Hidden Desires (2)

Violina looked at Serena, confusion written clearly across her face.

“Serena. Should we run away, like that old man did? Maybe we can hide for a while?”

Serena didn’t answer right away. She only nodded slowly, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings, listening carefully to every sound coming from behind the trees.

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Let’s head into the forest and find a safe spot.”

Before they could move, a heavy, earth-shaking thud echoed from deep within the forest. Both Violina and Serena immediately tensed, turning toward the source of the noise, waiting to see what would emerge from the shadows.

Serena narrowed her eyes, activating her enhanced vision. Her pupils constricted into thin, reptilian slits.

“Violina. Those are mutant rat monsters! They’re coming straight toward us!”

Violina sharpened her gaze. “That doesn’t make sense, Serena. How could they leave their quest zone?”

Serena dug her heels into the ground, lowering her stance into a ready position. She steadied herself, preparing for the imminent threat.

“At this rate, we have no choice. I’ll burn them down with my fire magic.”

Violina responded quickly, her tone firm and warning. “Careful, Serena. If you burn this forest down, it won’t just be human hunters who come after us—the police will too!”

Serena gave a faint smile, her eyes still fixed on the dark, dense woods ahead.

“Don’t worry, Violina. I won’t use my dragon form. The explosion from my fire spell will be small.”

Raising both hands, Serena focused her gaze. The rhythmic stomping grew louder, echoing from the depths of the forest—a sure sign that danger was closing in.

It didn’t take long before terrifying figures burst forth.

A group of humanoid rat monsters leapt into view. They stood about the height of children, yet their bodies were muscular, their fur dull and matted, and their two front teeth long, sharp, and gleaming in the dim light.

As the last of them emerged, the eerie whistling that had accompanied their approach ceased abruptly—as if signaling the battle’s beginning.

Serena spread her arms wide, and in an instant, crimson flames flared around her, casting a bright glow.

With a swift motion, she hurled a fireball toward the charging monsters. Flames engulfed their furry bodies—but instead of falling, the creatures kept coming, their burning forms lunging forward with even greater ferocity.

“These are Class-A monsters,” Serena muttered between breaths. “Ordinary fire magic won’t do!” She quickly leapt back, narrowly avoiding a claw swipe that would have torn through her skin.

Meanwhile, Violina was ready. Her claws extended, the tips gleaming dangerously.

As the mutant rats lunged, Violina moved—too fast for the naked eye to follow.

Her claws danced through the air, slashing through their hides in a flurry of strikes. High-pitched screeches filled the night as their flesh tore open, revealing throbbing muscle and something strange beneath.

Embedded in each monster’s chest was a glowing purple crystal, pulsing like a heart.

“We can take them,” Violina said, glancing at Serena. “There are only seven. Nothing we can’t handle.”

Serena nodded, determination flashing in her eyes. “Alright then. Let’s finish this.”

The mutant rats rose again, seemingly unfazed by their wounds—if anything, more bloodthirsty than before.

Their injuries began to close before the girls’ eyes. Burned fur regrew, torn flesh sealed, leaving no trace of Serena’s earlier fire. Steam rose from their bodies, but the monsters stood whole once again.

Serena charged forward, swift and fierce. Without hesitation, she unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks at three of them at once.

Two were sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground. The third—Serena struck with her dragon’s tail, emerging from beneath her skirt, slamming it down with crushing force until the rat’s body was pinned against the asphalt.

She followed up with a brutal stomp to its chest. Blood splattered, staining her shoes as the sickening crack of bones and shattering debris filled the air.

“Violina! Destroy their bodies! Their mana cores are in their chests!” Serena shouted sharply.

Violina’s eyes gleamed with battle-lust. She crouched low like a wolf ready to pounce, her claws scraping the pavement.

“I know!” she replied with a fierce grin. “Let’s end this!”

She dashed forward, the wind swirling around her as her dress billowed behind her.

In a single motion, she slashed the throat of the first rat monster, then pierced its chest, ripping out the glowing purple mana core. One down—but Violina didn’t stop.

Serena looked at the scattered remains of the creatures, a satisfied smile crossing her face. “Nice work, Violina. My turn now.”

She raised her right hand, aiming it at the two remaining monsters. Taking a deep breath, she began to chant, her voice calm yet commanding in the still night.

“By the power of the gods of this world, I call upon your strength. Blazing fire—Flame Arrows!”

From her palm, fiery light radiated, forming a magic circle.

