SSS-Ranked Evolution: Worlds Unbound

Silence.

So loud. They could hear each other breathe. For a few seconds, they were frozen. Ren didn't regret anything he said, but she looked so flabbergasted that he would offer her assistance. A beast tamer offering assistance to a beast. Humans could be so kind?

"Why?" she questioned, her interactions with humans had taught her to question everything, all the time. Her voice was soft and serene, still in shock, she couldn't believe her ears.

"Well, why not?" he shrugged his shoulders, coming closer to her before sharing the tree trunk she rested against, "we are not far apart. We both hate the empire, we are both wanted with a big reward on our heads and…we have lost our families..." The last part was softer than the rest. For the first time, Reina could see hurt in Ren's eyes, prompting her to do the unexpected.

Her hand fell gently on his thigh. The breath in his throat hitched, and he looked into her eyes, he was hypnotized. She calmed him, and if not for the discipline he had as a man, he would have kissed her.

"Truly, we are not much different. If you really wish to offer your hand to help, then I have no choice but to accept it. You have shown me that you are good. Thank you." a small smile formed on her small lips, and it brought a gentle warmth to Ren's heart. The moment was short-lived when she rose to her feet, still gripping her wounded side, "come, the village is not too far, if we walk now, we will reach there before nightfall." she stretched her hand and slowly, he placed his in hers, and they walked to her village.

Some time had passed, and they had covered significant distance, although the sun was almost setting. Luna and Nagini followed them, Luna in front and Nagini behind, Ren helped with Reina whenever she needed a body to rest on. She felt embarrassed that her body was so weak and told him not to worry multiple times, but he still showed that he cared.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of this alone, it must be really hard for you. I have been troubled since the last few days, a bothersome thought…" Ren broke the silence while she listened to him, waiting for him to ask his question, "why are they looking for you?"

"For power. Isn't that what all humans crave?" a bitter smile washed up on her features.

"No!" he denied abruptly, it alarmed her a bit, his eyes apologizing, he basically screamed next to her cat ears that were so sensitive, "not all of us want power. Some of us want peace, and a family, some of us want love. We are not all bad Reina."

"I wouldn't have believed that if you didnt come my way. I have always believed humans to be cruel and vile." painful memories flooded her being before her ears picked something, a rustle in the leaves. At first, she thought the pain and blood loss was getting to her head but when she sighted Luna stopping abruptly and snuffing, she knew they were not alone. Regardless, they continued to walk, "if the kings were to perhaps capture me, they would do all they can to get the location of the sacred Bloodboon that I have hidden for many years now." a cough was forced out of her mouth, blood staining her lips.

"Be careful!" she almost dropped to her knees before Ren caught her, he set her down gently, against the bark of a tree and took off his shirt. Reina's eyes widened, her face reddening in colour.

"What are you doing?"

"Keeping you alive. You are losing too much blood…" he muttered to himself while he ripped his clothing into strips and wrapped it around her torso to minimize the blood loss, "if you lose too much, you might not make it back to your village." his eyes softened, and out of embarrassment, she threw her eyes away from him. Ren, seeing that she was ashamed, looked elsewhere, his cheeks turning a faint pink. He had never shown that much skin to any woman except his mother and Reina had never been on good terms with a human to see a sensitive part of them.

It was new to them both.

"Can you stand?" she proceeded to shift her weight upright, and he assisted her, he placed her arm around his shoulders, and they continued to move. They were quiet for a while until his mind went back to the conversation they were having previously, "what is the Bloodboon?" They looked at each other for a while before she looked away.

"The Bloodboon is—"

"An ornament of great power, owned and guarded by the beasts alone. If any creature could find it, they would become the most powerful entity to walk the land." a voice from the forest spoke, setting the beasts at high alert.

"Ready your weapon." Reina told Ren and immediately, he brought out his knife, but their uncomfortable stance only made their visitor laugh.

"Now wouldn't that be amazing. Powerful beast queen was brought to her knees. You would look even prettier with the light snuffed out of your eyes." The trees moved with the voice but no image had been found. Out of nowhere, a dagger was thrown at them, and Ren moving fast enough, used his dagger to deflect it, "oh, you have a friend? Isn't it cute?" his image finally became visible to them and from the way he was dressed, he was a hunter.

Out of the shadows, a figure emerged, his presence radiating an ominous yet deadly calm. The hunter was clad in a dark ensemble, his armour a mix of sharp, jagged plates that seemed to blend seamlessly with the crimson accents of his sash and scarf. The scarf whipped around him like a serpent, mirroring the subtle menace in his every movement. His mask, black as midnight, concealed his face entirely, with only a pair of piercing, red eyes cutting through them like twin embers of rage.

Strapped to his back was a curved blade, its hilt intricately designed, glinting faintly as light from different angles hit it. His arm guards and boots bore faint scars, proof of countless battles, while the crimson cloth tied around his waist flowed like blood on a battlefield. Each step he took was silent, the ground betraying no sound, as though even the earth feared to challenge him.

He moved with the grace of a predator, the sharp spikes on his shoulder plates adding an edge to his already intimidating silhouette. His hands rested lightly on the hilt of his blade, poised for an attack at a moment's notice, the air around him thick with the promise of violence.

"Akai." The name slipped out of Reina's mouth, filled with rage and hate, she pushed herself to stand upright, and her claws poked forward as she got into a stance, "you have made a big mistake by approaching me again."

"Oh Reina, what is a hunter without his prey? An incomplete love story." he chuckled lightly, his eyes closing for a moment before opening, glaring daggers at Ren, "are you bored with me already that you got a new human to play with?" he pouted gently, although it could not be seen because of his mask.

"Who the hell are you?!" Ren got into defensive mode and put himself in front of Reina, she did not expect him to do that. Even the beasts were ready to fight, it was four of them against one of him, how hard could it be?

"Foolish question from a foolish little boy. Why don't I show you who I am instead?!" and with that, Akai charged, running towards them to attack. But Luna acted faster and sent bolts of lightning at him. Instead of him being fried chicken, he simply dissipated into smoke, shocking Ren.

"Be cautious! He uses shadow clones as a deceptive before he strikes. Question every version of him, none of it is real!"