The Damned Demon

Asher turned his gaze back to Ceti, his brows furrowing deeper at her vague words, "Seen something like this before? What do you mean by-" he began, but his words abruptly trailed off as Ceti winced, her fingers clutching tightly at her wounded arm.

He quickly crourched beside her, his hands hovering uncertainly over her arm, "The poison might be out of your system, but the damage it's done is...," he trailed off, his voice taut with seriousness.

His gaze flitted towards the surrounding corpses and then back to her, "Hold on. There might be something useful among the dead. Potions, healing items...we have to check," he urged, desperation creeping into his voice.

Ceti gave him a weak nod, her vision swimming as she slumped against the wall. Her eyes fluttered shut as unconsciousness began to pull her under. Asher watched her fall into a fitful sleep and felt she needed more than just a Healing Potion to recover. Otherwise, in this state, she would definitely die within a few hours.

However, Asher was no longer worried about lingering around in this place to loot after checking out the messages he received earlier,

[ You have successfully survived the Bounty Hunt ]

[ Rewards : +40,000 Deviar Shards, Private Safe Zone, Bounty Survivor ]

[ The Private Safe Zone can only be accessed by you and will last for 2 weeks until you leave. No teleportation gates can access this safe zone. Once you leave, the Private Safe Zone will cease to exist ]

Asher turned to the side and saw a glowing sign on the wall, which he knew was the door to the Private Safe Zone, and only he could see it.

[ Title Name : Bounty Survivor ]

[ Only the worthy shall bear this title throughout the quest, allowing the bearer to carry along 25% of their total shards to the next mini-dungeon and shall receive various perks in Safe Zones ]

[ Deviar Shards : 245, 670 ]

Asher let out a sigh of relief, feeling that getting hunted by bloodthirsty Demons and Hunters for 2 hours was finally worth it.

He knew why the rewards seemed quite generous since the chances of surviving a Bounty Hunt, especially with so many Shards involved, were close to 0.

If it wasn't for getting saved by whoever that mysterious person or group was, he wouldn't be standing here now.

He also saw a marker pop up on the map, which was only a few miles away, and knew it was the place where he and his group should forge the second Deviar Crystal.

However, he knew Ceti couldn't travel in this state, and now that they could rest in a Private Safe Zone, he decided to wait and let the other three in his group regroup here now that they know he and Ceti were in a safe place for at least 2 weeks.

Asher was confident that Isola, Merina, and Callisa would manage to reach here on their own.

With all these thoughts, he continued to loot all the valuables and goods from the corpses strewn across the ground.

Asher moved swiftly and efficiently, sifting through the fallen with a sharp eye, pulling out anything he deemed useful.

A glint of something unusual caught his eye, and he reached out, pulling forth a Rare Grade Spatial Bag from underneath a fallen hunter.

The bag, seemingly unassuming, had a carrying capacity of 200 kilograms.

A surge of relief coursed through him as he quickly stowed food, drinks, armors, weapons, and any other valuable items he could find into the bag.

With his loot secured, he turned his attention back to the now tranquil space, his gaze immediately drawn to the glowing symbol etched into the wall.

As he extended his hand, the rock surface seemed to ripple, a low grating sound filling the air. Slowly, the wall split open, revealing a hidden passage to a small cavern yet large enough to accommodate even Callisa.

He then walked over to the unconscious Ceti, his arms gently wrapping around her body as he carried her into the cavern. The rocky entrance rumbled shut behind them, encapsulating them in a surprisingly serene space.

The cavern was a stark contrast to the carnage outside, it felt... comforting, homey even.

A soft glow pervaded the space, its source a small pool of glowing dark blue water in the corner of the cavern. The light danced on the stone walls, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.

There was a simple bed set against one wall, its worn-out linen sheets inviting in their simplicity.

To the side of it, a wooden table held a collection of unknown items and a stack of neatly folded clothes.

Along the opposite wall, there was an assortment of weapons and armor, sparkling under the luminescent glow.

Asher took in the sight with a sigh of relief. This Private Safe Zone was like a serene haven where one can rest, recuperate and restock to continue the quest.

He could understand why someone who survived a Bounty Hunt would get rewarded with this.

He then laid Ceti on the bed, her body peppered with bruises, her shoulder badly injured.

He furrowed his brow as he glanced around, spotting a pile of neatly folded clothes on a nearby table.

But he paused and made his way towards the glowing pool, curiosity piquing as he dipped his fingers into the glowing dark blue water.

An unexpected surge of energy pulsed through him, and the information about this mystical body of water unfurled within his mind.

It was a Manafall Pool, famed for its rejuvenating properties and ability to restore mana. A low gasp of wonder escaped him. This could probably help Ceti heal faster.

Without wasting another second, he lifted Ceti's limp form and waded into the pool.

The water glowed around them, casting an otherworldly glow on their skin. He immersed her within the pool, her body buoyant, with only her head resting against the stone edge, her face pale yet serene.

