Fuck, Nhilly… come on. This is embarrassing. About to die to a Stellar-ranked beast? Really?
His vision blurred. The world dimmed into a green haze as the Widowroot's maw opened to devour him
A flash of light.
A humming thrum filled the air, and suddenly a green sphere enveloped him. The monster's arm slammed into it and recoiled with a deafening crack, sending the creature stumbling backward.
"We made it!" a feminine voice shouted between panting breaths. From above, a figure dropped down beside Nhilly a woman, agile and quick, landing in a crouch at his side. "Are you okay? Are you still alive? Sorry we took so long!"
Before he could respond, another figure appeared overhead. A young man, maybe twenty at most, with messy blond hair and a grin that bordered on manic. He cupped his hands around his mouth, forming an O-shape, and exhaled
Flame erupted from his throat in a roaring stream, bathing the Widowroot in fire.
The beast screamed, thrashing violently, its body wreathed in flame.
"You're a lively one, aren't you?" came another voice low, calm, detached from beneath the burning creature. A dark-skinned man in a black cloak stepped forward, his movements smooth, deliberate. The moment the fire cut off, he darted in a blur and
Shunk!
The Widowroot's head hit the ground before its body did.
"Hey! I didn't need your help!" the blond shouted, sparks still crackling in his throat.
"Shut up. You were running out of oxygen," the cloaked man replied coolly.
"Is the man still alive?" he asked, turning toward Nhilly.
"His heart's beating, but he's not responding," said the woman, kneeling beside him, her hands faintly glowing green as she checked for injuries.
They're… talking about me, Nhilly thought hazily. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. His lips parted soundlessly, and darkness swallowed him again.
When he awoke, it was night.
The world smelled of smoke and sap. He lay on a makeshift bed of leaves and bark, warmth flickering over his face from a nearby campfire. Around it sat four figures the three who had saved him, and one more.
The first was the blond woman who'd shielded him. Now that he saw her properly, Nhilly realized she was beautiful, short hair just brushing her ears, bright green eyes that reflected the firelight, and a small beauty mark under her left eye. Her skin was smooth, sun-kissed, and flecked with dirt from travel.
The fire-breather sat beside her, clearly restless. His blond hair caught the firelight like gold, his lean, muscular arms crossed over a chest scarred from countless fights. A long scar cut through his right eyebrow, giving him a permanent look of reckless defiance.
The cloaked man lingered in the shadows, silent, long black twists barely visible beneath his hood. His dark skin glinted faintly when the flames licked his face, but his expression was unreadable.
And the fourth, the stranger Nhilly hadn't seen before, was an older woman. She had long, flowing black hair and sharp, observant eyes that gleamed like polished obsidian. Her beauty was quiet, commanding she seemed the kind who spoke softly but was never ignored.
They were speaking in low voices, words muffled by the crackle of the fire. Nhilly stirred, the rustle of leaves giving him away. The blonde woman's head snapped up instantly.
"Oh good, you're awake!" she said, relief washing over her face. "Sorry, I didn't ask first, but I gave you some water mixed with a healing enchantment to help with your injuries. I didn't think you'd mind."
Nhilly blinked, throat dry. She likes to talk.
"Yeah… thanks," he rasped, voice still hoarse.
"I'm sure you're confused," she said warmly. "Welcome to our camp."
The others didn't respond. The blond man stared into the fire, clearly annoyed about something. The cloaked one remained silent, eyes half-lidded, while the older woman across from them sat perfectly still, hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword. Her grip was relaxed but ready.
Nhilly's gaze lingered on her a moment longer. Right. So… friendly bunch.
The blonde woman set down the cup she'd been holding and smiled, brushing a lock of soot-streaked hair behind her ear.
The night air hummed softly with the crackle of burning wood. Nhilly sat near the edge of the firelight, the warmth doing little to thaw the ache in his muscles. His eyes moved across the four strangers who had pulled him back from death.
The blonde woman caught his gaze first and smiled.
"I'm Celeste," she said, her voice light, almost musical. "Neutron Star rank. The green barrier that saved you that was me."
Nhilly blinked slowly. "Right. Then I guess I owe you thanks."
She laughed softly. "I'll settle for you not getting mauled again."
Before Nhilly could reply, the blond-haired man across the fire leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, grin wide enough to reflect the firelight.
"And me," he said, puffing his chest, "you can call… God. Leader. Savior. Take your pick."
Nhilly stared at him flatly. "I'll stick with guy who almost burned the forest down. Rolls off the tongue easier."
Celeste groaned. "That's Eli," she said, cutting him off before he could double down. "Ignore him. He's harmless."
"Harmless?" Eli scoffed, pointing his thumb toward himself. "I incinerated that thing. Saved all your asses."
