Boom.
Trees tumbled like dominos as a massive spider-type spirit beast rampaged through the Star Dou Forest, tearing a path in pursuit of its prey.
Weaker creatures scattered in panic, fleeing the chaos—none daring to be caught as collateral damage.
Behind me, the devastation grew louder: branches snapping, trees crashing, shrill cries echoing. But I didn't dare look back.
I couldn't afford even that.
One stray glance could mean a web to the face—and if that happened, I'd be lucky to die before my flesh turned to soup.
I was burning through what little energy I had left—and yet, the Man-Faced Demon Spider was only getting closer.
Where the hell is the owner of this damn territory?!
I forced my legs to keep moving.
Faster.
Even if no other ten-thousand-year spirit beast showed up to save me—I couldn't stop.
Run. Run. RUN.
My body grew numb. My speed surged from pure adrenaline—then suddenly, I felt it.
A tug.
Web. Again.
Without hesitation, I tore off my shirt and let it get dragged away.
Now I was vulnerable. No protection. No insurance.
One touch from that thread, and I'd melt in seconds.
The damn beast wouldn't even let me enjoy the rush.
And then—it got worse.
My foot caught something. I stumbled.
I tried to roll and spring back up, but I couldn't move.
Something held me down.
I looked down and froze.
Red.
A fountain of it.
The source?
My leg—impaled by one of the spider's jagged limbs.
I didn't scream. I couldn't. At first, I didn't even feel anything.
They say getting stabbed doesn't hurt—it just burns.
They were right.
It was like my entire lower half was set ablaze from the inside.
The spider hissed, its many eyes locking onto mine with twisted amusement.
It was watching me.
Mocking me.
Then the pain hit.
Not just in my leg—everywhere.
Poison.
I hate this.
My breathing slowed into deep, ragged gasps.
My body was shutting down. My thoughts dragged, heavy and cold.
My vision blurred, and all I could think was—
I don't want to die.
Before my eyes could flutter shut, a sound tore through the forest.
A roar.
My heart kicked into overdrive, pounding like a war drum.
As if someone had jabbed a shot of epinephrine straight into my soul.
ROAR.
The spider paused, looking up, its gaze shifting beyond me.
Heavy, thunderous breathing followed—something massive had arrived.
Even without turning, I knew: The territory's true owner was here.
My tormentor backed off slightly, its body tense. I was forgotten—for now.
This is it.
My chance.
Think!
The softest spot on a spider's body...
Its eyes.
I reached toward my necklace and summoned a small pocket knife. Gritting my teeth, I stabbed it upward with everything I had—straight into one of its eyes.
SCREEECH!
The spider shrieked in rage, rearing back.
It raised another limb, aiming to crush me outright—but before it could strike, it was tackled mid-motion.
A massive blur slammed into the beast—a bear, fur bristling, eyes blazing, fangs bared.
They clashed like titans.
In the collision, the spider's limb ripped out of my leg with a sickening tear.
"FUCK!!"
The scream tore from my throat as fresh pain consumed me.
The clash of the two monsters sent shockwaves through the trees. I couldn't even hear properly anymore.
I tried to stand but I failed. Again and again, nothing worked, the earth had my entire body stuck in it's embrace and no matter what I did, I couldn't escape
There was only one option left.
Crawl.
Like an insect, a broken, pathetic insect.
I hated it.
I hate it, I hate it, I fucking hate it.
Why was I so unlucky—?
No.
Not now.
No time for that.
I could have an existential crisis later.
Right arm. Pull. Left arm. Pull.
Keep going.
I was in machine mode now, repeating the motions, blind to everything else.
Until—Something stabbed through my shoulder.
A branch—launched from the impact of the fight.
But I didn't stop.
I couldn't stop.
Before I could keep going with my rather pointless struggle, light bathed the area.
My necklace flared and from it, a massive form stepped forward.
Byakko.
He stood over me—his aura burning, his gaze cold.
Not fully healed—I could tell by the dimness in his energy—but strong enough to silence the battlefield.
He looked down at me and placed a paw on my head—gentle, grounding.
That was all I needed.
I let the darkness take me.
