Ronan, Orin, Aria, Kael, and the doctor stepped out of the hospital, the crisp morning air carrying the weight of their unspoken thoughts. As they walked, Orin took it upon himself to explain the significance of the strange mark to Aria and Kael.
"Almost a month ago, Ronan and I encountered an organisation performing rituals to gain power. This mark... It's the same one we found in that cave," Orin said, his voice laced with unease.
Ronan clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "This time, I will make sure those bastards die," he murmured, a dangerous edge to his tone.
Just then, a little girl came running toward Ronan, her eyes filled with hope. "Can I go see Dad now?" she asked, her small voice cutting through the tension like a gentle breeze.
Ronan's cold demeanour melted instantly, replaced by a softness. Kneeling to her level, he gave her a gentle smile. "He's resting now. We'll visit him once he wakes up. For now, stay with your mother, alright?"
The girl nodded reluctantly, and Ronan ruffled her hair before rising. Turning to Kael, he said, "Let's go gather intel from the guild about where they encountered that humanoid monster."
Before Kael could respond, the doctor held up a folded piece of parchment. "No need. I already have the information right here."
Kael took the paper, scanning it briefly before passing it to Aria. Ronan then turned his attention back to the doctor. "Did the guild check the cave we visited before?"
The doctor nodded. "Yes, they inspected it twice, but there was nothing there."
Aria frowned, determination flickering in her eyes. "Then we'll go check the location."
Before they could move, a middle-aged man approached. He carried an air of authority, his sharp gaze assessing them. "I am Cedric, the Guild Master of Eldergrove. We sent two men to investigate before, but they've gone missing. Here are their photos. If you find them, please… And don't engage in a fight, wait until Mr. Alden and Mr. Alaric come." His voice carried a quiet plea beneath its gruffness.
Aria accepted the photos, nodding firmly. "We'll look for them."
With that, the group—Ronan, Kael, Darius, Garrick, Sylphie, Aria, Selena, Orin, Leon, and Eryk—set off toward the last known sighting of the humanoid monster.
Hours passed as they tracked through the dense forest, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. Aria led, her perception skills scanning the area carefully. The others followed closely, their senses on high alert.
She suddenly halted, eyes narrowing as she focused. "There's a mana trail here," she said. "But something's off..."
Ronan stepped beside her, scrutinising the path ahead. "Kael, what's that black fog entangled with the mana trail?"
Kael's brows furrowed. "That black fog is called Miasma."
Ronan's expression hardened. "I've never read about it, never heard of it."
Kael explains that, "It's not very common to find Miasma outside of the Dimensional Rift."
They continued following the mana trail until Kael suddenly raised his hand, signalling them to stop.
"What is it?" Aria asked, scanning the surroundings.
Kael's expression darkened. "There isn't just one barrier ahead—there are multiple. Some of them are powerful, and one of them is an illusion barrier."
They activated their perception skills, carefully analysing the barriers before them.
Kael's frown deepened. "This is strange. A barrier of this level should be self-repairing. Why is it still broken?"
Aria crossed her arms. "Most likely, the power source is depleted. Maintaining such barriers consumes an immense amount of mana stones. The recent attacks could be attempts to replenish their supply."
Kael hesitated. "This could also be a trap. We should return and report this to the guild. We should think this through thoroughly."
Aria's eyes glinted with defiance. "If you want to run back, then go."
Kael clenched his jaw but didn't respond. His gut told him that charging in recklessly was foolish, but he couldn't abandon his team. "If you won't turn back, then neither will we."
Aria scoffed. "Just don't slow us down."
One by one, they stepped through the barrier. Ronan was the last to enter, his sharp gaze lingering on the barrier's broken edges. Kael had expected it to repair and close behind them, trapping them inside—but it didn't. Relief washed over him. At least this wasn't an immediate death trap. Still, something gnawed at his instincts. Something was very wrong here.
Back at the guild hall, Guild Master Cedric sat with the doctor, Mr. Alden, and Mr. Alaric, anxiously discussing the situation. They were waiting for the arrival of a member of the Luminal Covenant.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. "Guild Master, a boy named Ronan is here to see you."
Cedric frowned. "Ronan? Wasn't he on the mission? Send him in."
Ronan entered, his presence commanding attention. Without hesitation, he strode to the table, pulling out a map of Eldergrove. With precise movements, he marked a location. "We found a broken barrier. Kael wanted to report back, but Aria insisted on going in. Everyone else followed. Here's the exact location."
He turned to hand the map to Mr. Alden when—
Cracks appear all over his body, and Pop! A thick cloud of smoke engulfed the room. When it cleared, Ronan was gone.
The doctor murmured, "Clone."
Mr. Alden and Mr. Alaric's faces darkened. "This is Phantom Clone," Alaric muttered. "Damn it."
The door swung open, and another man stepped in, his expression unreadable. "What happened? You all look like you've seen a ghost."
Mr. Alaric clenched his fists. "We just found the location of the humanoid monster."
Mr. Alden turned to Cedric. "Assemble and dispatch a medical team immediately."
Mr. Alaric shot the newcomer a glare. "Why are you late? I thought your Luminal Covenant would take this seriously."
Without another word, they all rushed out, the weight of impending disaster looming over them.
Following the faint trails left behind, Aria and her companions moved cautiously through the dense forest. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the eerie silence broken only by the rustling of leaves beneath their feet. After a few moments of navigating the shadows, they stumbled upon an old, decrepit house nestled deep within the woods.
Aria, driven by curiosity, stepped forward, ready to enter when Kael suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Why are you stopping me?" she asked, brows furrowed.
Kael's sharp gaze remained fixed on their surroundings. "We should check the area first. Something feels off."
Aria exhaled in frustration but nodded. "Alright. Let's scout the area."
As they moved cautiously around the perimeter, their eyes landed on an altar in the clearing behind the house. A sinister presence filled the air. At the centre of the altar, a man sat cross-legged, unmoving. Two lifeless bodies lay on either side of him, their once vibrant forms now husks as streams of mana flowed from them into the sitting figure. The energy pulsed and crackled, a sickening display of power theft.
A chill ran down Aria's spine. Her fists clenched. "Stop it! What are you doing?!" she shouted, stepping forward.
The man let out a slow, unsettling chuckle without even opening his eyes. His voice dripped with malice. "You all... will be my next meal. Hehehe..."
In an instant, the air trembled, and twelve humanoid monsters materialised before them, their twisted forms grotesque and pulsing with an energy that felt like Miasma. Their soulless eyes locked onto the group before they lunged with unnatural speed.
Aria reacted instinctively, activating her unique ability, Light and Thunder. Brilliant golden arcs of lightning surged around her, illuminating the battlefield as she engaged her foe.
Selena's eyes burned with determination as molten energy coursed through her veins. Magma, the fusion of Fire and Earth, erupted beneath her feet, sending streams of molten rock at the approaching creatures.
Eryk's hands crackled with raw power. His ability, Plasma, a deadly combination of Thunder and Fire, ignited the air around him as he dashed forward, slashing through his enemy with electrified fury.
Leon wielded his dual elements, Water and Thunder, his strikes swift and precise. Flashes of golden electricity danced between his hands, burning through the monsters' flesh with each impact.
Orin, gripping his spear tightly, moved like a tempest. His dual elements, Thunder and Wind, created shockwaves that sent the humanoid monster flying.