Tanya, unperturbed by the chaos she had unleashed, drew her bow again with mechanical precision. A super-fast arrow, aimed directly at the Ghoul's head, sliced through the air like a silver lightning bolt. The creature, guided by its instinct, dodged it at the last second with a jerky movement. It opened its enormous mouth, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and emitted a piercing scream that transcended the physical, a sound inaudible to ordinary ears but that pierced my mind like a scalding knife.
I felt a sharp, penetrating pain in my head, as if a burning nail were slowly sinking into my skull, twisting to maximize the agony. My Spiritual Vision vanished abruptly, leaving me plunged into partial darkness that heightened my vulnerability. A warm liquid slid down my nose, descending to my lips with torturous slowness. When I wiped it with the back of my hand, I discovered with dread that it was covered in fresh blood that glowed scarlet under the alley's dim light.
About ten meters away from me, Reinhardt collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, his normally serene face now pale as paper and stained with threads of blood that flowed uncontrollably from his parted lips, nose, and wide, bulging eyes. I saw him trembling, unable to control the spasms that shook his body, and I felt a pang of concern mixed with helplessness. Even Tanya, with all her skill and experience, staggered back one or two steps, the color visibly draining from her face as she struggled to maintain her composure.
That single scream from the Ghoul had been enough to overpower the mental resistance of three Enlightened—Reinhardt, Tanya, and myself—leaving our bodies trembling like leaves in the wind. Only Mica remained completely unaffected, a fearless smile curving her full lips, as if the chaos and destruction were merely a fascinating game she relished every second of.
From the Ghoul's deformed jaws then erupted columns of blazing flames, one after another, roaring with the unleashed fury of a ravenous inferno. Tanya prepared to dodge, her muscles visibly tensing, but before she could execute her evasive maneuver, a golden barrier of radiant light rose majestically in front of her, conjured by Mica with a simple gesture of her hand. The barrier, formed by a thick, shimmering layer pulsating with stellar energy, greedily absorbed the flames, gradually melting with wisps of white smoke rising into the night sky as it extinguished the fire threatening to consume the archer.
But Mica wasn't done with her counterattack. She raised one hand to the sky, and before my stunned gaze, a colossal hammer over ten meters long formed in the heavens, enveloped in a radiant golden light. The weapon descended with the inevitability of a celestial judgment, falling with an apocalyptic rumble that shook the ground beneath our feet, rattling the very foundations of the alley.
The creature, engrossed in its fiery assault, didn't perceive the threat until it was too late. The divine hammer struck the back of its deformed head with devastating force, shattering it with a sickening crunch, sending fragments of bone and putrid brain matter flying in all directions.
—¡Keeeeuaaaaaaaah! —The Ghoul's scream of agony chilled my blood.
The abomination writhed in a macabre dance, its head half-pulverized by the relentless blow. Though its prodigious regenerative ability allowed it to heal wounds that would have annihilated any other creature, the attack's sheer power left it momentarily paralyzed, its deformed body trembling in uncontrollable spasms that betrayed its vulnerability.
Tanya didn't waste the opportunity presented to her. She drew her bow once more, her eyes locked on her target with absolute concentration, and fired an accelerated arrow that sliced through the air with an almost imperceptible whistle before striking the creature's left shoulder. The entire arm detached in a grotesque explosion of flesh and bone, spinning through the air like a broken propeller before crashing to the ground with a dull thud that seemed to echo in my gut. A fountain of dark, thick blood erupted from the open wound, staining the cracked pavement with a fluid that steamed upon contact with the air, as if it contained acid.
The creature attempted to emit another paralyzing scream, but from its mangled throat came only wet, gurgling gasps, like the sound of someone drowning in their own blood. Even sprawled on the ground, in a pathetic act of desperation, it raised its remaining arm in a futile attempt to shield itself, but its movements were slow and clumsy, as if its joints were glued with tar.
Without a trace of doubt or compassion, Tanya fired another arrow with an icy calm that sent shivers down my spine, as if this act of destruction were simply part of a daily ritual for her. The projectile sliced through the air with a sharp whistle that cut through the expectant silence, striking the Ghoul's forehead with devastating precision that could only come from years of relentless practice.
The monster's head exploded like a ripe watermelon under a mallet, unleashing a repulsive burst of blood and bone fragments that splattered in all directions, soaking the putrid brown skin and exposed white bones of its own body. Its limbs convulsed in increasingly feeble spasms, like the final throes of a dying beast, until it finally lay still, a mangled corpse on the dust and blood staining the alley floor.
—Hello! —A surprisingly cheerful voice broke into the scene, shattering the oppressive silence that had followed the massacre.
I blinked several times, bewildered by the abrupt change in atmosphere. Without my noticing, engrossed as I was in the spectacle of destruction, Mica had appeared at my side like a ghostly apparition, watching me with a mischievous smile that sparkled in her amber eyes with a glint of childlike curiosity. I raised my gaze cautiously, studying the woman who seemed as out of place in this scene of blood and chaos as a butterfly in a slaughterhouse.
I knew, with a certainty that prickled my skin and quickened my pulse, that I stood absolutely no chance against her if she decided to turn on me. The devastating spells I had just witnessed revealed beyond any doubt that Mica was an Enlightened who had reached the heights of the Priestess path, a figure whose presence defied any attempt to underestimate her. No priestess, let alone one like her, could be taken lightly by someone of my caliber.
—You look worried, little one —said Mica, her voice clear and melodious like the chime of a crystal bell on a spring morning. She waved a hand with a casual gesture, her eyes glinting with a hint of playful amusement as she studied me like someone observing a curious puppy—. Do you want me to help you with that blood on your nose?
Before I could formulate a coherent response, Tanya approached with little hops, interrupting the moment with a tired but genuinely warm smile that softened her battle-worn features.
—What are you doing, Mica? Why don't you come over? Tanya has been waiting for you forever! —she said in a surprisingly friendly tone, her voice tinged with a disarming familiarity.
Mica tilted her head with an elegant gesture, as if a mischievous idea had sparked in her mind at that very moment.
—Hey, what if we take these kids with us? —she suggested casually, crossing her arms under her chest with a playful expression that lit up her face in an almost childlike way.
—Oh! —Tanya's eyes lit up like stars, shining with enthusiasm.
—Allow me to formally introduce myself. I'm Mica, a mercenary. Tanya, say hello.
—Yes? Ah, ah…! Hello! —replied Tanya, visibly flustered for a moment. She blinked a couple of times before bowing in a polite curtsy, a gesture that seemed more reflexive than intentional.
Among the children watching from the shadows of the alley, their faces peeking out with a mix of fear, awe, and caution, murmurs and sighs could be heard.
Some made faces, as if Mica's words and Tanya's charm had struck their hearts in a way that transcended age or gender, leaving them stunned.
—We're always short on people at the guild, you know —continued Mica, nodding with conviction, as if confirming a decision she had already made in her mind and was now merely sharing with her companion—. And this boy has luck, courage, and real talent, don't you think? It could be interesting to see how far he goes with some proper training.
—Yes! That's right! Little one, what's your name? —asked Tanya, tilting her head with curiosity as she fixed her gaze on me, her face illuminated by an innocent smile that radiated an almost magical warmth.
—Arceus.
—That's such a beautiful name! —exclaimed Tanya, and her smile, pure and radiant, seemed like that of a goddess descending to bless mortals, filling the air with a light that couldn't be seen but could be felt.
***
End of volume 1 - Baby steps.