Sael and Rhea quickly turned in their completed quests at the guild, receiving a small pouch of silvers for their efforts. The transactions were brief, but they left the guild a little richer and a step closer to their real objective—the marshlands to the east. Before heading out, Sael led Rhea through the marketplace, eyes set on gathering materials for a gift he had in mind.


    At a woodworker’s stall, they picked up several planks of reinforced hardwood, dense and sturdy enough for crafting. Nearby, a blacksmith offered them a deal on a few steel ingots—slightly imperfect pieces, but good enough for their purposes. Sael knew exactly what he wanted to make.


    Returning to a quiet corner, he got to work. With careful hands, he shaped the wood into a sleek, curved bow frame. He used the spider silk to create a string, stretching it taut for the right amount of tension. The rainbow feathers, light and durable, were fitted onto arrow shafts, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the marshy adventure they were about to undertake. Finally, small steel tips were forged and attached, completing the set.


    System Message: Weapon Crafted—Feather Hunting Bow. A lightweight yet durable bow reinforced with strong silk and vibrant feathers. Effective for long-range combat and swift strikes.


    Sael turned to Rhea, presenting the bow with a small grin. "Figured you could use this."


    She took it, running her fingers along the smooth wood, inspecting the craft. “You made this?”


    He nodded. “Wanted to make sure you had something reliable.”


    Rhea gave him a rare, genuine smile before quickly shifting her expression back to something more neutral. “It’s good. Thanks. Reminds me of home.”


    With that handled, Sael hesitated before bringing up the next subject. “Are you alright with mining if we come across any metal?” he asked carefully. He knew her history—knew what mining meant for her.


    Rhea’s ears twitched, and she considered it for a moment before shrugging. “It’s different when I choose to do it. If we find anything worth digging up, we’ll mine it together.”


    Satisfied with the answer, they made one last purchase—two sturdy pickaxes—before heading out toward the marshlands.


    The air grew thick with humidity as they ventured east. The ground beneath their boots softened, the solid dirt path gradually giving way to damp, uneven terrain. Towering trees stretched overhead, their twisted roots sinking deep into the mud. The scent of stagnant water mixed with the sharp tang of moss and decay, creating an atmosphere that felt almost alive with movement.


    Pools of murky water reflected glimpses of the sky, but beneath the surface, strange ripples suggested unseen creatures lurking below. Thick reeds and low-hanging branches made visibility difficult, and each step had to be carefully placed to avoid sinking too deep into the mire. Occasional croaks and distant howls echoed through the trees, a reminder that they weren’t alone in the marsh.


    Rhea sniffed the air, her ears twitching. “There’s something close.”


    Sael crouched low, scanning the area. Between the twisted roots and dense foliage, they caught sight of movement—a pack of marsh-dwelling hounds. Their dark, matted fur blended with the shadows, but their glowing yellow eyes gave them away. They moved cautiously, scavenging, hunting for anything they could catch.


    Before engaging, Sael and Rhea devised a plan. "I''ll use my shadow magic to blind them one by one," Sael whispered. "That way, we can take them out without them realizing what''s happening."


    Rhea nodded, gripping her bow. "Just don’t overdo it."


    Sael took a deep breath and reached for his mana. Darkness swirled at his fingertips before stretching outward, creeping toward the hounds. As his spell took hold, it let out a confused growl, staggering as it tried to make sense of its surroundings, it''s eyes clouding with unnatural darkness.


    Rhea loosed her arrow. The projectile sailed through the air, striking true. The hound crumpled without a sound.


    One by one, they repeated the process. Sael blinded the creatures, and Rhea struck them down before they could alert the rest of the pack. Efficient, clean, and quiet. With the last of them down, the marsh fell silent again, save for the distant chirping of insects. By the time they had finished, his limbs felt sluggish, and his mana reserves were nearly depleted.


    Sael let out a slow breath, glancing at Rhea. “Not bad.”


    She twirled an arrow between her fingers, smirking. “Told you the bow was good.”


    With the fight over, Sael took a moment to collect himself before kneeling beside the fallen marsh hounds. Their thick, damp fur was coarse to the touch, but the pelts were salvageable. As he examined the bodies further, he noticed a peculiar sac located near their throats—likely the source of the explosive gel the merchant had mentioned. He carefully extracted the sacs, ensuring none of the volatile substance leaked. The gel within shimmered faintly, a dangerous but valuable resource.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    One by one, he stored the sacs alongside the pelts, making sure to keep them secure. With these materials, he was one step closer to crafting something far deadlier than simple arrows. The marshlands still held many dangers, but for now, they had the upper hand.


    With their gathered materials safely stored, Sael and Rhea pressed onward toward the eastern edge of the marshlands. The terrain gradually shifted from thick, swampy mud to firmer ground, where rocky outcroppings jutted from the earth. Small hills and uneven cliffs signaled their proximity to the cave systems rumored to house veins of iron and the occasional gemstone deposit.


    The entrance to a promising cave came into view, half-hidden behind a dense curtain of moss and vines. The air inside was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of wet stone and minerals. The dim glow of bioluminescent fungi clung to the walls, casting the same faint blue-green light that barely illuminated the tunnel ahead.


    Rhea moved cautiously, ears twitching at every distant drip of water. “We should expect resistance. Even small caves attract territorial creatures.”


