His Consciousness

Five more Ghouls suddenly emerged from the gloom of the forest and surrounded Liam and the boy. Liam immediately positioned the kid behind him and engaged the two Ghouls advancing toward them with their sharp nails. Amidst his offensive maneuvers with the sword, Liam sensed a distinct power—a faint yet unmistakable presence, unlike anything he'd felt before. It was as though his body responded to its call, drawing him toward whoever had conjured that energy.

This sudden distraction caused Liam to overlook the increasing numbers of Ghouls. More than ten now encircled them, some airborne with veiny wings. Glancing over his shoulder to ensure the kid's safety, Liam found him fear-stricken yet composed, closely assessing the unfolding chaos.

"Are these your Ghouls?" Liam inquired, angling his sword to ward off a Ghoul's wing from slicing his exposed arm.

"No," the boy whispered, shaking his head firmly.

As one Ghoul attempted to seize the boy, Liam's swift kick thwarted its grasp, followed by a barrage of ice spikes that pierced its body. Fortunately, a nearby narrow canal proved useful despite its murky, green waters—Liam dispatched the Ghoul with it.

Seizing one Ghoul by the head, Liam swiftly broke its neck, while another succumbed to an elbow strike to its jaw, rendering it unconscious before a final blow ended its life.

"Aiden!" The urgent voice pierced the chaos, prompting both the kid and Liam to turn towards its source. A woman in a tattered dress sprinted through the forest, her bare feet leaving prints of desperation on the forest floor, fear tarnishing her otherwise flawless features.

Sensing her presence, more Ghouls diverted their attention and surged towards her. Wide-eyed, she darted, not away from danger but toward them, a move that puzzled Liam momentarily.

Observing her closely, Liam noticed her evasion tactics against the pursuing Ghouls. It was clear she lacked combat skills. She neither attacked nor defended herself, indicating her unfamiliarity with such situations.

With a fluid motion, Liam tossed aside his hood, gripped his sword, and swiftly dispatched the advancing Ghouls. One received a bone-shattering kick, its agonized cries echoing through the forest, while another met its end with a precise strike to the heart through its veiny wings.

Refraining from conjuring more ice spikes for fear of inadvertently harming the frantic lady, Liam focused on swiftly dispatching the Ghouls around him. In less than a minute, their bodies littered the ground, save for the four still tailing the lady in her erratic attempts to evade them.

I swiftly darted towards the lady, seizing the Ghoul that had ensnared her hair by the neck. With a forceful twist, Liam snapped its neck and unleashed a powerful kick that sent its companions flying. The sound of bones shattering echoed through the previously silent forest, emphasizing the intensity of the moment.

Amidst the chaos, a distinct fragrance assaulted Liam's senses, a delightful scent reminiscent of fresh flowers. He traced its origin, momentarily captivated by its allure. The lady, now on the ground and rising despite bleeding knees against the sharp terrain, drew Liam's attention back.

As Liam scanned the area, the sweet aroma lingered, distracting him until a Ghoul seized the lady's arm and tore her away. Her body crumpled amidst the nearby foliage, leaves rustling with her fall, amplifying the fear tightening within Liam.

Reacting instinctively, Liam swiftly dispatched the offending Ghoul, then leaped towards the fallen lady. However, by the time his eyes found her, she was already beside the kid, locked in a passionate and intimate embrace. Despite Liam's proximity, he found himself drawn in by the lingering fragrance of the lady.

Liam found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her slender figure. The lady appeared petite, her frame delicate and short, almost childlike in Liam's eyes, even younger than Hiyasmin. Her dark, long, curly hair mirrored the hue of the boy she was currently embracing, both engulfed in sorrowful sobs.

Upon sensing Liam's presence, the lady's eyes immediately met his, filled with a lingering fear that added depth to their dark blue depths, tinged slightly with green, akin to gazing into the abyss of the sea.

Before Liam could take a step towards her, her expression shifted. Fear dissolved into anger, transforming her demeanor.

Without warning, she launched herself at Liam. Caught off guard, he couldn't react or defend himself in time. Her forceful shove propelled him backward, his head colliding with a protruding rock nearby. As she loomed over him, her soft hands tightened around his neck in a choking grip.

Rather than frustration or anger, an unexpected calm washed over Liam, his mind filling with vivid memories of her amidst the blood from her minor wounds.

Fascination mingled with anger in her blue-green eyes, creating a captivating yet intense gaze.

As Liam recognized the conflicting thoughts swirling within him, he took swift action. Seizing her wrist, he maneuvered her beneath him in a single fluid motion, assuming a position of control. Restraining her kicking legs with his own, Liam pinned her hands above her head, ensuring she couldn't continue choking him.

A surge of adrenaline pulsed through Liam as he met her gaze with darkened eyes, a silent warning of his dominance. However, his resolve faltered as he observed the lady's desperate panting, her fear and panic now evident, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Before Liam could react further, she unleashed a piercing scream, thick with pain, coinciding with a sudden agony that engulfed him entirely. Darkness swiftly closed in, enveloping his consciousness before he could even process what was happening.