I was running, tangled in the fog. Damn it, who knew these things would react like this? As soon as I killed one of the [ Misty Leafhoppers ] , dozens of other winged creatures began to emerge from the gray haze.
Their eyes glowed with blue fire, and each new flap of their translucent wings made the air around me heavier. It felt like I was breathing wet cotton instead of air.
—Damn it...
I exhaled, fending off the nearest attacker.
The swarm circled above me, making their nasty, rasping sounds.
I slashed at the belly of one of the creatures, and it immediately disintegrated into a cloud of mist, leaving behind a glowing powder and a piece of its wing. Without wasting any more time, I picked up my prey, my heart beating faster.
But as soon as one fell, three more took its place. Their movements became coordinated, and their strikes were precise.
They didn't use their claws or teeth, but the very air itself: with each flap of their wings, the fog thickened, making my eyes water.
—This won't do... If I spend my energy on each one, they'll overwhelm me.
I turned and ran forward, kicking and slashing at the most brazen of them. The weight of the trophies grew heavier in my hand, one wing, one glowing dust. I couldn't afford to drop them. Every piece, a chance to create something useful.
—So this is how you want to play? Well, let's see who's who.
I grinned, wiping the sweat from my face. The swarm hummed louder, as if in response. The blue lights gathered into a single, sparkling mass and followed me through the swirling gray darkness.
I stopped abruptly, feeling my breath catch in my chest. The fog was thickening, the swarm was getting closer, and it was clear that staying here was a death sentence.
I gritted my teeth, summoned the map in my mind, and without giving myself a second to hesitate, I activated the teleport.
The world around me shimmered, and the gray haze disappeared, replaced by the flickering lights of Iacreumor. The bustling streets, the bright storefronts, and the smell of fried bread and butter hit me so hard that I felt a momentary sense of relief.
—First, the potions, then the weapons. I won't get far without them.
I headed to a familiar shop, where it always smelled of herbs and something tart. Inside, as always, it was half-dark, and the shelves were bursting with colorful bottles.
Behind the counter stood a girl with brown hair in a braid. She raised her calm eyes at me, and I immediately poured out what was on my heart:
— Look, I came across these foggy reptiles. From them fell something like [Glowing Dust]. And here's what's interesting... Is it possible to learn magic in any way with this?
The merchant looked at me for a long time, as if weighing whether or not to answer. Then she smiled slightly, but her smile was more tired than kind.
—You're not asking about the things that novices play with. Magic is not just a recipe for a potion. It's an art, and not everyone is capable of understanding it. The pioneers sent by the gods, yes... they have an ease about them, their souls are attuned to these currents. But the rest... The rest must seek out mentors.
— Mentors?
—If you find them, many have long since disappeared, hiding from the world's eyes. Others have died. And those who are still alive... they don't always want to take on apprentices.
She paused, looking at me again as if trying to guess which category I belonged to: the chosen or the lost.
I sighed, staring at the glowing powder in my palm. So it wasn't that simple. Once again, there's a damn choice that could determine who I become in this world.
—Magic is not a commodity on the market! You can't buy it with gold. Do you want a spell? Prove your worth. Defeat creatures and steal their power. Seek out hidden rituals and make sacrifices. Sometimes, magic awakens in those who are on the brink of death. But remember, every skill comes at a cost: blood, time, or rare materials. That's how the world works.
Power doesn't just fall into your lap. It comes with unexpected surprises.
The longer I listened, the colder something inside me became. It was a beautiful thing to say, but in essence? It was the same as in any other hell: if you want more, you have to pay. And the payment is never fair.
— Thank you for your advice.
I muttered, though my irritation was bubbling inside me. The vendor nodded, as if she hadn't expected any other reaction.
I opened the dispenser and bought a couple dozen recovery potions, as many as I could carry. Red, thick, in small vials, they shimmered as if they contained a piece of life themselves. More reliable than all this talk about gods and sacrifices.
—Okay... magic can wait, as long as I can use my fists and dagger, that's enough.
I turned into a gun store. A sign of crossed blades swung on chains above the door. And damn, I needed it more than anything right now.
The black-smudged blacksmith girl turned the materials I had brought in her hands.
—This will turn into something interesting.
She said, and I could tell by her voice that she was pleased with her find.
I watched the blacksmith work, sparks flying from the hammer, the misty wing seemed to melt, joining with the hot steel. When the process was complete, she handed me a new weapon.
