As Akira delved deeper into meditation, attuning both his aura and mana, a sudden awareness overcame him. He sensed a group of individuals lying in wait some distance away. The realization struck him like a bolt: the carriage journey was a trap orchestrated by the Queen, and the maid was likely under her influence.
Despite the danger, Akira remained composed. Sitting cross-legged within the carriage, he exuded an air of nonchalance, awaiting the confrontation with his adversaries. When the carriage abruptly halted, the man at the reins climbed down and opened the door.
Stepping out, Akira found himself in an unfamiliar wooded area. The dense trees cast long shadows over the uneven ground, creating an ominous atmosphere. Taking a deep breath, Akira consulted his map, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he noted the detour in his journey.
Before long, Akira's would-be assailants emerged from the shadows. Their hostile intentions were clear, but Akira showed no signs of concern. With a calm gesture, he unleashed a blast of ice magic, freezing the men in place up to their necks.
"Where is Skull Mountain?" Akira asked in a steady voice, his expression unreadable.
The captives responded with mocking laughter, defying his inquiry. Unbothered, Akira approached one of them, placing his hand atop the man's head. In an instant, the man disintegrated into ash, a chilling testament to Akira's power.
The remaining men, now terrified, quickly divulged the location of Skull Mountain, pleading for mercy. But mercy was not Akira's way. With a wave of his hand, he summoned Shadow, the dark entity devouring their souls amid their anguished cries.
Hours passed as Akira continued his journey toward Skull Mountain, Shadow lurking silently within his own shadow. The path was treacherous, but his focus remained unshaken.
A distant scream broke the stillness, drawing Akira's attention. He followed the sound to discover a young woman, a priestess, under attack by two men. Moving swiftly, Akira incapacitated the attackers with precision, binding their wrists.
The priestess introduced herself as Sky, a 19-year-old representative of the Holy Temple. Though she expressed gratitude for Akira's assistance, her attempt to embrace him from behind left him visibly uncomfortable. He awkwardly pushed her away, clearly unaccustomed to such gestures.
Undeterred, Sky explained her mission—to journey to Skull Cave—and expressed her desire to hire a mercenary. Seizing the opportunity, Akira, introducing himself under the alias Samuel, offered to guide her. Sky beamed at the proposal, her enthusiasm uncontainable. She summoned her maid, Cadi, who joined them shortly thereafter.
As the trio arrived at the base of Skull Mountain, Sky prepared to enter the cave to fulfill her mission. Akira volunteered to wait outside with Cadi, who appeared conflicted. To ease the tension, Akira inquired about her experiences at the temple.
Cadi, crossing her arms defensively, responded with irritation. "Why do you care?"
Unfazed, Akira replied smoothly, "Because I find you interesting."
His remark left Cadi flustered, her cheeks reddening as she attempted to push him away. But she stumbled, falling against his chest. Their eyes met in a charged moment before Akira placed a finger to her lips, silencing her.
"If you dislike the temple so much," he asked softly, "why not leave with me?"
Cadi quickly dismissed the notion, her expression guarded. Without another word, she joined Sky inside the cave, leaving Akira to follow silently.
Inside the cave, the group discovered a massive door adorned with cryptic engravings. Despite Sky's best efforts, neither she nor Akira could decipher the markings. To their surprise, Cadi stepped forward, her eyes glowing with a yellow aura as she read the ancient script.
"The door requires a sacrifice to awaken," Cadi explained, her voice steady.
Sky hesitated, proposing they leave the door undisturbed. However, Akira had no intention of abandoning his objective. Subtly, he placed a hand on Cadi's shoulder, using his magic to influence her thoughts.
In the midst of the conversation,cadi accidentally pushed sky against the door. A monstrous maw emerged, swallowing her whole. Cadi screamed in terror, collapsing to her knees as she begged Akira to flee with her.
Akira's response was laughter, his amusement growing as he seized her hair and whistled. Cadi's terror turned to anger, her curses falling on deaf ears as Akira smiled coldly.
"Goodbye," he said simply, throwing her toward the door. The monstrous maw devoured her, its hunger satiated. The door swung open, revealing the path beyond.
With an air of triumph, Akira stepped through, ready to face the next challenge.