Chapter 47 Feelings

She was too slow, she didn't pay attention to others and now they all died. But it wasn't her fault they die, the beast was too clever. It was stalking them for days, learning their movements and biding their time, slowly exhausting them mentally and physically. And when the timing was perfect they struck. The adventurers simply were too weak, there was no saving them. Suzuka or not, they would have died that day, regardless. 

While standing here, she realized, only the strong survive in the forest. Her thought was interrupted by a distant scream, it was Jack, he was killed too.

It was a while since she felt her rage rising so high. While looking at the monster eating their corpses she lost her reasoning, she dropped her sword to the ground and fully transformed. This beast didn't deserve easy death by the sword, she will kill it with her bare hands, as Bill said, just a monster killing another monster.

As Suzuka walked towards "the Beast", the monster noticed her bloodlust and locked its gaze on her. The Beast was a massive creature, towering over Suzuka and exuding an aura of pure menace. Suzuka, however, was not intimidated. She had trained for this moment and was fully prepared to face the beast.

The Beast lunged at Suzuka, its massive jaws open wide, ready to crush her. But Suzuka was quick and agile. She stepped forward and delivered a powerful front kick to the monster's chest, sending it flying backward. The Beast let out a deafening roar as it hit the ground, but Suzuka was not done yet.

As the Beast fell to the ground, Suzuka saw her opportunity to deliver the final blow. She stepped forward, her fists at the ready, and began to deliver a brutal beat down on the beast.

With each strike, Suzuka's fists landed with a loud thud, each impact shaking the beast's massive body. She was relentless, her attacks coming fast and furious, striking the beast's head, chest, and limbs. The beast tried to defend itself, but it was no match for Suzuka's brutality.

Suzuka's strikes were precise and calculated, aimed at the beast's weak points. The beast let out a series of deafening roars, but Suzuka was unfazed. She was determined to end the fight. From the corner of her eye, she could see other beasts watching her fighting, but they don't interfere. They are smart and know they are no match for the girl. Beasts slowly retreated back into the depths of the forest.

As the beatdown continued, Suzuka's fists began to glow with intense energy, she used her magic box power on her fists to increase the weight for bigger force. Suzuka knew that the end was near, and she delivered one final strike, a powerful blow to the beast's head, that sent it crashing to the ground.

While she was delivering a brutal beat down, the other two beasts took that opportunity and grabbed the corpses of Emma and Gavin as they retreated. 

The beast let out a final roar before falling silent, its body lying motionless on the ground. Suzuka stood victorious, her hands covered in beast's blood, and her breathing heavy. She had emerged victorious but she wasn't happy with her victory even slightest, she couldn't save the young adventurers' lives.

Finally, Suzuka stood back and took a moment to catch her breath and survey the damage. The Beast's body was covered in wounds and blood, a testament to the ferocity of the battle. Suzuka released her transformation and her body returned to a normal state.

She took one final look at the Beast's body, now nothing more than a fading memory, before turning and walking away from the scene. She knew that she had much to think about and reflect on, but for now, she needs to move. She had to find civilization or at least her way back to Bill, and with that thought, Suzuka walked away.

Suzuka wandered through the dense forest, her eyes scanning the ground for any signs of a path. The trees were tall and thick, blocking out much of the sunlight, and the underbrush was dense and tangled. The sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling filled her ears, but there were no signs of a path.

As she walked, the forest grew darker, and the sense of danger grew stronger. Suzuka's heart raced as she heard the sound of something moving in the bushes. She tightened her grip on her sword, ready for whatever was about to come out. But it was just a small rabbit hopping away.

Suzuka continued to walk, her determination to find a path to the city growing stronger with each step. She searched for hours, but the forest seemed endless, and she couldn't find any signs of a path. She was about to give up when she saw a glimmer of light in the distance. She quickened her pace, her heart racing with excitement.

As she approached, she saw that the light was coming from a small clearing. She walked towards it, her heart filled with hope. But as she stepped into the clearing, her hope was crushed. It was just a small pond, surrounded by tall grass. There was no path, no sign of civilization.

Suzuka sat down on the grassy bank, her head in her hands. She had been wandering for hours, and days, and she still couldn't find a way out of the forest. She felt like she was going in circles, and she didn't know if she would ever find a way to the city. She was stuck in the forest, with no way out.

It was two days now, her supply was short, her feet sore and her stomach empty. She had been trying to find her way to the nearest town, but the corrupted magic in the air made it impossible to tell which direction was which. The trees seemed to go on forever, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was going in circles.

She was starting to lose hope, her energy was draining, the hunger was taking over, and the fear of never getting out of this forest was creeping in. Suzuka sat down on a fallen tree and took a short break, feeling like she was about to cry.

"Come on Suzuka! No time for tears! Move, look for clues!" She hyped herself to stay motivated.

