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Warning : A bit dark content in some way

𝐓𝐇𝐄 cold water running under the bridge in symphony , luring the quietness to fade away with the helping hands of the rustling leaves that came back by the icy breeze.

The duo stood at one end of the bridge. Heart stammering inside as their eyes were bore down on the Petrifying man that stood upon the other end, along with a nauseating grin plastered on his mouth.

Despite the fact young-hee wholely towered the girl's figure as she stood in front with great courage masking up the fear, her trembling hands gave away the terror she withheld as the man started to step closer.

However just when young-hee was about push away the girl behind who was awfully quiet the entire time, the familiar hand tightened around her fingers, a brush of reassurance grazing her fingers before pulling her back behind.

The sound of her swords clanking on the rocky ground as she drew out her swords swiftly, while only a stoic emotion remained on her features.

Watching this little act, the man halted on his steps before letting out a airy chuckle , unbelievable of what she chose to do.

" So you choose to fight against ME?!? .... What a waste of pretty face really... "

The man's disgusting words seethed out of his tongue like a poisonous venom , all too familiar. Then it stricken her,that inside this body it was none other than that disgusting old man.

And if she haven't found his words disgusting yet, she certainly found it now.

" You talk awfully too much for a disgusting leech who's about to die..."

Her words laced the abhorrence and the nauseous she felt towards the man, which clearly ticked off his anger.

Mostly because it was true and the energy that draining out from him gradually helping the process of Petrifying fast.

" You little bitc- "

He didn't even finished his words as he stepped forward to attack the girl who pushed back young-hee away before the blue lucent from her swords gleamed under the night sky.

Thier swords clashed against eachother, the energy sizzling in the cold air while Na-ra secured her stance before pushing him back with a surge of energy, which inevitably made him dissipate further energy.

" Ah,so the rumours aren't true.... You really must be his daughter, which level are you in right now? Ryusu?? "

The man's clear mockery fueled the girl's anger , her grip on the sword tightened before stepping forward to charge a strike. However the man who already completed the level Chisu, easily dodged it.

" But, You can't defeat me, I'm sure you know that right?? "

His comments felt worse than the mockery she have heard in her life.

Sure, she knew there is not much of a possibility to win against him with her only months of training, however his energy is so much weak and somehow she could feel it rather than seeing it.

" Young-hee, find someone. There must be mages here close enough if this old bastard is running wild right now. "

If, she can just hold on enough, there might be a chance or-

-𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼, 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓸 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓵 -

The voice irked inside her mind. Half scared, half confused how can it be talk freely now.

However, all her thoughts came to a abrupt halt as she watched the man consuming the water in the air molecules.

Chisu.

There is no way she could defend against that. However if she can , that means he will drain out his utmost energy which can be a upper hand for her.

That is, if she can defend against it , which inevitably also could drain her energy for a moment.

Nevertheless, the sudden energy that has been surging inside til now could be useful for that.

Na-ra didn't even get to contemplate on her choice , the energy consumed molecules that has been converged into one charged at her before she could fully took a stance and defend herself by her swords, which ultimately send her to fall back hard on the rough ground.

The pain undeniably aching inside her than it should, the energy surging inside her veins in rapid seconds .

" What the... "

She slightly looked aside to the man who looked more Petrified at the moment.

However what caught her attention was the confusion and puzzlement that creased over his features.

The confusion spread to her features before it changed to bewildered as she looked at herself.

Her swords were igniting in the blue lucent , the cherry blossom embedded mark gleaming in white illumination.

Her eyes almost entrancing to it's beauty if it wasn't for the quick attack from the man who ran closer to her before kicking away her swords from her touch, his both hands strangling the girl's neck pinning her head to the ground.

The girl tried to push away however the body he possessed at the moment was too strong to pry away his hands. The more she struggled, the more she felt her airway to breath closing in.

The next second she knew, her entire body lifted like weightless. Like her soul sucking out from her mouth and all she could see was the petrified man's features growing more colour.

Tears that brimmed inside her eyes dawned through her cheeks, knowing this must be the end. She tried to fight off from his grip, but it was no use.

Blood started to seep out from her fingers and nails by trying to push away from the rough ground, however the pain she could feel inside wasn't even close to this pain.

Atleast, young-hee isn't in danger anymore and Uk is safe with cho-yeong, everything is going to be fine.

But yul... She couldn't even...

She squeezed her eyes shut feeling the life pulling out, that is til-

Her eyes snapped open as the swift turns of events, the energy lurching inside her veins in seconds as the life reverting back.

