Light enveloped Ryu, Aris, and Draven as they stepped through the swirling portal. For a brief moment, they felt weightless, as if the world had dissolved beneath their feet. Then, the light faded, and solid ground formed beneath them once again.
The air there was warm and fragrant, carrying the scent of wildflowers and freshly turned soil. They stood over the edge of a big valley, bathed softly in golden light. It was full of rolling hills that stretched endlessly, alive with vibrant fields and flashing streams. It was totally different from the oppressive darkness they had been in the canyon.
"This… doesn't seem like a death trap," said Aris, her voice inflected with cautious hope.
"Don't jinx it," Draven said, settling his spear across his shoulders. "Pretty scenery usually means something's waiting to kill us."
Ryu said nothing, his eyes on the horizon. He could see a structure down in the center of the valley, a great white and gold tower with its spire piercing into the sky. There was a low luminescence at its tip and it pulsed in line with the shard in his inventory.
[New Goal: Climb the Nexus Tower].
[Warning: Zone Difficulty Hiked. Hostile Units Exist.
"Well, here it is," Ryu said, pointing toward the tower. "The next part of the puzzle."
Aris sighed, crossing her arms. "Of course. A giant, ominous tower in the middle of nowhere. Classic."
Draven grinned. "You've got to admit, it's dramatic. I like it.
The group began their descent into the valley, the soft grass crunching beneath their boots. The atmosphere was peaceful, almost serene, but the warning of the notification lingered in their minds.
As they approached a small stream, Aris knelt to examine the water. "Crystal clear. Almost too perfect, don't you think?"
Draven splashed some onto his face without hesitation. "If it's poisoned, I'll let you know."
Ryu smiled softly but stayed on high alert. His HUD did not pick up anything dangerous around them, yet he could not help feeling they were being watched.
Halfway across the valley, peace was shattered by a shrill cry echoed through the air and by the beating of heavy wings against the sky. The trio froze, their guns drawn, as a massive shadow swept across the ground.
Above them, a massive creature circled-a wyvern with glittering emerald scales and shining golden eyes. It shrieked again, deafening; its tail cracked through the air like a sharp blade.
[Emerald Wyvern – Level 28.]
[Special Zone Guardian. Territory Hostile.]
"Wyverns," Aris mumbled. "Why does it always have to send death machines?"
"Because they are awesome," Draven said as he readied his spear. "Prepare yourselves!"
The wyvern swooped down, its talons extended toward Ryu. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding being skewered. The beast's wings kicked up a violent gust, forcing Aris and Draven to shield their faces.
"We can't fight it on the ground!" Ryu shouted, gripping his sword tightly. "It's got the advantage up there!"
Aris activated Shadow Step, disappearing in a puff of smoke and appearing on a nearby rock formation. She hurled one of her daggers, the blade catching the wyvern's wing. It shrieked, banking hard to the left, but the attack seemed only to infuriate it.
"Keep it distracted!" she called.
Draven grinned, thrusting his spear into the ground. "On it." He activated Skyward Thrust, blasting himself into the air like a missile. His spear struck the wyvern's tail, forcing it to lower altitude.
Ryu saw his chance. Activating Quick Step, he ran forward and jumped, his sword glowing as he used Blade Surge. The attack hit the wyvern in the chest, leaving a glowing slash across its scales. The beast roared in anger, crashing to the ground with a deafening impact.
"Good job!" Draven called, landing gracefully beside the others.
The wyvern writhed, snapping its jaws at anything within range. Its wings were damaged but not useless. With a powerful beat, it created a shockwave that sent the trio sprawling.
"We need to finish it!" Ryu shouted, pushing himself to his feet.
Aris nodded, her daggers glowing with shadowy energy as she activated Phantom Blades. She dashed forward, her strikes blurring as she targeted the wyvern's vulnerable joints.
Draven came, striking with Impact Spear and smacking his blade into the neck of the beast. The wyvern reeled, its steps growing leaden as it lost more blood from the wounds inflicted.
Ryu approached, his sword flashing brightly, to deliver the final thrust. With a battle cry, he initiated Nexus Strike, thrusting the sword into the wyvern's heart. One last shriek, and then the creature was down, dissolving into motes of light.
[Emerald Wyvern Defeated.]
[Experience Acquired: +12,000.
[Item Awarded: Wyvern Scale (Rarity).]
They remained silent, breathing deeply.
"Well," Draven declared, breaking the awkward tension, "that was exhilarating."
Aris narrowed his eyes. "You have a really twisted view of fun."
Ryu ran his sword through some fabric to clean it. "Enough. Let's move on. The tougher the battles are, the closer we get to the truth.
As they journeyed on, the tower grew larger, the glow brighter. The calm facade of the valley started to crumble, showing the dangers that lay hidden beneath.
And the whispers? They were louder now, almost deafening.
For the trio, this was only the beginning.