Kael stared at the creature standing in front of him.
The bandits had stopped fighting.
That alone was enough to make him nervous.
Whatever this thing was, they were clearly afraid of it.
Serena slowly raised her sword.
"Kael, stay behind me for a moment."
Kael frowned.
"I can fight."
"I know."
She didn't look at him.
"That's why I'm telling you to wait. We don't know what this thing can do."
The creature looked between them.
Then it laughed.
"You humans are always so cautious."
Its voice was deep, but strangely calm.
Kael kept his sword pointed toward it.
"You know my name."
"Yes."
"Who are you?"
The creature tilted its head.
"You ask many questions."
"I want answers."
"You won't get them from me."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Then why tell me you were watching for me?"
The creature's smile disappeared.
"Because I wanted you to know."
One of the bandits stepped forward.
"Should we leave?"
The creature looked at him.
"Did I say you could?"
The man immediately stopped.
Kael noticed that.
The creature didn't need to threaten them.
They were already terrified of it.
Serena whispered, "That's not normal."
Kael nodded slightly.
The creature looked at him again.
"You've grown."
Kael's expression changed.
"What?"
"I remember when you were smaller."
Kael's heart skipped.
"You've seen me before?"
"From a distance."
"When?"
The creature didn't answer.
Kael took a step forward.
"Tell me."
The creature suddenly moved.
Kael barely saw it.
Its huge arm swung toward him.
"Kael!"
Serena pushed him aside.
The creature's fist slammed into the ground.
The impact shook the clearing.
Kael rolled across the dirt and quickly got back on his feet.
The ground where he had been standing had cracked.
He stared at it.
*That would've broken my bones.*
Serena rushed forward.
Her sword struck the creature's arm.
Clang!
The blade bounced away.
Serena's eyes widened.
"Hard."
The creature swung its other arm.
She ducked underneath it and moved away.
Kael took a breath.
*Don't panic.*
He had fought stronger opponents before.
The hobgoblin had been stronger than him.
The strange goblin in Mistwood had been faster and more dangerous.
But this was different.
The creature was strong, fast, and seemed to know exactly who he was.
Kael watched its movements.
Its body was large.
Its attacks were powerful.
But there had to be a weakness.
The creature charged Serena.
Kael moved.
He ran toward its side and slashed at the back of its knee.
The blade cut through the skin.
Dark blood appeared.
The creature stopped.
It slowly turned its head.
Kael stepped back.
"So you can bleed."
The creature touched the wound.
Then looked at the blood on its fingers.
For the first time, its expression changed.
"You have improved."
Kael didn't answer.
He charged again.
The creature swung.
Kael ducked.
He moved around its side and struck again.
This time, he aimed for the same leg.
The creature stumbled.
Serena understood immediately.
"Keep attacking that leg!"
Kael nodded.
They attacked together.
Serena went for the upper body while Kael targeted the injured leg.
The creature blocked Serena's sword.
Kael rushed in.
His blade struck the knee.
The creature growled.
It suddenly kicked.
Kael barely blocked with his sword.
The force sent him sliding several meters backward.
His arms shook.
"Kael!"
"I'm fine!"
He looked at his sword.
A small crack had appeared near the guard.
*That attack almost broke my sword.*
The creature charged again.
Kael moved to the side.
Serena attacked from behind.
Her sword cut across its back.
The creature roared.
It turned toward her.
Kael saw the opening.
He rushed forward.
But before he could strike—
The creature grabbed Serena.
"Serena!"
It lifted her from the ground.
She struggled.
"Put me down!"
Kael ran toward them.
The creature looked at him.
"Stop."
Kael froze.
Its hand tightened around Serena.
"If you move, she dies."
Kael's breathing became heavier.
Serena glared at him.
"Don't listen to it."
The creature laughed.
"Interesting."
It looked at Kael.
"You care about her."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Let her go."
"Why?"
"Because I'm the one you're looking for."
The creature stared at him.
Then slowly lowered Serena.
She landed on her feet.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Kael attacked.
He didn't give the creature time to react.
His sword struck its chest.
The creature stepped backward.
Kael followed.
One slash.
Then another.
He wasn't stronger.
He knew that.
So he relied on timing.
The creature swung.
Kael ducked.
Its arm passed over his head.
Kael stepped inside its reach.
He drove his shoulder into its injured leg.
The creature lost balance.
Serena attacked from the side.
Together, they forced it down onto one knee.
Kael raised his sword.
The creature suddenly laughed.
"That's enough."
Kael stopped.
The creature looked at him.
"You've proven what I needed."
"What?"
"You can fight."
Kael's expression hardened.
"What are you talking about?"
The creature stood.
Its wounds were still bleeding, but it didn't seem concerned.
The bandits began backing away.
Kael noticed.
"You're leaving?"
The creature nodded.
"I've seen enough."
"You can't just—"
A strange blue light appeared around the creature.
