The Verdant Merchant

Rowen's eyes snapped open, his breath catching. His body felt alive in a way it never had before, with the feeling of roots and soil beneath him, air in his lungs, fire in his veins, and now water cooling his very blood. The elements weren't fighting anymore. They were orbiting each other, fragile but complete.

The five-element ring shone inside him, brighter and clearer than ever.

A grin tugged at his lips, sweat rolling down his temples. "It's real…" he whispered, voice shaking. "The theory is real…"

But as soon as the words left him, the strain of holding five elements at once clawed at his body.

His vision blurred.

Rowen slumped to the floor, the glow of the five-element ring flickering faintly inside him. He was still conscious, but his body felt unbearably heavy, every muscle drained.

Fern appeared before him, his green aura dim but steady, eyes filled with concern as he looked at Rowen's exhausted state.

Shade padded closer and sat quietly at Rowen's side, watching him with the same worried gaze.

The two stayed near, their presence steady and protective, as Rowen struggled to catch his breath.

It was around 11:00 PM. Far from Rowen's shop, outside the border town, a new dungeon portal pulsed under the watch of federal officials. But inside, something strange was unfolding.

The dungeon stretched out not as tunnels but as a wild jungle. Massive trees towered overhead, their canopies so thick they drowned the light, leaving the ground dim and humid. Vines dangled from branches, and strange glowing flowers cast eerie colors across the undergrowth.

The air was heavy with mana. Every breeze carried the sharp scent of damp earth mixed with something faintly metallic. From time to time, the cries of catlike beasts echoed through the thickets, reminding anyone inside that they weren't alone.

Cat-type monsters lurked everywhere. Some hid within the foliage; others prowled openly in packs. Their movements were restless, far more aggressive than expected for a newborn dungeon.

At the heart of it all, the dungeon core pulsed with unstable light. Beside it stood a statue of a massive black cat, its stone eyes glinting with something that felt disturbingly alive.

Then, the space before the statue began to twist.

Strange lines of mana flared across the ground, carving themselves into the soil in an intricate pattern. A glowing circle emerged, pulsing faintly with colors that didn't belong to the natural world deep violet edged with streaks of black and silver.

The jungle fell silent. Even the restless cat-monsters crouched low in fear, their ears flat and their eyes fixed on the circle.

Something was trying to come through.

The mana circle flared brighter, and after a long, tense silence, a shape emerged.

A beast stepped out, its sleek fur shining silver even in the dim dungeon light. Its golden eyes burned with arrogance, the kind of gaze that saw everything beneath it. The creature was unmistakably male, every movement filled with authority.

It let out a low, almost lazy meow, but the sound carried through the jungle like a command.

Then, its expression shifted. A faint pressure pressed against it, and realization struck—the dungeon's rules bound him. His power, once overwhelming, had been suppressed, forced down to the level of a mere trainee.

The silver beast froze, fury flashing in his eyes. He could do nothing against the restriction. His ears twitched back, and he spat a curse under his breath.

With a sharp lash of his tail, he summoned the surrounding cats. Dozens of feline monsters stirred, emerging from the shadows, their glowing eyes trained on him.

Then, with a wave of mana, a strange portrait appeared before him, floating in the air. He pulled it open.

Inside the frame was the image of a woman with long black hair, sharp eyes, and a pair of cat ears atop her head. She was beautiful, but her stillness made her feel like a secret sealed away.

The silver beast's voice rumbled low, a mix of reverence and irritation.

"Find her. Now. How have you fools not found her until this moment? Must I be dragged here myself to do your work for you?"

His tail lashed again, ears flat in anger. "Spread out! She must be somewhere in this jungle. I won't suffer this restriction for nothing."

At once, the cats scattered into the dense jungle, their movements fast and desperate under their master's command.

The night dragged on inside the dungeon. The humid air thickened, the jungle alive with restless growls and the rustling of prowling beasts.

By the time it neared 3:00 a.m., the silver-furred cat once again raised his voice. His furious meow echoed like thunder through the canopy, making the lesser monsters shrink back. His eyes blazed with frustration—still, after hours of searching, no trace of the woman had been found.

The gathered cats trembled, afraid to meet his gaze. Then, from within the crowd, one beast crept forward. Its tail flicked nervously as it bowed its head.

"Lord… I saw it," the creature admitted in a strained voice. "A portal. It pulsed with strange mana. We tried, but… none of us could pass through."

The silver beast's eyes narrowed to sharp slits. For a long moment, he said nothing, his whiskers twitching as if weighing the meaning. Then it hit him—his scowl deepened.

"So. She slipped out." His voice was low, venomous. "Used a talisman, did she?"

His claws flexed against the soil, leaving deep furrows. He let out a soft growl, but then a cruel smirk tugged at his lips.

"She is clever enough to run far. If she has a talisman, then I'll use mine."

With deliberate steps, the silver beast padded away, the crowd parting in silence before him. He emerged into a darker corner of the dungeon, where the stable portal shimmered faintly. Its glow was faint, almost sickly, but undeniably a way out.

The beast reached beneath his fur with a paw, pulling forth a thin, rune-covered talisman that pulsed faintly with power. He pressed it against the portal.

In an instant, his body flickered, light wrapping around him. With a final arrogant glance back, he vanished, slipping through the dungeon as though he was never there.

Outside, federal officials stood guard near the dungeon's surface portal. Their lanterns cut small circles of light in the night, their conversation low and careless. None of them noticed the silver shadow that passed, unseen, into the world beyond.