The next day, the trio returned to the Guild, eager to begin their first mission. They hovered around the bulletin board, scanning the sparse collection of contracts.
"Let's see," Leon muttered, his finger trailing across the parchments. "Corpse disappearances in Draka City… wild wolves haunting Gorgon Plains… missing spouse… escort missions…"
"It's like they'll post anything here," Amira said, crossing her arms. "Half of these sound more like chores than contracts."
Asuma's gaze fell on a particular parchment near the edge of the board. "What about this one?" he asked, pointing.
Leon leaned closer to read. "'Missing villagers in Vermis Village.' Isn't that northeast of here?"
"Yeah," Asuma replied, nodding. "It's a bit far, but it seems worth looking into."
"Better than hunting down disappearing corpses in Draka City," Leon quipped with a shudder.
As they deliberated, Jon crept up behind them silently. His booming voice broke their focus. "Vermis Village, huh? That one's been up for a while. No one wants to take it."
The trio turned to him, curious. "Why not?" Asuma asked.
Jon scratched his beard thoughtfully. "It's a backwater village. Remote, and hard to get to, and not many adventurers think it's worth their time. Plus, there are… rumors."
"Rumors?" Amira asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Jon said, his voice dropping slightly as though sharing a secret. "They say a Greko has claimed the river near the village."
Leon frowned. "A Greko? What's that?"
"A nasty water beast. Big, mean, and territorial," Jon explained. "And if that wasn't enough, there are also whispers of blood-sucking demons—vampires—roaming the area."
Leon groaned. "So it's already a lost cause. The village is doomed."
"Maybe, maybe not," Jon replied with a shrug. "The rumors might be exaggerated. Or they might not. Either way, this contract is no joke. You three sure you want to take it?"
Asuma nodded firmly. "We'll take it. If things get too dangerous, we'll retreat."
Jon's eyes narrowed slightly, appraising their resolve. After a moment, he nodded. "All right, follow me. Your Guild IDs are ready."
The trio followed Jon to the reception desk, where he handed them sleek, rectangular cards etched with their names, ranks, and the Guild crest. Taking the contract from them, he stamped it with the Guild's seal, making it official.
"Your Guild ID also shows your rank and name," Jon explained. "It's useful if you want to take on unofficial contracts or get paid directly by clients. Just don't go flashing it around carelessly."
"Thank you," Asuma said, bowing slightly.
Jon grinned, his gaze sweeping over their new attire. "By the way, nice outfits. The all-black aesthetic suits you all. Seems you even have similar taste in clothes."
Amira's face flushed as she spun on her heel. "No comments, Jon. You already scarred me for life with yesterday's pajama stunt." She bolted toward the exit, leaving Jon chuckling behind her.
Leon sighed, shaking his head. "Sometimes I forget how prideful she is."
Outside the Guild, the trio began preparing for their journey. At the city outskirts, they rented horses from a small stable, the stablemaster eyeing their Guild badges with faint curiosity.
"How long will it take us to get there?" Leon asked, securing his saddle.
"Three days," Asuma replied, tightening the straps on his horse.
"Three days? That's farther than I thought," Leon grumbled.
Asuma smirked. "Didn't you say you wanted to travel as soon as we left the academy? Well, here's your chance."
Before Leon could respond, Amira returned from the nearby market carrying a cloth bag filled with supplies. "I've got food," she said, holding it up triumphantly. "At least we won't starve on the way."
"Finally, something useful," Leon said with mock relief.
"Shut up and load the supplies," Amira snapped, tossing him the bag.
With their preparations complete, they mounted their horses and set off. The stone roads of the empire stretched before them, winding through bustling towns and rolling fields. The sound of hooves echoed against the cobblestones as the trio rode toward Vermis Village, their first true adventure as Guild members.
As the trio rode further north, the signs of civilization began to dwindle. The bustling towns gave way to sparse villages, where wary locals eyed them from behind curtained windows or offered cryptic warnings about Vermis Village. Merchants they passed on the road spoke of strange lights near the lake, and rumors of shadows moving in the fog.
