The Craglands were unlike any place they had visited before. A large expanse of barren land, the area was filled with dangerous creatures such as Thordbeasts, known for their earth-shaking stomps, and Cactusvines, which were notorious for their venomous tendrils that could ensnare and strangle prey.
As they moved through the wasteland, the group could feel the tension in the air. The level-2 region had its own dangers, but the wilderness had a different kind of savage beauty. The land was rugged, and the skies above were streaked with dark clouds, a constant reminder that the area was unforgiving.
Despite the threats, the group pressed forward, their souls suppressed by the invisible barrier that altered their strength. For now, they were limited to the 4-star realm. As a result, Rael and Eon's strength has completely returned to them, although this suppression was still frustrating for the knights.
As the group ventured deeper into the Craglands, the environment grew even more treacherous. The wind howled across the barren land, kicking up dust and debris. Among the dangers that lurked in the wilderness, two types of monsters immediately made their presence known.
First, the Cactusvines appeared—plant-like creatures that, at first glance, looked like nothing more than ordinary cacti. But as the group drew closer, the true danger became apparent. From within the seemingly harmless plant, twisted, spiny vines erupted, whipping out to ensnare their prey.
Despite their deceptive appearance, the Cactusvines were rank-3 monsters, and depending on their grade—silver, purple, or gold—their strength and reach varied significantly. The higher the grade, the more vines they possessed, and the stronger their grip.
Rael, Eon, and Artaigne didn't hesitate. With each swipe of their weapons and each strike of their Arcana, the Cactusvines fell one by one. As they defeated these plant-based monsters, they quickly absorbed the spirit cores left behind.
Just as the Cactusvines were dealt with, a louder rumble echoed across the Craglands. The ground trembled under the charge of the Thordbeasts, massive, lumbering creatures with thick, bark-like plating over their bodies. Their heads were crowned with cactus-like spines, and their limbs were robust, built for both endurance and power.
The Thordbeasts were rank-4 beasts, yet much like the Cactusvines, they could vary in strength depending on their grade. A higher-grade Thordbeast would possess greater speed and stronger bite force than its lower-grade counterparts.
Rael, Eon, and Artaigne weren't deterred. The three of them worked seamlessly together, effortlessly slaying the Thordbeasts that charged toward them. They attacked with precision, each strike precise and deadly, and with each beast that fell, they absorbed the spirit cores that remained.
As the creatures died, their spiritual energy flowed into the trio, though due to the difference in elemental types, they could only absorb a small percentage of it. This energy would be refined into their own soul energy, slowly increasing their reserves.
As they continued their massacre of the monsters, Rael, Eon, and Artaigne could feel their power growing.
Eon was the first to experience a major change. She broke through to the 5-star realm, becoming an Elite warrior at the age of 9.
Artaigne's strength also rose steadily with Rael's and Eon's assistance, letting her finish the majority of the monsters as Rael left them on the brink of death.
She was now on the brink of breaking through to the 4-star realm.
Rael, for his part, had already reached the peak stage of the 4-star realm.
As they continued their journey, Rael knew that the next step for Artaigne was a crucial one. She needed a specific type of elemental energy—the dark element—to complete her breakthrough and mutate her Arcana spirit.
"Artaigne," Rael spoke, his tone serious, "Let's ignore others and go straight to the one that matches your Arcana's needs."
Artaigne nodded, her expression filled with determination. She understood what needed to be done. After massacring dozens of monsters with her daggers so far, she no longer looked timid and unconfident.
Luckily, the Thornbeast King, the regional lord of this area, was not a simple earth-type monster. The Thornbeast King was a dual-element monster—both earth and dark—and it was of platinum grade. This made it the perfect opponent for Artaigne's needs.
But, where to find it?
According to Remia, who had plenty of experiences in the wilderness, Thornbeast King, unlike usual thornbeasts hates the sunlight. Perhaps, it is due to its dark element or maybe, another reason. She suggested looking for any places with minimal sunlight.
The group pressed on, moving deeper into the Craglands, looking for a cave. The harsh terrain and the constant threat of dangerous monsters did little to slow them down. After two hours of travel, they finally stumbled upon something unusual—a pair of twin caves located at the base of a steep cliff.
Rael and Eon exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. They would investigate the caves.
But then, as soon as they entered one of the caves, an unexpected change in the atmosphere occurred. The moment Rael and Eon stepped deeper inside, the rest of the group was suddenly blocked from entering. A powerful force seemed to seal the entrance, and no matter how hard the knights tried, they could not follow.
Artaigne's voice cracked with panic as she called out to Rael and Eon. "Rael! Eon! Come back!"
But there was no response.
The entrance remained closed, the eerie silence of the caves surrounding them.
Remia, ever the vigilant protector, immediately became serious, her hand resting on her weapon. The other knights stood frozen, unsure of how to react to this unforeseen development.
"What is going on?" Kaelith muttered, his face pale with worry.
Inside the cave, the atmosphere changed dramatically. It was as though the very air had shifted. Magma flowed like rivers through the cave, and the heat was suffocating. The air smelled of sulfur, and the ground beneath them was cracked and unstable.
Rael and Eon exchanged wary glances.
Rael read about these places in books. Entering some place and suddenly being transported into a different environment. One, there is a teleportation seal they stepped on. Two, they were in a dungeon.
As they couldn't sense any teleportation being applied to their bodies, both of them came to the same conclusion and spoke in unison. "A dungeon?"
The environment was quite unforgiving, and the oppressive heat made every breath feel heavier. But they pushed forward, as they had no choice but to move deeper. They won't get out until they defeat the boss of this dungeon. Both of them had treasures in their storage rings and would use them in the worst-case scenario.
Meanwhile, a shadowy figure observed them from afar.
A wicked smile curled on the Dungeon Lord's lips as he watched their every move from his throne. "How fortunate," he murmured to himself. "Not just one, but two fated ones. I wonder… will they be able to reach me?"
With a snap of his fingers, demonic energy began to swell within the cave, distorting the space and testing the strength of the intruders. The Dungeon Lord's voice echoed through the cave, his amusement being obvious.
"I'm eager to see how far you'll go. Let the trials begin."