CHAPTER 43: Scythe’s Calling

As dawn painted the sky in soft hues, a quiet shift in the air marked the arrival of a new day.

Leina stood still, her staff hovering over a small stone pulsing with dark energy. A deep breath—then, with focused intent, she channeled Elyssence into it.

A soft glow radiated from her staff, cascading over the stone like ripples in water. The moment her magic touched it, the dark energy unraveled, dissolving into nothingness.

A hushed silence followed.

Then—Baihou’s eyes widened. "Leina! You did it!"

A flicker of something unreadable crossed her face. But instead of celebrating, she simply lowered her staff, exhaling as if confirming it for herself.

"You've worked hard. You should take it easy for now." Baihou offered a reassuring smile, though Leina’s expression remained unreadable.

Yet, something stirred within her—a quiet worry.

"Baihou… you should have been the one to learn it instead of me."

Baihou raised an eyebrow. "Huh? I told you, you deserved the book. Besides, I wouldn’t understand half of it even if I read it in a day."

Leina’s gaze sharpened, her tone more serious this time. "The scythe requires precision attacks and full-speed execution. Most mages struggle to concentrate their magic while attacking. But you—" she held his gaze, "you can combine magic with close-range combat. If you could wield the scythe, you’d also be able to perceive energy with the naked eye."

She stared at him, unwavering—insistent.

Baihou listened, though he found himself momentarily flustered by her sudden closeness.

Just then, Kaziel and the others stepped outside.

"Hey, Baihou! Leina! Are you coming with us again today?" Kaziel called out.

The sudden interruption caught Baihou off guard. He quickly straightened, trying to shake off his flustered state.

"N-No! Not today!" he blurted, clearing his throat before adding, "We have something to take care of—Leina has acquired the attributes."

He shifted his stance, hoping no one noticed his earlier reaction.

Sakura’s eyes brightened with curiosity. “Really?”

Leina gave a slow nod, her fingers tightening slightly around her staff. “You guys go ahead. We need to handle something first. Then…” She glanced toward the scythe resting nearby. “I’ll try again.”

With quiet resolve, she gave them a thumbs-up, confidence flickering behind her otherwise calm demeanor.

Kaziel grinned. “Alright. Good luck, you two.”

The group began to turn away, but Helion lingered.

For a brief moment, his gaze lingered on Leina—watchful, unreadable.

Then, without a word, he turned and walked off, disappearing into the shifting morning light.

Deep underground, within the research facility, Leina and Baihou stepped inside.

The air was thick with unease. Even before seeing it, Leina could feel it—something was wrong.

The researchers had warned them about the Sapphire Heart. Now, from behind reinforced glass, they observed the containment chamber where the Abyssmal Beads' Core pulsed ominously, embedded within a fractured piece of the Sapphire Heart.

Its aura was suffocating.

A wave of nausea crawled up Leina’s spine.

This… this is nothing like the small pebble I practiced with.

A chilling realization struck her.

Could this be the energy of a High Greed?

Baihou's worry deepening, “Are you sure you can handle this?”

He couldn’t see the aura like she could, but he noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor—the way her posture stiffened, the faint tremor in her grip.

Something was wrong.

Leina exhaled slowly, gripping her staff tighter. “This might work.”

Yet, Baihou noticed her hands trembling.

With a sharp gaze, she steadied herself, focused on the corrupted Sapphire Heart, and began channeling Elyssence.

But just as she was about to cast—

A pulse. A flicker of movement.

Helion’s words from last night echoed in her mind.

"Tread carefully."

Then—before she could react—

The Abyssmal Beads twisted violently.

A monstrous Greed burst forth, its towering form like a twisted, gnarled tree. Its limbs, thick and branch-like, crackled unnaturally, while what remained of its withered crown held only a few sparse leaves.

She could feel the presence, it was the High-tier Greed.

Then in a blink, it lunged.

Leina was caught off guard at its sudden speed, but she managed to quickly shove Baihou aside just as a razor-sharp branch tore through her left collarbone.

Pain. A searing, splitting pain.

The force sent her crashing against the reinforced glass, the impact reverberating through the chamber.

The researchers watched in horror.

“Leina!”

The Greed screeched—a grotesque, splitting wail that rattled the walls. A sound that triggered something deep within Baihou—a smoldering rage.

Baihou’s sharp gaze snapped to the creature, his grip tightening around his nunchaku.

How did that happen?

It was too fast.

The Greed had barely moved—yet its razor-sharp branch struck harder than it appeared.

A delayed realization settled in. It wasn’t just an ordinary attack.

As his stance shifted. His nunchaku blurred as he moved.

In a second, the Greed swung a massive, gnarled branch, aiming to crush him.

Baihou swiftly ducked, rolled, and struck—a rapid attack targeting its joints. The force cracked its bark, but the creature barely flinched.

It retaliated. Wild swings. Unrelenting force.

Baihou twisted mid-air, his nunchaku spinning at blinding speed, intercepting each strike. Sparks flew as steel clashed against hardened wood.

