As I found myself once again amid pain, I questioned the uncanny consistency of my misfortune. I wanted to protest my innocence, to assert that I was but a victim of fate, however, reality dictated otherwise. My unwavering desire to be adventurous and defy the odds was the foundation of my struggle. Time and time again, my reckless and insatiable yearning for excitement steered me in regrettable directions.

In a swift, ruthless sweep, Venisa brought a tree branch down against my shirtless back as I dangled helplessly from a tree, bound by my wrists. The impact sent a brutal jolt through my body, a crack that echoed ominously, leaving me uncertain whether the sound originated from my ribs or the branch. My torso was a canvas of crimson, resembling the aftermath of a relentless midday sun. Each subsequent lash from the branch ignited a raw, stinging pain similar to a sunburn.

I whirled around in a desperate bid to retaliate, aiming a kick at her, but only succeeded in striking the air. “Fuck Venisa, that hurt.” I protested.

Nonchalantly, Venisa rested the branch over her shoulder, her gaze never leaving mine. “That’s the whole point. Aren’t you gaining experience?”

“Sure,” I retorted, “But I was under the impression we'd be killing something, not subjecting me to this—Why do I need to be tied up?”

Venisa merely shrugged, a devilish grin spreading across her face. "I just assumed this might appeal to your… tastes, given you're a lust demon. The rumour is that you lot quite enjoy a bit of spanking."

I pursed my lips. "This is no mere spanking, Venisa, and I am no perverse maniac," I said through my teeth.

Venisa chuckled, a note of amusement tinting her words. “Whoa, are we kink-shaming now?” she said before sending another sharp stroke of the branch across my skin, provoking a startled yelp from me. “So cute,” she cooed mockingly.

“I have gained over four thousand experiences. I think we should stop now,” I suggested.

"Fine," Venisa agreed, sauntering over to unfasten the rope from the trunk of the tree.

As the rope slackened, I tumbled onto the unyielding ground with a groan of discomfort. "You could've been a touch more gentle, you know," I grumbled from my crumpled position.

Venisa ambled back, casting a contemplative gaze upon my grunting effort to regain footing. "Very well, let's proceed to a more… lethal exercise," she conceded.

"Thanks," I exhaled in profound relief.

Swiftly, I clothed myself and armed my hand with the familiar weight of my dagger, preparing myself for our venture through the woods. We delved into the sprawling wilderness, navigating through the colossal foliage that seemingly knew no end. With every step, I found my confidence in Venisa's sense of direction wavering as I was met with a continuous tide of verdant obstacles, each swatting me in the face.

Venisa's intermittent glances my way ignited flares of apprehension. The trust she placed in me appeared precarious, to say the least. I noted her sleepless hours the previous night and the sudden, heightened awareness every time my hand grazed my dagger. Her wariness felt oddly misplaced, given her likely superior level. Our conversation had yet to broach the topic of forming a group. If she had access to the system, she would undoubtedly know of the invitation feature. Maybe Venisa was guarded about revealing her level to me, and I couldn't blame her. After all, she had been thrown into Chronos' plan, and her very assistance felt serendipitous. There was a chance that my assurances were perceived as mere platitudes.

Perhaps it was me who needed to maintain a cautious watch on her. Vigilance seemed sensible, even if I lacked the strength to defend myself—I would not simply roll over.

At length, our path led us from the dense jungle to the mouth of a vast ravine. As I ventured to the edge to survey the scene below, I was instantly struck by the sight of wonderment. A dozen colossal, winged lizards dominated the airspace below. Their reptilian forms bathed in the fiery glow of the molten lava coursing through the heart of the chasm. Even from our elevated vantage point, the sweltering heat was discernible, in the shimmering waves that distorted the air.

"D-d-dragon," I stammered out.

I fervently hoped that she didn't expect me to engage with those fearsome creatures. They were far beyond my capacity to combat, and the mere thought of confronting them sent fear coursing through me. I had no doubt that they could kill me in an instant should I provoke them.

