《Secondary character》


 The coming of unknown

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    The village housed different families. There were the poor, who labored all day, and then there were the more influential ones, who could afford better jobs and even some rest.


    Gloomer and Lark struggled to keep their balance, trying not to fall. Near the wooden houses, they had to be extremely careful with such a pole.


    Thanks to their speed and persistence, they soon reached the wooden house they needed.


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    A boy stood on the porch.


    At first glance, it was obvious¡ªhe was of a different breed.


    Taller than them, about 170 centimeters. Lean, with neat, clean hair that had clearly been washed recently. He wasn¡¯t smiling, not even looking pleased.


    ¡ª What the hell took you so long, idiots? While I was waiting, even Ars had time to take a shit ¡ª he yelled.


    His name was Vale, and he looked like a zombie. Honestly, if Gloomer didn¡¯t know him personally, he would¡¯ve thought this guy was definitely undead.


    The only irony was that this zombie talked way too much.


    Ignoring his yelling, they carefully lowered the wooden pole, from which a bucket of water hung, onto the ground and collapsed from exhaustion.


    ¡ª Fuck, one more trip and I¡¯m dead! ¡ª Gloomer groaned.


    Lark, on the other hand, looked as if he had fallen asleep. This moment of rest felt like a dazzling gift.


    ¡ª Ars, it¡¯s our turn now! ¡ª Vale shouted.


    At that, another boy stepped out, not even glancing at the two exhausted figures.


    ¡ª Damn, why¡¯d they come back so fast? I could¡¯ve used another minute of lying down.


    Vale looked at him and responded.


    ¡ª Hey, if you three idiots keep this up, we won¡¯t finish even by tomorrow. Hurry up, fill it up, and get moving!


    Without waiting for a reply, he rushed off.


    Ars lazily picked up the remaining buckets, filled them up, and, yawning, followed after him.


    Lark cracked one eye open, watching them move.


    ¡ª Ugh, I wish I had his energy. I wonder why, out of all of us, I¡¯m always the one who gets the most exhausted¡ªboth physically and mentally.


    Even that idiot Gloomer has so much energy that he can complain and whine all day, no matter the situation.


    There wasn¡¯t even anyone to blame for it in this place.


    Did God exist?


    Even if the answer was yes, it was clear He didn¡¯t give a damn about these people.


    And that was obvious just by looking at the lives of these children.


    Even their clothes couldn¡¯t hide the countless wounds on their bodies.


    All the worst things that could happen in this world were an everyday reality here.


    Gloomer and Lark didn¡¯t even know how old they were.


    The only thing they knew was that they were still children who had no idea what they wanted.


    Every day, since childhood, they had seen the same movie play out.


    Work.


    At least they had people to work alongside.


    Perhaps that was the only thing keeping them from losing all hope for life.


    Right now, their task was simple¡ªto replenish the water supply. Water was considered a valuable resource in the village, and there weren¡¯t enough laborers willing to haul it.


    And then¡ª


    A song drifted through the air beside Gloomer.


    ¡ª The river sings, dreams take wing, sorrow fades, and the sun begins to rise ¡ª Lark started singing, and at that moment, he actually seemed happy.


    Gloomer grimaced, cursed, but in the end, he joined in.


    Even though his voice trembled from exhaustion.


    ***


    Night fell quickly.


    It carried away all the village¡¯s whining and brought with it much joy and laughter.


    At night, the villagers could lie down peacefully, talk, and do whatever they wanted¡ªwithin reason.


    This was the moment when they were freed from work.


    The house by the sea felt the wave of joy.


    People there drank cold water with delight, resembling aristocrats savoring wine.


    It was a house with its own history, its own fate.


    Originally, twelve children had lived in this house.


    But life knows no mercy. At this moment, only five of them were still alive.


    And they were all considered one big family.


    The fifth member of the house was currently absent due to working in the mines. So for now, there were only four of them in the house.


    Inside, on the floor, lay Lark, sleeping quietly. He always tired quickly. Drool trickled from his mouth, and it seemed like, in his dreams, he was seeing something good.


    To avoid accidentally waking him, the three of them sat outside, talking.


    Gloomer, as always, talked the most.


    ¡ª The only good thing this awful season has brought is water. Honestly, it¡¯s much better than any other liquid I¡¯ve ever dealt with.


    Vale laughed.


    ¡ª Maybe that¡¯s because you¡¯ve never had anything else?


    ¡ª Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re about to brag about your experience again?


    ¡ª Heh, heh, I can afford to. You have no idea how sweet some drinks in this world can be. After that, no water ever tastes good again.


    Vale paused before continuing.


    ¡ª In a year, I¡¯ll be sixteen, and then I¡¯ll finally be considered an adult. You can bet the first thing I¡¯ll buy and bring to our house will be that drink.


