Julian pressed on toward the south, where Mondric awaited. The journey, which would have taken ordinary men weeks, was a mere few days for him, thanks to his speed, agility, and honed senses. Each step carried a sense of purpose; the wind whispered past him as if acknowledging his mastery over it, and the jungle's obstacles seemed almost to bend to his will. Every tree, every jagged rock, every uneven slope passed with fluid efficiency, a testament to the power he had cultivated over the past year.
At last, he reached the entrance to Mondric's cave. The familiar mouth of the cavern loomed before him, shadowed and silent, yet brimming with unseen energy. Julian exhaled slowly and released a wave of wind mana, letting it cascade outward like ripples in a pond. It swept over the terrain, feeling every presence, every disturbance in the air. He sensed many figures—guards, servants, and followers—but one presence towered above them all. The unmistakable aura of Mondric, deep and overwhelming, radiated power that made Julian's pulse quicken.
A deep breath steadied him. This was the culmination of his training, the first step into a larger, more dangerous world. With resolve tightening his chest, Julian stepped inside.
The cave was familiar, yet it had changed. Shadows danced along the walls, flickering across faces Julian had never seen before. Men and women, some armored, some in robes, turned their heads toward him as he entered. Their eyes assessed him carefully, as though measuring the strength he carried now. Julian met their gazes steadily, unflinching, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He had grown; they could feel it.
He navigated the winding corridors toward Mondric's chamber, where a handful of guards now stood in rigid formation. Julian immediately noticed the difference: a massive, imposing door had been installed where previously there had been only a simple archway. Its polished metal gleamed faintly in the torchlight, and the guards flanked it like statues, their hands never leaving the weapons at their sides.
Just as Julian reached out to open the door, a voice called out behind him—a voice that made him freeze in surprise.
"Heyy!"
He spun around sharply. The voice was unmistakable, feminine, and familiar. Standing a few paces away was Noel. She had grown—eighteen now—and her once soft features had matured into a confident, sharp presence. Her eyes shone with clarity, and the subtle strength in her posture suggested she was no longer the shy girl he remembered.
"Oh, hi," Julian said, a note of surprise threading through his voice.
Noel smiled, her tone bright, almost playful, yet carrying a hint of seriousness beneath. "Long time no see. You look… different."
Julian returned her smile with a grin of his own. "I could say the same about you." He had expected her to be timid, as she had always been, yet now she radiated a quiet confidence that made his curiosity spike.
His eyes swept across the bustling cave, taking in the new arrivals and the sense of organized tension that pulsed in the air. "What's going on here?" he asked, his tone sharper now, tinged with concern.
Noel's expression sobered. "Oh, that… it's an emergency meeting. Lord Mondric is preparing to begin something… something serious."
Julian raised an eyebrow, his curiosity deepening. "And what exactly is his plan?"
Noel let out a slow, measured sigh, her eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing every word. "He wants to control the world. To become the strongest being alive. His first step is to eliminate the most powerful figures in existence. Those who could oppose him… they are his targets."
Julian's eyes widened for a brief moment, then he shook his head, incredulous. "What a ridiculous plan," he muttered under his breath, though a part of him knew better than to underestimate Mondric's resolve.
Noel looked at him with a mixture of exasperation and resignation. "It may be foolish, but it's exactly what he wants. And he has the means to begin… starting now."
A heavy silence settled between them. Julian's eyes flicked toward the massive door again, his hand twitching slightly toward it. "Where are Harris and Capel?" he asked, his tone sharper, more urgent.
Noel's hand tilted, pointing toward the enormous door. "Inside," she replied softly, though the firmness in her voice left no doubt. "They're already part of the meeting."
Julian's heartbeat quickened. The chamber beyond the door promised answers, challenges, and perhaps the first true confrontation of the coming storm. The air seemed to thrum with anticipation, carrying whispers of power and ambition. He tightened his grip on his backpack and took a final breath, readying himself. Whatever awaited inside, he would face it head-on.