Arlon held the creature's gaze, unwavering as the weight of its ominous words settled over him.
"Curious, are you?" Arlon's smirk widened, his tone cutting yet measured. "I thought I was the only one left with questions."
"..."
The monster paused, its grin faltering briefly before a dark chuckle rumbled from its chest. "You're different… already treading a path not meant for mortals."
He must be hinting at the Pry members, Arlon mused, keeping his expression neutral. With a shrug, he retorted, "That's life, isn't it? It doesn't stop you—it simply watches as you rise and fall."
"..."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the black barrier, Lawrence and Anthony stood resolute, their eyes fixed on the twisting black smoke, pulsating with dark, malevolent energy.
Tension hung heavy in the air as the smoke writhed, pulsating with a malevolent energy. It formed an impenetrable barrier, defying every attempt to breach it.
Determined, Alice raised her hand, conjuring a spell that crackled with raw energy.
Crackle—
A burst of magical energy shot towards the smoke, but it absorbed the attack without a trace. Not even a ripple. Alice tried again, her face taut with focus, but once more, the smoke remained unchanged.
"Enough," Anthony said firmly, placing a steadying hand on Alice's shoulder before she could expend more energy.
Alice looked at him in frustration but reluctantly lowered her hand, knowing he was right.
Lawrence's eyes remained locked on the churning black mass, his mind racing with images of Arlon trapped within, helpless against the encroaching darkness.
He held onto the hope that Arlon was safe, but doubt gnawed at him. Even with Ace's power, Arlon wasn't an experienced fighter—and certainly not invincible.
His hand instinctively clenched the hilt of his sword—Arlon's help had made it usable again after being damaged, but it was still only a temporary weapon until his father's sword could be repaired. He couldn't afford to wait any longer.
As Alice and Anthony deliberated, Lawrence took a resolute step forward, his gaze fixed on the writhing smoke.
Clang—
Both Alice and Anthony looked up in surprise, watching as Lawrence unsheathed his sword, its steel gleaming in the dim light.
Without hesitation, he slashed at the black smoke, each strike more forceful than the last, his desperation fueling the relentless assault. His every motion was a testament to his resolve to shatter the oppressive barrier.
Whoosh— Crack—
The air around them crackled with energy as Lawrence's strikes reverberated, each one sending tremors through the thick smoke. The ground beneath their feet shuddered with every swing.
Snarl—
With a loud roar of resistance, the smoke began to quiver, but Lawrence didn't falter. He swung again, his grip tightening around the hilt, his entire body fueling the strikes.
Whoosh—
The air pulsed as the sword began to radiate an ethereal white light, tendrils of wind swirling with each arc, cutting through the dense smoke like a blade through silk.
The mana within the sword reacted to Lawrence's will, almost as though the weapon itself had a life of its own.
Alice's eyes widened in shock—she watched as the wind sliced through the smoke, cutting through the thick barrier like a blade through fabric. The sword was awakening, responding to Lawrence's unconscious command.
Alice's concern grew. If Lawrence lost focus now, the sword's power could spiral out of control, wreaking havoc on them all.
Whoosh—
The wind howled, whipping around them as Lawrence's strikes grew more forceful. His breath was steady, his eyes locked on the smoke as he fought to break it apart.
Not enough, Lawrence thought, gritting his teeth. He swung once more, with a power so intense that the ground shook beneath him.
Shudder—
Inside the swirling black fog, Arlon steadied himself as the earth trembled. His heart pounded in his chest as the vibrations reached him. What's happening? he thought, confusion clouding his mind.
"It must be coming from the outside," Ace's voice was calm, but Arlon could hear the underlying concern. "Everyone must be worried."
Boom— Shudder—
The ground shook again, more violently this time.
The large monster, its golden eyes narrowing, seemed to sense the disturbance. It muttered under its breath, "Your companion is getting impatient... that one, he holds something like you, but different. He can even cut through the barrier."
Arlon's eyes locked onto the creature, his resolve hardening. He needed to escape, but first, there was something he had to confirm.
His voice was steady as he asked, "Those people you mentioned, the ones who came before us—what did they do here?"
The monster's golden eyes flickered as it turned away, its form rippling like smoke. "They weren't just a cult," it said, its voice low and ominous. "They held something that a God once had. But it was weak, tainted—dangerous."
The words hung in the air like a warning, chilling Arlon to the bone. He was only more certain now that the mysteries of this place were far darker than he could imagine.
"They try to kidnap the young wolves in the village. I'm curious—did you let that happen?" Arlon asked, his voice steady as he faced the creature.
