Sui raised his hand to signal the team to stop and take formation, because he sensed something ahead.
The darkness was deep, even with Mina's light magic.
Ben spoke in a low voice, "Are you sure there's something ahead?"
"I felt something for a moment," Sui replied in a low tone.
The team advanced cautiously, still in formation.
Faint whispering sounds began to appear in Mohin's mind.
"Monster."
"Two monsters."
"Three."
"Weak."
"Feeble."
A headache began to come over Mohin as he heard these voices at the same time.
He said to himself, "These voices... They've come again."
---
Two days earlier – specifically, during the restaurant incident
"I came today to break this restaurant, and then your daughter will understand the consequences of embarrassing me," Linar Tanara said.
"Please, sir. I am sorry. Please don't destroy my establishment," Maroon replied.
"Arrogant."
"Conceited."
"Scoundrel."
At that moment, Mohin was sitting on the chair, and many voices echoed in his head, making it hard for him to distinguish between what was happening in front of him and what was happening inside his mind.
Linar demanded, "Will you offer me your daughter, then?"
"Rude."
"Rude."
"Pathetic."
"Rude."
"My head... What are these voices? They hurt," Mohin said to himself.
The voices Mohin heard were not like the Outsider's voice. They were the voices of several different people, but they were not spirits like the Outsider. They felt as if they were one with Mohin. But whenever they spoke, he would get a headache.
"I'm sorry, sir. But if my daughter doesn't want you, I have no reason to offer her to you," Maroon replied to Linar's demand.
Linar became furious and said, "Then say goodbye to this restaurant forever. And I will beat that whore and humiliate her as well."
"Hahahaha."
"Hahahaha."
"Hahahaha."
"Hahahaha."
Their laughing voices filled Mohin's mind.
"What is a weakling like him doing?"
"Just a weakling."
"He dares to threaten when he has no power?"
"Don't insult my sister with such words," spoke the boy who was near Maroon's daughter. The daughter tried to silence him, but he continued, "You're just a spoiled brat who uses his family as a shield for his deeds."
Linar Tanara replied, "You little insolent brat, I'll teach you—"
"Switch."
"Switch."
"Switch with me."
"Switch with me."
"Switch."
"Switch."
Mohin's headache intensified until he lost consciousness.
"I will use him today," said one of the voices.
"Actually, this food is really delicious," Mohin interrupted.
And what happened after that happened.
---
Present time
Mohin continued his inner monologue: "At that time, I woke up outside the restaurant, and I saw myself in conversation with a knight named Lam, who was praising my courage. But I didn't understand what he meant. Until I realized that I had fought that young man, Linar."
---
Sui said, "Something is coming. Get ready."
Heavy footsteps approached from ahead. As they drew nearer, the team was able to see the monster once it came within range of Mina's light.
A green-bodied, headless creature appeared, standing six and a half feet tall (about two meters) and massively built.
"What is that?" Ben asked.
"Where is its head?" Sui asked.
Nat said to himself, confused, "What is this? Why is it headless? This didn't happen with the previous teams."
Mina asked, "What kind of monster is this, Mr. Nat?"
"It's the Tyson monster," Nat replied.
"Tyson!?" Sui, Mina, and Ben all exclaimed.
"What is a Tyson?" Mohin asked.
"Alright then, get ready to attack," Sui said.
Sui advanced toward the Tyson and drew his sword from its sheath. Upon no reaching the monster, his sword burst into intense flames, covering the entire blade. He unleashed his blazing sword and swung it with force toward the Tyson's chest. The creature was cleaved in two, with traces of flame lingering on its body.
Nat began recording notes and said to himself, "He used the Flame Grasp skill, classified as A-Rank, quite well. It's true that the opponent was a D-Rank Tyson, but the test here is about skill application."
The flames still on the Tyson's body were strong, and the creature began to burn completely. Because of the fire, the team was able to notice two more Tysons ahead—also both headless.
"Two more headless ones. I thought the first appeared due to a mistake by the previous team, but it's impossible for me to miss the same error three times," Nat said to himself, puzzled.
Mohin asked, "Doesn't a monster whose head is cut off die quickly?"
"Yes. But something strange is happening here," Nat replied.
Ben didn't waste time thinking and lunged toward the Tyson at the front, using a thrust skill. When he stabbed the Tyson, he tilted his sword and used a water skill that exploded the Tyson from the inside.
"Water Expansion skill, B-Rank. He used it inside the monster to increase its effect. That's a point," Nat said to himself, recording the note.
Shortly after, Sui lunged toward the other Tyson, using a fire domain skill. But Ben also lunged toward that Tyson, using a water domain skill. This caused the properties to clash, canceling both skills and producing thick steam that made it difficult to see the Tyson.
Nat said to himself, "They didn't take each other's properties into account. That's a negative point. It seems both of them will be classified as Nov—"
"Now, Mina!" Sui shouted.
Nat turned his head toward Mina and saw that she had been preparing a magic spell.
Mina combined earth and wind magic by forming a massive, sharp rock and surrounding it with wind magic to launch it at high speed. When Sui gave her the signal, she unleashed her magic, which shot toward the Tyson at incredible speed, piercing through its body completely.
"They made a plan to blind the monster with the steam and have the mage who had been preparing a spell from the start deal with the monster. The three of them succeeded, and one remains," Nat said to himself.
"It seems more of them are coming," Sui said.
"There's one more," Mohin said. "My head... What is all this?" he said to himself.
Mina was surprised by Mohin's words and cast light magic forward, revealing another Tyson.
"A fourth headless Tyson. There's definitely something wrong," Nat said.
Nat continued, "So, Mohin, it's your turn—"
He hadn't even finished his sentence when Mohin lunged at full speed toward the Tyson and punched it with immense force in the stomach, causing the Tyson's abdomen to tear and explode.
"I'm done, right? I want to get out of here quickly," Mohin said, the headache still pounding in his head.
---
After a few moments, the ground began to shake violently. Sui asked, "What's happening, Mr. Nat?"
Nat replied, "Someone has cleared the dungeon, and it's about to collapse because of it. How could someone sneak in without me knowing?"
The third team rushed out of the dungeon. After they exited, the dungeon closed completely. Nat said to the teams waiting outside, "I'm sorry, examinees, but your test will be postponed."
The grumbling and shouting from the examinees was loud and unbearable, but Nat continued, "And I announce that all members of the third team are classified as Experienced."
---
After hours, Mohin returned to his room. Night had fallen long ago. Mohin went to sleep.
---
(In one of the forests of Monu)
A person found himself falling from the sky in the darkness. His fall was not limited. He didn't know when he would reach the ground. All he did was extend his hand upward. And after moments...
He opened his eyes. It was all just a dream. He wandered a little around the camp while his team was still asleep.
He sat on a piece of wood, waiting for the sunrise.
"Couldn't sleep?" a beautiful woman with long yellow hair asked him.
He replied, "No, I couldn't, Commander. I told you there's no point."
The commander said, "Tomorrow is the annual day and festival for the gathering of hunters in the City of Hunters. Will you come this time, or will you disappear like every year?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't come."
She replied, "I hope the day comes when you tell me the reason." As she spoke, the sun began to rise.
He turned to her and said, smiling, "Perhaps someday."
She said to herself, "At sunrise, I thought for a moment. Faiz was happy, smiling. But when the sun's rays struck his face, I saw his eyes did not reflect the light. Two dark eyes, filled with sadness, accompanied by a smile that was genuine. I couldn't tell what made him this way. He was always happy with us, but when this day comes, he changes."
She said to him, "Then farewell, Faiz. I'll see you after the festival."
"Farewell, Commander."