Venisa was swift to correct me. "They're wyverns. Dragons are colossal creatures, comparable to the size of a ship, boasting four legs and wings. These creatures are only marginally larger than a pair of horses."

"Pair?" I echoed, trying to wrap my head around the concept of one of these being that big—the wyverns before me were hardly bigger than a medium-sized bear.

Venisa gave me a nod. "Imagine taking two horses and—" She clapped her hands sharply, illustrating her point.

"I appreciate the visual aid," I replied drily.

A smirk played on Venisa's lips before she returned her gaze to the wyverns. "We should find the biggest one."

"Maybe we should aim for a more manageable size first," I suggested.

Undeterred, Venisa pointed to a brown wyvern that indeed was about the size of two horses. "That one. Its level is thirty-three, decent, but I'm after its skin. It would be an excellent material for clothing."

"What constitutes a normal level?" I queried, my eyes fixed on the reptiles circling overhead.

"Most humans barely surpass Level 100. Some extraordinary ones breach Level 200, but it's exceptionally rare—typically, guild members. As for animals, they hover around Level 100. I've never seen any go over 200," Venisa enlightened me. “Dragons can get too close to a Fallen’s level, but I've never seen one in person. There are not many left.”

"And the Fallen? What level are they?" I asked further.

Venisa turned her gaze back to me. "Their levels typically range between 700 to 900."

"Wow," I exhaled, incredulous.

"Rumour has it that Lucifer herself is nearing Level 1000," Venisa added offhandedly. "No one truly knows the upper limit, but the common belief among the Fallen suggests it at 1000. However, I personally believe it's potentially infinite, bound only by the ludicrous amount of experience points required to level up further."

Exhaling deeply, I replied, "And we're supposed to retrieve the Twisted Fate from her."

"Exactly. Hence, the seemingly insurmountable task we face. I hope Chronos knows what he doing because it probably going to get us killed."

I refocused on the immediate situation. "How are we supposed to subdue that wyvern?"

Venisa gestured towards the huge nests scattered near the bubbling lava. "We'll break some eggs and hopefully lure it down," she proposed, a mischievous smirk dancing on her lips. “I do love smashing things.”

"But what if they all descend?"

The thought of battling a horde of wyverns was terrifying. I was unsure whether Venisa could fend them off single-handedly, and I knew my contribution would be insignificant. However, I needed her in my group to gain EXP. While my assistance might be limited, grouping up was essential if I wanted to gain any experience from this endeavour.

"Then we can have ourselves a party," Venisa replied, chuckling as she gestured towards a narrow path leading down to the lava. "Chronos brought me here to level up, and it should work just as well for you."

I broached the subject tentatively. “Should we group up to gain experience? I’m not sure how it works when going solo.”

Venisa took a moment to ponder before answering. "The bulk of the experience points usually accrues to the one initiating the attack. If we form a party, the experience will be divided among us. It might be more beneficial if you take the lead and we stay ungrouped—since I will be doing most of the work."

While her explanation was sound, I detected a note of hesitation in her tone. Her level intrigued me, but I chose not to press the issue.

I nodded in acknowledgement. "Makes sense."

We began our descent along the gleaming black stone path, strikingly reminiscent of the walls in Venisa’s dwelling. The journey to the base consumed nearly an hour. On arrival, I immediately noted a decline in my health, a direct result of the intense heat.

It wasn’t anything serious, but it concerned me how much it would start going down once we got closer to the lava. No human could survive there, as breathing would be impossible for them—it wasn’t even safe for us.

“It’s regenerating, but I am losing health,” I said aloud.

Venisa turned back, her expression unconcerned. “Good, you’ll gain experience,” she asserted, advancing assuredly towards the lava.

A flock of wyverns flew overhead, their wings displacing a forceful gust of wind. Their raucous cawing, while bird-like, was exponentially more thunderous. From a closer perspective, I discerned that these beasts were vastly larger than I'd initially perceived—my earlier comparison to a bear was a gross underestimate.

