The night wind howled across the stony cliffs, carrying the smell of dust and the faint metallic scent of battle. The ground still trembled from the clash of the two monstrous beasts: the giant black tortoise and the colossal crab, their roars echoing like thunder.
Lisa stood frozen for a moment, her eyes wide and chest rising rapidly. "RYLAN… what in the world are those?" she finally asked, her voice trembling.
Rylan, who had just caught her in time before the shockwave sent her rolling down the slope, let out a long breath. His expression, however, remained calm—far calmer than the situation warranted.
"Those," he said slowly, "are Earth-level beasts."
Lisa's face paled. "Earth-level? What does that even mean? It sounds extremely dangerous."
Rylan nodded. "Beasts in this world are divided into five great realms: Spirit, Earth, Sky, Nether, and Heaven. Each realm is divided further into five stages—Infant, Early, Intermediate, Late, and Peak."
He pointed his chin toward the two monsters still locked in a destructive struggle. "Those two are merely Earth-level infants. Strictly speaking… they have yet to truly reach the Earth level."
Lisa's jaw dropped. "Those things aren't even Earth-level yet? And they can destroy a town?!"
"Correct," he answered calmly, as if describing something as simple as the weather.
Lisa's eyes widened even further. "Are you sure we're safe?"
Rylan gave her a small, almost arrogant smile. "Rest assured. I can kill both easily. And… tonight, we shall have them for dinner."
Lisa blinked. "…You want to eat that giant crab?"
Rylan nodded seriously. "It is delicious. The shell is thick but the meat is soft."
She stared at him speechlessly. Meanwhile, the system floated invisible before her eyes, flashing text she wished she could punch.
> [Host, your man is showing off. Perhaps you should earn favorability points before he becomes too strong for you to handle.]
Lisa clenched her jaw. "Shut up, System," she muttered under her breath.
Rylan, hearing her mumbling, tilted his head but didn't question it. Instead, he raised his right hand. A faint earth-yellow glow flashed across his fingers—and suddenly a massive ebony spear tore through the air, materializing directly into his grip.
Lisa's eyes went round as saucers. "How did you do that?! Where did that come from?"
Rylan lifted the spear, testing its weight, the moonlight glinting off the sharp tip. "All totem warriors of our tribe have a spatial bag granted by the Great Mage. It allows us to store our chosen weapon. Only those recognized by the tribe's totem may use it."
Lisa stared in admiration—and envy. "My system didn't even give me a stick…"
> [System: Host, your words wound me. I am extremely generous.]
Lisa sneered. "Generous? You didn't even give me toothpaste."
> [System: Host, your hygiene habits are irrelevant to survival.]
She nearly spat blood.
Rylan, meanwhile, was observing the battlefield. "Stay here. I will deal with them quickly."
He stepped forward.
The moment his foot touched the ground, the soil cracked. His figure blurred—vanishing into the night wind like a streak of lightning.
Lisa gasped. "So fast!"
The spear whistled through the air with a sharp, piercing cry. Rylan's movements were like flowing water—elegant yet deadly. He leaped atop the tortoise's shell, kicked off, and narrowly dodged the scalding fire beam that blasted from its ancient jaws.
Lisa felt heat wash over her face. "That was dangerous!"
Rylan's expression didn't change; he spun midair, the spear descending in a clean arc that carved a glowing trail through the night.
The crab monster snapped its giant pincer toward him—only for him to sweep his spear across its joint, severing the limb in a burst of blood and steam. The crab shrieked, staggering backward.
Lisa swallowed. "He's… he's insane. He's really going to kill them both alone."
> [System: Host, perhaps you should consider seducing him before he becomes too valuable.]
Lisa's face heated. "Shut up! I'm watching a life-and-death battle!"
> [System: And I'm watching your romance points stagnate.]
She wanted to punch something.
Meanwhile, Rylan landed lightly on a boulder, dust swirling around him. The tortoise snapped its massive jaws, spitting a flame that crackled across the ground. Rylan lifted his hand; a faint earth-brown aura rippled outward, forming a protective barrier.
Lisa watched, mesmerized. "So that's the power of the Earth Totem…"
The system suddenly chimed again.
> [Host, you also have an innate ability.]
Lisa froze mid-breath. "I do?! Finally!"
Her heart pounded as excitement surged through her.
"What ability? Tell me quickly!"
The system paused dramatically.
> […It has not awakened yet.]
Lisa felt the urge to throw something. "Then why tell me now?!"
> [System: Motivation.]
[Host is lazy without pressure.]
"Lazy?! I'm being attacked by giant monsters!" Lisa snapped.
> [System: And yet, you are still not training.]
She nearly choked in anger.
Meanwhile, Rylan had stabbed his spear directly into the crab's carapace. With one forceful twist, the creature collapsed, its shrill cry echoing before silencing forever. The tortoise, sensing danger, tried to retreat—but Rylan flashed behind it, driving the spear into the weak point beneath its shell.
The earth trembled as both beasts fell.
Rylan exhaled softly, withdrawing his spear. "It is done."
Lisa stood up quickly, heart racing. Her gaze followed him as he walked toward her, his hair slightly tousled, face dust-streaked, but eyes calm and steady. The heat rising in her chest had nothing to do with the fire blast earlier.
Rylan looked at her, a faint smile curving his lips. "Did I frighten you?"
Lisa quickly shook her head. "No, just… impressed."
He chuckled softly. "Good. There is no need to fear as long as I am here."
> [System: Host's heart rate is increasing. Favorability potential rising.]
Lisa's ears turned red. "Shut up."
Rylan stepped close enough that she could smell the faint earthy scent lingering on him. His voice dropped slightly, warm in the night breeze. "Come. Let's prepare the camp. We will feast well tonight."
Lisa felt her heart thump hard against her ribs.
The night, danger, and battle heat made everything feel strangely intimate.
And somewhere deep within her, a sleeping power stirred faintly—still dormant, but no longer silent.
The system glowed.
> [Host's awakening rate: O.1%.]
A new storm was slowly forming.