A mother and her son were leisurely walking on a small path surrounded by dense forests. Although the sun was shining, it felt like night under the trees.
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"Mom, how much longer until we arrive?" The boy, about ten years old with light blue hair and a long sword strapped to his back, seemed to possess knowledge of swordsmanship.
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As for the mother, if it weren't for the boy's specific explanation, others would mistake them for siblings, assuming she gave birth to the boy at a young age. She carried two bags of food, sweat dripping down her face. Despite the hardship, she still smiled as she answered.
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"Shoyo, hold on a little longer. We're almost there. Auntie Aoino has sent her subordinates to meet us at the forest exit."
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The small path was illuminated by the sun, and the mother and son spotted a figure waving their hands at the end, presumably the subordinate mentioned earlier.
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"Look, just as expected."
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When the figure saw them, they quickly ran over to greet them. However, just as everyone was relaxing, a shadow suddenly dashed out from the forest next to them, knocking the figure to the side of the path. Smoke disappeared into the pitch-black forest, followed by pleas for help and screams, then the sound of devouring.
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"How strange. This should be a safe area. Why are there Skullbreakers here..."
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While the mother hesitated, Shoyo immediately drew his long sword from his back, knowing that the immediate priority was to leave the forest on both sides. After all, in the pitch-darkness, one never knew what might come pouncing out.
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Without delay, two more shadows lunged towards them from the side. Shoyo reacted quickly, using his sword to fend off the attacking shadows. However, the mother couldn't evade in time and was pushed down beside a tree.
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Under the shining sunlight, it was clear to see that these beings called Skullbreakers had physical features resembling humans. They walked on two legs, had dark skin, and wore animal skulls to protect their heads and faces.
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Shoyo immediately focused on rescuing his mother, but the Skullbreaker he had just repelled came lunging at him again, wielding a stone tied to a wooden stick as an axe.
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"Don't get in my way!" The situation was urgent. If they hesitated for a few more seconds, the mother would be dragged into the forest by these creatures. Shoyo swung his sword with all his might, and the blade emitted a dim white light that was invisible to the naked eye, cutting the creature and its axe in half.
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After swinging the sword, Shoyo felt exhausted, as if he had been running for a long time. However, he couldn't give up. He could rest when his body was tired, but if his mother was lost, she couldn't be brought back to life.
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"Hurry, help me kill them together! I don't want to be slowly devoured by them!"
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The mother was held from behind by a Skullbreaker, and Shoyo couldn't easily save her with his skills alone. He had to make the most reluctant decision because she had long known the fate she would face.
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Would it be considered saving someone if he killed his mother as well? Shoyo couldn't bring himself to do it. He had trained in swordsmanship all for the sake of protecting his mother, and now he had to use it in this situation?
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In a matter of seconds, Shoyo's heart was filled with struggle. Every second of hesitation would only increase his mother's suffering. How could a ten-year-old boy withstand such a mental impact?
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Shoyo soon lost his rationality, accompanied by uncontrollable wailing. He made up his mind to release his mother from her pain. Closing his eyes, he swung his sword with all his might, and the blade emitted the same white light as before.
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