Chapter Four

AUZLIN POV

I couldn't believe that we were being sucked into that crazy vortex, but there was no time to dwell on it. I frantically searched for Lia, my heart pounding with worry. Inside the vortex, I knew there was a chance we might end up in different places, so I had tried my best to hold on to her clothes, but the force was stronger than I had anticipated, and now she was nowhere near me.

I knew Lia was not as strong as us, and she wouldn't be able to protect herself in this strange world. Fear for her safety surged through me as I tried to remember her scent, hoping it would lead me to her. Suddenly, I caught a whiff of blood, a scent that was all too familiar to Lia. Without a second thought, I followed the general direction of the smell, which led me deeper into a dense forest.

I quickened my pace, my instincts telling me that this was indeed Lia's blood. But that wasn't the only reason for my increasing worry. As I delved further into the forest, I sensed a powerful and ominous aura emanating from the direction I was heading in. It was a formidable presence, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it posed a significant threat.

With each step, my concern for Lia intensified, and I knew I had to find her as quickly as possible. The forest seemed to stretch on endlessly, and the air grew heavier with an eerie silence. Despite my unease, I pressed on, fueled by the determination to reunite with Lia and keep her safe.

As I ventured deeper, the foliage became thicker, casting shadows over my path. My heart raced, and every rustle in the underbrush made me tense, fearing what might emerge. Still, I knew I couldn't afford to falter. I had to reach Lia before any danger befell her.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it. Why is this place restricted to flying?!" This place is dangerous. I feel the whole surroundings filled with a deadly aura. This can't do. Lia needs protection, she needs me.

I don't know why I am panicking when some part of me agrees with Bodhin. She is just a weak human. Still, I couldn't imagine losing her.

I vividly remember the day when Shikai told me to go to the human world and fetch a girl named Lia. I instantly refused. Why do I have to give such an honor to a puny human? Someone I can crush even without lifting my finger. But in the end, I reluctantly agreed because I had given my word that I would agree with any one of the requests if they helped to free me from the soul mirage where I was stuck for thousands of years. But I will never forget the day when I saw her; the moment my eyes laid on her, I felt complete. I never knew I had lost some part until I saw her. Now, I refuse to give up on her.

I may sound possessive towards her, but in the end, I am the dragon for a reason. We are possessive beings.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I almost collided with a beast. I roared. I felt a little embarrassed that I was so lost in my thoughts that I couldn't see a beast in front of me. "Auzlin, get your shit together and focus!" I told myself. As I watched with little to no guilt, the poor beast ran away after sensing my aura, leaving its meal behind. Anyways, it's not my fault that he is weak.

I was so focused on finding Lia that I haven't paid much attention to my surroundings, which I did now. I realized the forest, which had such a strong spiritual air a minute ago, now suddenly feels so weak, like someone sucked all the spiritual air from its surroundings.

"Fuck! Who is that monster doing this? Shit, I have to find Lia and get out of this hellhole before it's too late." If the situation were different, I would love to find that person and have a match. It's very rare to find a decent opponent. I am sure some powerful being is cultivating, but I am not sure if it is Mahabala or a beast.

As I move forward and forward, the smell of blood becomes more intense. After some time, I find myself standing in front of a huge cave. I am sure Lia is inside this cave.

"I hope I am not too late."

LIA POV

The pain was my first overwhelming sensation when I was violently thrown into this unknown place.

"Ah!!!"

I felt like someone was tearing my body apart. Every nerve screamed in agony, and my mind struggled to comprehend the situation. No, I can't die, I refuse to give up! But I couldn't move my body either. It was as if an invisible force held me in place, rendering me completely helpless.

I tried to concentrate on my surroundings, trying to make sense of where I was. I found myself in a dense forest, the trees towering above me, their branches stretching out like skeletal arms. The air felt heavy, and an eerie silence hung over the place, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant howl of an unknown creature.

The last shred of hope I held onto seemed to vanish in the bleakness of this desolate place. "Will I die today?" I asked myself, the fear gnawing at my heart. This was the first time in my life that I had felt so utterly hopeless. I knew I had little chance of survival in this unforgiving environment. All the emotions which I had buried for the past three days after being kidnapped now poured out. I felt a profound sense of loss and regret. I wished I could go back in time and undo everything, make different choices that would have kept me safe at home with my family.

I tried to push away the terrifying images of predators drawn to the scent of my blood, preying upon my vulnerable body. But the more I tried to deviate my thoughts, the more they plagued me. I knew my situation was dire, and there was little I could do to change it.

As I gazed up at the sky, I was surprised to find that I could directly see the planet and stars. The sky seemed different here, like a portal had opened up to another realm. Now, I wasn't as shocked or stunned as I would have been in the human world after seeing such a sight. The day I met Auzlin, from that day onwards, everything had changed, and so many unusual things had happened that now everything kind of looked normal in comparison. Even now, despite my fear and desperation, I couldn't help but find a sense of acceptance in this strange new reality.

But then, a glimmer of hope emerged amidst the darkness. "Wait a minute...." I thought to myself, my heart pounding with renewed anticipation. "Why haven't I thought of this before? Auzlin was with me when that mysterious force dragged me into this place. Where the hell is he now? Does it mean I can still survive? Has God not completely abandoned me?"

As I entertained the idea of Auzlin still being close, my eyes welled up with tears. If there was even a sliver of a chance to be saved, I clung to it with all my might. My thoughts raced, wondering how I could possibly find him in this vast and ominous forest. But I knew I had to try.

"Auzlin, please hurry up!!" I pleaded, my voice weak and desperate. It surprised me how much trust I had placed in Auzlin despite hardly knowing anything about him. But at this moment, he was my only hope.

I could feel my consciousness slipping away, and I knew that time was running out. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard a rustling sound from the left direction where I was lying. I strained to move my head in that direction to get a better look, but the excruciating pain made me give up the attempt. I could only wait and hope that Auzlin would come to my aid.

Moments later, I felt someone's warm breath on my leg. Fear gripped me as I knew it must be one of the dangerous creatures that inhabited this forest. I braced myself for the inevitable, expecting to be torn apart by the monster. But to my surprise, nothing happened. The creature seemed uninterested in me, and it slowly moved away.

I couldn't comprehend why it had spared me. Was I not even worth being monster food? The uncertainty of my fate weighed heavily on my mind.

But then, I heard a voice. "bwahaha...master, have you seen that now?? Mother of hell! I can't even control my laughter! Shit, the show was almost going at a good pace. Anyways, this was interesting too." The voice seemed amused, and it irritated me to no end. I couldn't see the speaker, but I knew they were mocking me, and I felt a surge of anger rise within me.

"FUCK YOU!" I muttered under my breath, my frustration and helplessness boiling over. I didn't know who this person was or what they wanted with me, but I couldn't stand their taunting.

In that moment, I clung to the hope that Auzlin would come soon and rescue me from this nightmare. But as time passed, my hope began to waver, and a sense of despair settled in once again.