I hastened to match pace with Venisa. "So, you aim to fashion garments out of one of those?" I asked.

She affirmed with a nod. "Yes, I can craft clothing. The system even provides bonuses for doing so."

Intrigued, I asked, "A bonus? What kind?"

"Well," Venisa explained, "the system offers preset guidelines, akin to recipes, and if you adhere to them precisely, you garner crafting experience points. It's essentially a level system for crafting." She jumped on a large boulder and surveyed the landscape. 

Eager to experience this feature, I questioned, "How can I access it?"

"It's not something you can unlock deliberately," she clarified, her gaze shifting to meet mine. "It's automatic. If you happen to follow a recipe, or if someone guides you, the system acknowledges it and triggers the bonus, saving the recipe in your crafting menu."

"I understand." I acknowledged, nodding. "Would you teach me, so I can access the menu?"

Venisa paused briefly before responding. "It's not quite that straightforward. You'd need to learn leatherworking first. The recipes are strict and you have to have the natural skill for such things. Quality plays a huge role in the bonus."

I nodded with determination. “I’m up for the challenge.”

Venisa cast a sidelong glance at me. "Our time might be better invested elsewhere."

Despite my disappointment, I understood her point. I was already asking for her help in an insurmountable task; it was unreasonable to impose further. I wanted to cultivate self-reliance to ease the burden on others.

"Understood, but know that I'm open to learning if you reconsider."

Venisa contemplated for a moment. "I'll keep it in mind."

I nodded as Venisa dismounted the boulder gracefully and pressed forward, her gaze sweeping across the terrain in search of the nest. For what felt like an eternity, we traced the lava river until we located the earlier spotted eggs. I think, judging by the audible sigh of relief from Venisa when we finally spotted the nest, I concluded that the journey had taken more time than she had initially anticipated.

As we neared the nest, it was evident that it mirrored a bird's nest but was constructed of stones rather than twigs—some animal bones, too. Inside the stony confines were seven colossal eggs, each roughly my size. Venisa abruptly reduced her pace, looking at the eggs warily from afar.

"They're excessively large," she murmured, her brow furrowing.

"What implications does that carry?"

“It means I’m not comfortable meddling with those. They didn't come from the brown wyvern we spotted earlier."

Venisa’s response left me feeling uneasy. If she was worried, I had every reason to be concerned as well.

Abruptly, the silence was shattered by a violent crash from behind us. I immediately stopped, pivoting to witness a colossal white wyvern that dwarfed my two-story Draycott home. Stumbling backward, I sought protection behind Venisa, as the creature's winged forearms crumbled the black stone beneath them.

As it lumbered forward, its penetrating yellow eyes peered at us while it unleashed a series of eerie caws that made the hairs on my arms bristle—I hoped it wasn't a call for help.

"That's certainly larger than two horses," I stammered, my voice wavering with fear I couldn’t hide.

Venisa seemed to be contemplating the situation with deep concentration and replied, a note of worry colouring her voice, "It's also Level 103."

Shit.

"Is that too high for you?" I questioned.

Venisa shook her head. "No, but I can’t guarantee your safety. That thing can one-shot you.”

Despite my fear, I tried to muster up some courage. "I'm prepared to try. I need to level up, and this could offer a shortcut for multiple levels."

Venisa clicked her tongue in disapproval. “This isn’t an easy kill. But we have no other choice. Ugh, I don’t want to waste a Time Leap on this,” she muttered as the wyvern advanced. “It’s huge, and that doesn’t help things.” 

"What's the strategy?" I asked my nerves on the edge of my tongue.

"I'll induce a temporal freeze on it, but you'll have a narrow window of approximately ten seconds to inflict damage," Venisa stated, her voice steady now, but the earlier worry still lingered in my mind.