    ¡ª It¡¯d be hilarious if the priests tell you you¡¯re not even fourteen yet. Heh, heh, and that¡¯s possible. Honestly, there¡¯s no way for you to know your real age.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t be jealous, idiot. You¡¯ll still be here in a year, praying to me for charity.


    Ars sat with his arms wrapped around his legs, gazing at the lively village.


    He paid no attention to his friends and simply admired nature. Among all of them, he was the most silent.


    From their house on the hill near the shore, there was a clear view of the sea. Everything seemed normal¡ªexcept for the fog.


    Gloomer was still muttering about something when Ars suddenly froze.


    His gaze locked onto the horizon.


    At first, no one understood what had unsettled him so much. The sea? What sea? It had always been there. Dirty, heavy, churning like sewage.


    But then the fog moved.


    Not from the wind.


    Not from the waves.


    It moved on its own.


    Vale tensed. Gloomer blinked, shook his head, as if checking whether he was imagining things.


    And then something massive began to crawl out of the gray mist.


    An island.


    But not just an island.


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 Ashes of hope

    When these creatures emerged from the water, tattered strands of seaweed still clung to them like the shredded garments of drowned men.


    Their bones were covered in a dark residue, and in their empty sockets flickered an ominous light. Some of them had shells hanging from their bodies, and murky water seeped from the cracks in their bones, trickling down to the ground.


    Their movements were unnatural¡ªjerky, as if they were being yanked by invisible strings.


    And with each step, a wet, raspy sound escaped their hollow mouths, like the dying gasp of a drowning man.


    They were eerie skeletons. And somehow, they moved.


    A chilling dread seized the hearts of all the people. They all rushed toward the center of the island in a blind panic.


    Ars looked like a frozen corpse. The only thing that betrayed the fact he was still alive was the trembling in his hands.


    Gloomer, on the other hand, wanted to curse again, but quickly realized that no words could describe this absolute nightmare.


    He turned his gaze back to the island. In truth, calling this anomaly an island felt almost wrong.


    To Gloomer, it seemed more like something foreign, something unnatural.


    ¡ª Who in their right mind would call this an island? ¡ª he muttered.


    Suddenly, from a house with no door, Vale and Lark burst out as if they had just seen a ghost.


    Gloomer barely noticed how he grabbed Ars by the wrist, but when Ars caught his gaze, he instantly paled and froze in terror.


    Whether it was because of Gloomer himself or the horror approaching from the shore¡ªhe didn¡¯t care. He wasn¡¯t going to stop.


    Clenching the other¡¯s hand so tightly that the bones nearly cracked, Gloomer dashed forward, chasing after Vale and Lark. They were already tearing through the crowd, forging a path through the panicked masses rushing toward the second village.


    Behind them, the head guard''s voice rang out:


    ¡ª Everyone, run to the right! The second village is that way!


    But who was even listening to him? Panic had shattered all order. People ran in all directions, colliding, falling, trampling each other. The cold darkness surging behind them was nearly brushing against their backs.


    Gloomer heard some footsteps slow¡­ then vanish.


    He didn¡¯t look back.


    And in the center of the village, just a few streets away, laughter rang out.


    There, they had no idea that death had already arrived.


    The tavern was alive with energy.


    The air was thick with the scent of beer, roasted meat, and overheated bodies. Laughter bounced off the wooden walls, drowning out even the heavy thud of tankards being slammed onto tables.


    Tonight was special. A party open only to those who had turned sixteen.


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    At this age, one was considered an adult¡ªat least by the village¡¯s standards. Old enough to take on real work, earn money, and, if lucky, find a way out of here.


    Outside the tavern, the scene was just as rowdy: drunken teenagers staggered near the entrance, some already dozing off on the ground, while others argued loudly about their plans for tomorrow, as if the future was already in their hands.


    The tavern itself was nothing special¡ªjust a simple wooden building with no sign. But a sign wasn¡¯t needed. Everyone already knew where to find a drink and good company.


    Inside, a voice suddenly bellowed:


    ¡ª DAMON, MY MAN, YOU¡¯RE A FUCKING MIRACLE!


    The voice cut through the noise.


    ¡ª I THOUGHT YOU WOULDN¡¯T SHOW UP!


    Damon grinned but didn¡¯t even get a chance to respond before a friendly slap landed on his back.


    ¡ª Congrats on your goddamn promotion, brother! ¡ª Kai raised his tankard. ¡ª I¡¯d kiss you out of joy if I could!


    ¡ª Heh, Kai, don¡¯t embarrass yourself, ¡ª Damon chuckled lazily. ¡ª Even a handshake from me is like striking gold for you.


    Laughter erupted around them.


    Kai snorted.


    ¡ª Alright! We need a few more bottles! Then we¡¯ll talk!


    He staggered off, but before Damon could even take a deep breath, a hand suddenly gripped his throat.


