CHAPTER 5: THE GODDESS FELL IN LOVE

Shan was startled awake by the feeling of someone hugging him tightly. He opened his eyes and saw Neko, his best friend, sleeping beside him in his bed. "Neko?! What are you doing here?!" he exclaimed, surprised. Neko rubbed her left eye and replied, still half asleep, "Sleeping?" "Sleeping? Why here? It's my bed," Shan protested, feeling a little flustered by the situation. Neko sat up, looking a little confused. "I created this tree of life, so I'm allowed to sleep in every room in this tree. Besides, you're here too, Shan," she explained, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Shan couldn't help but smile at Neko's explanation. Starting this day No matter where Shan went, Neko was always there, holding his hand, creating new magic, cooking, and eating. Neko was always holding Shan's hand. No matter where Shan went, Neko was always there, holding his hand, creating new magic, cooking, and eating. Neko was always holding Shan's hand. While making a potion, Shan was suddenly startled when Neko asked, "Will you marry me, Shan?" Shan was taken aback by the unexpected proposal and replied, "Where did that come from? I'm only 17 years old." It's important for Shan to take some time to think about her feelings and consider the legal implications of getting married at a young age before making a decision. Neko suddenly felt sad, Shan noticed it and changed his mind to agree with Neko's proposal. Neko's heart was filled with joy when Shan finally agreed to her proposal. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and it felt like a dream come true. But suddenly, Neko noticed a hint of sadness in Shan's eyes, and she grew worried. "Is everything okay, Shan?" Neko asked, her voice filled with concern. Shan hesitated for a moment before finally mustering the courage to speak. "I'm sorry, Neko, but I can't marry you right now. I'm just not ready for it yet." Neko could feel her heart sink at Shan's words, but she tried her best to remain composed. "It's okay, Shan," she said, forcing a smile. "I understand. We can take our time and wait until you're ready." Shan seemed relieved at Neko's understanding, but he still looked troubled. "Thank you, Neko, but please don't feel like I'm rejecting you. I just need some time to sort things out." Neko nodded, her heart heavy with emotion. "I understand, Shan. And I respect your decision. I'm just glad that we can still be together." Shan smiled weakly at Neko's words, grateful for her understanding. "Thank you, Neko. You're an amazing person, and I'm lucky to have you as my fiancée." Neko's face lit up with happiness at Shan's words. "Really? I'm your fiancée?" she exclaimed, feeling overjoyed. Shan chuckled at Neko's excitement. "Yes, Neko. You're my fiancée, and I love you." Neko's heart swelled with love and happiness at Shan's words. She knew that they had a long road ahead of them, but she was ready to take it on with him by her side. As the magic circle formed beneath Shan's feet, he quickly realized that this was no ordinary occurrence and prepared himself for the worst. His senses were on high alert as he tried to figure out what was happening. But before he could react, the magic circle suddenly glowed with a blinding light, enveloping Shan in its radiant energy. Neko, who is talking to Shan, felt a sudden sense of dread wash over her as she watched Shan being teleported away. She knew that she needed to act quickly if she had any hope of saving him. She focused her energy and quickly chanted a spell to try and track Shan's location. After a few moments, Neko sensed that Shan had been teleported to a faraway place, one that was shrouded in darkness and filled with danger. Shan's heart pounded in his chest as he found himself standing in the midst of a vast, shadowy kingdom. All around him, towering walls of black stone rose up into the sky, casting the world below into an eerie twilight. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and ash, and the ground beneath his feet was hard and unyielding.

