The morning air at the foot of the Crystalline Mountains was sharp and biting, thin yet cold enough to creep into the bones. A light mist hung low, while the towering peaks of colossal blue crystals shimmered beneath the touch of sunlight. The beautiful scenery was swallowed by an ominous tension as the group of adventurers prepared to continue their journey.
Celia, usually playful and carefree, stood straight with an uncharacteristically serious expression. Her voice rang out, clear but firm and commanding.
"This will be a brutal battle. If anyone has doubts, it's better not to come."
Her tone silenced everyone for a moment. This wasn't the teasing Celia from yesterday, this was the true figure of an S-rank adventurer.
Seraphina turned her gaze toward Puff, who was perched on Arzael's shoulder. Her voice remained flat, though there was a subtle hint of concern within.
"Puff. You'd better not join us."
Puff shook her head quickly, ears flapping as she did.
"It's fine, Seraphina! Don't worry! Besides, I'm with Boss!" she chirped cheerfully, though her small body trembled slightly.
Arzael glanced at her, then lightly patted Puff's head.
"If you're scared, hide in my cloak. Simple."
"Ehh! I'm not scared, Boss!" Puff protested loudly, though her teeth chattered faintly.
Thorak grinned broadly. "Hahaha! A brave little rabbit! But be careful, your white fur might turn pitch black when the dragon breathes fire."
"I'll fight the dragon back!" Puff jumped up, waving her tiny paws dramatically.
Thorak's booming laughter echoed, easing the mood a little, though the tension still lingered.
They marched for hours, weaving through narrow trails carved between crystal cliffs. The wind whistled sharply through gaps in the rocks. Then, from behind the crystalline undergrowth, ten pairs of glowing red eyes appeared.
Ten black wolves leapt forth. But their bodies were marred by glowing red veins, and within each chest pulsed a corrupted crystal.
Thorak raised his axe. "Corrupted wolves."
Without hesitation, Arzael bit into the back of his own hand. Blood trickled down, yet he didn't flinch.
[Skill Activated: Pain Conversion Lv.1]
He waved his hand, and the blood rose into the air, condensing and hardening, transforming into weapons, swords, arrows, and dozens of sharp spikes hovering around him.
[Blood Manifest Lv.1]
Puff leapt upright on his shoulder, her eyes shining with pride.
"See?! That's my Boss! Pretty cool, right?!"
Alicia's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's… blood magic?! Impossible! I've been studying magic since I was four, and even the basics are difficult! How can you…?"
Thorak only chuckled. "Hahaha, no wonder you could stand against the Guild Master."
Arzael raised his hand, aiming the blood projectiles.
"Random bullshit, go."
In the blink of an eye, a storm of crimson spikes rained down. Every wolf that leapt toward them was pierced clean through, collapsing to the ground. The crystals in their chests cracked and shattered, their dying howls echoing before their bodies disintegrated into black ash.
Puff blinked, then pouted.
"Boss, that name sucks! How could you call such a cool spell 'random bullshit'?!"
Arzael replied flatly. "As long as it works."
From the side, Celia observed silently, a mysterious smile tugging at her lips, as though she knew something about Arzael but chose to keep it to herself.
The group pressed on. The path grew harsher, steeper cliffs, towering crystal walls, and treacherous ledges overlooking bottomless ravines. Hours passed before the ground began to rumble faintly.
Thud… thud…
From behind a ridge emerged a massive figure. A Crystal Golem, its hulking body made of stone and glittering blue crystal. Yet just like the wolves, veins of red corruption pulsed across its frame.
Thorak scowled. "Corruption again."
Without hesitation, the dwarf charged, swinging his massive axe at the creature's leg. The golem toppled with a thunderous crash, but within moments, the crystalline stones reformed and mended themselves.
"Useless. You have to destroy its core," Arzael said curtly.
Seraphina stepped forward, mana swirling fiercely in her palm.
"Mana Burst."
BOOM!
A violent explosion of blue-white light tore into the golem's chest, exposing a glowing red crystal within.
Thorak roared, raising his axe high.
"HAAAHH!!"
With a single mighty strike, the crystal core shattered into fragments. The golem convulsed violently before crumbling into heaps of lifeless crystal shards.
Alicia froze, stunned. "Wait… how could mana explode like that? I've never heard of such a theory in magic…"
Puff immediately cut in. "Maybe you just need to study more, lost child."
"W-what?! Lost child?! Hey, you weird rabbit, don't underestimate me!"
"QUIET, LOST CHILD!!" Puff screeched, her long ears flapping in agitation.
Their bickering filled the air again, while Thorak burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! It's much livelier this way!"
By late afternoon, they stopped to rest on a flat plateau surrounded by walls of crystal. A campfire was lit, its orange glow reflecting on the blue crystal surfaces, creating a scene both beautiful and uncanny.
Thorak busied himself cleaning his axe, Celia sat sharpening her arrows, Alicia was absorbed in her scrolls, while Seraphina stood a little further away, gazing at the stars without emotion.
Arzael leaned against a crystal wall, eyes closed, while Puff curled up on his chest, fast asleep.
As the night deepened, silence settled in, broken only by the crackling of firewood.
Suddenly, Puff's eyes opened. An odd restlessness gnawed at her. She sat up, her small eyes glimmering faintly in the dim firelight.
What am I, really? How did I end up here? Why do I always feel something… calling from within…? she wondered, her tiny chest tightening with unease.
Just as the confusion threatened to overwhelm her, a crimson glow appeared above.
Two glowing red eyes peered down from a crack in the crystal ceiling.
Puff froze. Her little body trembled violently. Then—
"WAAAAHHHH!! W-WHAT IS THAT EYE?!"
Her scream jolted everyone awake. Thorak instantly seized his axe, Celia gripped her bow, Alicia fumbled with her staff in panic, Seraphina spun sharply, while Arzael merely turned his head slightly.
"eyes?! Where?!" Thorak scanned the surroundings.
"There! Up there! In the crack in the crystal!!" Puff pointed with her tiny paw.
All eyes turned upward. Nothing. Empty.
Celia approached, her expression sharp. "Everyone, stay alert. We're being watched."
Arzael narrowed his eyes. In the reflection of the crystals, his own crimson gaze seemed to glow even darker.
The air within the crystalline cavern grew heavier, as if something enormous was lurking just beyond the shadows.