one step away from reality to dream

Haruno had always been strong, pushing herself beyond limits, but this time, the world seemed bent on breaking her. After days of battling, she found herself facing a group of ruthless human cultivators who discovered her true form as a beast. The fight was brutal, and despite all her power, she was no match for their combined strength. Her spider beast finally fell in battle, sacrificing itself to protect her one last time.

Injured and near death, Haruno stumbled through the wilderness, blood trailing in her wake. She reached the edge of a cliff, her steps faltering as her strength gave out. Before she could stop herself, the ground gave way, and she tumbled down the rocky face, plunging into the cold, rushing waters of a waterfall below.

The freezing water shocked her system, keeping her alive, though barely conscious. The flow carried her downstream, and after what felt like an eternity, she crawled onto the shore, her body trembling with pain and exhaustion. But as she lay there, she sensed something—a faint but powerful aura. It was the energy of a rare treasure herb, close by, radiating life and healing properties.

Desperate for survival, Haruno forced herself to follow the aura, eventually finding a hidden cave nestled behind the waterfall. Inside, the treasure plant shone like a beacon, but there was another presence—a man, already there, having consumed the plant in a desperate attempt to increase his cultivation.

The man, however, was in no better shape than Haruno. The powerful energy of the herb was too much for his body to handle, and it was tearing him apart from the inside. His skin cracked with glowing fissures, his body trembling uncontrollably as the energy spiraled out of control. Haruno, despite her own critical state, approached him with caution. She knew how dangerous the herb's energy could be if not controlled properly, and she hoped to stabilize him before it was too late.

But the man, wild with pain and delirium, mistook Haruno's approach as a threat. Driven by panic and the overwhelming force within him, he lashed out, grabbing her with a strength fueled by the herb's uncontrollable power. Haruno, weak from her injuries, struggled to push him away, but her body failed her.

In his frenzied state, the man overpowered her, his actions thoughtless and driven by madness. Haruno, unable to fight back, could only endure the assault, her mind reeling in and out of consciousness. The gravity of the moment left her powerless, her purity taken from her without the man even realizing the depth of what he had done.

As the man's energy finally calmed, he collapsed beside her, unconscious and unaware of his actions. Haruno, barely clinging to consciousness, was left shattered, her body and spirit broken. She crawled away from him, her injuries too severe to continue. But just before darkness claimed her, the jade pendant Ravihiro had given her began to glow, surrounding her in a protective barrier.

The warmth of the formation soothed her, stabilizing her condition enough for her to slip into unconsciousness, safe for the moment within the shield Ravihiro had placed on her.