    A raspy voice spoke:


    ¡ª I can¡¯t believe my eyes. My childhood friend is actually about to escape this fucking dump? Well, come on, tell us¡ªwhat did he say?


    The crowd instantly came to life, voices overlapping in an excited clamor, all shouting the same thing:


    ¡ª YES!


    The roar of voices rang in his ears. Everyone was waiting.


    Damon slowly raised his hand.


    Silence fell.


    He straightened up and, deliberately mimicking someone¡¯s tone, spoke with a mocking lilt:


    ¡ª Damon, you¡¯ve shown great skill. Next week, you may move to the capital. Welcome to the Kingdom of the Green Reef.


    A beat of silence.


    And then¡ªan explosion of cheers.


    Shouts, laughter, fists pounding on tables. Someone threw their arms around him, others were already offering drinks in celebration. The entire tavern erupted in a frenzy of joy.


    The more people managed to climb up in life, the stronger the hope grew that one day, this place would stop being a hopeless pit.


    But the celebration didn¡¯t last long.


    Suddenly, everything shook.


    The walls trembled, the floor rippled like waves, and the next moment¡ªeverything collapsed.


    Candles rolled, buckets clattered, glasses crashed to the floor, shattering into countless shards. Someone screamed.


    But the most terrifying thing wasn¡¯t inside.


    Outside, the entire village was already screaming.


    Chaos was spreading into every corner of the village.


    Gloomer and the others skillfully dodged every obstacle. It seemed their small, swift bodies gave them an advantage at a moment like this.


    They were running toward the center. Everyone wanted to reach the next village as quickly as possible, hoping it could provide them with safety.


    Gloomer had worked various jobs in this village more than once, so he knew countless shortcuts to get there.


    He immediately pulled ahead, hinting that he knew a better route. Vale didn¡¯t say anything¡ªhe just followed.


    Their speed was incredible, and the village wasn¡¯t that large.


    They managed to break through and enter the forest.


    At that moment, all light vanished, and it seemed the only illumination came from the moon.


    Gloomer stumbled a couple of times, unsure if he was going the right way.


    They even had to slow down.


    But that turned out to be a grave mistake.


    In the next second, something grabbed Vale¡¯s shoulders.


    Vale turned around¡ªand saw an unarmed skeleton.


    Its body, its awful breathing, and the sound muffled by distant human screams and the rustling of the forest¡­


    Gloomer, seeing this, was in shock.


    ¡ª Where the hell did it come from? No¡ªhow the fuck did they get to us so fast? Don¡¯t tell me¡­


    Lark reacted instantly¡ªhe reflexively kicked the skeleton away while Vale was still paralyzed in fear.


    The skeleton already seemed barely holding together; it immediately collapsed from the blow, unable to rise quickly.


    That hand was so cold and horrifying that Vale¡¯s very soul seemed to suffer a wound.


    But thanks to Lark, he snapped back to reality and immediately resumed running.


    ¡ª No¡­ this can¡¯t be real, right? ¡ª Gloomer thought, skillfully leaping over stones that appeared in the darkness.


    The moonlight was the only gift that allowed them to navigate through this nightmare.


    Ars, meanwhile, was still out of it. His mind was too fragile. After seeing the skeleton, he could no longer think straight.


    ¡ª No, no, please, end this horror, please, enough¡­


    Gloomer ignored him. Suddenly, the trees became sparser, and they emerged onto the main hill, where they should have had a clear view of the next village. It was the perfect descent into the village!


    Vale felt relieved. But for some reason, Gloomer and Ars stopped running.


    They stood still, staring down. Vale didn¡¯t understand what was wrong with them.


    He and Lark quickly reached the spot and looked down.


    Suddenly, Vale¡¯s pupils shrank even further.


    The first thing they saw upon reaching the hill was light. A warm, reddish glow¡­ But not from torches. From flames.


    It devoured rooftops, licked at walls, and danced in the streets. Thick black smoke stretched toward the sky, tearing through the night¡¯s canvas. Through its swirling masses, the fire¡¯s flickering glow shone like hell itself had opened among the people.


    It felt like they were watching the depths of the underworld. Even here, on the hill, they could hear the villagers screaming in terror.


    The village was ablaze.


    And in the distance, above another village, another cloud of smoke loomed, rising from another massive fire.


    A village with a history spanning hundreds of years¡ªwas completely destroyed tonight.


    Ars turned away first. He was on the verge of breaking but still remained silent.


    Lark¡¯s exhaustion vanished in an instant, replaced by fear and despair in his eyes.


    And Vale¡­ He just stood there, staring at the nightmare with wide, empty eyes. For the first time, even he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    There was no need to look at him to see the hopelessness in his gaze.


    Gloomer was the only one looking at his friends.


