Lunaryl sat beside Lana, her golden hair loose and a bit messy. Lana, with her big childlike eyes, was asking something about the strange names of elven medicinal herbs.
Because of the streams, elves were quite well-known and popular—both for their beauty and their power.
Though, seeing elves in person was not easy. Especially for someone like Lana, who didn't even have access to the Celestial Domain.
Daniel turned his gaze away from the two girls and focused on the forest.
Suddenly, a sound echoed from deep inside the woods. A long howl—not like a wolf's, and not like the wind either. A weird sound that Daniel had never heard before.
However he didn't react much, these sounds had been echoing for almost half an hour already.
"You sure there's really nothing to worry about?"
"Yeah. Those are the sounds of certain special plants. They lure other creatures in with that sound to hunt them," Aron said, indifferent.
Daniel's eyes lit up slightly. He'd never heard of anything like this. It reminded him of carnivorous plants or flowers that used scent to attract insects.
Just then, Karnae stood up and turned to Lunaryl.
"Can you help me find some anti-inflammatory herbs? Our wounded still need them." He nodded toward his own injuries and Neve's.
Lunaryl nodded and stood.
She could have used her healing skill to treat them, but Daniel had told her not to use that ability on these people under any circumstance.
"Be careful," Daniel said, then glanced at Lunaryl. She noticed his look and nodded in return.
The elven girl walked west into the forest with Karnae. Their steps disappeared into the mist—but just a few meters behind them, a silent shadow moved behind the trees.
Lana
Her shining eyes glowed like icy diamonds in the dark.
Meanwhile, Neve handed Daniel a metal cup.
"This'll warm you up."
Daniel glanced briefly at Neve. Over the time he'd spent with them, he'd gotten to know them a little.
None of them had a simple background. Aron was the son of the guild master of Syronblade, and the others were children of board members from the same guild.
To prove the guild wasn't about connections, Aron said that he and the others had passed the entrance test like everyone else.
Though it was obvious he was full of crap. Daniel didn't understand why this idiot thought he was stupid.
White steam rose from the cup. The scent of cinnamon and something sweet filled the air. Hesitantly, he took a sip.
"Thanks." The taste was nice…
But Aron and Neve exchanged a glance and smirked.
"So Daniel, don't you wanna join our guild?" Aron suddenly asked.
"Yeah. If you managed to defeat a one-eyed winter beast.. we don't even need to talk about your strength," Neve agreed.
They just needed to buy some time.
"Can you believe you're not the only guild who's made me an offer?" Daniel smirked confidently.
"Haha, doesn't matter who they are. There's no way they're better than Syronblade, one of the top ten guilds in the country," Aron said proudly, puffing his chest.
But inside, he was angry. How dare this bastard compare other guilds to his father's guild?
"I don't know. I thought Everlight Moon could rival Syronblade. my mistake then"
Aron and Neve's eyes widened. They exchanged another glance.
Everlight Moon guild? Wait, how did this guy get scouted by them?
Aron suddenly had a bad feeling. Syronblade was strong, sure, but they couldn't stand against one of the top three guilds in the country.
"If your words are tru—" He couldn't finish.
Suddenly, his tongue felt heavy.
His heartbeat slowed. It felt like something heavy was crushing his chest.
He hit the ground, gasping, but his body wasn't responding.
"You… what…"
Aron stood over him, silent, staring. His grey eyes weren't neutral anymore. Now there was a cold shadow behind them.
'Shit… This bastard's connected to that guild? If I knew that, I would've thought twice.'
Most Awakened had to pass tests to join top-tier guilds. But if what this bastard said was true and he was invited, then it meant the higher-ups of Everlight Moon had approved him.
Maybe he wouldn't have done anything… but now, it was too late.
"Sorry, but I really couldn't pass up this chance."
Daniel dropped to his knees. His vision blurred… and just then, Lunaryl's scream echoed from the forest:
"Daniel!"
Her voice echoed through the mist. Daniel wasn't completely unconscious. He heard heavy steps… no, not steps.
Something huge was rolling.
"What's going on?" Aron looked up and frowned.
The ground shook. A dull red light glowed in the sky.
And then…
ROAR.
ROOOOOOOAAAR!!
The whole forest trembled. Birds flew from the trees. The mist was swept aside.
