"The land revealed itself gradually, as though it had been waiting to be noticed rather than discovered.
Pale ground stretched outward in smooth curves, free of cracks or debris, untouched by erosion that should have scarred it long ago. Vegetation grew in careful excess—dense, vibrant, and unnervingly orderly—its colors rich but slightly askew, as if the spectrum itself had been rearranged.
Nothing here looked dead, yet nothing bore the marks of age.
" It was a place that endured without decay, sustained by rules no longer remembered.
At its heart lay a vast body of water, impossibly still.
The surface held the sky like polished glass, swallowing color and light without reflection.
Even the wind seemed reluctant to disturb it; ripples died the moment they formed, dissolving into perfect calm. Along the shoreline, stone gleamed faintly, smooth and rounded, not by waves but by something far older and more patient.
No birds circled above. No insects skimmed the surface. Life existed here—but it observed from a distance, as if proximity carried a cost.
"As night settled, the water began to glow from within. A soft, submerged luminescence spread beneath the surface, like starlight trapped in liquid depths.
It was mesmerizing—serene, almost inviting—yet the beauty felt impersonal, untouched by intent or mercy. Standing there, one could not shake the certainty that the land did not welcome visitors, nor did it repel them.
It simply remained, indifferent and complete, allowing presence only for as long as it chose to endure it.
Noel's bloodied hand brushed amethyst grass that *recoiled*. "This place—"
"Quiet," Rose hissed. Beneath their feet, the ground pulsed. Soft. Alive.
Anna knelt by the river. Its surface breathed venom-green, frilled tendrils tasting air.
Where water touched obsidian boulders, white foam erupted, stone vanishing in milky froth. The sweetness hit first—jasmine and overripe peaches—then the truth: acidic haze shimmered above, dissolving motes mid-air.
Just a river ," Anna whispered. "But *wrong
"Crystal trees overhead wept glowing sap that *hissed* on stone. Carnivorous orchids snapped at luminous insects.
And beneath it all—the pulse. Roots questing. Hungry.
Rose's vortex-handseal faltered. "This shouldn't exist here
"What noel questioned ;". Rose conjured her dagger and threw inside the river . Hey wait you can't just throw something valuable like a weapon he was just pulling his hands near the river to catch. The dagger but just then he got pulled back by rose .
What ?. She said quietly wait for a bit .
And noel waited and after sometime the dagger which was inside the river was slowly dried until nothing was left of it no trace of it was left .
"Do you understand now ? Rose said .
"Well thanks for the save . Don't mind just be careful here .
*So what should we do now Anna asked to both Noel and Rose .
Nothing for now first let's see out titles and the level up .
With that the trio opened their screen interfarnce and saw the tiles given to them.
"Is this supposed to be a joke ? Does such a creepy name exist or does this stupid system just gave me whatever name he liked .
Noel was flabbergasted by seeing his title . Rose and Anna came forward to saw his title and when they saw it .
"Hahhhh hahhh it's funny Noel even if the name is weird but it's perfectly suits you . Anna said with a good laugh that she didn't had for a long time .
Noel seeing the smile in Anna face was mesmerized as she was absolutely gorgeous. And all the resentment in his mind went away .
"So what are the titles give to you both .Noel asked
Mine is sharp shooter . Anna said
"And mine is a little creepy but a good name rose said . So what's it Noel asked .
It's Ghost of dreams
Hah do you have the guts to speak saying it's a bad name when mine is "The clown .
"Well it's not a bad name a clown makes people laugh . It makes me a little better .
Yeah and for our levels up mine is now level 13 Noel said . my level has also been upgraded to 19 . Mine is 20 Rose also said .
I think there is nothing more to add them .
So let's travel into this strange place .
*****
The air inside this place was strange it reeked of smell that was too disgusting to bear .
But the place the habitats and all the other things were clean and even if the smell was unbearable it didn't harm anything in the slightest.
The trio were travelling together . They were not feeling hungry like before because the heat was almost non existent here and there was many fruits that were edible to eat .
"So you know na even if we eat all the fruits here that is totally impossible still our throat will be dry and we will need water Noel asked . Anna turned . She replied
You also know that we are trying to find the water source and one that can be drinked not for killing .
Husssh . A sound from the nearly bushes came .
Keep quiet and hide fast . Noel and both Rose and Anna run towards the tree trunk to hide .
Anna nocked a arrow and fired towards it the top of the tree and when it got lossed she grabbed the arrow and went towards the tree top with the help of its . Noel and Rose just used their cheat like instant step and that replacement.
Be quite don't make any noise .
Hum . Hum . hum loud footsteps near the bushes . After some time a large creature came into view .
It was a large blue tiger flames marking were made all over its body his whole tail was covered in blue flames which was surprisingly giving the feel of cold..
It has cuts scars all over his body near his belly flesh was teared open and blood was falling showing a recent wound it is . But even after seeing the situation of the tiger anybody from thr three didn't even said to attack.the spawn no that thought didn't even came in their minds .
As the three were just shocked and were standing shivering from the cold and also the pressure from the spawn .
"Whaaaa't is thisss i can't even stand properly noel asked his legs shaking but still didn't bend down . And he made a mistake by opening his mouth .
The tiger which was sleeping didn't even opened his eyes but all the flames in his tail disappear and was then compressed into the last point and he swung it towards the tree in which noel and the others were there .
All three of them felt the dread and fear of death the tail was coming towards them they felt the unbearable cold creeping up their skin even from a distance. Rose was the first to snap out of it .
She grabbed Anna threw a dagger in the distance and replaced it with Anna . Snap out of it Noel fast .
Noel was was shivering in fear hearing the voice of rose got out of it . The tail was just meters away from them .
Noel grabbed rose hand and threw her with his full force towards left she hit many trees in her path but still went safely noel at the last moment vanish instant step carrying him .
And then the tail hit it didn't create noise or large destruction just as noel and other thought the attack was little weak .
A snow flake formed in the leave of the tree and in just a instant every leafes were soaked in snow flakes and in just a minute 5 trees beside the tree were frozen in ice .
And tiger again opened mouth and just released a deep breath but it carieed enough force to form a small whirlwind and from which all the frozen ice as of glass breaking apart got broken and the trees leaves and all those small animals were dead by the cold and split in thousand pieces .
Noel and the others gulped nervously . I think it's better if I don't provoke him . Noel said to himself