As Arden, Leigh, and Dominic stepped through the portal, they were engulfed in a wave of energy unlike anything they had ever felt before. The sensation was both weightless and heavy at the same time, as though they were being pulled through layers of existence. Arden, already at Langi Realm Level 1, barely felt the pressure, his body naturally attuned to the immense energy surrounding them. Dominic, at Layaon Realm Peak, sensed the weight of the realm’s force, but it was nothing overwhelming—merely a subtle resistance in the air. Leigh, however, at Lunok Realm Peak, felt the full pressure of Laoyon pressing against her, like wading through deep water. It was heavy but manageable.

Then, with a blinding flash, they found themselves on the ground floor of a two-story broken house made of stone walls without a roof. They could see the sky through the big hole on the floor above them. An access door on the upper floor seemed reachable only by using a rope. Arden, jumped to the upper floor to check the surroundings at high ground level, Leigh and Dominic followed without hesitation.

The landscape before them was breathtaking—a vast expanse of untamed wilderness, a shimmering river flowing on the west side of the house with liquid energy, and towering trees humming with an ethereal glow. The sky shifted between hues of gold and violet, casting an otherworldly radiance over everything. Laoyon was alive, and its presence could be felt in the very air they breathed. In the distance, they saw a squad of a human-like race in a coordinated formation, their furry bodies gleaming under the shifting sky.

Dominic let out a low whistle. "Alright, this place is insane. It’s like a dream, but way too real."

Arden smirked, stretching his arms. "And we’re going to be stuck here for a while. Might as well get comfortable."

Before anything else, he turned to Leigh. "Leigh and Dominic, the spiritual energy here is a hundred times purer than on Earth. Let's try to absorb it and push for a breakthrough while we have this moment."

The three of them sat down in a meditative stance, closing their eyes as they began to absorb the raw, unfiltered spiritual energy surrounding them. Arden, already attuned to higher levels of existence, barely felt any resistance, his body naturally synchronizing with the realm’s essence.

Dominic, already at the peak of the Layaon Realm, felt the energy surge through him like a flood, his body instinctively responding to the dense purity of Laoyon’s atmosphere. The barrier holding him back reached a bottleneck; he could feel that just a little more would push him into the next realm. His energy refined itself into something far more potent, teetering on the brink of transformation.

Leigh, however, experienced something even more extraordinary. As a reincarnated Arcana, her body adapted to the rapid influx of energy at an unnatural pace. She ascended through Bunlao Realm Beginning Stage, only for her momentum to carry her forward uncontrollably. The cycle repeated, one breakthrough after another, until she reached the Bunlao Realm Peak Stage, her energy surging with unprecedented intensity.

As her power surged uncontrollably, the legendary sword Venya materialized in a radiant burst, its energy forming a protective barrier around her, shielding her from the overwhelming surge. Arden, sensing the unstable flow, immediately reached out, his presence anchoring Leigh’s erratic energy. With careful precision, he guided her power into balance, ensuring that her breakthrough was steady and controlled. His stabilizing force allowed her to refine the chaotic rush of spiritual energy, molding it into a newfound strength that resonated through her entire being.

When Leigh finally opened her eyes, they gleamed with an ethereal brilliance, her aura pulsating with refined energy. She inhaled deeply, feeling an unparalleled lightness in her movements, as if she had been reborn into a higher state of existence.

"That... was intense," she admitted.

Arden smirked. "And that was just the start. Welcome to Laoyon."

Dominic clapped his hands. "Alright, now that we’re all powered up, what’s next? Do we explore, fight some mystical beasts, or are we going to stumble into some weird ancient ruins?"

Before anyone could respond, the human-like figures in the distance caught sight of the surge of energy from their breakthrough. Their formation shifted instantly; their movements purposeful as they began advancing toward the ruined house. The ground beneath the trio shuddered, sending small vibrations through their feet, a clear sign that something massive was approaching.

A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air, sending a shiver down their spines. The ground trembled as heavy, deliberate footsteps grew closer, each impact echoing with ominous weight.

Arden turned toward the source of the sound and smirked. "Looks like Laoyon made that decision for us."

