Chapter 1 - 5, Save the cute Girl

As Saphire began to settle into the rhythm of her training, she suddenly heard a scream in the distance. The sound rang out clearly amid the quiet forest, making her heart race. Without hesitation, she immediately halted her training. Without a second thought, she slung her katana back onto her waist, gathered her gear, and dashed toward the source of the cry.

As she ran, Saphire swiftly weaved between the towering trees that blocked her path. The ground beneath was soft and damp, yet her steps remained steady and quick. Small branches scattered across the earth snapped under the pressure of her feet, but nothing could slow her down. On either side, leaves rustled in the wind stirred by her rapid movement.

Continuing her sprint, Saphire followed the increasingly distinct direction of the scream. Along the way, the forest grew darker as the thick canopy of leaves blocked out the sunlight. Yet her senses stayed alert—thanks to her Enhanced Senses skill, she could detect every movement around her, every subtle change in the forest's atmosphere.

Midway through her journey, a small shadow suddenly leaped out from the bushes ahead. Saphire paused for a moment and fixed her gaze on the creature—a goblin, its wrinkled green skin and red eyes glowing with hatred. The goblin swung its rusted sword at her, but its movements were far too sluggish.

In one swift and decisive motion, Saphire unsheathed her katana. The sharp gleam of the blade sliced through the air, and in an instant, the goblin's head was severed from its body. The small, green form collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, lifeless. Saphire didn't pause to admire the result; she merely re-slung her katana and continued sprinting toward the source of the scream.

After running for several more minutes, the scream grew louder. Finally, Saphire arrived at a small clearing deep within the forest. The sight that greeted her left her momentarily stunned—a little girl, no more than ten years old, surrounded by a group of human skull monsters. These skulls appeared animated, their empty eyes glowing red, wielding dull, rusted weapons, poised to attack the poor child.

Without a moment's hesitation, Saphire stepped forward and swung her katana with full force, unleashing a Wind Slash. A sharp wave of wind burst from the blade, hurtling at high speed toward the skull monsters. The attack struck true, shattering several of the skulls closest to the little girl and creating an opening in their encirclement.

The sudden strike caused the remaining skulls to quickly turn their attention toward her, their red eyes flickering with growing hatred. But as they turned, Saphire had already vanished from her original position. With extraordinary speed and agility, she reappeared behind the skulls, emerging from their blind spot. Before they could even comprehend what was happening, Saphire unsheathed her katana once more and swung it with lethal precision.

In a series of smooth, deadly movements, Saphire slashed at every skull in her path. Her katana moved with perfect precision, slicing their brittle bones into tiny fragments. Each stroke was accompanied by a harsh cracking sound as the skulls shattered. White dust scattered into the air as she concluded her assault, leaving behind a pile of lifeless bone fragments on the ground.

In a matter of seconds, the battle was over. All the skulls had been reduced to scattered fragments around the little girl. Saphire stood amidst the debris, her breathing slightly ragged from the intensity of her recent attack.

The little girl fell silent, her large eyes gazing at Saphire with a mixture of awe and fear. Re-slinging her katana, Saphire approached the child with calm, measured steps, careful not to frighten her further.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly, her voice soothing amid the lingering stillness of the forest.

The girl nodded slowly, still too shocked to speak. In that moment, an overwhelming urge to protect the child welled up within her. In this strange world, Saphire believed that safeguarding the vulnerable was the only sensible thing to do.

"You're safe now," Saphire said with a gentle smile. "Let's get out of here."

With cautious vigilance, she scanned her surroundings to ensure no further danger lurked before leading the little girl away from the clearing. Together, they slowly made their way out of the forest, leaving behind the remains of the shattered skulls.

As they emerged from the dark woods, the little girl began to feel a measure of calm. Gathering her courage, she introduced herself.

"My name is Aria," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. Saphire turned toward her, offering a reassuring smile.

Aria was a little girl with pale blonde hair cascading down her back. Her soft locks glistened in the sunlight that began to pierce through the trees. Her large, bright blue eyes revealed both innocence and lingering fear from her ordeal. Her face was delicate, with slightly flushed cheeks—perhaps from exhaustion or tension. She wore a simple cream-colored dress, a bit soiled with mud, and small, worn-out shoes. Though her humble appearance suggested a modest background, there was an unmistakable aura of resilience hidden beneath her gentle exterior.

