Unexpected intrusion
Without hesitation, Lisa sprinted toward the source of the explosion, her heart pounding with urgency. The air smelled of scorched stone and magic residue, a pungent mix that signaled trouble. She had assumed Orion was responsible, another of his reckless experiments gone awry, but as she neared the site, an eerie sensation prickled at the back of her neck—a presence, foreign and unsettling, lurking within the dissipating smoke.
Her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword as she reached into her dimensional ring, drawing the blade in one swift motion. The steel gleamed under the flickering light of the ruined corridor, ready to taste blood if necessary.
The figure hidden within the veil of smoke stirred, sensing her arrival. Then, with deliberate slowness, it turned toward her and stepped forward, emerging from the shroud like a specter birthed from darkness itself.
Lisa's gaze locked onto the intruder, her expression hardening. A woman—at least, something resembling one—stood before her. A large, grotesque horn extended from her right temple, curving menacingly over her forehead and tapering toward the left side. A second, much smaller horn barely jutted from her left temple, mostly obscured by the larger one. But it was her eyes that unsettled Lisa the most—vivid green, slitted like a serpent's, cold and calculating. Long, wild green hair framed her face, cascading over her shoulders, its unkempt state adding to the feral air about her.
Lisa wasted no time in assessing the threat. Her mana surged, an unmistakable silver aura crackling around her. The air around her shimmered with raw energy, sending arcs of power skittering across the ground. She was not about to show restraint against an unknown adversary.
The horned woman's expression shifted as she felt Lisa's energy flare. Her lips curled slightly, though whether in amusement or challenge, Lisa couldn't tell. The tension between them thickened, unspoken yet undeniable. There would be no words exchanged, no offers of surrender. Both understood the silent truth—only one of them would walk away from this confrontation.
Lisa took the initiative.
She lunged, her sword slicing through the air with lethal precision. The enemy reacted instantly, her movements preternaturally swift. Clawed hands met steel, sparks flying as she parried the strike with inhuman reflexes. Lisa pressed forward, her blade a blur of silver as she launched a relentless assault. The woman matched her blow for blow, claws weaving through the air with deadly grace, her every movement precise and measured.
Meanwhile, in his quarters, Orion lay on his bed, his body aching from hours of relentless training. His eyelids drooped, exhaustion threatening to claim him. But just as he teetered on the edge of sleep, a distant explosion shattered the stillness of the night.
His first instinct was irritation.
Lisa, again? He sighed, assuming she was venting her frustrations in the training grounds. He sensed her mana flaring—intense, unwavering—but it was nothing unusual. She often let off steam in destructive ways. Yet, a heartbeat later, another presence registered in his awareness—one he didn't recognize.
This wasn't just mana. It was something else. Something... wrong.
Orion shot upright, his exhaustion forgotten. Whatever was happening, it wasn't a mere training accident. The unfamiliar energy sent a shiver of unease through him. He moved swiftly, weaving through the corridors toward the source of Lisa's power, the echoes of multiple explosions growing louder with each step. His pulse quickened. This wasn't a sparring match—it was a battle.
As he drew near, the walls trembled, dust and debris raining from above. Another explosion rocked the ground, and the ceiling groaned in protest. Orion narrowly dodged a falling chunk of stone, his gaze snapping to the scene before him.
Lisa and the horned woman clashed in a flurry of steel and claws, their movements a deadly dance of power and precision. Lisa's silver aura flared brightly, while the enemy exuded a darker, more primal energy, her slitted eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
Orion's breath hitched. This wasn't just a skirmish. They were evenly matched.
He needed to intervene—but recklessly charging in would do more harm than good. He steadied himself, analyzing their movements, waiting for the right moment to strike. His mastery of swordplay allowed him to predict the flow of battle, but before he could act, the unexpected happened.
A flicker.
For a heartbeat, everything plunged into absolute blackness.
It lasted only a moment, but when Orion's vision returned, his blood ran cold.
Lisa stood frozen, her eyes wide in shock. The horned woman's claws had pierced her abdomen, dark blood seeping from the wound. The metallic scent of it tainted the air, sharp and sickening.
Orion didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his sword igniting with flame, his fury propelling him toward the enemy. Yet, even in his rage, he remained tactical. He wasn't aiming for a reckless killing blow—he was aiming to drive the enemy away from Lisa, to create an opening for her to escape.
The horned woman sensed his attack, her gaze flicking toward him. But before his blade could strike, a sudden flash of blue light filled his vision.
Orion instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes. When he looked again, he found himself enclosed within a translucent barrier, glowing faintly with a blue hue. His hands clenched into fists as he tested its strength, slamming against it with all his might.
Nothing. Not a scratch.
On the other side of the barrier, the horned woman still held Lisa impaled on her claws. Slowly, deliberately, she withdrew them, a cruel smirk stretching across her lips. Lisa gasped, a strangled sound of agony escaping her as she collapsed to the floor, her blood pooling beneath her.
Orion's eyes went bloodshot. Fury surged through him like wildfire.
"You... BASTARD!" His voice echoed like a war cry as he pummeled the barrier, his fists slamming against it with relentless force. "LET ME OUT!"
Boom. Boom. Boom.
His strikes reverberated like war drums, the vibrations shuddering through the space. But the barrier remained unyielding, impervious to his rage.
The horned woman turned toward him, amusement flickering in her reptilian eyes. She took a slow, deliberate step forward, her smirk widening to reveal razor-sharp teeth. The aura around her darkened, a twisted energy radiating from her very being.
Orion felt his breath catch. This was no ordinary opponent.
And now, separated from Lisa, he was utterly helpless to stop whatever happened next.