Six blazing arrows took shape, spinning briefly in the air before shooting toward the remaining monsters.

In a flash, the arrows split—three each targeting the trembling creatures who had just witnessed their comrades’ destruction.

A deafening explosion followed. The mutant rats burst apart into pieces, their dying screeches echoing through the night before fading into silence.

“Serena!” Violina shouted, annoyed. “Are you trying to cause a scene? What if those police from before come back?”

Serena puffed out her chest, hands on her hips, flashing a wide grin. “Sorry! Guess I got carried away.”

Violina sighed deeply, gazing at the rat corpses scattered across the asphalt. The stench of blood filled the air, hanging over the remnants of their battle.

“Serena, look at this,” Violina said, crouching down to examine the bodies. “These aren’t normal monsters. They didn’t fade into shadows like those zombie ones we fought earlier.”

Serena crouched beside her, eyes narrowing in thought.

“You’re right. Normally, when monsters don’t vanish after death, it means they’re part of a quest that hasn’t been completed. If that quest is abandoned for too long—say, over a week—the monsters can develop their own will. They stop following their NPC master’s rules.”

Violina frowned. “Then why did they attack us? We didn’t even bother them.”

Suddenly, a faint squeaking sound echoed around them—this time, without the eerie whistling from before.

Serena glanced around, her expression shifting to panic as the familiar sound of rat monsters filled the air once again.

“Oh no… this has to be someone’s doing,” Serena muttered under her breath.

From the gutter along the sidewalk, dozens of ordinary sewer rats burst out, breaking through the drain covers. Their eyes glowed crimson, like ravenous monsters driven by hunger.

The rats swarmed together, shoving one another as they leapt toward Serena and Violina in a frenzied wave.

“Serena, watch out!” Violina shouted, swinging her claws, trying to fend off the small rats that clawed and bit at her relentlessly.

Serena stepped back several paces, quickly realizing that the rats moved unnaturally—as if controlled by a spell or curse.

“This isn’t a normal attack. Someone’s controlling them!”

Violina and Serena fought desperately, striking and kicking to keep the horde at bay, trying to prevent the creatures from tearing into their skin.

But the more they fought, the more rats came, screeching shrilly in a sound that made their ears ring. Their arms and legs burned with pain from the endless bites.

“Filthy creatures! I’ll tear you all apart!” Violina roared, her voice trembling with fury.

Closing her eyes briefly, she took a deep breath.

Suddenly, two wolf ears emerged atop her head, while a long brown tail swayed behind her black skirt, flicking with the energy radiating from her body. She crossed her arms into an X shape—then swung them wide apart.

A violent gust of wind erupted in all directions, blasting the rats away.

The creatures flew like dry leaves caught in a storm, their bodies hurled through the air and torn apart midflight, scattering chunks of flesh across the street.

Serena squeezed her eyes shut as Violina’s magic storm howled around her, whipping her hair in wild strands.

Then—through the chaos of wind and the wet thuds of falling remains—a man’s deep, commanding voice cut through the noise, freezing Serena in place.

“Well, look what we have here. A human girl… and a monster girl,” the man said, his tone heavy with authority.

Beside him stood another man, shorter, holding a worn piece of parchment. His expression was serious—until, after flipping through the paper several times, a triumphant smile crept onto his face.

“Garr, this is it—the map of the entrance route! We actually got it!” he said, his voice full of excitement.

The tall man—Garr—stared for a moment, eyes wide, as if he could hardly believe it. Then a grin spread across his face.

“Mael, are you serious? If we bring that map back to the Guild, the reward will be huge!” Garr exclaimed eagerly.

Before Serena and Violina stood the two men, calm but alert, dressed in rugged civilian clothes—clearly not ordinary adventurers.

Serena’s eyes darted to the parchment in Mael’s hand, and her heart skipped a beat the instant she recognized it.

“That’s our portal map! How did they get their hands on it?!” Serena cried, her voice laced with panic.

She quickly searched the pockets of her skirt—but the paper that had been safely tucked there earlier was gone.

Violina, still in her wolf form, stood guard beside her. Her ears twitched, her eyes glinting dangerously as she glared at the two men.

She growled softly, baring her sharp teeth—a clear sign she was ready to defend herself and Serena at all costs.

“Hey, you two!” Violina shouted, her voice cold but firm. “What do you want? We’re not looking for a fight—unless you start one.”

Mael, the man with neatly combed black hair and a rugged denim jacket, stepped forward, gripping the map tightly.

