Deadly Companion

The man walked slowly around the cave, his eyes scanning the walls as his fingers traced the jagged surface. Kaz stood there, muscles tense, ready for a fight that never came. The silence hung heavily between them, thick with anticipation. The man didn't even glance in his direction, his focus entirely on the cavern around him, as if Kaz was nothing more than a passing shadow.

Every second felt like an eternity. Kaz's grip tightened around his weapon, his heart racing in the stillness. His patience began to fray, the silence mocking him, daring him to make the first move.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the man spoke, his voice low and measured.

His voice was arrogant and cold, cutting through the silence. "Leave this place."

Kaz's blood boiled. The nerve of this guy—he just waltzes into his cave, all high and mighty, and expects him to walk away? Kaz was no one's subordinate. No one told him where to go, especially not some stranger who had the audacity to act like the boss.

But then the reality of the situation hit him. This man had destroyed seven Regent Scorpions by himself—Aberration ranked ones, no less. And here he was, a mere Novice, standing face to face with someone that powerful.

Kaz clenched his fists, irritation bubbling up. No, he wouldn't back down. But he couldn't deny the respect that crept into his thoughts. That was an accomplishment. Maybe not enough to make him bow down, but... damn, it was impressive.

"Hell no!" Kaz protested, his voice filled with defiance.

the man gaze hardened, a sharp glare fixed on Kaz.

"I'm letting you live because you're human," he stated, his tone cold and unwavering. "Don't push it."

Kaz didn't care. He would rather die than give up the only safe space he had in this forsaken world.

"Look, I was here first, and quite frankly, I've been through hell. I'm not leaving the safety of this cave just because you think you're one of those Rift beasts."

For a moment, theman glare remained, but then, like a storm breaking, it vanished. His expression shifted, replaced by something far more intense—determination.

"I'll kill you then." The threat was clear, his voice steady and chilling. the Man unsheathed his sword, its metallic red gleaming with an ominous sheen—a symbol of death.

But Kaz didn't flinch. He wouldn't back down. Not now. Not after everything he had fought for. With a defiant breath, he raised his bone weapon, the jagged edges catching the dim light of the cave.

He was ready to fight until the very end.

With a fluid motion, he sheathed his sword, the sound of steel sliding into leather echoing in the cave.

"Let's make a deal," he said, his tone shifting—no longer a threat, but something more measured, almost calculating.

Kaz lowered his bone makeshift weapon slightly, still cautious. The tension in the air hadn't dissipated, but he wasn't about to let his guard completely slip.

"What?" Kaz's voice was sharp, demanding answers.

The man's voice was calm, too calm—almost unnervingly so. It was as if he didn't even consider Kaz a threat anymore… or perhaps, he never had.

"Help me find the creature with the lineage stone. The odds are, if it has one, it might have the other."

Kaz furrowed his brow, scepticism written all over his face. "You were just about to kill me, and I don't know what that was."

The man stared at Kaz, blinking in disbelief, before bursting into laughter—a sound that reverberated off the cave walls.

"This is why I don't even think you're a threat to me," the man chuckled, shaking his head. "Your stance is down. Just from a few words from me."

Kaz's jaw tightened, but the man continued without waiting for him to respond.

"And to answer your question, a lineage stone will help you leave this place. Your trait might even transform."

Kaz couldn't help the irritation that flared within him. The fact that the man didn't even consider him a threat stung. But oddly, it also brought a sense of relief. At least he wasn't an immediate target, for now.

Kaz didn't have much to say in response. His pride made him want to argue, but deep down, he knew it wouldn't matter. the could end him in a heartbeat. So, reluctantly, he nodded in agreement. There wasn't much choice in the matter.

The man extended his hand for a handshake, his arrogant smile barely hiding his confidence. "My name is Ryuma."

Kaz paused for a moment, irritation bubbling up, but he didn't back down. He reached out, his own hand firm but with a slight protest in the motion. "Fine. My name is Kazeem. Just call me Kaz."

Ryuma rummaged through his belongings, pulling out a few items, including a box of matches. Without saying a word, he left the cave for a brief moment, only to return carrying the corpse of one of the Regent Scorpions. His eyes scanned the ground, and he pointed to the moss.

"Some of the laws of earth don't apply here," Ryuma explained. "The moss on the ground will catch fire, but it won't turn to ash. The fire will be almost... eternal, in a sense. Can you grab some of that?"

Kaz stood there, confused. What was Ryuma planning? He couldn't help but watch, skeptical, as Ryuma began to prepare the scorpion.

To Kaz's surprise, Ryuma started cooking the creature, its exoskeleton crackling as the fire didn't consume it in the usual way.

Ryuma then tore one of the scorpion's legs off with ease, the motion smooth and practiced. He ripped the tough exoskeleton off the Rift Beast's leg, peeling it like a banana. As the skin came away, it revealed perfectly cooked meat beneath, tender and succulent. The flesh had a pale, almost white color, and it looked startlingly like chicken.

Kaz stared at it, wide-eyed. The fire hadn't even touched it like he expected, and yet here it was—cooked and ready to eat.

Ryuma looked at Kaz, his gaze sharp. "What are you waiting for?"

Kaz blinked, the question pulling him from his thoughts. For some reason, a strange sense of calm washed over him, as if the tension that had been building inside him had finally loosened.

He stood there for a moment, unsure why, but a part of him felt like, just for now, he could relax.

But Kaz would always have something to worry about. Little did he and his new companion know, the Desert Queen was currently swimming through the water, her sleek form gliding just beneath the surface, eyes locked onto the cave entrance. The calm, for now, was only temporary.