    But he didn¡¯t stay silent¡ªhe cursed, as always.


    Usually, his grumbling annoyed everyone.


    No one liked his endless complaints.


    But now¡­ now, his voice sounded like something bright, like fire in the freezing darkness.


    ¡ª Fucking hell, you idiots, are you really just gonna stand here like trees and watch the ruins?


    They all turned to look at him.


    ¡ª Just follow me.


    After a slight pause, he added:


    ¡ª And I¡¯ll get us all out of this hell.

 Times of Despair

    The majestic castle of Gildref towered over the island like a silent sentinel, its stone walls preserving the memory of his incredible conquests.


    Inside, at the heart of the throne hall, bathed in the glow of magical torches, sat King Gildref himself.


    His gaze was fixed on the pulsating light of the pylon that stood before him.


    Priests, clad in ritual robes, stood on either side of the device, their hands moving in intricate patterns, guiding the flow of magic coursing through the ancient mechanism.


    The atmosphere in the hall was tense; it seemed as if the very air trembled in anticipation.


    Finally, one of the priests stepped forward, his voice shattering the silence:


    ¡ª The pylons do not lie, ¡ª he said, his eyes burning with sacred reverence. ¡ª The seventh and final vault of the holy artifact¡­ has recently been uncovered.


    The king, whose suspicions had at last been confirmed, exhaled slowly.


    The corners of his lips twitched, and a rare smile, full of triumph, blossomed on his face.


    ¡ª The time has come, ¡ª his voice was calm, yet carried a power akin to the rumble of thunder. ¡ª We begin.


    And at that very moment, the pylon flared up, illuminating the hall with a grim glow.


    The pylon trembled, cracks ran across its surface.


    Then it shattered. And no one cared about it anymore.


    ---


    Gloomer was confused but not broken. In this cruel world, far worse things had happened to him.


    Such a trifle could not greatly affect his state. The only thing that concerned him now was the fate of his friends.


    The fire that had engulfed the entire village helped him understand where they were and where he needed to go.


    Originally, his path had been different, but that did not matter. The important thing was that they had arrived where they needed to be. They simply had no idea what had happened to the neighboring village.


    That same skeleton that had grabbed Vale¡­ This meant they were already everywhere! That was precisely why Gloomer had anticipated such a turn of events.


    He did not hesitate¡ªhe leapt off the hill and dashed to the left. There lay the Great Mine, rich in resources.


    That was where the fifth member of their family worked.


    And that was exactly where one could find strong guards, some even possessing magical abilities.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Gloomer recalled an incident from several years ago.


    A large, grown man holding a massive sword looked at him with a smirk.


    ¡ª Kid, are you really that afraid of being in this cave? ¡ª He laughed loudly, and the other guards joined in with laughter.


    ¡ª Let me give you some advice, kid. Here, inside the cave, you are completely safe. Fear not the depths, but what is outside. That is where the real horror lies.


    Gloomer was certain¡ªthe guards would not abandon the mine, for some reason it was too important to them.


    Suddenly, his foot caught on a root, and he crashed to the ground.


    ¡ª Damn¡­ Even at a time like this, my luck fails me¡­


    A scream rang out:


    ¡ª No, stop! I can¡¯t take this anymore!


    Ars.


    Vale immediately covered his mouth with his hand and tried to calm him down.


    They had been moving too fast¡ªbecause of this, Gloomer had suffered several painful injuries. He struggled to get up but wasn¡¯t sure he could keep moving at the same pace.


    Lark was cautiously scanning the surroundings, hoping there were no skeletons nearby.


    His fear was betrayed by his movements, his tense posture, even his breathing.


    After a few seconds, Ars finally regained his composure, and they continued their journey, but now at a slower pace.


    Their speed dropped threefold.


    But at least they had calmed down and were now moving carefully, silently.


    The forest did not end.


    Gloomer navigated by the moon and the road, trying to determine how far they were from the cave.


    The island wasn¡¯t that large. It was possible to cross it from one side to the other in an hour.


    And Gloomer, who had walked it back and forth for years, knew these places like the back of his hand.


    Suddenly, they stopped.


    Between the trees, a light flickered, voices could be heard.


    People.


    With torches.


    They quickly realized that these people were in the same situation.


    The group consisted of eight people: five men and three women. All adults compared to them.


    They seemed uncertain of where to go.


    Lark was about to step out, but Vale grabbed him by the shoulder.


    ¡ª What are you doing? We need to team up! At least they have rain torches!


    ¡ª That¡¯s exactly the problem, ¡ª Vale narrowed his eyes. ¡ª A torch. It¡¯s the darkness that allows us to avoid these monsters.


    ¡ª Do you want to become an easy target?


    Lark frowned. Vale was partly right.


    They carefully passed by without revealing themselves.


    They were not heroes. And they didn¡¯t intend to be.