I brandished my dagger with a bravado that didn't reflect my fear—at least I hoped. "I can manage that at least."

Venisa's gaze hardened. "Just pray its defence doesn't exceed your attack power. Aim for a vulnerable point like the lower leg. The skin should be less thick there, meaning lower defence."

As the wyvern launched itself towards us, I marshalled every ounce of bravery and darted towards the monstrous beast. Just as its massive jaws gaped wide for a devouring bite, a luminous clock image materialised around it, causing its motion to come to a grinding halt, its jaws stuck in a menacing snarl.

Without a moment's hesitation, I swiftly slide beneath the looming wyvern. In a seamless, fluid movement, I came to a halt adjacent to the beast's leg, springing back into a poised stance. I thrust the blade into one of its enormous hind toes. To my dismay, the dagger made an insignificant impression on its scaly exterior and rebounded with such vehemence that it sent me sprawling onto my backside.

Venisa bellowed in urgent desperation, “You did some damage, now get back here!” as the wyvern rekindled its movement and I jumped up. 

The beast began to stomp, and I deftly evaded the initial footfall, but not without losing my balance and tumbling to the terrain again. As I rolled to a stop, its sole came barrelling down towards me. By some stroke of luck, I found myself perfectly positioned between its toes, avoiding certain death.

At that instant, Venisa's hand rose, and with a brilliant flare of lightning, she struck the wyvern squarely on its face, causing it to reel backwards in agony. Seizing the opportunity, I scrambled to my feet and darted behind Venisa, seeking shelter from the rampaging lizard.

The beast roared in anguish while Venisa continued her electrifying onslaught. Even though my survival instinct urged me to focus, the astounding spectacle of her magic filled me with a sense of awe and exhilaration—a sensation so intense that, had I remained human, it would have sent my heart pounding against my chest. 

"A fucking whole point, but its health bar indicates you have tagged it, meaning you should get most of the EXP," Venisa asserted, her voice laden with stress as the wyvern started to resist her relentless attack. “That’s not good. Does this thing have magic resistance?”

Despite Venisa's powerful magic, the gargantuan reptile continued its undeterred advance, unabashedly enduring the continuous storm of electric bolts. An annoyed click escaped Venisa's lips as the beast's relentless advance gained momentum.

“Split up!” she ordered, her gaze flickering as she initiated a swift retreat.

Stunned by her sudden directive, I gathered my wits and sprinted in the diametrically opposite direction. However, before I could put any substantial distance between us, the dragon altered its path, pursuing me with alarming speed.

Panicking, I vaulted over a nearby boulder, landing in an ungraceful tumble on the rocky terrain. By a hair's breadth, I evaded the wyvern's lethal wing, its razor-edged span slicing through the air mere inches above me with a sharp hiss.

Looking up, a fiery orange sphere struck the wyvern's snout, exploding on impact and sending the immense creature crashing dazedly onto the ground. Venisa stood in the distance, her hand sparking with another lethal ball of energy, its luminosity intensifying with each passing second.

Suddenly, the wyvern's maw gaped open, launching itself at Venisa with unbridled wrath. Venisa, unfazed by the assault, swiftly cast her time-bending magic, sprinting towards the halted behemoth with the now white radiant sphere clutched tightly in her hand. Then, with a fluid, almost rehearsed motion, she hurled the blazing ball into the wyvern's cavernous mouth. In a swift follow-up, she landed a devastating uppercut to its snout, causing its monstrous jaws to snap shut with a resonating, bone-jarring crunch.

"Retreat!" Venisa shouted as she bolted away from the wyvern.

Together, we hastened our retreat from the creature, putting as much distance between us and the beast as possible. In a quick motion, Venisa snapped her fingers, triggering a tremendous explosion that shook the ground beneath us, catapulting us off our feet.

As the dust began to clear and fragments of ebony rock showered around us, the sight of the lifeless wyvern came into view. Its once enormous head was now reduced to smouldering mounds of scorched flesh strewn about. The creature's body twitched briefly a few last times before resigning to its death.

