Emmett's eyes narrowed as Mirabelle leaned in closer, her dangerous smile lingering in the air like a storm cloud. He knew that look all too well. Mirabelle wasn't the type to offer simple congratulations, and whenever she spoke in that soft, almost sinister tone, it meant there was something more lurking beneath the surface.
"What kind of proposition?" Emmett asked, his voice guarded. He wasn't about to let his guard down, not when Mirabelle was involved.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with something between amusement and calculation. "Oh, nothing too dangerous," she said casually, though the edge in her voice suggested otherwise. "Just a little side mission. Something only someone like you can handle."
Emmett frowned. "And why me? There are plenty of others in the group who could take on a mission."
Mirabelle leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "True. But not many who have your... reputation for surviving impossible situations. You've proven yourself time and time again, Emmett. You come back, no matter how bad the odds."
Emmett's eyes darted toward the door, his mind racing. This was exactly the kind of situation he had hoped to avoid. He had just lost three levels, barely made it out of that cursed mission alive, and now Mirabelle was offering him another one? His instincts screamed at him to refuse, to walk out and leave this all behind. But he knew that wasn't an option. Not with Mirabelle.
She continued, her voice steady but filled with a quiet intensity. "This mission isn't like the others. It's off the books, and it's not something the whole group needs to know about. Just you and me. And if you succeed, there will be more than just levels to gain."
Emmett's eyebrow shot up at that. More than levels? In Saga, power was everything. Levels, cultivation techniques, weapons—it all determined where you stood. But Mirabelle was hinting at something else, something beyond just the typical rewards of the game. He couldn't help but be intrigued.
"And if I fail?" he asked, his tone cautious.
Mirabelle's smile widened, and for the briefest moment, her eyes flashed with something dark. "Failure isn't an option, Emmett. You'll succeed. I'll make sure of it."
The words hung in the air like a threat, and Emmett felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't like this, not one bit. But he also knew that refusing Mirabelle wasn't a smart move. She held too much power within the group, and crossing her would mean making an enemy out of someone far too dangerous.
"What's the mission?" he asked, resigning himself to whatever madness Mirabelle was about to throw his way.
She stood up from the table, her movements graceful and deliberate, and walked over to the large map of the virtual world that was pinned to the wall. Her finger traced a line from Beginner City 1 to the Mistful Mountain Range, stopping at a location marked with an "X."
"Here," she said, tapping the spot. "There's an ancient ruin hidden deep within the mountains. Most players have heard rumors about it, but no one has ever returned from trying to find it. It's said to hold a legendary weapon—something beyond even the Divine Rank."
Emmett's eyes widened. A weapon beyond Divine Rank? That was unheard of. Weapons in Saga were ranked from Common to Divine, and Epic Rank was considered the pinnacle of power. If there was something beyond that... it would be worth more than anything in the game.
"And you want me to find it?" Emmett asked, his mind racing with the possibilities.
"Not just find it," Mirabelle replied, her tone serious. "Retrieve it. If you succeed, the Thorn Mercenary Group will have the most powerful weapon in the game. No one will be able to challenge us. And you, Emmett... you'll be rewarded in ways you can't even imagine."
Emmett's heart pounded in his chest. The idea of finding a weapon like that was enough to make any player salivate. It could be his ticket to regaining his lost levels, to becoming more powerful than ever before. But the danger was real. If no one had ever returned from the ruins, it meant the place was filled with traps, monsters, or worse.
"What's the catch?" he asked, his voice wary.
Mirabelle's eyes glinted, and she gave a small shrug. "The catch is that you'll be going alone. No backup, no support. Just you, your skills, and your wits. If you die, you'll lose more than just three levels this time."
Emmett stared at her, his mind racing with the implications. Going alone into uncharted territory was a death sentence for most players. Even with his experience, he wasn't sure he could survive something like that. But then again, the promise of power... of more than just levels... was too tempting to ignore.
He took a deep breath, his mind made up. "Alright," he said, his voice firm. "I'll do it."
