Grey set his drink down on the table, sighing before he began to explain.
"The Soul Devourer is an ancient legend, but very real. They say it's a being that feeds on the souls of those defeated in battle. Its thirst for power is unquenchable, and it's capable of commanding dark and sinister creatures, like the serpent we faced."
"So, he's some kind of super-powerful villain?" I asked.
"Exactly. He's considered one of the most dangerous and feared beings across the entire continent. His hunger for souls makes him an incredibly powerful enemy, and many warriors and adventurers have already fallen to him. That's why we need to be cautious on our journey. Crossing paths with him again wouldn't be hard."
Elise seemed intrigued and pressed on with more questions.
"Do you know how he became so powerful?"
"It's believed that the Soul Devourer gained his power from an ancient mystical relic. A relic from a time long forgotten, shaped like a small black gemstone. This gem has the unique ability to absorb souls, and it's said that countless souls have been absorbed into it over the centuries since it came into the Devourer's possession. With this power, he spreads fear and chaos wherever he goes."
"And what does he want? Why such an insatiable hunger for power?" I asked.
"That's a question with no clear answer. Some say the Soul Devourer seeks immortality, believing that by accumulating enough power, he can live forever. Others believe he's cursed and is searching for a way to break the curse, but these are just myths and rumors. No one knows his true motivations."
Elise and I listened intently, absorbing all the information. Grey seemed to know the story well, which made us feel more confident having him by our side. But at the same time, it was strange that we had never heard of this terrible existence before.
"If we keep going at this pace, our journey will be challenging, no doubt," Elise said, exuding confidence, "but it's important we know what we're up against. We must stay vigilant and united against any threat, including the Soul Devourer."
"You're right, Elise," I agreed. "We won't underestimate our enemies and will continue training, strengthening our skills. Together, we'll be able to face any adversity."
After this conversation, we resumed our night of celebration, laughing, telling stories, and strengthening our bonds of friendship. We knew our journey would be long and dangerous, but we were determined to face it together.
As the sounds of music and chatter filled the tavern, we knew that fate had brought us together, and we would face all the challenges ahead as one.
Suddenly, an adventurer burst through the tavern doors, catching everyone's attention. He was in shock and rushed over to a nearby table, where another group of adventurers sat.
"Hey, Kael, what happened? Have a drink and calm down," a female adventurer suggested.
Kael quickly grabbed the drink and downed it in one go, slamming the cup onto the table.
"My entire group was wiped out at the portal that opened in the center of Elmore Forest," Kael said, his voice trembling.
"How? Your group is one of the strongest around here. How did this happen?" the female adventurer asked in disbelief.
"The portal had just formed, right after we finished resting from a fierce battle with orcs. Our leader decided to enter without consulting the guild to assess the portal's rank."
Kael sighed deeply before continuing.
"Many of us were against the idea of entering an unranked portal, but the leader wouldn't listen. As soon as we entered, the portal sealed from the inside, leaving us no way out. Our only option was to defeat the portal's boss and hope it would reopen."
"That's terrible!" another adventurer exclaimed.
"Some of my companions spotted a chest. Blinded by greed, they sneaked into the room without telling the rest of us... and they fell into a trap. By the time we realized they were gone, we hurried back to search for them, only to find a passage leading to their corpses, drenched in blood and missing limbs."
Kael's voice faltered, and he let out a long, shaky breath.
Tears started streaming down his face, but he wiped them away, determined to continue his story. The rest of the adventurers listened in horror, their faces pale.
"Some of the others got sick at the sight of that grisly scene. We left their bodies there, intending to return later and give them a proper burial. We pressed on to find the portal boss. Everything felt wrong—it wasn't like a normal portal. There were no enemies patrolling the area as we made our way to the boss. Still, we pushed forward because it was our only option."
Kael's expression grew darker, and his whole body began to tremble.
"After a long walk, we came upon a massive gate. We thought the portal boss must be inside. We pushed the gate open and entered, but the room was empty. Strange symbols lined the walls, and a large throne sat in the center. There wasn't much to explore, so we decided to leave and check if the portal had reopened. But... as I approached the gate to push it open, I heard the sound of slashing blades. I thought monsters—or even the boss—had appeared, but when I turned around, my entire group was lying on the ground, sliced apart, probably all dead."
Kael took another drink, trying to steady himself.
"I ran out immediately, terrified that I'd be next. As I ran, I saw the portal had reopened, so I escaped and reported everything to the guild. They told me to wait and return the next day."
After hearing Kael's story, I glanced at Grey and Elise. Elise looked horrified, while Grey remained expressionless.
"Shall we?" I asked.
Grey hesitated for a moment before responding, "Let's do it." His grin was laced with sarcasm.
"No way! Are you both out of your minds?" Elise exclaimed. "Didn't you hear? An entire group was just wiped out!"
"But there will probably be lots of treasure there," I said with a smirk.
Elise's expression shifted as she seemed to consider it.
"Alright, let's go! We can't waste any time," she finally said.