Nico tightened his grip on his staff as he approached the peak of Shadowed Ridge, his steps careful yet deliberate. He'd had to cut through more shadow creatures than he could count—snarling shadow serpents that lunged from the crevices and another formidable shadow golem. The golem, nearly twice his height and enveloped in a dark, wispy aura, had taken Nico a fraction of a second to obliterate with a spell of high-density shadow energy. The creature dissipated in silence, leaving only an ashy remnant that scattered in the wind.
He continued onward, heart pounding, his eyes sharp and unyielding. At last, he reached the summit, a plateau dotted with rocks and faint traces of past battles. But instead of finding his target—or any signs of a welcome confrontation—there was nothing, only silence. His gaze swept over the area, but then, something caught his eye.
Etched into the ground in thin, claw-like strokes was a message: "You're late."
A chill crept down Nico's spine. Alice's summon had told him to arrive at midnight the previous night. In his hurry to reach the peak, he'd lost track of time, pushing himself hard to get there as soon as he could manage. But a day and a half late?
A pang of worry replaced his usual stone-cold resolve. Was this Alice's way of letting him know he was already behind? He'd never felt quite so unprepared before—especially when it came to something as crucial as Lila's safety.
Gritting his teeth, Nico straightened, wracking his mind for any clue as to where Alice might have gone. If she'd expected him here at midnight and he'd missed it, she might have taken matters into her own hands. A sinking feeling tugged at him—there was no time for hesitation or detours. Lila's life was on the line, and the longer he stayed, the greater the risk.
Suddenly, he remembered something: one of his lesser-used skills, Celestial Locator, which he could use to pinpoint the location of anyone, anywhere. It was a skill he hadn't yet needed, as he had rarely been apart from Lila since they'd started adventuring together. He'd almost forgotten about it altogether.
Nico took a breath, summoning the skill with a low chant. The energy pulsed from his core, spreading out like an invisible wave as he focused on Lila. After a few tense moments, he felt her presence—it was faint but unmistakable, a shimmering dot on the mental map the skill generated. She was moving…away from Shadowed Ridge, toward a small, quiet village nestled between rugged hills.
He frowned. If she was heading there, it could only mean she was either with Alice or under her command. And that village…didn't it match the description he'd heard once of Lucy's territory? He clenched his fists. It would be dangerous, but if Alice had truly taken Lila there, it was his only lead.
Setting his jaw, Nico turned back the way he had come, only for a familiar sound to reach his ears—the echo of distant shouts, and the guttural snarls of shadow goblins. He cursed under his breath. Magnus. In his hurry to reach the peak, he'd left him far behind, and from the sound of it, Magnus was in deep trouble.
Moving quickly, Nico retraced his steps, the sounds of the skirmish growing louder as he approached. There, tangled up in the fray, Magnus was struggling, his sword swinging in desperate arcs as three goblins closed in on him, their dark, distorted figures lit only by his faintly glowing weapon. His face was lined with exhaustion, blood trickling down his temple, his movements growing sloppy under the relentless attacks. Another goblin lunged, its claws narrowly missing Magnus as he stumbled back, his breathing heavy and ragged.
Without hesitation, Nico raised his hand, focusing his magic on a wide-range attack. "Frost Scythe: Multi-Target."
In an instant, dozens of razor-sharp icicles materialized in the air above them, glistening with a cold, blue light. With a swift flick of his wrist, Nico sent them hurtling toward the goblins. The icicles struck true, piercing each goblin with deadly precision, freezing them mid-motion before they shattered into dark dust.
Magnus fell to his knees, catching his breath, his wide eyes fixed on Nico. "You…you saved me," he muttered, a note of astonishment mingling with the relief in his voice.
Nico, however, didn't reply, his expression still icy and resolute. "Stay out of my way from here on out," he said flatly, turning on his heel to leave without waiting for a response.
Magnus, shaken, watched him go, recognizing a darkness in Nico's gaze that hadn't been there before—a deadly resolve, sharpened by desperation and an unmistakable glint of anger.