Underneath

The creature from underwater slipped its tentacle back into water dragging dirt, and cracked stones.

Gio is clenching his fist not taking his eyes off the ground. He can't move recklessly until he knows Kali's condition. When the tentacle finally went back to the water Kali's body came to view. Kali's body is lying, not moving with her face down on the ground. Her leg is bent in a direction which it wasn't supposed to be. Gio bit his lips and his heart beats violently at the gruesome scene.

"HEALERS!!!! GET READY!!" Theo shouted.

Kali was squashed like a fly. Her blood was splattered everywhere.

Theo starts to lose control of his mana seeing Kali is not moving. They can't come to her. Rushing to her might trigger another attack and they can't just recklessly scoop her body away especially with that kind of injury.

'She is still alive. ' Gio is gritting his molars.

'She is tougher than she looks. She is definitely alive.'

Theo put his hands on the trembling shoulders of Gio or was it Theo's hand that was trembling. They can't tell anymore.

They are both looking for signs of life but they fail. She is not moving and breathing. Theo and Gio, who activated their detection range, know it but refuse to believe it.

'She is still not breathing.'

'Brother.' Gio deactivated his detection and removed his cloak and showed his arms filled with black ink patterned lines and shapes. Theo also removed his but unlike Gio, Theo's tattoo is just on one side of his body extending to his neck up to his cheeks and temple.

"I will distract it. You handle Kali."

"Understood."

Theo positioned himself on the other side of the lake far away from Kali. The creature didn't hesitate to show itself for the second time and attack him. Theo opened the subspace in a split second and counter the attack but due to its amount of mana clashing a gust of wind hit everyone in the area.

'She got hit with this strength.' He bit his molars as his sword almost flew away from his hands. Mana sparks begin to appear and violently dance around as Theo blocks and dodge the giant tentacle.

Gio lightning flash appeared at Kali's side. As he scans her injuries overall. His heart sank. He doesn't want to admit it but she looks dead. Some bones are sticking out, not only her leg is clearly dislocated seeing up close her arms were also crushed and her head is . . . her head is squashed. Even in this kind of condition Gio grabbed her wrist carefully and felt for her pulse in her wrist. Her body feels like a wilt vegetable and anytime now she will turn to dust.

'...!'

"GIO!!!!!!!!!!" Theo shouted. Gio saw the incoming attack from the tentacle. He activated his mana wall and Theo arrived to assist the invisible mana wall.

"What are you still doing? Take her away." Theo grinds his teeth at the monstrous strength he is suppressing.

"No pulse." Gio said in a very loud voice.

*Crack*

The mana wall was destroyed.

"ARGH!!"

"GIO SNAP---- of" Something hit Theo's stomach forcing him to be pushed back. When he finally got back his balance, Gio has been hit hard in the head, his cheeks are swollen red and drop of bloods slides from his face and just like Theo he was pushed back too.

Everyone looked at the lake in horror. The situation turned worse. The monstrous tentacle multiplied. There are three of them swinging in the air.

Theo and Gio's eyes became dark as they thought.

'This is the worst'

'Dammit.'

Two of the three tentacles begin to submerge in the water but something unexpected happen.One of the submerging tentacles drag Kali's body.

"?!!" Gio lost his composure and rushed towards Kali. He failed to react on time to avoid the tentacle's incoming attack. Just when he is about to get hit, Theo's sword clashes with the tentacle redirecting by a slight margin. He grabbed Gio and retreated.

They watch Kali's body disappear in the lake. Everyone lost air in their lungs.

Gio glaring at the calm waters of the lake for hours, until the moon reflected on it. The atmosphere is scarier around him than the forest full of monsters.

Nobody is breathing a word. Theo is giving commands but he will look at the lake from time to time with very dangerous eyes.

Two days had passed but Gio refused to look away from the lake.

"Gio, It's time to go." Hardened voice of Theo doesn't sound convincing at all.

". . ."

The knight whom Kali saved has yet to wake up. It turns out that Kali's punch dislocated some of his ribs and caused internal bleeding.

