‎Kyle dismissed the StarGod Twin Daggers from wherever they had been flung across the ground, knowing they would return to the Manual. Then, he summoned them anew into his hands and drove one deep into the being, piercing its lower body, for that was the only place his reach allowed. His current position, suspended by his hair, gave him little room for manoeuvre, so this was his safest recourse.

‎'You are not the only one capable of wielding weapons with skill.'

‎The horseman released him, its gaze falling to the wound in its lower body where black blood seeped forth. Astonishingly, it was not healing...

‎Despite its overwhelming power, which eclipsed even the Demon or anything else he had ever seen or fought alongside the others, this being could not regenerate...

‎'...That's its weakness.'

‎Kyle looked down at the daggers in his hands after he caught on. Frankly, he was deficient in every respect right now. It was uncertain whether he could land another strike on the being without being slain outright. His vision blurred with the slow approach of death at his door, but he knew that in that moment he needed Stamina, even if only a little more. He was not certain he would land another blow, but he wanted to try.

‎That was all.

‎The horseman's grip tightened on its great sword as it lifted it to kill Kyle without delay. However, it froze when it noticed he was no longer there, only a small pool of his blood remaining. Sensing a shiver along its nerves, it prepared to swing its blade around, aware that Kyle had somehow moved to its back.

‎Nonetheless, it was not successful. Another stab pierced it from behind as a second dagger followed. Though it was not deep enough, for Kyle was not particularly agile at that moment to drive it in further.

‎'Please, strength! Please! Please! I must kill this bastard to live!'

‎Fortunately for Kyle, the horseman did not appear to possess any ability beyond its extraordinary combat skills, which had swiftly overwhelmed him with their unmatched strength, agility, and speed that surpassed even those of a Tier Six. But now, he was determined to bring this monster down.

‎He gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve, driving the Twin Daggers deeper with a cry of exertion and planting his feet firmly into the ground so he would not falter. The blades soon burst through to the other side of the being, pumping out its black blood.

‎'Yes!' Kyle could not help but celebrate the fleeting sense of triumph.

‎Although, he was a bit, or perhaps far too early. The next moment, he saw the being now facing him somehow, and his daggers were no longer embedded within it. Instead, they merely dripped with black blood, serving no wound.

‎He let out a low, almost bitter chuckle. This was the end. There was no strength left in him. His legs buckled, and his hands trembled. The StarGod Twin Daggers slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground, and he could only await his death. Even his Name failed to manifest its promised aspect, and instead his Title weighed upon him with its disadvantage, dragging him further into despair.

‎He closed his eyes and quietly braced himself, awaiting the great sword to sever his head. But something unexpected occurred. Kyle sensed the being faltering, its body collapsing to its knees. The woven mask slipped away, and the shadowy flame that served as its head extinguished in an instant. The great sword crashed against the ground, its weight reverberating through the stony terrain, marking the end of the battle.

‎His eyes snapped open, widened in disbelief.

‎...Had he truly killed the bastard? The relentless fiend had actually fallen to his own blades.

‎Then, a familiar voice resonated in his head, echoing with multiple messages waiting to be delivered.

‎***

‎[Alert] You have slain Bask, the Fallen

‎[Reward] Mutation Sync Rate +35%

‎[Reward] New Skill: Tame ‎(Secondary Element: Evolves with Beast Trait Fusion)

‎(Information: This ability grants you absolute authority to tame any entity that falls by your blade, solely, regardless of rank or species)

‎Congratulations on your remarkable achievement, [Clueless]

‎[Your needs have been fulfilled]

‎***

‎Kyle grinned wearily. The Manual had finally helped him identify the being, yet it still gave no revelation of what race it belonged to, leaving the mystery unsolved as to what new entities were surfacing. He gazed into the distance, still breathing but utterly unable to move. Just then, a bright flash of light erupted from the place where Na-Ri and Orion were facing off against the horse. The brilliance was so fierce it threatened to blind him, overwhelming even the natural glow of the sky.

‎'...Orion? Lee? They are fine, right? They... they...'

‎He wanted to move, but his body refused him. A deep weight of regret coiled in his chest. History was repeating itself, and this time the sting was sharper, crueler. His eyes quivered, and tears almost spilled, but he restrained himself.

‎Soon, his sorrow was smothered by shock as the Manual's voice resonated once more.

‎***

‎[Bask, the Fallen wishes to be Tamed]

‎Would you like to activate your skill, [Tame]?

‎[Yes] / [No]

‎***

‎***

‎A day or two later, Kyle's eyes fluttered open slowly before gaining full vision, far quicker than one would expect after such prolonged rest and the condition that had brought him there. He found himself covered by a cloak. At present, he was inside a cave.

‎'Huh?'

‎He touched the dark cloak and, slowly but surely, recognised it as belonging to Orion. Swinging it aside, he turned his gaze to the left, where three figures sat at the edge of the mountain cave's hill, their backs facing him as they looked out into the radiant sky. Two of them bore the signs of grievous wounds, dry blood staining their attire and skin, yet they appeared somewhat recovered.

‎Without a moment's hesitation, Kyle instantly knew who they were. A bright smile spread across his weary face as he stood, nearly stumbling, but forcing himself forward until he reached them.

‎His heart confirmed what his eyes told him — the three were indeed Orion, Na-Ri, and Adela... alive and safe.

‎Before even thinking to ask about what had happened after he had fallen unconscious, about the brilliant white light, and about how all this had come to be, he tilted his head slightly and said from behind them:

‎"Guys, I am starving..."

‎

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