They continued walking until the village was nothing more than a distant memory, the dim lights swallowed by the forest. The air grew colder, the trees thicker, their branches intertwining above like skeletal fingers. It was here that Jae-Hyun finally slowed down, finding a small clearing where they could rest.

“We’ll stop here for a while,” he said, setting down his pack. “But not for long.”

Ahri sat down on a fallen log, her eyes scanning the darkness around them. Despite the quiet, there was a sense of unease that lingered in the air. She knew Jae-Hyun felt it too.

“What’s the plan once we reach the city?” she asked, breaking the silence.

Jae-Hyun didn’t answer right away. He pulled out a small map from his pack which he had obtained earlier, studying it under the faint light of the moon. “First, we gather information. Find out what’s happening with the gates and if there’s any word about my sister. After that... we deal with whatever comes our way.”

Ahri nodded. It wasn’t much of a plan, but given the circumstances, it was better than nothing. She leaned back slightly, her gaze drifting upward to the canopy of leaves above.

“Why do you think the gates are appearing more frequently?” she asked, more to herself than to Jae-Hyun.

“I don’t know,” Jae-Hyun admitted. “But whatever it is, it can’t be good.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As they rested, the system interface flickered into Jae-Hyun’s vision, displaying a new notification:

System Notification: New Quest Available.

Objective Progress: 0% of journey completed.

Objective: Reach the city within 48 hours.

Optional Objective: Take the dangerous route through the Twilight Vale. Reward: Special reward and 20 stat points.

Jae-Hyun narrowed his eyes at the notification. The Twilight Vale was notorious for being treacherous, filled with monsters and unpredictable terrain. But it was also the fastest route to the city.

He turned to Ahri. “We have two choices. The long, safer route or the dangerous one that cuts our travel time in half.”

Ahri didn’t hesitate. “The dangerous one. If it gets us there faster, it’s worth the risk. I know you are in a hurry.”

Jae-Hyun nodded. He had expected no less from her. “Alright. We’ll take the Twilight Vale. Stay alert. We move at dawn.”

With that, they settled in for a brief rest, though neither truly slept. The tension in the air was palpable, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking ahead.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dawn broke slowly, the first rays of light piercing through the dense forest canopy. Jae-Hyun was already on his feet, his senses sharp and ready. Ahri joined him shortly after, and without wasting any time, they set off toward the Twilight Vale.

The journey was grueling, every step feeling like a test of their endurance. The path was narrow, winding through jagged cliffs and dense undergrowth. The air grew colder as they ascended, a biting wind howling through the narrow passages. Despite the harsh conditions, they pressed on, their determination unwavering.

It wasn’t long before the first signs of danger appeared. A low growl echoed through the pass, followed by the sound of something large moving through the underbrush.

Jae-Hyun drew his blade, his shadows coiling around him like living entities. Ahri readied her weapon, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

“Stay close,” Jae-Hyun said quietly.

Out of the shadows emerged a pack of wolf-like creatures, their eyes glowing with a menacing red light. Their fur was matted, their bodies lean and muscular. They moved with predatory grace, circling the two of them.

Jae-Hyun didn’t wait for them to strike first. With a swift command, his shadows lashed out, striking the nearest wolf and sending it crashing to the ground. The rest of the pack lunged forward, but Jae-Hyun and Ahri met them head-on.

The battle was fast and brutal. Jae-Hyun moved like a shadow himself, his blade flashing in deadly arcs. Each strike was precise, every movement calculated. Ahri fought with equal ferocity, her movements fluid and graceful as she dispatched the wolves with ease.

Within minutes, the pack lay defeated, their bodies fading into the shadows as Jae-Hyun activated Reaper’s Claim once more.

System Notification: Enemies defeated. Bonus experience awarded.

Objective Progress: 35% of journey completed.

Level up!

Breathing heavily, Ahri glanced at Jae-Hyun. “That wasn’t so bad.”

Jae-Hyun gave a faint nod, his expression unreadable. “Let’s keep moving. We don’t know what else might be waiting for us.”

Together, they continued through the Twilight Vale, each step drawing them closer to the city. The wind howled around them, and the shadows seemed to stretch endlessly ahead, but Jae-Hyun’s resolve didn’t waver. No matter what dangers lay ahead, he would reach his sister—and he would find the answers he sought. Somewhere deep within, a faint hope flickered—this wasn’t just a journey for vengeance. It was a chance to reclaim the part of himself that he feared was lost forever.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

System Notification: Objective Progress 75%.

The dense foliage of the Twilight Vale stretched around them, casting long shadows that danced eerily with the wind. Jae-Hyun and Ahri pressed on, their pace steady but cautious. The vale had been gruelling so far, but the end was in sight—or so they thought.

A sudden stillness fell over the forest, the kind that made the hairs on the back of Jae-Hyun’s neck stand on end. His steps slowed, his grip tightening on the hilt of his blade. Ahri noticed his change in demeanour and mirrored his caution, her staff at the ready.

“Something’s wrong,” Jae-Hyun muttered, his voice low.

Before Ahri could respond, the system interface flickered before Jae-Hyun’s eyes.

System Notification: New Quest.

Objective: Eliminate the Ogre Band (0/6).

Threat Level: Rank C.

“An ogre band?” Jae-Hyun whispered, glancing around warily. “Rank C… this won’t be easy.”

Jae-Hyun reacted immediately. His eyes scanned the surrounding area, every sense heightened. He caught a faint rumble in the distance, followed by the sound of something large moving through the underbrush.

