Kaelen kept walking eastward from the Alarys cave. Honestly, he never knew the exact location of the Void Land that Vaerloch had mentioned the last time they met.
He wanted to ask again, but his memory replayed when he was still within his own consciousness. Where Kaelen remembered that Vaerloch's condition was not well at that moment.
At that time, he was facing Vaerloch. The moment he heard that the time he had left to complete the mission was only ten years, Kaelen immediately opened his mouth and spoke.
"In the history of Zyretheil, I've never heard of anyone succeeding in that. So it's not something I need to think about now. For the time being, I just want to reforge my Elarith and develop as much power as possible. Because if I become strong, it's not impossible to conquer the Forbidden Territories, even if it means conquering all of Zyretheil itself."
Hearing that, Vaerloch naturally fell silent for a moment. His wings were still flapping majestically, until he spoke again with a thundering voice.
[But there is no way to regain an Elarith once it has been destroyed. All you can do is sit in silence and wait for death. No matter how hard you try, it will all be meaningless.]
Instead of being afraid and giving up, Kaelen shook his head. "Even though I'm not sure, I still need to try. At the very least, if I die in the end, I won't die with regret."
[I truly don't know how to obtain a new Elarith.]
That sentence immediately made Kaelen go quiet. He wasn't giving up, only deep in thought. Trying to connect all the theories running through his mind.
Until moments later, his brows furrowed tightly. "There's one way," he said, staring at Vaerloch.
[What?]
"The power of the Void."
[What?]
"If obtaining an Elarith and a power core is impossible, then the only way is to create one. An Elarith is innate to the Vey'zareth when they are born, but that doesn't mean it can't be forged. If I find or create my own specialty, it's not impossible to gain an Elarith and a power core again," Kaelen explained.
From his passionate words, Vaerloch clearly knew how great the determination of the man with a height of 190 cm was.
A tall figure for a youth, but one of the most striking differences that set the Vey'zareth race apart from ordinary humans was their physique. The average height of an adult Vey'zareth was around 230 cm.
[You mean, you will reforge your talent and create a new Elarith and Power Core?]
Vaerloch paused his words, watching Kaelen's expression as he nodded.
[But that would take a long time. And you don't even have enough time to preserve your life.]
"That's why I need your help."
[I cannot lend you my strength again. The consequences you've already borne are heavy enough. I'm not even sure you can fulfill your promise from before.]
The corners of Kaelen's lips lifted faintly. Vaerloch wasn't even sure if it was a smile, but the man looked calm, as if there was never any chaos within him.
"I'm not someone who likes to break promises, even to those who deliberately cast me aside and made me into the trash I am now. But this time, I don't need your strength. I only want to know if there is a place with the Void element that you know of."
[A place with the Void element?]
Vaerloch went silent for a moment. Though Kaelen couldn't see Vaerloch's shadowed form, he also knew that Vaerloch was thinking.
[I don't know of such a place. But I do know of a place called the Void Land.]
Kaelen's brows knitted together. "Isn't that exactly what we're talking about?"
[It's not as simple as it sounds. I don't know exactly what it is, but I can give you information about it. Only rough information—and I will require an equal exchange.]
Without much thought, Kaelen nodded quickly. "I'll get you everything you want."
[I will tell you when I truly desire it.]
After saying that, Vaerloch's shadowy form flew here and there in erratic motions. Until he finally spoke again.
[The Void Land is located about 27 km east from the mouth of Alarys Cave.]
[The exact point is the place where it all began—that is where the Void Land lies.]
[I cannot access its element. But I know its danger level ranges from medium to high.]
[You will need a lot of preparation if you truly intend to go there.]
[Another piece of information— the longer you stay there, the slimmer your chances of returning alive.]
The violet glow that had surrounded Vaerloch's form faded as he finished delivering that information.
Upon hearing it while furrowing his brows, Kaelen felt even more confused. "There really is no clear information about this Void Land. It seems that those who go there are unwilling to spread anything about it."
[Or perhaps no one has ever come back.]
Kaelen gazed at the shadow with unwavering determination. "If that's the case, then I'll be the first to arrive there."
[I will not forbid you. But remember one thing—you must not die before fulfilling your promise to bring me a fire-element Thren. Or else, you'll rot faster after my death inside your body.]
"Don't worry. I won't die before uncovering the secrets of Zyretheil."
The moment Kaelen's foot struck something hard beneath him, he snapped out of his recollections.
He was surprised when he realized what had tripped him was a rather large rock for the size of a pebble.
Kaelen immediately turned his head left and right to survey his surroundings, then looked up at the sky. "Seems I've been walking for almost six hours, judging from the shifting position of the stars. With my current pace, I should have covered about twenty-four kilometers. That means there are only three kilometers left before reaching my destination."
