The beast's crimson eyes flickered, its twisted form crouched low, radiating pure malice. Saliva dripped from its jagged maw, sizzling against the ground, the miasma within it corroding the stone. It was no ordinary monster—twisted by miasma, its body had adapted beyond what was natural.
And yet, Kai grinned.
"Finally," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. His katana hummed with fire, heat rippling in the air around him. "I was getting really bored."
The beast lunged. A blur of claws, a monstrous shadow cutting through the battlefield—but Kai was faster.
In a flash of motion, he side-stepped the incoming attack, his foot skimming the dirt. His katana whistled through the air—a swift, controlled arc—aimed right at the beast's exposed side.
CLANG!
The impact sent a shockwave outward. Sparks exploded from where Kai's blade struck the monster's hardened hide. The force alone was enough to send the creature skidding sideways, its claws digging into the dirt to stabilize itself.
Kai whistled. "Tough one, huh?"
The beast roared, recovering unnaturally fast, its muscles bulging, twisting, strengthening.
Then, it vanished. No, not vanished—moved. It was adapting.
Before anyone could react, it reappeared behind Kai—its claws slashing toward him like a guillotine.
But the wind howled. A sudden, unseen force ripped through the battlefield—a spiraling gust that smashed into the beast mid-attack, hurling it backward.
Gale lowered his hand. His emerald-green eyes remained calm, analyzing the battlefield with a sharp, tactical gaze. The air around him swirled unnaturally, blades of wind forming in the space between each breath.
"Pay attention, Kai," Gale said smoothly. "It's not just strong—it's getting smarter."
Kai huffed, shaking off the close call. "Yeah, yeah. I had it covered."
Gale ignored him. His focus was on the beast.
The monster dug its claws into the ground, stopping itself from being blown away completely. It crouched low, eyes darting between its two opponents—learning. Adjusting.
Belle, watching from a safe distance, felt her chest tighten. It's evolving as it fights.
She knew miasma could do that. But this fast?
She remained still, silver eyes scanning the battle, analyzing every movement, every ability, every reaction. Kai's relentless offense. Gale's calculated control. Both were impressive—far stronger than any normal adventurer.
But was it enough?
The beast tensed. Then, it moved again. This time, it didn't lunge. It didn't charge recklessly. It feinted.
A flicker of motion toward Kai—before twisting suddenly, its true target revealed—Gale.
A sudden, brutal burst of speed—its elongated claws aimed for the Vice-Captain's throat.
But Gale had already moved. A flick of his wrist. The wind screamed. A wall of air slammed into the beast, stopping it mid-motion.
But the monster resisted. It fought against the wind, pushing through, claws inching closer.
Gale exhaled. "Tch. Persistent."
He raised his sword. The air shifted. Belle's breath caught as she felt it—a sudden shift in pressure. Hundreds of wind-forged blades materialized in an instant. They hung in the air, shimmering like glass, forming a massive sphere around the beast. Each one hummed with lethal intent, vibrating at speeds capable of slicing through solid steel.
Gale's voice was calm, almost indifferent.
"Disappear."
He swung his sword. The storm of blades converged. A deafening, howling maelstrom of cutting winds engulfed the beast. It didn't even have time to scream.
For a brief moment, the battlefield was consumed by a blinding flurry of motion. The very air itself ripped and tore, the howling winds drowning out every other sound.
Then—silence. When the wind dissipated, the beast stood frozen.
Its body collapsed. What was left of it, anyway.
Shredded wounds covered its form, its once-mutated hide carved apart by Gale's devastating attack. It twitched once—then lay still, defeated.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then—the knights and adventurers erupted into cheers.
"Vice-Captain Gale!"
"Kai! You two are amazing!"
"We actually won!"
Belle remained still. She wasn't celebrating. She was thinking. Analyzing. Despite their overwhelming strength, the battle had been dangerous. The beast had adapted quickly. Too quickly. And worst of all—there would be more like it.
Kai stretched, grinning. "Not bad, old man. I'd give that an 8 outta 10."
Gale sighed. "You nearly got yourself killed."
"Yeah, but I didn't," Kai shot back. "You saw that first strike, right? That was clean."
Gale gave him a look before shaking his head. "You're impossible."
Belle suppressed a small smile. This world was dangerous. But at least she wasn't the only one capable of fighting back. For now, that was enough. But she knew—her time would come.
