Through Unknowns

Emersyn wrapped herself with her Life Energy, focusing on her hands and feet. She slightly crouched down as the footsteps of the monsters came near then ran towards the broken door. Her fist crashed on the first monster's c.h.e.s.t, exactly where its heart was. She could feel how hard its skin was since she could only break its sternum, puncturing its heart. However, it was still alive. Then, in a split second, a sword Qi formed in her hand then she swung it on the monster's neck, cutting its carotid artery. Blood gushed out as more monsters pushed through the blocked opening. Emersyn grabbed the killed monster then threw it over at Yao Yun.

The second monster came and the rest of them persistently pushed themselves into the roof. Breaking their bones and punching through every vital point of the monsters, she continued on killing each of them with little damage on their bodies. Emersyn rested as her hot breath created mists in the air. She threw the last body, which would be the twenty-fourth monster, to Yao Yun as the man lined it all up nicely.

"Thanks," Emersyn said with a smile.

"... how did you… do it?"

"Do what?"

"Kill these monsters," Yao Yun said as he threw his strongest punch on the carcass and Emersyn could hear bones breaking. Unfortunately, it was Yao Yun's as he hissed and grabbed the wrist of his aching hand.

"The battle was so fast I couldn't even follow your movements. Your punches could even distort space and defy the laws of the universe… and yet, you want to appear weak?"

"... is that so…," Emersyn muttered then retrieved a higher potion from her inventory. "Here. Drink half of this and pour the rest on your hand."

"Thanks…," Yao Yun smiled wryly and did what Emersyn told him to do. His broken bones and tissues fixed itself without blood clotting and it returned to its former glory. "You… own a lot of good things. Where did you get it?"

"I bought it with my endless amount of money. Remember? I travel worlds. I was supposed to be in Strevalia, but I ended up in the Central Marsh."

"So… basically, you dried out all the products in each of the worlds you visit?"

"... what. I can't do that. I have another means to buy them."

"I… see. Will you tell me?"

"If I know that you aren't the type to tell people whatever, I will."

"Hmmm..."

"You know how to butcher most monsters?" Emersyn suddenly asked as she retrieved two small knives.

"... what are those knives? Can it cut through all these monsters?"

"Of course," she said as she handed one over to him.

"Then… please excuse me."

Yao Yun calmly cut through the hard skin and muscles as he drained blood into the bottles Emersyn was handing over. Then, they separated each cut of meat, bones, tendons and cartilage. When they finished, they acquired a shocking amount of 279 bottles of blood. Emersyn stored it in her inventory and all of the remaining parts.

Then, they went down after Emersyn took a look at the landscape. Arriving at the kitchen on the 120th floor, they unceremoniously entered.

Emersyn settled a heater, then retrieved one chunk of meat and cut it into pieces. Marinating it with a pinch of salt, pepper, chili powder, gochujang, sesame oil and soy sauce. She also made some tofu soup with hot chili peppers. When the soup was finished and the meat grilled, she served it to Yao Yun and to herself.

They ate well and Emersyn boiled some milk with honey and cinnamon. Perfect for the cold as they gazed beneath with warm cups in their hands.

Emersyn took a sip then said, "There are quite a lot of them."

"Of them? Who?"

"People."

"What?! Where?!"

"Underneath. They are moving so cautiously despite being underground."

"Are we going to them?"

"Don't really know. What about you? Are you planning to meet them?"

Yao Yun smiled wryly.

"If the barrier came down and people of the Central Marsh came out here, we need to help them adapt. It also means we have to cooperate with the citizens of this world. We have no choice but to meet them and ask for help."

"Sounds troublesome."

"It won't be if you are here!"

"... me?"

Emersyn tilted her head.

"What about me?"

"You are strong enough to earn their trust…."

"They would fear me, actually, if that time comes. Then they would put restrictions and the likes on me to keep me under their hands. I would rather go alone than cooperate with people I have no knowledge of."

"... that's… also true."

"If, in case, that I would act as your servant, you will be the one who would be in danger. They would do everything to keep you just to keep me here."

"... you're just being paranoid…."

"Maybe."

"..."

"You can pick whatever room you like to sleep in. You can take the heater."

