"I just need to get rid of the tonsils..." I whispered to myself as I positioned my blade at that direction. "Though it seems it will be a fairly difficult task."
I needed to rip them out. Without them, he couldn't change his appearance or move to the next phase. So it would give me an opening where I could hope on to annihilate this damn beast.
Since different species and mythical beast have different organ placements. There is an importance for knowning anatomy in this world too. (UGH!)
Now you all may be like, "so Aefia... Why the tonsils?"
Because that is where a Trojan Mutilant is injected.
Sigh... Why am I the only one who has to fight this thing?
I could feel my soul leave my body, just in time for me to catch it and pull it back in. And then forced my attention back to the beast.
Lucky for me, the strings snapped just the right time. Of course it did cause me some pain, but I am happy enough that it fought off the restraints.
He immediately pounced at me, turning the battle into something more dangerous then just a deadly, cliff-side choreography.
I was already bleeding. I couldn't bleed even a slight more. Or I was wasting necessary blood.
"Ugh... freak, this hurts." I groaned under my breath as it continued attacking me from every direction. I was starting to get worried I was going to grow tired from just dogding them.
My bones felt like breaking with just that much. This mutant wasn't even that strong. Comparing this to the first dungeon... It is just twenty percent.
Did I honestly lack the steroids?
I didn't even know it, until my left heel couldn't feel ground.
"Oh... Fuck it then." I gritted my teeth and threw my sword onto the air. Its eyes followed the blade. At the same time, I slid through the gap between its tenticle and arm.
I slipped to the otherside, finally finding enough space to even breath actually. With my fingers, I caught the blade of the sword onto my bare palms.
With a small squeeze, blood dripped down my hand. With a flick of my fingers, strings wrapped around my hand, and the ends of it wound around the beasts throat.
These strings were strong enough to cut through flesh and bone at the same time. But I had to restrain.
I dragged it to the ground and pulled it to my feet. I lifted my right leg and held its head down where its face was already pressed against the grass.
If I wasn't wrong, and if it didn't have a different anatomy... The tonsils will actually be at either sides of its cheeks. But those snake-like tongues...
...if I chopped them, it could regenerate.
Then, I have another idea. I just need to search for a lake or river nearby.
With the flick of my wrist, I threw the sword a second time—and this time—towards a distant tree that stood peacefully.
Yeah... Time to destroy their peace of mind because I can't have mine.
As soon as it launched, I grounded my heels onto the ground. With the deep breath, I shut my vision and held in position.
If I wasn't wrong, I had a speed-related skill. Or maybe I was delusional.
I firstly took off in a sprint. As soon as I planted my feet onto the grass, then applied a bit of force onto the ground using my magic. I saw shit until I already bumped into the tree, stopping an inch away from it to avoid injuring myself further.
The beast followed. I blinked, and it appeared right in front of me in another form.
...I am cooked...
I planted a panicked punch at its face and withdrew my sword, and ran towards the end of the cliff. This should be safe.
I plummeted in astonishing speeds. Keeping my eyes shut tightly.
***
Thud!
The beast landed on both feet at the bottom of the cliff. The ground shook heavily. Its head turned around, looking for its target.
Dust rose immediately from the ground, not even seconds later, a pair of footsteps echoed.
"Looking for me?"
Immediately following that, strings shot out from all directions, looking him down to the ground. He shrieked loudly in agony as they tightened, threathening to chop off his limps.
"You know... I am a test subject too." She whispered, stepping forward. The obsidian blade sheathed at her side as she suddenly lunged with her bare hands at his throat.
It sent them both reeling backwards into an endless abyss.
Water splashed vigorously around them.
But she was gone again when the beast opened its eyes. Besides... Its vision was blurry.
Confused, it turned into a fish for a moment.
That was all it took.
"Gotcha!" She smirked underwater, strangling the fish at his neck as she suffocated it of oxygen. Her fingers blocking the gills. "Pretty smart yourself, huh?"
The beast stared in confusion. How was she speaking clearly underwater?
She didn't give it any more time. She cut through its abdomen with a paper cutter.
"Fishes... Also have tonsils. Just a different shape," she grinned. "And its easier this way."
Blood spread across the water like cloud. Without a flicker of emotion, she pulled out the organ.
Normal thing... Women were expected to be able to cut fish if you grew up in South Asia. That is how they predict that you will be a good wife and a useful one too. Her mother had sometimes made sure to make her see a few with the maids.
Luckily this lesson came to good use right now.
As the beast was finally killed, she swum her way out of the lake, and climbed onto the shore.
She looked down at her own clothes, as a cold breeze swept over her. Her wounds had reopened now that the blood clot had washed away.
But with a flick of her fingers, a harmless swirl of fire evaporated all water off her.
"This should do for now." She looked up at the clear blue sky, letting out a sigh. "So what now? Shouldn't I be returning? I am bleeding and now I am supposed to solve the mystery to where the dungoen gate is? Pfft... Don't make me laugh."