The monster lunged in full speed again.

But Baihou was faster.

He flipped backward, his nunchaku shifting seamlessly into staff form. Both hands gripped the pole, parrying a heavy strike before countering with a crushing downward slam to its exposed chest.

The Greed reeled, flinching back.

Now.

Baihou dashed up its extended branch, using its own limbs as footholds. His movements were fast.

The nunchaku spun wildly before locking into place, forming a long staff.

The Greed launched jagged wooden shards.

Baihou twisted mid-air, deflecting every projectile with pinpoint precision. Each strike—clean.

Then—he flipped, gaining height.

A surge of magic coursed through him.

From above, he cast his magic attack downward— accelerating a glowing javelin of energy forming at the tip. With a final, decisive strike, he hurled the magic-imbued staff straight down—

The impact was instant.

A shockwave exploded outward.

The Greed shrieked—a ghastly, unnatural cry—before collapsing into itself.

Baihou landed hard to the back, the force staggering him. His breath was heavy, but the fight wasn’t over.

Behind the glass, chaos erupted among the researchers.

"Should we open the door? They need to retreat!"

“No.” The commander’s voice was firm. He stared at Leina—still on the ground, bleeding, unmoving.

Yet, despite her pain, she raised a trembling hand toward the glass.

"Don't open it."

The researchers hesitated. “But—”

“The Greed might escape. Worse, the core might spawn more.”

The commander’s gaze locked onto the Abyssmal Beads’ Core.

“That’s it.”

In the chamber, Baihou’s breath steadied as he followed the commander’s pointed finger.

The Core.

Destroy it.

Understanding flashed through Baihou’s eyes. He adjusted his stance and charged toward a new angle.

Meanwhile, Leina slowly stirred.

Her mind reeled, her vision unfocused. Instinctively, she reached inward, attempting to channel Elyssence to heal herself—

But the moment she tried, a sharp, searing pain tore through her chest.

A choked gasp. Blood spilled from her lips. Her breath trembled as realization sank in.

“I can’t… use Elyssence…”

Her fingers curled weakly against the cold floor. The Greed’s strike—it had pierced directly through her Elyssence source.

Her magic—her lifeline—was severed.

But Baihou’s fight was still raging.

The Greed snarled, recovering from Baihou’s earlier strike. It swung a massive limb toward him.

Baihou didn’t stop moving.

He rolled beneath its attack, rebounding off the cold metal floor. His nunchaku spun swiftly, forming a bladed staff as he climbed its twisted form.

Every strike he landed was precise, fast, relentless.

And then—

The finishing blow.

He vaulted into the air, flipping above the creature’s core.

With a powerful arc, he unleashed a final magic strike—his staff glowing brilliantly, crackling with energy.

Just as the Greed lunged, he detonated the blast mid-air—not directly at the creature, but just near its core.

A split-second delay—then, an explosion.

The shockwave ripped through the chamber, engulfing the Greed in searing energy. Its shriek reverberated through the walls as its twisted form convulsed—splintering apart, dissolving into nothing.

The entire chamber shook violently.

The Greed let out a final, deafening screech—before its form shattered into nothing.

Baihou landed roughly, his knees buckling from the impact. He staggered but remained his stance. His breath ragged as he gritted his teeth with anger.

It was over.

For now.

As Leina's gaze fell upon the roots sprawled across the ground, an uneasy sensation crept over her.

Something was wrong.

Before she could react—before she could even voice her thoughts—her vision blurred.

Then, darkness.

Her body collapsed entirely, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Baihou, just turning toward her, froze.

"Leina…!"

Everyone sat in silence, watching over Leina as she lay beneath the blankets. The air in the room was heavy with worry.

Sakura, her hands still faintly glowing with residual Elyssence, exhaled softly. “I managed to purge the dark energy before it could spread further,” she muttered, “But… it’ll take some time for her to fully recover.”

A solemn silence followed. The old man nodded before standing. “I’ll prepare something light for her to eat when she wakes.” Without another word, he left the room, his quiet departure only deepening the unspoken concerns lingering in the air.

Baihou clenched his fists, frustration etched across his face. “We didn’t even know they could spawn a High Greed…” His jaw tightened. “She saved me… and took the hit instead.”

Helion, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “Was it the upper left of her chest?”

Baihou looked at him, surprised. “Yeah… how did you know?”

Helion’s gaze darkened. “As I suspected. They didn’t want her to use the scythe.” His voice carried a weight of certainty. He held his chin thoughtfully.

Kaziel frowned. “Wait… you knew this would happen, didn’t you?”

Baihou’s frustration boiled over. “Why the hell did you let this happen, then?!”

Helion sighed, shaking his head. “I warned her beforehand… but even I didn’t expect it to be this severe.” He glanced toward Leina’s still, pained figure. “Regardless… she might have intended for you to take care of it.”

Baihou’s eyes widened in disbelief. “W-what do you mean?”

Sakura and Anna both turned toward Leina, concern still evident on their faces.