    They weren¡¯t even sure they could save themselves.


    But then Gloomer froze again.


    ¡ª Another group¡­ ¡ª he muttered, signaling them to stop.


    These people were different from the previous ones. One guard and ordinary beggars. Their clothes made it clear they were from another village.


    But Gloomer didn¡¯t care about them.


    He was interested in something else.


    Monsters.


    Skeletons.


    But not human ones.


    These were quadrupedal creatures, incredibly fast and agile.


    They were clearly winning.


    Eight corpses lay on the ground.


    Only five people were still alive, and they were all wounded.


    Even the lone guard was exhausted¡ªhe could collapse at any moment.


    But the monsters weren¡¯t in the best shape either.


    Suddenly, the guard shouted, and his sword burst into a blinding light.


    The monsters froze.


    In the next moment, two of them were shredded to pieces.


    When the light faded, their corpses already lay on the ground.


    The guard¡¯s wounds began to heal.


    Gloomer recognized him.


    By the cloak, by the stance.


    It was the chief guard of the cave.


    The very one who had always treated everyone with goodwill.


    The one who had once told Gloomer that the cave was the safest place.


    And of course, here was someone capable of effortlessly killing such monsters.


    Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.


    Gloomer didn¡¯t hide.


    He stepped out of the shadows.


    Vale didn¡¯t understand why he was acting so recklessly, but he trusted him and followed.


    The guard noticed him immediately.


    The sword¡¯s glow illuminated Gloomer¡¯s face.


    The guard laughed.


    ¡ª Gloomer? You¡¯re joking! Are you seriously heading into the cave yourself? Am I dreaming? You usually always ran away from there! Ha-ha, oh, gods¡­


    ¡ª Shut up, old man, ¡ª Gloomer snapped irritably. ¡ª Desperate times call for desperate measures. And stop shining your sword in my face!


    The guard lowered his blade and removed his helmet.


    Fatigue was evident in his face.


    He was older than Gloomer had expected.


    Forty, maybe fifty years old.


    Meeting someone of that age here was already rare.


    But even more surprising was the fact that Gloomer was now speaking to someone who stood a head above all those beggars.


    Lark, Ars, and Vale were in shock.


    Vale even caught himself thinking:


    Gloomer¡­ You sure know how to surprise.


    The old man smiled again.


    ¡ª Now you¡¯re even quoting me? A strange day indeed.


    Gloomer didn¡¯t smile. He was tense.


    ¡ª What are you doing here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be guarding the cave? Don¡¯t tell me that¡­


    ¡ª Set aside your worries, kid. The cave is fine.


    The guard paused briefly.


    ¡ª I was just taking a walk¡­ And ran into these people, they were fighting off the monsters, and I barely made it in time.


    He fell silent for a moment, then added:


    ¡ª They were the ones who explained to me what had happened.

 Strange Anomaly

    Through the dark corners of the forest, the blinding light of a torch broke through. It seemed that a group of people was moving here with some hidden purpose.


    The old man, adjusting his helmet, asked grimly:


    ¡ª So your name is Arlo, right?


    ¡ª Yeah, you can call me whatever you like, ¡ª replied the young man they had picked up along the way.


    He was running toward the cave alongside his comrades.


    The old man was still watching him.


    ¡ª You say you came from the village in the east of the island? But how did you get here?


    ¡ª It... it was very difficult, ¡ª mumbled one of the emaciated settlers. His voice trembled, and his words barely formed coherent sentences. ¡ª If not for luck...


    He was clearly wounded, but it was not the kind of injury one could get from skeletons or a simple fall. He was also terrified, and his speech was hard to make out. Then again, that was how all destitute villagers spoke¡ªpeople who rarely had the chance to converse with the educated. Only a few, like Gloomer, could express their thoughts more or less coherently.


    For the locals, accustomed to a miserable existence, even a simple conversation with the guards was a rare spectacle.


    Gloomer could neither read nor write, but his interest in people and their stories allowed him to hold a conversation better than most. His social skills couldn¡¯t be called outstanding, but they weren¡¯t bad either.


    The old man frowned a couple of times but eventually waved his hand¡ªhe seemed to have found nothing suspicious in their behavior. In such a situation, even he would have been confused.


    And then, from behind them, a terrible, unnatural scream rang out.


    The sound was so powerful and eerie that a cold fear gripped everyone. Instinctively, people turned around.


    Somewhere on the other side of the island, darkness split open, and before anyone could comprehend what was happening, they were once again attacked by four-legged skeletons. There were three of them.


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    The old man instantly took a combat stance, raising his two-handed sword in front of him, blocking all three attacks at once with a single swing. The powerful strike sent the undead flying backward, but they quickly recovered and lunged again.


    He did not hesitate. His stance was more suited for defense, but in a situation where he had to protect the wounded and weakened, dragging out the fight was dangerous.