[ Mist Leaf ]
Type: Light Weapon, Dagger
Merchant Price: 9.000 Vail
Rarity: Rare (Blue)
Requirements: Level 8+
Damage: 19-30
Description:
A dagger forged from the wings and chitin of the Misty Leaf-Bearer. The blade is light and almost transparent, as if it were made of fog. When moved, it leaves a thin trail that disrupts the enemy's concentration.
Effects:
+15% to attack speed
+5% chance to dodge when fighting in foggy or dark locations
Special property: "Mist Lunge" is a series of quick strikes, where the last strike creates a false trail of illusion (distracts the enemy's aim or interrupts their skill)
Disadvantage: low damage against armored targets.
I gripped the hilt of the dagger. Light, balanced, it really did look like a leaf plucked from a giant plant, only tempered in fire and steel.
Now I had three weapons in my arsenal: two daggers, the [Scarlet Bud Flower] and the [Mist Leaf], and the [Blood Rose Knuckles], which were still in my inventory, waiting for me to reach level ten.
I also stopped by the clothing shop. There, among the usual cloaks and amulets, there were boots on the shelf that immediately caught my eye.
[Light Fog Boots]
Type: Light Armor (Shoes)
Merchant Price: 6.500 Vail
Rarity: Rare (Blue)
Requirements: Level 8+
Description:
Boots lined with a thin, flexible material from the wings of the Misty Leaf-Bearer. So light that footsteps are barely audible even on dry branches. In the mist, it is almost impossible to track the wearer by sound.
Effects:
+7% Movement Speed
Footsteps are reduced by 50% (Stealth Bonus)
In foggy locations: +5% chance to dodge
Minus: weak protection against hits and punctures, not suitable for heavy combat.
The boots shone with a soft silver light, as if a piece of garden mist had been woven into the fabric. They were beautiful, lightweight, and most importantly, they fit my fighting style perfectly.
I didn't hesitate for long and purchased them. The coins from my dice fell with a ringing sound that caused me some pain.
The amount was not small, and now I was almost out of money. However, I felt stronger. My body felt a little lighter, my movements faster, and my weapons more secure.
I gritted my teeth and took a resolute step towards the portal.
—All right, Foggy Garden, round two!
Back in the Foggy Garden, I felt the strange, damp coolness of the fog again. The rustling, muffled sounds, and vague silhouettes around me made hunting for butterflies feel like I was walking through someone else's nightmare.
I managed to kill a couple of Leaf-Eaters and gather some more materials when I suddenly felt someone watching me.
My heart skipped a beat, and a familiar figure emerged from the mist.A red skull symbol of a player-killer was burning above his nickname.
Leroy45.
—Oh, look who I see, Disava, huh? You decided to hunt alone in the garden? Not too presumptuous, is it?
His voice was mocking, as if he had been waiting for this moment. I gripped the hilt of the [Scarlet Budding Flower]. This bastard...
And yes, my suspicions were confirmed: Leroy had clearly been watching me back in the city. He must have seen me leaving the shop and followed me here, hoping to catch me off guard. But he wasn't alone.
Silhouettes began to emerge from the fog, one by one. Red skulls glowed above the heads of his companions. There were three of them, all with identical predatory grins and drawn weapons.
—We've decided that you're getting too much attention. Consider this your tax on your good fortune. Everything you have is ours.
Leroy45 continued, idly playing with his dagger. I felt my palms sweat. I had a chance against one of them. But three? Even with the potions, it looked like a sure death.
—Quiet, quiet, don't tremble.
One of them taunted, stepping closer. But it was at that moment that the world around us changed.
A strange scraping sound echoed through the fog, as if giant claws were dragging across stone. A sharp metallic ringing sound followed.
Right behind one of the players, huge metal claws erupted from the fog. They closed on his body with terrifying speed, and in the next second, he disappeared into the gray mist.
Before he could even scream, a short, choking wail cut through the air and quickly faded away.
—W-what was that?
Leroy45 turned around, his smug grin replaced by a tense grimace.
I froze too, clutching my dagger, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly afraid of the fog. Whatever it was... it wasn't part of the normal mobs.
A strange sound came from the depths of the fog. At first, it sounded like a hoarse roar, low and piercing at the same time, but there was something alien about it.
I listened more closely and realized that it wasn't exactly a growl. It was more like a loud, ominous chirping, as if someone were scraping together thousands of metal teeth.
We all froze, even Leroy45 stopped smirking. The fog began to thicken even more, the silvery veil swayed as if something was trying to break through.
Suddenly, letters slowly began to appear in the air in front of us. I recognized this effect, the game system itself showed the name of the enemy.
[ Metal Lizard Barnadat ]
— Wh-what?!
And with this name, like from a nightmare, the body of the creature began to appear.