Helion’s gaze flicked back to Baihou. “You’re fast. Your cast speed is exceptional. And that’s what matters.”

Baihou hesitated. “But my magic skills are nowhere near Leina’s level… I only use magic to end a fight, not as my main weapon.” His voice wavered, uncertainty creeping in.

Sakura clicked. That's it.

Suddenly she stepped forward, puffing up her chest, her eyes burning with determination. “That’s already an advantage!”

Everyone turned to her, surprised by her outburst.

“The scythe’s power isn’t just about magic—it’s about cast speed!” She jabbed a finger toward Baihou. “Think about it! The High Greed lunged too fast—that’s why magicians struggle in battle. They need time to channel their magic. You don’t need to focus on building intellect like other mages—you’ve already mastered agility and cast speed.”

Kaziel blinked in realization. “She… she has a point.”

The others exchanged glances, their earlier doubts beginning to shift into agreement.

Helion hummed, crossing his arms, his expression unreadable—but he didn’t object.

Kaziel turned back to Sakura, still surprised. “Whoa… Sakura, how do you know all this?”

Sakura huffed. “It’s basic magic knowledge.”

Baihou’s eyes narrowed, Sakura’s words stirring memories of his fight.

She was right… It didn’t move much—only when attacking. But when it did, its speed was devastating.

Sakura continued, her voice steady. “That means Baihou is the perfect counter to it. His speed can match its strikes. And if he learns to wield the scythe… he might be even more dangerous.”

A tense pause settled over the room.

Then, Kaziel nodded. “Then it’s settled. Baihou will learn to wield the scythe.”

All eyes turned to Baihou.

For a moment, he hesitated—the weight of the decision pressing down on him. The uncertainty, the responsibility… it was a lot.

But then, his gaze drifted back to Leina—her still form, her labored breaths.

She had saved him.

Now, it was his turn.

Baihou exhaled, then gave a firm nod.

“…Fine. But first, we should seek out Grandpa Whisker for his knowledge.”

At the familiar name, Grandpa Otto’s expression brightened as he approached.

“Oh! Yes, Grandpa Whisker, huh?” He let out a hearty laugh, drawing everyone’s attention.

“A skillful magician, that one. He was once a traveler before settling here—a man of many talents.” The old man smiled, his gaze shifting toward Kaziel. “He’s the one I told you about, Kaziel.”

Kaziel smiled awkwardly. “Ahaha… yeah… we do look kinda similar…”

Sakura turned to him, a curious glint in her eyes. Are they?

Anna, however, narrowed her gaze. “Wait… so you know about him? We’ve tried asking him questions, but he always dodges them, claiming he forgot. All he ever talks about is the tall grass in his backyard.”

The old man chuckled. “Haha! Don’t underestimate him. That brings back memories… that man may seem senile, but he was once the strongest mage in Velmore. Years ago, he encountered a High-Tier Greed—a terrifying creature that nearly destroyed Velmore. But he and his party managed to take it down. He was respected by many.”

Anna and Kaziel exchanged glances. The villagers had mentioned Grandpa Whisker before… and they were right about him.

Helion, still flipping his coin, finally spoke. “Then you may remember what the Greed looked like.”

Grandpa Otto’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Hmm… I hardly recall. But… it was mostly composed of roots. They may remain still in one spot, but when they attack—they’re terrifyingly fast.”

Baihou’s gaze flickered.

“Wait… that’s the same Greed I encountered in the facility.”

A weight settled over the group.

There had to be more of them.

If the core was spawning Greeds based on their type, then it was linked to Velmore’s past tragedies. Greeds were known to take form based on grief and suffering—meaning if history repeated itself, the same Greeds could rise again.

Helion watched his coin gleam in the dim light before speaking. “Then that means they’re still hiding ahead. If that’s the case, it makes sense why they’ve used the tall grass to obscure their dark energy from Sakura’s sight.”

Kaziel finally understood. Helion’s reasoning was sound.

“Then the scythe it is. We could use it to take them down.”

Grandpa Otto hesitated before adding, “Also… the Greeds… they were full of emotion, as I remember.”

Baihou turned to him. “Full of emotion? What do you mean?”

Sakura’s eyes widened as a realization clicked.

“…The Greed was aware.”

She recalled Etsuko, the Greed she had faced at the farmland.

Then… was it in agony?

Grandpa Otto sighed. “I never thought much about the history, but long ago… Velmore had a controversy surrounding a baker. She was said to be the most beautiful woman in town. And after she was gone—that’s when the High Greed attacked Velmore.”

The group exchanged glances.

A new clue had surfaced.

“It could be related to this incident,” Baihou murmured, crossing his arms.

The decision had been made.

Now, they needed more information.

Grandpa Otto stroked his beard in thought before nodding. “Then you should visit the bakery shop. The owner used to work alongside the baker.”

It seemed like yet another task had unfolded before them.

A new clue had surfaced—one that couldn’t be ignored.

With that in mind, they made their way to the bakery shop, hoping to uncover more answers.