    The first swing¡ªand two skeletons were slashed apart, cut diagonally. The third tried to take advantage of the moment and leaped at his back, but the old man swiftly sidestepped, letting the monster rush past. In the next instant, his sword cleaved the enemy in two.


    The piles of bones collapsed to the ground, crumbling into dust.


    Gloomer watched in amazement.


    ¡ª Damn, old man, if you¡¯re this strong, why the hell do you have so many wounds?


    The old man remained silent.


    ¡ª We¡¯re lucky these were only awakened-rank monsters. If their rank had been higher¡­


    ¡ª ¡­we¡¯d be in trouble, ¡ª Gloomer finished for him. ¡ª We need to move faster.


    They pressed forward, gathering survivors as they went. By the time the old man had finished off another group of undead, their group had grown to twenty people.


    ¡ª Esteemed guard, will they let us in? ¡ª someone asked timidly.


    ¡ª What, you doubt me? The cave is always in need of working hands. They let in anyone, except cripples.


    These words reassured the people a little.


    Gloomer felt Vale whisper in his ear:


    ¡ª Damn, you sure know how to surprise¡­ Where do you know him from?


    ¡ª Forget it. Long story.


    ¡ª Ugh, you¡¯re at it again¡­


    Gloomer focused on his surroundings. In moments like these, getting distracted by conversations was just asking for trouble.


    Thunder rumbled in the dark clouds, rain lashed down, and the cold seeped into their bones. Fear and pain gave way to the instinct to survive.


    Suddenly, beside him, there was a teenager, about fifteen or sixteen years old. His clothes were disheveled, his face hidden behind raindrops.


    ¡ª Hey, my name¡¯s Marlo. You guys from that village on the hillside?


    He had joined the group only a few minutes ago. How did he know?


    ¡ª Gloomer, ¡ª he introduced himself, narrowing his eyes cautiously. ¡ª How did you guess?


    ¡ª It¡¯s not hard. That place is mostly kids.


    ¡ª Aren¡¯t there kids in every village?


    ¡ª Maybe, ¡ª Marlo shrugged. ¡ª But in others, there are too few of them. They rarely make it past eight years old.


    Gloomer froze.


    Had he survived only because his village was lucky with its location?


    But Marlo didn¡¯t give him time to think. His voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible over the rain:


    ¡ª Gloo¡­ or whatever your name is. Don¡¯t you think the tree branches¡­ are closer?


    Gloomer blinked and looked around.


    His heart started pounding faster.


    The trees really were closer.


    They should have been ten paces away. Now¡ªonly six.


    How?


    He had been here hundreds of times. An earthquake? An optical illusion? Magic?


    Alright, maybe just nerves¡­


    But when he looked up again, the trees had closed the distance to six steps.


    Damn.


    Gloomer swallowed hard.


    Another step.


    Another.


    Another.


    ¡ª Old man, stop!


    Everyone froze. The tension in the air became almost tangible.


    ¡ª Gloomer, now¡¯s not the time for your whining.


    ¡ª No, you don¡¯t get it. The branches¡­ those damn branches¡­ THEY¡¯RE MOVING!


    Everyone turned at once.


    And at that moment, the forest squeezed in even tighter.


    Now the trees were only four steps away.


    ¡ª That¡¯s impossible¡­ ¡ª someone whispered.


    ¡ª Are we lost? No, there weren¡¯t trees like this ahead, I¡¯m sure of it¡­


    ¡ª Weren¡¯t we supposed to have arrived already?


    The old man looked at the forest and frowned.


    ¡ª In my forty years of life, I¡¯ve seen all kinds of shit¡­ but this¡­


    Gloomer shuddered.


    ¡ª WHAT?! You¡¯re forty? Isn¡¯t that a bit too old?


    ¡ª Idiot, I¡¯m still young!


    And at that moment, the trees moved.


    All at once.


    Silently.


    Like


    a predator creeping up on its prey.


    The group flinched.


    Panic.


    The old man didn¡¯t hesitate.


    His sword flashed in the torchlight.


    The battle began.

 Illusion of deception

    They all huddled around the old man, clutching sticks in their hands, which seemed pitiful compared to his massive sword.


    But he did not attack.


    This time, the old man simply stood, gripping the hilt, waiting.


    And there was a reason for that.


    The branches stopped four steps away, not moving closer but gradually sealing off the path forward and back. They did not attack. They were herding them.


    It all happened too fast.


    The old man silently raised his sword, and a flash of light enveloped him. One step, a sharp thrust¡ªand a slashing strike tore forward, dispersing the darkness.


    It seemed as though his sword was the only thing illuminating this world.


    The torches flickered like weak flames, but their light was nothing compared to this radiance.


