Chapter 6: The Forest Beneath the Earth

The air shifted as Haru stepped forward, his boots sinking into the damp, moss-covered earth. He could feel the moisture in the air, thick with the scent of foliage and decay.

A *forest*, underground. It shouldn't have been possible, but here it was—an entire ecosystem hidden beneath the earth's surface, bathed in a strange, luminescent glow from crystalline veins embedded in the cavern ceiling.

Haru exhaled sharply, adjusting the grip on his sword. *Every dungeon is its own world.* That's what he had learned from the scattered bits of knowledge he picked up before being abandoned. Each dungeon was a separate pocket dimension, isolated and self-sustaining, shaped by forces unknown. The deeper one went, the stranger things became. This place was proof of that.

A cool breeze swept through the trees, rustling the leaves with an eerie whisper. Haru had already grown accustomed to the unnatural atmosphere of the dungeon, but this place carried something else—something more primal, more alive.

He had reached a *new level*, and with it came new dangers.

Behind him, Shira followed in silent steps. The towering Blue Oni—his first and most powerful bonded companion—moved with unnatural grace despite her size. She was a monster in both stature and strength, her skin a deep cerulean blue, her eyes burning with quiet intensity. She didn't speak—perhaps she *couldn't*—but she understood him well enough.

Haru glanced at her, meeting her gaze. She simply tilted her head slightly, waiting for his command.

*"Yeah, I get it. Keep moving."*

The two pressed forward, weaving between massive tree trunks and thick undergrowth, cautious of whatever creatures lurked in the dense foliage. The deeper they moved, the louder the sounds of battle became—metal clashing, war cries echoing through the forest, the shrieks of dying beasts.

Haru crouched low, motioning for Shira to stop. Peering through the gaps in the underbrush, he spotted them.

A *warband.*

At least twenty **centaur warriors**—large, muscular, each one towering over humans with equine lower halves covered in thick, plated armor. Their faces, however, were grotesque and *wrong*. They had the heads of **horses**, stretched into terrifying expressions, their eyes dark and soulless. Their weapons—massive spears, axes, and curved swords—flashed as they swung at their enemies.

Their enemies were **goblins**—but not just any goblins. Among them stood something *bigger*.

A **hobgoblin.**

Haru's stomach twisted at the sight of it. Unlike its smaller kin, the hobgoblin was *almost* human in size, its muscular frame covered in crude armor. Its flesh was dark green, jagged scars running down its arms, and its eyes gleamed with something far more intelligent than the mindless savagery of its lesser brethren.

The centaurs were winning, but just barely. They had superior size and weapons, but the goblins fought with relentless aggression, their sheer numbers overwhelming the towering warriors. And the hobgoblin—it was different.

It **commanded.**

It **strategized.**

It shouted orders in guttural snarls, directing goblins to attack in coordinated waves. It had already taken down several centaurs, its jagged blade dripping with blackened blood.

Haru narrowed his eyes. *That thing's dangerous.*

He knew the system rewarded strength. The stronger the opponent, the greater the experience. And that hobgoblin? It was *worth something.*

Shira shifted slightly beside him, her sharp senses likely already analyzing the battlefield. She was waiting for his decision.

Haru exhaled slowly. The centaurs would likely finish the goblins off, but if he intervened now, he could *steal* the best prize.

*"Shira… go for the hobgoblin."*

The Oni didn't hesitate. The moment his order left his lips, she launched forward with terrifying speed, the earth trembling beneath her heavy steps.

The battlefield erupted into chaos as she entered the fray.

The nearest centaur barely had time to react before Shira's massive **cleaver-like blade** swung in a wide arc, carving through two goblins in a single stroke. Their bodies split apart, dark blood spraying across the ground.

