As the spider slowly stirred awake, still groggy from its interrupted evolution, it was at its weakest. A rare chance, but also a dangerous one. Without hesitation, I grabbed Alisa's small, delicate body and slung her gently over my shoulder.
I ran. And kept running.
The light at the end of the cave seemed both close and impossibly far. Behind me, Alisa, regaining a shred of her strength, raised her hand and conjured a massive dark orb—almost the size of a Boulder.
It shot forward like a meteor, colliding with a crumbling ancient rock formation. The spider dodged it effortlessly, but the blast disrupted its path, buying us precious seconds. Without it, we'd have been devoured. No doubt.
Panting, I forcefully deactivated my Exorcist form. The exhaustion was overwhelming, threatening to collapse me on the spot. If I didn't cancel it now, I'd be unconscious before we made it out.
Alisa was in no better shape. Her breathing was shallow, her skin pale. She had used every drop of her remaining strength to help us escape. Still, she managed to smile weakly and hugged my neck from behind, whispering with gratitude.
"Thank you."
I only nodded, too focused on running to respond. But deep down, her gesture struck something inside me.
She smiled bitterly, seeing my exhausted face. Would anyone else? she thought. Would a mere 2-star risk his life for someone like me… in front of a near-7-star beast?
Her usual emotionless expression cracked ever so slightly with guilt.
Eventually, we returned. Alisa, not wanting to cause a commotion at the banquet, sent a mental transmission.
Because of our proximity, it reached quickly. Within moments, two figures materialized before us—Lorraine and Lucy.
As my legs gave out, I collapsed straight into Lucy's arms. Lorraine caught Alisa before she could hit the ground. Their expressions darkened instantly.
Lorraine, a seasoned 7-star, would not let this offense slide. No one endangered her daughter and walked away unscathed.
Between gasps for breath, I explained the bare essentials—an ambush, a monstrous spider, and a narrow escape. I left out the two high-tier spells and the legendary one I'd obtained. No need to invite suspicion or trouble.
The two women exchanged glances, sharp and knowing. If someone sent a spider of that caliber it's impossible since the Akashi says True it was evolving which means it was not planned and the demons gotten eaten i guess
word had already started spreading: a new human with a bright yellow talent had emerged.
And they felt threatened.
Alisa, thoroughly drained, drifted into unconsciousness in her mother's arms. Lorraine vanished for a moment, reappearing in Alisa's room and tucking her gently into bed.
When she returned, her tied-up hair fell freely down her back, suddenly glowing a fierce, burning red. She activated a skill silently, power radiating off her in waves
And manifest a Burning sword in her hands
Lucy, meanwhile, cast a subtle spell. Her eyes turned sharp and calculating.
She turned to me. "Wanna come along?"
I blinked. "Wait, what?"
Before I could process it, she grabbed the back of my clothes and erected a barrier around me. "To protect your skin," she said casually.
A moment later, we were back at the spider's cave.
She placed me in a safe zone and cast a second barrier around me, just in case. And then, all hell broke loose.
The cave shook with deafening roars. Skills clashed in the air, spells exploded like fireworks. From my protected perch, I watched in awe.
This… Really the World is really Vast
Their strength was beyond my comprehension—like Heaven and Earth, with me buried miles beneath the dirt.
The battle raged on for hours. Half the forest was obliterated in the crossfire. The ground was scorched, trees erased, and not a single trace of the spider remained. Without the barrier, I would've been reduced to ash.
Even Lucy and Lorraine, breathing heavily, had to take a moment to recover. Lucy, as a support mage, stayed mostly behind, while Lorraine did the heavy lifting—wielding her wrath like a divine blade.
Staring at the devastation, my heart pounded.
But instead of discouragement, I felt a strange fire light up inside me.
I want to become stronger.
Lorraine turned and gently patted my shoulder. "Kid," she said softly, "thank you for saving my daughter. Tell me… is there anything you wish for?"
Lucy didn't seem surprised. She simply waited for my answer with a faint smile.
I hesitated, then asked, "Is there anything that could accelerate my growth?"
Lorraine nodded. "Our kingdom is rich with resources. I'll grant you a Divine Fruit."
Lucy bit her lip slightly. She didn't say anything, but I noticed the jealousy. This fruit—whatever it was—was rare. Very rare.
Even Lucy, a princess, had only received it once in her life.
"It will permanently double your mana capacity," Lorraine explained. "And you can take two bites."
She continued, "Not only that, but it also speeds up your breakthroughs—by more than double, at least."
My eyes widened. I bowed in respect, overwhelmed by her generosity.
She smiled again and gently ruffled my hair. "Don't worry. My daughter's life is worth far more than a fruit."
Before leaving, Lucy cast a legendary-tier healing spell. A soothing green light covered the ruined battlefield, restoring much of the forest. She wobbled slightly, clearly drained.
Soon after, we returned to the banquet grounds. Only a few guests remained, the festivities winding down.
Lorraine stepped forward and gave a short speech, thanking everyone, before politely dismissing the attendees.
When only we were left, she approached me again, holding a small fruit in her hand. It was no bigger than my pinky, shaped like a tiny banana, but it glowed with a brilliant golden hue.
"This is it," she said with a gentle smile.
Her hair was tied up again, her demeanor calm. A far cry from the blazing goddess I had witnessed in battle.
She suddenly hesitated, then asked, her voice awkward but sincere, "Are you perhaps… into that outfit?"
There was no mockery in her tone—just curiosity. She had probably wanted to ask for a while but didn't want to embarrass me publicly.
My eye twitched, and I glanced at Lucy, silently pleading for help. She said nothing—but the look on her face told me everything.
Say it.
Humiliated, I nodded, my face flushing bright red.
Lorraine chuckled awkwardly, clearly not expecting that. "So you're into that, huh? No judgment from me."
Lucy turned away, her shoulders shaking as she tried not to laugh.
Trying to escape the moment, I asked, "Where's Alisa's room? I should stay with her for a while, right?"