With that thought, Iana turned to look at Lillian, a sly smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“Lillian, it’s your turn next.” She handed the sword over to Lillian.
“Huh? Me…?” Lillian was surprised, then quickly shook her head, leaving afterimages behind her.
“I… I can’t. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“There’s always a first time for everything.” Iana firmly shoved the sword into Lillian’s hands.
“Besides, I’ll teach you how to do it, step by step.”
As she spoke, Iana grabbed Lillian’s trembling wrist and demonstrated a few slashing movements.
“See? It’s actually pretty simple.”
Lillian’s lips quivered, “Bu… but…”
Iana cut her off, “There’s no ‘but’. Do you think Ethelrina would like a coward who can’t even hold a sword properly?”
“Or…” Iana leaned in slightly, whispering into Lillian’s ear, “Would you rather stay hidden in a corner forever, watching Ethelrina being embraced by someone else?”
Lillian’s face instantly turned pale.
Iana’s words were like a sharp blade, piercing deep into her heart.
“I… I don’t want to see that.” Lillian stammered, but her eyes gradually hardened.
“I don’t want to hide anymore.”
Iana smiled in satisfaction, “That’s the spirit.”
For the next while, Iana taught Lillian how to swing the sword, where the Demons’ weak points were, and how to aim for them.
At first, Lillian’s movements were clumsy and awkward, and she almost hurt herself several times, feeling like giving up.
Whenever that happened, Iana would whisper into her ear, “Imagine Ethelrina being held by someone else. If you don’t get stronger, you’ll only be able to watch from some corner.”
Hearing Ethelrina’s name, Lillian would gather her courage and try again, as if that name had become her source of strength.
Gradually, Lillian’s movements became more skillful.
From barely being able to hold the sword, she was now able to swing it fluidly.
“Looks like Ethelrina’s name really works wonders.”
Iana looked on, pleased with Lillian’s progress, and pointed to a smaller Wolf Demonkin nearby.
“Good. Now try hitting that Demonkin’s weak spot.”
Lillian took a deep breath, gripping the sword tightly with both hands, her gaze fixed on the low growling Wolf Demonkin not far away.
She recalled the techniques Iana taught her: the throat and heart were its most vulnerable points.
“I can do this.” Lillian encouraged herself and charged forward.
Her steps weren’t steady or powerful yet—she was clearly still a novice.
The Wolf Demonkin naturally wouldn’t sit still to be attacked.
It lunged at Lillian, jaws wide open, seemingly intent on swallowing her head whole.
“Ah!”
Remembering Iana’s instructions on sword swinging, Lillian forcefully struck at the Wolf Demonkin’s throat, the sword slicing through the air.
The Wolf Demonkin struggled for a moment after being hit, then collapsed weakly, turning into specks of white light that merged into Lillian’s Token.
[Points +0.5]
“I… I did it.” Lillian collapsed onto the ground, as if the entire strength in her body had been drained by the experience.
“Not bad.” Iana, having witnessed the whole process, clapped her hands in praise.
She walked over to Lillian, helped her up, and ruffled her golden hair by saying, “You’re learning fast.”
Over the following days, Iana continued hunting Demons and teaching Lillian.
Their coordination grew increasingly seamless.
Under Iana’s guidance, Lillian’s combat skills improved steadily, and her accumulated points grew accordingly.
At night, by the campfire.
Iana sat on the ground, a bit worried.
As time passed, she not only found no way out of this place, but the Demons here kept getting stronger.
From the Wolf Demonkin that could be taken down instantly before, to the Bear Demonkin that now required finding precise weak points to kill—it was as if the Demons grew more powerful with each passing moment.
“Th-thank you, Iana.” Lillian smiled with satisfaction on her face.
“So how are you going to thank me? With some money? Or by taking me out for a good meal?” Iana replied.
“Once… once I get out… I will.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
Most people might refuse Lillian’s offers, but Iana was different—when it came to money and food, she was always open to accepting.
Just as Iana and Lillian prepared to rest where they were, a shout came from the Core Territory of the Demonkin: “Run! Run!”
Both looked up to see several students rushing towards them, faces full of fear, shouting to run.
Iana furrowed her brow, sensing danger instinctively.
She grabbed Lillian’s hand and said, “Something’s wrong. We have to leave now.”
But before they could stand, the ground beneath them shook violently.
Lillian staggered and fell to the ground.
Then, a deafening roar erupted from the Demonkin’s core territory, uprooting trees beside Iana.
A roar that powerful was no ordinary foe; it was definitely beyond the students’ ability to handle.
Iana’s mind echoed the same thought as the fleeing students: just two words—run fast.
She quickly helped Lillian up, noticing the purple bruise forming on her knee from the fall.
“You’re hurt?”
“Can you still walk?”
Lillian tried to take a few steps, but the pain was too much.
“No… no, don’t worry about me. You go first.”
“At a time like this, don’t try to be a hero.” Iana scooped Lillian up in a bridal carry.
Lillian was shocked but instinctively wrapped her arms around Iana’s neck.
“Hold tight. If you fall, I’m not coming back for you.” Iana held Lillian firmly and ran in the opposite direction of that powerful Demonkin.
The surroundings rapidly retreated, but the suffocating pressure didn’t lessen at all.
Lillian could feel Iana’s arm trembling slightly but still holding her securely.
Iana suddenly slammed on the brakes—she’d reached a dead end.
She stared in disbelief at the empty scene ahead, as if they were trapped on an Empty Island.
She tossed a stone onto the ground experimentally, hearing it hit the earth.
At that moment, a grim realization formed in Iana’s mind.
She swallowed nervously and said to Lillian, “Maybe we have to deal with that guy before we can leave here.”
Iana set Lillian down beneath a tree.
“Wait here for me. I’ll be back soon.”
Lillian grabbed Iana’s wrist.
“Don’t… don’t go alone. At least take me with you.”
Iana gently pried Lillian’s fingers open and smiled brightly.
“I’ll be careful. You hide here and don’t attract any other Demons.”