The hobgoblin's head snapped toward her, its eyes widening as it realized **something was very wrong.**

Shira moved like a specter of death. She cut through goblins with ruthless efficiency, her inhuman strength turning them into nothing more than shredded meat. Each movement was precise, unyielding. But she wasn't there for them—**she was there for the hobgoblin.**

The creature let out a snarl and barked an order. The remaining goblins scrambled, trying to form a defensive line in front of their leader. It wouldn't work.

Shira didn't slow.

The first goblin that lunged at her had its skull crushed by a brutal downward strike. The second tried to stab her from the side—she grabbed it **by the throat,** crushing its windpipe before slamming it into the ground hard enough to crack the earth.

The hobgoblin growled, realizing its minions wouldn't be enough. It gripped its **jagged blade** tightly and lunged forward.

Shira's expression didn't change.

The two **clashed.**

Steel met steel in a violent burst of sparks. The hobgoblin was strong—it actually managed to withstand Shira's initial strike. But strength alone wouldn't be enough.

Haru grinned as he watched. *That's right, you bastard. She's stronger than you.*

The hobgoblin was fast, its movements sharp and practiced. It twisted, sidestepping Shira's swings, using quick counterattacks to try and force an opening. Shira, however, was relentless. She advanced with **brute force**, overwhelming its defenses.

The hobgoblin snarled and **lunged for a killing blow—**

**Shira caught its blade with her bare hand.**

The dungeon fell silent for a moment.

Haru saw the fear flicker in the hobgoblin's eyes. It tried to yank its sword free, but Shira's grip was like iron.

Then, she squeezed.

The jagged metal **bent and shattered** in her grasp.

The hobgoblin barely had time to process what happened before Shira's massive fist **slammed into its skull**. A sickening crunch echoed through the battlefield as its face caved inward. Its body staggered, twitching, before collapsing in a heap.

Silence fell.

The remaining goblins broke. Whatever was left of their morale **shattered**, and they turned to flee, their screeches fading as they vanished into the dark depths of the forest.

The centaurs, bloodied and panting, turned their grotesque faces toward Shira.

A long pause.

Then, a guttural snarl.

One of them—**the last surviving centaur warrior**—gripped its **war axe** and stepped forward, glaring at the Oni.

It wasn't grateful. It was angry.

Haru exhaled sharply.

*"Shit."

A fierce centaur warrior with copper skin and piercing blue eyes, she moves with the grace of a seasoned hunter. Her long black hair flows behind her, often braided for battle, while her powerful horse half, covered in sleek black fur, thunders across the land. Clad in light armor, readiness of an archer about to release.

Her bow—an intricately carved longbow that looked almost too massive for a human to wield—was already raised.

An arrow, notched and gleaming with a faint magic glow, was aimed directly at **Shira's heart.**

Haru's instincts screamed at him. **If she fired, even Shira might take serious damage.**

*"Oi, wait—"*

Before he could move, before the arrow could fly—

The centaur woman's eyes flicked toward Haru.

And suddenly, something changed.

Her hands **shook.**

The arrow wobbled in her grip. Her powerful, toned arms—once tense with resolve—trembled slightly.

The **flush of red** crept up her cheeks, darkening her already sun-kissed skin. Her breath hitched, and her equine lower half **shifted awkwardly** beneath her.

Haru froze.

*"What…?"*

The centaur's expression twisted into **a strange mix of confusion and embarrassment**—as if she herself didn't understand what was happening.

Her amber eyes, sharp like a predator's just moments ago, **softened** when they met his. Her grip on the arrow loosened slightly, though not completely.

Haru's mind raced.

*"She was about to kill Shira, but now she's looking at me like…"*

Then it hit him.

**Lady Killer.**

*"Wait. I haven't even said anything to her yet."*

He swallowed hard. This was the first time his ability had activated **without direct interaction.** Up until now, he had thought it worked when he **spoke** to women, influencing their perception of him. But this…

This was **passive.**

Haru took a slow breath, **testing the waters.**

*"Hey, put that down."*

His voice came out steady, calm—yet slightly firm.

