Land Of The Beginning

Reia's breaths came sharp and quick as she extended her hand, summoning a glowing orb of fire. The flame twisted and churned in her palm, flickering like it was alive. She focused, pouring her energy into the spell until the fireball grew larger, its heat radiating against her skin.

"Come on... come on..." she muttered under her breath. Sweat dripped down her temple, but she didn't dare falter.

Burst!

The fireball shot forward like a meteor, illuminating the dark forest as it hurtled toward the massive Guardian. The air rippled with its heat, and the force of its launch left a faint scorch mark on the ground.

BOOM!

The explosion slammed into the Guardian's molten chest, sending embers and shards of blackened stone flying in all directions. The beast staggered, letting out a guttural roar that shook the forest.

"RAAAAAGGGGHHH!"

Its molten red eyes burned brighter as they locked onto Reia, now the focus of its rage.

She gulped but forced a grin. "Gotcha, big guy," she muttered, turning on her heel. She darted between trees, her boots crunching against the forest floor as the massive creature thundered after her.

The ground trembled with each of its steps. Roots and fallen branches snapped under its weight, and Reia had to fight to keep her balance as she sprinted ahead.

Keep moving. Don't stop. Just a little longer.

"Reia's got it distracted!" Holand bellowed, gripping his sword tightly. His voice carried a commanding weight, and the tension in the air sharpened. "Ivy, with me! Anne, find a vantage point!"

"Got it," Anne called, already climbing a nearby tree with the ease of someone who had done it a hundred times before.

Holand glanced at Ivy, who was crouched low, her daggers gleaming in the faint light of the fireball's aftermath. She nodded once, her expression calm and focused.

"On my mark," Holand said, positioning himself. The Guardian's heavy steps drew closer, the sound like a drumbeat echoing in his ears

Reia's legs burned as she zigzagged through the trees, the Guardian hot on her heels. She could feel the heat of its molten breath against her back, and each roar sent a jolt of fear through her chest.

"Anytime now, guys!" she shouted, her voice strained.

Holand didn't wait. "Now!"

The two of them surged forward, Ivy moving like a shadow while Holand charged head-on.

Clang!

Holand's sword met the Guardian's claws in a burst of sparks. He gritted his teeth, pushing against the creature's strength. The sheer force of the impact sent a shiver up his arm, but he held his ground.

"Come on, you ugly bastard!" he growled, using all his strength to drive the Guardian back a step.

Ivy darted in from the side, her movements quick and precise. Her dagger found a weak spot in the Guardian's side, the blade sinking into a molten crack in its armor.

Shk!

A spray of molten sparks erupted from the wound, and the creature roared in fury, swinging its massive arm toward her.

Ivy ducked just in time, rolling out of the way as the Guardian's claws tore through the tree behind her, splintering it in two.

"Holand, keep it distracted!" Ivy called, already moving to find another opening.

"Like I have a choice!" Holand shot back, deflecting another claw swipe with his sword. The force of the blow nearly knocked him off his feet, but he planted his boots firmly, refusing to give ground.

From her perch high above, Anne nocked an arrow, her fingers steady despite the chaos below. The blue flames licking at the arrow's tip cast a faint glow across her face.

"Almost there..." she muttered, narrowing her eyes. The Guardian's head was constantly moving, its molten eyes scanning for threats.

"Anne!" Holand's voice rang out, cutting through the noise. "We need that shot!"

"I know, I know!" she snapped back, adjusting her aim. The Guardian reared back, raising its claws for another strike, and for a brief moment, its neck was exposed.

"There!" Anne whispered, releasing the string.

The enchanted arrow shot through the air like a streak of lightning, leaving a faint trail of blue fire in its wake.

Shk!

It struck the Guardian's neck, embedding itself deep into the molten core. The creature froze, its body convulsing as the magic spread through its veins.

Holand didn't waste the opportunity. With a roar of his own, he swung his sword in a powerful arc, the blade cutting deep into the Guardian's torso.

Slice!

The creature let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground.

THUD.

The impact shook the earth, sending a cloud of ash and embers billowing into the air. The Guardian's body disintegrated piece by piece, its molten form crumbling into nothingness.

For a moment, the forest was silent, save for the labored breathing of the group. Holand leaned on his sword, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

"Haah..." he exhaled, a weary grin spreading across his face. "That's one way to get the blood pumping."

"Good fight," Ivy said, cleaning her daggers with a practiced efficiency. Despite the exhaustion settling into her limbs, her voice remained steady and calm.

Anne hopped down from her perch, brushing ash from her gloves. "Didn't think it'd be that tough," she admitted, though there was a note of pride in her voice. "Good teamwork, though."

From his hiding spot, Arpheus peeked out, his heart still hammering from the battle. He'd watched the entire fight, every swing of the sword and every magical strike, and he couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and frustration.

So this is the power of high-rankers. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms.

"Arpheus!" Holand's voice jolted him from his thoughts. The older man waved him over, a warm smile on his face. "It's safe now. Come on out."

"O-okay," Arpheus stammered, stepping out from the bushes. His movements were stiff, his nerves still on edge.

Anne smirked as she walked up to him, her bow slung across her back. "So," she said, tilting her head, "what'd you think of that?"

Arpheus forced a smile, though his frustration simmered just beneath the surface.

"It was... impressive," he said, his voice even. "You guys fought really well."

Anne grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "Glad you think so."

Arpheus bit back his irritation. Just because I'm an E-rank doesn't mean you can talk to me like I'm some clueless rookie.

Before he could say anything else, Ivy stepped forward, her sharp gaze locking onto him. "You stayed in the bushes the whole time," she said bluntly.

