43rd of Trian Month, Trian Ruins.
As Sia continued her second-day journey in the valley, she noticed something was wrong.
The princes and princesses she came across…their eyes were filled with terror.
It was as if they witnessed a monster in the valley.
Sia didn't understand their reaction at all.
'Didn't they kill the guardian beasts?' She tilted her head in confusion as her body flashed at unnatural speeds.
A mountain, a plain, a tree, a desert—Sia kept moving no matter what she encountered.
The aura pressure in level 8 was tremendous. It felt like the air was trying to squeeze the breath out of her, but Sia responded to the pressure better than all level 8s.
But as she moved deeper into the valley, she had to slow down.
The valley didn't just have aura pressure.
"Kree!"
It had monsters too.
Level 8 monsters that didn't just die with a single snap of her fingers.
"Haa~" Sia sighed lightly and landed on the ground.
"Kree!" The eight giant diamond-winged vultures screamed in joy.
Unlike the previous humans who were in groups, this prey was single.
They could kill her without much difficulty. Moreover, most humans had already moved much ahead by now.
Even though there were still some people behind Sia, they were the weaker ones and wouldn't matter much.
Since Sia entered the valley only yesterday, she was playing catch up with the powerful awakeners who were already far ahead.
That's the reason these creatures took the risk. If they tried the same thing when those geniuses were present, some prince or princess would definitely step up to help.
The loss of level 8s was tragic for the federation. The ones who could see the bigger picture would no doubt prevent such tragedy.
But now, there was no one to help.
"Kree~"
Sia looked up and saw colossal white covering the sky.
As the vultures opened their wings, their collective shadow covered the area enough for a football field.
They were…just too big.
Whoosh!
The diamond-winged vultures flapped their wings and shot towards Sia.
Their speed was breathtaking—literally because all the air in their way was blown away and a vacuum was created.
Sia stood in her place as the vultures approached her with a dangerous speed.
If they hit her, it'd be equivalent to taking a meteor impact head-on.
Even an extreme awakener specializing in defense would've had a hard time.
'Closer…'
Sia narrowed her eyes and waited for the vultures to draw closer to her.
500 meters…
The ground started to shake.
400 meters…
Cob-web like cracks started to spread with her as the center.
300 meters…
The ground started to cave in as if someone smashed it in with a giant hammer.
200 meters…
A huge crater formed in the area Sia was standing at.
100 meters…
A huge shockwave hit. Even a large rock was accelerated to the speeds of a bullet and shot outwards.
The mountains in the distance were hit by the shockwaves and the rocks that followed were blown to pieces.
50 meters…
'Now!'
As the vultures opened their mouth, Sia's hand shook lightly.
It was just a light flick, too insignificant compared to the mighty movements of the giant vultures.
But.
Boom! Bang!
"Kree~"
The vultures that were flying toward Sia were suddenly pulled towards each other.
With a panicking roar, they tried to stop, but their speed was too high and it wasn't something they could control in a moment.
Their original plan was to attack Sia together. Since she'd resist, the vultures knew most of them would be deflected, but the remaining one or two would finish her off.
At least, that was the plan.
But now…
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The eight vultures collided just fifty meters above Sia at an enormous speed.
Boom!
The mountain ranges near the area shook violently and a huge crater ranging a dozen miles was formed.
Dust filled the air and rose high into the air.
Even the level 8s who were far ahead in the valley noticed the commotion.
"What is this?"
"Did anyone fight?"
"I want to go check."
"…"
The princes and princesses discussed fiercely. In the end, a small scout was sent to check on the situation.
Of course, the weaker members behind Sia in the valley also rushed forward to check the situation.
But the person in question didn't care.
Without waiting, her figure flashed through the dust.
Even as she moved through the cloud of dust and smoke, they didn't touch her.
Sia was like a fairy untainted by the malice of the mortal world. She kept moving.
The valley widened considerably and she shot forward in the path with the least monsters.
Yet…
She was attacked again. This time, by six giant apes with lightning bodies.
After five more miles, she encountered seven snake monsters.
The more she moved forward, the more frequent the attacks on her turned.
Sia tried to neglect the reason why she was attacked.
But as she fought the tenth group of monsters, she accidentally admitted why.
'Alone…'
As the day inched closer to the end, the point was proven again and again.
Since she was alone, the monsters picked on her, thinking she was easier prey.
In the experience of these creatures, groups were always harder to hunt.
"…I didn't want to be alone." Sia looked at her bloodied hands and muttered. Her voice was further subdued as she said in a soft voice, almost as if she was praying. "I never wanted to be alone."
Only the rustling wind responded to her prayers.
Sia stood alone in the vast valley and sighed.
Before she knew it, night had fallen.
Cackle! Cackle!
The crackling of the flames was the only sound talking to her in the lonely night. The light of the fire shone on her face and was reflected in her eyes.
Her unfocused eyes stared ahead blankly.
It wasn't just her gaze.
Her heart throbbed in pain as she asked herself.
'When was I left…alone?'