The battlefield was still.
The once-ferocious beast now lay motionless, its twisted body torn apart by Gale's wind magic. The air still carried the faint scent of scorched fur and metallic blood, a grim reminder of how close the fight had been.
Kai flicked his katana to the side, sending dark blood splattering onto the dirt before sheathing it with a sharp click. He exhaled, finally allowing his adrenaline to settle.
Gale, on the other hand, remained still, his green eyes narrowed as he examined the remains. His expression was unreadable, but Belle could tell—something was off.
The cheers of the knights and adventurers gradually faded as they too noticed their Vice-Captain's silence.
"…Gale?" one of the knights asked hesitantly.
Gale didn't answer immediately. Instead, he crouched near the beast's corpse, pressing his gloved fingers against its toughened hide. The moment his hand made contact, a faint ripple of lingering miasma pulsed outward. The air around it twisted unnaturally, reacting as if the creature's corruption had not yet fully faded.
Kai scowled. "That's not normal, is it?"
Gale withdrew his hand, standing up with a deep frown. "No." His gaze swept across the battlefield, then back to the dead monster. "This level of adaptation… it shouldn't be possible for a beast outside the Forbidden Forest."
Belle's fingers twitched at the mention of the Forbidden Forest.
Kai crossed his arms. "Yeah, I was gonna say. I've fought my fair share of beasts, but this one? It was learning mid-fight. Adjusting. That's some high-level mutated beast behavior."
"It wasn't just strong," Gale muttered. "It was… evolving. Mid-battle." His voice was grim. "That's unheard of."
A heavy silence followed.
The adventurers and knights, who had moments ago been celebrating their victory, now exchanged uneasy glances.
"…You think more of these things are out there?" one of them asked, voice tight with concern.
Gale didn't answer immediately. His jaw tightened. "I don't know." He looked toward the horizon, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the battlefield. "But we can't ignore this. I need to report this to Captain Roderic."
Belle, still keeping her distance, clenched her fist.
She knew exactly where this creature's unnatural strength came from.
Miasma.
And if creatures outside the Forbidden Forest were mutating at this rate…
The implications were terrifying.
Gale exhaled sharply. "We'll need to warn the guild, too. If more of these appear, Dawnstead could be in danger."
Kai groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Great. More problems. I was hoping to relax after this."
Gale shot him a look. "If you want to relax, stop charging headfirst into fights without thinking."
Kai smirked. "Then I wouldn't be me."
Belle let out a small exhale, her mind still replaying the battle. She had learned something valuable today.
Kai and Gale were strong. But the world's dangers were growing. And sooner or later—she would have to fight again. For now, she remained quiet. Observing. Thinking.
But deep down—she could feel it. Something big was coming. And this was only the beginning.
Kai stretched, rolling his shoulders as they walked away from the battlefield. The tension in the air lingered, but for now, the fight was over. His sharp red eyes drifted toward Belle, taking in her tattered school uniform—ripped, dirt-stained, and barely holding together after her battles in the Forbidden Forest.
"Hey, newbie." Kai smirked, nudging her arm. "Not to be rude, but you look like you've been through hell."
Belle arched an eyebrow. "I have."
Kai let out a small chuckle. "Fair point. But seriously, you need a change of clothes." He gave her a once-over. "Unless you plan on walking around town looking like you just crawled out of a monster's stomach."
Belle glanced down at herself. Her once-pristine uniform was barely holding together. Her skirt was frayed, her sleeves torn, and patches of dirt and dried blood clung to the fabric. It wasn't exactly an outfit that blended in.
"…I don't have money," she admitted, her voice even.
Kai blinked. "Oh." He scratched the back of his head. "Right. Guess you wouldn't, huh?"
Before he could say anything else, a familiar voice spoke up.
"In that case, allow me."
Belle turned, her silver eyes narrowing slightly as she recognized the merchant from the bandit attack. The same man she had saved in the forest. His round face was beaming with relief and gratitude as he stepped forward.
"You're the girl from before!" The merchant's expression softened. "I never had the chance to properly thank you. If not for you, I wouldn't be here right now."
Belle was silent. She hadn't expected anything in return.
The merchant glanced at her ruined outfit and smiled warmly. "Let me repay you. Come to my shop—I'll get you a proper set of clothes. And if you need a place to stay for the night, I'll arrange that as well."
