Morning in the mist world felt different from Earth.
Marcus noticed it the moment he stepped outside.
The air was cool and clean, carrying the fresh scent of pine sap, damp soil, and crushed grass. Sunlight streamed down through the towering trees surrounding his territory, turning drifting dust particles into glowing specks of gold.
It would have been peaceful…
If not for the distant mist pressing against the edges of the world.
Even from inside the barrier, Marcus could feel it.
A faint pressure in the back of his throat.
A strange heaviness in the air beyond the forest.
Like the world itself was slowly suffocating.
Marcus stretched his arms above his head.
Muscles popped and loosened as he let out a long breath.
"Alright."
He looked around the clearing.
Lyrielle was already awake.
The tall elf stood near the fence line, her long blonde hair swaying gently in the breeze as she watched the forest carefully. Her violet eyes moved constantly, scanning between trees and shadows.
Nearby, the three summoned wolves were awake as well.
They paced slowly along the barrier, sniffing the ground and occasionally growling toward the woods.
Marcus walked over.
"Anything interesting?"
Lyrielle glanced back.
"Movement during the night."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Wolves?"
She nodded.
"Several packs."
Marcus grinned.
"Perfect."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Breakfast delivery."
Lyrielle tilted her head slightly.
"My lord… you seem unusually excited to fight."
Marcus shrugged.
"Back on Earth I worked in a warehouse."
She blinked.
"...What is a warehouse?"
Marcus sighed dramatically.
"A place where dreams go to die."
Lyrielle looked genuinely concerned.
"That sounds terrible."
"It was."
Marcus pointed at the forest.
"But this?"
His grin widened.
"This is way better."
At that moment one of the wolves suddenly lifted its head.
The animal sniffed the air.
Then it barked.
Short.
Sharp.
The other two wolves immediately reacted.
All three turned toward the eastern side of the clearing.
Marcus frowned.
"What is it?"
The wolves suddenly took off running along the inside of the barrier, circling toward the far edge of the territory.
Lyrielle's hand moved instantly to her bow.
"They have found something."
Marcus followed them.
Grass brushed against his boots as he jogged across the clearing. The morning dew soaked into the leather slightly, leaving faint dark patches.
The wolves were already waiting near the barrier.
But they weren't growling.
They weren't hunting.
They were sitting.
Marcus slowed to a stop.
"...What?"
The wolves stared beyond the barrier.
Marcus stepped closer.
At first he didn't see anything.
Just trees.
Bushes.
Shadow.
Then sunlight reflected off something metallic.
Marcus leaned forward.
There.
Half hidden between two fallen logs.
A large chest sat on the forest floor.
Marcus blinked.
"...No way."
Lyrielle stepped beside him.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"A treasure chest."
Marcus turned to her.
"Those are normal here?"
She nodded slowly.
"Occasionally."
Marcus leaned against the barrier and studied it carefully.
The chest was large.
Iron reinforced.
And glowing faintly with golden light.
A small symbol hovered above it.
Marcus opened his system menu.
The scan function activated automatically.
Treasure Chest Detected
Rank: A
Marcus stared.
Then laughed.
"Oh this world loves me."
Lyrielle looked confused.
"My lord?"
Marcus pointed.
"That's an A-rank chest."
Lyrielle froze.
"...A rank?"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"Those are extremely rare."
Marcus rubbed his hands together.
"Which means we need it."
He tapped the barrier.
"Problem is…"
The chest sat about twenty feet outside the safe zone.
Right in the forest.
Marcus looked at the wolves.
Then at Lyrielle.
Then back at the forest.
He sighed.
"Alright."
Lyrielle immediately straightened.
"My lord?"
Marcus stretched his shoulders.
"Looks like we're going outside."
Lyrielle's expression tightened slightly.
"That would expose us to danger."
Marcus nodded.
"Yep."
He grinned.
"But also…"
He pointed at the chest again.
"...treasure."
