Lukas was already roaming through the Iron Tree Forest for almost one hour. He should be exhausted and fatigued, but for some reason, he didn't feel tired at all, almost full of stamina.
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him; Traceless Steps were already working in full effect, trying to make his steps as silent as the predator chasing him.
While running, Lukas's mind worked at lightning speed. Running in this scenario is plain stupid. I will never be able to outrun a monster known for being agile, but damn, do I have any other options...?
With a two-star reserve of Star Energy, I can only summon the skeleton to distract the tiger once more. If I try to summon again I would run out of the Star Energy reserve. Although passive skills like Traceless Steps use minor energy, over a long term the consumption is considerable.
In a fraction of a second, countless possible scenarios flashed through his head, each worse than the last.
Each passing moment the Ironhide Devil Tiger grew closer at breakneck speed.
Lukas ran like a dog with its tail tucked in between its legs, jumping over the narrow alleys, expertly avoiding the large stones that seemed too eager to trip him over and let him fall.
Finally, the Ironhide Devil Tiger caught up, its gigantic body casting a shadow over Lukas's small figure.
"No, I can't let the monster get any closer..." Lukas gritted his teeth and increased his speed; however, compared to him the tiger was simply faster, its ferocious claws raised upwards flashing with a cold sheen.
Lukas's heart chilled. If the attack struck his body, he would be turned into minced meat.
Badum! Badum! His heart beat like a war drum.
The world slowed for a moment.
Not because he used some miraculous skills; it was simply his mind going into total overdrive facing death.
He gritted his teeth hard enough to turn them into powder.
Fine. If he was going to die again, he'd at least use everything he had left.
He felt the faint warmth of Star Energy flickering on the back of his hand. The engraved stars let out a dim glow as he summoned the last of his power.
"Come on... just once more."
The tiger claw was about to strike Lukas's chest when space rippled.
A skeleton appeared in between him and the tiger—thin bones and creaking joints, hollow eye sockets; it looked as if a mere gust of wind would reduce it to powder.
Fragile it may be, but this was Lukas's only hope of survival.
The world returned to normal.
Bang!
The tiger's claw slammed into the skeleton. The fragile bones shattered instantly, the skull rocketing away like a launched projectile, smashing against a stone pillar.
Lukas wasn't surprised; he had expected this outcome the moment he summoned it.
The skeleton wasn't meant to stop—only to slow the blow.
And slow it did... albeit only a little.
The remaining force crashed into his chest.
Crack! Several of his ribs instantly shattered.
Burning hot pain, similar to being burned alive, shot through him. His body was launched into the air, blood flowing out his mouth.
Bang! Lukas only came to a stop when he hit the Iron Tree.
"F-fuck... f-fuck..."
His heart beating like a war drum, vision crimson red, his limbs twitching uncontrollably, he tried to stand up but his legs buckled.
The mutated Star Tiger didn't rush for the kill, instead slowly circled around Lukas's blood-soaked figure, its eyes showing the pure grace of an expert predator, letting Lukas bleed to death.
Every moment felt like an eternity. It was at this moment that he truly understood.
He was a failure, even in another world.
"Even when I get a second chance… I still achieve nothing..."
The tiger tensed its hind legs and leapt, its massive shadow completely enveloping Lukas's figure.
The world froze and the sky above dimmed slightly as if trying to capture the exact moment of Lukas's brutal death.
Then—
"How surprising. Someone actually dared to wander this deep into the Iron Forest alone..."
The voice was soft and serene, filled with the force of the laws, causing the mutated tiger's body to freeze mid-air.
Then the void cracked vertically beside Lukas. A woman walked out like a devil being summoned.
Her skin was pale, almost glowing like moonlight against the crawling stitch marks that tied each of her limbs together. Each mark looked like a living and breathing tattoo; normally it should have made any human afraid of getting close to her, but in her case, these seal-like marks only increased her charm by another level.
Her long dark hair was like ink, and her ocean-blue eyes shimmered with intelligence—cold, and predatory cunningness.
The gown she wore seemed to be woven from fabric that was alive, shifting with her movements, clinging to her figure in a way that made it impossible to assess her alluring figure.
She glanced at him, then at the suspended tiger. Without lifting a finger, her aura flared outward.
Bang! The tiger burst into a cloud of crimson smoke; Star Energy flowed into her body like a gentle breeze, nourishing her body from within.
She didn't even blink once. Noticing her approach, Lukas tried to move away but he couldn't.
"Status Override."
A flickering blue window materialized before her, responding to her voice.
[Name: Lukas (Soul Anomaly)
Talent: Skeleton Summoner (Grade: Trash)
Potential: Two-Star
Skeleton: Basic Bonewalker (Unstable)
Condition: Weak / Soul Fractured]
"Soul anomaly? What an interesting find..."
Lukas's pupils constricted; a cold chill ran down his spine. He had witnessed just how the tiger had turned into a cloud of smoke at her gesture, and now that her gaze was on him, he felt as if he was being examined like a lab rat.
Zerin extended her hand. A thread of Star Energy slipped from her fingertips into his chest. Warmth spread through his broken body, his wounds slowly closed, bones mended, and slowly his heartbeat returned to normal.
His vision returned to normal. The woman who crushed the tiger into a cloud of smoke was hovering inches away from his face.
Lukas jerked back instinctively and almost stepped off the platform.
Zerin grabbed his collar with a smile, stopping him from falling.
"Don't move. Your body is still unstable."
The next moment she flicked her wrist and a pill appeared between her fingers, pale orange radiating a gentle glow.
"Swallow this."
Lukas hesitated only for a heartbeat, then he took it and gulped it down in one bite.
Zerin's slender eyebrows rose, her smile widening.
"If you wanted to kill me," Lukas rasped, "You wouldn't need a pill."
Zerin chuckled, her eyes turning into the shape of crescent moons. "What a clear-headed young man. No wonder I was drawn to you..."
Lukas's nerves tightened like a bowstring; she was too close to him, he could feel the warmness of her body.
Before Lukas could say anything, Zerin's figure straightened, her gown swaying with the wind.
"The nearest safe zone is dozens of kilometers away. You won't survive the journey alone." Her eyes glowed faintly.
Lukas's expression darkened at her words. Just then she continued, "Coincidentally, I am also heading there."
She extended her hand.
"Let's go together."
Lukas stared at her outstretched hand, his instinct telling him to slap it away. But he knew doing so would be the same as suicide.
Zerin didn't urge him, but only looked at him with a smile.
Then finally he grabbed Zerin's hand and pulled himself up.
A tensed sigh escaped his lips.
Injured, wary, and powerless…
He followed Zerin, trying his best to keep up. He glanced at his status window to find any abnormalities.
[Name: Lukas (99% Soul Merged)
Talent: Skeleton Summoner (Grade: Trash)
Bloodline - None
Life-Form Grade: Rank One Star Gazer
Potential: Two-Star
Skeleton: Basic Bonewalker (Unstable)
Skills - Traceless Steps (Rare)]