And in the distance, at the heart of the tallest mountain in the region, something happened that froze them all.
The mountain… was melting.
No… more accurately:
The mountain was alive.
Glowing red lines, like lava-filled veins, crawled across the mountain's surface. And from its center, two massive red eyes opened horizontally.
The nearby trees burst into flames.
At that moment, a metallic, glassy voice echoed in all their minds:
[The final monster is emerging.]
[Mission: Survive against "The Living Blood-Mountain, Ragzar."]
[Time remaining: 4:00:00]
Daniel couldn't move anymore. The last thing he saw was a blurry image of Lunaryl being pulled into the mist.
The last sound he heard was her voice.
"Daniel!"
And then… darkness.
"Sorry, but this is kinda your own fault. Though I really should thank you," Aron grabbed Daniel's head.
He was honestly grateful to Daniel—for bringing him a royal elf.
Now, he finally had the chance to pay back all those humiliations.
But before that…
Vorak, his eyes glowing with rage, stepped out of the darkness.
His eyes blazed. His fury was like untamed fire coursing through his veins.
"If you hurt him, I'll tear you apart, human!"
His roar echoed across the mountains. The ground shook.
Aron pressed his sword harder against Daniel's throat. A cold, deadly smile spread on his lips.
"One more step, and he dies right here. So behave, big dog."
Vorak… stopped. He trembled. But didn't take a step.
"Good boy. Learn your place." Aron said, voice full of scorn.
He had taken a huge risk. He knew if he hurt Daniel, this beast would attack for sure. But he had no choice.
He bet on the idea that the beast wouldn't dare move while its master was in his grip.
Just then, two other Awakened dragged Lunaryl forward. Her hands were bound with magic ropes, her face bruised, but her eyes still shining.
"This is insane! Have you all lost your minds?!"
Her voice echoed in the air.
"We saved you from those shadow wolves, and this is how you repay us?!"
Aron smirked and stepped forward.
"You're a royal elf. Do you know how useful your blood is for upgrading my class' rank?"
Lunaryl stared at him and smirked.
"You're a worthless, pathetic piece of trash. A cowardly leech."
A lump of rage rose in Aron's throat… but then—
HSSSSS
A drop of molten liquid fell by his foot. The ground beneath hissed and steamed. Aron quickly jumped back.
Silence… breathless.
Everyone looked up.
The mountain… had fully awakened.
Shit, he'd completely forgotten about the monster.
From the mountain's heart, a giant foot of lava and stone exploded out and crashed into the forest. Trees were crushed underneath.
And the creature's head… like a massive stag with glowing antlers and twin burning eyes, stared down from the clouds.
[Ragzar, the Living King of Lava, has awakened.]
"Oh my god…" Aron muttered.
His body trembled with fear… but no, he had to stay in control.
"What is that thing?"
"How the hell are we supposed to survive this?!"
The others weren't doing much better—they were terrified.
Aron turned to his group.
"Anyone got a plan?! What do we do?!"
Silence.
Only heavy breaths and pounding fear.
"Damn you all!"
He shouted.
"You all are useless!"
And the sky… cracked.
Drops of molten hellfire started to fall.
Trees ignited. The ground roared. Screams rose from every direction. Awakened ones ran, screamed, burned.
Aron quickly pulled out a black crystal from his belt. Golden carvings glowed on it.
"Damn it…"
He squeezed the crystal.
CRACK!
Amber-yellow light formed a dome around him, Lunaryl, Neve, and others.
Neve's eyes sparkled.
"Whoa, Aron… that's the coolest thing I've seen!"
"Shut up, Neve! This only lasts ten minutes! Just ten fucking minutes!" Aron shouted, panicked.
The lava rain kept falling. Just like real rain.
[Climbers are decreasing…]
"Ah… help me—!"
"I don't wanna die—!"
Ten minutes passed.
The amber dome faded. And at the same time… the rain stopped.
The sky cleared.
Only silence… and the smell of burnt flesh.
Aron was gasping for breath. Neve was silent. Lunaryl stared at the ground.
Two girls had collapsed from fear.
[Out of 300 participants, only 7 remain.]
Pause…
Aron and the others breathed a sigh of relief—though they immediately felt a murderous gaze locking onto them.