As a 20 minutes past killing monsters on their way, moving and random direction.
They see a glowing building with a big name tag on top of it called Hunter safe zone.
As they approached and walked into the building, all of them recognized this place is nicely built, not fitting the wasteland.
Two figures stood next to a crystal
One in a tank top and a dirty appearance.
And the other in a nice suit,long hair and with bleach ends
Like he’s about to go on a runaway.
ForgeNova raised a hand.
“Yo yo yo welcome to my lovely building”.
GraveBite leaned against the structure, arms crossed.
Luma whispers to Seojun” these guys look pretty interesting ha”
Rui walked closer.
“…You two built this?”
ForgeNova nodded.
“…Yeah. That structure pushes monsters away from this area.”
He tapped the pillars holding up the building” these are quite strong so even if a monster attacks it’s not gonna fall”
“…Gives players a safe exit point. Also where people usually stop and share info.”
Luma glanced back briefly.
“…So most monsters don’t come near here?”
“…Not unless something stronger overrides it,” ForgeNova said.
GraveBite tilted his head toward the mountain.
“…And that thing up there definitely can.”
Mira’s eyes shifted to him.
Grave bite says
“…Other players passed through. Said there’s something at the top.”
“…Cold. Heavy.”
“…Like it’s watching you.”
Rui crossed her arms.
“…What did they do against it?”
ForgeNova saids” all the hunters just ran away from that thing because it’s obvious that we’re not high enough level at that moment”
” Also you should know what we can do.”
He placed his hand on the ground.
The terrain shifted slightly, forming a low wall before settling again.
“…Terrain Formation Magic.
I shape the battlefield.
And I can condense materials into high-quality ones.
Rui raised an eyebrow.
“That’s cool I guess”
ForgeNova smirked.
“…Exactly.”
GraveBite lifted his hand.
A greenish portal opens, and a group of mouth in green flames comes out and shreds the wall that was said to be quite strong into a deep pole about 4 m deep.
” I can open a portal to a god of gluttony.”
“…It eats through anything with form. Armor, shields, constructs.”
“But if it eats something, it gets more powerful, but it needs more to sustain itself when the portal gets cuts off so it just dies out and I have to feed it once in a while with some high-quality goods so Forge Nova can make something good for it so it can be satisfied.”
Seojun watched closely.
“Are you sure that thing can’t go out of control?”
GraveBite nodded.
” I think?”
Luma tapped his staff lightly.
“…That’s useful.”
Forgenova says “It seems like you guys are on a streak getting points. If you guys want to go up that mountain here’s some clothes to protect you from the cold.”
Mira looked back at the mountain.
GraveBite added quietly.
“…And that whatever’s up there… isn’t just a monster.”
Seojun stepped forward.
” Thank you guys if you need anything from us just ask.”
Gravebite says” Just give us some info when you beat it”
Seojun looked up at the mountain one more time.
“…We’re going.”
Forage Nova and Gravebite
Says goodbye and good luck
The group moved forward together
Leaving the structure behind,
And heading straight toward the mountain.
The cold deepened as they climbed and the two players of that building waves goodbye to them.
Each step felt heavier.
The air thinner.
Snow replaced stone.
Wind howled past them.
Then
Luma stopped.
“…We’re not alone.”
Shapes moved ahead.
Large.
Too large.
From the mist, figures emerged.
Massive bodies.
Pale blue skin.
Thick armor made of bone and ice.
Snow Orcs.
Not one.
A whole tribe.
Dozens.
Rui’s expression tightened.
“…Yeah. That’s not normal.”
Mira’s voice was low.
“…They’re strong.”
One of the orcs stepped forward.
Taller than the rest.
Its breath froze in the air.
Then it slammed its weapon into the ground.
The entire group of orcs roared.
The pressure hit instantly.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Luma gripped his staff.
“…We’re not fighting all of them head-on.”
Rui narrowed her eyes.
“…We don’t have to.”
Seojun stepped forward.
“…Actually…”
He looked at the shard in his hand.
“…This is perfect.”
Rui glanced at him.
“…You’re serious?”
Seojun nodded.
“…Yeah.”
The orcs began moving.
Slow.
Confident.
Like they already knew the outcome.
Mira tensed.
“…They’re coming.”
Seojun raised the shard.
“…Good.”
The crystal pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then it shattered into light in his hand.
