The path narrowed as the cavern floor sloped upward, cracks glowing beneath them like lava-filled veins. Faint heat shimmered in the air. The ceiling hung low and arched like the ribs of a sleeping beast. A dim red glow pulsed from deeper in the chamber.
Ren adjusted his grip on his sword. "This is where the Roostmother nests. Last known count—five-meter wingspan, rapid aerial maneuvers, flame-based magic, and something nastier if we're unlucky."
Lilith inhaled deeply. Her body still buzzed from yesterday's dungeon run, her legs springy from increased agility, her blood hot.
"I can handle it."
"You sure?" Ren asked. "I'll take the lead if needed."
She shook her head. "No. I need to grow. That means facing stronger enemies myself."
He raised an eyebrow but gave a short nod. "Then prep now. Once you enter, there's no time to think."
Lilith opened her system menu and focused.
📈 [SP Allocation]
➤ Mana: 10 → 20
➤ Agility: 15 → 25
SP Remaining: 0
Her limbs lightened again, and her fingers tingled from the internal mana rush. She turned to Ren. "Got anything that counters fire?"
He paused, rummaged through his satchel, and pulled out a dark blue crystal core. "Got this from a D-rank dungeon boss. Never used it since I'm a fire-type. Might work for you."
She held the cold, pulsing core in her palm.
System—Absorb.
✨ [Skill-Magic Core Detected]
You have learned: Ice Bullets Lv.1
➤ Launch condensed ice projectiles with freezing effect. Scales with Mana stat.
⚠ Mana Cost: Moderate
Lilith exhaled sharply. "Perfect."
Roostmother's Chamber
As they stepped through the jagged arch, the space opened up—wider than the last chamber and glowing from streams of molten cracks in the walls. Thin, red mist clung to the ceiling.
Then—a shriek.
A high-pitched sonic wave tore through the air like a blade of sound.
"Cover your ears!" Ren yelled.
Too late.
Lilith dropped to one knee, clutching her head, ears ringing violently. Her balance wavered, vision blurred.
The Roostmother unfurled her wings from the stalactites above—massive, leathery, streaked with ember veins. Her fur shimmered in orange-gold tones, her body built like a predator bat. One eye glinted with cruel intelligence.
"Sound magic?" Lilith groaned. "What is this—sonic Pokémon?"
Ren was already upright, sword glowing red-hot. "Focus, Lilith! Stay low, stay sharp!"
The Roostmother dove like a bullet, releasing a burst of flame in her path.
Lilith rolled sideways, barely avoiding the burst of fire that exploded where she'd stood.
She spun, breath short. The bat circled high, then dropped another spark-burst.
But this time, Lilith dodged cleanly—her new agility making her lighter, faster, more reactive.
Still, she couldn't find a good opening.
Too fast. Too high. She keeps flying just out of range…
Lilith gritted her teeth, sweat forming under her fluffy heat-resistant coat.
Her stamina was draining, and she'd barely touched the monster.
📘 [Battle Instinct Lv.1 Activated]
➤ Predictive evasion boost engaged.
➤ Weak points detected based on movement rhythm.
Her vision seemed to sharpen.
After she spits fire—she flies in a straight path for a split-second.
"Ren!" she called. "When she attacks, she gets reckless right after!"
"Then shoot when she's dumb!" he shouted back, ducking under a swooping wing.
Lilith waited. Focused.
The Roostmother opened her maw again—
A fireball launched—
Lilith rolled forward, spun on one foot, aimed—
"ICE BULLET!"
A sharp blast of cold cracked through the air—direct hit to the wing!
The Roostmother shrieked and wobbled midair, veering left and scraping against a rocky wall.
But it wasn't enough.
Crap. I'll need at least two more.
Suddenly, flames erupted around the room—a ring of fire. The Roostmother cast a Firewall, trapping them inside.
Lilith was caught in the edge of it—heat surged against her, but her fluffy coat absorbed most of the burn. Her skin stung, but she endured.
Thank you, fluffy pants. Thank you, impulse shopping.
With teeth clenched, Lilith ran along the edge of the ring, dodging another sonic screech. Her heart pounded.
Her mana was almost gone. One shot left.
"ICE BULLET!"
She fired again, this time aiming just as the Roostmother prepared to turn.
Direct hit to the abdomen!
The bat faltered—wings stuttering. It dropped.
Lilith didn't waste time.
She sprinted forward, spear out, every muscle screaming—
She leapt and plunged the tip of her spear into the Roostmother's chest.
The beast convulsed once. Then went still.
Ash drifted down like falling snow.
Silence returned to the chamber.
Ren walked over slowly, his sword still glowing.
"You okay?"