By the third day, the air grew heavy with an oppressive fog. It clung to their clothes and dampened both sound and light, muffling even the steady clop of their horses' hooves. When they finally reached Vermis Village, it was a bleak and haunting sight.
The village sat by a stagnant lake, its once-vibrant waters now covered in a sickly green algae. Overgrown reeds clawed at the shoreline like skeletal fingers. The smell of decay lingered in the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of something more sinister.
"Are we sure this is the right place?" Amira asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The eerie silence seemed to swallow a sound.
Leon shook his head, glancing at the dilapidated buildings. "This looks worse than the rumors. A Greko might be a cold-blooded lizard, but it's not capable of reducing an entire village to… this."
Asuma hopped off his horse, landing softly on the overgrown dirt road. "Let's take a look around. Keep your guard up."
The others dismounted, nodding in agreement. They moved cautiously through the abandoned streets, their boots crunching against broken cobblestones. The few villagers they encountered darted into their homes, peeking out from cracked windows with wide, fearful eyes.
"Why are they hiding from us?" Amira asked, glancing at one of the shuttered homes.
"If your village was being plagued by demons, wouldn't you be afraid of strangers too?" Asuma replied grimly.
Leon frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Why don't we just find the village chief? He'd know what's going on and save us the trouble of wandering around."
Amira pointed to a large building at the far end of the village, near the edge of the lake. "That's probably it."
As they approached the structure, the air grew colder. A pulsing, malevolent aura emanated from behind the building, seeping into their bones like a creeping dread. The hairs on the back of Asuma's neck stood on end, his instincts screaming that something was very wrong.
"There's something behind this building," Leon muttered, his voice tense.
"Could it be the Greko?" Amira asked, unsheathing her dagger.
Asuma gripped his sword tightly, nodding for them to follow. Moving carefully, he rounded the building, his eyes scanning the area.
What he saw froze him in place.
Standing near the edge of the lake was a towering twelve-foot reptilian creature, hunched over the lifeless body of a human. Its thick, scaled hide glistened with a greenish-brown sheen, each plate of natural armor catching the faint light. The beast's body was sleek yet muscular, built for speed and raw power. Its limbs ended in razor-sharp claws, which dug into its prey as it ripped flesh from bone with brutal efficiency. Its tail, thick as a tree trunk, lashed violently, gouging the earth around it.
Blood dripped from its gaping maw as it feasted, the sickening crunch of bones breaking echoing across the foggy shoreline. The creature's glowing yellow eyes met Asuma's, and a primal chill ran down his spine. He instinctively activated Envision Magic, and the creature's rank flickered before his eyes:
"Three stars…" Asuma muttered under his breath.
The Greko paused, its meal forgotten, and let out a guttural growl that rattled the ground beneath their feet. Then it charged.
The earth shook as the creature lunged, its massive claws digging into the ground for traction. With terrifying speed, it swung its massive tail in a deadly arc, tearing through the ground as it aimed for Asuma.
"Move!" Amira shouted, shoving him out of the way just as the tail passed inches from his head. The force of the swing sent shockwaves through the air, knocking both of them to the ground.
"Were Grekos always this big?" Leon said, stunned, as he drew his sword.
"Forget about the size," Asuma growled, scrambling to his feet. "We need to take this thing down before it tears us apart!"
The creature roared, saliva flying from its bloodstained jaws as it turned its attention back to the group. Its predatory eyes locked onto them, calculating its next attack.
Amira didn't hesitate. Her magic spear crackled with energy as she sprinted toward the Greko, her eyes locked on one of its glaring yellow eyes. Her movements were precise, her focus unwavering, but the creature's reflexes were unnaturally sharp. Its massive tail whipped toward her with devastating speed, catching her off guard and knocking her off balance just before she could land a decisive blow.
"It's fast!" Amira muttered, rolling to her feet and gripping her spear tighter. She steadied her stance and unleashed a flurry of rapid, calculated thrusts, aiming for the weaker points between the Greko's thick scales. Sparks flew as her spear scraped against its natural armor, but the beast refused to yield.
"Asuma!" Leon called out, already nocking an arrow. He drew back the bowstring, his sights set on one of the monster's glowing eyes. Just as he was about to release, the Greko's tail lashed upward with a metallic clang, deflecting the arrow mid-flight.
