Next Step

As the evening sun began to dip below the horizon, its warm golden hues painted the sky in a breathtaking display.

He was still covered in sweat from the Yin-Yang exercise, his body now slowly steadying after the intense process of detoxifying her.

Freya, who lay unconscious beside him, completely naked, covered in sweat.

Looking at Freya, he couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty, even in this vulnerable state.

Her features were strong and defined, and despite the ordeal she had been through, there was a sense of tranquility on her face as if she were simply sleeping peacefully.

"She's so beautiful," Frank muttered as he looked at her from head to toe, admiring her beauty.

"I hope she doesn't catch a cold," Frank mumbled to himself, his concern for her well-being evident in his voice.

He knew that being exposed to the evening chill without proper clothing could be dangerous, especially after her body had gone through such a traumatic experience.

Carefully, he began to dress her, his movements gentle as if handling something fragile.

Frank took off his shirt and carefully draped it over her, covering her with some semblance of warmth and protection.

"It's not much, but it should help," he whispered, tucking the edges of the shirt around her body.

He then sat beside her, his weariness making him want to lie down and rest.

"Huff... It was quite exhausting."

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After a few hours, the night had taken over the sun as Freya opened her eyes, her body feeling strangely relaxed.

"Umm..." Freya let out a soft groan as she stretched her limbs, feeling surprisingly refreshed after her deep sleep.

It had been quite a while since she had slept so soundly, and she couldn't help but wonder how she ended up in this situation.

Her memory started to come back in fragments, and she recalled the events that led to her current state.

The poison that had weakened her, and then...Frank.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled the last thing before falling unconscious—Frank undressing her and...

In her groggy state, she couldn't help but misunderstand the situation.

"Did... Did he..." she stammered, her cheeks growing even redder. 'It was my first time.'

Her mind raced with embarrassment as she tried to piece together what had happened.

The memory of Frank's caring and gentle touch filled her thoughts, making her heart flutter for a moment.

As she looked around, she found Frank sitting beside her, gazing at the campfire with a thoughtful expression.

Frank turned his head, his eyes widening in surprise as he noticed Freya was awake. "Oh, you're awake. How do you feel?" he asked, concerned.

"I...I feel better," she replied, her cheeks still flushed. "Thank you for helping me." Her words carried a mixture of gratitude and shyness.

Frank smiled warmly. "It was nothing. I'm just glad you're okay."

'If... if it's him, then it's okay. Although he's a Fifth Rank Warrior, he's quite skilled and he's also handsome, not to mention his caring nature.'

Freya's cheeks further reden thinking about their...

Frank leaned closer to Freya, misinterpreting her expression as a sign of discomfort or pain.

"Are you feeling any pain?" he asked gently, placing his hands on her head as if to check for a fever.

Freya's eyes widened at the unexpected touch, and her cheeks turned even redder.

Frank's touch had caught her off guard.

"N-no, I'm fine," she managed to reply, her voice slightly shaky.

"How did this all happen to you?"

Frank had wanted to ask about her state from earlier but she was unconscious.

Her embarrassed expression changed to a gloomy one.

Freya took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before she began to speak. "I come from the Moonfire Clan," Freya began, her voice tinged with both sadness and resilience. "We are a proud and skilled tribe, known for our strong warriors and our deep connection with nature."

"As the daughter of the tribe leader and the heir to the leadership, I grew up surrounded by expectations and admiration from my fellow tribesmen," she continued, her gaze distant as she recalled her past. "From a young age, I displayed great talent in combat and leadership, and many of the tribe's men sought my favor."

"However, I never felt the same attraction towards them, and I refused their advances," Freya explained, her expression firm. "It wasn't out of arrogance, but rather because I wanted to choose a partner whom I truly cared for, not someone forced upon me by societal norms."

"One day, Gusko, the son of my father's loyal friend and a skilled warrior in our tribe, confessed his feelings for me," Freya recounted, a hint of pain in her voice. "I turned him down gently, hoping he would understand my choice."

"But he didn't take it well," she continued, her voice growing softer. "Filled with hurt and resentment, he concocted a plan to punish me for my rejection."

"While we were out hunting together, he slipped a poisonous substance into my drink," Freya revealed, her eyes narrowing with a mix of anger and sadness. "As the poison took effect, I felt my strength wane, and he was about to rape me but the Moo Fang monster came and scared him away. Luckily he didn't soot me. But after that, I was caught by those smugglers."

Frank listened intently to Freya's story, his heart filled with a mix of sympathy and anger for what she had endured.

"Then what's your next step," Frank asked her.

"My next step? I want to tear that bastard into pieces." Freya said, anger flickering in her eyes.

"Then let me help you in your revenge," Frank replied.

"But you're only a Fifth Rank-"

"Trust me I am stronger than I look."

Freya was a little worried as Frank was a Fifth Rank warrior but she could not deny that he was skilled.

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[A/N: Liked the story, comment and let me know and support this story by voting some power stones]