A small rat that had been perched on his hand scurried away into the bushes.

With a smug smile curling on his lips, Mael said, “Fine. We’ll accept your ‘peace offer.’”

He raised the map slightly, his gaze filled with mockery. “But first, tell me—what do these symbols mean? And what city does this map lead to?”

Serena and Violina exchanged tense glances. Their eyes met, silently trying to read each other’s thoughts, searching for the best answer to give.

Violina whispered nervously, “Serena… should we tell them? If we stay silent, they might not leave.”

Serena didn’t turn to her. Her posture stiffened, her face hardening as she felt something off about the men’s intentions.

“But Violina… why would they want our city’s map? I have a bad feeling about this. That map only works for us.”

Violina shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. I’m confused too.”

Serena exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself though doubt clouded her eyes. Her mind raced, weighing their options as the tension mounted.

She swallowed hard; cold sweat trickled down her temple and neck as the chill night air brushed against her skin.

Steadying her breath, she looked back at Mael, who was still standing confidently with that infuriating smirk.

“We’ll answer,” Serena said at last, her tone deliberate and cautious. “But first, we need to know—why do you want that map?”

The man behind Mael—Garr—narrowed his eyes sharply.

“We don’t owe you any explanations. There’s only one deal here: you talk… or we settle this another way.”

Garr flexed his fingers and wrists, clearly ready for a fight.

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Violina quickly stepped closer to Serena, whispering while covering her mouth so the men couldn’t hear.

“Serena, we can’t keep talking to them. If they refuse to negotiate, we grab the map and run. I still have the portal stone.” She touched her chest, confirming the gem was safely hidden. “If that’s the case… what else have they taken?”

Serena nodded and glanced sideways, making sure Mael and Garr couldn’t hear them, then whispered, “Only the map. The reward paper is still safe—tied under the ribbon of my dress. I think the map was stolen by those rats that attacked us earlier. I could feel them pulling it from my pocket.”

Violina nodded, reassuring Serena with a confident look. “Alright, then we’ll go with the plan.”

Serena raised an eyebrow, eyeing Violina with mild disbelief. “I can’t believe it,” she sighed. “You always hide important stuff in the weirdest places.”

Violina gave a small smirk and shrugged. “Well, if it’s safe, why not?”

Meanwhile, Garr stepped forward, his gaze hardening. His jaw clenched, and the faint grin on his face vanished, leaving behind a cold, menacing expression.

“Garr! Don’t do anything reckless!” Mael barked, trying to stop him. “We were ordered not to cause trouble!”

Garr snorted dismissively, ignoring the warning. “We’ve wasted enough time. I don’t care what the Guild said—if we can end this faster, then so be it.”

Seeing their opponents prepare for battle, Serena and Violina took defensive stances. Violina reached into her pocket, pulling out two small vials filled with red liquid. She handed one to Serena and drank the other herself.

“Sorry, gentlemen,” Violina said sharply, her eyes gleaming. “Looks like our offer just changed. We’re not in the mood for talking anymore—let’s do this the old-fashioned way.”

Garr stopped in front of them, his cold smile returning. He placed a hand on his chest, as though giving a mocking salute.

“I was planning to spare you,” he said darkly. “Didn’t even intend to sell you off at the magic market. But I guess I’ve changed my mind.”

He raised his right hand—and a golden light burst forth, illuminating the intricate runes etched along his arm. The light pulsed from a ring on his finger, spreading in glowing patterns as his power awakened.

Serena and Violina braced themselves, muscles tensed. They knew now—there was no way out of this fight.

Mael sighed heavily, reluctant but cautious. Folding the map, he tucked it safely inside his denim jacket before looking at Garr sternly.

“Garr, don’t kill them! We still need more information about the map.”

Garr only smirked, his eyes glinting with savage confidence. The golden light faded, revealing a bronze gauntlet with yellow engravings covering his right hand—its surface gleaming with latent energy. He shifted into a boxer’s stance.

“Relax, Mael,” Garr said coolly. “Just watch. I’ll make them talk. This’ll be over fast.”

Serena and Violina exchanged a tense glance. Their instincts screamed danger as they recognized the strange aura radiating from his weapon.

“We’ll be the ones to defeat you!” Violina shouted fiercely, eyes blazing. “We won’t lose to thieves like you!”

Serena’s gaze stayed locked on Garr’s glowing gauntlet. Her brow furrowed.

“That magic gear… I think we’ve seen it before,” she muttered. “During that rescue mission.”

