As the scorching warmth flowed through her chest and spread throughout her body, the pain that had made it difficult to breathe vanished. The girl's once-labored breaths became smooth again.
Not only that—she felt a newfound strength coursing through her limbs, as if every part of her body was becoming more powerful.
But then, something unexpected caught her attention. Flames appeared around her, and the acrid smell of burning fabric filled her nose. She realized, to her astonishment, that the flames were emanating from her.
"What's… this?" The girl stood up, bewildered by the sight of glowing, crimson-gold fire patterns spreading across her skin. The intense heat distorted the air around her, igniting dust particles nearby.
"Don't be surprised," a voice tinged with amusement whispered in her ear. "This is but a fraction of the power I've granted you. Now, it's time for me to collect my price."
Before the girl could respond, the warmth flowing within her surged toward her right eye. A gentle heat filled it, and when the sensation faded, she found her vision transformed.
She could now "see" things that had been invisible before: vibrant motes of multicolored light floating in the air, interspersed with ominous gray mist that instinctively repelled her.
The enhanced sight failed to bring her any joy, though, as she realized her right eye no longer obeyed her control. Guided by an unseen force, it moved of its own accord, taking in the surroundings while she passively experienced its vision.
"You…" The girl's expression darkened as she instinctively raised her hand to cover her disobedient eye.
"I sense anger," the ethereal voice replied, now laced with amusement. "Why are you angry? A single eye in exchange for your life, and the power you now wield—it's a bargain many would kill for. You'd be hard-pressed to find another such opportunity in your world. Besides, didn't you already agree to offer me everything?
"This eye is still yours to use when I'm not interfering."
"Just… this?" After her initial shock, the girl gradually calmed down. An eye seemed a small price for her life and newfound strength—a trade far too advantageous to refuse.
Lowering her hand, she gazed through the shattered storefront at the city outside, which now resembled a scene from hell. Malevolent spirits roamed freely, sowing chaos. Her eye burned with unrestrained killing intent.
Although she knew she should question the mysterious being who had saved her and given her power, she had no such thoughts now. Her focus was solely on whether her newfound strength would be enough to annihilate the evil spirits plaguing the city.
"Don't doubt the power I've bestowed upon you," the voice murmured, sensing her hesitation. "It is more than sufficient to accomplish everything you desire."
Reassured, the girl stepped through the broken glass and out onto the street. She unsheathed the longsword strapped to her back.
The gleaming blade reflected the hellish cityscape before crimson-gold flames engulfed it. Intricate runes, resembling coiling serpents, danced along its surface as the sword grew larger, broader, and sharper in her hands.
"This is… the power you've given me?" she asked, watching the transformation in awe as she began walking toward the nearest spirit visible to her enhanced sight.
"Enhancing weapons is but one of its many uses. The full extent of your power goes far beyond that," the voice replied.
The dragon-like vertical pupil in her right eye swiveled, scanning the surroundings, particularly the malevolent spirits wreaking havoc. The being controlling it found something intriguing and decided to observe further to confirm his suspicions.
A deafening roar reverberated through the city, filled with a power that would terrify any ordinary mortal.
The girl followed the sound, spotting a monstrous spirit devouring a living human's life force within a partially collapsed building.
The creature's upper body was vaguely humanoid, though its features were grotesquely distorted. Beneath it lay a desiccated corpse, drained of vitality.
Sensing her presence, the spirit turned its translucent form toward her. Its hateful eyes gleamed with malice, fixated on the vibrant life force within her.
There was no hesitation in the girl's actions. Gripping her now-magnificent sword, she swung it toward the spirit.
The blade sang as it cleaved through the air, unleashing a crimson wave of flame-infused energy. The intense heat warped the air and ignited flammable debris on the ground.
Before the spirit could even scream, it was consumed by the fiery strike, its form collapsing inward before erupting into a rain of fiery embers.
"That's it?" The girl blinked, stunned by how easily she had vanquished the once-daunting spirit. "That was… too easy."
"What were you expecting?" the voice scoffed. "You carry my power. Did you think you'd struggle against something as mindless as that? If so, where would that leave my reputation?"
Reassured, the girl pressed onward, using the draconic eye's enhanced vision to locate another spirit. With every encounter, her confidence grew as she systematically eradicated the malevolent entities plaguing the city.
For Muria, who had answered her desperate plea out of boredom, this was mildly entertaining. The power he'd lent her was insignificant by his standards, yet even after being diluted during its transfer, it produced effects akin to divine intervention.
"Do you understand now how powerful the gift I've given you is?" the voice eventually asked, subtly guiding her thoughts. "You should try confronting the strongest of these spirits now."
"I know," the girl replied, her resolve unwavering. Driven by hatred, she turned toward the epicenter of the city's chaos: a towering, grotesque spirit composed of mismatched body parts crudely fused together.
Moments later.
Boom!
A blazing figure streaked through the air, crashing through several walls before slamming into a pile of rubble.
The girl, her body battered and broken, coughed painfully as she pushed debris off herself.
"You said the power you gave me was enough to beat these spirits. Then why… why did I lose?" she demanded, frustration clear in her voice.
Her arm and chest bones were fractured, her muscles torn. Yet despite the injuries, her body was already beginning to heal—a testament to the power coursing through her.
Even so, the outcome wasn't what she'd envisioned.
"I should be asking you that," Muria replied dryly. "How does someone with my power manage to lose? This is like seeing a fully geared player lose to a minion in a game. It's absurd."
"You lied to me," the girl snapped. "The power you gave me wasn't enough."
"Ridiculous. The problem isn't the power—it's you. Your combat instincts and skills are abysmal. My only mistake was overestimating your abilities."
After chastising her, Muria's tone softened, becoming almost coaxing.
"Do you want to save your city?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed without hesitation. "Will you give me more power?"
"No," Muria said, his voice turning solemn. "The power you have is sufficient. The problem is your incompetence. Hand over control of your body, and I'll fight in your place."
Having confirmed the unique nature of this world, Muria was intrigued. His main body was already working on deciphering its coordinates. This was a world worth exploring further.
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