The Sword Saint Also Has A Succubus Class

Before setting out into the Caelvarn Forest, they stopped in town. Suzi had collaborated on a project with the [Apothecary] to create something that would draw out the Lurker, and it had been in Mirabelle's hands to finalize whatever that project was.

"The effect will last around an hour, once the jar is unsealed," the older woman told them sternly. "Don't uncap it until you're in the heart of the Forest, or we'll have to do this again. And I'm not sure I have the resources."

"You're sure it'll work?" Suzi asked, peering at the bloody rag inside the rune-inscribed glass jar. Even at first glance, Vale could tell something was strange: the blood was so red as to be unnerving, not dried despite the time elapsed, and her skin itched the longer she looked at it.

"Yes. The beast will scent to the blood of its previous victim and come hunting," Mirabelle said. "It may or may not be enraged. In either case, you must be careful." Her gaze became intense. "Your mother wouldn't forgive me if something happened to you, Suzi, especially if I had a hand in it."

Suzi shifted uncomfortably. Vale wasn't sure what had happened to her mother, why she was no longer living in the cabin out in the woods with Suzi, but she was clearly avoiding the topic, so Vale hadn't pressed.

"I'll be fine," Suzi said. "I know how to handle myself. And I have backup anyway."

Mirabelle's cool eyes pivoted to Vale. "Indeed," she said. "Keep her safe." It was neither request nor plea. A demand. Vale didn't like demands, aside from those that came from her Master, but this one was obviously good-natured. And specifically it came from concern over Suzi, so she forgave the woman's tone—and even found herself endeared.

"If one of us returns, it will be her and not me," Vale said, inclining her head. "I promise you that."

Mirabelle studied her for a second, then nodded, satisfied. Suzi, on her part, turned the color of a tomato.

"Hey. Don't say stuff like that! You can't go swearing your life away on the drop of a hat. What's wrong with you?"

Mirabelle raised an eyebrow at her, and, flushing even deeper red, Suzi grabbed Vale by the arm and tugged her out of the apothecary's shop, the jar tucked in her opposite arm.

"Jeez. People are gonna get ideas, you know. You're so serious sometimes."

"I meant it. I'll protect you."

Suzi made a strangled noise. She handed the jar to Vale. "Into your backpack."

Vale tucked the jar away, wrapping it in a thin blanket for protection, which Suzi had wisely brought in anticipation along with other supplies.

"Both of us will be fine," she scolded Vale. "You'll protect yourself just as much as me. I won't forgive you if you get yourself hurt, okay?"

Vale blinked, but seeing how Suzi's expression brooked no argument, she nodded cautiously in agreement.

She didn't swear it though. Suzi did come first, and no amount of glaring would change that. Vale had already failed her village, her parents, and her Master. So, her newest… friend, would not be added to the list.

 

 

 

The monsters of the Caelvarn Forest hadn't posed much threat even when Vale had been naked and fighting with a sharpened stick, so with a sword and some blessings—'stats' and 'levels'—to go along with it, they were all but fodder. The disciple of the Sword Saint cut down the menagerie of threats with ease.

They worked deeper into the Caelvarn Forest using a compass and Suzi's general knowledge of the geography to head for what they knew was the area with the highest level and most dangerous monsters—the 'Heart' of the forest. The beasts there were, on average, not that dangerous, since this entire forest was ranked as a green zone, a place where the vital energies of the world were condensed but not to the extent truly terrifying creations spawned.

There were few physical indicators they were entering dangerous territory. For the most part, the forest looked the same as it did back at Suzi's cabin. Only a few odd-looking plants and, of course, the frequent monsters made it clear they'd stepped foot somewhere only Bestowed ought to venture.

Soon enough, Suzi determined they were deep enough into the heart of the forest—which meant it was time to cast their bait and hope their opponent came hunting.

"Ready?" Suzi asked.

Vale nodded, gripping her sword tighter in anticipation.

With a firm twist, Suzi cracked open the jar containing the bloody rag. Those mystic runes painted on the glass glowed a bright red, and a sensation pervaded the air, not a scent but something similar, that was so overpowering it froze Vale in place. Her tail stiffened behind her, every muscle going taut.