She glanced at Violina. “Do you feel it too? There’s strong mana coming from his hand.”

Mael stepped up beside Garr, his face expressionless but focused. From his pocket, he drew two black daggers that gleamed under the moonlight.

When he stomped his right foot, his black shoes shimmered—transforming into heavy metal boots that covered his shins, sturdy and lethal-looking.

Violina narrowed her eyes, steadying her breath. “I get it, Serena,” she hissed. “They’re using enchanted equipment. But that doesn’t matter. Monsters have greater strength than humans ever will.”

Serena took a deep breath, brushing a strand of her long hair behind her ear. Her golden eyes locked onto the two men with unwavering defiance.

Mael smirked. “Ladies first,” he said mockingly, gesturing with one hand. “Show us what you’ve got.”

“Don’t regret it when I turn you into mince!” Violina growled—and in a blur, she shot forward, sprinting like a wolf lunging for its prey.

Garr’s thin smile returned. He stood firm, drawing back his right arm, ready to strike. From his gauntlet, a blade of light extended, glowing with crackling energy.

“Not that easy!” Garr barked, grinning.

But from the side—Serena burst forward at full speed, flames roaring at her feet as she used them to propel herself ahead of Violina.

“It’s not supposed to be easy!” Serena shouted, twisting midair as she unleashed a blazing kick aimed straight at Garr’s head with full, explosive force.

Garr tried to block, but Serena’s fiery kick came too fast.

With lightning reflexes he caught the blow with his right hand, protected by his enchanted gauntlet. Still, Garr was shoved back several meters, opening Mael’s position in front of him.

“Nice one, Serena!” Violina cried.

Seizing the momentum, Violina aimed her claw at Mael’s face, ready to strike. But just as her talon was about to land, Mael vanished like a shadow—only his silhouette remained hanging in the air.

Meanwhile, in front of the graffiti-covered shopfronts, Serena and Garr locked eyes, hatred burning between them. Garr relaxed his right shoulder, trying to ease the sting from the earlier hit, and wore a sneer.

“You’re pretty strong, miss,” he said in a low voice, edged with interest. “You combine your kick with fire propulsion. I don’t see that technique often.”

Serena steadied her stance, returning his stare with equal intensity. “No wonder you didn’t feel much after that kick—must be the gear you’re wearing.”

Garr only grinned; the blade that had extended from his gauntlet slowly retracted, leaving behind an ordinary-looking metal glove that still shimmered faintly with magic.

“You’re right,” he replied coldly. “I’ve never felt a strike like that through my equipment. You’re not a normal human—you’re one of the monster races, aren’t you?”

Serena narrowed her eyes, curiosity flaring. “How can you humans do this? In the past, your kind didn’t have gear that could bond with its user like this.”

Garr responded with a short, heavy laugh, clearly pleased. “You and the other monster races will be surprised by our advancements. Soon, humans will surpass every other race in mastering the gods’ game.”

Violina, standing off to the side, shouted back at Garr. “So it’s true—you can use magic now because of your equipment.”

Serena and Garr turned toward her, but their attention snapped back when Mael’s arrogant voice rang out.

“You’re clever, pretty wolf-girl. This is proof of human prowess.”

Mael lounged against a lamppost, arms crossed, one foot propped back—overtly relaxed and smug.

Violina narrowed her eyes, suspicious. “Human adventurers attacking a monster crew doing their mission—this was your doing, wasn’t it?”

Mael twirled his black dagger skillfully, a cruel grin on his face. “Exactly. You’re just one of our targets.” He stopped the twirl and held the blade ready, his eyes glittering with bloodlust aimed at Violina.

For a moment Serena and Violina froze, then their expressions sharpened.

They exchanged a look that needed no words—hands balling into fists, emotions barely contained.

“So you’re the culprits,” Violina said coldly, her voice trembling with restrained anger. She fixed Mael, the armed man, with a piercing glare. “You’re the ones who left our Guild hunters badly wounded!”

Serena turned toward Garr—the bulky, shaved-headed man wearing the iron gauntlet—her expression mirroring Violina’s fury.

“Then,” Serena ground out through clenched teeth, “we have questions for you. Why did you attack members of our guild?” Her hands rose slowly until her knuckles met with a small, echoing thud.

Violina stepped forward, stance firm, eyes boring into Mael.

“Don’t worry,” she said with biting sarcasm, a cold smile tugging at her mouth. “I’ll make sure you don’t die before we finish asking.”