As the pain numbed his sense and his vision started blurring, a cold metallic shime echoed in his mind like a flicker of loght in the darkness.
[Ding!!]
[Awakening initiated....]
[Host awakened the Unique talent "Blade God"]
[Blade God:
Where the blade moves, all shall be cut — seen or unseen, real or divine]
In that instant, as the system message, which shining brightly, appeared everything froze.
The pain, agony and dispair. Everything dissolved. Something ancient or boundless awakened and surged through his veins like a molten light searing his soul awake.
Ryu's body trembled, his heartbeat syncing wuth the rhythm of the blade of the sword beside him. A golden radiance pulsed from within, illuminating his brokwn body. His eyes, once dim and lifeless, now blazed like twin sun burning with divine clarity.
The wind which was flowing got stilled. The world held its breadth as if waatching something unimaginable.
Ryu slowly exhaled sslowly and reached for his sword. The hilt felt warm as if it came out alive. As he stood up, the brokem rock beneath him crackled up as if unable to bear the pressure that was emanating fro him.
Kukkeskske!!!
The hulky goblin leader. who ambushed him, who a moment ago towered like a mountain, froze mid-step. The bestial instinct screamned. As if moving another step would spell doom to it. But he, the leader of the goblin, who killed anyone who dare to stepped its foot un his teritory. For him this ouny human a weakling. His pride would not let it go.
Rage, clouded its mind. With athunderous roar, it swung its massive hammer downward.
Ryu didn't blink.
He lifted his sword lazily, like one brushing away dust, A single horizontal sswing traced through the air.
Swing!!
Schiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!!!!!!
A faint line pf light shimmered acrozz the area. For a moment nothing happened.
SLICE!!
As if the world time started moving, the goblin leader's roar cut short as its massive body aplit cleanly in half. The upper body slid down with aa spray of blood. Behind it, the trees, rock, and everything alligned perfectly along aa single horizontal plane was cut clean
Everything within that line slid down.
Ryu lowerd his sword. The golden glow in his eyes dimmed, leaving behind only cold calm.
But then, a horror of pain assaulted him.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
A screaam was echoed in the forest.
Ryu was rolling on the ground, as if countless centipede was crawling on him. His inside waas churning. Foam started coming out from his mouth as he fainted on the ground.
***
Far from the scene, along the forest path line with towering trees, the sound of horse galloping echoeing. Three people, on the horse, two men and one woman, each mounted on the armoured horses.
Their attires gleamed faintly under the sunlight. Embroidded capes, fine armour and sword at their back. Just from the appearance anybody can tell they were not an ordinary people. They carried themselves with an air of nobilty and power.
The man leading the group was a tall broad shouldered, his dark cloak fluttering while the wind flowing like a breeze. A scar crossed his left cheek, giving him a commanding presence. He glanced around, narrowing his sharp eyes.
"Strange...the forest is unusually quite," he muttered.
Behind hum, a younger man laughed lightly. "Quite? isn't that good thing, Sir Darius? I'm not exactly fond of beast popping."
The woman, riding on the right, didn't respond at first. Her long silver hair shimmered under the sun, and her piercing blue eyes swept over the treetops. Something in her expression hardened.
"Wait." Her tone was calm, but firm.
Both men stopped their horses.
"What is it, Lady Seraphine?" Darius asked.
She tilted her head upward. "The birds…"
A moment later, a massive flock of black crows burst from the canopy in the distance, as they scatterd into the sky.
The three exchanged glances.
"That's from the direction of Mistborn's inner zone," the younger man said, his earlier levity gone.
Darius gripped his reins. "Something's wrong. That os the direction of the goblins settlement."
Lady Seraphine's gaze lingered in that direction, her eyes faintly glowing with mana. She frowned, sensing the lingering residue of power—a divine-like energy that brushed her senses and then vanished.
"What… was that presence?" she whispered, almost to herself.
Her thoughts flickered.
Darius spoke gruffly, "Should we investigate? Could be another monster outbreak."
Seraphine nodded slightly, her tone soft but resolute. "Yes. But be cautious. I felt something…"
The younger knight smirked, though uneasily. "What can it be? Come on, maybe it's just a big beast fighting over territory."
Neither of the other two laughed.
The horses started forward again, their hooves pounding the earth as the trio raced toward the disturbance.
***
"Ugh..."
Ryu groaned, his eyes fluttering open as a sharp pain tore through his skull. his body screamed; it felt as though his blood itself was boiling. He clutched his head, gasping for air.
"W-where... am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse and weak.
"Looks like you finally woke up."
The voice was soft, yet carried an authority that made his chest tighten. Ryu turned his head, his blurred vision slowly sharpening.
Sitting beside his bed on a simple wooden chair was a woman. Her silver hair cascaded like moonlight, glimmering faintly as if each strand held a secret of the heavens. Eyes as blue as the calmest ocean watched him with quiet scrutiny.
She wore a white uniform embroidered with faint gold patterns—something between a knight's coat and a healer's robe. Her posture was graceful, her presence both soothing and intimidating.
Ryu blinked rapidly. "Who… who are you?"
The woman smiled faintly. "You can call me Seraphina."
Her voice carried a faint warmth, though her eyes didn't lose that sharp glint. She leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other.
"You were found unconscious in the Mistborn Forest. Barely breathing, covered in blood."
Ryu's heart skipped. Mistborn... right. The fight… the goblins...
Seraphina continued, her gaze never leaving him.
"When we arrived at that place, the pace was a slaughterhouse. The corpses of goblins was everywhere as if they were split half—"he raised her hand slightly, her voice turning faintly curious, "—even the surrounding area were cleaved as if by a single stroke."
Ryu froze, sweat trickling down his temple.
"I have to ask," Seraphina said softly, tilting her head, "what exactly happened out there?"