“Get ready,” he said, his tone cold and focused.

Out of the shadows emerged six massive creatures, each standing nearly twice Jae-Hyun’s height. Their skin was a mottled grey, thick and rough like stone, and their eyes glowed with a predatory red light. Despite their size, they moved with surprising agility, their heavy footfalls barely making a sound.

“They’re fast,” Ahri said, a hint of tension in her voice.

Jae-Hyun nodded. “We’ll have to be faster.”

Without another word, he launched himself forward, shadows coiling around his form as he struck at the nearest ogre. His blade met resistance, but with a surge of power, he drove it deep into the creature’s chest. The ogre roared in pain, but before it could retaliate, Ahri cast a buff spell, enhancing Jae-Hyun’s speed and strength.

“Keep them off me,” Jae-Hyun said, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around them.

Ahri nodded, focusing on support spells while fending off the ogres that tried to flank him. Her spells were precise, each one timed perfectly to either bolster Jae-Hyun or disrupt their enemies. The synergy between them became apparent as the battle progressed.

Jae-Hyun’s shadows moved in tandem with Ahri’s spells, the combination turning the tide in their favor. He weaved through the ogres with deadly precision, his blade flashing as he struck vital points. Each time an ogre fell, his system updated, a cold reminder of the task at hand.

System Notification: Enemies defeated (4/6).

Despite their progress, the fight was far from over. The remaining two ogres regrouped, their eyes gleaming with a sinister intelligence. They charged simultaneously, forcing Jae-Hyun and Ahri to split their focus.

“I’ll handle the one on the left!” Ahri called out, dodging and blocking the incoming attack.

Jae-Hyun didn’t respond verbally. He dashed toward the other ogre, his shadows lashing out like whips. The creature swung a massive club, but Jae-Hyun sidestepped with ease, closing the distance and driving his blade into its side. With a final surge of power, he brought the ogre down.

System Notification: Enemies defeated (5/6).

Ahri finished off her opponent with a well-timed spell, and for a moment, it seemed like the battle was over. Both of them stood in silence, catching their breath.

System Notification: Enemies defeated (6/6).

System Notification: Quest Completed.

Reward: 15 stat points.

Then the ground trembled.

“What now?” Ahri muttered, turning toward the source of the disturbance.

Emerging from the shadows was a creature even larger than the previous ogres. Its skin was darker, almost black, and its eyes burned with an intense crimson glow. Unlike the others, it carried an aura of menace that made even Jae-Hyun hesitate for a split second.

System Notification: New Enemy Detected. Onyx Reaver - Rank B.

“This one’s different,” Jae-Hyun said, his voice low but steady.

Before they could react, the rank B ogre charged at blinding speed. Jae-Hyun barely had time to block as the creature’s massive fist slammed into him, sending him skidding back several feet. Ahri immediately cast a healing spell, but the tension in her eyes was clear.

“We can’t fight it head-on,” she said, her voice tight with urgency.

Jae-Hyun didn’t respond. His mind raced, calculating their options. The ogre was fast, strong, and far more dangerous than anything they had faced so far. But retreat wasn’t an option—not with Ahri injured.

“Stay back,” he said, stepping forward. “I’ll handle it.”

Ahri opened her mouth to protest, but something in his eyes stopped her. Reluctantly, she nodded, focusing on maintaining a defensive barrier.

Jae-Hyun advanced, shadows swirling around him like a living armour. The Onyx Reaver roared, charging once more. This time, Jae-Hyun met it head-on, his blade clashing against its massive fists. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but he held his ground.

For a moment, it seemed like they were evenly matched. But then, with a swift, unexpected move, the ogre managed to break through Jae-Hyun’s defence, its fist connecting with Ahri. She cried out in pain, crumpling to the ground.

Jae-Hyun’s eyes widened, a surge of emotions flooding through him—fear, rage, helplessness. Memories flashed through his mind: his sister crying for him, Ahri lying injured. He clenched his fists, his entire body trembling.

Then it happened.

The power he had felt during the battle with the Chitterfang Queen returned, surging through him like a tidal wave. His shadows darkened, growing more intense, more chaotic. He moved without thought, without hesitation, his blade slashing through the air with terrifying speed.

The ogre didn’t stand a chance. In mere moments, it was reduced to nothing but a lifeless husk, its body crumbling under the sheer force of Jae-Hyun’s unleashed power.

But it didn’t stop there.

Jae-Hyun turned, his eyes devoid of their usual clarity, consumed by the overwhelming force controlling him. His shadows writhed, extending toward Ahri.

“Jae-Hyun!” Ahri’s voice cut through the haze, sharp and desperate.

He froze, the sound of her voice piercing through the storm in his mind. For a moment, everything seemed to stand still. The shadows recoiled, and Jae-Hyun staggered, his breathing ragged as he fought to regain control.

Ahri struggled to her feet, clutching her side. Despite the pain, her eyes remained fixed on him. “Come back,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the fear in her heart. “Please...”

With a final, shuddering breath, Jae-Hyun forced the power back, the chaotic energy dissipating into the air. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, relief, and frustration at his lack of control. The memory of Ahri’s pained cry replayed in his mind, a stark reminder of how close he had come to losing her. He fell to his knees, the weight of what had just happened crashing down on him.

The battle was over, but something far more dangerous had been unleashed.

Ahri limped closer, her expression a mix of concern and wariness. “We need to talk about what just happened,” she said, her voice quiet but firm, cutting through the lingering tension like a blade.