Saphire regarded her with genuine concern and asked softly, "How did a little girl like you end up alone in this forest? It's a dangerous place."

Aria lowered her head, hesitating before replying. "I…I ran away from home," she murmured, her voice heavy with sorrow. "My parents are no longer around, and I live with my uncle and aunt. But they don't like me. They often scold me, and… and I just couldn't take it anymore."

Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she recounted her story. "I thought maybe it would be better if I went far away… but I got lost in this forest. I had no idea it was so dangerous."

Saphire listened patiently, feeling deep compassion for the unfortunate child. She could sense the heavy burden Aria bore, despite her tender age. Deep within, Saphire knew she couldn't leave the girl to face such hardship alone.

"You're doing your best, Aria," she said with heartfelt tenderness. "But the forest is no safe haven. Once we leave here, I'll make sure you're in a better place."

Aria nodded slowly, a small relief washing over her at the thought of someone caring for her. They continued walking, with Saphire carefully ensuring no danger was near, heading toward safety and leaving the dark forest behind.

When they finally reached the edge of the woods, Saphire decided to probe further into Aria's situation. "Aria, can you tell me where your uncle and aunt live? I want to know what's really happening. Perhaps there's a way to make things right."

After a moment's hesitation, Aria nodded. "They live in a village to the west of the city, not too far from here. I can show you the way."

With firm determination, Saphire followed Aria's directions and set off toward her uncle and aunt's house. The path from the forest led them through meadows turning golden in the twilight until they reached the outskirts of a small village that seemed tranquil from afar. Simple houses with thatched roofs lined the area neatly, yet an air of detached quiet pervaded, as if the villagers kept to themselves.

Aria pointed to an old, somewhat dilapidated house at the edge of the village. The house looked worn, its paint peeling and the wooden fence nearly collapsed. The front garden, which should have burst with flowers or plants, appeared barren and overrun with wild weeds. Saphire could feel the aura of indifference emanating from the place even before she approached.

They walked up to the door, and Saphire knocked on the worn wooden door. A few seconds later, it creaked open with a sharp groan, revealing a middle-aged man with a rugged face and cold eyes. This man, Aria's uncle, glared at them disapprovingly.

"What do you want?" he growled, his tone rough and laced with irritation. "You're back again? Isn't it clear you're not wanted here?"

Before Aria could speak, Saphire fixed him with a firm gaze. "I want to speak with you and your wife about Aria. I've heard that she isn't being treated well here. Is that true?"

The man snorted and stepped back, opening the door wider. "Come in if you want, but I doubt my wife cares."

Saphire followed him into the dark, cluttered house. Inside, the disarray continued—a living room filled with old, grimy furniture and an unpleasant odor hanging in the air. In one corner, a woman sat with a sour expression, absorbed in paperwork. Aria's aunt, looking tired and indifferent, didn't even glance up as Saphire and Aria entered.

"What now?" the woman snapped coldly, not bothering to look their way. "I'm busy. Don't bother me with trivial matters."

Saphire observed the dynamics unfolding before her—Aria's uncle, rough and angry, and her aunt, completely absorbed in her work, treating Aria as if she were nothing more than a nuisance. The poor girl stood by her side, head bowed, looking even smaller in the presence of those who should have cared for her.

"Aria says that you often mistreat her," Saphire stated firmly. "Is that true?"

Her uncle snorted again. "She's a cursed child. Ever since her parents died, she's only brought trouble. We've been more than generous by giving her a place to stay, yet she always complains. Isn't that right, Lina?" he sneered at his wife.

Without looking up from her paperwork, the woman merely shrugged. "She doesn't understand how hard life is. I don't have time to care for a child. If she wants to leave, so be it."

Saphire felt her anger rising but kept it in check. It was evident that Aria was deprived of the love and care she deserved. With unwavering resolve, she declared, "I cannot allow Aria to remain here any longer. If you don't want her, I'll take her away. I'll care for and raise her by myself."