    Sael nodded, gripping his weapons as they advanced deeper. The first signs of iron ore became visible along the walls—dull red-brown streaks running through the stone. But before they could begin mining, movement caught their attention. A trio of rock-crawlers, insect-like creatures with jagged stone-like shells, scuttled along the cave floor. Their clawed legs clacked against the stone, sensing the intruders in their territory.


    Rhea wasted no time, loosing an arrow that struck true, piercing the joint of one’s armored leg. It let out a high-pitched screech, reeling back. Sael lunged forward, his club finding a weak spot between the shell plates of another crawler, cutting deep and sending it writhing.


    The last creature attempted to flee, but Rhea’s second arrow ended its escape. With the immediate threat cleared, Sael exhaled and inspected the remains. The shells were tough—potentially useful for crafting—so he carved a few intact pieces before moving on.


    Further inside, they discovered a cluster of crystals embedded in the walls. The tunnel walls glimmered faintly in places, reflecting dim light off embedded crystal veins.. Some pulsed faintly with residual mana, indicating magical properties.


    “These could be valuable,” Sael remarked, running a hand over a deep blue crystal. “Might be worth taking a few.”


    Rhea handed him a pickaxe. “Then let’s get to work.”


    They began mining, striking the rock with steady rhythm. Iron ore broke free in heavy chunks, while the gemstones required more careful extraction to avoid damaging them. The process was laborious but rewarding, and soon they had gathered a respectable haul.


    They mined as they moved, chipping away at iron deposits and prying loose a few raw gemstones embedded in the walls. The cave gradually widened into a larger chamber, its floor uneven and dotted with stalagmites. The distant sound of shifting stone made them pause. Something else lurked in the depths of the cave. But what caught Sael’s eye wasn’t the minerals—it was a sword.


    In the center of the chamber, a blade stood planted in the ground. Its light blue metal spiraled in and out of itself, an elegant yet unnatural design. The dark green handle looked untouched by time, its grip firm and well-crafted. The moment he stepped forward, the ground trembled.


    From the far side of the chamber, stone moved. What had seemed like a natural part of the cave wall unfurled into a massive rock crawler, its segmented body covered in jagged plates, its thick legs grinding against the stone as it turned its many-eyed gaze toward them.


    Sael tightened his grip on his club. “Looks like we’ll have to fight for it.”


    Rhea smirked, drawing an arrow. “Wouldn’t be fun otherwise.”


    Seeing the sheer size of the rock crawler, Sael knew his club wouldn’t do much against its armored hide. “We’ll need the suit,” he called out. “Buy me some time!”


    Rhea didn’t hesitate. She dashed forward, her movements flickering as her Mirage Vest left behind brief, shifting shadows. Claws flashing, she struck at the crawler’s thick legs, drawing its attention while her illusions made it harder to pin her down. The beast hissed, slamming its heavy limbs against the cave floor in an attempt to crush her, but she was too fast.


    Meanwhile, Sael pulled the suit from his inventory. The metal segments expanded and clicked into place around him as he climbed inside. A low hum filled his ears as the system synchronized with his movements, power flowing through the suit’s core. The moment the setup was complete, he braced himself, raising the arm cannon.


    “Move!” he shouted.


    Rhea leaped back just as he fired. A blast of raw energy tore into the rock crawler’s armored body, sending shards of chitin flying. The creature shuddered but kept coming. Sael didn’t stop. Shot after shot, he hammered it with the suit’s firepower, punching holes straight through its thick carapace. The cavern echoed with the sound of cracking shell and searing impacts until, at last, the crawler let out a final, ragged screech and collapsed in a heap.


    Sael lowered the cannon. Even with the suit’s power, that had taken quite a few shots.


    Rhea whistled, looking at the massive, broken form of the crawler. “That thing’s ridiculous. No wonder you don’t use it all the time.”


    “Yeah,” Sael agreed, checking the mana crystal. Its glow had dimmed, showing it was about half drained. “We should keep it for emergencies.”


    Before they left, he collected a large amount of rock crawler armor segments, storing them in his inventory. With the sheer amount of material, he had an idea. Sitting down, he began crafting grenades, using the thick crawler shell to form durable casings and filling them with explosive gel from the marsh hounds. The result—hard chitin shell grenades packed with deadly shrapnel.


    Chitin grenade crafted: 6x


    Even after making several, he still had a significant amount of leftover shell. But for now, his attention turned to the real prize—the sword.


    Stepping forward, he wrapped his fingers around the hilt and pulled. The light blue blade slid free from the ground with ease, its spiraling metal gleaming under the dim cave light. A system notification appeared in his vision:


    System Message: Acquired "Celestine Fang" — A holy magic-infused mithril sword. Lighter than steel, sharper than most enchanted blades. Purifies corruption and sears unnatural entities.


    Sael couldn’t help but grin. This was a massive upgrade from his crude club. He gave it a few experimental swings, marveling at the balance and craftsmanship.


    “Finally,” he muttered.


    Rhea smirked. “Happy with your new toy?”


    “Definitely.”


    With their spoils gathered and their mission complete, they made their way out of the cave, eager to return to town and finish making the preparations for their encounter with the Mana-Touched Behemoth.