Wow… that was so much EXP… I am Level 13… that’s so many talent points. Yes!

Venisa sat up, letting out a long breath. “I might've gone a little overboard.” 

I struggled to a sitting position, brushing away the dirt. “More wyverns are coming,” I warned, gesturing towards the firmament. A quartet of these winged monstrosities was descending upon us from the edge of the ravine.

Venisa’s head swivelled to me, a look of resolute determination in her eye. “That black one is only Level 17. Kill it. I’ll take the rest.”

As the wyverns landed in a slide, I sprang onto my feet, darting towards the black one that was roughly the size of a large wolf. Nimbly sidestepping its snapping jaws, I executed a swift roll and bounded back to my feet. With a precise slash of my blade, I blinded the creature, followed by a ruthless plunge of my dagger deep into its chest.

The wyvern wailed in pain, its wings beating chaotically as it strived to escape. Ignoring its violent thrashing, I pursued my offensive, burrowing the blade further into its flesh until the hilt met the hide. A swift twist of the dagger within its body extracted one final ear-splitting cry from the animal. With a forceful yank, I retrieved my weapon from its body. The beast collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath it, whimpering its last breaths.

Wasting no time, I twirled the dagger in my grip before slamming it down into the wyvern's skull with finality, ensuring it didn’t get up.

“That was pretty easy,” I noted, casting a glance at the trio of lifeless wyverns sprawled on the ground, brutally dispatched by Venisa.

Sauntering over to Venisa, she nonchalantly flicked the blood from her hands and met my gaze. "All things considered, we managed rather well," she asserted, settling her hand confidently on her hip.

I surveyed the gory scene. “You think you could make me a holder for my dagger? It’s annoying carrying this everywhere.”

Venisa bobbed her head in agreement. “Yeah, for sure. We have plenty of resources now.”

My gaze returned to the headless white wyvern. “So, what do we do now?”

“We skin them and take them back to my home,” Venisa instructed, extending her fist towards me. "Well done." After taking a moment to realise what she was doing, I bumped her knuckles with mine, prompting an approving nod and a faint smile from her. “Don’t do anything with your talent points or stats. I’ll help you sort them later.”

Venisa and I dedicated the better part of the day to the painstaking task of removing the tough wyvern hides and transporting the hefty skins to her dwelling. The climb was a strenuous exercise, which added stamina and strength experience to the day’s abundance of EXP.

As the sun succumbed to the horizon, we agreed to conclude our day's labour and retreat to Venisa's abode. Throughout our journey, Venisa repeatedly cast contemplative glances my way, her countenance reflecting an internal dialogue. Upon reaching the beautiful waterfall, she halted abruptly and pivoted to face me, her expression hardened with resolve.

“Can you take me to see Chronos tomorrow?” she requested. “I’m still suspicious of you, but seeing his stone body for myself might relieve some of my uneasiness.”

So, she was aware of his transformation into a statue.

I acceded with a nod. "Absolutely, not an issue."

Venisa exhaled a weary sigh. "I apologise. I realise I may come off as bitchy."

I dismissed her concerns with a shake of my head. "Your caution is justified. His decision to send me back for the sword is odd—I recognise that."

“Thank you,” she said before we continued our route around the basin.

Upon entering Venisa's abode, fatigue washed over me. I sank to the ground, resting against the cool black walls as Venisa plunged straight into work. Her seemingly boundless energy left me astonished, especially after the gruelling day we had.

As she expertly scraped away the fat and flesh from the hides with a fleshing knife, I found myself contemplating the mystery behind her eyepatch. As a demon, she possessed the ability to regenerate lost body parts, even an eye. Nevertheless, I refrained from prying, aware it might be intrusive.

In spite of my curiosity, I opted to bide my time until we grew more comfortable with each other before broaching the subject. For the time being, her guidance was more than enough for me.