You nodded to the group as you stood outside the grand Adventurers' Guild in the capital's morning light.
"Alright. Let's take an escort quest to the Dwarf Kingdom as our first step. It'll be a good way to start traveling the world properly — protecting people, seeing new places, and moving at our own pace. From there, we can go wherever we want: elven forests, oceans, floating islands… the whole world is open."
Lukas grinned, his new "Cosmic Lord" guild card tucked safely away. "Sounds perfect, big brother. I'm ready."
Liora bowed her head gracefully. "I will follow Cosmic Lord Lukas and help in any way I can."
Mira's fox ears perked up with excitement, tail swishing. "As you wish, my lord. I'll make sure the journey is safe."
You all returned to the guild hall and quickly found a suitable escort quest on the board:
Escort Quest – High Priority
Destination: Hammerhold, the Great Dwarf Kingdom (northern mountain range)
Client: Merchant caravan carrying rare magical ores and tools
Rank: A (but open to higher)
Reward: 300 gold + travel expenses
Details: Protect the caravan through the dangerous mountain passes. Reports of increased monster activity and possible bandit raids.
You accepted the quest on behalf of the group. The receptionist's hands shook slightly when she saw Lukas's "Unmeasurable – Cosmic Lord" card, but she stamped it approved without question. The merchant leader — a stout, bearded dwarf named Thrain — was waiting outside and looked visibly relieved when he saw Mira's S-rank badge and the overwhelming aura around Lukas.
"By the Stone Father… with protectors like you, we might actually make it in one piece!"
The caravan set out within the hour — several reinforced wagons loaded with crates, pulled by sturdy mountain goats. You, Mira, Lukas, and Liora traveled alongside on foot (or floating casually when Lukas felt like it). The road led north, out of the capital and toward the towering, snow-capped mountains on the horizon.
The first day of travel was peaceful. Lukas and Liora rode in one of the wagons, talking quietly. Mira stayed close to your side, occasionally leaning in to whisper affectionate words or brush her tail against your hand. The mountain air grew cooler and crisper as you climbed.
Meanwhile, far to the south near the Whispering Woods…
A dark rift tore open in the sky above Eldenwood village.
The Demon Lord's General — a towering, horned demon named Valthor, clad in black armor dripping with hellfire — descended with a massive demonic army: thousands of snarling imps, bone horrors, and greater demons.
The villagers barely had time to scream.
The protective barrier you had once placed around Eldenwood had been silently overwritten by the Goddess's divine interference. A thick, isolating veil now surrounded the entire area, completely cutting off all sound, magic signals, and information from the outside world. No one outside could sense the slaughter. No one could come to help.
The demons descended like a tidal wave.
Most of the villagers — the farmers, hunters, and families you had saved and empowered — were mercilessly cut down. Homes burned. The enchanted food mountain was trampled. Blood soaked the ground that had once celebrated under two moons.
A small group of children and elders managed to escape through a hidden tunnel in the new stone walls, fleeing into the deepest part of the Whispering Woods, terrified and grieving. They were the only survivors.
The Goddess watched from above, a cold smile on her lips.
"Burn it all," she whispered. "Let this be the first message to that genie and his brother."
Valthor laughed as his forces finished their work. The barrier remained sealed. The massacre stayed hidden from the rest of the world… for now.
Back on the road to the Dwarf Kingdom, the caravan continued peacefully under the afternoon sun. You had no idea what had just happened to Eldenwood. The Goddess's barrier had done its job perfectly — no ripple reached your senses.
Mira suddenly tilted her head, fox ears twitching slightly.
"My lord… something feels slightly off in the distance, but I can't quite place it. Like a shadow that shouldn't be there. Should I scout ahead?"
Lukas was chatting happily with Liora in the wagon, practicing small shadow constructs for her amusement. The dwarf merchant Thrain was singing an old mountain song.
The journey to Hammerhold would take several more days.