The evening sky faded into a palette of golden orange, enveloping the world in a warmth that slowly dissipated as night began to take over.
But that beauty did nothing to lessen the tension that now kept me frozen where I stood.
In front of us, a hooded man stood tall, his posture radiating vigilance, like a shadowy figure from an ancient, forgotten tale.
The air around us felt heavy, almost suffocating.
He didn't say a word.
But the slow movement of his hand, as he began to pull back the hood from his head, felt like it was dragging the world toward a pivotal moment.
As the hood fell to his shoulders, the evening sunlight reflected off his long, silver hair, shimmering like strands of silk absorbing every fragment of light.
His face came into view under the golden glow—striking, sharp, yet cold.
In that instant, the atmosphere shifted drastically.
The warmth that had been so comforting turned into a tension that pierced to the bone.
I glanced at Diego, hoping for a sliver of reassurance from him.
But he just stood there, frozen, his jaw slack, his eyes wide.
"Kai..." he murmured softly, his voice faltering.
"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to grasp what he was getting at.
But I didn't have to wait for his answer.
My gaze returned to the hooded man—or rather, the being that stood before us.
His elegant, flawless face, framed by the long, pointed ears on either side of his head, made my breath catch.
Elf.
My heart pounded violently, the rhythm almost painful in my chest.
Flashes of the Vision that haunted my mind struck me mercilessly.
Elves were here.
I stood rooted in place, feeling as though my body was bound by some invisible force.
Fear mixed with awe, creating chaos in my mind.
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He doesn't know, right?
He doesn't know I'm tied to the seed, right?
If he finds out… will I be killed?
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Diego, who seemed to sense the same threat, slowly stepped back, pulling Ayla behind me.
His steps were heavy, as if he knew retreating didn't guarantee safety.
Ayla followed him silently, but her grip on Diego's arm tightened.
I let out a soft snort, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling in my chest.
Why did it have to be me standing in front?
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm the storm inside me.
But all efforts were futile when they appeared.
The suspicion gnawing at me from the beginning was now confirmed.
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The Elven race.
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Like the voraxes, they had come.
Their presence was imposing, like unshakable pillars.
They arrived with a grace and an undeniable menace.
Unlike the voraxes, who were wild and feral, the elves carried an aura far sharper and more enigmatic.
I clenched my hands at my sides, trying to steady the trembling that I could no longer control.
The aura he exuded was heavier, more oppressive, as if every glance he gave could lay bare the entirety of my soul.
His eyes were sharp, like blades ready to pierce.
It was hard to breathe under his gaze.
When I finally mustered the courage to speak, my voice came out hoarse and slightly shaky.
"You... you..."
He looked at me.
One eyebrow arched, his expression filled with curiosity but also laced with subtle disdain.
In a low tone, sharp enough to cut through the tension, he replied,
"Do I look like a monster to you?"
I froze, trying to process his words.
Deep down, I knew I had to choose my response carefully.
Diego and Ayla, still hiding behind me, were starting to test my patience.
I glanced back at them, throwing a sharp look that finally got them to move out, albeit awkwardly.
Ayla gave a nervous smile, clearly unsure how to act.
Diego, on the other hand, bowed so deeply and exaggeratedly that I nearly rolled my eyes.
Their antics only added another layer of absurdity to this situation.
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I took another deep breath, trying to take control of the situation.
With small steps, I moved slightly forward and extended my hand, even though I felt awkward doing it.
"Forget about that. Sorry for their behavior," I said, trying to sound casual.
I forced a small smile, though it took more effort than spontaneity.
"My name is Kai. This is Diego and Ayla. They're my friends."
But my outstretched hand remained unshaken.
The elf man only stared coldly, his gaze piercing as if it could drill straight into my bones.
I swallowed hard, lowering my hand with a movement that felt heavier than it should have.
Nervousness crept in, though I tried to mask it by scratching my neck—a habit that surfaced when I felt uncomfortable.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, he spoke.
His voice was low but sharp, like a blade carving every word into the air.
"I am Kael Throne. Call me Kael. I am of the elf race," he said, in a tone that left no room for further explanation.
There was a formality in his tone, the kind that belonged to someone used to giving orders, not taking them.
His voice was cutting, with an intonation that carried a subtle challenge.
I could feel the weight behind his every word, as if he was deliberately testing how far I could endure this situation.
His gaze was penetrating, stripping away the outer layers of my composure.
My breath grew heavier, though I tried hard to keep my expression calm.
Inside, I wrestled with countless questions.