"Correction," said the dark-skinned man sitting beside him, his tone calm and precise. "You distracted it. I killed it."
Eli threw him a look. "Yeah, thanks for stealing my moment, Kael."
"Someone had to finish your work." Kael's voice barely carried emotion.
Celeste chuckled under her breath. "You'll have to forgive him," she told Nhilly, nodding toward Eli. "He's seventeen. The ego's still under construction."
Nhilly raised an eyebrow. "Seventeen? Guess this world really doesn't care how old you are."
That drew Seris's attention. The black-haired woman sat slightly apart from the group, her long hair catching faint streaks of silver in the firelight. Her eyes cold, assessing shifted to him.
"You're right," she said quietly. "The YR world doesn't discriminate. I've seen children vanish infants even. One-year-olds. Entire families gone in seconds."
Her tone was calm but heavy, every word a quiet reminder of the cruelty that governed their existence.
Eli's grin faded a little. "Alright, buzzkill, point made."
Nhilly tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "She's not wrong, though. This place doesn't hand out mercy."
Eli shot him a look. "You got a real cheery personality, don't you?"
"Just realistic," Nhilly replied, dry.
"Realistic, or miserable?" Eli muttered. "You don't talk much, do you? Half your answers sound like they're rationed."
Nhilly's lips twitched into something that might've been a smile. "Maybe I just don't like people."
Celeste laughed softly, trying to ease the tension. "You'll get used to him. Eli likes to pick fights when he's bored."
"Not bored," Eli shot back. "Just trying to figure out how this guy's still alive."
Kael's eyes flicked toward Nhilly. "He's right. You shouldn't have lasted this long alone. Judging by your clothes, you've been out here a while."
Nhilly hesitated. His grip on Draco's Shroud tightened slightly. "Long enough," he said. "My Star helps. Self-contained Gravity manipulation, nothing special."
Celeste blinked. "Wait you've been surviving alone with just that? That's incredible!"
Nhilly shrugged. "Or stupid. Depends on how you look at it."
Incredible, she says. If nearly dying every other day without encountering monsters, counts as a talent, then sure, I'm amazing.
Celeste smiled faintly. "We heard the monster earlier and came to hunt it. But… before we got there, Eli and Kael just disappeared. One moment they were beside me, the next they were gone."
Nhilly's stomach sank. The mist. Damn it.
Eli huffed. "Yeah, that black fog. Nearly made me fly face-first into a tree."
Kael said nothing, but his eyes lingered on Nhilly a moment too long.
Celeste brushed it off. "Anyway, we regrouped and found you instead. So, I'd call that fate."
Seris spoke again, her voice cutting through the crackling fire. "Fate doesn't bring survivors. It brings witnesses."
Celeste sighed quietly. "Or maybe both."
Nhilly looked around at them the firelight painting their faces in flickering shades of gold and shadow. A child with fire lungs, a shadow with a blade, an optimist wrapped in sunshine, and a skeptic waiting for proof of life.
He almost laughed. Perfect company for someone who hates company.
Eli shifted, resting his chin on his hand. "Alright, then. Since we're all being friendly what exactly were you doing out there, alone? You don't strike me as the heroic explorer type."
Nhilly glanced up. "Didn't realize I struck you at all."
Kael smirked faintly at that, though he didn't say a word.
Seris crossed her arms. "He's avoiding the question."
"I noticed," Eli said. "And I don't like it."
"Then don't ask," Nhilly replied simply.
The silence stretched. Then, mercifully, Celeste broke it. "Alright, enough chest-beating. If he wants to keep his secrets, let him."
Eli leaned back, muttering something under his breath.
Celeste gestured around the fire. "Since we're already sharing names, might as well tell you what we're doing out here. We're part of a small expedition. Left a safe haven a few weeks ago to attempt a scenario nearby."
Nhilly looked up. "A scenario?"
Kael nodded. "An old one. Twelve years active. Thousands have gone in none returned. The gateway's still open."
Seris added quietly, "When a scenario is cleared, the portal closes. The fact that one's been open this long means it's feeding. Consuming. We're trying to stop that."
Celeste smiled faintly, though her eyes held the weight of fatigue. "We're not many, but we're what's left of those willing to try."
Eli exhaled a puff of smoke and grinned again. "Yeah. Four of us against whatever's waiting. Guess that makes us idiots or legends in progress."
Nhilly leaned back against the log, half-smiling. "Maybe both."
He looked at the fire, the orange light dancing in his tired eyes. Idiots or legends… sounds familiar.
Celeste's voice softened again. "Get some rest. We'll talk more in the morning."
Nhilly didn't argue. His eyes closed, the sound of their low voices fading into the crackle of fire.
For the first time in weeks, he wasn't alone.
He wasn't sure he liked it.