Chapter 21 – Cave of Blood and Instinct
I suddenly heard the sound of footsteps.
Not light.
Not calm.
Dragging.
I looked toward the cave entrance.
A blood-soaked, monkey-like boy staggered inside.
For a split second, my heart skipped.
My body reacted faster than my mind.
Activate Sovereign War Art… now.
My mana stirred, ready to explode at any moment.
But then—something strange happened.
Instead of attacking, the boy walked past me and collapsed into the far corner of the cave, his back against the stone wall.
He sat there silently, breathing so hard I could hear every rasp echoing off the cave walls.
Curiosity replaced my killing intent.
I raised my hand and formed a small floating fireball. Its soft crimson light filled the cave.
The moment his face became clear—
I froze.
"…Viara."
The lunatic beastkin.
I took a proper look at him now.
He was wrecked.
His body was covered in dried blood and fresh wounds. His chest rose and fell unevenly, like a beast that had already
accepted death but refused to lie down. Every breath sounded painful, forced—like the last breaths of something refusing to
die.
This guy… shouldn't be beaten this badly.
We stared at each other in silence.
After a moment, I clicked my tongue and pulled out the remaining half of the elixir I had used earlier.
Making connections with strong characters wasn't a bad idea.
I tossed the vial toward him.
It rolled across the stone floor and stopped near his feet.
He looked at it.
Then at me.
His expression was hard to read—but there was no mistaking the shock in his eyes. Like he was staring at a ghost.
"…Why?" he finally said, voice rough.
"Why are you helping me?"
I shrugged.
"You look pathetic. I felt pity."
His aura flared for a second—pure beastly anger—but his eyes drifted back to the elixir.
"…Is this real?"
"Of course."
My blunt answer made him scowl.
He hesitated only a moment before uncorking the vial and drinking it. His body relaxed slightly as the elixir took effect,
wounds beginning to stabilize.
Then his gaze snapped back to me.
"…Do you know who I am, human?"
I leaned back against the cave wall, a smug smile forming.
"Of course. Who doesn't know Viara the Lunatic? You're pretty famous."
His eyes widened.
"You motherfucker. I'm not lunatic."
"Hah hah haaaa," I laughed.
"Anyway, why are you soaked in blood like that? Looks like someone really messed you up."
He clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. I ran into a human. Black clothes. Dead, fish-like eyes. I fought him."
His fingers clenched.
"He had the chance to kill me… but for some reason, he didn't. He just left."
So it's him.
The one who killed me in the original story.
I felt no panic.
Just cold recognition.
"Haa… so you lost," I said casually.
"Anyway, I think he'll come here soon."
Viara's head snapped up.
"How do you know?"
I pointed at his neck.
"There's a tracking mark on you."
His expression changed instantly.
The anger disappeared.
The arrogance vanished.
For the first time since he entered the cave, Viara looked afraid.
Like something unseen was already standing behind him.