    The air rang from the strike. The bright aura pierced the darkness, but only a few branches shattered into splinters. A waste of energy.


    The old man frowned but did not hesitate. Instead, he barked:


    ¡ª FORWARD!


    They rushed into a desperate sprint.


    The old man flew ahead, his speed astonishing. It seemed as if he wielded his sword like a cane, swinging it without the slightest delay.


    The branches lunged to cut them off, but the blade cleared the path faster than they could block it.


    And then, the rain intensified.


    Not ordinary rain¡ªa scorching downpour, cutting into their skin like thousands of tiny blades.


    Screams rang out in the darkness.


    Torches flared up and went out, one by one. These torches, which should have withstood the rain, but this¡­ this was an anomaly.


    Even the moon disappeared, hidden behind black clouds.


    Only the light of the sword remained, tearing through the gloom.


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    ¡ª OLD MAN, ¡ª Gloomer shouted. ¡ª YOU PLAN TO ESCAPE ALONE AND LEAVE US BEHIND?


    No answer followed.


    Vale suddenly spoke, his voice trembling:


    ¡ª Guys¡­ if we die¡­ just know¡­ that I¡­ love you¡­


    Lark and Ars had remained silent the whole time. In a situation like this, they had no words to describe this nightmare.


    Even Gloomer had no idea what they were feeling right now.


    Gloomer clenched his teeth.


    Was this really the end?


    His whole life had been torment. And now it was about to end like this? He hadn''t even gotten to see the world¡­


    The old man suddenly stumbled.


    And in an instant, they were trapped.


    It seemed that the strong old man had died first among these weak people.


    The branches closed in, walls of darkness sealing them from all sides.


    Twenty beggars, without strength, without magic, without hope.


    Gloomer held his breath, watching as a sharp branch swung toward them, ready to pierce¡ª


    But in that instant, fire erupted.


    Not the sword¡¯s light.


    A bright, blazing flame burst forth to the side, surging from¡­ a pickaxe?


    A man. Gaunt, battered, covered in wounds¡ªbut with fire in his hands.


    Arlo.


    He raised his hand, and the flames surged in a wave, forcing the branches to retreat.


    The shadows scattered, as if they had never existed.


    Gloomer breathed heavily, unable to believe what had just happened. It all happened so fast.


    ¡ª Damn, feels like I¡¯m watching a play again, and as always, I understand nothing.


    And then¡­ a figure stepped out of the darkness.


    He swung his sword.


    And the world changed.


    The branches vanished. The moon returned.


    But the rain still poured.


    It was the old man!


    He crossed his arms and looked at Arlo.


    ¡ª So now you call yourself Arlo?


    Gloomer turned to him sharply, not understanding what was happening. After everything he had just seen, he noticed the despair in the man¡¯s eyes.


    At that moment, the old man seemed completely serious.


    Gloomer analyzed the situation from all angles.


    They should have passed this path long ago. They were walking in circles. These damn strange Anomalies¡­


    Arlo clenched his fists.


    ¡ª How¡­ how the hell did you know it was me?


    The old man smirked.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t make me laugh. Your wounds, your excuses about the east of the island¡­ even your "comrades" who wear different clothes. You don¡¯t even need to be a tracker to figure you out.


    The crowd slowly stepped away from Arlo.


    Each step back was instinctive.


    The old man continued:


    ¡ª To be honest, I wasn¡¯t sure you were the one I was looking for. The one I went out for a walk to find. But how lucky for me that this anomaly played into my hands.


    Arlo flinched.


    And then he exploded.


    ¡ª AGAIN! ¡ª he screamed, pounding his fists against the ground. ¡ª MY DAMNED LUCK!


    His voice broke into a hoarse roar.


    ¡ª WHY?! WHY DO I HAVE THIS LIFE?!


    He lifted his head, his eyes blazing with fury.


    The old man looked at him with pity. He spoke just one word:


    ¡ª TRASH.


    ¡ª This is my damn life. As a child, I wanted to become a great warrior! Then¡­ I just wanted to escape poverty! But when I grew up, I realized¡­


    He laughed. A hollow, bitter laugh.


    ¡ª ¡­that my wretched life was worth nothing.


    Silence.


    Only the rain drummed against the ground.


    Arlo slowly turned to the crowd.


    ¡ª You idiots don¡¯t get it. You think you can escape this hell?


    He shook his head, grinning.


    ¡ª It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re talented. If you¡¯re blessed by the gods themselves. Even if you receive great luck¡­


    His eyes narrowed.


    ¡ª This world is designed so that you¡¯re always missing something. So that you remain a pawn. So that you can be discarded at any moment.


    And he spoke the last words:


    ¡ª Because you are all¡­ just side characters.


    His head flew off before anyone could react.


    One moment.


    One swing of the sword.


    The old man silently picked up the flaming pickaxe.


