The northern mountains loomed on the horizon, jagged peaks piercing the heavens and shrouded in a perpetual veil of mist. Kazuya tightened the straps on his newly acquired armor, adjusting to its weight and the hum of magic that resonated with every movement. The journey ahead would be dangerous, but the thought of uncovering the truth behind the creature's attack fueled his determination.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Lyriana asked, walking alongside him. Her bow was slung across her back, quivers strapped to her hips, and a steady determination burned in her silver eyes.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Kazuya replied. "Besides, we don't really have a choice. If that fortress holds answers, we have to find them."
The villagers had decided to remain in the cave for now, with Tharos keeping a watchful eye on them. The beastman had offered them provisions for the journey—dried meats, a few loaves of dense bread, and water skins—which Kazuya and Lyriana carried in their packs.
The terrain quickly grew rugged as they left the forest behind. Loose rocks shifted underfoot, and the air grew colder with every step. The path ahead was narrow and winding, carved into the mountainside and flanked by steep cliffs.
"This place is ominous," Lyriana murmured, her gaze darting around. "It feels… unnatural."
Kazuya nodded. He had sensed it too, an oppressive energy lingering in the air, as though the mountains themselves were watching them.
Hours passed in tense silence, the only sounds being the crunch of boots on gravel and the occasional gust of wind howling through the cliffs.
Just as they rounded a bend, Lyriana froze, her hand darting to her bow. "Wait."
Kazuya stopped, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. "What is it?"
"There's something ahead."
Lyriana crouched low, motioning for Kazuya to do the same. They crept forward until they could see the path ahead clearly. A cluster of figures stood in the distance, their forms shrouded in cloaks that rippled in the wind.
Bandits? Mercenaries? Kazuya couldn't tell, but their presence on such an isolated path was suspicious.
"Do you think they're guarding the path?" he whispered.
"Possibly," Lyriana replied, her voice barely audible. "But they don't look like ordinary bandits. Their movements are too… deliberate."
Kazuya activated Analyze, his vision sharpening as he focused on the nearest figure.
Name: Unknown
Race: Human
Level: 32
Skills: Stealth, Dual Wielding, Shadow Step
"They're skilled," Kazuya murmured. "Not just random thugs. Their levels are higher than most of the creatures we've faced so far."
Lyriana frowned. "Then we can't afford to underestimate them. What's the plan?"
Kazuya thought for a moment. Charging in headfirst was an option, but with such a narrow path, it would leave little room for error. On the other hand, sneaking past them was risky—if they were spotted, they'd lose the element of surprise.
"Let me handle it," Kazuya said finally.
Before Lyriana could protest, he stepped forward, activating Dash. His body blurred as he closed the distance between himself and the cloaked figures in an instant.
The first figure barely had time to react before Kazuya's sword was at his throat. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
The others turned, drawing weapons, but Kazuya didn't flinch. His stats gave him an overwhelming advantage, and he could feel the strength radiating through him as he held his ground.
The man he had pinned sneered. "You've got some nerve, boy."
Before Kazuya could respond, the air around the man shimmered, and he vanished in a burst of shadow.
Kazuya spun around, just in time to block an incoming strike. The man had reappeared behind him, twin daggers flashing as they clashed against Kazuya's sword.
"So, you're not just some lost traveler," the man said, his tone laced with amusement. "Interesting."
Kazuya pushed him back, his grip tightening on his blade. "I'll ask you one more time—who are you?"
The man smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
The other cloaked figures began to close in, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Lyriana, seeing the fight break out, loosed an arrow that struck one of them in the leg, sending him toppling to the ground.
"We're outnumbered!" she called, nocking another arrow.
Kazuya smirked. "Not for long."
He activated Burst Strike, a skill that combined his speed and strength into a devastating attack. In a blur of motion, he struck down two of the cloaked figures, their bodies collapsing before they could react.
The remaining enemies hesitated, their confidence faltering as they realized they were outmatched.
"Leave now," Kazuya said coldly, his blade dripping with blood. "This is your only warning."
For a moment, it seemed as though they might retreat. But then, the leader—the man with the twin daggers—laughed.
"You're strong, I'll give you that," he said. "But you're not invincible."
He raised his hand, and the shadows around him began to writhe and twist, forming into a dark, amorphous mass.
"Stay back!" Lyriana shouted, firing an arrow at the mass, but it was absorbed instantly.
Kazuya narrowed his eyes. Whatever this man was doing, it wasn't normal.
The shadowy mass surged forward, and Kazuya braced himself. As it collided with him, he felt a strange, numbing sensation, as though the shadows were trying to sap his strength.
But his stats held firm. His Immunity skill activated, repelling the effect and dispersing the shadows.
The man's eyes widened in shock. "What—?!"
Kazuya didn't give him time to recover. In one swift motion, he closed the distance and drove his sword through the man's chest.
A burst of energy flowed into Kazuya as the man's powers were absorbed. He could feel the new skill taking root within him: Shadow Manipulation.
The remaining enemies, seeing their leader fall, turned and fled without another word.
Lyriana approached cautiously, her bow still at the ready. "That was… intense."
Kazuya nodded, sheathing his sword. "We'll need to be more careful from here on out. If these people were guarding the path, it means someone doesn't want us reaching that fortress."
Lyriana frowned. "And whoever it is, they're willing to go to great lengths to stop us."
Kazuya's gaze hardened. Whatever lay ahead, he wouldn't back down. The truth was within his reach, and he wouldn't let anything—or anyone—stand in his way.