Cale stood just outside the old man's cottage, the faint morning mist wrapping around the village like a shroud. Black Hollow still buzzed with quiet activity, villagers movingall around.

He let out a long breath as he let the story of the noble sink in, twisting the threads of the old man’s words into his growing web of plans.

"Red marks," he muttered, recalling the vivid description.

“Something alive… either he stuck his face into where he wasn't supposed to, or those ruins really don’t like intruders."

But still, he wouldn't let that hold him back; going to the ruins was absolutely necessary since it was somehow connected to the system. The system had given him the mission after all.

“I don’t believe in accidents.” The core’s voice was smooth as it edged into his mind. “What the man described reeks of ancient enchantments, or curses meant to keep the unworthy away.”

“Good thing I’m not unworthy,” Cale said dryly, sliding his hands into his pockets.

“You’re always confident, Master. That’s admirable.” There was the faintest trace of amusement in her voice, but it vanished quickly, replaced with the cold pragmatism he had now somehow grown used to.

“But remember, if this noble left the ruins alive, others may have followed his whispers. Rivals.”

Cale’s lips twisted into a sardonic grin. “If they're lucky, they got eaten already.”

The Core didn’t respond; her silence somehow louder than any rebuttal.

—

Leira was waiting near the centre of the village, her expression tight. “Did he tell you what you needed to know?”

“More or less,” Cale replied, keeping his voice casual. “Your dad's not big on sharing secrets, though. Cant believe he left out the important details the first time i met him for information.

As he spoke he waved a piece of folded paper he held in his hand, looking like an old map, the one the old man held earlier.

“Well. it’s good that stony heart of his got touched seeing me bleed for the whole village.”

Leira’s mouth twitched. “We didn’t ask for your help.”

Cale rolled his eyes. “No, but you needed it anyway. Im pretty sure i wasn mistaken”

Leira didnt respond immediately. He wasn’t wrong. The horde had been worse than anyone in Black Hollow anticipated. The village had held on by a thread, and without him, that thread would’ve snapped.

Who knows how many people would have lost their lives last night if not for Cale. A flicker of guilt crossed her face, but she hid it well.

She crossed her arms, looking toward the woods. “Are you really going to the ruins?”

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“Obviously.”

She chewed on her bottom lip, hesitating before finally asking, “Why?”

Cale’s gaze was calm but unyielding. “Why does anyone do anything, Leira? Answers, power... or a reason to keep moving forward.”

She blinked, visibly caught off guard by his bluntness. "Is it really worth risking your life over?"

Cale smirked, his tone turning sharp but playful. "You saw me last night, right? Risk is just part of the fun."

Leira nodded, her expression softening a bit as she remembered the scene from when he fought the hoarde.

Someone like him, surely had experienced far more than she did. She knew she couldnt just judge him based on her own worldview.

Whatever his reason was for insisting on going to the Stonefang Ruins was, It must really be important. If it’s him, just maybe he would be able to…

“Be careful, traveler.” She said in a low voice.

“Cale,” he corrected, turning to leave. “Just call me Cale.”

---

The path to the ruins stretched out like a dark vein through the forest, ancient trees looming on both sides. They twisted unnaturally, gnarled branches pointing toward the sky like frozen claws.

Even the birds seemed quieter here as he got closer, their songs stifled by an unseen weight.

Cale moved carefully, his steps deliberate as he scanned the environment for any signs of danger. His senses surged out into a low simmer, reaching out like invisible fingers to feel the faint pulses of mana surrounding the edges of the area.

The forest was... heavy. Too heavy.

“Something doesn’t feel right,” he muttered, gripping his daggers tighter.

“Of course not,” the Core responded calmly. “This region seems to reject harmony. It reeks of chaos, wild and untamed. You’ll feel that weight until the ruins influence is crushed, or embraced.”

“Well, that's a bit Comforting.” Cale managed to mutter despite his tensed expression.

Just then, he stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as his brows twitched faintly. His senses had picked up something.

Ahead, the foliage rustled unnaturally, the movement too precise for the lazy winds rolling through the forest.

Cale crouched low, a faint smirk curling his lips. “Company. There seem to be people here. I guess i’m not the only one who’s stupid enough to explore this place.”

---

Sure enough, the first figure stepped out, a lanky man in dark armor, followed closely by three others, two men and a woman.

They carried weapons that looked quite… standard. Compared to the crude daggers he currently had access to. Cale couldn't help but notice the weapons as they gleamed under the dim forestry light.

These people seemed more of Adventurers than scavengers. Well, it was same difference to Cale.

“Hold there!” the figure in the forefront barked. “State your name and your business.”

Cale was take aback by this abrupt confrontation. He tilted his head, rolling his dagger slowly. He put just enough relaxed confidence into his stance to unsettle them.

“Name’s not important. Business is mine to mind. What are you doing here?”

The the person who had spoken to him frowned. “You don’t look like you belong around here. This area’s claimed for exploration by the Ironfang Guild. Turn around, or—”

“Ironfang?” Cale interrupted, a faint edge creeping into his gaze. “Ah, yes, guild.”

He almost forgot about these things. It had really been quite some time since he left that other world or maybe his memory was starting to fail him slowly?

Well, it was such a relief that these concepts still existed in this world. It made transitioning a bit more… smoother, as it seems this world wasn't too different from that other one.

“Unique name tho, for a guild” He added after a brief thought.

Those simple words earned him a flash of anger in the man’s eyes for some reason, the three at his back tensed slightly but didnt react too much.

They weren’t fools. Anyone mocking Ironfang that casually wasn’t walking into this blindly.

“What’s your problem with the guild?” the man growled.

Cale was surprised, he wasnt expecting this question.

“None…?” He said with a shrug. “How could I have problems with people I've just met?”

The man was agitated by his casual response. It was strange, for some reason, Cale’s simple words seemed to incite him further.

With that, his jaws tightened and his aura flared, spilling out like a wave of heat.

Cale frowned, but his expression didnt betray any hint of panic.

Just then, one of the others, a young man with short brown hair and leather armor, stepped forward and lightly touched his shoulder.

The man who seemed like he was about to pounce on Cale, his anger loosened and hsi expression was replaced with surprise, his aura snuffed out immediately.

“Captain…?”

“Let him pass.” The brown-haired man muttered.

Cale even with the surprise on his face, was already moving, brushing past the group with the lazy ease of someone who didn’t consider them a threat.

But It didn't take long for him to vanished into the shadows of the trees.

—

“Amusing little men,” the Core said dryly, her voice laced with faint mockery. “Do you always leave your rivals alive out of charity?”

“Charity?” Cale frowned, though his tone was light. “Not exactly. Sometimes it’s out of preference. Why?”

“Ah,” the Core hummed, her tone honeyed with amusement. “So, you don’t crush your enemies, you make them crush themselves.”

Cale rolled his eyes, wondering where this conversation was going.

“I'm not some mindless rouge who kills people on a whim. I was hailed as a chivalric hero in that other world you know? Besides, I could tell that there was some sort of misunderstanding in that whole exchange.”

Because, why else would that guy get so worked up just from his simple response?

Although her form wasn

't visible, Cale could almost swear that he felt a faint grin from the Core at his response.

But he pressed forward, the ruins now closer than ever.