Leigh narrowed her eyes. "Those footsteps… they’re getting closer."

From the mist ahead, hunched figures emerged. Their skin was rough and brownish-red, resembling hardened clay. Their small, dark eyes gleamed with dim cunning, more beast than man. Clad in little more than ragged loincloths, they carried crude wooden clubs, their jagged teeth bared in a mixture of hunger and aggression, grunting in low, guttural tones.

Dominic groaned. "Oh, great. Trolls. Why is it always trolls?" He paused, his expression shifting to confusion. "Hold on... how do I even know they're called Trolls?"

Leigh tightened her grip on Venya. "Now, what do we do?"

Arden cracked his knuckles. "We’re in Laoyon. We fight."

From their vantage point on the upper floor, the trio watched as the trolls advanced, their guttural growls echoing through the ruins. Without hesitation, Arden led the charge, leaping from the broken ledge with a powerful burst of energy. Leigh and Dominic followed in perfect sync, their forms cutting through the air like streaks of lightning. As they descended, Arden twisted midair, driving his fist downward in a crushing blow that sent shockwaves through the ground, scattering dust and debris. Leigh landed gracefully beside him, her sword Venya glowing with brilliance as she swung in a wide arc, forcing the nearest trolls to recoil. Dominic, ever the showman, landed with a flourish, conjuring illusory clones that darted in every direction, disorienting their enemies. The trolls roared in response, swinging their crude clubs wildly, but the trio had already set the stage for an epic clash. The battle had begun.

Dominic flicked his wrist, summoning a flurry of illusory copies of himself. "Alright, big guy, let’s see if you can guess which one of us is real." The troll squinted, its small eyes darting between the shifting figures, a frustrated growl rumbling in its throat. With a furious roar, it swung its club wildly, striking nothing but air as the illusion dispersed like mist, leaving it momentarily off balance.

"I love it when they’re dumb," Dominic laughed—until a second troll lunged at him from behind. He barely dodged in time, yelping, "Okay, maybe they’re not that dumb after all!"

Leigh moved with lethal grace, her blade Venya humming as it sliced through the air. The nearest troll barely had time to react before she closed the distance, her sword tracing an elegant arc. With a single, precise slash, she severed the beast’s club in half. The creature howled in surprise, stumbling back as sparks of energy crackled from Venya’s tip.

The battle raged on, the trio moving with seamless coordination. Arden’s overwhelming strength shattered the trolls’ defenses, Dominic’s illusions created chaos in their ranks, and Leigh’s precise strikes cut through their crude weaponry with elegant efficiency. One by one, their foes fell until only groans and scattered debris remained. As the last troll collapsed with a heavy thud, Arden exhaled, casually dusting off his hands.

"Well, that was a nice warm-up," Arden said, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, Laoyon, what else do you got?" No sooner had the words left his mouth than the ground quaked violently beneath them—this time, with a force that sent loose stones tumbling and dust swirling in the air. A deep, guttural growl followed, echoing through the ruins like a harbinger of something far more formidable.

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Dominic groaned, running a hand down his face. "Why do people in stories never learn? You never say things like that."

From the shadows of the cavern, a monstrous silhouette emerged—a Troll Chieftain, towering nearly twice the height of the others. Its muscular frame bristled with raw power, and its piercing eyes gleamed with eerie intelligence. The beast exuded a menacing presence, its every movement deliberate and predatory.

Arden smirked, cracking his knuckles as he met the creature’s gaze. "Well, looks like we’ve got ourselves a real fight."

The Troll Chieftain advanced with a slow, deliberate gait, its hulking frame radiating an aura of raw, untamed power. Its thick, brownish-red skin bore the scars of countless battles, each mark a testament to its brutal endurance. Massive, crude golden pauldrons sat atop its shoulders like trophies from conquests long past. Beady green eyes, gleaming with a sinister intelligence, studied its foes with calculated menace. As it tightened its grip around a rough-hewn wooden club, its jagged teeth parted in a deep, guttural growl—half challenge, half amusement, as if daring them to face the storm about to be unleashed.