Belle hesitated. She had survived on her own up until now. Accepting help felt… unfamiliar. But she also understood the reality of her situation.
She met the merchant's gaze and finally spoke. "…Belle."
The merchant blinked. "Pardon?"
"My name is Belle." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Thank you for helping me."
The merchant's smile widened. "Well then, Belle. Welcome to Dawnstead."
With that, they made their way toward the town.
The merchant led Belle through the bustling streets of Dawnstead, weaving past vendors and townspeople who were still murmuring about the recent battle. Belle's tattered school uniform drew curious glances, but she ignored them, her mind focused on what lay ahead.
They soon arrived at a well-maintained clothing shop, its wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze. Inside, the scent of fresh fabric and polished wood filled the air. Rows of neatly arranged garments lined the walls—dresses, tunics, cloaks, and battle-ready attire suited for adventurers.
The merchant clapped his hands together. "Now then, let's find you something proper to wear!"
Belle scanned the options, her silver eyes were thoughtful. She needed something practical— easy to move in, yet not too heavy. She wasn't a fan of long skirts or overly flashy outfits.
One particular set caught her attention.
It consisted of a black, fitted top with a high collar and silver lining, sleeveless to allow full arm movement. A short, pleated mini skirt in dark navy blue paired with thigh-high stockings. A lightweight black jacket with silver accents completed the look, cropped just above her waist.
Belle ran her fingers over the fabric. It was flexible yet sturdy, offering mobility without sacrificing protection.
The merchant grinned. "Excellent choice! This should suit you well."
A few minutes later, Belle stepped out of the fitting room, now dressed in her new attire. The difference was striking—gone was the disheveled schoolgirl who had barely survived the forest. Now, she looked the part of an adventurer.
Kai gave a low whistle. "Not bad, newbie. Looking a lot less like a lost student now."
Belle ignored him, adjusting the fit of her gloves. The material was comfortable, allowing her fingers full dexterity. She felt… lighter. More prepared.
The merchant beamed. "You wear it well! Now, let's get you to the inn."
Night had begun to settle over Dawnstead, the streets illuminated by lanterns casting a warm glow on the cobblestone paths. After a short walk, they reached a quaint inn tucked between larger buildings—a cozy establishment with wooden beams and a sign reading 'The Silver Hearth.'
The merchant turned to Belle. "I've arranged a room for you here. Consider it part of my thanks."
Belle studied the building. This would be her first real place to rest since arriving in this world. It felt strange, but she nodded. "Understood. Thank you."
Kai stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Welp, guess that's it for now. Try not to burn the place down, newbie."
Gale sighed. "Ignore him. Get some rest, Belle. You've had a long day."
Belle gave a small nod. "You too."
With that, Kai and Gale turned and walked away, their figures disappearing into the night.
Belle exhaled softly, then pushed open the inn's door.
She finally had a proper place to rest.
The warmth of the inn's interior greeted Belle as she stepped inside. The soft flicker of lanterns cast gentle shadows across the wooden walls, giving the place a welcoming atmosphere. A few travelers sat around, engaged in quiet conversations over meals, but no one paid much attention to her arrival.
The innkeeper, a kind-looking woman in her late forties, greeted her with a polite smile. "You must be the young lady the merchant mentioned. Your room is ready."
Belle gave a small nod. "Thank you."
With the key in hand, she climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor and entered her room.
It was simple—a small bed with fresh linens, a wooden desk, and a window overlooking the town streets. After days of battling through the wilderness, the sight of a real bed felt… surreal.
Belle sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand over the fabric of her new clothes. For the first time since waking up in this world, she wasn't fighting to survive.
She leaned back slightly, exhaling as she stared at the ceiling.
She had changed.
Not just in appearance, but in mindset. The girl who had woken up in a strange, dangerous forest was not the same girl sitting in this room now. She had fought, survived, adapted—and now, she was in a town filled with people, no longer alone.
But she still had no answers.
Who had brought her here? Why did she have these abilities? And what was happening with the strange beasts affected by miasma?
Her silver eyes flickered toward the window, where the distant glow of lanterns painted the town in soft gold.
She had more to figure out. More to learn. But for now… she would rest.
With that thought, Belle lay back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling until her eyes grew heavy.
The first chapter of her journey had come to an end.
End of Chapter 10