Reincarnated as the Weakest Magical Beast

And so, Emilia and Mimi continued walking through the Ashenbane Forest, leaving the Lesser Death Bear's corpse behind.

The deeper they went, the more the forest seemed to blur into itself. Every direction looked the same, with endless rows of black-barked trees crowned with pale white leaves. As time passed, the fog thickened with each step, swirling low around their ankles, and the silence pressed in, broken only by the crunch of Emilia's boots on the damp soil.

Apparently, besides its high-level monsters, the Ashenbane Forest was infamous for another danger: its ability to disorient adventurers.

Because the terrain looked so uniform and the forest stretched on for miles, it was far too easy to lose track of direction. To make matters worse, compasses were useless here, for the air had been cursed by some kind of dark magic. Thus, without a plan and proper preparation, adventurers could wander for days until exhaustion sets in, leaving them as prey for lurking monsters.

There had been countless cases, and plenty of grim tales whispered in taverns: search parties finding nothing but shredded gear, or bones gnawed clean beneath the roots of those pale-leaved trees.

However, Emilia had come prepared.

Before setting out, Lord Siamelumis had given her an important tip for navigating the Ashenbane Forest. All she needed to do was find a spot where the sky was visible, maybe by climbing a tree if necessary.

By gazing upon the stars, she could always find her way.

Among the countless lights in the heavens, there was one brightest, largest, most beautiful star: Aurealis, the Guiding Flame.

According to legend, Aurealis was the final ember of a god who once sacrificed himself to bring light to Arventia. Even in death, that ember continued to burn, becoming a star that never faltered, a beacon for the lost. Many travelers had found their way home by following its glow, for it always pointed north and could shine through any illusion.

So, as long as Emilia walked in its direction, she knew she would eventually find her way out.

***

Step step...

They walked in the direction of the star, just as Lord Siamelumis had instructed.

Eventually, they came across a small river, its waters glinting beneath the pale light that filtered through the fog. The current ran gentle and steady, weaving between mossy stones, while the quiet trickle of water brought a rare sense of calm to the eerie forest.

Mimi meowed in delight.

"Meow!"

If this river was here, then Duskwald had to be close!

She remembered it clearly from her game: this was the Dusksong River, the very stream that flowed all the way from the distant Dark Mountains before winding down toward Duskwald.

Thus, all they had to do was follow it downstream, and they would eventually reach the city.

Of course, Emilia knew that too. She also decided to take a moment to rest.

Kneeling by the riverbank, she rinsed her sword clean, brushed the dirt and blood from her clothes, and splashed the cool water onto her face. The chill refreshed her, washing away some of the fatigue from their long trek.

The water was crystal clear and looked safe to drink, yet she didn't dare risk it. Yeah, not a chance, not in a forest crawling with undead. Instead, she sat on a smooth stone nearby, uncorked her flask, and took a drink. She even poured a little into the lid for Mimi.

"Meow!"

Thanks, Master!

Mimi lapped eagerly at the water, her tiny tongue flicking rapidly as she rehydrated.

Afterward, Emilia pulled out some dried jerky, breaking off small pieces to share with Mimi.

Their plan was simple: rest here at the riverside for half an hour, then continue their journey downstream toward Duskwald.

***

Nom nom nom…

The jerky was tough and chewy, so Mimi gnawed away at it with determination. It wasn't glamorous, but it filled her belly, and honestly, it tasted pretty good.

Suddenly—

"Whoa! Mimi! Look!" Emilia's voice cut through the quiet, sharp enough to almost make Mimi choke on her bite.

Ears twitching, Mimi snapped her head up, every muscle tense.

A monster?!

But no… there was nothing in the shadows, no rustling in the fog. Instead, Emilia was pointing toward the sky.

Mimi followed her gaze, and her jaw nearly dropped. The jerky piece she was eating fell onto the ground.

"Holy shit…"

Because high above the Ashenbane Forest, the heavens had changed!

The moon, once silver and pure, had turned a deep, burning red, like some divine being had spilled blood onto it. It hung swollen and heavy in the darkness, casting its crimson glow across the land.

And under its glow, the whole forest had transformed!

The pale leaves had turned all crimson under the red light, while the river at their side reflected it as a long ribbon of blood. Even the fog itself seemed tainted, carrying a faint reddish haze.

"A… blood moon…" Emilia whispered, her voice tinged with both awe and unease.

Meanwhile, Mimi's fur stood on end, prickling from head to tail. Her instincts screamed danger.

And then—something fell from the sky.

Water.

But when it splashed across the stones and leaves, its color was faintly red. Droplets streaked down Emilia's cheek like diluted blood.

"What… is happening?" Emilia muttered in shock.

