Jin stumbled through the snow, blood dripping down his arm as pain shot through his body with every breath. His chest heaved, and his vision blurred, but he pressed forward, clutching the precious fruit he had risked everything to obtain. The icy winds bit into his skin, yet they were nothing compared to the searing pain that came from the monstrous attack he had just barely survived.
It had come out of nowhere—a roar so powerful it shook the ground beneath him. The Frostfang Brontusk and Ice Crystal Boar had fled the moment the sound echoed across the mountains, their towering frames vanishing like frightened prey. Jin hadn't even had time to celebrate their retreat before the true nightmare revealed itself.
A shadow had darkened the sky, wings slicing through the air with a thunderous clap. When Jin looked up, his heart nearly stopped.
The Drack.
It was a beast of legends—part dragon, part serpent, with scales that shimmered black and crimson, as if flames burned beneath its skin. Its eyes glowed like molten gold, locked onto Jin as if he were nothing more than prey. At level six, it was beyond anything Jin had faced before.
Its roar tore through the mountains, and the very air seemed to crackle with energy. Before Jin could react, it unleashed a devastating attack. Flames erupted from its mouth, mingling with arcs of lightning that tore through the earth. The explosion was deafening, and the shockwave hurled Jin backward like a rag doll.
He barely managed to throw himself behind a jagged outcrop of rock, but the edge of the blast still reached him. His left arm was scorched, and shards of ice and stone had embedded themselves into his side. Blood stained the snow around him as he lay there, struggling to keep his consciousness.
When he finally forced himself to look, his eyes widened in horror. Half the mountain had been obliterated. What was once solid rock was now a gaping crater, smoke rising from the shattered ground. But within the chaos, something caught his eye—a dark opening revealed by the destruction. A cave.
Jin gritted his teeth, clutching the fruit tightly. It glowed faintly, warm against his fingers as if pulsing with life. He didn't know what lay within that cave, but he knew he couldn't stay out in the open. The Drack circled overhead, its massive wings casting shadows that swept across the ruins. He had to move.
Pain tore through his body as he dragged himself forward. Each step felt like agony, but Jin refused to stop. The Drack let out another roar, and Jin froze, terrified it had spotted him. But instead, the monstrous creature turned its attention to the fleeing Frostfang Brontusk and Ice Crystal Boar.
They were fast, but the Drack was faster. With a single flap of its wings, it closed the distance, unleashing another devastating blast of fire and lightning. The beasts scattered, their roars filled with panic as they fled into the forest. Jin didn't stay to watch what happened next.
He reached the cave's entrance, its dark maw looming before him like the mouth of some ancient beast. Without hesitation, he slipped inside, his breath ragged as the shadows swallowed him.
The cave was cold, but it offered shelter from the storm outside. Jin collapsed against the wall, clutching his wounded side. His vision swam, and for a moment, he thought he might pass out. But then his gaze fell on the fruit.
The Infernalis Fruit.
It was unlike anything he had ever seen. Its surface pulsed with veins of red and gold, faint embers flickering around it as if it were alive. The legends spoke of its power—mana amplification, body reinforcement, and even the ability to awaken hidden potential.
Jin's fingers trembled as he held it. Was this worth the price he had paid? His body ached, his strength was fading, and he wasn't sure if he would survive the night. But he couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. The cave stretched deeper, and he needed to find a safe place to rest. With one hand pressed to the wall for support, Jin began to move forward, leaving a faint trail of blood behind him.
The deeper he went, the quieter it became. The sounds of the storm outside faded, replaced by an eerie stillness. Strange markings lined the walls, glowing faintly in the darkness. They resembled veins of fire, pulsing in rhythm with the fruit he carried.
"What is this place?" Jin muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
The cave seemed alive, almost as if it were responding to him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone. But exhaustion finally caught up to him, and his legs gave out. Jin collapsed onto the stone floor, clutching the fruit close to his chest.
For now, he was safe. But as his eyes fluttered shut, he knew the true battle had only just begun.
End of Chapter 5