"Well, if that's the case, then I guess I'll just have to keep getting stronger," Wei said, turning his back. "With my new level, I don't think I'll have much trouble leveling up anymore. Thanks for all the advice, anyway."
With that, he walked away.
I can smell that a great war is coming very soon. Am I right, General Dawnblade?" Roja said.
Dawnblade replied, "Absolutely."
Meanwhile, Wei ran out of the coliseum, searching and hoping he could still find Ryo. But all he found was a crowd of elves in commotion—some panicking after witnessing Wei's display of power, some in awe, and others in complete disbelief.
"Sheesh, I wish I could've told him I wanted to go on an adventure with him," Wei muttered.
Then he remembered Garbaru. Wei quickly swiped his hand through the air, pulling up a screen. He tapped on it and soon saw Garbaru's image appear.
"Garbaru! Pick me up outside the coliseum, hurry!" Wei said urgently.
Garbaru replied with a loud quack. Level 2 Wild Birds have an excellent ability to locate their owners by sensing their energy.
That's exactly what Garbaru did—soaring through the sky, following the trail of Wei's unique energy.
In no time, he spotted Wei amidst the crowd. Garbaru descended rapidly, wings cutting through the air with powerful strokes. The crowd of elves parted instinctively, many stepping back in fear or amazement as the large bird swooped down.
With a graceful flap, Garbaru landed right in front of Wei, stirring a gust of wind that ruffled cloaks and sent dust swirling.
Wei grinned widely, relief flashing across his face.
"Garbaru, you magnificent beast! You really found me fast!" he said, reaching out to pat the bird's feathered neck.
Garbaru let out a loud, proud quack, nuzzling Wei slightly with his beak.
Wei chuckled. "Alright, buddy. Let's get out of here before another crazy general shows up."
He hopped onto Garbaru's back with practiced ease, gripping the bird's reins.
"Take us somewhere safe, Garbaru. Somewhere far from all this chaos."
With a powerful leap and a mighty beat of his wings, Garbaru took to the skies, carrying Wei higher and higher, leaving behind the stunned elves and the shattered arena.
As they soared above Lenor City, Wei looked ahead toward the horizon, feeling hopeful and excited about finding someone who might have a teleportation scroll back to his world once he reached another country." "Wei asked, "Wisdom, can you tell me which city or country we will reach if we head north?"
The magic system, Wisdom, replied through text on the screen:
*************************************
Once you head north, the next city you
will reach is The Shrouded Hollow.
This is a kingdom of criminals.
*************************************
A kingdom of criminals? Then why didn't the generals raid that city and execute them? Hmm… probably because there are a lot of strong creatures in that area. I need to find out." Wei thought.
///////
The next day, Wei didn't realize he had fallen asleep on Garbaru's back. Morning light shone on his face.
"Quackk!!" Garbaru let out a loud cry.
Wei's eyes fluttered open, his head still resting on Garbaru's back. He slowly sat up and looked ahead. Not far in the distance, he saw the Shrouded Hollow. The city looked nothing like Lenor.
Spiked towers, crooked rooftops, and twisted bridges connected buildings that seemed to be stitched together from ruins. Most houses bore signs of constant patchwork—scrap metal, tarps, and salvaged wood crudely covering holes and damage.
"This city looks like it was rebuilt after a war. But not bad, at least for me."
Garbaru gave a low, cautious squawk as they descended toward the outskirts of the city. He landed on a weathered stone path just outside The Shrouded Hollow.
Wei jumped off, landing softly, his rubber shoes crunching on broken gravel.
"City of criminals, huh? Let's see how good they are with swords. Hehe."
Wei saw two griffins lying on top of the city wall—one on the left and one on the right. Between them stood the main gate.
As Wei approached the main gate, the two griffins raised their heads, their eyes glowing faintly with suspicion. The one on the left gave a low growl, while the other flared its wings slightly, as if ready to take flight.
Two cloaked guards stepped out from behind the gate, both wearing mismatched armor and carrying jagged blades at their sides. One of them narrowed his eyes at Wei.
"Traveler," he said gruffly, "you're entering The Shrouded Hollow. This ain't Lenor. State your business—or turn around."
Wei rested his hand on his sword's hilt, not threateningly, but with quiet confidence. "I'm just passing through. Looking for someone who might know about teleportation scrolls."
