"Mr. Ern, are we sure we're going in the right direction?" Alice said, looking around.

"Sure." Ern shrugged, "Don't worry. If someone attacks us, just stay close to me, and I'll protect you. This place looks ominous, but it's nothing more than an attempt to intimidate us."

Ern and Alice were the only team where the balance of power was broken. Ern was in Third Chronicle, and Alice hadn't even activated her Soul Altar yet and was weaker than Primary Chronicle.

They entered the portal of the Red-Eyed Spirit and found themselves in a long passage with red walls drenched in blood, bones scattered on the floor, and broken weapons stuck in the walls.

Alice had already seen a few murders in the new world, but she still felt uneasy about the place, she felt like she was in a horror movie.

Ern was relaxed and was like a fish in water. The smell of blood and the tense atmosphere reminded him of a battlefield. Any horror movie was nothing compared to life-or-death battles.

"What is this...?" Alice said in a trembling voice and pointed to two massive silhouettes coming out from around the corner. She shuddered and stood behind Ern.

"Oh, these are our first guests. I am glad to see them, just walking ahead is too boring." Ern smiled and continued walking without slowing down.

The silhouettes came under the light of the torches, and their appearance was revealed. They were two ghastly monsters resembling bloody wolves. There was a clear kill intent from them, and for Alice, it was a real test, she was scared so badly she could hardly walk.

historical

Ern looked at her and shook his head, "Not good. You scared my little helper."

"Rooooaaarrr!" One of the wolves roared, and a torrent of wind was created that nearly caused Alice to fly away.

"Alice, stay here." Ern said and walked over to the wolf. He reached forward, palm up, and said, "Be a good doggie, and then I'll spare you."

The monster got even angrier at this taunt and attacked Ern with his jaw wide open. The wolf was about to devour Ern and Alice.

"How uncultured. Is that any way to behave at a first meeting?" Ern smiled and touched the wolf's nose with his index finger.

'What...? What's going on?' Alice was shocked. It was as if the world had frozen, and Ern gave the wolf a flick. The monster's body vibrated, and then the wolf flew back a hundred meters, shattering the stone pillars. The wolf sank into the rubble and never got up again.

"Hmm? Was he able to survive? Amazing, it seems this ordeal is more difficult than I thought it would be. Its body should have been ripped to shreds, ok I have one more try." Ern nodded and walked calmly toward the second wolf.

The monster didn't know what to do. The wolf had to attack and get rid of the intruders, but its instincts told it to run away and as far away as possible.

Ern kneaded his right shoulder and clenched his hand into a fist. He smiled and threw a fairly slow punch, just enough for the wolf to retreat at the last moment.

Whoooooooosh.

Ern's blow produced a windstorm comparable in power to a tornado, which struck the wolf. The beast barely managed to stay on the ground and then fled in terror.

Ern didn't chase after it, he looked at the wolf under the rubble and wondered.

"Alice, what kind of weapon do you like?"

"Weapons? I don't know... I've never fought."

"Maybe there's some preference?"

Alice shook her head, she didn't know anything about it and had never been interested in the subject.

'Hmm... I wonder what kind of weapon would suit a girl with such an innocent and modest appearance?' Ern pondered. He was a blacksmith, and to him, weapons had a sacred meaning and were more important than to others.

"Exactly... It would be a beautiful contrast." Ern made up his mind, and the ring on his finger glowed.

A medium-sized scythe with a long black blade appeared in his hands.

"Here you go."

Alice nodded and tentatively took the scythe in her hands.

"It's not heavy?"

"No, it's like a feather. I thought weapons were supposed to be heavy." Alice was surprised. She was turning the scythe over, but she didn't feel the weight at all.

p "You weren't wrong. This scythe is from my personal collection. I wanted to create something simple but aesthetically pleasing and deadly. This weapon is perfect for you. I'm sure of it."

"Thank you...but why did you give it to me?"

"Hmm? Isn't it obvious? I told you I'd make a warrior out of you, and we'll start right now. Go and finish that wolf, don't be afraid. I'll back you up."

"But... I can't..."

"I don't care. Go and do it." Ern said in a harsh tone, and Alice shuddered with fear. The scene of the huge monster fleeing in terror from Ern appeared in her mind, and she hesitantly walked forward.

"I don't even know how to do it...and I don't want to kill..."

"You have to. If a wolf were to attack you and your life was at stake, the urge to kill would instantly arise in you. If there is even one predator in the world, everyone else is automatically a potential predator, and you are one of them."

Alice was against it, she hoped that even though the change in her life had occurred, she would never have to kill anyone, but she knew she was too naive. She slowly walked over to the wolf, scythed her scythe over her head, and closed her eyes.

"No, not like that." Ern stopped her and showed her how to hold the scythe and take a swing properly.

"Don't close your eyes. You're taking its life, and you should show respect, don't you think so?"

Alice nodded, bit her lip, and lowered her scythe with trembling eyes.