Elara stood before the mysterious rock, her heart pounding with anticipation. She turned to Arcanus, who observed the surroundings with a mix of curiosity and recognition.

"Sir, this is the rock that transported me here. I pressed it, and the next thing I knew, I was in this strange realm."

"Fascinating. I, too, have come across rocks with similar markings in my travels in this realm, but they were always pushed inside the wall.” Arcanus furrowed his brows.

Elara's eyes widened, realizing the significance of Arcanus's words.

"So, this rock acts as a switch? It must be pressed to either enter or exit the realm."

Arcanus nodded, his eyes gleaming with newfound understanding.

"Yes, that seems to be the case. The rocks I encountered were always pushed inside the wall, preventing me from activating them. But now, seeing that this rock protrudes when you entered, it all makes sense."

Without hesitation, Arcanus stepped forward and pressed the rock. A surge of energy pulsed through the air, and the next moment, both Arcanus and Elara found themselves back in the place where Elara had first noticed the marking on the wall. Moments later, two figures exited the entrance of the dungeon.

Arcanus closed his eyes, savoring the moment as a flood of emotions overwhelmed him. It had been a century since he last breathed the air of this realm. He raised his hands to the sky, releasing his powers in a powerful display of energy.

"Finally... After a hundred years, I am free! I just hope you two bastards are still alive."Arcanus roared.

His unleashed power caused fierce winds to whip through the forest, shaking the very foundations of the land. The impact of his energy reverberated across Silvercrest City and the Western Province, leaving strong hunters and citizens in awe and trepidation. Elara could not withstand this pressure and fell to the ground.

**

In the ruling citadel of Silvercrest City, a man in a golden vest with a shield marked on was sitting on a high-back chair in a big room, looking at a few red-colored crystals when he immediately rushed to the balcony of the room. An elderly man with a staff also followed behind him. Their eyes, fixed in the direction of the dungeon Arcanus has just come out of.

"What in the world was that, City Lord? Such immense power... I've never sensed anything like it before." The elderly man with the staff took a shaky breath, his voice trembling in fear.

“It felt like a breakthrough of monumental proportions. It's as if a powerful demon has shattered its limits.” The City Lord’s hands tightly clenched the railings of the balcony.

“Lord, a demon of such power, should we notify the guilds and ask for help?”

"Keep a close watch, but do not sound the alarm just yet. We must gather more information before we jump to conclusions. Once we confirm the source of this power I will personally ask the Fireheart Guild to help us." The City Lord spoke with a serious, controlled voice, masking any emotion that might have been present.

“It is already rare to find a demon these days, but to find one with such power….” The elderly man murmured.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Meanwhile, Arcanus had retracted his pressure. He no longer had rage in his eyes. He then proceeded to help Elara get up.

“Sorry about that.” Arcanus smiled. Elara was out of words and could only force a wry smile.

"This is not the place I entered a hundred years ago. The Zeal is not dense here. Where are we?” Arcanus questioned while checking out the surrounding.

“Huh? This place is located in the outskirts of Silvercrest City, in the Western Province. But what do you mean this place is not where you entered?” Elara was confused.

"A hundred years ago, I was in the Eastern Dominion,” Arcanus replied.

"Sir, do you think these portals are widespread across the continent?

"Undoubtedly, Elara. We must tread carefully, for this world is far more complex than I had imagined. Come let's go"

Elara suddenly exclaimed. “My Mom, I need to check on my mom. Sir, please come with me to my home. You can rest there. I will take care of all the arrangements.” Arcanus nodded after pondering for a while.

The duo then made their way to Elara’s home. As they entered, a somber atmosphere enveloped them. Elara's mother lay motionless, her soul weakened and her body powerless. Elara immediately ran towards her mother and checked her pulse.

“Mom….”

Arcanus inspected Olivia with a critical eye, his features turning grave.

“This is the work of a demon, Elara. A specialist in Soul Attacks. Your mother's soul has been injured, leaving her devoid of energy, despite her healthy body."

Elara's eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling with desperation but her eyes widened when she heard Arcanus. The alchemists weren’t able to diagnose but he was able to tell the cause without even touching her. This seemed quite ridiculous. But her heart said he might be telling the truth. She did not know why she was willing to believe him, despite just meeting him only a few hours ago.

"Sir, can you heal her? Can you save my mother?"

Arcanus paused for a moment, considering the weight of his answer.

"There is a cure, but it is rare and elusive. The Soulroot. It is a flower that only grows in places where sunlight is extreme, like deserts. It has to be mixed with Dreamvine, another rare herb that grows in foggy and misty areas."

Elara's hope flickered in her eyes as she clung to his every word.

Arcanus's gaze softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on Elara's shoulder.

"Fear not, Elara. With my return, I will definitely get you the cure. If it wasn’t for you venturing out all alone just for the sake of your mother, I wouldn’t be breathing this air. I would be trapped for eons. Since I know the cause and cure, I won’t let the two of you suffer anymore.” He said in a reassuring voice.

Elara wiped her tears and looked at her mother. “Mama, you are gonna be fine. You won’t suffer anymore.”

**

In a concealed and enigmatic location, a figure in a dark robe with a sword and shield embroidered on the back was about to enter a room with huge doors, when he suddenly turned his head right and stared in that direction. His whole body slightly trembling.

The figure quickly rushed inside the room. It was dimly lit. He saw a large being sitting on a throne looking in the same direction he was looking. The being turned its head to look at the figure. Sharp, jagged horns protruded from its forehead, curving menacingly upward, while its eyes burned with an intense crimson glow. Its facial features were twisted and contorted, with a predatory grin that revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth. Its body was sinewy and muscular, emanating an undeniable sense of power and maleficence.

A tattered cloak draped over its form, its tenebrous fabric seemingly shifting and flowing like living shadows. Ancient symbols and sigils, etched in a deep red hue, adorned the cloak, hinting at the entity's connections to dark and forbidden powers. Its limbs were elongated and gnarled, ending in wicked talons that could rend through flesh and bone with ease.

“Did you sense it, Morax? The power coming from the direction of the Western Province?” The figure spoke in a grim voice.

“Yes, the power surpasses even that of Lord Orion. It is a force to be reckoned with. Also, it's not coming from a demon, there’s no news of a demon breaking through the Behemoth rank." The demon Morax nodded, its voice resonating with an otherworldly tone.

"You mean a hunter broke through? This changes everything. How can we proceed with our plan in the face of such overwhelming strength?" The figure said in a surprised voice.

"We have no choice. The artifact must be retrieved from the Western Province as demanded by the Legion. Failure is not an option. We will proceed as planned. If needed, we will call for a Warlord-level being or an Abyssal-level Demon in case that powerful hunter interferes." Morax stood from his throne, grabbed a piece of paper, and wrote something on it.