Mirabella walked back into the village perimeter, the thought of the new, powerful skill Physical Attack Siphon a quiet triumph in her mind. Her satisfaction was interrupted by Carl, who was sprinting towards her, winded and excited.
"Senior sister!!" He skidded to a stop, clutching his chest, the small white cat, Cupcake, perched calmly on his shoulder.
"Seems both of you are now friends," Mirabella observed, a small, genuine smile touching her lips as she glanced at the pair.
"He is still annoying at times," Cupcake muttered dismissively, rolling her large, luminous eyes. Despite her appearance as a mere pet, Cupcake was, for all intents and purposes, the second most powerful entity in the entire First Server, a fact known only to Carl and Mirabella.
"What happened? Why are you running?" Mirabella asked, her focus immediately shifting to Carl's frantic state.
"The villagers! They said they spotted a monster a few days ago! A huge one."