Her uncle merely shrugged indifferently. "Do as you please. One less burden on our shoulders. We don't even care where she goes."

Without another word, Saphire gently took Aria's hand and led her out of the house. Though confused, the girl appeared relieved to finally leave the place that had never wanted her. They walked away, leaving behind the indifference and cruelty.

Once they reached the village's main road, Saphire paused, knelt before Aria, and looked into her eyes gently. "From now on, I will take care of you, Aria. You don't have to go back to that place ever again."

Tears welled up in Aria's eyes, but this time they were not solely of sorrow. "Thank you… I don't know how to express my gratitude," she whispered.

Saphire gently wiped her cheek and smiled. "No need to thank me, Aria. Let's begin a new life together."

And so, they continued their journey, leaving the village behind and moving toward a brighter future—a future where Aria would finally know the love and protection she had long been denied.

After realizing that she did not yet have enough income to properly care for Aria, Saphire returned to the inn. There, she sought advice from Elara on how to earn a greater income. Elara mentioned several jobs available in town—working in a shop, helping out at the inn, or even becoming an adventurer. However, she did not recommend the adventurer's life due to its high risks.

Nevertheless, Saphire decisively chose to become an adventurer. She knew that this path carried high risks, even the risk of her own life, but if it meant raising Aria and giving her a decent life, it was worth the gamble. Without hesitation, she asked Elara to look after Aria while she embarked on her adventures.

Elara, sympathetic to their situation, agreed to take care of the little girl at the inn. However, she suggested that Aria also help with light tasks—washing dishes, taking orders, and delivering them. Saphire agreed to this arrangement, especially since it would instill in Aria a sense of responsibility and foster her independence.

Aria was given a room at the inn to share with Saphire—a comfortable and safe haven for her. Once all the arrangements were complete, Saphire finally realized that night had fallen. She felt relieved knowing that Aria would be safe under Elara's watchful care. With a calm heart, she decided to rest, preparing herself for the martial arts competition scheduled for the next day.

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Meanwhile, far away from the world Saphire knew, there lay a dimension shrouded in eternal darkness—a realm so cold that it could freeze the soul. This place was known as "The Realm of Darkness." Within this impenetrable gloom, a mysterious entity observed the world with keen, red-glowing eyes.

This entity was no ordinary creature. Its body resembled that of a human, yet it was twice as large, with skin so pale it was almost translucent—like ice reflecting the surrounding dark light. Atop its head, a horn jutted upward, sharp and gleaming like obsidian. A pair of massive, jet-black wings lay folded on its back—wings that, although appearing soft, exuded a piercing chill. Its long, jet-black hair shimmered like an endless night. Its face, handsome yet marked by deep sorrow and bitter hatred, was set with blazing red eyes that radiated an unquenchable malice.

Its large, muscular hands gripped a long staff, its tip fashioned into a circular shape, from which dark power endlessly emanated. The aura radiating from its body instilled profound terror in any living being that dared to approach. This was no ordinary being—it was Lucifer, the fallen angel and leader of the demonic forces that rebelled against Heaven thousands of years ago.

Lucifer, known as the one defeated in the great war between humans, angels, and demons long ago, had never forgotten his defeat. That war raged for seven days and seven nights, ending with the rise of a holy girl wielding extraordinary power—a sorcery of light that obliterated the demonic host in an instant. Since then, Lucifer had harbored a deep-seated grudge against every holy girl born into the world.

Now, after thousands of years had passed, Lucifer sensed the emergence of another holy girl—Aria, a girl born once in a thousand years, possessing the potential to annihilate all evil. It was she whom he had targeted with his animated human skulls in the forest. Yet what troubled him more was the mysterious woman who had suddenly appeared to save Aria. Lucifer felt something unusual about her, as if a greater power was calling her to this world, as nature wills. He began to suspect that she might be the will of the universe itself—a force summoned to protect the holy girl.

Lucifer would not remain idle. His vengeance against the holy girls was far from quenched, and with Aria's awakening, he planned to reclaim his honor. With burning hatred, he vowed to destroy Aria before her power could fully blossom—and to obliterate the mysterious woman who shielded her. A long-delayed, epic confrontation was stirring anew, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance between good and evil.

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