Essence of Perfection

Inside the tent, the knight commander and Leo spoke at length. Once their conversation ended, the commander made a swift decision.

"You are free to go," he said.

Leo's eyes widened in surprise, then a grin spread across his face. "Hahaha! Wait for me, Kayna! I'll be back soon!" he exclaimed, practically bursting with excitement. His sudden outburst startled the knights resting nearby, but he didn't care. Without hesitation, he turned and left the camp, eager to reunite with his wife.

One of the knights hesitated before speaking. "Commander, are you sure it's wise to let him leave just like that?"

The knight commander glanced at him with a bored expression. "Let him go. Don't question my orders. Our priority is finding the princess. If we fail…" he paused, his voice growing colder. "Her Majesty will not be pleased. If the worst happens, he may even declare war on the demonic continent."

A heavy silence fell over the knights. The mere thought sent a chill down their spines.

The commander's gaze sharpened. "Enough chatter. Wake the others. We move deeper into the forest."

"Yes, Commander!" the knights answered in unison, scrambling to obey.

Meanwhile, Rua had entered the Black Forest. The village near its edge had long relied on a protective barrier powered by high-quality monster cores, shielding it from threats. Confident in the barrier's strength, Rua wasn't concerned about the village's safety. Her only priority was finding her stepfather, Leo.

She moved through the forest with quiet precision, her training in assassination allowing her to remain undetected. Minutes into her search, she encountered her first monster—a massive deer-like creature with glowing red eyes.

"Hm. So that's a monster," Rua murmured. It wasn't as hideous as she had imagined, but something about it unsettled her. Unbeknownst to her, the creature was radiating a sinister black aura—one she couldn't perceive due to her lack of mana perception.

She adjusted her grip on her knives and lunged, aiming for a quick kill. But the moment she moved, the deer reacted with inhuman speed.

Whump!

Its powerful hooves struck out, sending Rua flying. She twisted mid-air, barely avoiding a direct hit, and landed hard a few meters away.

"What the…?" Rua muttered, stunned. "How is it this strong?"

The deer didn't give her time to recover. Snorting furiously, it charged again. Rua threw two knives to distract it, using the momentary opening to leap onto a tree branch. From her elevated position, she studied the creature's movements.

When the time was right, she dropped down, aiming directly for its exposed belly.

Thud!

Her blades sank into its flesh, and the creature staggered. But even wounded, its rage didn't subside. Rua quickly backed away, her mind racing.

"This thing is dangerous… One mistake and I could die."

She took a deep breath, focusing. The deer lunged again—but this time, Rua was ready. With a single, precise strike, she ended its life.

Huff… She exhaled, wiping sweat from her forehead. Though exhausted, she activated her strange ability. Within seconds, her stamina was fully restored.

As she ventured deeper, Rua found herself surrounded by a group of goblins. Their red eyes gleamed in the darkness, their twisted grins dripping with malice.

"How did they find me?" Rua thought, her brows furrowing. "I erased my presence. My movements are undetectable."

Roar!

The goblins lunged. Rua dodged effortlessly, countering with swift punches and kicks. But something was off—her attacks, which should have incapacitated them, barely left a mark.

"What is this?" she murmured. "Their bodies feel like rubber."

The goblins' aggression intensified. They struck faster, their weapons slicing through the air with alarming precision. Rua gritted her teeth, adjusting her strategy. She focused on their limbs, slashing at their joints.

Scrreee!

One by one, their arms fell limp, severed by her knives. Their agonized shrieks echoed through the forest. Rua didn't flinch. Coldly, efficiently, she eliminated the remaining goblins, each kill precise and methodical.

As she continued her search, Rua stumbled upon a torn piece of white cloth. Her breath hitched.

"This… this is Father's."

Her fingers tightened around the fabric. A strange numbness spread through her chest.

Her thoughts spiraled.

"He's dead."

A wave of dizziness struck her. Her breathing quickened, her hands trembling.

No… Mother will be devastated… lonely… heartbroken…

Her voice was a whisper, void of emotion. Her nails dug into her scalp, drawing blood. Her black eyes darkened, empty.

A guttural roar pierced the silence. Rua barely registered it.

A goblin hurled a spear toward her back. Without even turning, she dodged, catching the weapon mid-air and throwing it back with lethal precision.

Graaaagh!

The goblin collapsed. Rua picked up a discarded sword. The monsters charged at her—but it no longer mattered.

She moved like a phantom, her blade cutting through flesh with terrifying efficiency. Blood painted the ground. The monsters' dying screams filled the air, but Rua remained eerily silent.

To the few who survived, she wasn't a girl. She was a nightmare.

They fled.

Rua didn't chase them. Her cold, empty gaze remained locked on the path ahead.

Meanwhile, in Glade Village, Leo had returned. An uneasy feeling tugged at his heart, but he pushed it aside.

His focus was on Kayna.

The moment he learned she had given birth, he rushed home.

Bursting through the door, he found Kayna asleep, their newborn daughter nestled beside her.

Leo's breath hitched. His vision blurred.

"I missed it…" he whispered, guilt settling deep in his chest. "The day she needed me the most."

Tears streamed down his face. Yet despite his regret, his heart swelled with joy.

He had made it home.

Back in the Black Forest, Rua continued her relentless slaughter.

Blood soaked her clothes, her pale skin painted in crimson.

She moved like a specter—silent, merciless.

Deeper within the forest, the Knight Commander led her unit forward. Hours had passed since Leo's departure, yet the atmosphere had changed drastically.

Something was wrong.

As they advanced, they reached an area where the ground was dry and cracked, the air thick with dark mana.

The Knight Commander narrowed his eyes.

"This aura…" he muttered. "It belongs to that demon general."

His subordinates stiffened.

"Commander… should we proceed?" one of them asked hesitantly.

he snapped his gaze toward them, irritation flickering across his face.

"Why are you shaking?" His voice was sharp. "We are here to rescue Her Highness. If we fail, it is your families who will suffer the consequences of this war."

Silence.

Then—

"For our families! For our loved ones!" the knights roared in unison.

The commander smirked. That was better.

Without another word, they marched forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Elsewhere, Rua pressed on, her blade dripping with blood.

She had cut down every monster in her path—yet something lingered in the shadows.

A presence.

Rua's grip on her sword tightened.

The deeper she ventured, the heavier the air became.

A storm was coming.

And Rua was walking straight into it.