Lyrielle looked at him for a long moment.
Then sighed softly.
"I will protect you."
Marcus placed a hand dramatically over his heart.
"That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me today."
She rolled her eyes slightly.
Marcus walked toward the barrier.
The wolves followed immediately.
When he reached the fence, the energy shimmered faintly.
He took a deep breath.
"Alright boys."
He pointed toward the forest.
"Let's go make bad decisions."
He stepped through the barrier.
The moment he did—
The air changed.
Immediately.
It was subtle.
But noticeable.
The faint pressure of the mist touched the edge of his lungs.
Marcus coughed once.
"...Yep."
"Definitely poisonous."
Lyrielle stepped through behind him.
Her expression remained calm.
"It is weak near the safe zone."
Marcus nodded.
"Good."
They moved slowly toward the chest.
Leaves crunched beneath their boots.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Marcus stopped halfway.
His wolves suddenly began growling.
Low.
Threatening.
Marcus sighed.
"Of course."
Movement appeared between the trees.
One wolf.
Then another.
Then another.
Within seconds a full pack emerged from the shadows.
Gray wolves.
At least ten of them.
Their yellow eyes burned with hunger.
Marcus cracked his neck.
"Okay."
He raised his hand toward the sky.
"Round two."
Golden light gathered in his palm.
High above—
Fire appeared.
The wolves charged.
Meteor.
The sky screamed.
WHOOOOSH
BOOM
The first wolf exploded into dirt and blood.
Loot scattered across the forest floor.
Lyrielle's bow sang.
THUNK
An arrow punched straight through another wolf's throat.
It collapsed instantly.
Marcus laughed.
"Oh this never gets old."
Another meteor fell.
BOOM
Another wolf died.
The remaining wolves hesitated.
Too late.
Lyrielle moved like a dancer.
Arrow after arrow flew.
Each one found its target.
Meanwhile meteors continued dropping from the sky.
Tiny.
Precise.
Brutal.
Within less than a minute—
The forest was silent again.
Marcus exhaled.
"Well."
He looked at the battlefield.
"...free groceries."
System notifications exploded across his vision.
Wolf Meat x40
Wolf Fur x15
Water Essence x20
Spirit Shards +5
F Rank Weapon Card
E Rank Armor Card
D Rank Weapon Card
Unit Card – Gray Wolf
Marcus chuckled.
"God I love that talent."
They collected the loot quickly.
Then finally reached the chest.
Up close it was even larger than Marcus expected.
Heavy iron bands reinforced dark wooden panels.
Golden light pulsed softly from the seams.
Marcus placed his hand on the lid.
The system window appeared.
A Rank Treasure Chest
Open?
Marcus grinned.
"Absolutely."
He lifted the lid.
Golden light exploded outward.
Lyrielle shielded her eyes.
Items spilled into the air, floating briefly before settling on the forest floor.
Marcus stared.
Then whistled slowly.
"Jackpot."
Chest Rewards
250 Food
200 Water
400 Spirit Shards
A Rank Weapon – Stormblade
A Rank Weapon – Ember Spear
A Rank Weapon – Frost Edge
A Rank Weapon – Thunder Axe
A Rank Light Armor Set – Windrunner Armor
C Rank Skill Card – Fireball
Unit Cards:
Goblin Archer x4 (C Rank)
Marcus slowly turned to Lyrielle.
"...Okay."
"I take back what I said earlier."
Lyrielle blinked.
"My lord?"
Marcus pointed at the pile of glowing items.
"We're not just rich."
His grin widened.
"We're very rich."
Lyrielle stared at the A-rank weapons.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"My lord… with equipment like this…"
She looked at him.
"...you could defeat enemies far stronger than yourself."
Marcus picked up the Fireball skill card.
Flames flickered inside the crystal.
"Oh this is gonna be fun."
Behind them—
The mist shifted again.
And somewhere deep within the forest…
Something much larger had heard the meteors.
And it was coming.