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—Byakko's POV—
I looked down at the human child beneath me with a complicated gaze. Never would I have thought that the bond forged between us—forced by the Evil God himself—would one day save my life.
My eyes traced every bruise, every cut, every tear in his flesh and with each injury I found, my fury deepened.
I am the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, one of the most powerful spirit beasts in the entire Star Dou Forest, and yet…
I was the one who had to be saved.
Rescued.
Carried to safety like a helpless cub by a mere Spirit Elder. Not just any human either, but the heir of the very god who once blessed me.
And now, he lies here—broken, worse than the day I first found him.
I failed him.
He's watching. He always is.
The one who can twist my fate at a whim… he sees everything.
He'll see what happened.
He'll see my failure.
These… ANTS.
They dared touch what's under my protection. They tarnished my name—my honor—my legacy and now, they may cost me the very thing that rekindled my power.
ROOOAAAR!
My war cry split the air, shaking the very trees.
The two beasts locked in combat froze—trembling beneath the weight of my presence.
My injuries haven't fully healed but I don't need to be at full power to kill them.
To torment them.
As they turned to flee, I raised my paw.
I would not allow it.
There would be no mercy. Not for them.
I would make them suffer.
They would beg for death—and when they did, I would twist time itself to drag them back from the brink, just to begin again.
Slowly.
Painfully.
I unleashed my domain, locking the space tight—no escape.
My bloodline surged and my spirit power ignited.
I moved.
I brought my claw down like a falling god.
And the sky was dyed in red.
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—Siegfried's POV—
I was here again.
That same dark space I always ended up in whenever my patron wanted to talk. And, as expected, he was there.
I exhaled deeply, tension easing from my shoulders. "You being here tells me I survived. Sigh… I'll have to thank Byakko when I wake up."
"YOU WILL NOT GIVE YOUR GRATITUDE TO THAT USELESS TIGER," The God of Evil's voice thundered through the void.
My eyes snapped open.
And for the first time since I'd met him, I saw him truly angry. Not irritated. Not amused. Not smiling with hidden intentions. This was raw, divine fury.
It reminded me of who I was speaking to.
A god who held dominion over chaos, evil, and countless souls. One who had seen centuries of war, betrayal, and suffering — and could still bring it all to heel with a glance.
His eyes were burning with fury.
I raised my hands slightly, careful. "I'm not going to tell you to calm down — that'd probably just make things worse. So... just tell me why you're this angry."
"That worthless beast was supposed to protect you. Not the other way around. It put you — my chosen, my inheritor, the one I've come to consider a disciple — in danger to save itself. That is unacceptable," He stepped closer, voice becoming colder by the second.
"The only reason I've kept it alive is because it's the only anchor I have to reach you. Otherwise, I would have ended it myself and handed its soul to the God of Death. That damn—"
"Stop. Just stop," I waved my hands quickly in front of me. "I get your frustration, I do. But I'm not mad at Byakko. And I don't think you should be either."
He looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Are you insane? That beast exists to risk its life for yours. Nothing more."
"I know that's how you see it. But I don't." I took a breath, trying to find the right words.
"I don't view Byakko as a servant. I see him as... an elder. Maybe even a senior. His presence alone has helped me understand the evil attribute better. The aura around him, the concentration of elemental energy — it's all taught me more than I thought possible. Whether he meant to or not, he's helped me grow. So if I risked my life for him, then I was just returning the favor."
The God of Evil was silent.
His expression shifted slowly, cycling through disbelief, frustration, and finally... resignation.
"You're too righteous. Too forgiving," he muttered. "But I am not."
He stepped forward again, his commending presence returning.
"The reward for your first trial was supposed to be a divine spirit ring — one that would become tailored to your essence, perfectly compatible with your growth. But now, your reward will be the tiger's spirit ring and bone."
I froze.
"He will sacrifice himself. That is final," he said. "If something like this happens again — if he fails you a second time — I will obliterate his soul completely. But if he protects you with everything he has, I will allow his soul to persist. I will even grant him a chance... to ascend. To become a god."
His words hung in the air like a blade.
I didn't speak. I just nodded.
Before I could say anything more, he waved his hand.
And I woke up.
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"You're awake."
The voice came from my right.