Leon stared in disbelief. "What the hell is that tail made of? Steel?"
"This thing is stronger than I expected," Asuma observed, his expression grim as he analyzed its movements. "It must've devoured half the village to grow this powerful."
Unsheathing his sword, Asuma willed flames to ignite along the blade, the flickering firelight illuminating his determined face. He waited, watching intently for an opening as Amira kept the creature occupied with her relentless attacks.
Finally, the moment came. While the Greko was focused on Amira's spear thrusts, Asuma darted forward, a blur of fiery motion. With all his strength, he swung his blade down onto the base of the creature's tail, aiming for the vulnerable joint. A sickening crack echoed as his blade cleaved through the dense scales, severing the tail in a single strike. The dismembered appendage crashed to the ground, writhing grotesquely as dark blood oozed from the stump.
The Greko let out a guttural screech, staggering backward, its balance and speed significantly diminished.
Amira didn't waste the opportunity. Tightening her grip on her spear, she summoned her magic. "Lightning Magic: Flash Step!" she shouted. In a burst of electrifying speed, she blurred toward the monster, her spear charged with crackling energy.
Reappearing beside the creature in a flash of light, Amira lunged forward with a decisive thrust. The electrified spear pierced through the Greko's armored hide, lightning coursing through its body. The beast convulsed, its agonized hiss echoing through the air. With one final, powerful strike, Amira drove her spear straight through the monster, splitting it from head to tail.
The Greko collapsed with a heavy thud, its body torn apart. Its glowing eyes dimmed, and a dying hiss escaped its bloodied maw before it went still.
Leon stood back, staring at the remains of the creature with an irritated scowl. "What the hell, you guys? I didn't even get a chance to fight!"
Amira rolled her eyes, her spear dissipating as she smirked. "Face it, weakling. You wouldn't have lasted a minute against that thing."
Leon glared at her, his lips twitching into a grudging grin. "I should hit you for that," he muttered.
Asuma sheathed his sword, his gaze lingering on the Greko's corpse. "It was fast and tough, but we managed to take it down. That should complete the contract."
Leon crouched beside the body, prodding its rough hide with his arrow. "It was as quick as the rumors said, but losing its tail ruined it. All that defense didn't help much in the end."
Amira wiped her hands clean, flicking the monster's blood from her gloves. "Next time, Leon, you can be the bait."
"Hard pass," Leon shot back.
Asuma was about to retort when a chill ran down his spine. He froze, his gaze lifting toward the village. "Guys," he said, his voice trembling. "Look."
Amira and Leon turned to follow his gaze—and immediately felt the same wave of dread.
Above them, the sky had turned a deep, bleeding red, the light of the twin moons seeping through like open wounds. The crimson glow bathed the village in an eerie hue, casting long, unnatural shadows. The villagers had emerged from their homes, their eyes gleaming with an ominous red light as they stared at the trio, their movements stiff and puppet-like.
"What's happening?" Amira whispered, gripping her spear tightly.
Leon's voice was barely audible. "This… this isn't normal."
From behind them came a wet, slithering sound. The three turned, horrified, as the Greko's body began to move. Its once-lifeless eyes now glowed the same ominous red as the moons above. Dark veins pulsed along its torn body, and it rose unnaturally to its feet, the stump of its tail twitching violently.
"This isn't possible!" Leon shouted, backing away.
Asuma's knuckles turned white as he gripped his sword. "It's… not alive. Something's controlling it."
And then they heard it.
A voice, soft and lilting, drifted through the oppressive fog like a haunting melody. It was a woman's voice, carrying an unnatural sweetness that made their skin crawl.
"Blood, blood, blood… What a beautiful day to bathe in blood. Should it be a hundred… or perhaps more? Blood, blood, blood…"
The words sent shivers down their spines, and an overwhelming sense of dread blanketed the air.
"What the hell is that?" Amira whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart.
In the distance, a shadow began to form, its shape indistinct yet menacing. The voice grew louder, the song continuing like a sinister hymn as the shadow moved closer.
"Blood, blood, blood…"
The nightmare wasn't over. It had only just begun.