Despite that, she continued to walk towards nowhere since she decided to check out the quiet but lovely village.
Strangely, trees were growing like it was spring, but the grass was scarred and scorched as if it was summer. Dried leaves rested as if it were autumn and soft snow coated the straw roofs of the few houses she could see.
There rested a ball in between half a dozen pair of small-sized shoes, and two swings which swayed along with the wind even though there was no one there.
It felt like she was walking through a graveyard. It felt... Claustrophobic.
She clenched her hands into fist at her sides and gulped down the lump of lingering fear at her throat. Her fever was already starting to burn, and she was doubting how long it would take her before she suddenly collapsed.
Just when, she stopped to bend down and try to catch her breath. Her hands clasped over her knees as beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. Her sword was strapped to her back, luckily.
When she lifted her head again—wiping her chin with the back of her hand—she caught herself staring at a temple-looking building that she hadn't anticipated would be there.
"Wow... I stumbled into the right place then." She mumbled to herself as she started the walk to the top inside.
In the novel, it was written that this world consisted of powerful elemental magic holders who looked after the well-being of their territories while also supplying a bit of their magic into stones for others to use. Though mostly, it would be nobles and royals for particular reasons. If a commoner ever stumbled by one, it was also alright to keep it as it is seen as a 'gift'.
Generally speaking, it was once favourable for magic to be wielded by everyone. Until some people started to use it wrongly out of arrogance and greed. So this peculiar and unjust rule was created to keep the world safe from the brink of total destruction.
Naturally, they aren't Gods. Of course not.
They are just powerful humans who are ruling over parts of the world while keeping different elements alive for use.
The thing was, unlike history back on Earth where the highest-ranking people were Emperors or Empresses—in this world, there were two other ranks.
Above the Imperial throne, sat the Guardians' throne. Though not easy to claim, you had to show your worth or be of pure bloodline. Not that anyone was successfully able to prove their worth except of the Guardian of Everlasting Health.
Then there was another rank above Guardians called "Aethalgards Heirs".
They ruled the Guardians and looked after the Guardian Realm, the highest authority of the planet of Nikoan. They are the strongest and face down any threats that can come.
Since this is a novel world, it is only expected that strange things happened every now and then.
There were in total, fifty Guardians including the three Aethalgards.
Through tragic circumstances, the number has now reduced to nine. Two Aethalgards and seven Guardians.
It is still unsaid in the novel what or how long ago this happened, but one thing could be said;
"A few people of Nikoan are, again, entangled into this case."
Though no one was ever confident and courageous enough to even investigate or question it.
So this thing had a huge question mark stamped all over its surface as a warning to keep out of it.
But still, there were things in this world that the Guardians did to make sure nothing bad could ever touch it while they are away.
"..."
The temple that Aefia had arrived, was one of the few Guardians' resting place.
She didn't know why she was brought here or what motive she needed to accomplish to get out.
But while at it, it was also necessary to her that she did it.
She pushed the heavy doors inward, stepping into a dust-covered room that had nothing except pillars and large windows positioned at every direction.
Light filtered onto the white-tiled floors in a spectrum. On the ceiling was a grand chandelier with crystal drops swaying softly with the breeze.
And in the direct centre of the room, stood a large crimson mandala with a small piece of gap at the direct centre that looked narrow and fit for a sword.
She took off her shoes and walked directly onto the design, then stood on her knees. With a deliberate motion, she took off the sword from its scabbard, and fit it directly onto the gap.
"Alright. One try is all I get." She muttered under her breath.
She shut her eyes tightly, slamming the sword harder down into the remaining bit of space that was left. Immediately, the crimson mandala lit up, and dust lifted off the ground and got swept away by a sudden wind.
Outside, the clear blue sky turned dark with angry clouds thundering.
This was definitely the lair of the Guardian of Death.
With a soft sigh, she leaned her hand against the handle of the sword, and tried to calm down as she said the oath;
"I swear upon my very life force that until my last breath, I shall not use my power to cause intentional harm to others. If so, I am not a loyal owner and the magic shall strangle me alive. I swear to the Guardian who bestowed their powers upon me that I will use this very magic to only do right to others and never turn my blade against you. As long as I breathe, I promise to try my best not to break my own vows... Or I am ready to take a gruesome death as a punishment for my betrayal and dishonesty."
The words rang out with a volume that was undeniably loud and full of authority.
She turned the blade around like a key. And immediately, a shockwave shot out in ripples.
A faint, transulent wave of red light surrounded Aefia's shoulders—turning itself into a bellowing one-shouldered cape with an iron gauntlet at the same.
For a split second... Aefia was living the illusion of a knight who had just sworn their loyalty to a high-authority figure themselves.
*********************
First draft: 06.11.2025
Rewritten: 20.09.2026