Ch. 0 - Prologue

Volume 1

Chapter 0: Prologue

Episode 1

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In one quick move, I block the impact of the monster's claws using my bow. The collision is bigger than I expected, throwing me backwards into a long, narrow stone corridor underground. This one seems to be quite strong for a monster of this size.

Even though I'm considered a small and light girl, I don't lose my balance to keep myself on the ground. The soles of my feet drag from the impact, raising a slight dust along the way I pass.

My enemy screams in rage at the two arrows I hit its leg just now, leaving him with difficulty running.

After many screams, the four-legged monster is silent for a short moment, until its body begins to twitch as it lifts its two front paws, transforming itself into a bipedal creature as if it already does naturally.

I had never seen anything like it. It's as if the monster has mutated to gain more advantage in combat. Its arms, which were once his front legs, are now more muscular while his legs no longer seem to have the same bone structure as before.

The monster play a charge attack announcing its action with a battle cry. Determined to end the fight now, I shoot an arrow toward the demonic head of the creature that block with his new muscled arm. Before another attempt, I realize that I only have two arrows left in my quiver and I also lost a lot of time.

— Oops!

There is no time to run. I activate a device on my penultimate arrow and shoot it aiming for the imperfections of the left wall in front of me. I try to use my small size by throwing myself under the creature, but it's too late. I am caught on the ground by the neck and lifted into the air. The monster growls, showing its teeth, pulling my face close to his, as he watches me in an act that appears to savor the moment before crushing me in his hands.

The impact of my body with the creature attack left me slightly stunned but still conscious.

''My granddaughter, you try very hard.'' My Grandfather's voice echoes in my mind. ''Many have said that it's too soon to teach you the Paths technique, but I believe that one day you will master it! I trust you.''

For months, I had been training hard to learn the technique that my Grandfather gave me, but my efforts always seemed in vain as I couldn't make progress in my studies. My arms were heavy from pulling my arrow of my bow against wooden targets.

In my memories of a day of training, I had stayed up late in my backyard practicing, and every now and then, I would notice my Grandfather watching me from afar. Until at one point when my arms couldn't take it anymore and my senses were confused, he approached carrying a glass of water and bread.

''I'm proud of you, Sora. The secret to mastering anything is dedication. But drink some water and rest. Your body needs breaks.''

I accepted the drink and asked: ''Do you still trust me?'' and my grandfather confirmed that he did with a big smile. I got the snack but I couldn't stop training. With a piece of bread stuck in my mouth, I continued the exhaustive training for hours, and then days and months to try to master the technique of the Paths. The trust my grandfather had placed in me could not be in vain.

The continuous grip of the creature's large hand on my neck caused me to distance myself from the memories of the past. As I try to loosen myself up for better breathing, a sound like a glass ball bouncing in front of me starts to get closer and louder to my feline ears. Opening my eyes, I notice that the arrow I had previously used with a device is approaching from behind the monster, ricocheting at faster speed between the two walls of the narrow corridor.

Apparently I give up on letting go, as I lift my right hand, making a V-sign of victory with my fingers, until the ricocheting arrow finally reaches the monster at head level. It seems to be a terrible pain for the creature that now has an arrow through its jaw.

Despite being i released by my enemy's claws, I know this isn't over yet. Reaching the ground, I grab my bow back and pull the last arrow from the quiver.

— Come on!

I flex my legs and blaze with a super jump towards the wall to the side. Using momentum, I walk up the imperfections of the wall for a short time, until to do a high-altitude maneuver by throwing myself into the center of the hallway upside down. My short pink hair sways in the wind during my maneuver, reminding me that I didn't comb sooner…wait, what's this all about? You have to concentrate, Sora! Get more focus!

Still in the air putting the arrow to my bow, I close my eyes to concentrate on listening with my cat ears, the opening point for the technique. A hollow crack appears at a 7° angle in front of me. — This is the moment! My eyes open determinedly and my reflexes are activated.

— Slayer technique: Paths of the Air!

The arrow shoots into contact with the air at its opening point, with the wind around it rotating as it dives into the paths to receive greater power. Crossing the creature's forehead in a quick piercing, my move ends the combat.

I — a little monster slayer - reach the ground from my maneuver while on my back, the now lifeless creature's heavy body is knocked to the ground.

I sliding my fingers through my hair to straighten it, straighten my jacket, and turn around with a big smile on my face.

— Haha you fool, I got you!

Someone above yells my name — Hey, Sora! — Looking at the top of the narrow corridor still underground, I see another slayer of my clan waving his arms. — We finally found you! We have to get out of here, fast! A group of monsters is on the way!

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SIDE NOTES (optional)

Division method:

Volume > Chapter > Part ≅ Episode

Part numbers reset at the beginning of each chapter, and episodes never reset. The parts are literally parts of the chapters, and the episodes are the number of parts that exist in the story, added together with the prologue, epilogue and postface if any. Chapters without partitions are considered as a single part.

Edition:

''Example.''

Dialogue of another character or reading a text within the main character's thoughts.

— Example.

Dialogue. Not necessarily needing a sign to end, but when followed by the same sign in the same paragraph, it indicates pause in the dialogue for narration. It can come back to the dialogue with the same sign. (— and - are different.)

The explanation of the above dialogues may seem obvious to those who live in Brazil, but for non brazilians who have a different edition of their books, I felt the need to explain this in my English version of this book. And about the issue of ''episodes'' in a book, this is already normal in WebNovels or WebComics.

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Thanks for reading my book! I'm Derek Cheyne (TOKYO) and this is an original story created by me, which is also being posted on the ''Tapas'' app, all for free in both English and Portuguese. But this is the only place I don't get paid for views. I appreciate if you can follow my story through Tapas totally for free so I can get paid for the views. The next chapters will be on Tapas app.

All my links: https://links-tokyo.carrd.co

@tokyo_derek