Doubts

Kai perched on one of the thick, gnarled branches of the Corrupted Tree, the air around him heavy with the stench of decay and damp wood. The tree seemed alive in its ominous stillness, its bark pulsing faintly with an unnatural, sickly green glow. Though he hadn't entered its hollowed core yet, he could already feel the oppressive aura seeping from within, a constant reminder of the Catalyst waiting inside.

He clenched his claws against the branch, his thoughts a swirl of doubt and determination. Isla had assured him that the Catalyst was in a half-asleep state—vulnerable, but not defenseless. It was his best chance to strike unnoticed, and he trusted Isla's guidance. Still, the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on his shoulders.

To pull this off, Kai would have to rely entirely on the skills that made him a shadow in the dark.

On one hand, there was [Shadow Claws], a devastating ability capable of slicing through nearly anything. But its strength was directly proportional to the Monster Energy he poured into each strike. With his Silver-ranked Monster Core, managing that energy while facing a beast of this magnitude would be a delicate balancing act. Even so, Isla seemed certain he could handle it.

On the other hand, [Shadow Cloak] would allow him to become nearly invisible, a spectral presence that even the Catalyst would struggle to detect—so long as his Monster Energy held out.

Despite this, his mind was a battlefield of fears and doubts. Above all, Kai worried that the plan might fail, and if it did, there would be no second chances.

Isla, perched lightly on his shoulder, watched him with a worried expression. Her usual flippant demeanor had faded, replaced by an uncharacteristic seriousness. She couldn't stop thinking about the presence she had sensed earlier, back in the alley. It was only a matter of time before it returned, and she knew they couldn't afford to be found before they dealt with the Catalyst.

"Is your Monster Core filled up?" Isla asked, snapping Kai from his thoughts.

"Yes…" Kai's voice was flat, emotionless. "The ability from the Second Tier of the Cultivation Technique is also ready."

Isla frowned, sensing the distraction in his tone. She leaned closer, studying his expression. "Are you worried about failing?" she asked gently.

Kai inhaled deeply, then gave a slow nod, his draconic head lowering slightly. "I'd be lying if I said no."

"You won't die," Isla said firmly, her voice filled with a quiet conviction. "I'll make sure of it." In her mind, she added, Even if it's the last thing I do.

Kai turned his head slightly, surprised by the gravity of her words. Isla's usual sarcasm and playful jabs were gone, replaced by an earnest intensity. For a fleeting moment, she seemed almost… trustworthy. But her uncharacteristic seriousness only deepened his unease. If Isla was this concerned, then the danger must be even greater than he'd thought.

"Why are you talking like you'd die if something went wrong?" Kai asked with a faint chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

The question hung in the air. For a moment, Isla was silent, her wings twitching as she considered her response. Finally, she sighed.

"If I have to, I will," she said quietly. "You're the one who's truly important here. You're the only one who can achieve my Master's goal. If it comes down to it, I'll save your life over mine."

Kai blinked, taken aback by her words. He waited a few moments before speaking again, choosing his next words carefully. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Isla replied, tilting her head.

"Why are you so devoted to the God of Monsters? Why do you still follow him, even after his death? Why haven't you moved on?"

Isla didn't hesitate. "Because he saved me," she said simply. "It's the least I can do. To keep trusting and believing in him, even through death."

Kai frowned. The answer felt too clean, too rehearsed. He could sense there was more—something deeper, something she wasn't telling him. A being as powerful as Isla wouldn't cling to a cause for thousands of years without a greater reason.

"That's not what I meant," Kai pressed. "Why do you support me? Why would you go so far as to risk your life for someone like me? You could live a peaceful life, far away from all of this. So why are you still here with me?"

Isla chuckled softly, a faint sparkle of mischief returning to her eyes. She floated into Kai's line of vision, her wings glinting faintly in the tree's dim light. "Because I can't leave you," she said. "I'm bound to you. If you die, I die. Didn't I tell you that already?"

Kai's frown deepened. "Bound to me? When did that happen? Was it when I got the Mythical Evolution System?"

"Yes," Isla said with a nod. "More precisely, I'm bound to the system. But since it's tied to you, it's practically the same thing. The system can't be transferred—it's far too complex for even gods to comprehend. Only my Master truly understood it."

Before she could continue, Isla's expression changed abruptly. Her eyes widened, and she went rigid, her wings freezing mid-beat.

"Kai," she said urgently, her voice sharp. "We have to go. Now."

Kai tensed, his instincts flaring. "What? Why? What's happening?"

Isla didn't answer directly. Instead, she vanished in a flash of light, retreating into his Monster Core. Her voice echoed in his mind. "There's no time to explain. Trust me—if we don't move now, everything we've worked for will fall apart!"

Kai didn't hesitate. Trusting Isla's judgment, he sprinted down the branch, his claws scraping against the rough bark as he wove through the twisted network of branches. He slipped through a narrow crack, the oppressive energy of the tree growing thicker with every step.

Moments later, he found himself inside the hollow core of the Corrupted Tree. Darkness engulfed him completely, so dense and absolute it felt alive. The air was thick with the stench of rot and the faint hum of corrupted energy.

Here, in the heart of the tree, the fight for survival would begin.