Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 40: Spirit of Umbra

[You don’t seem scared, human child.]

Kael froze, his breath catching. He slowly lifted his eyes, and that’s when he saw the dragon’s glowing irises open. Two piercing, intense blue eyes, like jewels containing the very sky, were now fixed on him.

[Well, now it seems like you are, fufufu.] The dragon laughed at Kael.

Kael felt a shiver run down his spine as he heard the dragon’s laugh, a low and almost sinister chuckle that echoed in his mind. The sound reverberated through the cave’s walls, making him feel small and insignificant in the face of such an immense creature.

"You... you’re laughing at me?" Kael asked, his voice wavering, but he forced himself to maintain his posture, not wanting to show more weakness than he already had.

The dragon tilted its head slightly, its eyes fixed on Kael with an intensity that seemed to pierce his soul.

[Yes. You, a human child, dare to enter my domain and not run. You don’t even tremble before me. That... is curious.] The voice resonated in his mind, deep and grave, as if it were more than just words — it was a power, a presence that made Kael feel his own insignificance.

Kael, with sweaty palms, tried to stay steady. "I don’t have much choice but to face this... even if I don’t know how." He took a deep breath, looking around. The enormous cave seemed to pulse with mana energy, and the dragon before him seemed far beyond any force Kael could understand.

[So, you don’t fear me. But your courage will not be enough to save you. Many have come, many have failed. What makes you different, human?] The dragon took a step forward, its massive paws weighing like mountains, causing the water around it to tremble and ripple, as if the very environment was being shaped by its presence.

Kael felt the air grow thicker, the pressure around him increasing. Breathing became a challenge, but he wouldn’t give in, not now. Not in the face of something so vast and unknown. He locked his gaze with the dragon’s eyes, his mind racing with thoughts, trying to figure out what could be done.

"And since when does that matter?" Kael spoke, his voice now calm, but with a confidence that defied the pressure. "Difference is relative. No being in this world is the same as another. Every action, every choice, will always be unique. And if you limit your vision to a repeated pattern of comparison, you’re only diminishing your wisdom." He knew he couldn’t compete with the dragon’s brute strength, but his mind and words, those could make a difference.

The dragon paused for a moment, its eyes fixed on Kael with an even more intense glow, as if pondering the human’s words. The pressure in the air seemed to lessen slightly, but the tension was still palpable. The dragon, impressed or perhaps challenged by Kael’s audacity, chuckled softly.

[Hahahaha! What an interesting little boy!!] The dragon’s voice resonated in Kael’s mind, more powerful than ever. [I thought you’d be just another fool trying to challenge the inevitable. But you... you have something, don’t you?]

Kael didn’t move, his eyes steady, his posture still defiant. He knew he had struck at the essence of the dragon: its pride in its immortality, the blind confidence in its power. But something in the dragon’s response made him feel like he was getting closer to something.

[You dare to question my knowledge, my wisdom...] The dragon continued, its voice taking on a deeper, almost contemplative tone. [But perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps true wisdom isn’t just in conquests, power, and strength... Perhaps it’s also in understanding the being, its motivations, its desires. You didn’t come here just to challenge me, did you? You have a purpose... something deeper. Show me, human.]

Kael felt the tension rise again, but also something new: an opening. The dragon, which had seemed invincible, was now curious about what he had to offer. He knew this was the moment that would define everything.

"I’m not here just to challenge you, dragon," Kael replied, shrugging, "I just followed a little creature here. I’m just trying to get out of this place."

[Little creature? But I haven’t felt anyone with you, from the beginning, there was never anyone with you.] The dragon replied, and Kael grew confused and quickly turned around...

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"Where are you?" He questioned, looking around, but the little creature had completely vanished.

[I understand...] The dragon sighed, observing the boy’s confusion, which didn’t seem to be a lie. [Umbra wanted you to come here,] the dragon said, and Kael looked at it, confused.

"Umbra?" He asked.

