CHAPTER 735: A YOUNG GIRL OF THE SPIRIT RACE - PART 1

At the top of a hill, Leon sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. Chaos power surged from his body, causing his white hair to flutter slightly.

The Codex of Noctis floated above his head, open and radiating a brilliant black light.

A moment later, his eyes snapped open. They were no longer his usual purple but the Eyes of Chaos.

Unlike before, the Eyes of Chaos now manifested in perfect form—if only for a moment. Soon after, they reverted to their original state.

"Tsk!" Leon clicked his tongue and shook his head in frustration. "I’m still far from that level. Looks like I need more training before I can activate both at once."

It had been over three months since he left the tribal lands where Jasmine lived.

Since then, he’d wandered in search of a way out, using that time to train and comprehend the inheritance sealed within the Codex of Noctis, left behind by Demon Emperor Amon Crimson.

Unfortunately, it was far more difficult than expected, and his progress had slowed to a crawl.

"You don’t need to push yourself, Master," Miranda’s gentle voice echoed in his mind. "Training should be slow and steady. Otherwise, you could end up hurting yourself, you know?"

Upon hearing her warning, Leon didn’t argue. He simply smiled and slowly rose to his feet. Letting out a soft chuckle, he replied, "You’re right. Next time, I’ll take it slow."

His gaze swept over the area. All he saw was forest stretching endlessly in every direction.

The sky above was overcast, and distant rumbles of thunder echoed across the hills. In a few hours, it would likely rain heavily.

"I really have nowhere to go," he muttered, his voice low.

At first, he believed the forest he was passing through would eventually connect to the mainland. It wasn’t just a baseless assumption—it was information he’d received from the tribesmen.

But the more he thought about it, the more it bothered him—those tribesmen had never even left their own territory. So how could they be so sure this forest actually connected to the mainland?

Letting out a long sigh, Leon unfurled his dragon wings and rose into the sky.

Flying was the fastest way out of this situation.

Although it was exhausting and consumed a lot of his dragon energy, it was still far more efficient than walking.

Without hesitation, Leon flapped his wings and soared eastward.

According to the books he’d read, the east—where the sun rose—was said to be home to both human and demon civilizations.

He couldn’t be sure if it was true, but for now, it was the only direction he could go.

Two hours later...

Rain began to fall, and occasional flashes of purple lightning streaked across the sky, crackling behind the thick clouds. The sight was terrifying—especially when the bolts struck trees deep within the forest.

Leon wasn’t stupid enough to stay in the air during a storm like this.

Although he was immune to lightning and could see clearly with the Eye of Chaos, flying in this weather would only drain his energy faster.

So, he chose to take shelter in a small cave he came across by chance.

"It’s freezing," he muttered, rubbing his hands together in front of a modest campfire.

Despite his enhanced physical abilities, the cold air outside felt like it was slicing through his skin.

He pulled out supplies from his magic ring—beef, spices, and a few other essentials.

Thankfully, Zelda had stocked him well before his departure. Without her preparations, he would’ve been forced to hunt in the middle of this downpour.

Wasting no time, he began preparing the ingredients. With limited space and tools, grilled meat was the only option. He skewered the beef with an iron rod and marinated it with salt, pepper, and other seasonings.

The aroma of the sizzling meat filled the cave, so mouthwatering that his stomach growled without warning.

Once it was done, he set aside three skewers and immediately bit into two others that he held in his right hand.

As the tender, savory flavors melted in his mouth, a satisfied smile spread across his lips.

"This is amazing," he thought, savoring every bite.

He continued eating with gusto, and before he knew it, both skewers were gone.

Each skewer was quite large—yet he had finished two in no time, a clear sign of just how hungry he was.

Just as he reached for another, a faint, guttural voice echoed in the distance.

"Hmm?" His brow furrowed slightly as he cast a wary glance toward the cave entrance.

"Am I just imagining things?" he wondered to himself.

But then, the voice came again—this time, clearer than before.

"Ugh..."

Leon immediately stood up, narrowing his eyes.

"Miranda, do you know what that was?" he asked.

"I’m not sure, Master," Miranda replied hesitantly. "It might be the sound of a dying beast."

Her uncertain answer left Leon in thought. It wasn’t convincing, but he had nothing better to go on.

"Alright," he sighed, slowly beginning to sit back down.

But just before he touched the ground, the voice returned—louder this time, followed by a low, desperate cry.

"Ugh... It hurts... Somebody, help me. I can’t take it anymore..."

This time, Leon was absolutely certain—it was a human voice, not a beast’s.

"Miranda, that’s a human voice!" he said firmly. "We have to help them."

He wasn’t a saint who rushed to save everyone in need. But he wasn’t a cold, unfeeling demon either.

Since he had the time and freedom, Leon didn’t see any reason not to help.

Besides, he was currently lost—and that person might know the way out. It was a win-win situation.

"You’re right, Master. Let’s help them," Miranda’s encouraging voice echoed in his mind.

Without another word, Leon activated the Eye of Chaos in his right eye and dashed outside.

***

In the middle of the dark, silent forest, a girl lay helpless on the ground.

Her body was limp, with deep wounds across her abdomen and chest. Blood streamed from them—but strangely, it wasn’t red. It was white.

The heavy rain poured relentlessly, soaking her body and worsening her exposed wounds.

"Help me... it hurts... I can’t take it anymore," she whispered hoarsely, her voice full of pain and despair.

Her consciousness was slipping, fading with each heartbeat.

*Grrr!*

Suddenly, a beast’s growl echoed from the right. With what little strength she had left, she forced her eyes open—only to be struck with terror.

A massive bear, nearly five meters tall, stood before her. Its chest and belly were encased in natural iron-like armor, giving it an even more menacing appearance.

"Is this... the end?" She muttered weakly.

Slowly, the weight of sleep overtook her, and her consciousness slipped away completely.

The bear leaned in, jaws wide and ready to tear into her—until a cold, cutting voice echoed from behind.

"Don’t touch her, damn it."