Mirabelle smiled, clearly pleased with his decision. "I knew you would."
Two days later, Emmett stood at the edge of the Mistful Mountain Range, the towering peaks looming before him like the jagged teeth of some ancient beast. The wind whipped around him, carrying the scent of pine and something darker, more sinister. The path leading up the mountains was narrow, overgrown, and treacherous. It was no wonder so few had ever attempted the journey.
He adjusted the straps on his gear, making sure his swords were securely fastened to his back, and took one last look at the map Mirabelle had given him. The "X" marking the ruins was deep in the heart of the range, past sheer cliffs and dense forests. If the rumors were true, the place was crawling with creatures that would make the Shou look like a kitten.
Emmett's hand hovered over his interface, briefly considering sending a message to Sebastian or the others to let them know where he was going. But he stopped himself. This was a solo mission. He couldn't afford distractions, and the last thing he needed was someone trying to talk him out of it.
With a final breath, Emmett started up the mountain path, his eyes scanning the treeline for any signs of movement. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound the crunch of his boots on the gravel and the distant call of a bird somewhere in the distance.
Hours passed as he made his way deeper into the mountains, the path growing narrower and more dangerous with each step. The air became thinner, colder, and the sense of unease that had been gnawing at him since he set out grew stronger. Something wasn't right here. The very air felt... wrong.
As he rounded a bend in the path, the ground suddenly gave way beneath him. Emmett's instincts kicked in, and he threw himself to the side, just managing to grab hold of a thick tree root before he plummeted into the ravine below. His heart pounded in his chest as he dangled over the edge, the sheer drop below making his stomach lurch.
"Damn it," he muttered, pulling himself up with a grunt of effort.
He dusted himself off, glancing back at the ravine. The path had been a trap, a cleverly disguised death pit. Someone—or something—didn't want him getting any farther.
Emmett continued onward, his senses on high alert. The deeper he went, the more he began to notice the signs. Broken branches, claw marks on the trees, deep footprints in the soft earth. Something was out here with him. Something big.
He gripped the hilts of his swords tightly, his eyes scanning the shadows between the trees. The light was fading fast, and soon the forest would be plunged into darkness. He had to find shelter—and fast.
Just as he was about to continue up the path, a low growl rumbled from the trees behind him. Emmett spun around, his swords drawn in an instant, his eyes locking onto the massive figure that emerged from the shadows.
It was a Jiangshi, one of the undead creatures native to the mountains. Its glowing green eyes were fixed on him, its skin pale and stretched tight over its bones. Long, black claws extended from its fingers, and its movements were jerky, unnatural.
Emmett had faced Jiangshi before, but never one this large. This one was different—faster, stronger. He could see the malice in its eyes as it lunged at him with lightning speed.
He sidestepped the attack, bringing his sword up to block the creature's claws. Sparks flew as metal met bone, and Emmett gritted his teeth, pushing back with all his strength. The Jiangshi let out a high-pitched screech, its eyes blazing with fury as it swiped at him again.
Emmett ducked under the attack, slashing upward with his second sword. The blade cut deep into the creature's side, black ichor spilling from the wound. But the Jiangshi didn't stop. It came at him again, relentless, its claws flashing in the dim light.
Emmett knew he couldn't keep this up for long. The creature was too fast, too strong. He had to end it—now.
With a burst of Qi, Emmett channeled his energy into his legs, propelling himself upward in a high jump. He twisted in mid-air, bringing both swords down in a cross-slash aimed at the Jiangshi's neck. The blades found their mark, and with a sickening crack, the creature's head was severed from its body.
The Jiangshi's body collapsed to the ground in a heap, twitching once before going still.
Breathing heavily, Emmett wiped the black blood from his blades and sheathed them. He glanced around, his senses still on high alert. If there was one Jiangshi, there would be more. He couldn't stay here.
As he continued up the mountain path, the thought nagged at the back of his mind. What else was waiting for him in those ruins? What other dangers lay ahead?
And was the legendary weapon really worth the risk?