Cale sat in the back seat of the sleek, black car, the hum of the engine filling the otherwise quiet space. His gaze drifted to the cityscape outside, his mind lost in the days that had passed. Across from him, Soojin sat with his arms crossed, watching Cale with a thoughtful, almost analytical look.
Breaking the silence, Soojin’s voice came out softly, tinged with a mixture of wonder and disbelief. “I still can’t believe your training made you this strong,” he admitted, shaking his head slightly.
Cale chuckled, the sound low and confident. “It was difficult,” he replied, eyes distant, “but I managed to pull it off… one way or another.”
He recalled those endless days in the dimly lit room, the oppressive darkness that forced him to confront his own limitations. Day after day, he felt each muscle burn and ache as he wielded the iron rod and then newer weapons, alone in the suffocating silence. He pushed himself past his breaking points, again and again, challenging his mind to ignore the lure of his own powers. There was a stark resilience forged in that isolation, a clarity that allowed him to focus on himself alone, free from the distractions of power or energy that once defined him.
But now, he was back, stronger and more focused than ever. "It won't happen again!'
“Here,” Soojin interrupted his thoughts, handing him a slim black tablet. Cale looked down, noting the sleek lines and bright screen displaying an information panel. 'I wonder how he will react to this!'
Soojin’s tone shifted to something a bit more serious. “This is the highest C+ Rank Fracture that we know of…” he paused before adding, “…It’s also the Green Serpent Fracture you wanted.”
Cale’s brows raised slightly, but his expression remained oddly calm—eerily calm, in fact. Soojin could feel a chill settle in the air as he observed Cale’s reaction, or rather, his lack of reaction. There was an intensity in Cale’s calmness that made even him, a battle-hardened warrior, slightly uneasy.
Breaking the tension, Cale finally looked down at the screen, studying the details. The screen read:
Information (Info):
Name: Green Serpent Lair
Rank: C+ Rank
Description: Green scales. Tall as a building.
'This is too little information' Cale’s eyes lingered on the description. It wasn’t nearly enough—three short lines to describe the Fracture where his enemies lurked, where he would find the creatures he had been hunting. His mind bristled, searching for more, unwilling to enter without better understanding the danger.
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But Soojin’s voice cut into his thoughts as if he sensed Cale’s frustration. “I know it’s little information,” he said, “but at least it’s something.”
Cale looked at Soojin, a calm smile spreading across his face. “It’ll do,” he replied evenly. He knew that this mission was more than a mission—it was personal. It was true enmity. Deep inside, a quiet storm raged, his emotions reigned in by sheer will. But as he glanced back at the tablet, something shifted in his vision.
A yellow, floating panel appeared in front of him:
[Quest in Progress: Take Revenge for Your Family]
[Reward: 20 Points, Upgrade to your Scythe, and 1 Random Skill]
[Accepted]
The words lingered in his vision, a silent reminder of the purpose that drove him here, the promise he had made to himself. For a moment, a flicker of pain crossed his eyes, then it vanished, his gaze hardening once more.
Soojin, oblivious to the system panel, continued, watching Cale’s expression carefully. “Here we are now,” he announced as the vehicle slowed to a stop. He gestured to the Fracture before them, towering ominously in the distance, surrounded by blue-uniformed guards securing the perimeter.
Cale didn’t waste a moment. He pushed open the door and stepped out, his posture tall and unyielding as he approached the Fracture’s edge. His eyes fixed on the swirling vortex, its color a sickly green, an unnatural glow casting shadows across his face. The Fracture seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, a living entity waiting to consume anything that dared to step through.
Soojin exited the car and followed closely, stopping a few feet behind. His arms crossed, he studied Cale’s stance—he could see the tension rippling through his shoulders, the quiet fury simmering beneath his calm facade. Soojin knew better than anyone how dangerous Cale could be, especially when he was like this.
Just as Cale neared the Fracture, another system panel blinked into view in front of him:
[Information (Info):
Name: Green Serpent Lair
Rank: C+ Rank
Description: Green scales. Height: taller than a multi-story building. Highly poisonous.
To access more information, please enter the Fracture.]
The final line almost seemed to taunt him, as if daring him to step inside and uncover the horrors within. He clenched his jaw, but his gaze remained unwavering, his determination solidified.
Slowly, he glanced back at Soojin, who was watching him with an expression that seemed to silently say, Are you ready for this?
Soojin gave him a single nod, his lips pressing into a firm line. It was a subtle but unmistakable sign of approval, a quiet acknowledgment of Cale’s strength.
Without another word, Cale turned back to the Fracture, his shoulders squared, his gaze steely. An almost palpable aura of danger radiated from him as he let a hint of his deadly aura seep out, swirling around him like a storm held at bay.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward, crossing into the unknown, his form disappearing into the dark, poisonous green vortex.