After his monologue, Kaelen resumed his quick stride. Until his steps halted upon hearing the nearby bushes rustling.
That instantly made him adopt a wary expression. His sharp eyes scanned around, but in the moonless night, Kaelen couldn't see clearly.
"Damn! I can't even hear Vaerloch's warning whispers anymore. Who knows what danger is stalking me now?" Kaelen muttered, spinning around to seek the possible threat that might already be near.
Though fear stirred within him, Kaelen forced himself to suppress it. He had even taken a fighting stance now. Kaelen believed fear would never bring anything but failure.
That was the phrase he always planted in his mind.
Since nothing appeared, Kaelen continued walking. But soon after, his elf-like pointed ears picked up something.
Swiftly, Kaelen turned around, both hands raised in readiness for battle. Strangely, when he turned, it was as if nothing had been there at all.
Just as he was about to move forward again, a long root coiled around his body from behind. Kaelen was lifted off the ground, suspended in the air.
"For someone who's lost their Elarith, you're quite impressive. But no one has ever escaped Elyndor unless they've satisfied the hunger of Vazyrath Mudrienne," the figure said.
The moment that name was spoken, Kaelen immediately knew the being who captured him was one of the Drae'vanyth race.
A creature he had always avoided, for they were troublesome. "Is that so? Then I'll have to be the first to escape alive."
Kaelen quickly forced his arms free from the root's grip. Then, with all his might, he drove his iron claws into the roots binding him.
"Eagle Claw!" Kaelen roared.
Within mere seconds, the creature cried out in pain. "ARGHHH!!!"
In less than four seconds, the being released its hold, dropping Kaelen to the ground. Not wasting the chance, Kaelen scrambled to his feet and dashed away, stumbling but determined.
His long legs proved useful in giving him speed.
"For now, I have no power. So I must avoid all danger as much as possible," Kaelen muttered as he ran.
But as he had expected, the Drae'vanyth did not give up easily. The towering figure of over three meters was still pursuing him.
It became even more terrifying when Kaelen realized the Drae'vanyth ran using dozens of root-like legs, making it faster.
"Damn! Don't tell me I'll end up caught by that ugly Zorgathr again." Kaelen sprinted harder through the forest filled with tall grass and massive trees.
He deliberately zigzagged around several large trunks, making it harder for the Zorgathr to catch him.
Glancing back, panting heavily, Kaelen saw more vine-like roots stretching toward him.
Nimbly, he leapt sideways, placing himself between the tendrils.
The roots narrowly missed him, but Kaelen quickly landed on the ground, not pausing.
He sprinted again, dodging among the trees, still chased by the Drae'vanyth.
"If this keeps up, I might get caught. I can't face it with only Eagle Claw."
At that moment, the ground beneath Kaelen trembled, then cracked open into a deep fissure.
Had he not driven his iron claws into a massive tree's roots, he would've been swallowed into the earth.
In that position, the Drae'vanyth found it easier to strike. But before its root struck him, Kaelen swung himself upward, evading.
He landed on the ground and drove his claws into the vines wrapped around the tree he had clung to—missing their mark.
"Ahhh!" the creature howled again.
Seeing an opening, Kaelen had an idea. He dashed straight at the creature without hesitation. "You want to capture me? Then do it. I want to see how beings like you catch people who never return."
Irritated, the creature lashed its long roots again. But Kaelen leapt over them and ran behind the Drae'vanyth.
He kept circling it, forcing the creature to spin as well, until it unknowingly wrapped itself in its own roots.
Once it was fully entangled, Kaelen approached. With his iron claws, he cut its vine-like hair and used them to tie the bindings tighter.
The creature thrashed wildly, but Kaelen stared at it before leaving.
"You won't stay bound here forever, will you? But even if you break free, at least you'll have to wait until I reach my destination first," Kaelen said arrogantly.
He shoved the creature, already tightly bound by its own roots.
Kaelen's face flushed purple as he strained—like a man suffocating—for he needed immense strength.
"Just a bit more," Kaelen muttered, inhaling sharply before pushing the Drae'vanyth toward the fissure he had made earlier.
"Hahaha!" the Drae'vanyth laughed, even as its body and legs were firmly bound. "You won't escape. Even if you kill me, many more Drae'vanyth will capture you and deliver you to Vazyrath Mudrienne."
Kaelen had given everything he had. But he realized the creature's root-legs were buried deep into the ground.
And realizing that, Kaelen pulled his hands away, examining it from its leafy crown down to its roots. "This being is like a tree given consciousness. And the strongest part of any plant is always the roots. Meaning as long as there's soil beneath them, they can never truly be defeated."
At that moment, his ears caught footsteps landing behind him.
Kaelen hesitated to turn. But if he didn't, he would never know when danger was truly upon him. So he spun around, assuming a defensive stance once again.
"Need help, Blacksmith?"