The Spirit Realm wind rustled through the glowing trees of Mount Pleasant as Ramba and Chippo continued their ascent.
The air trembled faintly… something was nearby.
A shadow lumbered out from behind a crooked spirit-tree — a demon with long arms, curved horns, and hollow eyes.
Chippo stepped aside.
"Your turn."
Ramba inhaled sharply. His katana flared into existence.
The demon hissed and charged.
Ramba slid forward, blade sweeping—
Shrrk!
The demon collapsed into spiritrons (spiritual particles), leaving behind a pulsing core.
Ramba stared at it… then grinned and snatched it up.
"My first demon kill!" he shouted, practically bouncing.
Then he crouched and grabbed the core with both hands. Chippo raised a brow as he devoured it with fierce hunger.
"You look like someone who hasn't eaten in days," she said flatly.
"Hey—! It's called motivation, okay?"
Chippo folded her arms. "If you want to reach Spirit Warrior, you'll need at least five more."
Ramba's eyes gleamed with pure greed.
But then—
Rustling.
Growling.
Footsteps.
Ten of them.
A ring of horned demons stepped from the shadows, all moving in perfect formation.
Chippo's voice dropped.
"A Contubernium[1]!."
The demons circled them, claws scraping against the glowing ground.
"Looks like we hit the jackpot two travellers" one said
"The boss is going to be really happen with this" another chimed with a grin
Chippo summoned her spirit axe
While Ramba summoned another sword instantly. "I'll take one!"
He lunged, clashing with the nearest demon. His movements were fast—clean—precise. The demon staggered back and fell…
But another rushed him from behind.
WHAM!
Ramba crashed to the ground, dazed.
"Ramba!" Chippo turned—
A demon leaped at her from behind—
BA—THUM!
The demon flew backward as if slammed by an invisible wall.
Chippo didn't answer—she simply blurred.
A flash of motion.
A sweep of her axe.
A shockwave of power.
Within seconds, the Contubernium was in chaos.
Ramba watched, stunned, as Chippo cut through them with overwhelming skill—clean, efficient, not a single wasted movement.
One demon stumbled back, terror filling its hollow eyes.
It erupted wings and shot into the sky.
"I—I have to report this to the boss!" it screamed, fleeing.
Chippo dusted off her hands. "Small fry."
Ramba stared at her.
No way she was a year younger than him… right?
"Hey, Chippo… something I've been meaning to ask."
She glanced at him. "Ask."
"Why do you always stick a talisman on your stomach when astral projecting?"
"It protects my body from demonic possession," she said casually.
Ramba froze. "Why didn't you tell me that earlier?! What if my body is possessed right now?! We have to go back—"
Chippo tapped his forehead.
"If demons are constantly attracted to you, have you ever wondered why none has ever possessed your physical body?"
"…No?"
"I suspect you already carry a protective charm. Something placed on you long ago."
Ramba frowned. "Isn't it risky to assume that?"
She shrugged. "If you ever do get possessed, I'll just enter your body and kill the demon."
Ramba shivered at the thought of Chippo fighting a demon in his body
"Please don't ever say that again."
Chippo reached into her Soul Pouch [2]and held out five demon cores offering Ramba some cores.
Ramba hesitated.
"I wanna hunt on my own, not rely on—"
"You're drooling I can see you want the cores," Chippo said.
"…Fine. If you insist."
He gulped them all down in one go—
The ground vibrated.
Energy burst from his spirit body.
He lifted off the ground by several centimeters.
His pupils turned bright gold for a moment—
Then everything snapped back into normal.
Chippo nodded.
"Advancement. You're now Spirit Warrior, Grade 1."
Ramba flexed his fingers, amazed.
"This strength…!"
"From here on, breakthroughs will take longer," she warned. "Much longer."
---
Meanwhile…
Deep within a beautiful Demon Mansion, the demon who escaped knelt trembling.
A tall figure sat on a high seat, his back turned. Shadows coiled around him like smoke.
"Enter," the figure commanded.
The demon stepped in. "Boss—"
"What was that?!"
"Lo—lord Malusdel" the demon said while stammering
"Speak, subject."
"Our Contubernium was gathering human souls as you ordered… but we encountered hunters!"
Silence.
"…Impossible," Malusdel murmured. "HE told me the hunters were extinct."
"I saw them!" the demon insisted.
"Two of them… they wielded weapons of astral we intially thought they were helpless travellers but we were mistaken.
The girl—she destroyed my comrades alone!"
Malusdel slowly rose.
Power radiated from him, dark and ancient.
"So… hunters still live. This is quite a dilemma."
A low rumble filled the room.
"But if I consume their souls… I will finally ascend.
After a thousand years… I will become a Demon Warrior."
The demon trembled, hopeful.
"Did—did I do good boss?"
"Yes you did good"
Malusdel clicked his fingers.
The demon's head exploded to bits.
Malusdel said calmly.
"Hunters… I'm coming for you."
[1] Contubernium - A group of 10 demons
[2] Soul Pouch - A spirit-orged storage artifact used by Hunters to store Demon Cores, Talismans and Qi-Fruits