Are you sure, host? Bubu’s question, for once, had weight. It didn’t sound like taunt or tally. It sounded like calculation.
"Yes." Her answer ca from sowhere deeper than her throat. "If it earns cultivation points, yes. If it doesn’t—if it just... stops them from coming back to my cave—yes. Either way, kill them."
Bubu hesitated; for a split second the pixel-face softened. I never promised points for this action, it admitted. Efficiency likelihood: moderate if you engage properly. Danger level: high. Strategy: use wind-sourced attack and maternal scent decoy.
Barrier at cave mouth is reinforced by Lunareen wards—so these creatures cannot force themselves through. They are attempting to breach a threshold; if you bait them out, you can fight them on neutral ground.
Isabella’s mouth twisted in a grin that felt like paper. "So, stalemate then. Good. I like a fair match."
She turned to the phoenix man. He t her gaze with pump-prid confusion. "I’m going to co back for you," she said, almost casually—an awful, clipped promise, equal parts threat and reassurance. He opened his mouth, probably to protest, to demand she stay, to ask why she’d risk herself—anything—but she cut him off with one look.
He watched her stand, saw the set of her shoulders, the way she made sure Glimora was safe in a corner. He tried to protest anyway. "What are you— little woman, you can’t—"
Isabella frowned at his words. This bastrard still had the audacity to call her little? But instead she did not lash out all she said was:
"I’ll be right back," she said. The fan at her hip humd; its edge thrumd in tune with the pressure at the cave mouth. Whatever Bubu recomnded, she had the will to try it.
His confusion split into sothing harder—fear, respect, confusion, a flash of instinctive admiration that made Isabella’s skin heat. He did not know this was that well, she was simply a stranger so he said nothing more.
Isabella inhaled the cave’s cool, moss-thick air. It slled of old stone and algae and the faint tang of whatever magic kept the pond glowing. She looked once at Glimora’s trembling face, kissed the top of the little head, and steeled herself.
Bubu’s face pulsed in her mind. Execute step one: bait. Use maternal scent to draw them outward, then wind slash to sever tendons at the flank. Summon small wind spirit if overwheld.
Isabella rolled her eyes, because of course the system had step-by-step instructions. Of course it did.
"Stay here," Isabella said, pointing the fan at him like it was divine law. "If anything else moves—make noise. Shout. Don’t try to play hero."
Her tone wasn’t loud, but it had the weight of command, the kind that made you want to obey before realizing how ridiculous it sounded coming from soone who barely reached your chest.
"Oh and by the way, If sothing moves, it’s not . I’m much prettier than that."
The man blinked—once, twice. He looked like she’d just cursed his ancestors. "I will—" he began, but stopped himself. His jaw flexed, hands curling into tight fists at his sides.
Was she mocking him? This tiny woman who’d barely looked strong enough to lift a sword was now ordering him around like he was a child caught stealing sweets.
Sothing in his bones recoiled. Whoever he used to be, he was not the type of man won told to "stay put" like a lost puppy.
What kind of lunatic have I been rescued by? he thought, still staring at her in disbelief.
But the strangest part? He couldn’t look away. There was sothing magnetic about her—this mix of fire and exhaustion, like a candle that refused to burn out no matter how much the wind tried. Even when she stood there, hair ssy and sleeves dirty, she carried herself like soone the universe hadn’t beaten yet.
He almost said sothing—maybe an apology, maybe a warning—but then she gave him that look. That sharp, knife-edged look that said I dare you.
And he shut up. Instinctively.
Isabella didn’t notice—or maybe she did and didn’t care. Her heart was pounding hard enough to crack her ribs, but damned if she was going to let him see it. Her palm still trembled from the adrenaline rush, yet she gripped her fan tighter and rolled her shoulders back like it was just another Tuesday.
Inside her head, Bubu’s voice humd. Are you sure you want to face them directly? They are taller than trees and possibly faster than—
"Yes, Bubu," she hissed under her breath, cutting it off. "I’m sure. Unless you plan on flirting with them yourself, I’m the only one here with legs."
Bubu made a soft, unimpressed beep. Sarcasm detected.
"Good," Isabella muttered. "At least you’re catching on."
She turned her gaze toward the entrance. The two Hollow Stalkers still scraped against the invisible barrier, tall and terrible under the pitch-black sky. Every sound outside felt heavier—the air pressing thick against her skin, like the world itself was holding its breath.
She didn’t flinch. Couldn’t afford to. Instead, she smirked. "Alright, Slendertwin number one and number two. Let’s dance."
The phoenix man blinked. "What?"
Isabella shot him a sideways look. "You heard . And you—" she pointed at him again repeating herself, "—make sure you stay here. I don’t need so half-dead stranger passing out while I’m saving everyone’s ass."
He stared at her, speechless. She was insane. She had to be. "You’re... going out there?" he asked, disbelieving.
"What does it look like I’m doing? Knitting?" she said, flicking her hair back, ignoring how her pulse spiked.
"You’ll die," he said, the words leaving him before he could stop them.
She paused, halfway to the cave entrance, and turned to look at him. For a heartbeat, her eyes softened—not mocking, not sharp—just briefly human. "Maybe," she said quietly. "But I’ve done dumber things and survived worse."
Then, as if the mont hadn’t happened, she winked and added, "Besides, if I die, you can have my fan."
"I don’t want your—"
"Too late!" she sang, already raising her hand.
Her heart was hamring now. She could feel the sigil she had silently purchased earlier. She reached for it, fingers brushing the space like turning a page, and the magic surged to life.
The mountain bent around her like folded paper. The light from the pond dimd, stretching, warping. For one dizzying second, she felt her stomach twist inside out—then reality snapped back.
A rush of cold night air slapped her face.
And Isabella was gone.
...
Author’s Note:
Hey loves 💕 I’ve been working on sothing really exciting! I’m currently coding my own website from scratch— a place where I can finally post all my stories freely, without worrying about trends or restrictions. So of my favorite novels (like my Egyptian series and a new rmaid love story 👀) couldn’t be uploaded here because they didn’t fit the usual CEO romance, werewolf or so trending thes.
The site will let share every kind of story I create — fantasy, mythology, romance, everything. I’ll talk more about it soon, but the website should launch around December or early next year. Thank you for always supporting — this new Chapter is for us 💫
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