"Where are you going?"

"Roof," Emersyn said as she trudged over the higher floors, leaving Yao Yun alone.

Right after Emersyn left, Yao Yun suddenly felt strong presences coming from the lower floors. They didn't sound like monsters… maybe those were the humans the female was talking about? He was cautious at first, but decided to come down and see for himself. Then, a huge shadow appeared behind him, swallowing his figure. He turned around with a kick and that person caught his foot and let him dangle in the air.

"Hmm… those monkeys are killed by you? Their scents are all over you," that man with a deep and guttural voice muttered as he sniffed Yao Yun. His muscular arms that were as thick as Yao Yun's t.h.i.g.hs were inspecting his clothes.

"Nonono! I would never beat those monsters! I---" Yao Yun immediately covered his mouth.

"You what?"

"Uhm… I saw a person who beat them!"

"One? Hah! We can't even defeat a mob of them alone. Boy, you're being ridiculous. Are you lying to us?"

"No! I would never!"

"Your suit is also intricately woven with mana… where did you come from? These kinds of clothes are all foreign to us."

"No---"

"Then where are you from?"

"I am from around here with my companion… we just happened to pass by."

"Where is this companion of yours?"

"She went up… since we have to sleep."

The man's eyes twinkled.

"A woman?"

"Ye-yes?"

"Take me to where she is!"

"Eh? Why?"

"Hurry!"

"Can you… uh… let me down first?"

"Oh right. Okay. Go! Lead me to where she is! She could be freezing!"

Yao Yun furrowed his brows but obeyed regardless. When they arrived on the roof, they saw Emersyn standing close to the edge with her white hair fluttering in the cold air. The man was starstruck as he gazed over the beautiful and picturesque woman gazing down the world as if she owned it. He happily took off his large outer coat and slowly approached the woman.

"Excuse me?"

Emersyn only glanced at him, yet it sent shivers down his spine. The coldness and lack of life in her eyes were all so beautiful! All the beautiful women from where he lived were all so concerned with their appearance that it all took the spaces in their brains. He didn't like it, so he chose to be single even if he was already twenty-five and managed until now.

"Here, you must be cold," he said as he dr.a.p.ed the coat on Emersyn.

She didn't seem to care as she went back to staring down at the landscape and navigating through the holographic screen before her.

"What are you looking for?"

"An accurate map."

"Where are you going?"

"We are not going anywhere."

The man's eyes twinkled then smiled so wide.

"I am called Nico."

"Emersyn. My companion is Yao Yun."

"How old are you?"

Emersyn ignored it then retrieved a big sheet of paper from her inventory and pushed it on the screen. After a while, the paper was spit out and there was a detailed map on the paper. She nodded then turned to look at the landscape once again before handing over the coat to Nico.

"Thanks."

Then went towards Yao Yun.

Nico smiled then sighed with joy as he held his coat on his nose. He tilted his head as he couldn't smell the scent unique to women. He quickly followed Emersyn and Yao Yun down to the lower floor. Emersyn picked a room then Yao Yun picked one beside the woman's while Nico just stood there, watching. His companions arrived one by one as they saw Nico standing blankly in the hallway.

"Brother?"

"... she's so beautiful… yet she didn't care about her appearance at all..."

"Uh… who?"

"Emersyn..."

"Who the heck is that?"

"A beautiful woman..."

"Don't bother, Cali. He won't snap out of it even if you punched him," another man interjected.

"But brother Althas..."

"Cali, don't bother. He will be back to normal once he knew that the woman named Emersyn her true colors."

"So, Elan, anything unusual?"

"The door to the roof was destroyed and blood on the ice which would be completely normal if they fought the Scavengers. However… there were so many footprints, yet the blood was only so little. The battle only happened at the door and..."

"Then!" Nico suddenly exclaimed as his eyes twinkled. "Emersyn beat them all up!"

"How can you be so sure?" Althas asked with his eyebrow raised.

"Her companion is so weak and brittle that it would be impossible for him to fight those monkeys!"

"... that makes sense," Elan muttered.

"So, this Emersyn woman killed them all off..." Althas mused.

"Indeed! My future wife is so strong!"

"..."