Chapter 16. Shadows of Lilith (1)

Growing up as an orphan, Lilith endured a strict, austere upbringing that lacked warmth and comfort.

In her early memories, Lilith resided in what seemed to be a noble family. Fragmented recollections hinted at luxuries like soft beds and flavorful, fresh meals, unlike the bland fare found in the orphanage.

Despite these glimpses of a privileged past, Lilith felt a profound animosity towards her own kin, the reasons for which eluded her... perhaps prompting her to suppress her previous life and remain in the orphanage.

Conflicted emotions plagued Lilith, leading her to question whether her family sought her or if she was abandoned temporarily during the tumultuous period of inter-village warfare, where the streets overflowed with the fallen bodies of commoners.

Certainly, it was all just a product of her imagination.

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Maturing into adulthood at the age of 17, Lilith had faced numerous instances of sexual harassment and narrowly escaped being raped by one of the orphanage guards. However, Lilith bravely fought back and eventually broke free from the orphanage, venturing deep into the forest, where no human presence could be detected, only wild animals.

Struggling to survive in the perilous forest amidst encounters with goblin bands and packs of Black Wolves, Lilith began honing her self-defense skills with a wooden staff. With only a small knife pilfered from the orphanage's kitchen, she transformed the wooden staff into a makeshift spear.

At night, Lilith climbed trees to sleep on their branches, attempting to find rest in a sitting position. Initially, she always awoke on the ground, thankfully without any serious injuries apart from minor scratches or light bruises on her skin. Lilith did not focus on her physical wounds, but rather on the fact that she had survived encounters with wild animals and monsters during her slumber.

There were moments when Lilith could not sleep at all, haunted by memories of being inappropriately touched by one of the orphanage caretakers. These memories culminated with her clothes being forcibly torn apart by three guards from the orphanage who sought to harm her.

After three days of silently perching on the tree until her body was bitten by ants, Lilith paid no heed to the stinging sensation. Overwhelmed by desolation and regret for her very existence, she persisted in moving forward with her life, driven by the sheer will to survive.

Using the makeshift spear she crafted, Lilith embarked on hunting small animals to eat directly. Despite attempts to start a fire with stones, wood, and leaves, she failed in doing so. As a result, she consumed all the animals she caught, along with fish she managed to catch without cooking.

Initially, she compared the taste of stale soup at the orphanage to the odd, chewy flavor of raw meat and fresh animal blood. Over time, she grew accustomed to these flavors.

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Lilith no longer paid attention to the passing time or changing seasons. Upon the arrival of winter, she discovered a cave sheltered by a regular bear, providing her with some solace. Drawing on all her skills, Lilith successfully slew the bear that had nearly claimed her life.

Lilith used the bear fur she had skinned with a dull knife as insulation to warm her body. Despite the bear meat starting to decay in the spring, she continued to eat it casually.

While consuming the rotting meat, Lilith unknowingly realized that she had not shed a tear or lamented her life, which felt more desolate than that of her peers who might still be living in the orphanage or enjoying comfort in new adopted families...

Lilith wanted to cry.

But it seemed her tears had dried up. She could no longer cry, no matter how hard she tried to weepㅡ

She could no longer cry.

Feeling weary, Lilith decided to calm her mind by bathing under the waterfall she had discovered before taking shelter in the cave once ruled by the bear lord she had defeated and consumed.

Unaware of the presence of several men, dressed like bandits, who were secretly trailing her and observing as she disrobed to bathe beneath the distant waterfall, Lilith found herself inexplicably calm.

As time passed, Lilith's mind cleared, only for her tranquility to be shattered when a group of men— more than six in number— suddenly encircled her. Some of them waded into the river and forcibly dragged Lilith out, catching her in a vulnerable, naked state as she had carelessly left behind her makeshift spear and dull knife.

The men reveled in the moment, relishing in the sight of Lilith's slender yet alluring form. For Lilith, it felt like the end.

Despite her desperate struggles to resist their advances and unwanted touches, the men persisted, forcing her legs apart. As her vision blurred and darkness encroached, Lilith teetered on the brink of unconsciousness.

As the men began to touch her and forcibly spread her legs, despite her attempts to kick them, Lilith's vision started to blur, as if she were about to faint.

Lilith could feel tears streaming down her face as the men began to enjoy her body, her heart feeling tight, her stomach filled with the rotten meat from her breakfast earlier, wanting to vomit as all her turbulent emotions filled her entire chest.

Anger.

Hatred.

Pain.

Vengeance.

Sadness.

So many, all her feelings converged into one, and as each man took turns to savour her body, Lilith seized the moment—she drew a sword from the sheath of a man who had just adjusted his trousers. Her swift and unexpected move took the group of men by surprise as Lilith deftly slashed the man who was adjusting his trousers, cutting his body in two with a single stroke. They quickly fastened their trousers to reach for their swords, but it was too late.

Within moments, three men within Lilith's reach were taken down mercilessly, their bodies falling swiftly and efficiently, almost too quick for the human eye to comprehend. All that could be heard was the sharp sound of flesh being torn, the pitiful cries of the men, and the distant roar of the waterfall.

The five remaining men, now armed and filled with rage at the loss of their comrades, immediately launched an attack on Lilith. Despite the odds stacked against her, Lilith displayed no fear. Instead, she laughed, revealing her fangs and a sinister smile.

"Come and attack me, you cursed demons!" Lilith growled with a sinister grin.

As if in response to her command, flames began to swirl around the sword in Lilith's hand, dancing wildly as if in acknowledgment of her presence. This sight only fueled her determination further, and with renewed vigor, Lilith turned and sprinted towards the five men who now realized they had sealed their fate by assaulting the girl before them.

"I shall slay each and every one of you!"

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To Be Continue ?