The monster lunged.
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
It moved far faster than something of its size should have been able to move.
But Eldran didn’t step backward.
He stepped forward.
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath his foot.
Eldran raised his wooden staff.
The monster’s enormous claw came down.
CLANG!
A powerful shockwave exploded through the clearing.
Ryuzen threw his arm over his face.
Leaves and dust flew everywhere.
When the air cleared, Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
Eldran was still standing.
His staff was pressed against the monster’s claw.
One old man.
One massive beast.
Neither moved.
Ryuzen couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Eldran…”
The old wizard’s robe moved gently in the wind.
His glowing eyes remained fixed on the creature.
“You should not have come here.”
The monster roared.
Eldran pushed.
The beast was suddenly thrown backward.
CRASH!
It smashed through three trees before finally stopping.
Ryuzen stood frozen.
That single movement had sent the creature flying.
Eldran lowered his staff.
Ryuzen slowly walked toward him.
“You could have done that this whole time?”
Eldran looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Then why have I been carrying twenty-pound water buckets?”
“Because throwing monsters around will not strengthen your body.”
Ryuzen stared at him.
“You are unbelievable.”
The monster suddenly rose.
Its armor was cracked, but it wasn’t defeated.
Ryuzen’s expression became serious.
“It’s still alive.”
“Of course.”
The beast opened its mouth.
Dark energy began gathering again.
Eldran’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s the strange part.”
“What?”
“This creature shouldn’t possess that kind of energy.”
The monster fired.
A massive black beam tore through the clearing.
Eldran swung his staff.
A transparent barrier appeared.
BOOOOM!
The attack struck the barrier and exploded.
Ryuzen shielded his face.
The ground shook violently.
Then the barrier disappeared.
Eldran looked at the beast.
“Something has changed it.”
Ryuzen frowned.
“Changed it?”
Eldran nodded.
“Creatures like this don’t naturally produce Nether energy.”
Ryuzen looked at the monster.
“Nether energy?”
Eldran didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked deeper into the forest.
“Something is wrong.”
The monster charged again.
This time, Ryuzen moved.
He grabbed his weighted whip.
“I’ll help.”
Eldran looked at him.
“You’re not strong enough.”
“I know.”
Ryuzen tightened his grip.
“But I don’t have to defeat it.”
Eldran raised an eyebrow.
“I just need to survive.”
A faint smile appeared on Eldran’s face.
“Good answer.”
The monster swung its claw.
Ryuzen jumped.
The claw smashed into the ground.
Ryuzen landed on the creature’s arm.
He swung the whip.
CRACK!
The weighted tip struck the monster’s eye.
The beast roared.
Ryuzen was thrown into the air.
He twisted his body and landed hard.
Pain shot through his legs.
He immediately stood.
The monster turned toward him.
Its eyes burned red.
Ryuzen raised the whip.
Blue thunder began moving through his hand.
“Come on.”
The beast charged.
Ryuzen waited.
Five meters.
Four.
Three.
Two—
He moved.
The monster passed beside him.
Ryuzen spun.
The whip followed his movement.
CRACK!
The tip struck the beast’s back.
Blue lightning spread across its armor.
The monster stumbled.
Ryuzen smiled.
“It works!”
Then the creature’s body began glowing black.
The thunder disappeared.
Ryuzen’s smile vanished.
“What?”
The monster turned.
A dark pulse exploded from its body.
Ryuzen was thrown backward.
He hit a tree.
“Ryuzen!”
Eldran moved instantly.
He appeared beside Ryuzen before he could fall.
The old wizard caught him.
Ryuzen coughed.
“I… I’m fine.”
“No.”
Eldran looked at the blood on Ryuzen’s forehead.
“You’re injured.”
Ryuzen tried to stand.
“I can still fight.”
Eldran shook his head.
“You’ve done enough.”
“But—”
“Ryuzen.”
The tone in Eldran’s voice stopped him.