Gio refuses to believe she is gone and his rational mind is contradicting his hopes. Even if she survived the attack, two full days had passed after she was taken underwater. That water is an unnatural mana, that could be good or bad.

"She was fine after taking it. . . " he mumbled as he tried to convince himself Kali's body could take the mythical beast's unnatural mana.

"Gio. . ." Theo softly called his brother's name.

Gio bit his lips as pulled his hood down to cover his shadowed eyes. He stood up and walked towards his horse. He saw a space between his arms, now he will return riding his horse alone.

****

The lake in the middle of the forest reflected the orange sky as the sun set. Bubbles are forming until an arm finally emerges from the water. The hand grabs the ground and pulls itself up.

Kali emerged from the lake after 3 days. She crawled to the land and coughed water. She let herself fall and land on her back facing the reddish orange sky.

*cough *cough

"I told you I could barely protect myself. . ." She cursed out loud and glared at the innocent sky. Drenched Kali takes her time staring at the sky before she decides to stand up.

"I will not do that again." She stretched her arms and legs before turning to the lake.

"Is there any chance you might have my weapon. . . ummm It's a spear with---"

Slowly her hunting spear reappeared in the lake and the water pushed it back to her.

"Thanks." She smiled as reach for it.

"I'll be going now. I'll see you later."

Kali begins to march towards the forest, leaving the peaceful lake. The sun had set and more darkness filled her surroundings.

*Ting*

~Skill: Beginner's Luck evolved~

[New Skill Acquired: "Divine Luck Lv. 1"]

She waves the floating systems to close like the notification is nothing big deal.

"Thanks again " She whispered as her eyes glowed gold after her surroundings became dark.

[Requirements has been met]

[Activating 'Moonlight Effect']

[Messenger Anklet ]

[Switching Title : 'The Hundred Mutant Hunter']

Hundreds of eyes glow inside the forest and she begins smiling as she welcomes the monsters surrounding her.

****

The news of Count's daughter didn't coming back with her brothers threw the whole mansion upside down. Based on the dreadful looks of the knights and the scary faces of the young masters something really bad happened.

The knight who was saved by Kali woke up after 4 days of coma. His first question was "The young master? How is Master Kali?" His fellow knights who had serious faces looked at him and said "Master Kali died in action." It took him several seconds before the words registered in his brain. He burst into tears while his fellow knights just watched him.

Some servants passing by the ward heard the wounded knight cry while his companions just watched him with a depressing expression. The servants talked about it and created their own speculations.

'Is it true? Master Kali died?' One servant asked one of the knights of the 2nd Division.

". . ."

"Why? How?"

". . ."

Nobody from the Second Division opened their mouths. Witnessing the death of their Master is not an easy feat for Knights. They were supposed to protect her.

A special task force mobilizing the first division was formed 3 days after Theo and Gio returned with the News. Konrad and his sons will be joining the 'Retrieval Mission'

There are more than 100 soldiers going inside the forest. The fact that Konrad, the count, and his sons are going in made an uproar in the territory which created more and more speculation.

'What is going on?'

'Didn't you hear? They said they found treasures and they're on their way to get it.'

'Ohh that is great. Do--'

'Treasure? Why does it look like they are going to war?'

All the hundred soldiers are well equipped and tough looking. They are the proud division, Division who directly report to the Count.

'There will be no monster invasion right?'

' Hahahahaha! Of course not. you know that there will be an evacuation notice when that happens!'

"Past you know, I did some delivery to the Mansion yesterday and somehow the mood is a little off---."

'Did you ask what is happening?'

"I heard some say. . . "

The guards opened the gates and their mission began.

The retrieval party barely made any rest. They reached Level 4 in 1 and half days.

It was unusually quiet for them since they only spotted 4 monsters since they entered the forest. As they got closer to the lake hundreds of rotting dead monsters welcomed them.

Monsters corpses tend to rot faster and the rotting smell is stomach clenching foul.