I turned my head and found Byakko lying on the ground, one eye open, the other shut. He looked worse for wear, but alive.
Before he could speak again, I forced myself upright, ignoring the sharp pain shooting through my body. The words poured out of me recklessly.
I told him everything.
About what happened in my inner space. About the conversation with the Evil God. About the punishment that had been decided for him.
I knew it was a bad idea to tell him. I didn't know how he'd react. He still looked down on me, even now. The idea of giving up his life for a human must've felt unbearable.
But instead of lashing out, he simply nodded. "I understand."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you not angry? You're being forced to die for my sake!"
"Don't say anything else," he interrupted, voice steady. "The Evil God is right. He gave me guidance on my path. In return, I was meant to protect you. But I failed. I put you in danger. I deserve this."
He rose to his feet slowly, wincing only slightly as he stood tall.
I couldn't move, too stunned by what I was hearing. This proud, arrogant tiger—once so condescending—was accepting responsibility.
"I can tell what you're thinking by your face," he said, suddenly in front of me, deadpan.
I hadn't even noticed him move.
"Trust me, I don't want to die," he continued. "But I'd rather die with a shot at godhood than have the Evil God strip me of the divinity within me and return me to what I once was."
I nodded silently, then took a deep breath.
There was something I had wanted to say for a long time. Now felt like the right time.
"Byakko… I want to swear an oath with you."
He tilted his head slightly—an expression I assumed was curiosity—then gave a small nod.
"Let's swear to be brothers," I said. "I'll do my best to help you grow, and in return, you do the same for me. You protect me, and I'll support you. You get to do your duty and I'll benefit from having a more powerful spirit ring."
He looked at me, expression unreadable. A few seconds passed—each one stretching like minutes—before he extended a paw.
"I agree, huma… Siegfried."
I smiled, despite the pain coursing through my limbs, and reached out to take his paw in my hand. "Sieg," I said. "Call me Sieg."
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Author's Note:
Hey everyone! A lot happened in this chapter, so this note will be a bit longer than usual. If you're just here for the story and don't care for explanations, feel free to skip down to the P.S. at the bottom.
I'll break things down scene by scene for those interested:
1. The Chase:
This was the major focus of the chapter. My main question for you is—was it suspenseful enough? Did the MC suffer enough (weird question, I know)? Was the writing style immersive and engaging during that part? I'm open to all forms of constructive criticism and will do my best to improve in future chapters.
2. Byakko's Rescue:
Some readers may wonder how Byakko was able to recover in time to fight. The answer is simple: the MC had medicinal herbs stored in his necklace, which helped Byakko heal enough to rejoin the battle.As for Byakko's rage—it's because he cares about the MC. Does he still look down on him? Yes, absolutely. But hate? Not at all. Byakko looks down on anyone weaker than himself, beast or human alike, but he's formed a bond with the MC over the three years they've known each other. And of course, there's also his duty as a contracted guardian to the Evil God's chosen inheritor.
3. The Evil God's Intervention:
This scene was to show just how much the Evil God values Siegfried. Like Asura with Tang San, he cares about his successor—but in this case, there's a deeper emotional bond. That's why he was so enraged and why he changed the trial's reward. It's his way of honoring Sieg's feelings while giving Byakko one more chance.(Also, I'm thinking of giving the Evil God an actual name—drop suggestions in the comments!)
4. The Oath Scene:
This was meant to establish a stronger relationship between Byakko and Sieg. Think of it more like a knight's oath or a sworn brotherhood—not romantic. (So for those of you who were thinking otherwise… chill.) Both characters accepted the oath because it benefits them mutually. It's not about debt or obligation—it's about respect and alliance. This kind of foundation creates a healthier relationship going forward. For context, I'm setting up the world in a way that the characters can either be close friends or sworn siblings. For example: Tianheng and Oslo = friends; Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun = sworn brothers.
P.S.
The Danmachi fic will be delayed—my professor just dropped a surprise test on me for next Monday, so I'll be focusing on studying. Thanks for understanding 🙏
Final Thoughts:
I personally feel like this chapter turned out really well, but I'm always open to feedback. Let me know what you thought—about the pacing, tone, character development—anything helps.
See you next chapter!