"You fight well," the Chieftain growled, his deep voice rolling through the open ruins like distant thunder. "But you are still small. Weak."

Arden smirked, unfazed by the massive creature's imposing stature. He opened his mouth to respond, but his words caught in his throat as the troll’s deep voice rumbled through the air. His eyes widened slightly in shock. The troll had spoken. His mind reeled at the realization; his stance momentarily stiff. "You... you can talk?" he muttered, disbelief lacing his words.

With a thunderous roar, the Chieftain lunged forward, its massive club descending like a falling mountain. Arden's instincts kicked in, and he twisted out of the way at the last possible moment, the sheer force of the strike sending a shockwave through the ground, scattering dust and rubble in all directions. Leigh seized the opening, her blade Venya igniting with radiant energy as she dashed forward in a blur. With pinpoint precision, she slashed at the troll’s exposed flank. The blade met fierce resistance, biting into the dense hide before carving through. The Chieftain snarled in pain, its beady green eyes flashing with fury as it staggered from the force of the strike.

Dominic seized the opportunity, swiftly weaving multiple glowing sigils in the air. "Let’s see how you handle this!" he declared, snapping his fingers. A barrage of golden spears shot forth, slicing through the air before piercing the troll’s thick hide. The Chieftain lurched backward from the impact, its massive form trembling. But instead of retreating, it grinned—a menacing, toothy grin that sent a chill down Dominic’s spine.

"You think that is enough?" The Chieftain’s voice rumbled with challenge as it raised its massive club and slammed it into the ground. A violent shockwave erupted, splitting the earth beneath them. Dominic staggered, struggling to regain his footing, while Leigh sprang into the air just in time to avoid the ground cracking apart beneath her.

Arden exhaled sharply, then propelled himself forward in a blur of motion, appearing directly in front of the Chieftain before it could react. His palm ignited with a concentrated surge of energy, crackling with raw power as he drove it into the creature’s chest. The impact exploded outward, sending shockwaves rippling through the air and forcing the Chieftain to stagger backward, its massive feet gouging deep trenches into the earth as it struggled to maintain balance.

But the Chieftain stood firm, unwavering despite the onslaught. Instead, its grin stretched even further, a chilling display of confidence and amusement, as if it relished the challenge ahead.

"You are strong. Good," he rumbled, rolling his shoulders as his joints cracked audibly. "But strength alone is not enough. Let's see if you can survive."

The battle raged on, each clash reverberating through the ruined house. Arden, Leigh, and Dominic moved in seamless unison; their attacks coordinated like a deadly symphony. Arden’s raw power shattered defenses, Leigh’s swift and precise strikes cut through gaps in the Chieftain’s armor, and Dominic’s illusions created constant openings. Yet, despite their relentless assault, the Chieftain endured, its monstrous resilience proving to be unlike anything they had ever encountered.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Leigh spotted an opening. "Now!" she called out.

Arden seized the moment, channeling his energy into a final devastating strike. With a powerful leap, he twisted midair, gathering momentum before driving his fist into the Chieftain’s sternum like a meteor crashing to earth. Dominic followed with a flourish, conjuring a barrage of golden chains that shot forward and coiled tightly around the beast, binding its movements with unbreakable force. And Leigh, with flawless precision, stepped forward, her eyes locked onto the opening. With a single fluid motion, she drove Venya straight through the troll’s chest, her blade pulsating with divine energy as it tore through its target, radiating a brilliant, holy light.

The Chieftain gasped, his massive body trembling as his strength gave way. "Impressive…" he rumbled, a faint smirk lingering on his lips before his colossal form crashed to the ground, sending a shockwave through the ruins.

Silence filled the ruins.

Then, Dominic let out a breathless chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Okay… that was exhausting. Next time, let’s pick a fight that doesn’t feel like a full-body workout."

Leigh wiped her blade clean, her expression calm yet resolute. "It had to be done."

Arden rolled his shoulders, exhaling with a smirk. "Not bad for a first day, huh? Could’ve gone worse—at least none of us got flattened."

