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As Oliver was passing between two cliffs, the environment was silent except for the occasional slow breathing of the girl he was carrying. The weight of exhaustion hung in the air, yet his steps remained firm, unwavering. The sulfuric clouds reflected a strange light over the terrain, serving as a substitute for the sun; their shadows were cast as they passed by.

The surroundings were eerily quiet. Unnaturally quiet.

It was haunting for the winds to be silent and unsettling for the air to be so still. Even the occasional whisper of shifting rock felt deafening in the suffocating stillness.

Oliver had not stopped running, even though he had covered a considerable distance from the starting point.

He trusted nothing. Assumed nothing.

He was cautious and did not dare to underestimate the demons.

Just as he was running continuously, a cold prickle ran down his spine.

His instincts screamed.

Stop.

He turned around and looked back into the distance.

Nothing.

It was clear. Too clear.

Not a single trace of any individual or demon.

Yet…

He felt it.

His sharp instincts could sense it; something had just passed by.

Something dangerous.

Something watching.

Something closing in.

His gut twisted.

Looking around as he ran, his eyes scanned every shadow, every jagged edge of the cliffs. His breathing was steady, but his pulse had quickened.

Then—his gaze paused. There.

He found what he was looking for.

He stopped moving and put the girl down.

"Teacher, what’s wrong?" she blinked and asked. They had suddenly stopped; her small hands tightened into fists, a flicker of unease crossing her face. Had they reached their destination? But all she saw around were looming, indifferent cliffs. ꞦΑƝốBΕʂ

He didn’t answer immediately.

"Follow me for a moment," Oliver finally said, motioning her to follow him toward a massive rock formation.

The girl hesitated. Something about his tone felt… final.

When they reached the boulder, Oliver went behind it, inspecting its surface with narrowed eyes. His fingers grazed along the uneven rock, feeling for weaknesses.

Your adventure continues at

He took a deep breath, curled his fist—

And struck.

Crack!

Crack!

Fractures splintered across the stone’s surface like veins, deepening as dust and tiny shards broke free.

Using controlled force, he broke through just enough to create a hollow space—wide enough to fit a person but small enough to remain hidden.

"Come here," he called out.

She approached, curiosity in her eyes. But beneath that curiosity was worry.

"This is…?"

"I want you to go inside," Oliver said, his voice calm but firm. Unyielding. "I’ll cover the entrance from the sides."

She stiffened.

Something about this felt wrong.

She looked at him, perplexed. Her stomach churned.

Noticing her hesitation, he didn’t sugarcoat the truth.

"Something’s coming."

His voice was quiet but absolute. A cold certainty lined his words.

"That’s why you need to be in here—for your own safety. And so I can focus properly in case another battle is approaching."

No softness. No hesitation.

Just cold logic.

She knew there was no room for argument.

"I will follow what teacher says." She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. Even if she wanted to protest, she trusted him.

Oliver nonchalantly assured her, "Don’t worry too much; it’s just a hunch of mine. When I feel things are safe, I’ll come pick you up. Until then, stay put."

He helped her move into the small space, then pulled a small bag from his side, handing it to her. He took it out from his storage space, he knew she must be starving by now, she was not a proper exorcist like him and was still a normal human.

"Food. Water. Use them only when necessary."

She looked at the bag, then back at him.

"Are you—?"

He was already moving.

Carefully, he arranged the broken pieces of rock, camouflaging her as best as he could.

Of course, this setup was nowhere near enough to escape the senses of stronger demons. If they scanned the area with their abilities, they’d find her instantly.

Which was why—

He raised his hand.

A red, dome-shaped barrier rippled outward, encasing the rock in an invisible field of protection.

Now, unless she revealed herself… she would remain undetected.

Oliver exhaled slowly.

It was done.

And now—

He turned away. His footsteps grew distant.

He distanced himself as far away from her as he could.

The bait had been set.

______________

A wide landscape filled with shallow, broken pits stretched before him.

An open battlefield. An execution ground.

He stopped where he was, looking far with calm eyes.

Waiting.

Then—

Rustle!

Rustle!

Rustle!

The sound shattered the stillness like a whisper of death.

It came from nowhere.

No warning. No sign.

Just—

Something shifting. Moving. Surrounding him.

His fingers twitched.

"You’re here," he murmured.

He wasn’t speaking to anyone in particular. Or perhaps, he was.

And the shadows answered.

A sharp, feminine voice spoke from behind.

"Your senses are indeed sharp for a kid."

His muscles tensed.

Oliver turned his head slightly. Slowly. Controlled.

There she stood.

Sera.

Arms folded. Expression unreadable.

Her eyes were upturned in amusement.

"Are they?" Oliver questioned, his tone deceptively neutral.

"Not really," she said, her lips curling. "I left some trails. A veteran exorcist would have found them far earlier."

Oliver raised a brow.

"Wow."

His voice was unimpressed.

Yet beneath the surface, his mind was already piecing things together.

She was lying.

He had sensed something long before he noticed any physical disturbance.

And—

The rustling.

The rustling sound he heard just now.

Sera appearing as if she had materialized from thin air.

Something wasn’t adding up.

’Surely, I am missing something here?’

His expression remained calm. His mind? Sharp. Calculating.

Sera tilted her head slightly. Eyes sharp. Curious.

"So…?" she asked, her tone light. Too light. A predator feigning disinterest.

"Where’s that human girl?"

Oliver didn’t blink.

"You don’t need to know."

His voice was colder than before.

Sera smirked.

"Hmm. You sound a little cold just now." Her gaze flickered with amusement, but her posture remained unchanged.

She was pushing. Testing.

"Could it be that you weren’t expecting me to catch up?"

Her tone shifted.

From serious.

To mocking.

And Oliver felt something stir inside him—irritation.

His fingers twitched at his sides.

But he pursed his lips.

And he said nothing.

He would not give her the satisfaction.

_____________

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