The guards glanced at each other. The first one chuckled darkly. "You're either brave or stupid. Either way, if it's scrolls you're after, you'll want to visit the Black Veil Market. But watch your back—people lose more than gold in that place."
Wei nodded. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
The gate creaked open slowly, revealing a maze of shadowy streets and twisted alleyways beyond. The smell of smoke, oil, and damp stone drifted out to meet him.
Wei stepped forward, entering the city of criminals.
"This city is strange—the deeper you go, the darker it gets. Regardless, it's time to see what kind of trouble this place has in store."
Wei followed the winding paths through the twisted alleys of The Shrouded Hollow. Dim lanterns flickered from crooked poles, casting long shadows across the cracked stone streets. Every passerby seemed to glance twice—some sizing him up, others fading into doorways like ghosts.
Finally, he arrived.
The Black Veil Market sat in the heart of the city, hidden beneath a massive tarp canopy woven from stitched leather, old banners, and scavenged sails. The entire bazaar pulsed with whispered deals, clinking coin, and the subtle hum of forbidden magic.
Stalls packed tight under the canopy displayed all manner of goods—poison vials, enchanted weapons, illegal scrolls, shrunken beast heads, and items too strange to name. Vendors wore masks, veils, or enchanted cloaks that shimmered like shadows. The air was thick with incense and the musk of wild creatures caged nearby.
Wei moved carefully between the stalls, eyes scanning, senses alert.
A hooded merchant with silver eyes caught his attention. Their booth glowed faintly with magical artifacts. On a shelf behind them, stacked carefully in a glass case, were teleportation scrolls—or what looked like them.
"Looking for a way out, stranger?" the merchant asked, voice calm but unreadable. "Teleportation isn't cheap. And it always comes with a price beyond coin."
Wei narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. "I don't care about the price. I just need a scroll that can send me back to the human world."
The merchant leaned forward slightly, the shimmer of their silver eyes piercing through the shadows. "Ah… the human world. A rare destination—and even rarer for someone like you to return from here. You must've caused a storm."
Wei didn't flinch. "I'm done with storms. I just want to go home."
The merchant tapped a long, gloved finger on the glass case. "There's one scroll that might work. Ancient. Unstable. Used only by royal emissaries of the old bloodlines. It'll cost you."
Wei folded his arms. "How much?"
The merchant smiled slowly. "Not coin. I want a favor. Something only a warrior like you can do."
Wei's expression darkened. "What kind of favor?"
"There's someone in this city… a man known only as the Grinmaker. He's killed three of my runners. You bring me his silver jawbone as proof he's dead—and the scroll is yours."
Wei smirked. "That's it? Kill a criminal in a city full of criminals? Sounds easy enough."
The merchant's voice dropped to a whisper. "He's no ordinary thug. Be careful. Even the shadows fear him."
Wei turned away, gripping his sword. "Then I guess it's time I introduced myself to the shadows."
Wei stepped out of the shadowy shop, the cold air of The Shrouded Hollow brushing against his skin like a warning. The city's twisted streets stretched ahead—dark alleys, crooked lampposts, and murmuring voices echoing through the fog. He scanned the area, then whispered to himself, "Alright, Grinmaker… where are you hiding?"
He started walking, his boots crunching on the gritty stone. Locals kept their distance, casting brief, wary glances. Some recognized him. Others simply felt the weight of his presence. He passed a tavern where laughter died the moment he approached. Inside, eyes followed him, and whispers spread like wildfire.
Wei approached a hunched figure by a fire barrel near the alley. "You know where I can find a man with a silver jaw?"
The man looked up, eyes widening. "Y-you're looking for him?"
"I don't repeat myself," Wei replied coldly.
Shaking, the man pointed toward the east quarter. "Black Alley… behind the glassworks. Don't go alone. No one comes back from there."
Wei dropped a few silver coins into the man's hand and turned without a word.
As he reached Black Alley, the air grew heavier. The fog clung to his skin like damp cloth, and even the sound of his footsteps seemed to vanish. He stopped before a twisted archway of rusted iron.
A chill crept down his spine—not from fear, but from anticipation.
"I know you're watching me," he said aloud.
From the dark came a clicking sound… like bone tapping metal.
A low voice echoed through the shadows. "So… you're the one hunting me."
Wei slowly unsheathed his sword. "And you must be the Grinmaker."