Currently, both Lucas and Sylv were sitting on the edge of the rooftop of an old abandoned parking garage they found, gazing at the stars illuminating the dark night.
The parking garage had three floors and was perfect to act as a temporary base.
On the second floor was where the other members with the three champions currently were residing.
A few hours had passed since Lucas had joined the group and confronted the hero.
While they went out searching and before finding this base, they only got attacked once by a few undead, mainly skeletons.
Having a total of four champions, or better said, five since Lucas will most definitely be an official champion after the exam, they easily took care of the undead.
Both decided to leave for some fresh air and get away from all the gazes directed at them after they found their camp.
"To think you already reached the next star level... and they call me a monster."
"Hmph! It is because you are a monster! There is no way you could deny that, you freak."
"Besides, you got to fight three C-rank king predators and actually defeated them while limiting yourself! So stop complaining, you know how much I want to fight those spiders now!"
Sylv said, turning her head away and pouting
'Great, another one...'
"Perhaps, but so are you, you know? Did you hide most of your talent then? They did say that Klaus has more talent than you, but now I highly doubt that since you managed to surpass two substages, reaching a new star level in a few months' time," Lucas said calmly while gazing at the beautiful stars shimmering in the dark.
"Hehe, well, I had no real reason to try that hard back then," Sylv said happily for some reason, making Lucas intrigued as he turned his face towards her.
"Oh? So what has changed for you to finally start trying?"
As Lucas asked, Sylv turned her face towards him, gazing straight into his red dragon eyes.
"You."
''Eh?''
Lucas was bewildered as Sylv suddenly declared her reason for becoming stronger while looking straight into his eyes as if peering into his soul.
Her eyes were full of determination and resolve as Lucas stared back at her with wide eyes.
'I have never seen her this serious...'
"I don't want to be left behind. It is obvious that us champions are all going to be in the middle of all future events that would make drastic changes in Myrniel, but... out of all us champions, you would be ahead of us, always standing in front of us. I don't want that. I want to be able to fight with you."
"You are my only and best friend, Lucas. I want to be standing next to you at your side," Sylv spoke with such resolve that, as her silver hair reflected the moonlight, was fluttering around, Lucas could only watch her in a daze after finally snapping out of it before she noticed.
'Best friend, huh...'
Lucas thought as a small smile appeared on his face as he turned back to watching the stars.
"I see. Thanks for telling me, Sylv; it means a lot."
"Mm, always."
"Still... to think that they managed to replicate such a disastrous place so perfectly..."
"Huh? Replicate what? What do you mean by that?" Lucas asked, turning his head in confusion towards her after hearing what Sylv said.
Sylv only furrowed her brows as she gazed back at Lucas.
"You don't know? Didn't the teacher in charge tell you about this city?"
"No? The man just said that we would be sent into an apocalyptic city overrun by monsters."
"Well, the teacher in charge of us told us that this city was based on a real-life disaster that happened a century ago."
"So all of this really happened? How, though?"
"A dungeon break was the cause, apparently."
"I see, that makes sense..." Lucas muttered under his breath.
"By the way, what was the name of your teacher that was in charge?"
"Hmm, if I recall correctly, his name was Julius Cordis."
"As I suspected... you really got him, huh?" Sylv suddenly said as she gazed back at the stars.
"Is something up with the guy?"
"Well, yeah. Julius Cordis is one of the only few space users in Myrniel besides you, of course. The man is said to be a genius, and what makes it more special is that he is actually a half-elf. Though most wouldn't be able to notice. He is a real monster, if I am honest. He is only 21 and already at the Peak 9-star level."
Hearing her praise for the man named Julius Cordis, Lucas also got intrigued and was getting more curious about him.
Before he could ask more questions, though, he saw something weird.
In the corner of his eyes, he saw somewhere far in the sky a black dot.
"Hmm? Do you see that black dot as well, Sylv?" Lucas asked since he was not sure if he was going crazy... going even more crazy, or if it genuinely was something.
Hearing his question, Sylviette also turned her head to where Lucas was gazing and also saw the black dot.
"Yeah, I can see it as well. Just what is that weird spot?"
"Hey... is it me, or is that black dot getting bigger and bigger?"
As Lucas said that and gazed at the black dot, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
His heart started beating louder and louder for some reason...
"L-Lucas... something is wrong. I have never seen the spirits be this scared..."
As Sylviette spoke, the air around them started to shake, and the winds got even wilder.
Both their hairs started fluttering violently because of the sudden change.
As both stood up, Lucas summoned his Blade of Chaos while Sylviette had dozens of ice spears suddenly floating around her.
As the danger they felt increased with each passing second, the black dot in the distance grew larger and larger until it was close enough to reveal its true form.
They saw something that made their hearts tremble with terror.
Both unconsciously gripped their hands tight until their knuckles turned white.
Cold sweat was dripping down on the ground from the both of them.
Their eyes were wide open, and their bodies visibly trembled with fear...
In the dim, eerie light of the night, they saw a harrowing sight: a grotesque, nightmarish moth, towering at a staggering 20 meters. Its form was as black as the void, covered in twisted, jagged scales that seemed to writhe and pulse.
Its enormous wings, while adorned with beautiful yet ominous white patterns, were frayed and tattered, edges ragged as if torn by countless battles. The stark contrast was chilling, an eerie beauty amidst utter horror.
The moth's dark red eyes glowed menacingly, bulging out grotesquely, casting a sickly, crimson hue that pierced through the darkness with a gaze that seemed to see straight into their souls.
With each sinister flap of its massive wings, it created thunderous shockwaves, the air vibrating violently with every beat. The once gentle night breeze transformed into a howling gale, tearing at their clothes and making the buildings tremble.
Its wings, covered in rough, spiny protrusions, cut through the air with a sound that was both deafening and otherworldly.
As the monstrous moth descended, it landed on a broken building with an unsettling, bone-chilling grace, the structure trembling under its weight. The impact sent debris tumbling down, the building groaning as if in pain, on the verge of collapse.
Its body, segmented and bristling with sharp, chitinous spines, exuded a putrid stench that filled the air, making their stomachs churn. The moth's antennae, long and whip-like, writhed in the air, sensing and probing, adding to its nightmarish appearance.
The sight of the giant moth, with its grotesque presence and the devastation it wrought, left them paralyzed with fear, their minds struggling to comprehend the nightmare unfolding before them.
Before them stood one of the three great calamities.
The calamity of Despair.