With a quest deadline of just six hours, Sebastian felt the weight of time pressing upon him.
He first headed to a shop to stock up on potions, then left the village without hesitation.
To the east of Darkstone lay a vast range of mountains.
Before one could reach these mountains, they would have to traverse a broad meadow.
This grassland was sparsely dotted with low-level monsters and was a prime spot for novice players to level up.
Most players entering the game for the first time would find their way here.
However, nestled within the towering peaks of the mountains were an array of formidable monsters, averaging around level 20.
And since these monsters often banded together for attacks, players generally preferred exploring other regions.
Sebastian now stood at the edge of this vast meadow.
Beside him, several players wielding weapons and battling low-level monsters cast puzzled glances his way.
"Is he planning to enter the Thornridge Mountains on his own?" a player murmured.
"Who goes into those mountains solo these days?" his companion said, his face a mask of disbelief.
But before he could finish his thought, Sebastian had already stepped forth, entering the mountain range.
This act left the group of players in sheer astonishment.
"Damn, he really went in! Who the hell is that guy?" one exclaimed.
...
True to its name, this range was riddled with countless thorns.
Amidst the thorns lay various dangers.
Without hesitation, Sebastian summoned Breeze, his male wolf, and mounted him.
With Breeze's aid, Sebastian could detect and avoid the formidable monsters in advance, allowing him to venture deeper into the mountains.
In the dense jungle, Breeze dashed swiftly, while Sebastian kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings.
Suddenly, Breeze let out a warning howl, having caught the scent of monsters.
Sebastian guided him to approach cautiously.
After passing a cluster of shrubs and positioning himself beneath a tree, Sebastian's gaze met with the vanguard unit.
They were a group of humanoid monsters clad in armor, their faces twisted in menace.
With horns protruding from their heads and their green, fanged visages, they looked utterly terrifying.
Sebastian quickly counted; there were over twenty monsters, lounging beneath a massive tree, enjoying food and drink in high spirits.
[Scourge Scout]
[Level: 15]
[HP: 10,000]
[MP: 0]
[Skills: Body Enhancement, Magic Fist Strike, Sprint…]
Monsters of level 15, with a staggering 10,000 hit points (HP) – a number far beyond the average monster.
And beside this group of monsters, Sebastian could see a large iron cage imprisoning the villagers of Darkstone.
He first drew out the recording mirror, capturing the current scene before him. Then, he produced a scroll.
[Scroll of Storm]
[Quality: Unique-grade]
[Description: After channeling for 3 seconds, creates a stormy area. Enemies within this area will have their speed reduced by 10%, while suffering 10 points of wind blade damage every second, lasting for ten minutes.]
[Note: One-time use]
Besides this scroll, Sebastian also pulled out a crystalline stone.
[Imprisonment Crystal]
[Quality: Unique-grade]
[Description: Once activated, all enemies within a ten-mile radius will be immobilized for 3 seconds.]
[Note: One-time use]
Both of these unique-grade items were rewards from a previous secret realm expedition.
Sebastian signaled for Breeze to silently approach the unsuspecting monsters, who remained blissfully unaware of the looming threat, engrossed in their feast.
Suddenly, a howl pierced the air as Breeze charged out from a nearby thicket, his maw wide open, unleashing a chilling blizzard.
The monsters, thinking they were under attack from a rival creature, were instantly enraged.
Several of the Scourge Scouts charged forward, clutching their spears, braving the cold gusts with an aura of bloodlust that quickened their pace.
In the blink of an eye, they reached Breeze.
The sharp points of their spears aimed ruthlessly at his head.
Agilely, Breeze dodged and swiftly retreated.
"Damn beast, where do you think you're going?"
Frustrated by the missed strike, the Scourge Scout roared in anger, giving chase.
The others quickly followed, leaving only about a dozen of their counterparts behind to guard the villagers.
Watching the lured monsters, Sebastian's gaze darkened as he began to channel his skill.
Roar…
In his grasp, the golden wand erupted in a dazzling blaze, its terrifying heat distorting the surrounding space.
Under Sebastian's command, a ferocious fireball surged forth, barreling towards the approaching Scourge Scouts.
Consumed with rage, the Scouts were caught off guard, never expecting an ally on the opposing side.
As the inferno descended from the sky, disbelief flashed across their faces.
Without hesitation, they turned to flee, intent on warning their companions.
But Sebastian wasn't about to give them that chance.
He hurled the Imprisonment Crystal into their midst.
The pale-blue crystal touched down, and a forceful energy radiated outwards, immobilizing every Scourge Scout in its wake.
Seizing this moment, Sebastian unleashed another skill.
Boom—
The initial fireball struck, causing an explosive eruption.
-1215
A damage of over a thousand left the Scouts writhing in agony. Before they could recover, another inferno descended.
-2451!
Critical Hit!
The blistering flames delivered a devastating blow to the monsters.
The three-second paralysis was fleeting.
Regaining their senses, the Scourge Scouts activated their Sprint skill, desperate to escape.
But Sebastian was prepared. He promptly threw a Spatial Scroll.
Activated, a magic array materialized beneath the monsters' feet.
Before they could escape its perimeter, they vanished in a burst of light, transported away.
The destination set by Sebastian was the territory of a formidable elite monster.
The moment the ten Scourge Scouts materialized, they were met with the blood-red glow of the creature's presence.
The distinction between a 'monster' and a 'beast' is their level of intelligence; the former possesses some form of cognizance, while the latter simply acts on instinct.
So, when confronted by the Scouts, the elite monster instinctively perceived them as intruders and launched its assault.
From a safe distance, Sebastian observed the fierce clash.
Waiting until both parties were gravely wounded, he then released the Scroll of Storm.
A tempestuous wind enveloped the area, a terrifying storm consuming all in its path.
Both the Scouts and the elite monster were ensnared by its wrath.
All the while, Sebastian continued his barrage of skills, relentlessly hammering the battlefield.
Just as the monsters appeared to gain the upper hand, Breeze's colossal form tore through the gale, reaping their lives.
Roughly ten minutes later, both the group of monsters and the elite beast lay defeated by Sebastian and Breeze.
Swiftly, he gathered the rewards and left the scene.
Elsewhere, the remaining monsters grew anxious as their comrades failed to return, contemplating their next move... when suddenly, Sebastian emerged before them.