Ahead of us loomed a dark cave, its mouth yawning wide like a beast waiting to swallow us whole. I swallowed hard and steeled myself. Every instinct screamed danger, yet the map's spiral guided us forward, urging us to continue. I gripped Alex's hand tightly, feeling the tremor in his small fingers, and whispered, "Stay close. Watch and follow."
We entered the cave, our footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The deeper we went, the more light seemed to creep in from hidden cracks in the ceiling, until finally, we emerged into a vast, empty expanse. Tall grasses swayed around scattered rocks, creating a seemingly tranquil field—but danger lingered in the air like a predator's breath.
We moved down the path cautiously, the map guiding each step, until I froze. My chest tightened, my heart threatening to leap from my ribcage. Ahead, illuminated by stray light, was a pack of wolves—dozens of them resting but alert, their eyes glinting as they tracked every movement.
Instinctively, I pressed my hand over Alex's mouth to stifle a gasp. "Shh," I whispered. "Stay calm." I eased backward, retreating to the edge of the rock-strewn area, finally allowing myself a slow, shuddering breath of relief. I looked down at Alex; his eyes were wide, fear mingling with awe. "Up ahead," I said softly, "there's a wolf pack. We can pass, but only if we stay hidden and they're distracted."
I scanned the area and spotted a few large rocks near the wolves, positioned perfectly for concealment. "We hide there," I murmured, guiding Alex into position. "Stay low and quiet. Don't move until I signal."
Stepping back to the entrance, I began planting signs—broken twigs, faint footprints, and scattered stones—to create the illusion of our presence closer to the wolf pack. Fifteen minutes passed, and then I heard it: the heavy footfalls of men approaching, one hundred strong. At their head strode a figure I knew all too well—John, one of my sword instructors and a loyal friend of my father.
My fists clenched so tightly that blood welled between my fingers. The man who had taught me discipline, precision, and honor was now here to kill me and my brother. My jaw tightened as I watched him and his men advance, their weapons glinting, their intent clear.
I signaled Alex to stay still and watched as John's squad finally entered the wolves' territory. The men quickly surrounded the pack, launching a brutal assault. The wolves, unwilling to be sitting ducks, attacked back with feral fury. The clash was savage and bloody—fur, teeth, and steel colliding in a whirlwind of violence. Thirty of John's men fell, fifty more grievously wounded, forcing the survivors to retreat. The wolves were slaughtered, but not without exacting a heavy toll.
I led Alex quietly along the path the wolves had guarded, every step deliberate, ears straining for sound. Then I heard it: John's laughter, carried on the wind. My stomach twisted, but I told Alex to stay put. Crawling toward the sound, I spotted John grinning from ear to ear. One of his men spoke, excitement in his voice.
"Who would have expected an advanced-tier beast, five intermediates—including that ox you faced earlier—and sixty basic beasts in a non-graded forest? We've struck it rich!"
John laughed, adding, "Those still able to move, extract the beast cores. Reinforcements will arrive soon."
I crawled back to Alex, tension knotting my muscles. The system in this world was clear now: beasts, forests, and resources were graded according to danger.
Grade 1: A few hundred basic beasts, some intermediate.
Grade 2: ~1,000 basic beasts, fifty intermediate, one or two advanced.
Grade 3: ~5,000 basic beasts, hundreds of intermediate, tens of advanced.
Grade 4: ~10,000 basic beasts, 1,000–3,000 intermediate, hundreds of advanced.
Grade 5: Tens of thousands of basic beasts, over ten thousand intermediate, thousands of advanced, one king-tier.
Grade 6: Up to 50 king-tier beasts.
Grade 7: Hundreds of king-tier beasts, one or two emperor-tier.
Grade 8: Up to 1,000 king-tier, 100 emperor-tier, at least ten demon-tier.
Grade 9: Legendary-tier beasts, rare and formidable.
Forests were only one part of this system; empires were graded separately, based on cultivation levels, though I had yet to understand the details.
"…Alaric, you've been absent-minded for a while. We're here," Alex said, his voice pulling me from thought. I looked up, and the next trial loomed before us. The path narrowed into a rocky canyon, shadows shifting like living things.
I drew a deep breath, forcing myself to push aside the images of blood, betrayal, and the laughter of John. My mind cleared, focusing on one truth: I had to grow stronger, for Alex, for the treasure, and for everything I loved.
Together, we advanced. Every step was a promise—to survive, to endure, and to claim what had been taken from us. The spiral on the map pulsed in my mind, guiding us forward, leading us deeper into the unknown.
The trial ahead would test us like nothing before. But I had no fear. Only determination.