It had been hours since the trio left the dungeon, chatting as they walked, and now they were splitting ways.
"Hey… Metatron, where are you headed?" Cyberius asked, looking at Blade sitting atop a slab, deep in thought about what to do next.
"Well… Stone Dragon City, of course," Blade replied.
"Huh… you came from Stone Dragon City, and we didn't meet each other until closing up in the frontier," Cyberius said.
"Maybe we took a different route," Blade shrugged.
"Okay, let's head out. I'll be logging out soon—don't want to log out in the middle of nowhere," Cyberius said, starting to move forward.
"Oh, the cowboy is afraid," Blade teased.
"Hey, I'm not afraid. Just don't want to log in to a fight," Cyberius shot back.
"Yeah, look who's talking," Blade said, smirking.
Cyberius rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the slight grin tugging at his lips. "I'm serious, Blade. Not everything's a game out here. One wrong step…"
Blade chuckled, swinging his legs off the slab. "Relax, cowboy. You plan too much. I've survived worse than a frontier stroll." He leaned back, eyes scanning the horizon.
"Besides, being cautious won't get you anywhere exciting."
Cyberius shook his head. "And rushing headfirst will get you killed sooner or later."
Blade shrugged, silver hair catching the fading sunlight. "Maybe. But the thrill's worth it. You'll see one day that calculating every move makes life boring."
The sun was dipping lower, casting long shadows across the frontier. Cyberius adjusted the strap of his bag and glanced at Blade. "Well, I better log out before nightfall. Stone Dragon City's not exactly safe at this hour."
Blade's eyes followed him as he started walking toward the logging point. "Stone Dragon City, huh? You're really predictable."
Cyberius glanced back over his shoulder. "And you're reckless. Guess we balance each other out."
Blade laughed softly. "Maybe. Safe logging out, cowboy. Don't vanish before I see you again."
"And you… try not to get yourself killed before I log back in," Cyberius replied, his smirk fading as he disappeared down the path.
Blade remained on the slab a moment longer, watching the distant silhouette of Stone Dragon City. The city gates shimmered faintly under the setting sun, the hum of merchants and guards barely reaching his ears from this distance. A thrill ran through him—the kind only the unknown could give.
Finally, he pushed off the slab, stepping onto the path that would take him to the city. Every stride was confident, calculated, yet full of anticipation. The frontier might have been calm for now, but Stone Dragon City was alive with chaos and opportunity. Blade could feel it—trouble, alliances, challenges—all waiting behind those towering gates. And he was ready for every one of them.
As the city grew closer, a faint buzzing in the air hinted at the crowd, the voices, and the hidden dangers that came with such a bustling hub. Blade's fingers brushed the hilt of his sword, and a grin spread across his face. Adventure was calling, and he had no intention of ignoring it.