As if on cue, the old house’s floor pulsed with a soft, golden shimmer, and a gentle radiance enveloped them. The realm itself seemed to respond to their triumph, the very air humming with newfound energy. A warm current coursed through their veins as their bodies instinctively absorbed the residual power, solidifying the growth they had achieved through battle.

Leigh narrowed her eyes. "I think… we just passed our first trial."

Arden smirked. "Good. Then let’s see what Laoyon has in store for us next."

The trio stood amidst the remnants of their battle; their bodies weary but their spirits high. The ruins around them seemed to shift, the air tingling with residual energy, as if Laoyon itself acknowledged their victory.

"We should find a place to rest," Leigh suggested as she sheathed Venya, her gaze sweeping across the ruins. "Even with our breakthroughs, our bodies still need time to recover."

Dominic stretched, wincing slightly. "Yeah, I’d rather not wake up to another surprise attack. My reflexes aren't great when I'm half-conscious."

Arden nodded, his gaze sweeping across the old house. "This place should do for the night. Let's secure the area first—no surprises while we're resting."

As they explored the old house, they discovered a small stream of shimmering liquid energy pooling beneath a massive tree near the ruined entrance. Its surface rippled with an otherworldly glow, casting a soft, ethereal light around them. The trio exchanged glances before stepping closer, drawn by the unmistakable aura of its restorative properties.

Arden knelt by the stream and dipped his fingers into the water. A surge of warmth spread through his limbs, rejuvenating his fatigued muscles. "This place is a natural wellspring of energy."

Leigh cupped her hands and took a sip, her eyes widening slightly. "It’s purer than anything I’ve ever tasted."

Dominic splashed some on his face, sighing in relief. "Alright, I officially love this place."

As they settled down for the night, Arden leaped onto the upper floor, taking the first watch while Dominic and Leigh found a spot to rest. Before fully relaxing, Dominic rummaged through his bag and pulled out some dried rations. "We should eat something before we pass out. That fight drained a ton of energy."

Leigh nodded, taking a small portion. "We’ll need to find better food sources soon. Relying on what we brought won’t last."

Arden took one last survey of their surroundings, his keen eyes scanning the mist-laden ruins before settling on the fallen Troll Chieftain. Amidst the scattered debris of battle, a faint glimmer caught his attention—a deep, amber-colored inner core pulsing with raw energy. Intrigued, he jumped down to inspect it, carefully lifting the core into his hands. The moment his fingers made contact, a surge of warmth radiated through him, sending a powerful current of energy coursing through his veins. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, as if the essence of the Chieftain itself lingered within the core, pulsating with untapped power, waiting to be harnessed.

Beside the core lay a crude but sturdy wooden shield, made from reinforced troll hide and a wood edged with metal plates. Though battered, it radiated an odd resilience, as if still imbued with the beast’s unnatural toughness. Arden lifted it, testing its weight. "This could be useful."

A spear, likely looted from a past battle, rested near a Troll's corpse. Though weathered, its craftsmanship was undeniable. Arden picked it up and gave it a few test swings. "Not bad. It’ll do until we find something better."

He turned to Leigh and Dominic, holding up the core with a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "This thing is brimming with energy. It might just push our breakthroughs further. We should refine it tomorrow."

Dominic whistled. "Now that’s what I call a worthy loot drop."

Leigh nodded in agreement. "Well-earned. Let’s rest for now. But first, Dominic, can you set up a barrier to conceal our presence? We don’t know what else might be lurking in Laoyon."

Dominic sighed but waved his hand, conjuring a shimmering veil of energy around their resting spot. "Alright, this should keep us hidden for the night. Now, can we finally get some sleep?"

Leigh gave a satisfied nod. "Now we can. We’ll deal with everything else in the morning."

Arden secured the core while Dominic and Leigh gathered around the fire. The exhaustion of the day finally weighed on them, but for the first time, they felt a tangible reward for their efforts.

The soft hum of Laoyon’s energy surrounded them, a constant reminder of the trials yet to come.

Their first day in Laoyon had come to an end, but their journey was only beginning.

Grrrrooooooooowl!