System Notification:
“Familia Summon Activated”
The air split open in front of him.
Light poured out.
Wings unfolded.
A familiar figure stepped forward.
The Guardian.
But smaller.
Sharper.
Controlled.
Its spear formed in the air made of light.
Rui blinked.
“…No way.”
Luma exhaled.
Seojun shook his head slightly.
The Guardian tilted its head.
Waiting.
“…It’s my time to show”
The Snow Orcs charged.
The ground shook with each step.
The Guardian moved first. it shot light spears at the orks penetrating some of them
Clean.
The rest didn’t stop.
They rushed forward.
The Guardian spread its wings.
Light burst outward.
It moved again.
Faster this time.
Each strike precise.
Each hit lethal.
One.
Two.
Three orcs fell in seconds.
Rui stared.
“…That’s insane.”
Luma tightened his grip.
“That’s no fair”
“…No.”
The Guardian spun, cutting through another orc’s weapon mid-swing.
“…It’s efficient.”
An orc slammed down from above.
The Guardian didn’t dodge.
It raised its spear
And pierced through the attack point instantly, breaking the momentum.
“…Predator Sync.”
The Guardian moved like it already knew what would happen next.
Every movement was exact.
No wasted motion.
The tribe began to slow.
Not from damage
From hesitation.
Fear.
The last few orcs stepped back.
The leader roared again but this time, it wasn’t confidence.
It charged alone.
The Guardian faced it.
Still.
Silent.
Then both moved.
A clash.
Ice and light collided.
The ground cracked beneath them.
For a moment they held.
Then
The Guardian stepped forward once.
Just one step.
And drove its spear through the orc’s core.
Silence.
The leader froze.
Then shattered.
The remaining orcs turned
And ran.
The mountain went quiet again.
Only the wind remained.
The Guardian stood still for a moment then turned back toward Seojun.
Its form flickered.
Then faded into light.
System Notification:
“Familia Duration Ended”
Seojun lowered his hand slowly.
Rui let out a breath.
“…Okay. That’s broken.”
Luma nodded.
“…Yeah.”
Mira looked up the mountain.
” Did all that and it wasn’t even the boss”.
Seojun’s gaze followed hers.
” I’ll relax next time”
He clenched his fist slightly.
“…Then we’re ready.”
The wind howled louder now.
Colder.
Heavier.
Something above them was waiting.
The wind didn’t howl anymore.
It lingered.
Cold.
Quiet.
The group slowed as they climbed higher.
Snow crunched under their feet, but the sound felt… dull.
Like it was being absorbed.
Luma glanced around.
“…Feels off.”
Rui nodded slightly.
“…Yeah. Not dangerous. Just… wrong.”
Mira’s eyes stayed forward.
“…Something’s interfering.”
Seojun stopped.
“…It’s here.”
The air stilled.
Then—
She appeared.
No movement.
No sound.
Just there.
Standing ahead of them.
A woman.
Tall.
Still.
Long white hair flowed down her back, untouched by the wind.
Her body looked normal.
Calm.
But her face
It couldn’t be understood.
Every time they looked at it, it shifted—not in shape, but in meaning.
Like their minds refused to settle on what they were seeing.
And from it—
Souls spilled out.
Not violently.
Slow.
Endless.
Fading as they drifted away.
Rui frowned.
“…That’s unpleasant.”
Luma exhaled slowly.
“…Yeah.”
No panic.
No fear.
Just pressure.
The woman tilted her head slightly.
Then
Something changed.
The wind picked up again.
Colder.
Sharper.
The woman stood still for one more second
Then she moved. fast.
And sudden.
She stepped forward, and the air around her bent slightly
Lifting her up and she’s now walking on the air
Seojun’s eyes narrowed.
“…Here she comes.”
Rui raised her hand instantly.
“Dimensional Anchor.”
Orbs locked into place around her tight, precise.
For a moment
She stopped.
Held.
The space around her froze.
Then—
Her hand moved.
Slow.
And the anchors cracked.
Not shattered.
Just… slipped out of place.
“…That’s annoying,” Rui muttered.
Luma stepped forward.
“Gravity Domain.”
Pressure dropped over the area.
Heavy.
Controlled.
The woman slowed.
Her movements became weighted—
But then she summoned a whirlwind of blue energy at Luma knocking him down and canceling his ability.
