Reborn As An Evolving Monster

400 Wait For Me

Sometime after the Moonlit Feline had gone away running...

How long had she remained seated, her knees against the hard and rough ground?

She wasn't bleeding, but it felt like she was.

Her eyes dry and swollen, she had cried like never before.

Her throat burned. She had screamed at the top of her lungs ever since they had left.

***

One instant was all it took. Everything had gone wrong. Everything had disappeared.

Everything had been broken to pieces.

Whose fault was it?

His? The Demon Lord's, whose Influence was stronger during the night?

Both?

Who was to blame?

Does it even matter?

Everything is fucked now.

Everything... Went wrong.

He ran away. She chose him.

That's all there is to it.

Once again... I'm alone.

What now? Alone. Where to go? Alone, again. Where am I? Alone. Both left. The only ones I had left. What am I supposed to do now? I'm angry. Angry. Angry. Angry. I'm sad.

So incredibly sad.

What do I do? What can I do?

Their steps... Are getting closer...

Stop thinking.

Alone.

Stop thinking.

I lost them inside that Dungeon.

Stop thinking.

Then found them.

Stop thinking.

I lost them too. Everything is disappearing. The Demon Lord of Pride, Raven, the Demon Lord of Lust... Him. Weak. Powerless. Pathetic. Small.

I always end up losing those around me.

Stop... Thinking...

Am I fated to be alone? Maybe I'm just cursed. Maybe the World is against-

I need to start moving.

***

Her cold, cold gaze remained stuck to the ground as she stood up.

She had been facing the direction they had taken.

"I need to go..."

She turned 180 degrees.

She finally let go of the torn gown that her hands had refused to abandon until now.

The gown fell to the ground, and Armor replaced it, covering her naked body.

"To the Elven Forest." She whispered.

The Wind circled around her broken wrist countless times before Condensing itself giving her back free use of her hand.

"I need to go..."

The Wind around circled around the Daggers she held. It condensed itself, adding to the Daggers' reach.

"To my people."

Thump- Thump- Thump- Thump- Thump-

With five swift slashes, the five Monsters that had been approaching were beheaded.

Drops of blood landed on her face.

An expressionless face.

Elisa walks forward.

The dark spot on her waist rejoiced.

...

"JUST FUCKING LEAVE ME!"

No-

"GO AWAY! I DON'T WANT YOU HERE!"

I'll keep following you-

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STAY WITH HER."

We'll both stay with her. We'll both stay with you-

"WHY? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO COME HERE? GO AWAY!"

I won't-

"YOU'RE NOT WANTED HERE! DON'T YOU GET IT? YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!"

Neither do you-

"KRISTA! LISTEN TO ME!!"

I won't-

"IT'S BEEN THIS WAY SINCE THE FUCKING DAY I FOUND YOU!! WILL YOU FUCKING LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE?!"

Not this way! I won't! Not while you're running away from me-

The Lioness' eyes suddenly widened.

From the shadows, creatures had leaped forward!

Purging Ray!

The white-scaled Monster clicked its tongue as the creatures' bodies were turned to ash.

Mark's speed and endurance had both increased a lot.

The Moonlit Feline couldn't hope to catch up.

The white-scaled Monster had turned around, used the Magic Skill to protect Krista, and then turned away once more before their eyes could meet.

"GET OUT OF HERE!! I WANT TO BE HERE! TO STAY HERE!"

That's not true! I know that it's not-

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STAY WITH HER!!"

We will both stay with her-

The white-scaled Monster gritted its teeth.

"I WAS GOING TO LEAVE YOU ANYWAYS!"

That's not true-

"I WAS GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH HER!"

Master would never leave me! I know that for a fact-

"IT WAS THE PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING!"

I believe in Master-

"I WAS GOING TO GET YOU TO THE ELVEN FOREST!"

I don't believe Master-

"THEN LEAVE YOU THERE WITH HER!"

I believe IN Master-

"SO JUST GO BACK TO HER!!"