As he looked around, Shan saw that he had been surrounded by an army of armoured soldiers, their bodies encased in black plates, and their faces hidden behind dark helmets. Each of them carried a weapon that glinted ominously in the dim light, and their movements were slow and deliberate. But it was the black-cloaked mages that filled him with the greatest sense of unease. They moved with an eerie grace, their long robes billowing about them like the wings of giant bats. Each of them bore a symbol on their chest, a silver sigil that pulsed with a faint, malevolent light. Their eyes were empty and cold, and Shan felt a shiver run down his spine as he met their gaze. The mages began to chant in a language that he did not recognize, their voices rising and falling in a hypnotic rhythm. As they chanted, their hands began to glow with dark energy, and Shan could feel the air around him growing thick with malevolent power. Suddenly, the mages stopped chanting, and the air filled with a deafening silence. Shan could feel his heart beating in his chest as he waited for their next move. And then, without warning, the mages unleashed a torrent of dark magic that surged towards him like a tidal wave. Shan's body was slick with sweat as he fought his way through the ranks of the demon army. With each swing of his blade, he felt the thrill of battle coursing through his veins, his muscles singing with the thrill of combat. But even as he fought, he could see that his opponents were not like any he had faced before. They were resilient, their bodies infused with a dark energy that seemed to knit their wounds back together even as he struck them down. Despite his best efforts, the demon army seemed to be endless, their numbers swelling with each passing moment. And just when he thought he could fight no more, a figure appeared in the distance, standing at the top of the tower of the demon castle. It was an elite demon, clad in armour of black and crimson, with a long sword strapped to him back. As he gazed down at him with eyes of cold, glittering malice, Shan felt a shiver run down his spine. "Enough!" the demon barked, and to Shan's surprise, the entire army stopped in its tracks. The demon, named Meresse, stepped down from the tower and strode towards him with an air of confidence. "Well, well, well," he said, a cruel smile spreading across his lips. "It's nice to meet you again, kid." Shan's eyes narrowed as he tried to place the demon's face. He had a vague memory of someone like him from a long time ago, but he couldn't quite recall who he was. "Uhmm, who are you?" he asked, his voice tight with suspicion. Meresse laughed, the sound echoing off the walls of the demon castle. "Don't you remember me?" he said, his tone mocking. "You threw a pebble in my arm! And now you will pay! As Meresse charged towards Shan, his demonic aura emanated an intense heat that caused the air to ripple around him. Shan stood his ground, his eyes locked onto Meresse's, as he calmly reached for a sword that lay nearby. As soon as Meresse reached Shan, he swung his massive claws at him, but she swiftly sidestepped and slashed him sword at his arm. He knew that his sword wouldn't harm the demon, but it was enough to make him believe he was fighting back with all his might. Meresse roared in anger and lunged at him again, his movements too fast for an ordinary human to keep up with. Shan, however, was no ordinary human. He was a skilled human, trained in the art of magic and sword fighting, and he used his training to his advantage. He dodged Meresse's attacks effortlessly, moving with the grace of a dancer as he weaved around his massive form. He knew that Meresse was powerful, but he also knew that he was reckless and easily provoked. He used this to his advantage, taunting him with his words and goading him into attacking him even more. As the fight continued, Shan's movements became more fluid and precise, and he attacked more calculations. Meresse, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly frustrated, his attacks becoming more reckless and less effective. Finally, Shan saw his opening. Meresse swung his massive claws at him again, but this time, Shan didn't dodge. Instead, he stood his ground and met his attack head-on, his sword glowing with a brilliant light as he channelled his magic into it. The fight between Shan and Meresse was like a light battling a star. Their movements were so fast and precise that it seemed as if they were dancing in the air, leaving trails of light behind them. Meresse's demonic aura radiated an intense heat that caused the air to ripple around him like a star pulsating with energy. His massive form was like a black hole, drawing in everything around him with his sheer force of will. Shan, on the other hand, was like a beacon of light in the darkness. His movements were graceful and fluid, his sword glowing with a brilliant light as he channelled he magic into it. He moved with a speed and agility that seemed almost otherworldly, leaving afterimages of light in his wake. As they clashed, their energies collided like two stars colliding in space. The impact was deafening, and the force of it sent shockwaves through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them. Despite the intensity of their battle, Shan remained calm and focused, his eyes locked onto Meresse's as he calculated his next move. Meresse, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly frustrated and reckless, his movements becoming more erratic with each passing moment. In the end, it was Shan's brilliance that prevailed. With a final burst of energy, he pushed Meresse back, sending him crashing to the ground like a fallen star through the wall of the demon kingdom. He looked down at him with a mix of pity and contempt, knowing that he could have defeated him at any time but had chosen to play with him instead.