“Shui!” Jun shouted into the thick fog that surrounded her. “Shui! Answer me! Shui!”Jun had never been this alone. It felt strange to be away from Shui in such a meaningful way. Leaving her at the house was different. That had been a necessity. Driven by the need to eat and provide some form of income for the both of them. Mostly hunting and providing resources she found in the forest. But this was nothing like that. Jun felt suffocated as she walked through the ink-like shadows and darkness that surrounded her. Her breath quickening and never enough. Unable to satisfy her lungs. No matter what technique she attempted to use to regulate it. It surrounded her completely. Pressing down on her. “Shui!” Jun shouted again.Her ward had disappeared. The sole person she had forcefully continued to survive many calamities to ensure their existence was lost to her. Somewhere in the damned darkness. In a forest filled with monsters and spiritual beasts. Each one capable enough to slay her even with the presence of her massive hammer. The gifted weapon, much like her own powerful sword. Wish Shui could have gotten a sword. Follow in our ancestor’s steps. Then again, I’ve never seen him use one before. Only the dagger and long spear he carries all the time. Both of them had made large strides in their cultivation, but even this miraculous pace could not make them into transcendent beings overnight. It would always take time and effort. As long as they weren’t killed before they were strong enough to fight back against the tide that would see them dead. Many a genius she had seen, killed before they grew their strength. Their potential wasted. Jun shook her head. She was unintentionally distracting herself in a difficult time. Something she found herself doing too often lately. The more terrified, the more anxious, the more scared she was, the more likely her mind would lead her to a spiraling swirls (...)