But she knew she couldn't give up, not yet. Suzuka took a deep breath, stood up, and decided to backtrack her steps. She had been keeping a mental map of where she had been, and she hoped that it would lead her back to where she started.

As she walked, she noticed that the trees were starting to look familiar, and she could see the faint outline of a path that she had made on her way. She was getting close, she could feel it.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Suzuka saw a glimpse of light through the trees. She broke into a run, her heart pounding with excitement. She pushed her way through the underbrush, and finally, she emerged from the forest and saw the cave where she and Bill had been staying.

Finally, after days of traveling through the forest, Suzuka emerged from the trees and saw the familiar sight of Bill's cave. Suzuka fell to her knees and let out a relieved sigh. She had made it back, and she knew that she had to be more careful in the future and not venture too deep into the forest. She couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her as she saw Bill tending to his apple trees. The journey had been long and dangerous, and she was glad to be back in a place where she felt safe.

As she approached Bill, he turned and looked at her. He could see the exhaustion on her face. He knew she had been on a tough journey and he wasn't eager to hear about her adventure.

"Bha! I guess... welcome back, girl," he said, "I haven't missed you."

Suzuka smiled, "It's good to be back, Bill. I've missed you too."

Bill put down his tools and walked over to her, "I don't even want to ask, but you gonna tell me anyway, so here it goes... How was your journey? Did you find any clues?"

Suzuka shook her head, "No, It was a hard journey, and I didn't find what I needed. I encountered many dangers, but I was able to overcome them with the skills you taught me."

Bill looked with no expression, "Am I supposed to say I'm proud of you girl, you've grown into a brave and skilled warrior? No, your just a stupid girl, who tries to get herself killed. Now, let's get you inside, you must be hungry and tired."

Suzuka nodded, "Yes, I am both hungry and tired. But I am also relieved to be back. Thank you, Bill. Also, you need to work on being a little bit more sensible about talking, I was in real danger there and you act like you don't care at all."

"Pfhe! Act like I don't care, Bill don't act... Bill doesn't care." He put an arm around her shoulder and led her toward his small cave. As they walked, Suzuka took a deep breath, taking in the familiar scents of the forest and the cave. She was glad to be back, and she knew that with Bill by her side, she could be safe.

Bill and Suzuka made their way into the cave, which was dimly lit but provided a sense of safety, shelter, and warmth. Bill could see the exhaustion on Suzuka's face and knew she needed rest and nourishment before they could talk about her journey. He handed her a bag of food and a canteen of water, which Suzuka gratefully accepted. She ate and drank slowly, taking her time to replenish her energy. There was no rush, she had time. 

Once she had finished her meal, Suzuka began to tell Bill about her journey. She spoke of how she had gotten lost in the forest, wandering aimlessly for days before finding her way back to the trail. She told him of the different places she had passed through and the monsters she had met along the way. Her voice was filled with emotion as she described the dangers she had faced and the challenges she had overcome.

But the thing that weighed most heavily on Suzuka's mind was the incident with Luke's party. She explained how she had come across them, and how they had been attacked by the beast. Suzuka's voice grew tight with emotion as she spoke of how she had tried to save them but had been too slow. The party had been slaughtered, and Suzuka had been powerless to stop it. She spoke of her guilt and her grief, and how she had struggled to come to terms with what had happened.

Bill listened patiently with no empathy as Suzuka spoke. He could see the pain in her eyes, and he knew that it would take time for her to overcome it. When she had finished speaking, he grabbed some rush apples from the bucket and started to munch on them while speaking.

"So what? Is this the part where I suppose to start to pity you?" Bill said roughly. "Bill will not do such a thing, you were there at their faces. You failed, so what? They were weak and you were strong, that's all it is to it. If you want to blame yourself for it? Go for it. Either way, as I said, I don't care."

Suzuka got mad at Bill, "Oh you stupid bull! Would it kill you to at least pretend to be nice for once? I looked at how five people died right in front of me and you just... just... acting like this. Say something nice for once, please."

Bill turned his head to the side and said, " Pfhe! Nice! How's this for nice, You did all that you could, Suzuka," Bill said softly. "You are a brave and skilled warrior, but sometimes even the bravest and strongest of us can't change the outcome of the events. You must grieve the loss of Luke's party, but remember to also honor their memories by continuing to live and fight for what is right."

Suzuka was stunned by the gentle words that come out of Bill's mouth, "Wow, that was really nice, Bill. This was the first time, you said my name too, which was really nice to hear. Thanks, Bill."

Suzuka nodded, taking comfort in Bill's words and in his presence. They sat together in the cave for a while longer, lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Suzuka lay down to rest, and Bill sat nearby, keeping watch over her as she slept.

"Just so you know... girl... I didn't mean anything I just said. I said it... just because you told me to, stupid girl." Bill whispered while watching her sleep.