Mimi, on the other hand, was starting to panic. Her tail was puffed now and her ears flattened tight against her head.

Because she knew. From her gaming days, she remembered exactly what these kinds of phenomena would mean.

In Arventia Online, rare regional events could sometimes trigger within Duskwald. And the Blood Moon and Blood Rain were two of the deadliest.

Once every 180 days or so, the Blood Moon would rise. Under its glow, every monster's stats in the region would be boosted by a hundred percent! Not only that, there would be special, elite monsters spawning too, their strength far beyond the ordinary!

Meanwhile, the Blood Rain, however, was another nightmare altogether. Occurring roughly every 130 days, its crimson drizzle accelerated monster spawns to three times their normal speed, flooding the forest with danger!

The Blood Moon alone was bad enough. The Blood Rain alone was terrifying.

But now… both were happening at once. That would make this situation many, many times more dangerous!

"AAAA! Honestly, what the fuck is this bad luck?!" Mimi groaned.

Because The odds of both events overlapping were insanely low, only once every 6 years!!!

And so…

"MEOW!! MEOWWW!" she cried out loudly, urging Emilia to move.

Somehow, Emilia understood her meaning without a single spoken word. Without hesitation, she scooped Mimi back into her arms and bolted, her boots splashing through shallow puddles as she followed the river's edge.

She ran and ran, heart pounding, breath sharp in her throat, praying with every step that the distant lights of Duskwald would soon appear.

…

However, the two couldn't get very far before the enemy found them.

BOOOOM!!!

The ground shook as something crashed down ahead, blocking their path. Dust and leaves burst into the air, the shockwave rippling through the fog.

A massive figure rose up, its hulking silhouette blotting out the red glow of the Blood Moon.

ROAAAAARRR!!!

Another Lesser Death Bear!

But this one was nothing like the one Emilia had slain earlier. Its body had doubled in size, muscles grotesquely swollen and straining against its hide. Black fur bristled like iron spikes, the jagged bones glowing, while its jagged claws dug furrows into the soil with every step.

And its eyes, those eyes burned with a crimson light, like the gaze of a demon set loose upon the world!

***

However, even when the Death Bear was empowered by the Blood Moon, its stats boosted greatly, Emilia still believed she could stand against it!

And Mimi believed it too. She trusted her master completely!

After all, she's the Silvervein genius!

With a quick leap, Mimi jumped off Emilia's shoulder just as the beast lunged.

The ground shook violently as the Blood-Moon-charged Death Bear slammed its claws into the earth, crimson eyes blazing with madness.

But Emilia was faster. She sprang to the side, dirt scattering beneath her boots, and drew her sword in one smooth motion.

Her heart thundered in her chest, but she forced her breath steady.

In a blur, she shot forward, her cloak snapping in the air behind her. The bear's massive claws swept past, slicing through the fog with terrifying force, but Emilia flowed past them like water.

Apparently, during the Rite of the Dragon vein, Emilia would not be able to use her signature swordskills, because doing so might reveal her identity. However, there were exceptions for this.

First, if it was a matter of life and death.

And second, if she was alone, with no risk of anyone else discovering her secret.

This was one of those times.

"Silvermoon Sword Art—MOON SLASH!"

Steel flashed.

A shining arc cut through the air—

SLASH!

Her first strike carved deep across the beast's shoulder, black blood spraying into the crimson-lit night.

But Emilia wasn't done yet.

"Silvermoon Sword Art—TWIN CRESENT!"

SLASH! SLASH!

Two more cuts followed, swift and merciless, biting into the monster's hide!

The beast roared, spinning wildly, but Emilia was already gone, sliding low beneath its reach.

Another Silvermoon sword technique.

SLASH!

Her blade carved across its leg, severing tendons. The bear staggered, fury shaking its massive frame.

Still, it lunged, jaws snapping, but Emilia vaulted upward, twisting in midair.

SLASH! SLASH!

Twin strikes ripped across its back before she landed, boots skidding against the blood-soaked earth.

The bear reeled, but it did not fall. Its body still loomed tall, crimson eyes blazing.

Apparently, its HP was far too high now, its defenses bolstered by the blood moon. Before, only two slashes were enough to bring down a Death Bear. But now, six slashes already, and it still stood strong!

Emilia's eyes blazed with determination, her grin stretching wider.

"Then I'll cut you down ten times if I must!"

She dashed forward again with absurd speed.

"Silvermoon Sword Art—ultimate form! SILVER CRESENT STORM!

The technique unleashed TEN strikes in rapid succession! The power was devastating!

The bear's flesh split open under the storm of steel. It let out one final, guttural roar before collapsing with a thunderous crash, its massive frame twitching as black blood sprayed across the ground.