It had already been four days since we had left the Kingdom of Twyzalan.
Now, we were climbing a steep mountain path, surrounded by dense, overgrown trees. Carefully avoiding rocks and roots jutting from the ground, I drew a deep breath of cold air mingled with the scent of damp earth. Each step seemed to drain my energy, yet I pressed on, compelled forward by the journey’s purpose.
“We set out to find a way back to our world as quickly as possible,” I reminded myself, recalling the grand declaration made at the beginning. Yet in truth, these two had no sense of planning at all.
They moved purely on impulse—if we happened upon a town, we would gather information, then perhaps move on to the next. That was the sum total of their strategy.
At this pace, we would never find a way home.
By my suggestion, we were currently heading toward the land of the Lux—a race renowned for their magical prowess. Their village offered the best chance to acquire the knowledge and tools we would need for our journey.
To reach the Lux village, we had to cross Nishino Mountain and sail across the sea. A detour around the mountain to reach the port town would take nearly six days. But crossing the mountain directly could reduce the journey to just two days. Yet this mountain was no ordinary obstacle.
Nishino Mountain rises over three thousand meters, rugged and imposing, abundant in edible plants, fruits, and pristine rivers. It is rich in resources, yet also home to ferocious monsters that constantly war over territory, posing a continuous threat to life.
Under normal circumstances, I would have taken the long detour without hesitation. But foolishly, I thought that with these two by my side, danger would be minimal.
How naïve I had been.
These two were far too dangerous.
Six hours into our ascent, creatures of all shapes and sizes began to appear. Wolves leapt from the underbrush, small dragons swooped from the sky, and enormous reptiles slithered across the path. Any one of them would have been impossible to face alone.
Yet the Hero, Zeke, and the Dark Queen struck down every attacker with a single, precise blow.
Earlier, an “Iron Tiger” ambushed us—a tiger-like monster over five meters long, with claws and fangs as hard as steel. Even fifty of Twyzalan’s elite knights would have struggled to defeat it. Yet they dispatched it as if it were a playful kitten, moving in perfect synchrony without a single misstep.
The aftermath of the battle was etched into the earth: torn bark, scattered leaves, puddles reflecting the tiger’s shadow. Every detail felt like a continuation of yesterday’s battlefield.
What unfolded before my eyes was not merely beautiful—it was terrifying. The overwhelming power, the flawless precision of their combat—all of it pressed upon my chest, leaving me breathless.
Thankfully, no monsters attacked for the past hour. Occasionally, a faint rustle in the foliage hinted at movement, but it was likely creatures fleeing after glimpsing the two ahead.
Monsters fleeing in fear of humans or demons? I had never heard of such a thing. Yet here it was, right before me.
It seemed that common sense no longer applied to these two.
Kicking stones underfoot, I muttered to myself, feeling both my weakness and the extraordinary might of the pair ahead.
The treacherous path of Nishino Mountain still stretched before us. Beyond it, unknown adventures and fresh trials awaited, ready to test us. That truth was etched firmly into my heart.
To be continued…
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