Lilith fell back against a rock, panting, her clothes slightly scorched, her skin red but unbroken.
"I… just killed a fire-spewing boss bat."
Ren gave her a rare grin. "Without help. You were amazing."
She smirked, breathless. "I'd better be. I used up all my damn mana for that."
Now that's how you win in an isekai.
📢 [System Notification]
🦇 Roostmother Defeated
➤ XP Gained: +70
➤ Current XP: 280 / 300
💬 "Not everything drops loot. Sometimes, you just get scars and a story."
-------------------------
Glowrock Hollow: Zone 2– Post-Battle
Lilith sat on a warm rock as Ren carefully pulled out the Roostmother's core—a glowing red gem-like organ that pulsed faintly in his palm.
"Lucky it didn't shatter," he muttered, handing it to her. "Fire cores go for a nice price."
She stared at it. "It's… hot."
He smirked. "Yeah. That's kind of the point."
After a few deep breaths, they began harvesting what they could from the fallen boss. Ren guided her through the process with a steady hand and a faint grin whenever she flinched.
"Wings. Fangs. Core. Not bad. Oh—and we picked off plenty of cinder dust and smaller bat wings earlier too."
Lilith placed everything into the sealed storage pouch he gave her, still catching her breath.
"That… was a lot," she said, stretching her arms. "I feel like I did ten laps of sparring while being screamed at by a demon bird."
Ren wiped the blood from his gloves and stood. "Zone 3's up next, but we're not going there today."
She blinked. "Why not?"
"Because Zone 3 is like a bonus stage," he said, adjusting his sword belt. "Low threat, weird sludge enemies, lots of annoying hazards. Fun, in a twisted way. But not when you've already fought a mid-boss."
Lilith sighed with visible relief. "Thank the goddess. I was not ready to get slapped by puddles after all that."
Ren chuckled. "Tomorrow then."
---
Two Hours Later – Windvale Guildhall
The trip back was just as long, just as bumpy, and just as boring. Lilith groaned every time the wheels hit a stone.
"I'm starting to think this ride is the real boss," she muttered.
But the moment they stepped inside the guild, all thoughts of exhaustion vanished.
Her favorite receptionist, the cute silver-haired boy from last time, perked up at the sight of her.
"Lady Lilith! You're back already?" he chirped. "I was betting three silver that you'd clear another rabbit nest."
Lilith smiled tiredly. "Upgrade the bet. I brought a winged lizard from hell."
He blinked. "...You what?"
Ren casually dropped the sack on the counter. "Small bat wings: 12 pairs. Cinder dust, sorted and weighed. One Roostmother—fangs, wings, and a core. All hers."
The guild staff nearby leaned in. Even the background clatter in the hall seemed to dim.
"Wait," the receptionist asked. "You mean she assisted you?"
Ren smirked. "No. I mean she hunted them. All of them. Alone."
Murmurs rippled through the guild.
"No way."
"She cleared Zone 2?"
"Isn't she brand new?"
One man muttered bitterly, "Tch. Must be the blessing. No way a rookie does that solo."
Another chimed in quietly, "She's divine-marked, they say. Must be why."
Lilith heard it all—but she didn't say anything. Not a word. She simply stood tall, dusted, mildly scorched, and quietly glowing.
Let them whisper. Let them guess. I earned this.
---
Turn-In Summary
12x Bat Wings → 240 Narr
Cinder Dust (Standard Weight) → 150 Narr
Roostmother Fangs → 80 Narr
Roostmother Wings → 60 Narr
Roostmother Core → 200 Narr
Total: 730 Narr
Lilith felt the coin pouch press into her palm—heavy, solid, real.
Her first hunt had felt like luck.
This? This was hers.
She managed not to dance. Barely.
---
Elric Estate – That Evening
As the carriage pulled into the manor grounds, soft lanterns were already glowing in the trees.
The door burst open before they could even knock.
Luca came running out, waving. "She's back! Julian, she's not dead!"
Julian appeared next, arms crossed, eyebrow raised. "So, which part of you got cooked today?"
Ren just chuckled. "Not her. The monsters."
"Again?" Ren muttered. "At this point, we should start betting how much she'll earn."
Lilith smirked. "More than enough for snacks."
Father Elric—Gareth, dammit—stepped out with Grandfather Thorne right behind him.
"She's doing well," the old man grunted. "Or the monsters are slacking."
"She's just insane," Julian added. "A cute, pink-haired lunatic."
Lilith rolled her eyes and walked into the house.
Today, I survived fire, flight, and a boss bat the size of a wolf.
Tomorrow, I'll face the slimes.
And after that… maybe the world.
Continued...
[Sorry for being laaaate. Next Chapter coming in 8 hours]