"What?" Suzi asked.

"That's… powerful magic," Vale said warily, eying the jar. "You and the apothecary created that, alone?"

"It was mostly me," Suzi said. "She just sealed it and added a few things." She tilted her head. "You can sense magic? But you're not a mage."

"Mm," Vale said. "It's complicated."

She could read the vital energies in the air, even feel them, hence her instinctual reaction to the jar being unsealed. Which may or may not be the same thing as 'sensing magic' as Suzi knew it.

"Well, aren't you full of surprises? But no, it's not that strong of magic. It's just fabricated to feel like that, remember? It's attention-grabbing. That's the whole point of the spell."

"Of course." That made sense. She was somewhat embarrassed she'd fallen for the 'trick.' In any case, it certainly worked.

Compared to the average Saint-ranked cultivator of vital energies, she was vastly less accustomed to external uses of that energy—or 'magic', as was colloquially known here. Hence her ignorance. She, like Master Northstar, had been almost entirely concerned with internal manifestations, focused on their swordsmanship and the reinforcement of their bodies. Though Master had been familiar with the vital energy of ice, hence his title of the Saint of Winter Frost. Vale had been less familiar with that secondary power. She'd been more of a sword purist than him. And even his external techniques had been straightforward compared to the more mystical practitioners.

The bait had been cast, so Vale focused her thoughts. They were now in real danger. The monsters of the Caelvarn Forest had already been growing more powerful the deeper they worked in, strong and swift enough even Vale sometimes had to trade blows rather than end them outright.

And this creature? This Lurker that had feasted on a town and grown fat, and was worthy of a Quest to put down? It would not die easily, not to a level two. Even if she were a [Sword Saint].

"Stay close to me," Vale said, her voice now the one that brooked no disagreement. "And be ready for anything."

They walked steadily forward, to cover more ground in case the jar wasn't in range of the Lurker. Though Vale assumed it must be. It almost dizzied her, the scent of magic coming from inside the container. Even she itched to turn and peer at what was inside, regardless that she already knew, and it wasn't designed with her in mind. It wasn't the blood of her victim that had catalyzed the effect.

In less than ten minutes, Vale became aware of eyes crawling on the back of her neck. The sensation was like slimy oil dripping down her skin, dark and filthy. Her stomach turned in revulsion, and she knew in an instant, even if she couldn't see it yet.

Their prey had arrived.

A sense of calm descended onto Vale as she readied herself for the fight. She entered that place of focus, that cold domain that Master had painstakingly taught to her. She strained her senses to the breaking point, seeking the source of the energy she had felt. The creature was nearby. About to pounce. She felt its malicious intent like hot breath on her face.

There.

She spun, and her blade streaked down for the dark form that had lunged not for her, but for Suzi. Her weapon met only air. The shadowy figure had sensed Vale's attack and withdrawn. She caught only a glimpse of a shadow as it disappeared to safety. Vale could read shock in its aura—surprise that it had been detected by something so 'weak'. How?

It was faster than her. By a significant margin. She'd barely caught sight of it as it retreated. Worry crept in on the edges of her mind, threatening her focus. Based on that short exchange alone, she knew she was outmatched.

There were, Vale knew ever so intimately, encounters where skill stopped mattering. Where overwhelming speed and strength couldn't be beaten.

Suzi spun, only now reacting. "What was that?" she cried, leveling her staff in the direction Vale had slashed.

"Be quiet. I'm listening."

Her companion obeyed. Stillness fell over the forest a second time.

The creature lurked for nearly thirty seconds, a shadowy figure jumping between trees, but Vale's sword tracked it the entire way. She could feel its frustration growing, and its shock. It wanted to know what was in the jar. It ached with the need. Suzi's bait had been well-made.

Eventually, it grew impatient, and the monster surged forward a second time.

Vale slashed, and again her weapon met air. The beast retreated. She caught a better glimpse of it this time, having been facing it when it revealed itself. It was some beast, quadrupedal, a mix between a lizard and a wolf. With sharp black fur. Monstrous, even in a glimpse. Not like anything Vale had seen before.

