Chapter 6: Minotaur’s Wrath

Rua could feel the suffocating killing intent radiating from the demonic minotaur as it slowly regenerated. Nearby, the princess trembled, trapped in a nightmare of her own—her mind reliving the horrors of her abduction and captivity. Fear consumed her, paralyzing her body, rendering her helpless.

"No, no, please save me!" she whimpered, her voice fraught with terror.

The Knight Commander stood silent, understanding the depths of her trauma. He did not scold her—for how could he, when he himself was overwhelmed by the weight of it all? He wanted to move, to act, but his body refused to obey, as if drained by the sheer force of the princess's fear.

Just as despair threatened to take hold, Rua launched herself toward the demonic minotaur with shocking speed.

"Child, no! Don't do it!" the Knight Commander gasped, struggling to breathe. His eyes widened in disbelief. "That monster is far too strong—you must run!"

But Rua ignored him, her gaze locked onto the regenerating beast. Though the air was thick with killing intent, she remained conscious, her strange physique adapting with alarming efficiency.

"Strange," she thought, her mind racing. "Before, its aura was overwhelming… but now, it's not as oppressive."

She pondered the shift for a moment before realization struck. "Is my body adapting? Does it adjust to threats this quickly?"

Rua's blade slashed at the minotaur's body, but her strikes barely left a mark. Its hide was unnaturally tough, resisting each attack with ease.

"Tch! What is this skin made of?" Rua muttered in frustration, her brows furrowing.

But then, the minotaur's regeneration accelerated, and a surge of energy erupted from its form, sending Rua stumbling backward.

"So this is the power of mana?" she murmured in awe, having never witnessed its capabilities firsthand.

Minutes passed, and Rua ceased her assault, realizing it was futile—the minotaur had fully regenerated.

"Ugh… That actually hurt," the minotaur growled, glaring at the Knight Commander. "You forced me to use 80% of my power. This time, I'll crush you."

Rua, still concealed, watched as the minotaur suddenly turned its gaze toward her.

"Huh? What's this? An insect?" the minotaur scoffed before narrowing its glowing red eyes in intrigue. "No… You have no mana."

Rua stiffened. "How do you know?"

The minotaur chuckled, the deep rumble of his laughter sending chills down her spine. "Hah! Do you even understand how mana works, girl? Anyone who wields mana can sense other living beings. The stronger the mana capacity, the sharper the perception. But you… You have none at all. Not even a trace. How utterly fascinating."

Rua's mind raced. So that's how they track people… I've severely underestimated the power of mana.

Then, something odd happened—the minotaur turned away from her.

"Why is he ignoring me?" Rua muttered. Is it because I'm weaker than an insect in his eyes?

Realizing her mission was complete, she turned to leave. "I confirmed Uncle Leo is alive. There's no reason for me to stay here any longer."

As she left the battlefield, she remained oblivious to a pair of eyes watching her from above.

"Interesting," a woman mused from the sky, her voice tinged with amusement. "Moments ago, she was fierce, yet the moment she confirmed her loved ones' safety, she left without hesitation. No effort to rescue the others. What an unusual mortal."

The woman, an ethereal figure with emerald-green hair and a flowing blue dress adorned with dragon motifs, observed Rua for a moment longer before vanishing into thin air.

Rua, sensing the oppressive presence from earlier had disappeared, felt a strange relief. She no longer had to evade it. Without a second glance, she continued her journey out of the forest.

Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, the minotaur's fury had not waned. With cruel delight, he resumed torturing the Knight Commander. The princess, still frozen with fear, remained silent, tears streaking her face.

"Hahaha, I'm full already," the demonic minotaur mocked, savoring the suffering before him. But his amusement was abruptly cut short.

"Enough, Udderus."

The voice was cold, commanding—enough to make the towering beast stiffen.

A woman stepped forward, her yellow eyes exuding an overwhelming pressure. The moment her power flared, the minotaur collapsed, pinned beneath an invisible force.

"M-Miss Sylthara… The Leaf Scale Dragon?" Udderus stammered, his voice laced with terror.

Sylthara's expression remained impassive, but her fury was evident. "Do you have any idea the chaos you nearly caused?" she said icily. "You almost killed the mentor of the hero. If he finds out, do you understand what that means? The hero alone could rival even our Demon King."

Udderus paled. "I… I didn't know," he admitted, trembling. "I'll be more careful next time."

Sylthara narrowed her eyes. "This time, I'll clean up your mess. Don't let it happen again."

She turned to the barely-breathing Knight Commander and, with a flick of her wrist, transferred a fraction of her own lifespan to him.

"Five more years," she said flatly. "Use them wisely."

She glanced at the still-unresponsive princess, then muttered, "Utterly hopeless."

Without another word, she and Udderus vanished into the darkness, leaving the Knight Commander in stunned silence. Gathering what little strength he had left, he lifted the princess into his arms and began the arduous journey back to the capital.

Rua reached Glade Village. Though the battle had felt long, only a few hours had passed—it was still early morning, likely around 3 a.m.

She moved discreetly to an old hut distance away from her home, where she carefully cleaned the blood from her clothes. Rua knew she had to erase any trace of her encounter.

Once she had freshened up, she sighed. "I need to be more careful," she muttered. "Mana users are absurdly strong. They can harden their bodies, enhance their senses… But I know nothing about it. I can't even absorb mana."

She considered, briefly, "Maybe I should beg Mother to teach me how to absorb it?" But she quickly dismissed the thought. She had other priorities.

After ensuring there were no signs of her escapade, Rua slipped into her house. The door had been left slightly ajar—her father must have forgotten to close it properly. Quietly, she entered, shut the door behind her, and hurried to her room.

She collapsed onto her bed, exhaustion pulling her into sleep before her parents could even notice she had been gone.

Far across the sea, within a colossal fortress of darkness, the air pulsed with ominous energy. The throne room, carved from what appeared to be a massive black meteor, housed a figure whose sheer aura exuded destruction.

Sylthara and Udderus knelt before this shadowy presence.

"Your Majesty," Sylthara spoke with a measured tone. "The Starborn Kingdom will undoubtedly retaliate. We must prepare."

A silence followed before a deep, disinterested voice echoed through the chamber.

"Do as you wish. If a large-scale war erupts… I will intervene."

Udderus was sentenced to the Drainspire Tower, where his mana would be drained for a year. He did not protest.

As he left, one of the shadowed generals smirked at Sylthara. "You look amused. Did you take in a stray?"

Sylthara's lips curled into a faint smile. "No… Just a mortal who caught my interest."

Three days later, the Starborn Kingdom declared war.

And in the royal castle, Princess Angelica, awakening from her long sleep, whispered, "That girl… Is she safe?"