Arpheus stiffened, his face flushing. "I—"

"Don't worry about it," Holand interrupted, clapping a heavy hand on his shoulder. His grin was wide, almost blinding. "Everyone starts somewhere."

His tone was kind, but it only made Arpheus feel worse.

Somewhere? I'm not even on the map.

The group began to gather their things, the tension of the battle fading into the background. Holand and Anne chatted casually, their voices light, while Ivy remained silent, methodically cleaning her weapons.

Arpheus trailed behind, his steps slow and uncertain. His thoughts were a whirlwind of self-doubt and determination.

I have to get stronger. If I don't, I'll always be dead weight.

The air around them suddenly felt heavy, suffocating. Arpheus could barely breathe, his lungs tight as a cold chill crawled up his spine.

Arpheus looked back.

His eyes couldn't look away, locked on the figure standing behind them. It was impossible to look at and yet... he couldn't stop.

A voice, rough and rasping, shattered the tension in the air. It was barely a whisper, but it carried through the silence like a blade. "You did… very great…"

The words were broken, like they came from something that had long since lost its soul. A sound that didn't belong to anything human.

"What the...!" Holand spun around, his hand going for his sword instinctively, his eyes wide with confusion and rising dread. His voice wavered, though he tried to hide it.

Everyone followed his gaze.

And froze.

Behind them stood a figure—tall, impossibly tall, so much taller than any human should be. Its skin was a stark white, almost gleaming, but it didn't reflect light the way it should have. Its entire presence felt wrong, like the air itself recoiled from it. The thing didn't have eyes. Not the way a person should.

Its eye sockets were hollow, empty voids that seemed to suck in the surrounding darkness. Arpheus felt like he was falling into them, like he was losing himself in that endless, consuming blackness. His heart pounded in his chest, like it wanted to break free and run. But his body refused to move.

Its legs, covered in dark, dried blood, barely seemed to touch the ground, as if it wasn't entirely part of the world they were in. And then it smiled.

Arpheus's stomach churned at the sight of it.

The grin stretched wide, far too wide. It wasn't a smile. It was a gaping abyss, a mocking gesture that seemed to promise death. The creature's lips cracked, and its teeth gleamed a sickly shade of yellow—stained with blood, as though it had been gnawing on something far more sinister than flesh. As its smile grew, the teeth seemed to multiply, stretching far beyond what was normal, far beyond what was possible.

No, no, no... what the hell is that thing?

His breath hitched in his throat, and his body went rigid, a cold sweat breaking out over him.

He wasn't the only one. Ivy and Anne were equally motionless, their eyes locked on the creature. Even Reia, who had always been so confident, so fiery, hesitated. Her usual bravado faltered as she looked at the thing before them.

Holand, though, took a step forward. He raised his sword high, his grip tight. He was trembling, but he would never let it show. Not here, not now.

"I-I will... kill you!" Holand yelled, his voice a mix of determination and fear. The fear didn't show, but it was there, buried deep under his command. He charged at the creature, his sword raised and ready to strike.

For a split second, Arpheus thought maybe, just maybe, they had a chance. Holand was the strongest of their group. If anyone could take this thing down, it was him.

But then, the creature moved.

It wasn't fast, not in the way you'd expect a living thing to be. It was like watching a shadow stretch across the ground, its movements slow and deliberate.

Flick.

A single movement of its fingers, and it sent Holand flying through the air.

The force was unreal. In an instant, Holand was ripped from the earth, hurtling toward a nearby tree. Arpheus barely saw it. One moment, Holand was there, charging with all his might, and the next... he was gone.

The tree exploded into a cloud of splinters as Holand collided with it, the sound of the impact sickening. The tree cracked, its bark splintering into jagged pieces that scattered like shrapnel.

"HOOOLLLAAAAAND!!"

Reia screamed, her voice cracking with panic as she rushed forward, her hands desperately checking for signs of life. But Arpheus could already tell from the way he was crumpled on the ground, the unnatural angle of his limbs, that Holand wasn't getting up anytime soon.

The fight had just begun, but it was already clear. They were outmatched.

The creature didn't even look at Holand. It barely acknowledged the impact it had caused. Instead, it stared at them with its empty, hollow eyes. It was the most terrifying thing Arpheus had ever seen. It wasn't just its appearance—it was the sheer absence of anything human in it. It wasn't alive, not the way they were. It wasn't even dead. It was something in between, a nightmare made flesh.

We're screwed.

Arpheus tried to swallow, but his throat was dry, like he was choking on his own fear. His hands shook at his sides. His feet, rooted to the spot, refused to move.

"We need to go," Anne said suddenly, her voice strained, but clear. She was already backing away, her eyes never leaving the creature. "Now."

"No." Reia's voice was firm, but there was a crack in it. She didn't look up from Holand. "We're not leaving him."

"You're not leaving him!" Anne shot back. "Do you not see what that thing just did?! That wasn't even a fight. That was a massacre!"

"Reia, we have to go. This isn't—" Ivy's voice faltered for just a second, but she quickly composed herself, her usual cold demeanor returning. "This is beyond us. We can't save him."

But Reia shook her head. "I can save him. I can—"

Before she could finish, the creature took a step forward, the ground vibrating with its weight.

Creeeeak…

The sound was like a thousand bones breaking, and it sent a fresh wave of terror through Arpheus's chest. The thing didn't rush, didn't need to. It was taking its time. Relishing the moment. It knew they were powerless against it.

It smiled again.

Arpheus's stomach dropped.

This is it...

"R-run," he managed to choke out. The word barely left his lips, but it was enough to snap Reia out of her trance. She glanced up, and for the first time, Arpheus saw the fear in her eyes.