The claws of Mutant Hunter slashed down, but Vylyss''s chains immediately ensnared them. However, as soon as she pushed Noan away, the chains were severed.

    Whoosh!

    A sound like a blade slicing through flesh rang out—Vylyss''s arm was cut off by Mutant Hunter.

    It didn''t stop there. The creature grabbed one of Vylyss''s wings and tore it from her back.

    "AAA!!" Vylyss screamed, her voice filled with pain and despair.

    Noan, at that moment, went mad. He charged at Mutant Hunter, and the Abyss Cube suddenly transformed into a sword in his grip.

    The blade slashed downward, but Mutant Hunter was much faster than Noan and easily dodged the attack.

    Noan didn''t stop. The sword in his hand swiftly morphed into a bow.

    He pulled the bowstring taut, energy forming into an arrow, and then...

    Whoosh!

    The wind howling through the air echoed as the arrow was loosed, shooting toward Mutant Hunter with the speed of a bullet.

    Clang!

    However, the arrow struck its body and instantly dissolved into countless light particles, leaving no mark on its flesh.

    BAM!

    Mutant Hunter''s foot stomped on the ground, causing an explosion as its body launched forward like a cannonball, heading straight for Noan.

    Noan raised his hand, and the Abyss Cube immediately transformed from a longbow into a shield.

    He held the shield before him, but in the next moment, an immense force slammed against it. Unable to withstand the impact, he was sent flying backward.

    BAM!

    His body crashed into a tree before finally coming to a halt. He fell to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood, his face pale as if drained of all life.

    At that moment, Noan felt utterly hopeless.

    He never imagined that he would have to fight against a monster that had surpassed rank D-Peak in a place like this.

    Even more unexpected was that, despite both him and Vylyss becoming significantly stronger than before, they still ended up defeated here.

    Noan wanted to stand up, but Mutant Hunter had already appeared before him, and then...

    BAM!

    "Ack!" Noan spat out another mouthful of fresh blood after Mutant Hunter''s foot struck his stomach.

    The kick was so powerful that it sent him flying backward again, only stopping when he crashed into the protective dome.

    Noan lay motionless on the ground, feeling as if his stomach had just been shattered.

    Right now, let alone standing up—even breathing was an excruciating task.

    Blood streamed from his nose, mouth, and ears like flowing rivers. He could even feel his life force flickering like a tiny candle in a raging storm, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

    Mutant Hunter suddenly appeared before Noan again, its claws raised high, poised to strike down at his head.

    Clang! Clang!

    Just as his life was about to be cut short, countless chains suddenly materialized, wrapping tightly around Mutant Hunter''s body.

    Noan''s eyes widened in shock as he turned toward Vylyss.

    At this moment, her body was drenched in blood, especially the areas where her arm had been severed and where one of her wings had been torn from her back.

    Vylyss gritted her teeth, her remaining hand glowing with an enigmatic purple light as if desperately trying to hold onto his life force.

    Mutant Hunter struggled violently, but the chains were not so easily broken this time.

    But what stood out the most was her face.

    She was breathtakingly beautiful.

    So beautiful that Noan found himself unable to breathe.

    It was so beautiful that he felt such a thing could not exist in this world—only in myths and legends.

    Yet beneath that beauty lay an overwhelming sorrow and pain so profound that Noan felt as if he might weep.

    "Who... who are you?" Noan asked.

    The woman slowly opened her eyes.

    BAM!

    When Noan gazed into them, it felt like his mind had been struck by lightning. A sharp pain exploded in his head, his thoughts spiraling into chaos, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

    However, the sensation didn''t last long. A few seconds later, he began to stabilize.

    When he opened his eyes again, he saw that his body was surrounded by a swirling purple mist, as if it were shielding him.

    Noan lifted his head and once again looked at the woman. This time, the previous overwhelming sensation was gone.

    The woman''s lips moved as if she were trying to say something. Noan furrowed his brows, straining to hear, but no sound reached him.

    Seeing his confusion, a hint of disappointment flashed across the woman''s face. Then—darkness engulfed everything.

    Noan suddenly noticed a distant speck of light in the endless black void.

    He ran toward it.

    The closer he got, the larger the light became.

    It had grown to the size of a sun in mere moments, engulfing him and the entire space in radiant brilliance.

    ...

    Noan slowly opened his eyes, realizing that the light he had been chasing was a ray of sunlight shining directly onto his face.

    He took a long breath and sat up, discovering his body no longer ached. Every wound he had sustained had completely healed.

    "This..." Noan found it unbelievable. He clearly remembered being beaten to the brink of death by Mutant Hunter. How was he now fully recovered, as if nothing had happened?

    "Ah! Vylyss!"

    The moment her name flashed through his mind, Noan immediately looked up and saw her lying in the distance, surrounded by a pool of blood. Without hesitation, he ran toward her.

    "Vylyss!" Noan gently lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his lap. "You... you..."

    Vylyss slowly opened her eyes. Her face was pale, drained of all color like a severely anemic patient, yet a satisfied smile still adorned her lips.

    "Ah! Master, you''re safe," she said, her voice weak and breathless.

    "Stop talking! I''ll find a way to help you," Noan said anxiously.

    Even though she was in excruciating pain, Vylyss felt warmth fill her heart at his words.

    "Master, don''t worry. I only lost an arm and a wing," she said, exhaustion weighing down her voice. "It''s just... a pity... that I might be useless to you from now on."

    "Master, will you abandon me?"

    Noan didn''t answer. Instead, he pulled her tightly into his embrace, his heart aching so much that it made breathing hard.

    "Master..." Vylyss could no longer hold back her emotions, letting tears stream down her face like flowing rivers.

    "Don''t even think about escaping from me!" Noan frowned, his voice firm.

    "Hahaha... Master, you still want to keep me even after I''ve become like this? You really are a pervert," she teased weakly.

    "Shut up!" Noan scolded, but there was no anger in his voice.

    [Ding! Congratulations on overcoming the ''Gatekeeper''s Trial.'' You have received a special treasure chest.]