“You don’t prove your strength by dying.”
Ryuzen became silent.
Eldran turned toward the monster.
His expression became cold.
“Stay here.”
The monster roared.
Eldran disappeared.
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
He couldn’t even follow the movement.
A second later—
BOOM!
The monster flew through the air.
Eldran appeared above it.
He brought his staff down.
BOOOOM!
The ground exploded.
The monster was buried beneath the earth.
Silence returned.
Ryuzen stared.
Eldran landed calmly.
The old wizard looked almost unchanged.
His breathing wasn’t even heavy.
Ryuzen walked toward him.
“You’re ridiculously strong.”
Eldran smiled.
“I’m old.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Eldran ignored him.
Instead, he walked toward the crater.
The monster was gone.
Only a deep hole remained.
Ryuzen looked around.
“Where did it go?”
“It escaped.”
“You let it escape?”
“I chose not to kill it.”
Ryuzen frowned.
“Why?”
Eldran pointed toward the ground.
Something black was lying inside the crater.
Ryuzen approached.
It looked like a small piece of black crystal.
He crouched.
“What is this?”
Eldran’s expression changed.
“Don’t touch it.”
Ryuzen immediately pulled his hand back.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“You just said you know something changed the monster.”
“I know what kind of energy changed it.” Get faster updates on novelping.com.
Eldran looked at the crystal.
“But I don’t know who placed it there.”
Ryuzen stared at him.
“Who would do that?”
Eldran didn’t answer.
For several seconds, he simply watched the dark crystal.
Then his eyes briefly glowed.
A vision flashed.
A ruined battlefield.
Black flames.
Seven enormous silhouettes.
A coffin.
Then a young boy surrounded by blue thunder.
Eldran blinked.
The vision vanished.
Ryuzen noticed.
“Did you see something?”
Eldran turned away.
“Nothing important.”
Ryuzen narrowed his eyes.
“You’re lying.”
Eldran smiled.
“You are becoming more observant.”
“That means I’m right.”
“It means you are becoming more observant.”
Ryuzen sighed.
“Same thing.”
Eldran picked up the crystal using a cloth.
“We’re going home.”
Ryuzen looked toward the forest.
“Is the monster going to come back?”
“Probably.”
“Then shouldn’t we chase it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it wasn’t attacking us.”
Ryuzen looked confused.
“It attacked us!”
“Yes.”
“But you said—”
“It was afraid.”
Ryuzen became silent.
Eldran continued walking.
“The monster wasn’t hunting you.”
He looked back.
“It was running from something.”
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
“Something worse than that?”
Eldran nodded.
“And whatever frightened it may still be somewhere in this forest.”
That night, Ryuzen couldn’t sleep.
He sat outside Eldran’s house.
The weighted whip rested beside him.
He looked at his hands.
Blue sparks moved between his fingers.
The monster’s dark energy kept replaying in his mind.
Something was changing the creatures.
Something was hiding in the wilderness between Kryptoria and Valtara.
And Eldran knew more than he was saying.
Ryuzen looked toward the dark forest.
“I’ll find out.”
Behind him, Eldran stood silently in the doorway.
“You will.”
Ryuzen turned.
“Were you listening?”
“I have ears.”
“You know what I mean.”
Eldran walked outside.
“You’re curious.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Eldran looked toward the stars.
“Curiosity will take you places strength cannot.”
Ryuzen smiled.
“Then when do we start looking?”
Eldran looked at him.
“Tomorrow.”
Ryuzen stood immediately.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
He picked up the weighted whip.
“Then I’m ready.”
Eldran shook his head.
“No.”
Ryuzen frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because tomorrow, we’re leaving the forest.”
Ryuzen’s eyes widened.
“Where are we going?”
Eldran looked toward the distant horizon.
“Into Valtara.”
Ryuzen froze.
For the first time since leaving Kryptoria…
Ryuzen was about to enter another kingdom.