Chapter 1: Chapter I: Into the Woods
As darkness cloaked the sky, Kayla Artilla stood atop the hill, mesmerized by the fading sun and the imminent embrace of night—an awe-inspiring spectacle. The air was thick with anticipation, a palpable energy that seemed to hum against her skin like a million invisible fingers
"Huff... Huff... Huff." She inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of burning wood and metal, the acrid stench of gunpowder and death. Her gaze drifted over the battlefield below, taking in the carnage wrought by her Purrifial gun.
Lowering her Purrifial gun, she felt the weight of tension in the air, massaging her weary hand that bore the strain of relentless weapon use. Taking off her target glasses, she surveyed the aftermath from the hill's vantage point.
Purrifia lay in ruins; destruction, loss, and an overwhelming darkness surrounded her. The very Purrifial energy that had obliterated her kin now pulsated within her weapon. Alone, bereft of home, family, friends, and allies, she, the lone survivor, grappled with the weight of her father's charge—to wield the Purrifial energy in her gun to vanquish the malevolent forces plaguing the world.
"Oh God, what course shall Kayla Artilla take?" she pondered, immersed in reflection until her thoughts shifted to her family's remaining wealth in Altaria. "It's been a month; it seems nothing survived here. Perhaps I must embark on a journey—first, I'll head to Altaria to ensure my family's hard-earned wealth is secure."
With determination burning bright within her, she began the long trek toward Altaria. The road was treacherous, littered with the remains of those who had fallen in the war. As she walked, she couldn't help but wonder what awaited her at her destination. Would she find solace and safety among her kin? Or would she find only more strife and suffering? The thought chilled her to the bone.
The journey took her through the demon's lair forest, a dark and twisted place near Purrifia where the trees seemed to reach out with skeletal fingers, their gnarled branches clawing at the sky like grasping hands. The air was thick with malevolence, heavy with the stench of brimstone and rot. The ground shook with each labored breath of some unseen beast, and strange, glowing orbs flickered in the distance, casting eerie shadows that danced along the forest floor.
"Kayla, you can do this." She muttered under her breath.
Kayla found herself drawn to the orbs, irresistibly drawn to their otherworldly light. As she ventured deeper into the forest, she began to suspect that they were the eyes of demons, watching her every move, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Her heart raced, but she forced herself to remain calm, focusing on her training and the Purrifial energy within her gun. She knew that the demon's lair forest was no place for the faint of heart, but she also knew that she must confront whatever lay at its heart if she was to secure her family's wealth and fulfill her destiny.
The deeper she ventured, the more the forest seemed to shift and change around her. The trees grew taller and more twisted, their branches forming a canopy so dense that it blocked out the sunlight. The ground became uneven, littered with the remains of those who had dared to tread here before her. The air grew colder, and an icy wind howled through the forest, chilling Kayla to her bones. She could feel the eyes of the demons on her, their malevolent intentions seething with hatred and malice until she heard something.
In another part of the dense forest near Purrifia, a man emerged.
"Blade Demon Slaying magic; blade dancer!"
Swiftly swinging his sword, he struck down a demon, his blue attire blending seamlessly with the shadows. His broad and lengthy sword danced in a relentless combat.
The demons multiplied, and he struggled to find a suitable escape route.
"Blade Demon Slaying Magic; Death striker!"
The young man's sword danced through the air, a whirlwind of steel and shadow, as he fought off wave after wave of demons. His movements were graceful and precise, each swing of his sword an artful display of power and agility. The battlefield around him was a chaotic mess: screams of pain, the clashing of metal, and the acrid stench of demon blood filled the air. Yet amidst the bedlam, he moved with an almost ethereal grace, his sword always seeming to know where it needed to be next.
Despite his youth, there was an air of determination about him that belied his years. His attire was simple but effective: a pair of black pants, White shirt, and a flowing blue leather jacket, both stained with the blood and gore of countless demons. His hair was middle part and raven black, flowing freely behind him as he fought. And then, there was his sword: a massive, double-edged blade that glinted menacingly in the dim light, its handle wrapped in worn leather and etched with strange symbols.
The demons, sensing his skill and determination, seemed to grow more desperate. They came at him in greater numbers, their bestial snarls filling the air. But the young man was undaunted. With every swing of his sword, he sent another demon back to the depths from whence it came. And with every victory, his sword seemed to grow heavier and more powerful, as if it were imbued with a life of its own.
Yet the demons continued pouring in from different parts of the forest, especially the Demon's Lair Forest, infamous for its Bogus breed—green demons resembling humans but adorned with menacing horns.
Drenched in blue blood, no matter his skill and effort, the sheer number of demons overwhelmed him. Trazor, the feared demon hunter, appeared on the brink of defeat.
Weakened, Trazor pressed on, knowing he must fight to protect his name from the stain of shame.
"Blade D-Demon S-Slaying Magic; Strike Impact!"