"I-I can't even see it long enough to aim," Suzi said, staff pivoting left and right. "What do I—"

"Be silent."

Suzi's teeth clicked shut.

Vale circled around the [Witch], sword tracking the shadow, the direction she felt its aura emanating from. It couldn't control its vital energies, not well enough to hide from her. She thanked the heavens for that. Her one advantage. Every inch of her skin crawled, but her heart beat slow and steady. She felt cold, but that embrace was comfortable. It was her Master's embrace.

She knew what she had to do, but it wasn't a pleasant realization. The creature was faster than her, and likely stronger, many times over. It was a cautious predator, retreating from Vale's attacks, surprised that she could even sense it. A stealth predator. Even so, if it forced a confrontation, she might lose. Overpowered by sheer strength and speed.

This was a fight she couldn't win without deception. She was outmatched in the same manner her Master had been. To the point that skill no longer mattered.

Vale let her sword drift ever so slightly away from the shadow, feigning a mistake. Pretending she couldn't sense exactly which tree it lurked behind.

It was, after all, a powerful beast, but a beast nonetheless. Dumb and driven by instinct. Clever in some ways, perhaps, but overwhelmed by the scent of Suzi's bait, and keen of Vale's weakness relative to it. It had read her slowness. Seen that she had struck with all her strength and yet still been easy to dodge.

It circled for a few moments longer, ensuring her sword didn't track to the actual trees it hid behind. She could practically taste its delight when it realized she'd lost sense of it.

It pounced one last time, and Vale paid for her victory in flesh: she turned, allowing its teeth to sink into her shoulder instead of her neck, which it had aimed for—attempting to kill quickly in a single strike.

And so she had the creature where she wanted it.

The monster—the Level 19 Spiritreaver, an inspection informed her—tore into her shoulder and shook, claws gouging across her stomach and leg despite how she had reinforced those areas with her vital energy. It wasn't insignificant damage, but it was fully intentional. A sacrifice made to guarantee her own opening.

Now, she did what it had failed to do: ended the fight before a prolonged combat began.

As teeth sank into her shoulder, the cold steel of her blade scored a much more critical strike. Her sword buried into the monster's skull. She thrust with every ounce of strength. Even then, the blade pierced skin reluctantly, struggling to dig into reinforced hide and flesh, into the body of a monster many times stronger than her. This creature had a much denser spirit core, and shouldn't ever die to an opponent so far inferior. Vale had, after all, been reset nearly back to the mortal level.

Yet, with a carefully placed attack, and with every bit of strength she had, her blade sunk into its target nonetheless. Steel buried into its skull, into its brain, even as the vicious beast's claws and teeth tore into her.

Killing was a simple thing, and sometimes anticlimactic. With a sword sticking through its brain, the monster was dead.

Vale tossed the beast off of her and stood. She'd been toppled over by the pounce, something she'd barely been able to focus on. She yanked her blade out, then stabbed several more times into its skull, then other places. Best to be safe.

The whole exchange finished in less than three seconds.

Vale withdrew her sword from the beast's corpse and staggered a step backward. She glanced over at Suzi, checking on her companion.

The [Witch] was looking at her in horror, staff raised in preparation—but the exchange had been too fast for her to help with. Vale didn't fault her for that. Even she had underestimated how strong the creature was.

"I'm fine," Vale said, assuaging the concern on her face. "I gave… I gave it an intentional opening…"

The words came out slurred, to Vale's surprise. She looked down at the blood covering her. Most of it her own.

"I've taken worse," she said, even as Suzi continued staring with horror.

And she had taken worse. So why was she so woozy?

There was… a lot of blood. The Spiritreaver had done more damage than she'd expected in such a short amount of time.

And previous injuries of this severity had been as a disciple of significantly higher spiritual core density. She realized her fundamental mistake, in that moment. Such a low-level cultivator couldn't trade in their flesh so carelessly, like she might have in her previous life. These were near-lethal wounds to a mortal. And she wasn't far from a mortal, now.

"Still," Vale said, head swimming. "It was… necessary. Simplest way. To keep you safe."

The world tilted on its axis, and she fell face-first into the dirt, her sword clattering away.