The monster's reply came without hesitation, its tone dismissive. "I have no interest in human affairs. It's a waste of time."
"The core didn't seem to mind it either," The monster continued.
Both of them allowed it to happen? Why? No… it must be that the core didn't care about anything as long as the master of the land remained here.
They only reacted because of my presence—or perhaps the Sky Dragon Soul's. Arlon's mind delved deeper into the mystery as he ventured further into the forest, piecing together the puzzle.
Arlon was about to ask again when the ground shook violently beneath them. I wonder who's taking down the barrier, Arlon thought. The massive monster turned its back, beginning to walk away.
"I'll let you go for now," it rumbled, its voice echoing ominously. "But don't expect mercy when you return." It stopped and turned its glowing golden eyes on Arlon.
"Remember, don't trust any gods," it warned before disappearing into the thick black smoke.
Arlon stood still, watching as the monster vanished into the darkness. Ace, still visibly annoyed, flicked his tail in frustration.
"Don't trust gods? As if we'd ever get involved with them," Ace muttered, still fuming over the encounter.
Arlon sighed in disbelief and approached Ace.
"Hey, do you think that monster is more dangerous than the gods—?"
Before Ace could finish, Arlon scooped him up. "Alright, alright, enough of that," Arlon said, gently stroking Ace's black fur to calm him. "I'm sure we won't get involved in anything that dangerous in the future."
Arlon's gaze lingered where the monster had disappeared, a flicker of unease crossing his mind. I might be lying if I said I didn't feel a bit anxious after what it said… But he pushed the thought aside. Anyway, I have more important things to focus on right now—
Crack— Crash!—
The barrier shattered, its fragments dissolving into nothingness. Arlon whirled around, eyes widening as Lawrence stepped through the dissipating smoke, breath ragged from exertion.
Step—
"Master Arlon," Lawrence called out, relief washing over his face as he saw Arlon and Ace safe.
"Lawrence?" Arlon muttered in disbelief as he realized who had taken down the barrier. He's gotten stronger... but it feels like he's growing stronger by the day, Arlon thought in amusement. Oh well... he is the main character, after all.
Step— Step—
Lawrence approached them quickly, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright? Did something happen?" he asked, his eyes scanning both Arlon and Ace for any signs of injury.
"We're fine," Arlon reassured him smoothly. "You don't have to worry. Ace promised he'd protect me." He glanced at Ace, who, despite his earlier bravado, now averted his gaze, clearly embarrassed.
"I'm glad to hear that," Lawrence said, visibly relieved.
Step— Step—
Suddenly, two familiar voices called out. "Master Arlon!" Alice and Anthony came running towards them, their faces filled with concern now that the barrier had disappeared.
"Are you two alright?" Alice asked, her eyes darting between Arlon and Ace.
"It seems they didn't get hurt," Anthony added with a sigh of relief.
"We were so worried when that monster trapped you both," Alice continued. "We tried everything to break the barrier, but none of our magic spells worked."
"And then Lawrence here just starts swinging his sword, cutting right through it like it was nothing," Anthony chimed in, admiration in his voice as he gestured toward Lawrence.
Yup, he's surely someone who could fight like an entire army in the future, Arlon thought, a faint smile playing on his lips. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in Lawrence's growing strength.
Just as Arlon was about to respond, another presence made itself known. The elder leader, Elandar, and Kaelan approached, their footsteps heavy with urgency.
"Are you alright? I can still feel traces of that dark energy lingering," Elandar said, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the area.
"It seems the monster was specifically targeting you," Kaelan added, his tone laced with suspicion.
Just then, Eric came sprinting toward Arlon and Ace, his face filled with worry. "Master Arlon, are you alright? That monster was so terrifying and powerful… we were scared it might have hurt you," the young wolf said, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and relief.
Arlon knelt, resting a reassuring hand on Eric's head. "I'm fine, Eric. Ace had my back, and the monster is gone. The village is safe now," he said, his calm smile easing the boy's lingering fear. Eric's expression brightened, visibly comforted by Arlon's words.
Arlon then straightened and approached Elandar and Kaelan. "We need to talk. There's something important I need to share with you, something that concerns everyone here. Since you'll be living in this village, it's best you know," Arlon said seriously.
Elandar and Kaelan exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting both curiosity and concern. After a moment, Elandar nodded. "Alright, let's hear what you have to say," he replied.
Kaelan, always skeptical, couldn't resist adding, "So, did you pick up any secret intel from that monster?" he quipped, half-joking, though his curiosity was genuine.
To their surprise, Arlon blinked and responded matter-of-factly, "Actually, I did."
"..."
"..."