Seeing her safely settled, he stripped down and plunged himself into the cool pool. The water enveloped him, an immediate sense of relief washing over his body. He could feel the fatigue lifting, the energy surging back into him, his lifeforce replenishing and soothing his injuries.

His gaze, however, never left Ceti. He watched for any signs of recovery, any sign that she was healing. And as expected, he could see her complexion getting better.

He realized how funny fate was. When he first woke up, he and Ceti were quite at each other's throats since then.

He never thought a day would come where they would end up depending on each other.

But he was glad things ended up like this now that she had definitely caught his interest and he found himself wanting to explore it, feeling she will be quite useful and maybe let him discover some answers he was seeking.

However, as a minute passed, Asher noticed her body beginning to tremble.

Instantly, he was by her side, hoisting her out of the waters with utmost care. Her shivering lessened slightly as he came out, the severe injury on her shoulder visibly less gruesome than before.

He settled her on the bed, noticing how the cold, bluish pallor hadn't left her skin completely, and the remnant dirt and dried blood marred her delicate features. With a clean cloth in hand, he fetched a small pail of the Manafall liquid and began the task of wiping her skin.

As Asher cautiously swiped the cloth across her body, he found himself taken aback by the stark contrast between the velvety softness of her skin and the steely firmness of her underlying muscles.

Her figure, especially with her long, wet scarlet hair lying loose, was the epitome of strength, grace, and feminine allure - a combination that was deadly and intoxicating.

The red hues of her skin shone under the dim, warm light, adding an ethereal touch to her beauty.

Ceti's face was tranquil, her usually fierce expression replaced by a peaceful slumber.

Her features were so finely chiseled, her cheekbones pronounced, her lips full and inviting. This was a side of Ceti he hadn't seen before - serene, vulnerable, yet commanding in her presence.

She seemed even more beautiful than usual, making Asher wonder if it was because her face didn't have her usually suspicious and piqued look.

The room fell silent except for the gentle rustle of the cloth against her skin and the rhythm of their synchronized breaths.

He then stared at her face as his gaze became glazed for a moment before shaking his head and walking away.

As Ceti lay resting, Asher, now attired in nothing but his undergarments, went about exploring the small cavern.

His keen eyes took in the sight of the Common Grade weapons and armor; nothing that really caught his interest and made him feel he probably expected too much. But he wasn't disappointed, considering the high-end loot he had garnered from the fallen outside.

His gaze then fell on the Durability Matrix, a peculiar and beautiful matrix used to restore the durability of items in exchange for Deviar Shards. The notion intrigued him as he thought of the multiple items he had looted.

This was definitely a lifesaver if he could also get access to one of them in the higher dungeons.

Nearby, the cozy fireplace caught his attention. Stored nearby were packets of ready-made food and bottles of exotic drinks – enough to last 2 weeks for only a single person. But with their acquired loot, food would be the least of their worries.

As Asher familiarized himself with the new surroundings, an hour slipped by unnoticed. The cavern seemed hospitable, albeit eerily quiet.

Just as he was considering a rest himself, a soft moan echoed through the silence. Whirling around, Asher spotted Ceti on the bed, her body twisting uncomfortably in her sleep. She was shivering uncontrollably despite being wrapped in a thick blanket.

Her skin was cold to the touch, the thick blanket doing little to warm her. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips trembling.

He could see that her body had begun a powerful yet taxing process of healing. But since she overstrained her body by getting severely injured, especially getting poisoned, it must have messed with her healing process.

So instead of her body getting warm and healing, it was instead causing her a lot of discomfort and cooling down her body.

He had seen conditions like this during his time as a Hunter, especially when some poisons were capable of this. These poisons were designed to not let someone with natural healing abilities quickly recover.

And he had no doubt the Rustblood Clan were experts in making sure of that.

The realization came swiftly to Asher, and there was only one best way to help her.

With this in mind, Asher got on the bed and laid down beside her.

He tentatively pulled her blanketed body against his own, her back to his chest, his arm encircling her protectively.

He planned to let his body heat seep into hers and warm her up.

However, to his surprise, the moment he made contact with her body, she twisted her body around, and her hands instinctively reached out, wrapping around his torso and pulling herself closer to him.

As she did this, the blanket came undone as her cold bare skin made contact with his, her ample breasts squeezed against his torso, and her head nestled under his neck.

Her legs entwined with his own, her cold body pressing against him as if seeking refuge in his warmth.

A soft chuckle of disbelief escaped Asher's lips at her unconscious movements, and he could feel the cold puff of her breath against his skin.

He couldn't help but imagine her reaction if she was conscious right now.

But he let her be since she was only helping herself by doing this.

However, he let out a tired sigh, at the thought of his little dragon suffering so much ever since this quest started.

But suddenly, a soft mumbling broke the silence of the cave, "Father...You can't...You can't abandon us..." Ceti's voice was barely above a whisper, her words coming out jumbled and incoherent. It was as if she was trapped in a nightmare.

Asher furrowed his brows as he heard her mumble and looked down at her with a narrowed gaze.