Thirty years ago, there was a world wide event that split the central plains into two; the Northern empire and the Southern empire. The details of the event are shrouded in mysteries but what was known were the information given by those that survived that period.
A large rumbling that shook the world occurred, one that was unlike anything that has ever been experienced. Scientists wanted to call it an earthquake, but it was so intense, they felt like even a mega level 20 earthquake couldn't compare.
Nothing could be used to calculate its vibrational frequency and amplitude, all machines that were used were broken.
After that day, a lot of changes occurred. Mutant beasts began appearing and during the first few years, they rampaged around. Normal weapons couldn't harm them and it took a while for special technological equipment to be created.
After intense hunting, the mutants retreated, taking over certain places and calling it their homes. These places were known as danger zones, unfit for any other life forms except the mutants that dwelled in them.
Unbrye mountain was one such place.
It was said that mutants had the intelligence level of a five year old Human and their overall physique was at least ten times their normal counterpart. And in mount Unbrye alone, it was estimated that there were at least thirty of such monstrosities. It was designated a grade 2 danger zone.
And for a land that was teeming with such monstrosities, a beacon was a bad way to announce yourself.
Billowing red flames rose into the dark sky as in defiance, dancing wildly in the storm but burning ever so furiously.
Percy looked back for a moment, his eyes narrowed. His right hand gripped his sword tighter but there was no fear in his eyes. Only a burning will to fight.
When he turned around to look in front of him, a beast was already approaching. Its figure was blurry and it was hard for Percy to see its form under the heavy storm. But as soon as it got close enough, a small smile appeared on his face.
I will become strong enough to smash his face before the end of this test. I wonder if I can defeat all the monsters on this mountain before the time limit..
Percy had a crazy glint in his eyes, his hair which was usually wild and untamed stuck to his body, wet from the downpour.
He pulled his hair back, his purple eyes gleaming with a dangerous light as he locked unto the monster before him. It was a mutant variant of an ape.
Standing at seven feet with dark gray fur and four arms instead of two. It was a macabre beast. Its red eyes glowed as it approached Percy with thick bloodlust, its eyes glowing with intelligence.
"I hope you last long enough." Percy muttered as both entities dashed towards the other.
***
Rumble!!
Zandov and Lassen stood side by side, the rest of the group behind them. Before the group were three monsters, all of the same variant species.
"I can't believe we encountered a pack…" Zandov muttered, his expression grave.
Pack monsters were even more dangerous than normal mutants because the pack leader usually had an intelligence quotient that was higher than normal form mutants; almost reaching that of a teenager.
"We need to separate them." Zandov looked at Lassen and the latter nodded in agreement.
The rest of the youths behind them looked at the monsters with fear, but the battle intent in their eyes was evident.
"I'll take one, you and the others handle the two remaining ones."
"No."
Zandov looked at Lassen with surprise, for the first time in a while, Lassen had finally spoken and yet the first thing that he said was no. Zandov was shocked to say the least.
"I'll hold the leader down. Deal with the other two."
"Can you handle it?" Zandov asked in surprise. Apart from the intelligence problem of mutant pack leaders, there was also the issue that they were freaks even among freaks. It took a lot more than intelligence to lead a group of monsters known to be even more savage than barbarians.
"Don't worry, I'm pretty strong."
Zandov watched as Lassen took a step forward, his broad back shielding the rest of the youths from the monster pack. His shirt was rolled up to the elbows, his fist clenched. He was like an indomitable wall.
He was an indomitable wall.
***
Ichor casually strolled through the wetland, climbing higher and higher but shockingly, he wasn't even heading for the beacon. Instead, his destination was somewhere else.
His umbrella, which looked like it had seen better days, stood firmly in his left hand, his right hand holding his baton. His boots were wet and soaked in mud and his hair which was packed into a rough bun was soaked.
His coat billowed in the wind as he finally came to a halt, standing before a huge rock.
"Come on out, I know you are here. After all, this is the highest point. The throne for a king."
Ichor turned his head towards a tree, his amber eyes glinting with golden light.
At first it seemed like he was talking to no one in particular, until a figure walked out from behind the tree.
It stood at a height of three meters, its physique was so buff, it made Lassen seem like a twig. Its white fur was long and thick and its claws were like curved daggers.
It was a one eyed wolf but not because it was born with one eye. No, it was because it had just one left.
Its eye was dark unlike what one would expect from a beast, gleaming with so much intelligence, it made one wonder if it truly wasn't one. In where the second eyes should have been, there was only hollow emptiness.
It's looks were nothing short of terrifying and its killing intent was almost palpable. It was something beyond natural and it was a wonder how it had been able to hide behind the tree in the first place.
"So you are the apex predator?" Ichor spoke with a tone of familiarity with the beast. The dark eyes of the monster glinted with a dangerous light, its body primed for battle.
It was threatened.
"Well, I hope you are ready for a rematch," Ichor began, a cold smile blooming across his lips.
"This time, I'll make sure I take more than an eye."