Was he an ally or a threat?
Was he like the voraxes who mercilessly destroyed humans?
Or was there a chance he could be reasoned with?
I knew that one misstep could spell disaster.
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I took a deep breath again, trying to ease the tension gripping me.
Then, in a voice that I tried to make sound formal, I said,
"So, about forming a party... The rules here state that one person has to be the leader to decide whether we take on missions or not. Anyone want to nominate themselves?"
I deliberately directed the question to everyone, though deep down, I already knew the answer.
As expected, Ayla and Diego quickly shook their heads, like children afraid of being called to the front of the class.
I rolled my eyes at Kael. His expression remained flat, without the slightest change.
"You're more suitable," he said suddenly.
His voice was calm, nearly devoid of emotion, but there was something in his tone that made me pause for a moment.
"When you ran toward the safe zone, I saw you think quickly to find a way out and guide your friends."
I was stunned.
Was that... a compliment? From an elf?
Even Diego and Ayla looked equally shocked.
Kael added,
"Though I still don't know what you were talking about earlier before the translator feature activated."
Ah, that explained his earlier silence. He really hadn't understood us.
"Thank you..." I replied, somewhat hesitantly.
I wasn't used to receiving acknowledgment like that, especially from someone with such an overwhelming aura.
"Well, since no one objects, I'll take on the role of leader."
I opened the holographic screen in front of me, checking the party formation options.
"It says here I have to input a party name. Any ideas?" I asked, glancing at each of them.
Diego, as usual, raised his hand enthusiastically. But before he could say a word, I quickly cut him off.
"Except Diego," I said firmly.
"Hey! I was just trying to help," he protested, shrugging with a resigned smile.
His face bore an expression I knew all too well—a mix of disappointment and humor.
As if he already knew that his naming suggestions rarely got approved.
It wasn't hard to see why.
After all, who else but Diego would name his Golden Retriever Megamite77GoldenAngel?
A name that was not only absurdly long but utterly ridiculous.
And the oddest part? He actually called it "77."
Imagine the situation... coming home and yelling, "Megamite77GoldenAngel, come here!"
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"How about 'Eclipse'?" Ayla suddenly suggested, breaking the silence.
Diego immediately nodded in agreement, without a hint of protest.
Kael, on the other hand, just shrugged indifferently.
"Up to you," he said flatly, emotionless.
"Alright, since everyone agrees, the name will be 'Eclipse,'" I decided.
"To activate the party, it says we need to shake hands. Let's give it a try."
I extended my hand toward Diego first.
He shook my hand eagerly, and instantly, a party invitation pop-up appeared on his screen.
We repeated the process with Ayla and finally with Kael.
When he shook my hand, there was a brief moment where his sharp eyes locked onto mine—like he was weighing something unspoken.
Our party was now officially formed.
Four people. I was the leader.
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"So, what's the plan now?" I asked after completing the party configuration.
"It says we have three days to prepare for the next phase. Kael, do you know anything?"
All eyes turned to Kael.
There was a glimmer of hope in Ayla and Diego's expressions, but I was more cautious.
Kael's demeanor had been shrouded in mystery from the beginning, and I doubted he'd offer a satisfying answer.
"No idea," he replied curtly, his voice as cold as ever.
"It says water-dwelling races will join in. Maybe we just need to survive against them."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
That answer wasn't very helpful, but at least it gave us a vague idea.
"Umm... may I ask you another question?" I ventured, even though I knew the risk.
Kael raised an eyebrow, as if challenging me.
"I'll only answer if we use an equal question system. One question for one question."
I paused for a moment. Then I nodded.
"Alright," I agreed after a brief hesitation.
I chose my words carefully.
"Where are you from? And how did you end up here?"
Kael tilted his head slightly, watching me with an unreadable expression.
"For the first question, I'm from Ares, the land of elves. For the second, I don't know. We just seemed to be teleported here suddenly."
His tone was flat, but there was power behind his words.
He crossed his arms over his chest, his posture remaining firm and alert.
"Now it's my turn," he said sharply.
"Two questions."
I held my breath.
"Go ahead."
"Did you see any other elves around here? And have you seen black-skinned insects?" he asked, his tone cold but laced with something else—revenge, maybe even anger—hidden beneath the surface.
I looked down, avoiding his piercing gaze as I tried to process his questions.
It felt like a trap, and I knew that any answer I gave would only drag me deeper into trouble.
His questions were clearly pointing to the Voraxes—the vicious insectoid race we had encountered earlier.