"Father!" Theo, who found this situation abnormal, spoke first.

"You didn't do this?" Konrad, who is covering his nose, looks around.

"No"

When the monsters die, they rot fast and become part of the forest in a matter of a few days. It is almost impossible to tell how the monsters die because of the rotting flesh and disfigured bodies.

"It's her. This can only be her work." Gio galloped from the back of the formation and joined their conversation.

A déjà vu feeling creeped in. It is unbelievable to think and yet a large part of them believe it is the work of someone they know. Aside from them, they only know one person who can do this much damage and she is currently inside the forest.

"Let's go get her." Konrad looked ahead. The situation doesn't make sense but Kali is full of surprises.

The hike to the lake became impossible for horses to enter due to thick poison produced by decaying bodies.

There are no traces of her around the lake. Only a handful of knights were left to protect the horse; the rest were mobilized to find Kali. Gio who is looking at the lake clench his molars as he remember Kali's body being dragged. The lake produces an ominous aura when Gio tries to use his detection mana. Its blocking his mana out. A mythical beast is something he cannot face alone even if it is only a part of it.

*rustle* rustle*

Konrad and Gio heard the rustling sound beyond the lake. Currently their knights are scattered around. They look at the direction of the rustling sound.

"It's coming." Konrad and Gio pull out their swords. Their mana detection was once again deflected by the mythical beast.

The sound was coming across the lake. The rustling sound is becoming stronger as it comes closer. It was a slow approach and there was a faint dragging sound too. Theo appeared beside Konrad with his sword pulled out. Several knights who sense it stand guard and pull out their weapons.

A small figure emerges from the bushes. The tattered black clothes even from afar are still distinguishable with black hair pulled in a messy ponytail.

"Huh?" She froze at spot seeing multiple people from the other side. She squinted her eyes and saw familiar clothes and a set of silver hair that stands out.

"Your Grace? ---" She mumbled.

"That's impossible." Gio muttered.

"KALI!!! Stay there, we will get you." Theo shouted.

"They are here too?" With Theo's dark gray hair and Gio's silver hair being covered she didn't notice them right away.

Knights were shocked to see the reported dead young master from the other side of the lake and even more dumbfounded to see the barely talking Young master Gio, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Assuming that the other side of the lake is Level 5. The Alexanders haven't found the entrance to Level 5 since each level, only certain paths can be passed by humans. The lake is an example of an impassable border. Even going around it may expose you to dangerous situations like sudden increase in poisonous air, cliffs or anything that might result in death to humans. This is one of reasons why it takes an incredible number of time and resources to navigate around monster territories.

"Get ready---" Konrad didn't waste any time. The lake is large and they can't waste time looking for the Level 5 entrance.

Kali, who walked without worry, made the knights shout at her.

"Young master!! please stop!"

"Be careful!!"

Kali frowned and angrily shouted back "DON'T FREAKING MOVE AN INCH!!"

'I am not saving anyone's ass again!'

After a few more steps forward it was revealed that she is dragging something huge behind her. It's pitch black color and horns are at least a meter in length.

Konrad who saw it widened his eyes and he finally let out a small chuckle.

She dragged the hunted monster out in the open. She walked to the lake while dragging it behind her. The knights were nervous at each step she took and they looked at the count or young master for orders but to their surprise no one said a word which made no sense to the knights who were brief not to get close to the lake because of the dangerous monster there.

*splash

Kali throws the hunted monster to the lake and it slowly submerges in the water. She dust off her hands before she walks around the lake.

She safely passes the lake and meets her adopted family.

"I thought I had to wait for another month."

". . ."

". . ."

". . ."

"..?"

Gio stepped forward and forced her head from one side to the other side. It surprised her and tried to struggle but Gio put in more strength. Gio continues to inspect her body. The leg that was bent in wrong direction the burst opened elbow, her squashed head are all healed

"What the hell!" He whispered with wide eyes open.

Theo and Konrad gave a small smile. She is really alive.

'But how?'