Kael.
We were still running. Branches snapping underfoot. Breath uneven. The forest is completely dark now except for whatever light the moon was trying and failing to provide through the canopy. I glanced sideways at Jane.
"Wait… monsters evolve in this world?"
"Yes, they do."
My eyes lit up. I could feel them lighting up. I could not stop them from lighting up. This was no longer under my control.
"That's so cool."
Jane looked at me like she had just discovered mold growing on her food.
"So can they like… talk and stuff?" I leaned forward while still running. "Or look human but still have, you know, black or white horns on their face?"
Excitement building.
"Or wait… or wait…"
Jane's expression worsened. Somehow.
I grinned.
"Are they like… stupid hot?"
She kept running. Jaw tightening. Shoulder twitching. Violence building.
My eyes widened even more.
"My Tensura dream is about to come true… having monster girls all over me… having my own harem like Rimuru— but this time I'm human so—"
Jane accelerated. Dangerously.
"Woo hoo—"
I jumped slightly as I ran. Stars in my eyes. Actual stars. My brain had fully left my body.
"I'm gonna have me a monster harem!"
Jane stopped. Turned. Jumped.
"YOU ANIMAL!"
THUD.
Her kick connected cleanly. My soul left my body.
WHAM.
I hit a tree. Bark exploded. Leaves shook. I slid down like gravity personally hated me.
Jane pointed at me, still fuming. "Have you forgotten about Rael?!"
I rubbed my head. "Oh come on… can't a man dream? This is a fantasy world. Dreams are literally the main currency."
I looked up again, eyes sparkling despite internal injuries. "If I had girls like Princess Shuna… or a busty babe like Shion… I'm good."
Jane's eye twitched.
"You imbecile!"
She started kicking me.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Each kick legally counted as attempted murder.
"Why are guys like you always interested in demi-humans, elves, and now monsters?!"
I raised my arms defensively. "Hey— hey— you know human girls have their charms, but we don't know why we love them more. It's a mystery to us all."
I closed my eyes, suddenly looking holy for someone being beaten into a tree.
"But not for me though…"
Jane paused mid-kick.
"I've spent my whole life surrounded by human girls," I continued, eyes still closed, voice serene. "Can't I just have this chance… to experience monster love?"
A breeze passed. Silence.
Jane stared at me.
"…You're hopeless."
She turned. "Get up. Let's go meet the others."
I pushed off the tree. "Yeah, yeah— I'm fine. Probably. Internal bleeding builds character."
RUSTLE.
Goblins burst from the side. Blades flashing.
Jane dashed instantly. "Move!"
I stumbled after her. "Wait— hey— wait for me! I'm still spiritually injured!"
We ran, weaving through branches and uneven roots as the forest blurred past.
Rael.
I rotated the axe into stance, feet digging into the soil. My breathing was heavy, shoulders rising and falling. Branik stepped forward.
SWING.
His great sword carved a wide arc. Two goblins split apart.
Another lunged low. I blocked. Steel clashed. I drove a kick into its chest. It flew back.
"They're too many!"
Branik cleaved another. "Fall back. Head to camp!"
More goblins surged. But something changed. Their movements became erratic. Twitchy. Unpredictable.
One vanished low.
SHNK.
A blade sliced across my cheek.
Another—
SHK.
My leg.
I stepped back, blood trailing. Irritation rose. Anger followed. My grip tightened.
No. Stay calm.
I inhaled slowly. Exhaled. The world slowed. Noise faded. I closed my eyes.
Footsteps. Air shifts. Intent.
A goblin leapt. I tilted. Missed. Another from behind. I pivoted. Dodged. Another rushed. I stepped between them.
Eyes opened.
What if… I channel the hit… into my weapon.
Pain pulsed. Vein trace gathered. Flowed. Into the axe. The blade trembled. Heat building.
"Rael!"
Too late.
I released it.
BOOM.
Heat burst outward. Goblins blasted back.
I stepped forward. Raised the axe. The metal glowed red. Heat warped the air. Brighter. Brighter.
I slammed it down.
WHOOOOOM.
A massive heat wave surged forward. Trees bent. Ground cracked. Goblins burned. Ash drifted through the heated air.
I lowered the axe.
"…I'll call this move… Heatburst Execution."
Branik walked through the fading heat casually. "That was amazing."
I blinked. "Wait… you're alive?"
"Yes."
He rolled his shoulder. "That is the ability my Root affinity gave me. I absorb both physical and Vein energy. I can channel it… times two… through my body or great sword."
I stared.
"…That's pretty cool. Unlike someone I know."
"You are referring to Kael—"
"What? No." I turned. "Let's head back to camp."
We walked. The lingering heat slowly fading behind us.
I was not thinking about Kael.
Not at all.
Ba-dum.
I walked faster.