[The spirit of this forest... an ancient... friend...] Before Kael could process everything he was hearing, the dragon stood up from its resting position, and almost imperceptibly, it absorbed all the energy around it. The environment, which had once seemed like a vast lake of mana, began to disappear as if it were being swallowed by an invisible force. The water receded, and an ancient structure full of ruins began to rise from the depths, as if emerging from the very fabric of space.

The change was so sudden that Kael had to blink several times to process what was happening. The earth shifted, the atmosphere grew denser, and before him, a staircase of ancient stone appeared, leading to a dark path deep into the cave.

The dragon, with imposing calm, looked at Kael. [She is down there.]

It spoke with a disturbing gentleness, as if this were an invitation. The air around Kael seemed to grow colder and heavier, the mana energy now even denser, vibrating around him. Everything pointed to him being guided by something much greater than himself.

Kael felt the weight of the decision on his shoulders. The staircase before him seemed to lead to a completely different world, a world where Umbra, the spirit the dragon had mentioned, awaited him. What should he do? Was it a trap? Or an opportunity? He could no longer trust only his instincts; now, he would have to rely on his determination.

But before he could decide, the dragon fixed its eyes on Kael, a look of mutual understanding, as if it knew what was going through his mind. [I can no longer help you. The path you choose is yours and yours alone. I will wait here.]

Kael took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the dragon’s words echo in his mind. The path before him was surrounded by mystery and uncertainty, but the spirit of Umbra awaited him. There was no turning back. He knew he was approaching something great, perhaps something that would change everything for him.

Without hesitation, Kael passed the dragon. The great winged being made a slight movement with its head but didn’t try to stop him. Its eyes, deep and inscrutable, observed Kael with a mix of curiosity and respect. He felt a tension in the air, as if time itself were slowing down as he descended the stone steps.

The sound of his footsteps echoed through the cave, amplified by the absolute silence that surrounded him. The air grew denser as he advanced, and a sense of rising power seemed to envelop his body, as if the mana itself were being absorbed by his presence. He felt his energy recovering, more quickly than before, as if the very place were feeding him. The weight on his shoulders, the pain in his arm, all of it seemed to dissipate slowly.

The winding, damp stone staircase led to a deep, dark place, where the only light came from crystals that seemed to emit a cold, brilliant energy. Kael realized he was approaching a more vast space, and soon, he found himself standing before a massive underground hall.

Unlike the previous room, which had felt dark and artificial, this new cavern seemed to have been shaped by nature itself. Enormous trees, their trunks covered in glowing moss, rose from the ground with roots that twisted and intertwined along the walls. The soft light of natural crystals illuminated the room, reflecting off radiant green leaves that emitted an ethereal glow, as if they were alive, pulsing with energy. The air was fresh, filled with floral scents, and there was a sensation that the space around him was breathing.

The ground was covered in dense, soft grass, alternating in shades of emerald green and gold, as if each blade were imbued with mana. Every step Kael took made the leaves move gently, creating a hypnotic sound, as though nature itself was responding to his touch.

But what truly caught his attention was what lay at the end of the room, in a small clearing between the trees and roots. There, in a place where the light seemed to concentrate in an almost mystical way, a woman was lying on the ground, but not just in any way. She was reclining on a bed of leaves that, instead of appearing inanimate, seemed to bend and move, as if they were embracing her body. The scene around her seemed to have been shaped to create a space untouched by the passage of time.

The woman had long brown hair, which spread out around her, flowing like a waterfall of silk, contrasting with the vibrant color of the leaves surrounding her. Her face was serene, with an expression of peace, as if she were completely oblivious to the world. Her simple white dress, though plain, was of pure beauty, reflecting the soft light that illuminated the room, creating a sublime contrast with the vibrant vegetation around her. She was enveloped in an environment that seemed both magical and sacred, a place where time dared not pass.

Kael stood still for a moment, observing the scene. His breath caught for an instant, and he couldn’t help but feel drawn to the tranquility and beauty radiating from the slumbering figure. A sense of mystery surrounded her, as if the woman was more than just a mere mortal, something connected to something much greater, perhaps even to the very essence of the forest itself.

But before he could take another step toward her, a feeling of growing pressure stopped him.

"You’re quite cute, little one." He heard a soft, welcoming voice invade his mind.