Reborn As An Evolving Monster

Sometime earlier,

Her arm was reaching forward.

Her lips had parted, but the words refused to be uttered.

'Don't...'

Elisa grabbed her extended arm by the wrist and brought it closer to her heart as she trembled.

'Leave me alone...'

The one that had remained shaking, unable to decide what to do, had finally started moving.

***

Elisa is in pain.

Elisa is hurting.

But I must go!

Master is running, but he's in pain too!

I can tell...

Those eyes weren't Master's.

There are times when Master isn't Master.

I have to go help Master!

Elisa is strong.

She will stand up.

She will keep going.

Elisa is really strong!

I have to help Master!

I'm not as strong as the others.

I'm not as fast as Grey, as stealthy as Light, or as strong as Levi.

I can't help Master the way Fiery can.

But!

There is a way that I can protect Master!

I can protect him from the times when Master isn't being himself!

Don't worry, Elisa! I will help Master, I will try to... Bring him back.

I don't want to be alone like I was in that Dungeon!

I don't want either of you to be alone!

I can... Fix this!

I'll stand between the two of you once more!

I'll be like those ice platforms that Master made when we crossed the lake!

I'll be the bridge between the two of you!

I'm sure... I'm sure that I can...

***

The Moonlit Feline, now in its Lioness Form, ran and ran, but its Master had gotten quite the headstart.

Choosing between the two wasn't easy. But it took a while for Krista to decide on choosing both! Though it may not look like that now. Krista was, after all, running towards one, and away from the other.

But after running for a while, what stood in the Moonlit Feline's way...

"LET'S GO, YOU LAZY FUCKS! WE'RE CLAIMING ANOTHER HEAD!!"

Made every hair that covered its body stand up.

Krista had frozen in place.

That Calamity, that Commander, those Soldiers.

***

Why are they fighting the Calamity?

Where did Master go?

Did he fight them?

Master isn't dead, I can feel it!

Then... Where?

***

From the corner of her eye, Ani noticed the Lioness.

'Mm?' She turned around slightly. 'Oh... The one that was with...'

Just as Krista was getting ready to fight,

With her thumb, the Commander pointed behind her.

The slight smile on the Commander's face made the Moonlit Feline's eyes narrow.

It was a sad smile.

'Looking for him... Running after him...' The Commander chuckled internally, as she turned back towards the enormous Calamity. 'I wonder... If you will find him.'

The Lioness stared for a bit, before heading in the direction that had been shown.

Trusting the Commander was all Krista could do. No, she didn't trust the Commander.

Krista trusted that smile, the one on the Commander's face.

'Well, aren't you lucky? It might be a Pet, but having someone follow you this way... Running after you wherever you go... It must be a nice feeling.' Ani took a deep breath in. 'I couldn't catch up to the one I was running after. Will you be able to, little cat? You have to. You must.' The Commander caught herself chuckling internally. 'But man am I jealous. Having someone-'

"Commander! It's coming!"

"We took three heads! Only three left!"

"Let's take everything we can get!"

The shouts made the Commander's breathing shake for a second.

"Yeah! Let's take everything!" Ani shouted.

She leaped forward.

'I'm so stupid! But it's so easy to forget... When running towards something or someone, it's too easy to forget those running after you! Those who will remain with you until the end! For those running after me... I won't do it again!' The Commander's gaze moved from one Soldier to the next. 'I won't look away from you ever again! I choose you! You're more important... Than anything else!!'

The Commander's feet drifted on the ground.

'I'm getting used to fighting with one arm.'

THUMP-

A huge head fell to the ground.

"Boa, get me the other one."

"Other one...? Oh! Huh? Are you sure?" What a foolish question.

The Soldier pulled it out of his Inventory. And using all of his strength, he sent it spinning in the air.

It landed in the Commander's hand.

"Hello... Old friend."

A gigantic Battle Axe.

The greenish hue of its blade, Ani stared at it for a bit.

Orcish Battle Axe.

The heaviest Weapon Ani could get her hands on.

A Weapon that the Tribe she came from protected and worshipped.

A Weapon that none of them could use.

How had the tribe come upon it? Ani did not know.

But on the day where she slaughtered them, she made sure to use this Weapon.

"Right now... I think... No. I feel... Like I can do it."

It was a struggle, using it even while grabbing it with two hands.

But right now, with one hand...

'I chose... Those running after me. Lin chose... To keep running. I wonder what you, Monster chosen by Lin, will choose.'

With a slight smile, Ani directed her gaze away from the blade and towards the Calamity.

'I'm retiring. But it's only the beginning for you. No one knows anything for now. But I'm sure you'll do a lot. And I can't wait...'

The ground cracked below the Commander's feet.

'To hear about you!'

***

The Lioness ran as fast as she was capable of.

She ran after her Master, with no assurance that this was the right direction.

Had he taken a left turn? A right turn? Where? Here? Earlier? Later?

Krista kept running.

She cursed herself for a second.

If I was like Levi... Like Gray, Light, or Fiery... I would be able to tell where Master is, I would be able to tell the direction. But now...!

The Moonlit Feline stopped suddenly.

A dozen meters in front of her, a pond.

She recognized the smell.

Krista was convinced that the dark pond had come from her Master.

The way that the darkness shook, trembled, and danced as if it had a mind of its own sent shivers down the Moonlit Feline's spine.

I'm coming.

Please be okay.

I'm coming for you, Master!