Despite his prowess as a swordsman and demon hunter, even with years of training, there were moments, like now, when he could be overpowered.
Advancing, Trazor stabbed a demon forcefully, then pushed it aside for an easier strike.
Exhausted and breathless, Trazor faced imminent defeat at the hands of the demons.
"Mode change! Gatler Mode! Marksmanship Magic; Rapid fire!"
With a commanding voice and explosions around, Trazor was instructed to rest. Turning, he saw a girl emerging from the darkness.
"Leave it to me, demon hunter. Take a break."
"Ugh! Gross!" The girl, adept in Marksman Wizardry, swiftly eliminated demons, impressing Trazor with her agility.
"Bring it on, demons! Mode change! Burner Mode! Marksmanship Magic; Flash Fire!"
She attacked relentlessly, oblivious to the fact that the demons were all gone.
"Aw... all gone?" she muttered, turning around.
Trazor smirked, raising his sword behind her.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"I'm Kayla from Purrifia. I didn't mean any harm, and I saved you, so can you lower that?" Kayla retorted, annoyed.
"I'm Trazor, and we don't have time to chit-chat." Trazor introduced himself, lifting Kayla, needing to leave before more demons arrived.
"Ay jusmiyo! Why are you dragging me? Pervert! Help!" Kayla protested, hitting Trazor with her weapon.
"Ouch! I said be quiet!" Trazor said, blocking Kayla's strikes when a spine-chilling howl echoed, making them turn to the nearby hill. They saw a group of Aspobo, demon wolves, eyes gleaming at them. Unlike Bogus, Aspobo were stronger due to their speed and hunting instincts.
"Uh oh... we're in trouble," Kayla muttered, glancing at Trazor who reciprocated the look.
"When I count to three, we run together," Trazor whispered to Kayla, who nodded.
"One."
"Two."
"Th—" "Run!" Kayla shouted, dragging Trazor, who now wanted to smack Kayla.
They ran, but the wolves were exceptionally fast, not your ordinary kind.
"You go ahead; I'll try to hold them back. I'll catch up," Trazor said as they paused to catch their breath. They exchanged glances, tension hanging heavy.
"Okay, as long as you follow. Bye!" Kayla said, running off and leaving Trazor behind. Trazor couldn't help but sigh at the girl's response.
"Tsk... crazy girl. No sense of conscience!" he muttered to himself, quickly positioning himself as he felt the wolves approaching.
And he wasn't wrong; ten Aspobo were now in front of him, salivating.
"Chill, doggies. Excited to taste the sharpness of my blade?"
"Then the pleasures are all yours." With those words, he immediately used his magic.
"Equipment enhancer magic; Lost Blade!"
A force enveloped his sword, ready for an attack. However, the wolves were too fast, and he didn't notice one perched on a tree, now biting his arm. Luckily, he had a refined iron gauntlet, causing his sword to drop.
"Ah... shit!" Trazor groaned, his arm slightly numbed from the wolf's persistent biting. He tried reaching for his sword when another wolf bit his other hand.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
---
Kayla continued running, unaware that Grobbers were following her, preparing for their feast. Grobbers looked human but had bat-like wings and fur-covered bodies.
"Huuu!! Time first muna," Kayla gasped, looking around but seeing no wolf. However, she heard a scream.
"Hmmm... maybe they're feasting on the demon hunter."
"I'll consider his sacrifice," she said, pretending not to care.
"Hey, idiot hunter!" Kayla shouted when a Grobber suddenly swooped down. "I said time first! Waaahh!" Kayla shot the Grobber, killing it, but as she looked up, ten more Grobbers were there.
"I think this is the end of Kayla the great, run!" she yelled, starting to run even though she stumbled.
Kayla kept running until she unknowingly reached a cliff, a dead end.
"Uh oh, this might really be the end," she said to herself, positioning herself for a difficult battle, though she knew she had no chance, especially against flying opponents.
Determined, Kayla decided to use her strongest magic spell, enhanced by the Purrifial energy.
"Mode change!! Blaster mode! Now, Lost art of marksmanship; Giga Blaster!!"
A bright maroon light emanated from her gun, signaling her to start the countdown for her attack.
"Five," she began counting.
"Four," she carefully observed her enemies.
"Three," she gripped the trigger, ready to pull it at any moment.
"Two," trembling as she aimed at the sky, hoping not to fail.
"One! Taste my Giga Blaster!" she shouted, pulling the trigger, releasing a powerful energy beam directly at them.
Kayla saw no Grobbers left, satisfied.
"You're a real troublemaker, Kayla!" she happily said, catching her breath.
As she was about to walk away, a sharp claw pierced her shoulder, and she felt like she was being lifted.
Looking up, she saw a Grobber, and above it were others.
"Ouch! I'll kill you, demon, once I escape!"
[TO BE CONTINUED!!!]
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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