain weight to it compared to her Kampilan due to the lump of organic mass that covers the blade underneath. Because of that, it felt more to her like a club than a sword. How will she treat wielding this weapon?

Neferah then closed her eyes. "Said to be forged and tempered from parts of a higher being that stood taller than any living creature; ‘tis a weapon passed down to several generations of cursed users... demons and humans—alike."

Cursed—?! Arka looked at Neferah, and felt her spine shiver at the thought. It then dawned on her that perhaps this weapon holds an unknown evil, within.

She opened her eyes, and pointed at Arka. "You will need that if you are serious about defeating the demon lord, and the monsters ahead. Otherwise, you are no better than an ordinary adventurer... simple food for the riffraff."

Arka felt the paranoia rise to her throat. She swallowed her collected fear. "I—I honestly don't know now if I should be using this... you mentioned this weapon was cursed...?"

Neferah smiled, as if amused by Arka's reaction about her story. "To clarify, the users were cursed long before they held that weapon."

Then, she loosened her smile, back to her seriousness.

"What I've told you was a recount told by many of my ancestors. These days, they are but, urban legends. Besides, do you feel anything wrong about yourself after holding that weapon? Do you feel your soul condemned with a strong presence of eternal torment?"

Arka fell silent with Neferah's outrageous description. She couldn't tell whether she was still being serious.

"I... I guess not," She replied.

"Then, the curse is a myth and you can rest easy. With that weapon, you will surely stand a better chance against more dangerous foes ahead..."

She made a brief pause.

"...Along with my own kind."

Neferah then began to step forward to resume their journey.

"Use that weapon well, Cursed Hero, Arka." She told her, as she approached next to her.

Arka turned to Neferah. "Y-You just called me cursed,"

Neferah hummed a questioning tone in her voice. "I did not."

"I-It's cursed after all, isn't it?" Arka's voice shook.

Neferah suddenly made a burst of laughter.

So, she is joking, after all? It's hard to figure out if she's being serious or not! Arka thought.

She looked at the Willesse held in her right hand.

Is it... really fine for me to hold a weapon like this?

"Well, I-I'll try and see how this weapon works for me then. But, if I don't end up liking it, I guess I'll just have to return it to you,"

"Very well." Neferah then looked at Arka behind her. "But I highly doubt that."

She kept her smile.