The centaur's breath hitched again. She hesitated. Her fingers, still curled around the arrow, **trembled.**

Then, with a frustrated grunt, she **lowered her bow.**

Haru let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Shira remained unmoving, her expression unreadable as always, though she seemed to glance between Haru and the centaur with mild interest.

The centaur exhaled, as if composing herself. Then, she straightened her posture, bow still gripped in one hand, but no longer aimed at them.

"**Who… are you?**"

Her voice was smooth yet carried the roughness of a seasoned warrior. She blinked rapidly, as if trying to **shake off the strange feeling** washing over her.

Haru met her gaze directly. "Haru."

He didn't give his full name. No need.

The centaur exhaled sharply. "You… are not like the others."

Haru's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

She narrowed her eyes at him but didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked toward the corpses of her fallen kin, her expression shifting into something heavier.

A long silence stretched between them.

Then—

"**My name is Rhaelynn.**"

Haru blinked. "Rhaelynn?"

The centaur nodded, shifting uncomfortably again, as if saying her own name **to him** made her nervous.

Haru glanced at Shira, who remained impassive but alert. Then back at Rhaelynn.

*"Alright. Time to dig deeper."*

Haru took a step forward, watching Rhaelynn's reaction carefully. She didn't back away, but her arms tensed.

He kept his tone measured. "You were fighting the hobgoblins."

A shadow crossed her face. "For centuries, our war has raged," she murmured. "The centaurs and the hobgoblins—our hatred is eternal."

Her gaze moved to the bodies of her fallen warriors, something **cold** and **hollow** creeping into her voice. "And now, it seems I am the last."

Haru's stomach twisted. "The *last*?"

Rhaelynn's ears flicked slightly, a subconscious sign of distress. "They were all I had left. A scouting unit meant to track and eliminate the hobgoblin warbands."

She let out a bitter laugh. "But they overwhelmed us. Our home… our people… were already dying. I am the last warrior of the Centaurian Order."

Haru felt the weight of her words settle deep in his chest.

Rhaelynn, despite her strength, was **alone.**

Just like he had been.

A strange feeling stirred within him. It wasn't just sympathy. It was **understanding.**

He exhaled slowly, then looked her in the eye. "You don't have to fight alone."

Rhaelynn's ears flicked again, her cheeks darkening slightly. "What are you saying?"

Haru crossed his arms. "I mean exactly what I said. The hobgoblins killed your people. I hate those bastards too. Let's wipe them out together."

The centaur's breath hitched.

Shira, standing at Haru's side, gave an approving nod.

Rhaelynn's lips parted slightly, her gaze flickering between him and Shira. She looked **conflicted.** As if she was trying to rationalize her sudden emotional reaction to his words.

Finally, after a long, heavy pause—

She lowered her head slightly.

"… If you are willing to stain your blade with the blood of my enemies," she said softly, "then I will fight by your side."

Haru smirked. "That's what I like to hear."

Rhaelynn **flushed deeper.**

Haru didn't miss it this time. His **Lady Killer** ability was still in full effect.

The remaining **hobgoblin forces** weren't far. Based on what Rhaelynn knew, their **main warband was camped deeper within the underground forest**—a heavily fortified location where they were amassing their forces.

Haru **wanted them gone.**

More than that, he wanted **to level up.**

Wiping out an entire hobgoblin stronghold would give him and his party a **massive boost.**

Rhaelynn, despite being battle-worn, was still an **elite archer**—her precision and speed were unparalleled. And with Shira's **brutal strength** combined with Haru's growing **combat instincts and system perks**, they had a real shot at **wiping out the entire warband.**

Haru turned toward his new ally. "How many are we dealing with?"

Rhaelynn's ears twitched. "At least fifty. Some lesser goblins, but the core force is hobgoblins."

Haru grinned. **Perfect.**

"Then let's kill them all."

Rhaelynn exhaled through her nose, a strange mix of determination and something else flickering across her face.

"… You are an interesting man, Haru."

His smirk widened. "Get used to it."