The World Is Mine For The Taking

That was only natural. They had no reason to believe I was truly Trill's lover. All I had done was speak her name and claim her as mine—without presenting even a shred of proof. In their eyes, I was just another outsider, and my words alone carried no weight.

"How can I prove it?" I asked, my voice steady.

The lion-headed warrior studied me, his golden eyes sharp and unyielding, like a predator assessing its prey. The surrounding beastfolk remained still, their collective gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made the air feel heavier.

"Princess Trill is strong," he finally said, his deep, rumbling voice carrying authority. "As one of our kin, she follows the old ways—choosing her mate through combat. The one who defeats her in a duel earns the right to stand by her side. If you truly are her lover, then you must have bested her in battle. And if you defeated our Princess, it means you are even stronger than her." His muscles tensed. "I intend to confirm that myself."

I exhaled softly. "And how do you plan to do that?"

"In a duel. With me."

Oh? That was fair enough. And judging by his sheer presence alone—the way his towering frame loomed over me, the way his clawed hands flexed with barely restrained power—he wasn't just strong. He was formidable. Possibly even stronger than Trill herself.

"I see…" I murmured, my fingers curling slightly.

"If you refuse, we will not force you to fight," he continued, voice steady but edged with warning. "You will be free to leave this place unharmed, as a gesture of respect for speaking of our Princess. However…" He leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "You will not be granted an audience with our chief. If you accept, we shall battle—and I will personally allow you to meet him." A heavy silence fell between us. Then, he asked, "What will you do?"

It seemed he was willing to let us go without bloodshed, which was a relief. However, I needed a place to rest. It had been months since I last set foot in this world, and the remnants of my previous battle still weighed on my body. I was running on endurance alone, and sooner or later, I'd need proper shelter.

And judging by our surroundings, we were deep within the Great Forest. Trill had once told me that her tribe resided somewhere within it, but not entirely in its depths. That meant there was likely no civilization nearby—no inns, no villages, no safe havens. If I wanted a roof over my head for the night, I had no choice.

"I accept," I said, my voice carrying through the clearing. "But I want one condition—no killing. I was already in a duel earlier where my life was on the line, and I'd rather not repeat that ordeal."

I turned slightly, my gaze landing on Zes. Her eyes were gleaming with anticipation, a wild grin tugging at her lips. She was practically vibrating with excitement. How the hell did she still have this much energy after putting me through that mess earlier?

"Already begging for your life before the battle has even begun?" The lion-man scoffed, baring sharp fangs in what almost resembled a smirk. "And you claim to be our Princess's lover?"

His condescension was palpable, but I didn't rise to it. Instead, I met his gaze evenly.

"Very well," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Do as you wish."

I barely had time to register those words before—

A shift in the air.

A violent tremor shot through my instincts.

A blur of movement—

He was fast.

Too fast.

The ground beneath him shattered as he lunged, a monstrous force propelling his body forward. My pulse slammed against my ribs as I barely managed to twist out of the way, narrowly evading the deadly arc of his claws. The air where I had stood moments ago split apart, his attack tearing through it with a sharp whoosh.

I landed a few feet away, the ground trembling beneath my boots. A second slower, and I would've been torn apart.

So that's how it was going to be.

I straightened, rolling my shoulders. My body hummed with tension.

If he wanted a fight, I'd give him one.

"Oh? You actually managed to dodge that?" His voice carried a note of amusement, but beneath it lurked something sharper—interest, maybe even the slightest trace of respect.

"Well, if I hadn't, I'd be scattered across the ground in bloody chunks," I replied, rolling my shoulders. "So much for keeping this a non-lethal duel."

A smirk tugged at his lips, his golden eyes gleaming with predatory delight. "No need to worry. We have a healer back in the tribe. Even if you're ripped to shreds… or sliced clean in half, they'll patch you up."

"That doesn't sound very reassuring. I'd rather not experience being put back together, thanks."

"Well then—" His muscles tensed, his stance lowering into a deadly crouch. The air around him crackled with raw energy. "It's time."

And in the next heartbeat—

We collided.

A thunderous shockwave erupted from the impact, shattering the silence of the forest. Leaves and dust whipped through the air as my blade, Ayuru, clashed against his claws with bone-rattling force.

Then, the real battle began.

A storm of relentless strikes followed. The world blurred into flashing steel and razor-sharp claws, the sheer speed of our movements distorting the air. The force behind his attacks was monstrous—every strike sent violent tremors up my arms, threatening to shatter my guard.

He was fast—unbelievably so.

Faster than Zes.

But where Zes relied on precision and technique, his strikes were raw, untamed brutality. The sheer weight behind them felt like a mountain crashing down with every swing. My muscles screamed in protest. Fatigue gnawed at me, a reminder that I had been fighting all day. Every ounce of exhaustion that had accumulated now threatened to drag me under.

Then—

A claw slipped through my defenses.

A cold rush of air scraped against my skin, my instincts flaring with alarm.

But just as his strike was about to rip through my torso—

I activated Guardian.

A translucent barrier shimmered into existence just in time. His claws scraped against the barrier with a deafening screech, sparks bursting from the impact. He recoiled, golden eyes narrowing.

That was close.

If I had been even a fraction of a second slower, my abdomen would be in ribbons.

"You're skilled," he admitted, straightening. His lips curled into something between a grin and a snarl. "Now I understand why our Princess has taken an interest in you. But—" His aura darkened, the air around him thick with tension. "That does not mean you are worthy of being her chosen mate!" His voice thundered. "Come at me, human! Show me your strength!"

Then—

The world exploded into motion once more.

Steel and claw clashed in a furious storm, the force of each impact shaking the earth beneath us.

He was fast—inhumanly so.

My eyes strained to track him, but his movements were erratic, unpredictable. One second, he was in front of me. The next—

Behind.

A flicker of movement—

I barely managed to block.

Another flash—he vanished again.

Before I could react, I felt the whisper of air at my back. A blade-sharp instinct screamed in my mind. I twisted—

And just in time.

His claws raked through the space I had occupied a split-second ago. The sheer force behind it sent a violent gust tearing through the battlefield.

He was fast.

But—

I could be faster.

The moment I decided to unleash my true speed—

He froze.

Completely.

"…Huh?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

By the time his mind registered what had happened—

Ayuru's blade was already at his throat.

I was standing behind him.

Deadly. Silent. Untouched.

The entire battlefield stood still.

"No way…" A voice trembled in disbelief.

"…Kirk just lost?"

"Did you see that?"

"No… It was too fast—more than that, I didn't feel anything. How did he move so quickly without even stirring the air?"

Kirk.

So that was his name.

Slowly, he turned his head toward me, those golden eyes locking onto mine.

There was no anger. No frustration. Not even surprise.

It was as if he had already accepted this outcome.

"…Now I see." His voice was quieter now, thoughtful. "I understand why that girl acknowledged you."

Something shifted in his words. He no longer called Trill 'Princess.'

Now, she was simply 'that girl.'

"You've won."

His voice carried weight. Finality.

"You can lower your blade."

I let Ayuru dissolve into the air, stepping back as the tension drained from the battlefield.

Kirk turned fully, his stance no longer aggressive. "I acknowledge you. You have proven yourself worthy. And as promised—" His golden eyes bore into mine. "You will accompany us to our village. You will meet our chief."

"All of us, I assume?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yes."

A quiet breath escaped me.

Good.

At least now, we wouldn't have to sleep on the cold forest floor. That alone made this encounter worthwhile. I hadn't expected to land so close to Feliann territory, but it worked in my favor.

More than anything—

I was finally back in this world.

And for the first time in a long while—

I felt relief.