THE FIRST NIGHT
The final ray of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon.
Darkness did not arrive gradually.
It fell.
One moment, the Endless Road was painted in the orange glow of dusk.
The next…
Night swallowed the world.
Every traveler inside the temporary rest point instinctively looked toward the sky.
There were no stars.
No moon.
Instead, an endless curtain of black stretched overhead, broken only by countless streams of faint silver light flowing across the heavens like rivers.
The road beneath their feet began to glow.
Thin golden lines spread through the black stone, illuminating the safe zone with a warm, steady radiance.
At the same time, the protective barrier surrounding the circular platform shimmered into existence.
It resembled a transparent dome rising nearly twenty meters into the air.
The system notification appeared before every traveler.
DAY ONE COMPLETE.
SAFE ZONE PROTECTION ACTIVE.
PROTECTION DURATION: UNTIL SUNRISE.
A collective sigh of relief spread throughout the camp.
Some people immediately sat down.
Others collapsed beside their wagons, exhaustion finally overcoming them.
Kael, however, remained standing.
His gaze stayed fixed beyond the barrier.
Those crimson lights he had seen before sunset were growing closer.
Much closer.
The lights moved through the darkness with frightening precision.
Pairs.
Groups.
Entire clusters.
Hundreds of glowing eyes slowly surrounded the temporary rest point from every direction.
No one spoke.
The only sounds came from nervous breathing and the occasional frightened whinny of a Road Beast.
Then the first creature emerged.
It stepped just beyond the barrier.
A wolf.
But not a Bloodfang Wolf.
This beast was nearly twice as large.
Its black fur seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
Long crimson horns curved backward from its skull.
When it exhaled, black mist escaped its nostrils.
Above its head floated glowing words.
Nightfang Alpha
Rank: E
Level: 8
Kael’s expression became serious.
Level Eight.
The creature’s presence alone was enough to make his skin crawl.
One wolf was followed by another.
Then another.
Within minutes nearly fifty Nightfang Wolves surrounded the safe zone.
Behind them…
Larger silhouettes appeared.
Something resembling a giant boar.
A six-legged reptile.
A massive bird with wings that stretched wider than a wagon.
The monsters did not attack.
They simply watched.
The realization unsettled Kael more than if they had charged.
It felt as though they were waiting.
Observing.
Studying the survivors.
A child suddenly began crying.
His mother hurriedly covered his mouth.
The monsters’ ears twitched.
Several heads turned simultaneously toward the sound.
The entire camp froze.
One of the wolves slowly approached the barrier.
Its enormous paw touched the transparent wall.
Golden ripples spread across the dome.
The beast growled.
Then, with terrifying force, it slammed its body against the barrier.
BOOM!
The impact echoed across the plains.
Several travelers stumbled backward.
The barrier held.
The wolf attacked again.
BOOM!
Again…
BOOM!
The dome continued to shimmer but remained intact.
The Nightfang Alpha stared at the glowing wall for several moments before letting out a deep howl.
Dozens of monsters answered.
Their voices rolled across the endless plains like thunder.
Even Kael felt his heartbeat quicken.
The safe zone protected them tonight.
But tomorrow…
Tomorrow they would be outside.
Garrick climbed onto the stone platform at the center of camp.
“Everyone.”
His deep voice carried surprisingly well.
“Listen carefully.”
Conversations immediately stopped.
“The barrier is holding.”
“We’ll use this time wisely.”
He pointed toward the surrounding monsters.
“They’re teaching us something.”
Several people frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“They’re patient.”
“They know they can’t enter.”
“So instead of wasting energy…”
“They’re waiting.”
Kael silently agreed.
Predators conserved strength whenever possible.
The Nightfang Wolves weren’t mindless beasts.
They possessed instincts.
Possibly intelligence.
That made them far more dangerous.
Elena stepped beside Garrick carrying a rough map scratched onto a wooden board.
“We’ve questioned everyone.”
She pointed toward several marked locations.
“Three different groups encountered forests.”
“Two crossed rivers.”
“Five reported abandoned wagons.”
She paused.
“But something doesn’t make sense.”
Kael stepped closer.
“What?”
She looked directly at him.
“Every traveler claims they appeared alone.”
“Yet we’ve already found abandoned caravans belonging to dead travelers.”
Kael nodded.
“So?”
“So where are the bodies?”
Silence.
Everyone suddenly realized the same thing.
The man Kael had watched die…
His body had been dragged away.
The abandoned wagon remained.
But the corpse had disappeared.
The implication was unsettling.
Something collected the dead.
No one wanted to imagine what.
A soft chime interrupted the discussion.
Another system notification appeared.
NIGHT EVENT
THE MERCHANT OF LANTERNS APPROACHES.
SPECIAL TRAVELING NPC DETECTED.
A distant light appeared on the road.
Unlike the crimson monster eyes, this light was warm.
Golden.
Steady.
Slowly it grew brighter.
Soon everyone could make out its source.
A black wagon rolled along the Endless Road.
It was unlike any caravan the survivors possessed.
Its wheels floated several centimeters above the stone.
Hundreds of glowing lanterns hung from its sides.
Each lantern contained a different colored flame.
Blue.
Green.
Silver.
Golden.
No horse pulled the wagon.
Instead, six enormous white deer walked silently before it.
Their antlers shone like crystal.
The entire camp watched in stunned silence.
The wagon stopped just outside the barrier.
An elderly man stepped down.
His long gray robes were embroidered with countless road symbols.
A broad smile rested on his weathered face.
He removed an elegant black hat and bowed.
“Good evening, travelers.”
His voice was gentle.
Cultured.
As though he were greeting customers rather than survivors trapped in an unknown world.
“I congratulate you.”
“You have survived your first day.”
The old man looked around the camp with bright blue eyes.
“I am known by many names.”
“Lantern Keeper.”
“Road Merchant.”
“Collector of Curiosities.”
“But most simply call me…”
“The Merchant.”
With a graceful motion, he spread both arms.
One by one, the lanterns hanging from his wagon illuminated.
Dozens of items appeared beneath them.
Weapons.
Armor.
Seeds.
Books.
Medicine.
Maps.
Glittering crystals.
Monster eggs.
Even several beautifully crafted wagons.
Gasps spread throughout the camp.
The merchant smiled wider.
“The road rewards those who continue forward.”
“It also rewards those willing to trade.”
He snapped his fingers.
Golden screens appeared before every traveler.
ROAD MERCHANT SHOP AVAILABLE
TRADING PERIOD: 30 MINUTES
Kael looked at his own screen.
Unlike the others, something new appeared.
A single line glowed at the bottom.
Road Forge Talent Detected.
Special Merchant Interaction Available.
Kael slowly raised his eyes toward the mysterious merchant.
At the exact same moment…
The merchant looked directly at him.
For the briefest instant, the old man’s friendly smile changed.
His eyes widened with unmistakable surprise.
Then he chuckled quietly to himself.
“So…”
He whispered softly enough that only Kael could hear.
“After all these years…”
“The Road Forge has finally found another master.”
Kael’s pupils contracted.
Before he could ask a single question, the merchant turned away as if nothing had happened.
But Kael knew.
That whisper had not been a coincidence.
The old man knew something about the Road Forge.
Perhaps…
He knew far more about the Endless Road than anyone else alive.
END OF CHAPTER 3