(Zack)

We appear on the steps of a Dark Temple in another City, one which looks just as run-down and quiet as Maelnor. Much like Maelnor, it's surrounded by mountains on all sides, but these ones look like they're an equal distance away, as if we're in the center. I don't see a gap between them, though, so entry must be through a tunnel in them. Based on the air, we're higher up, too. I can breathe just fine, and Nik doesn't look bothered.

Something the System helps with, no doubt.

"Nik," a woman says, and I turn to face her. A Dark Knight, dressed in armor. She gives me an appraising look. "This is Zack?"

"Yes," he places a hand on my shoulder. "This is Zack. He's likely wondering why the powerful aren't out here training constantly, so I'm taking him out for a little personal experience."

"Got it," she says. "The last of the Ice Lords are dead, so we don't have to worry about a blizzard until next winter again."

"The last of them?" I ask.

"Yes," Nik answers. "If they aren't killed quickly, they manifest another blizzard like the one you faced before."

Thinking about it reminds me that Nathan's Heal only restored 1,037 Health back then, even though I know his Intellect is higher. Did he have a debuff when he healed me, or something? That was forever ago, he might not remember. Or he does and is just too embarrassed about it to say something.

"Come on," Nik tells me. "Let me show you why there aren't many out here training at a time."

Nik leads me through the City, and I find out as we travel that there are generally only around fifty to seventy Adventurers here at a time. Mensael, the City is called. The only way in or out, unless one wants to brave the mountains, is by the sigil or the Teleport Plaza.

"Wait," I say. "There's no path through the mountains?"

"Correct," he answers. "This valley was discovered a few thousands of years ago – at least, by someone capable of leaving. Few survived it because of how powerful the monsters were here."

We exit the City as we talk, and I'm stunned by the first thing I see. All of the monsters here can Level higher than Level 5. If I'm not mistaken, the cap here is Level 25, based on the monsters in my sight.

"Uh, Nik-"

"We're still in claimed territory," he says. "However, we're also far from other Cities. It takes more than two months to reach the next one from here. Every monster which spawns here is a Special Monster, and there are plenty of Special Bosses, too."

"Elites and Bounty Beasts," I say. "Level 35 and Level 50, right?"

"Correct," he answers. "The further away from Mensael you go, the closer to the mountains you travel, the more of those you'll see. Not many travel more than a mile or two from here, and the mountains are ten miles from the City in all directions. It's obviously a place for the powerful to train."

And with the monsters' Levels and the fact that they're all Special Monsters or Special Boss Monsters, a single team might be enough to take on one or two at a time. Or if it's against a Special Boss Monster, it might need several.

For the really strong teams, this might be useful. Nik could use it to Level himself to reach Level 250 and Ascend. It would give them more Experience than normal. But it would put a higher strain on their bodies and increase their stress Levels. The rewards they would earn from such fights would help them recover losses and damage, but now I see why everyone isn't here.

They'd not be able to handle this all the time. Even the Dark Knight at the temple likely takes breaks from her fighting and training, or goes somewhere else.

"Do you need help?" I ask Nik. "With the monsters, you'd probably-"

"As long as I don't face more than two at a time," he tells me. "I will be fine."

"Alright," I draw my sword. "I'll be around. Holler if you need me."

"Yell if you need me," he ruffles my hair, and I pull away in annoyance. He grins. "Good luck, Zack."

I nod, then start walking down the path, looking from side to side at the various monsters. Frost Goblins have nothing on these. Frost Knights, suits of frosty armor with swords of ice, patrol the area. Flame Knights, too. There are a few Spook Goblins, surprisingly, but they're definitely going to be tough, even if not as tough as the Elite version Braden faced yesterday. The Elites here will be even tougher, being twenty Levels higher than the one he faced.

A Demon Wolf prowls as well, its black fur streaked with red, black horns protruding from its head. Demonic energy crackles around it with every step, sparking off its fur.

There's a basilisk as well, with scales a mix of dark green and brown, with some grey as well. The beast is around thirty feet long, slithering through the fields. It turns its yellow eyes on me, and I stare back. Nik would have warned me if it could paralyze me, which means either the snake doesn't hold true to that myth, or my Willpower is far too high for even the Bounty Beast version to paralyze me.

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There are even lizards which walk like people do, but are clearly monsters. When I see them, I think back to my discussion with Max earlier. These aren't people, but beastborn are. What makes them different?

And why do they Level faster than humans do? Why do they learn and advance Skills faster?

Big S had to have lied when he said he doesn't know what caused them. Were beastborn an attempt of his to create better warriors than humans could be? If he has to manually add each one to the System, then he must have given up on the project. It would have been far too exhausting for him, I think. Is that why he's trying to connect them now, or at least some of them? Guilt over how they've been treated due to not being connected?

Pushing those thoughts from my mind, I focus on a Level 25 Flame Knight. There's no actual body in the armor, making it look like a possessed suit of armor with a sword of flames.

Flame Knight Level 25 Health: 41,514 Mana: 39,872

Seems pretty strong to me, at least for a 'normal' monster. For a Special Monster, it's likely 'normal', especially based off of everything I've seen so far. When I look at a nearby Frost Knight at Level 25, I see similar stats.