Kael immediately remembered the crystal from Mistwood.
His eyes widened.
"That again..."
The creature smiled.
"You noticed."
The blue light became stronger.
Kael rushed forward.
"Wait!"
The creature disappeared.
The remaining bandits also ran.
Serena started after them.
"Forget them!"
Kael stopped her.
She turned.
"Why?"
"They're not the important part."
Kael looked toward the empty space where the creature had disappeared.
"They were working for someone."
Serena lowered her sword.
"You're right."
She looked at him.
"And that creature knew your name."
Kael nodded.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then Serena sighed.
"Your life is complicated."
Kael gave her a tired look.
"I didn't ask for it."
"I know."
She looked at the injured bandits lying nearby.
"We should finish the job first."
Kael nodded.
They searched the area.
The stolen supplies were still there.
There were mining tools, food, medicine, and several sealed boxes.
Serena checked the boxes.
"These belong to Silverpine."
Kael looked around.
"Then we should take them back."
"What about the bandits?"
"Let's tie them up."
The surviving bandits didn't resist much.
The creature had frightened them badly enough that they seemed more interested in staying alive than fighting.
One of them finally spoke.
"You don't understand."
Kael looked at him.
"Understand what?"
"You shouldn't have come here."
"Why?"
The man shook his head.
"Because now he knows where you are."
Kael's expression darkened.
"The hooded man?"
The bandit looked away.
"I don't know his name."
"What does he want?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not!"
The man looked terrified.
"He doesn't tell us anything. He gives orders through other people."
Kael crouched in front of him.
"What orders?"
The bandit swallowed.
"Watch for a boy with dark hair."
Kael went silent.
"And?"
"Don't kill him."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
The bandit shook his head.
"He said you had to reach a certain point first."
Serena looked at Kael.
"What point?"
The bandit didn't answer.
Kael stood.
"That's all you know?"
"Yes."
Kael believed him.
At least partly.
There was too much fear in the man's voice.
Serena looked toward the road.
"We should return to Ironbrook."
Kael nodded.
"Agreed."
They gathered the supplies and began their journey back.
Neither of them noticed the faint blue mark on Kael's hand.
But as they walked, the mark slowly faded.
---
Several hours later, deep inside the forest, a man stood inside an old stone building.
The hooded figure from Ironbrook stood in front of him.
The large creature from earlier was kneeling.
"You saw him?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"He is stronger than expected."
The hooded man remained silent.
"Did the mark react?"
The creature nodded.
"For a moment."
The hooded man's hand tightened.
"So it has started."
"Only slightly."
"That's enough."
The creature looked up.
"Should I kill him next time?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
The creature frowned.
"Why?"
"Because he's not ready."
"For what?"
The hooded man looked toward the dark corridor behind him.
"You wouldn't understand."
He turned away.
"Continue watching him."
The creature nodded.
"And if he discovers the truth?"
The hooded man stopped.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he quietly answered.
"Then we move to the next step."
---
By sunset, Kael and Serena finally reached Ironbrook.
They delivered the stolen supplies to the guild.
The guild staff immediately started checking everything.
The guild master came down after hearing what happened.
He looked at Kael.
"You encountered something unusual?"
Kael nodded.
"A creature."
"What kind?"
Kael hesitated.
"I don't know."
"Describe it."
Kael did.
The guild master's expression slowly changed.
"You've seen one before?"
"No."
The guild master looked at Serena.
She nodded.
"He was there. It was intelligent and knew Kael's name."
The guild master became serious.
"Did it say anything else?"
Kael looked down at his hand.
Nothing.
No blue light.
No strange mark.
Just his normal skin.
"It said someone was watching me."
The guild master sighed.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
Kael looked up.
"You know something?"
The guild master didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the guild's upper floor.
"There are some things you shouldn't investigate alone."
Kael frowned.
"Then tell me what you know."
The guild master looked him directly in the eyes.
"I know that strange incidents have been happening around Ironbrook for the past few months."
"What kind?"
"Missing people. Stolen goods. Strange creatures appearing where they shouldn't."
Kael's expression became serious.
"And the symbol?"
The guild master's face changed.
"What symbol?"
Kael hesitated.
"The eye."
Silence filled the room.
Serena looked between them.
The guild master slowly lowered his voice.
"Where did you see it?"
Kael answered.
"In Mistwood."
The guild master stared at him.
Then he looked toward the guild entrance.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"Somewhere private."
Kael exchanged a glance with Serena.
She nodded.
They followed him upstairs.
And for the first time since arriving in Ironbrook, Kael began to wonder if the mystery surrounding his parents was much bigger than he had imagined.
Behind them, near the guild entrance, a hooded figure quietly walked into the building.
He didn't look toward Kael.
He simply smiled.
The game was moving exactly as he had planned.
---
100 ps = 1 extra chapter
200 ps = 2 Extra chapter
1 Golden ticket = 3 Extra Chapter