In a fleeting seconds of change, her hands gripped onto the man's neck, Completely closing in his air away as the man tries to pry off her hands now.

Nonetheless, the fair strong grip of her hands impossible to detach .

The girl's eyes gleamed in a mixture of satisfaction and amusement before gradually standing up on her feet. Her right hand secured on his neck as his feet struggled to keep in touch with the ground.

" She's right.... You do look like a damn leech."

Her lips curled up with mockery slipping through her words as the man used one of his hands to tug on her shoulder, possibly to leech off her energy.

However, it still remained the same as she glanced to her shoulder where he layed his hands and back to his eyes as the slight smile faded away from her lips.

" You dare to leech off from me.... And can't even do it well enough?? "

The sarcastic words spilled out of her tongue with a hint of disappointment lacing in.

" It's not-.. This isn't- possible! -"

Even though the firm grip on his neck that led to blockage in his airway, he couldn't hold the bewilderment that coursed through him by the sudden change of the girl.

" No.... This is what possible. "

Her grip that slithered around his neck tightened ,inevitably leading to almost break his bones .

The energy he consumed from her exuding out as it seeped back into the girl, his features colours fading away as the blue skin creasing back .

He tried his best to wriggle off from the girls grip, feeling the energy leaving his body as his hands giving back the rock texture.

However, the girl's grip held on firmly, her eyes filled with amusement as she watched the man struggling in her bare hands.

Finding it all too entertaining as a matter of fact.

" Do you want to see what happens to a leech when you steps on it?...Should I show it to you?? "

Her voice exuded an airy texture, as if she was waiting for this all of her lifetime and the next second the man knew, he fell on to the rough ground.

He clutched on to his neck like his dear life etched in it. The man didn't even dare to meet the gleeful eyes that bored down to him thinking he can make a run and if he can find someone again in the path, he can engulf their energy.

Maybe that girl who saw earlier. It doesn't even have to be someone with immense energy, if he stood here any more seconds enough, he could die.

And even if fighting against the girl was an option, the other mages could be here at any second. It's best to run away for now.

With that in mind the man tries to slowly crawl away, nevertheless a rigid step almost made the guy to screech in pain was engraved to his leg.

Clutching on his leg, he looked upwards meeting the delighted stare of the girl, The smile she held all too creepy in many next levels.

" Where are you crawling away like a pathetic leech??.... I told you I will show you......watch~"

Her voice dripping out like a poison mixed vine as her feet engraved on his leg bashed further as a screech of pain was slipped out from his tongue .

He gathered his half of his energy that left away before striking the girl's ankles, which imminently made her loose her stance.

Taking this chance, the man was about to run way but got halted in his steps as he heard the metal clanking on the ground right behind.

" Did you really thought I was going to let you run away, just like that?? "

The sword igniting in the blue lucent like earlier as she freely stepped towards him while the man took a step back, bewildered at this point.

" Die like a damn leech you are, you old bastard. "

She was about to strike the Petrifying man who could turn in to a rock with a ounce of her energy, however her sword were clashed on to other, the familiar eyes behind it.

The two stepped back in unison as confusion creased onto the girl, thinking why this boy is defending the soul shifter.

"Na-ra, I'm here- are you okay?!? "

The boy was about to wrap his hands around the girl not noticing the stare she gave out to him that filled with animosity.

The next second they knew a scream echoed thier ears as their eyes snapped to the soul shifter , he was fell of from the bridge with a strike of one of the cheonbugwan's mage.

Or let's say the right hand man of Jin-mu.

The mage's eyes swifted to Na-ra and seo-yul before it fell upon her swords that illuminated less lucent in seconds before it died on as she felt his gaze on it.

Seo-yul's eyes that were disappointed at himself for not catching the soul shifter soon died out as his gaze drew back to the girl, concern filling over his features.

However the girl's gaze were straight at the mage, feeling the uneasiness as he caught a glimpse of what he shouldn't.

Nevertheless, it all disappeared as she felt the drowsiness and the daze overcoming her sight, she let out a heavy sigh as if she knew what was coming.

Before her eyes given up , she saw the image of more figures running to her vision , a girl's scream along with two men calling out her name in horror.

Everything else in a daze as her body gave up to the drowsiness and before she could even fall down an inch, an all too familiar pair of hands catching her just in time as the last sight she could see was the blurred face of the man .

" NA-RA!! "

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𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬- 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐧𝐧𝐧 (✧Д✧)....

𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈'𝐦 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 ,𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯....

𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐄𝐒! 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈'𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 (X﹏X)↷.. 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐚 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈'𝐦 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐡....

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞 ♡