- MONSTER

The trio fell into silence as they tried to decipher what the guy murmured. The crimson glow of his eyes pierced through them, unwavering and cold. His immaculate jawline and frame gave an aura as they each stood there. Each of the girls could feel it... that ominous weight pressing down on their chests, like prey standing before an unknown predator.

Then suddenly... The unknown guy vanished as a shockwave could be heard just from his speed... The piled-up bodies of the armored insectoids start to fall in a cascade from the force he made. The trio stood there for a moment... 

"Who was that guy?" Nari muttered as she placed her glaive back.

"That guy is a monster! I know we are strong, but one of us may end up dead, or maybe all of us if we have fought that guy!" Kaibe exclaimed as she retracted her halberd, her eyes still fixed on where the man had vanished.

"Agreed... That kind of speed and power... We wouldn't have lasted more than a few minutes unprepared. He didn't even have a weapon on him." Shurime nodded in agreement as she stared at the piled up insectoid bodies, her weapon still in her hand.

"We already have a hundred more of essences each on us... I think we should lay low and just survive until the end of the trial..." Nari her voice was tensed and steady, her mind on the guy earlier.

"Wait! Let's find Soji! He might be somewhere!" Nari exclaimed as she remembered Soji.

"Ugh! Alright... Alright!" Kaibe replied in an irritated voice while sighing.

But before they could start finding him, suddenly a figure emerges just ahead... It's a shirtless, normal average-looking guy, but his body is intact and no bruises can be found. It was Soji walking towards them at a quick pace while shouting.

"Heyyyy!!! Guys! Nari!" Soji waved as he shouted in the direction of the trio, his voice echoing in the forest.

"Wait... Is that—Soji?!" Kaibe exclaimed in disbelief, her eyes staring confused at the unscathed Soji.

"How is that mongrel alive?!" Kaibe uttered in utter confusion... 

How can a weak man survive... Somehow...

"Soji!" Nari also shouted, her emerald eyes wide with shock and relief as she sprinted toward him. The other two martial goddesses quickly followed.

Soji and Nari reunited once more, but before Soji could talk, he gets interrogated by the girls.

"It's good to see you alive, but how are you alive?" Nari asked in relief as she looked at Soji with a surprised eyes while scanning his whole body.

"I mean... I got lucky, I guess? haha..." Soji replied anxiously with a nervous laugh.

"Yeah! How?! This forest is full of monsters!" Kaibe stepped forward, her tone sharper but with a mix of disbelief.

Shurime remained silent, but her eyes were cold and analyzing, sweeping across his unscathed skin.

The girls looked at Soji with a narrow eyes, each seemingly observing him and awaiting for his response.

However... Soji made sure to cover his tracks and cooked up a perfect lie.

"Yes! There were monsters, and I just hid all the time... There was this tall! handsome! muscular! guy! He took all the monsters by himself!" Soji frantically explained his made-up situation, seemingly believable.

Shurime tilted her head at his response. "So you just watched him and didn't get caught?"

"What am I supposed to do? Jump in?! And fight the monsters alongside him!?" Soji exclaimed as he looked at Shurime in the eye.

Shurime then cleared her throat as she glanced back at Soji's physique. "Ahem—Right... How could you even possibly fight back..."

"Shurime! Stop that..." Nari exclaimed as she tried to defend Soji.

"Now... At least Soji is safe and sound... Now, here open your hand, Soji, I will give you a hundred essence..." Nari muttered, her voice soft with relief as she stepped closer, lifting her hand.

"Wait, what?! You're just going to give all of it to Soji?! Just how special is he for him to receive all that withou—" Kaibe burst out as she spoke wildly before getting cut off by Nari.

"Don't worry Kaibe... I have four hundred essences already, what's more, a hundred lose... Plus, Soji needs it!" Nari spoke, her tone firm and gentle.

"Actually Nari... I already have enough essences... I actually have a hundred and twenty-one essences... I got it from the monsters!" Soji uttered as he reassures Nari.

"The reason is that the guy earlier just smashed the monsters, leaving quickly before he could absorb all the remaining essences... So of course, I took advantage of it!" Soji then stepped forward closer to Nari before grabbing her hand and closing it.

Nari was in silence for a moment, surprised by Soji's bold move...

"Oh my~" Shurime gasped at the two as she covered her mouth with her hand. While Kaibe just stared at them, her mouth wide open.

"Ohh~ Soji... Well... I-I-A... I guess we'll just have to survive this!" Nari then quickly retracts her hand as she looks away, her face seemingly red from the move Soji made.

"Alright, I think we should find a resting place, shall we?" Nari suggested as she carefully observes the surroundings.

The party then agreed as they continued to walk away, finding a possible shelter where they could stay in and rest till the trial was over.

While Soji, for his part couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief. It seems like his fabricated story had convinced the trio. The girls didn't feel suspicious, at least not yet. He'd have to keep up this act, but it felt like a dangerous game.

Hours have passed, and the party has encountered many monsters on the way. Of course, the trio triumphed all over it while Soji was in the back watching as they slaughtered the monsters strategically with ease. Soon, they managed to find a nearby cave that seemed to be safe and fairly hidden by the growing nature expanses.

As the group approached the cave, Soji took a moment to survey and observe the surroundings. The cave's entrance was small, barely visible through the thick foliage of the bushes. It seemed like a perfect place to rest for the night. Nari, Kaibe, and Shurime didn't seem to have any doubts about it, so they began to make their way inside.

The cave's interior was dim but spacious, with smooth, damp walls and the distant sound of dripping water echoing softly. It was dry enough to settle in for the night, and the coolness of the air was a welcome relief after the hours of constant movement.

Just the right moment, as rain started pouring out as soon as they settled in the cave. The sound of rain eased Soji's mind. The sound of the rain was soothing, almost hypnotic. It carried away some of the unease that had been gnawing at him, the noise of the world outside calming his mind. 

"This should work. It's not much, but it'll do!" Nari was the first to speak, her tone relaxed now that they were out of the open. 

Kaibe immediately began taking off her gear, setting down her halberd beside her.

"If anyone tries to sneak up on us, they're in for a surprise!" she spoke while grinning, clearly in a better mood now that they had some semblance of shelter.

Shurime, ever the calm one, sat down near the back of the cave, her silver hair cascading behind her as she crossed her legs.

"We should take turns keeping watch, though. We never know what might come next." Shurime suggested to the party.

Her suggestion came lightly, and the party agreed with quiet nods. The day's hunt had worn them down more than they'd admit, and the steady rainfall made it easy to let their guards lower—if only a little.

"Alright, Soji," Kaibe said, stretching her arms before leaning against a rock.

"Do your job! You've done the least today, so don't even think about complaining."

"Alright..." Soji replied as he shrugged it off

"Exactly. So just keep doing what you're good at." Shurime spoke as she shot him a sidelong glance, her expression unreadable. 

Nari offered him a small smile, tucking her hair behind her ear as she leaned against the wall.

"Don't worry, Soji. We won't be asleep for long. Just wake us if something doesn't feel right." Nari reassures Soji as she looks at him.

"Alright, alright, you guys can count on me..." Soji muttered as he sat on a rock near the entrance, the damp air brushing against his skin as he stared out into the downpour.

The sound of rain hitting leaves and stone filled the forest with a calming rhythm. It was almost peaceful—almost. His crimson eyes flickered in the dim light, scanning the dark tree line beyond the shelter.

And inside, the girls were already beginning to drift into sleep, their quiet breaths syncing with the patter of rain. However, they couldn't shrug off the thought of the man earlier. That towering figure, drenched in blood and shadow, standing atop a mountain of corpses, and the sheer pressure he gave off still lingered in their minds. For the girls... He was... a MONSTER.