She kept walking.
Step by step.
Higher and higher
Mira opened a portal to the side.
“…We don’t need to overpower her.”
“Just stop her from getting to a point we can’t reach”
The woman’s head turned slightly
Toward the portal.
Then
The wind on top of the mountain started to blow harder
Seojun moved.
“Parasite Sync.”
He jumped up and use his full force to punch her towards the ground.
The moment he touched her
Something passed through him.
Not pain.
Not fear.
Just… weight.
Memories that weren’t his.
Loss.
Silence.
His grip tightened slightly.
” I don’t care”
The woman fell towards the grounds where the others are
Just for a second.
The souls spilling from her slowed again. and the wind started to increase
Luma planted his staff down.
“…Incoming.”
The pressure wave hit.
But heavy enough to force them back a step. possibly down the mountain cliff.
Mira steadied herself.
” steady yourself”
Rui reset her stance.
Seojun nodded.
The woman raised her hand again.
The air shifted
That same unpleasant feeling pressed in.
Doubt.
Weight.
Slowing their reactions just slightly.
Not enough to stop them.
Just enough to matter.
Luma increased the gravity field
Locking her movement again for a split second.
“Now.”
Mira opened two portals instantly.
One ahead.
One behind the woman.
Rui fired a controlled blast full power
The beam passed through the portal
Striking her and she started to fall off a cliff
Seojun moved
Straight towards her
“…Go!”
Mira made another portal below her and she fell through it, and she opened one directly at Seojun
Threw a haymaker and she fell to the ground
Rui followed.
Then Mira.
Luma stepped back last
Releasing the gravity just as he moved.
Stopping being the ladies movement
Then a notification popped up “you have stopped the escape of despair” and she dropped a crystal like the Horseman’s
Seojun held the crystal in his hand.
The faint glow pulsed once.
Then—
The air shifted.
Rui frowned slightly.
“…Again?”
Mist began to form.
Familiar.
Luma’s eyes narrowed.
“…That’s the same as before.”
The mist gathered in front of them.
Slowly shaping.
Not rushing.
Not forcing.
Just forming.
Then
A figure stepped out.
Tall.
Armored.
Lance in hand.
The Horseman.
Rui tensed slightly.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
But
It didn’t charge.
Didn’t raise its weapon.
It just walked forward.
Calm.
Steady.
Until it stopped beside the woman.
She hadn’t moved.
Still standing where she was.
Still.
The Horseman stood next to her.
Not guarding.
Not attacking.
Just… there.
Side by side.
The mist lingered around them.
Quiet.
The woman’s form flickered once.
The Horseman’s armor dimmed slightly.
For a moment
Neither of them looked like enemies.
Just figures.
Fading.
Rui lowered her hand slowly.
“…They’re not fighting.”
Mira nodded.
“…No.”
Luma exhaled.
“…Feels like… the end of something.”
Seojun didn’t speak.
He just watched.
The two figures stood in silence.
Then
The crystals reacted.
The one in Seojun’s hand pulsed.
The one on the ground glowed faintly in response.
Light formed between them.
Thin at first.
Then stronger.
The glow connected.
Pulling both crystals toward each other.
They lifted.
Floating.
Slowly closing the distance.
The woman raised her hand slightly.
The Horseman lowered its lance.
Both of them began to fade.
Not breaking.
Not resisting.
Just… returning.
Their forms turned into light.
Soft.
Faint.
Drawn toward the crystals.
The souls that once spilled from the woman drifted upward one last time
Then followed.
The Horseman’s shape dissolved into the same light.
The lance fading last.
The two streams of light met
And entered the crystals.
At the same time.
The crystals touched.
For a moment
Everything went still.
Then
They fused.
A single crystal formed.
Larger.
Clearer.
Balanced.
The glow stabilized.
No distortion.
No pressure.
Just quiet energy.
The light dimmed slightly
And the crystal slowly lowered into Seojun’s hand.
Warm.
Steady.
Complete.
System Notification:
“Fusion Complete: Dream crystal of compassion”
“Type: Dual Aspect Fragment”
“Contained Entities: Dream Horseman / Dream of Sadness”
Rui let out a breath.
“…So that’s it.”
Luma nodded slowly.
“…Yeah.”
Then a global hunter announcement popped up
Group of hunters had gotten the dream crystal of compassion