Damn, this was a tight spot.
Dodging the question would only make things worse.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself.
"For the first question, no," I answered softly, lifting my gaze to meet his.
"We haven't seen any other elves." I paused briefly, choosing my next words carefully.
"For the second question... yes, we've seen them," I continued, my tone more resolute even though my heart was still pounding.
Kael's expression didn't change, but I could feel the tension in the air thickening.
"I want to ask a question," he said, his tone sharper now.
Before he could continue, I raised my hand, trying to calm him down.
"Go ahead, Kael. Just ask," I said with a forced, faint smile.
"I'll answer without any conditions. Consider it a sign of my trust in our party."
Kael fell silent.
His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me as though he was trying to determine whether I was genuinely sincere or hiding something.
"Where did you see them? And did you see any larger insects?" he finally asked, his tone flat but making my anxiety spike.
I pointed toward the massive wall of water we had passed through earlier.
"Over there. Not far from where we first arrived. But now, it might already be submerged."
Kael clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white.
His eyes burned with vengeance, but he said nothing.
"And about the larger insect..." I hesitated before continuing, "...do you mean the queen?"
Kael's face changed drastically.
"You saw the queen?" His tone grew firmer, brimming with anger that seemed on the verge of breaking free.
I felt Diego shifting nervously beside me.
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"KAI!" he called out in panic, trying to stop me before I said anything worse.
But I raised my hand, signaling him to stay calm.
"It's alright, Diego." I turned back to Kael and nodded.
"Yes, we saw her."
Kael stepped forward, closing the distance between us.
The air around him grew heavier, like an invisible force pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.
"Did you see her corpse?" he asked again, his eyes blazing with hatred.
"Who killed her?"
I took a deep breath, summoning all the courage I had.
"Well... Diego and I killed her."
Kael's reaction was as expected.
His face showed clear disbelief.
"You?" He emphasized the word with palpable disdain.
"A human?"
I slowly raised my hands, trying to de-escalate the situation.
"You might not believe it until we show you something... but please, calm down first."
Kael didn't reply, merely raised an eyebrow, waiting.
I reached into my pocket, pulling out a small seed, gripping it tightly before holding it out to Kael.
"This, proof that we did it." I said quietly.
Kael's usually cold expression completely shattered.
His eyes widened, filled with shock—even horror.
Without warning, he snatched the seed from my hand.
"Kael, wait—!" Too late.
The moment his hand touched the seed, dark energy erupted from it, enveloping his hand.
Kael staggered backward, his face contorting in pain.
I stood frozen, guilt gripping me as I watched.
When he finally looked at me again, his eyes blazed with hatred.
I could already predict what was coming, and I was right.
When he finally locked eyes with me, his gaze burned with fury.
"YOU! WHAT DID YOU DO?!" he roared.
From his hand, a bow made of energy materialized.
He drew the bowstring, forming an arrow of bright green wind energy.
The wind around us began to howl, whipping up dust and sand into a miniature storm.
Diego stepped in front of me, positioning his body as a shield against Kael's threat.
The aura around Diego shifted drastically.
He now radiated an intense energy, a concealed menace that left me stunned.
"Lower your bow," Diego commanded.
His voice was low, cold, but carried an authority that left no room for doubt.
There was no hesitation in his tone—only a veiled threat strong enough to make anyone think twice.
Kael kept his bow drawn, the green energy arrow trembling with his unresolved rage.
The elf's eyes burned like embers, radiating intimidating anger.
Yet, even as the wind raged around us and the threat loomed, Diego stood his ground.
"Listen to their explanation first," he continued firmly.
His tone was like a blade cutting through the air, forcing everyone who heard it to stop and pay attention.
I swallowed hard, trying to process how quickly the situation had escalated.
At first, I thought Kael would just ask a few questions, but now he seemed ready to kill me—or maybe all of us—without a second thought.
It felt like standing on the edge of a cliff with no safety net.
Diego's aura now radiated so powerfully, it felt like an invisible battlefield had formed.
Only now did I realize this was his war cry—one of Diego's special abilities that emitted a mental pressure capable of intimidating enemies.
But this time, even as an ally, I couldn't help feeling a little overwhelmed.
"You'd better explain yourselves thoroughly," Kael said, his voice calmer now but devoid of any warmth—only a chilling, dangerous edge.
He slowly lowered his bow, though the energy arrow remained glowing, as if ready to be fired at any moment.
"If you're hiding anything, I guarantee you won't survive until the third day."