The Arcanite walked forward. Each step had weight, taking her closer to goal. The air shifted around her, heavy with intent, and the wind curled at her back as if it knew something sacred was unfolding.
Leo felt a shift in the presence behind him. There was no threat in it, no bloodlust, just a resonant power, ancient and deep. He turned his head slightly, his arms still locked with the beast.
"It's dangerous here!"
She stopped just short of him, her breath stirring the dust as it settled between them. He felt magic build into a pull deep in his chest.
The monster's tails thrashed, destroying everything behind it, before one swung powerfully toward the two of them. But before the deadly tail reached them, Leo, with a roar, threw the monster again. Its body crashed through the trees, snapping trunks like twigs as dust exploded into the clearing.
Then, a soft light bloomed from the ground. A magic circle unfolded beneath them. Its symbols curling outward from the center, pulsing white-blue with every heartbeat.
Leo turned fully to face her as the Arcanite lowered herself gracefully, each movement a reflection of a dream. Her voice rose, clear and resonant.
"By the ancient bond of Arcanites," she began, one knee lowering to the glowing ground, "I, Roxanne, call upon the power of our ancestors."
The circle responded, glowing brighter.
Leo blinked. "Ai," he murmured, without taking his eyes off her. What's happening?
Ai's voice reached his mind. Roxanne is an Arcanite. A legendary being and she's initiating a pact.
But normally, the adventurer kneels. Not the other way around.
"In this moment of need," Roxanne continued, her voice unwavering, "I seek to form a sacred pact with you. Let our energies intertwine and our strengths merge as one." She looked up at him. There was no pleading in her eyes.
With her vow spoken, Roxanne raised her hand. "Through this union, may we become an unstoppable force against the darkness that threatens us. I offer my essence, my power, and my unwavering loyalty." Her hand hovered steady, though Leo caught the slight tremble in her voice. "Will you accept this bond, and together, shall we forge a path of victory and honor?"
The circle brightened, and Leo felt a familiar stillness, the kind that came right before everything changed.
He thought of Earth. Whenever he found himself clouded by irrational thinking, he often thought of his idols, real and imaginary. This time, he thought of how Keanu might respond.
Keanu was known for his kind heart, a true gentleman. The stories of his generosity and humility were legendary. He would give up his seat for someone in need, engage in heartfelt conversations with fans, and even take pay cuts for his colleagues. If Keanu were here, what would he do?
Leo imagined him responding with the utmost grace and respect. He saw Keanu moved.
With his image guiding him, Leo took a steadying breath.
He reached out and took Roxanne's hand. It was warm in his, and a jolt of something electric passed between them. He gently pulled her to her feet, her eyes widening.
Then, to her astonishment, Leo knelt. The light wrapped around him like a breath. He raised her hand to his lips, kissed it lightly, and met her eyes.
"Yes," he said, his voice low and sure. "I accept this bond."
The magic circle exploded in color, shifting from white to violet to something like starlight. It lifted around them like mist and formed a silent dome, sealing them off from the waiting world.
Roxanne's core bloomed.
As she felt it starting to get full, she braced herself for another failure, her hand tightening its grip and her lip trembling in anticipation of the familiar disappointment.
But then, as the first core filled completely, she felt an ecstatic jolt as the energy spilled over, beginning to fill a second, larger core.
Waves of energy coursed through her. Each new core that filled aligned in a circular path, resembling a mandala. The energy flowed, creating a harmonious pattern within her as it emanated different hues of vibrant blues, radiant greens, fiery reds, and soft purples.
The colors danced and merged in a symphony of light. As each core filled, the display grew more intense, until a final, grand core began to fill, housing all the others within an orb that pulsed with a kaleidoscope of vibrant, swirling hues.
As it filled, her heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of victory. For the first time in centuries, she had succeeded. The crushing weight of failure that had haunted her for so long evaporated, and tears welled in her eyes.
Liberation.
She had found her partner at last.
The pact was complete. She breathed out, and the tears of release finally came. The surrounding forest came alive with their newfound energy, the trees whispering and the air buzzing with magic.
A quiet notification blinked in Leo's vision.
[ System Notification ] Achievement unlocked: Meet a Legendary Figure!
But the moment didn't last. The monster rose again, its feet hitting the ground like falling stone. Its six tails split into even more, each armed with talons curved like sickles. It leapt into the air, a shadow of teeth and fury.
The light around Roxanne fractured.
Her form dissolved not with pain or sound, but with fluid motion, erupting into thousands of luminous red butterflies. They swirled around Leo in an orbit of wings before converging into his waiting hand, where a blade took shape. It was blood-deep crimson, with a perfect edge and a powerful presence.
[ System Notification ] Achievement unlocked: Obtain the Bloodmoon Blade!
New skills poured in like rain. Leo's eyes flicked through them, but one caught his breath, its name pulsing in his mind. He gripped the sword and felt Roxanne within it. She was there with him.
The forest froze. The monster roared, its rage uncontained.
Leo moved. Mana flowed down his arm like liquid light as he bent, drawing the blade back. Then he slashed. A full 360-degree arc carved the sky as mana surged behind the motion. A crescent-shaped wave of energy erupted forward.
Celestial Arc Slash!
The energy tore through the air. The monster struck in its center, never had a chance. Its body convulsed as thick, black blood gushed across the clearing. It dropped to the ground, limbs twitching and tails writhing in their death throes before it choked and fell silent.
Then stillness.
Even the clouds above had split. The red trail from the slash glowed, suspended in the sky for a moment of color and silence before fading. The forest breathed again.
Leo stood still, the Bloodmoon Blade resting at his side.