Chapter 16: Hidden Temple? Unexpected Treasury {1}
Althea, with her flowing icy blue hair and icy aura, stood still as the wind howled past us. Her presence was calm, but her narrowed eyes betrayed her focus.
The Speed Phantom lunged toward us—a creature draped in black mist, its form barely distinguishable except for the glint of twin daggers clutched in its inky hands.
Its speed was impressive, easily F- Rank, but Althea didn’t even blink. With a scoff, she raised her hand slightly, releasing a chill into the air.
The wind didn’t touch us, but it sliced through the mist-like being as if it were paper. Clara, quick to act, blurred forward. Her blade shimmered, and in a single arc, she cleanly severed the Phantom’s head.
The creature dissolved into a flurry of star-like particles, vanishing as silently as it had arrived. But we didn’t get time to breathe. The forest echoed with the rapid, synchronized steps of more Phantoms—hundreds, maybe thousands.
Clara readied her stance, her sword glowing faintly in anticipation, but Althea only sighed. She prepared to unleash another icy wave, but I stepped forward, voice firm.
"No—come with me. Fighting them is pointless. They’re endless."
The urgency in my voice made them pause. My memories from my past life were vivid. We had tried fighting wave after wave of these things, thinking brute force could clear the floor. It hadn’t ended well.
Clara frowned, clearly confused. Her golden eyes studied me sharply, weighing my words. She already suspected I had far more knowledge than I should have.