Based on my experience with elemental things – well, slimes – I'm guessing it will probably not be affected by attacks of the same element as it. Will my swords do extra damage because of the Spook Ore in them?

Should I learn Frost Blade? It's not necessary for the Classes I want to take on, even if it will help a bit for the Mystic Knight Experience. Especially as it's a Tier 4 Blade Skill and Mystic Knight is only Tier 1 right now.

Could learn Lava Blade for the Frost Knights, too. Yeah, yeah, I know. Water Blade and Flame Blade is more than enough, and I'll sort of need to Level something a bit more before I reach Level 10 of Mystic Squire, but still.

Why hamper my Experience like that? It's already going to be tough.

As I contemplate that, something in the distance catches my attention, and I zip along the path to check it out. That is what it looks like!

Spitfire Flower Level 25 Health: 52,139 Mana: 57,981

It's a fucking flower! It stands around ten feet in height, with a green stem around five inches thick and a few large leaves coming off of it. Thick roots allow it to crawl across the ground, and its head is a giant, crimson bulb with orange spots, a few orange, red, and yellow petals beneath the bulb.

As I examine the plant, a Shadow Hare, a rabbit two feet in height with pitch-black fur and silver eyes, hops near it, and the Spitfire Flower attacks, opening up its bulb to unleash a series of Fireballs in a chain. The Shadow Hare looks at it, then melts into the ground, turning into a shadow that quickly moves towards the Spitfire Flower. The plant moves to the side as the Shadow Hare jumps back up. Several Shadows Whips form from its sides, attacking the Spitfire Flower, which spits out more Fireballs, the whips smacking them to the side, taking a little damage, but not enough to completely shorten them.

Holy fuck. This place is awesome! The monsters don't just have territory disputes, but actual fights! It's not like a tier of dominance with goblins over lesser things, and wolves defending their territory. I can tell from their thoughts that they're fighting because they want the Experience.

This place is so fucking awesome!

The Spitfire Flower digs a few roots into the ground while it attacks the Shadow Hare. When the stream of Fireballs end – there were twenty before it stopped – the Shadow Hare stops the Shadow Whips, then remanifests them as it jumps into the air. As it does that, leafy roots shoot up from the ground beneath it, missing it just barely. So the flower can do that, too! But the bunny seemed to expect it. That, or got lucky with its jump.

The Shadow Hare attacks the Spitfire Flower with the whips, but then it flicks it front paws down, and orbs of shadows form and descend, striking at the roots that are beginning to retreat. The roots melt away as if hit by acid. Yeah, gonna avoid getting hit by that. Maybe I'll let myself get hit once, so I can see how much damage it'll do and if it has any effects.

The flower flaps the leaves on its stem as it wails and finishes pulling its roots back in. That wail is awful. Leaves shoot out of the leaves, spinning like razors or knives, and probably just as sharp. This just got even more awesome.

Oh. I ran out of chocolate in that box. Either it was a partial box, or I ate faster than normal.

I send the box into my Inventory, then draw my sword again.

"Flame Blade," I say, and violet fire begins to swirl around my sword.

I place a foot back and bend my knees, then spring forward, my sword aimed at the flower's stem. Its leaves move to block my attack, succeeding in resisting it while still receiving a small amount of damage.

Tough guy, huh? Well, I know it used some sort of Skill with that block, since its Mana dropped a bit. Whatever.

Spin attack!

I start spinning just because I want to, even though I know there's no actual logical reason behind it outside of video games. My attacks wear away at its Health, and the Shadow Hare attacks me.

"Hey!" I yell at it. "I was helping you!"

I turn my blade on the Shadow Hare, jumping towards it as I cut through its Shadow Whips as it attempts to attack me. I reach it and run my sword into it. These really are tough! Under what circumstances do they normally form?

More of those leaf attacks are sent out, and I pivot, using Fireball to stop them as I stab the Shadow Hare again, this time while facing away from it. A leaf clips my cheek, and my vision turns red as my Rage counter begins to increase as I take on my Eidolon Form.

"I know you didn't just do that," I say in a low, Demonic voice, and every monster within a few dozen yards of me freezes. "Are you sure you wanted to do that?"

The Spitfire Flower pauses, then opens its maw and releases a stream of Fireballs. I stop them with my sword, Deflecting several back to it and several at the Shadow Hare, which had moved off to the side to prepare a new attack against me.

"Looks like you did," I growl. "Good."

I take a step forward, then Dash. This time, I put all my power into the attack, and cut straight through the stem. The Spitfire Flower is still alive, however, but I strike at its bulb a few more times, succeeding in killing it, ignoring the notice I received and muting them as a whole for the upcoming battle. I'll need as few distractions as possible.

That finished, I turn on the Shadow Hare, which is shooting those acidic shadow orbs at me. I hold up a hand, and violet Fireballs form, then fly forward to intercept the attacks. I Dash to the side, then at the Shadow Hare, moving just a little faster than it can keep up. A few more hits of my Flame Blade, and it dies.

Turning, I look at the other Special Monsters around me.

This is going to be a fun few days.