Chapter 23: Moment of Respite [I]

"Follow after me," I said, my tone flat as I stepped toward the cliff's edge.

Julie's shocked gasp barely registered as I leapt off, the wind rushing past me. The ground approached fast, but I landed with a practiced roll, the demon sword already in my grip.

The weapon pulsed, almost alive, as if anticipating the carnage. I didn't hesitate.

With a single swing, the blade tore through the nearest creature, its molten edge cleaving flesh and bone with ease.

A second swing followed, then a third.

Each arc of the sword carved through the horde, taking lives in droves.

The monsters roared and surged toward me, but they were no match for the sword's unnatural power.

Every strike sent bursts of dark energy rippling outward, cutting down several at once. Blood sprayed, staining the greenery red, and yet I kept swinging, mechanical and precise.

Above me, Julie hovered on her staff, her expression torn between awe and disbelief.

"You're insane!" she yelled, though her voice was barely audible over the chaos. I didn't respond. There was no need to. This was just another task, another way forward.

"Julie," I called out, my voice cold. "If you're not going to fight, at least make yourself useful. Keep the stragglers off me."

She nodded, snapping out of her daze, and began hurling fireballs and bolts of energy from above.

The two monsters finally noticed me, their primal instincts flaring. One charged straight at me, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. The other spread its massive wings and took to the sky, targeting Julie.

The winged beast closed in on her, claws extended, but before it could strike, I was already there. "Instant teleportation," I muttered, appearing behind the airborne monster in the blink of an eye.

Julie was frozen, her eyes wide with shock, unable to react. Without hesitation, I drove the demon sword into the creature's chest and twisted, its dark energy tearing through its insides.

With a single, fluid motion, I swung the blade again, severing its head clean off.

The body plummeted to the ground, lifeless. Meanwhile, the charging monster skidded to a halt, confused, its eyes scanning for me. Before it could react, I descended, landing squarely on its back.

The creature thrashed wildly, but it was too late. The demon sword tore through its thick hide, carving deep into its spine. With a final, agonized roar, it collapsed beneath me. With the two leaders dispatched, the horde's morale crumbled.

The sword hummed in my hands, resonating with my movements as if it had been made for me. The horde's numbers dwindled, their once-overwhelming mass reduced to scattered groups.

The horde was vast, but their disorganized charge made them easy targets. One by one, they fell, their roars fading into the wind. All that mattered now was leveling up- and surviving.

It took nearly 10 hours of relentless fighting before the surviving monsters scattered in fear, their numbers reduced to nothing.

Julie floated down, her staff trembling in her hand. Her expression was a mix of awe and disbelief. "How... how are you so strong?" she stammered. "You were struggling against Clark Ball and the others not that long ago!" I smirked, wiping the blood off the sword.

"It was a plot," I said casually, sheathing the weapon. "To let their guard down. But you..." I glanced at her, my tone sharpening. "You took me by surprise." i turned around and praised her, "I didn't expect much from you, but you managed to keep up."

Julie opened her mouth to respond but quickly closed it, her face flushed. She looked away, muttering something under her breath. For now, the horde was dealt with. But this was just the beginning.

*****

We made our way back from the battlefield, the air heavy with the stench of blood and decay. Unlike the stories I'd heard, the monsters in this tower left behind no loot. Their massive carcasses simply rotted away, dissolving into nothingness within minutes.

All I gained from the fight were experience points. By the time we reached the outskirts of the forest, I had already hit level 20.

"Stats," I murmured, and the familiar screen materialized before my eyes.

[Stats page ]

Level: 20 [ Maxed]

Strength: 40

Agility: 58 (+18)

Intelligence: 65 (+25)

Vitality: 70

Mana: 6,500

Endurance: 50

Free stats points: 37

Julie watched me intently, her curiosity evident. "What's it like, hitting the level cap here?" she asked, her voice tinged with envy.

I closed the screen, not bothering to answer. The truth was, I felt no thrill or accomplishment. It was just another meaningless milestone in this endless climb.

Julie sighed and looked ahead. "Despite all these carcasses, not a single loot can be obtained." she grumbled, gripping her staff tightly.

I nodded in agreement, though I didn't say it aloud. While the experience points were useful, the lack of material gain made this whole endeavor feel hollow.

"Let's just get back to town," I said flatly. "There's nothing left here."

Julie followed in silence, occasionally glancing at me as if trying to decipher my thoughts. But I kept my focus ahead, the next step being finding the gate to the next floor.

We made our way back to town, the silence between us an unspoken agreement to recover from the grueling battle. Once we reached the inn, we booked the same room as before and decided to rest for the day.

Julie seemed unusually quiet, though her occasional glances at me betrayed her restless nature. For a moment, I thought she might actually restrain herself from indulging in her usual antics. She hadn't mentioned anything about bringing anyone over, and I assumed the exhaustion had finally gotten to her.

But, of course, I was wrong.

That night, as I returned to our room after a walk around the town, I found Julie sitting in the common area with two men. They were burly, loud, and seemed to be vying for her attention, their laughter echoing through the hall. Julie spotted me and waved enthusiastically.

"Lira!" she called out, a sly grin playing on her lips. "Come meet Marc and Bruno. They're... delightful company."

I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe. "Julie, really?"

She pouted. "What? I've been good all day! Besides, they're harmless."

Marc and Bruno gave me sheepish smiles, but I wasn't in the mood to humor them. I sighed, turning on my heel. "Just keep it down. I'd like at least one night of peace."

"Don't worry," Julie chimed, her voice teasing. "It'll be over before you know it."

I didn't even want to know what she meant by that.