Kyle's gaze flickered between the two shimmering holographic screens. A silent nod acknowledged their presence, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. 'With these two, anything is feasible. They might be masking my life force, shielding me from prying eyes,' he reasoned, his mind racing with possibilities.
{Affirmative.}
The system's response was concise, confirming his suspicions.
He turned to Gabriela, his voice laced with a gentle curiosity. "Can you perceive these screens?"
"Uh?" Gabriela's eyes scanned the air, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What screens?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of apprehension.
"Never mind..." He offered a reassuring nod, dismissing her confusion with a wave of his hand. His gaze finally settled on the bag in her hand, the simple act of offering food a stark contrast to the harsh realities of their situation. Seeing his interest, Gabriela extended the bag towards him.
"I brought you something to eat!" she said, her voice barely a whisper, a flicker of concern in her emerald eyes.
"Oh?"
Kyle accepted the bag, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He paused, his gaze meeting hers. "Is there another reason you're helping me?" he asked, his tone probing, searching for the deeper truth behind her actions.
"Meaning?" She looked up at him, her expression a mix of confusion and apprehension, her delicate features etched with a hint of worry.
Kyle placed the bag on the rough-hewn table, his gaze never leaving hers.
"Come on, you saved me... Yes, but I can't accept the simple explanation that I saved you. Yes, that might have played a role in your actions... But I sense something far more profound." He walked towards the makeshift bed, the rough fabric scratching against his skin, and sat down, his gaze fixed on the demoness before him.
"You?"
"Shh... I just need your answer."
Gabriela closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and reopened them, her gaze filled with a quiet resolve. "It seems nothing escapes your perception. Well... The Demons murdered my parents, and I seek vengeance," she confessed, her voice filled with a quiet fury.
"So, when you saw me--"
"--No, No! I had heard much about you before the alleyway incident..." She lowered her head, her long green hair cascading over her shoulders, her voice barely audible. "When you let me go, I thought... I thought I had found an ally... But how to approach you was the challenge."
"That's why you risked your life to save me, even knowing you might not survive?"
"Yes." Gabriela nodded, her eyes filled with a resolute determination, a flicker of hope amidst the pain.
"Hmm... Okay. Who murdered your parents?"
"The Demon King. I need him dead."
Kyle raised an eyebrow, a sigh escaping his lips. "My new path will inevitably lead me to the Demon King. Okay... I'll assist you, but understand one thing... I operate in ways that might unsettle you, so prepare yourself." Kyle stood up, his posture radiating a newfound resolve, a sense of purpose returning to his eyes.
He picked up the rusted sword from the bed, spinning it in his hand with a predatory smile.
"I require something from you."
"Anything!" Gabriela replied instantly, a hopeful smile gracing her delicate features, her eyes shining with a renewed sense of purpose.
"Acquire clothing for me. I don't care how you obtain it, just procure them."
"Clothing?" Gabriela's brow furrowed in confusion, her eyes questioning his request.
"Yes, any clothes you can find... Go now."
She nodded, turned, and departed, her footsteps echoing softly in the silence of the clearing.
Kyle turned to the rough-hewn table, a sigh escaping his lips. "It seems we are both wanted individuals, bound by a shared desire for retribution... Well, procure the items, and I might bring you to my Kingdom," he said, staring at the golden key icon on the BS screen, its ethereal glow a beacon of hope.
"BS, let's attempt something audacious."
{BS: What does the Host have in mind?}
"Convert this entire hut and its contents."
{BS: Please repeat.}
"You heard me."
{BS: Initiating conversion....}
Kyle watched as the dilapidated hut shimmered for a moment, its weathered wood and tattered fabric glowing with an otherworldly light, then vanished, leaving him standing in the clearing, the rough wooden floor itself gone.
{DING!}
{BS: Congratulations, Host has acquired 10,000 Wood and 2,000 Metals.}
Kyle's gaze shifted to the surrounding trees, towering giants that had witnessed countless seasons, a low chuckle escaping his lips. A grin spread across his face, a sense of mischievous excitement filling him.
"This forest spans hundreds of miles, a labyrinth of ancient trees and hidden dangers... Let's conduct some experiments..."
He knelt, placing his palms on the damp earth, feeling the pulse of the living world beneath him. "Systems, convert everything within a 500-meter radius of my location... in all directions."
BOOM!
{Initiating conversion.....}
WHOOOSH!!
The towering trees, the lush grass, everything within the designated radius shimmered for a few seconds, glowing with a strange energy. Then, notifications flooded the screen, their digital sound cutting through the silence of the forest.
{DING!}
{BS: Congratulations, Host has acquired 500,000 Wood and 50,000 Metals.}
{DING!}
{BS: Congratulations, Host has acquired 5,000 Cotton and 5,000 Herbs.}
{DING!}
{BS: Congratulations, Host has acquired 478,006 Stones and 11,023 Coal.}
{DING!}
{BS: Congratulations, Host has acquired 10,033 Fruits.}
Kyle stood, his eyes wide with astonishment, his breath catching in his throat. The entire 500-meter radius was now a cleared, barren field, a stark contrast to the dense forest that had surrounded him moments before. He looked up at the sun, its golden rays illuminating the desolate landscape.
GRAAAAA!!!
Kyle turned, spotting a 1.5-meter tall wolf, its crimson gaze fixed on him from 200 meters away, its predatory eyes filled with hunger.
"It seems I've revealed my location," he muttered, his voice barely audible, the silence of the forest broken by another growl a beast.
GRAAA!!
He turned north to see a massive brown bear, its claws scraping the ground, its eyes filled with rage, its massive form a symbol of untamed power.
"Okay... I might not be at my peak, but I can surely handle both of you," he said, tightening his grip on his rusted sword, his resolve hardening with each passing moment.
GRRRRAAAAAAAAA!!!
Kyle froze, the ferocious roar echoing from the depths of the forest, a primal sound that sent shivers down his spine. The two animals turned and fled, their instincts warning them of a greater danger lurking in the shadows, leaving him alone in the desolate clearing.
BAM!!!
The trees 500 meters away collapsed, a colossal monster emerging from the forest's depths, its massive form casting a long shadow across the barren landscape.
"Okay... That creature could eliminate a Rank 20 hunter with a single swipe," Kyle said, staring at the 4-meter tall black Tiger, its muscles rippling beneath its thick fur, its eyes burning with a primal ferocity.
"I should take cover."
GRRRRAAAAAAAAA!!
The Tiger roared, spotting the human, and charged, its claws leaving deep gouges in the ground, its massive form a blur of motion.
"I'm done raiding, see you later," he said, flicking his wrist, the golden key materializing in his hand, its ethereal glow a beacon of escape.
"Now, how do I use this?"
{Door activation initiated.}
Kyle turned, seeing a golden, translucent door shimmering into existence.
Without hesitation, he inserted the key into the keyhole and turned it clockwise, the door swinging open, revealing a portal to an unknown destination.
"Ciao!"
He said to the Tiger, a hint of amusement in his voice, stepping through the portal, leaving the beast behind.
BAM!
The door slammed shut and vanished, leaving no trace of its existence.
BANG!
The massive Tiger skidded to a halt, its stunned gaze sweeping across the cleared field, its eyes filled with confusion and rage, its primal instincts unable to comprehend the sudden disappearance of its prey.
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Welcome Guys! Please, leave a review and comment, and if you can power stones... It helps motivate me. 👉🌹