Because Master is a liar! Master lies to Elisa, to me... And Master lies to himself! That's why, I'll-

The two ran and ran.

The difference in speed was obvious, but every time, before Mark could exit Krista's field of vision, Creatures would leap towards her.

Creatures that abhorred the Moonlit Feline shining eyes.

Every time, Krista would simply continue running forward.

And every time, Mark turned around to protect the Moonlit Feline.

I'll keep running-

If you truly don't care about me, then don't protect me-

I will simply keep running! I will keep running towards you! Until I can...-

Both were running low on endurance.

Mark's Endurance Stat was higher, but he also had to deal with the Creatures that attacked him, attracted by the Light emitted by the use of the "Purging Ray" Magic Skill.

For the umpteenth time, the white-scaled Monster turned around, sensing that danger was approaching the Moonlit Feline.

For the umpteenth time, the Monster used the "Purging Ray" Magic Skill.

For the umpteenth time, it turned around to continue running.

But this time,

BAM-

Something stood in Mark's way!

Fast as lightning, but also incredibly heavy. A hit landed on his chin, launching him backward!

The world turned blurry as his body hung in the air.

Anxiety overtook him.

A tail flick had landed on his chin. The Creature was huge.

But that wasn't the cause of his anxiety.

If the Moonlit Feline manages to catch up now... If it climbs up his body onto his shoulder... If it licks his cheek the same way it had the day he had found it... Mark had no idea how would react to that.

Wind Blast-

Mark got back onto his feet as fast as he could and ran forward!

The Creature was disgusting. Its head was truly horrifying. But that was nothing compared to the Moonlit Feline catching up to him.

In this instant, facing the atrocity felt much easier and simpler than facing Krista.

Mark closed the distance and clenched his right fist.

Partial Gigantification-

The hit cleanly landed on the Creature's body, sending it aside!

Mark didn't pull back the arm with which he had punched.

He used the momentum of the punch to face towards the left.

Mark extended his left arm, and his hands met.

Not one instant had been wasted.

Purging Ray-

The huge Creature was burned to ash as the flames spread.

Mark quickly turned back towards the direction he had been running in.

It wasn't visible before. But now,

'An open field?'

Mark stepped into that open field, devoid of trees, and continued running.

The field seemed to stretch infinitely.

The next second, a harrowing cry echoed.

Mark's heart shook.

The very same cry.

The same one that had resonated on the day he found the Moonlit Feline, when he had left it in the underground part of the Dungeon's Fifth Floor.

The cry that had made him come back to the Moonlit Feline that day.

Mark clenched his teeth and pressed his eyelid shut as he winced for an instant.

He turned around.

The Moonlit Feline stood on its back legs.

Its front legs... Hovered in the air?

An invisible barrier.

His gaze met Krista's.

His hands shook.

His lips parted.

His throat was too dry for words to leave.

The Moonlit Feline let out a cry once more.

Their eyes had met.

An invisible barrier separated them.

Would Master leave me now? Now that he's looking at me? Would he really-

"W..." His voice was filled with fear. "Wait for me..."

Krista's heart dropped.

"Just wait for me. I'll... I'll come back! I'll come back for you! Just... Just wait!"

The Moonlit Feline's whole body started shaking.

Master... Is leaving? Even after... Even after-

"Just wait for me!"

Wait...? Again? Like I was supposed to wait... While you were fighting? Like I was supposed to wait... Outside of those Boss Rooms? Inside of that Necklace? I don't... Is Master really-

Its cries continued. The Monster did not stop.

The Underling called out to its Master the only other way it knew how.

[Your Underling is...]

"SHUT UP" Mark shouted.

[Your Underling is...]

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

[Would you like to mute the...]

"YES! FUCKING MUTE IT!!" He shouted.

On the three occasions, Mark had not read the messages in their entirety. He couldn't bear to.

The Moonlit Feline halted its breathing for a second. It pressed its eyes shut, then turned around.

Leap- Jump- Climb-

The white-furred cat moved up a tree and settled on one of its numerous branches.