    Without turning to the others, he said:


    ¡ª Don¡¯t take him seriously. Just a desperate thief who stole an artifact from the mine.


    He paused.


    ¡ª Forward. We¡¯ve reached the cave.


    Gloomer looked at the lifeless eyes at his feet.


    Their expression was¡­ strange.


    But he pushed the thoughts away.


    Survival came first.


    Lark placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him out of his daze.


    Ars struck the ground. With bloodied hands, he placed his hand on both their shoulders and said:


    ¡ª Thank you, all of you.


    He looked back.


    ¡ª And of course, you too, Vale.


    Vale, who had stood at the back, ready to die, smiled. He immediately leapt onto the three of them with


    a hint of laughter.


    A lot had happened.


    But whatever lay ahead, all four of them suddenly felt much better.


    Gloomer shook himself off, inhaled deeply.


    They raised their heads.


    And kept moving forward.

 Return to hell

    From the outside, the cave looked completely ordinary.


    Normally, the place stood out because there were many wooden houses nearby, and people of all kinds wandered the streets.


    But now, it was almost empty.


    A group of beggars followed an old man who was confidently heading straight for the cave.


    It looked like a simple stone passage.


    In the past, there were always four guards in heavy armor standing at the entrance.


    But now, there seemed to be no guards at all.


    Yet Gloomer squinted and saw a shadow.


    A human shadow.


    He was sitting with his arms crossed, a sword resting on his lap.


    His aura.


    Even from afar, Gloomer understood¡ªthis man was unimaginably strong.


    The stranger immediately noticed the old man.


    He slowly stood up and narrowed his eyes slightly.


    ¡ª Well, well¡­ old man? Of all people, I didn¡¯t expect to see you. Haven¡¯t you kicked the bucket yet after all these years?


    The old man frowned, blinked a couple of times, and even removed his helmet.


    ¡ª And who might you be? I don¡¯t remember any brat like you.


    ¡ª Well¡­ don¡¯t worry, considering your age, I¡¯m not surprised.


    The stranger stepped out of the shadows.


    Black markings covered his body¡ªeven his neck, forming patterns of strange creatures Gloomer didn¡¯t recognize.


    His black hair was neatly styled¡ªthe rain seemed to avoid touching it.


    Ordinary clothing, with no hint of armor.


    Is he really that confident in his strength?¡ªthe thought flashed through Gloomer¡¯s mind.


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    ¡ª Doesn¡¯t matter. Let us in quickly, I need to speak with Zenon, ¡ª the old man said, stepping forward.


    But he was stopped immediately.


    The stranger, with a smooth motion of his sheathed sword, blocked his path.


    ¡ª What do you think you¡¯re doing?


    ¡ª Carrying out my duty.


    ¡ª You¡¯ve chosen a poor approach.


    ¡ª Then prove it.


    Both of them grabbed the hilts of their swords.


    Gloomer and the others watched in silence.


    Everyone was in terrible condition.


    And now, on top of that, this fight.


    But these beggars had no choice but to stand and watch.


    Gloomer clenched his teeth.


    How he hated this feeling.


    Helplessness¡ªhe could only observe.


    Was his life really worth nothing?


    Gloomer didn¡¯t know what the others were feeling, but he himself was boiling with rage.


    Damn you all! If you want to hack each other to pieces until morning¡ªfine, but let us in first!¡ªhe screamed in his mind.


    The battle was about to begin at any moment.


    But¡­


    A sudden voice shattered the tension.


    ¡ª Stop!


    Both of them turned.


    As did the entire group.


    Eight people were approaching from the entrance.


    Leading them¡ªa woman.


    Her elegant armor gleamed, fitting her figure perfectly.


    Light hair, blue eyes. The appearance of an angel.


    ¡ª Doni¡­ ¡ª she said in an icy voice. ¡ª You were stationed here so you wouldn¡¯t slack off.


    ¡ª Such a useless bastard¡­ You nearly ruined everything.


    Doni immediately let go of the hilt and sat back down, not even trying to justify himself.


    Just the woman¡¯s tone alone¡ªand he was crushed.


    Her status was instantly obvious.


    The old man frowned.


    ¡ª So, you¡¯re Doni? In five years, you¡¯ve changed a lot. Like a completely different person.


    ¡ª And you¡¯re still the same trash you always were, ¡ª Doni retorted sharply.


    That ended the conversation.


    The old man bowed his head to the woman.


    ¡ª You¡¯ve brought as many as nineteen people. But more importantly, you clearly didn¡¯t come empty-handed. You¡¯ll surely be rewarded.


    ¡ª No need. It¡¯s my duty as a knight.


    ¡ª I have seven more with me. Combine them and send them to Dara. She¡¯ll handle it.


    The old man bowed again, gathered the people, and went further inside.


    Inside, the cave was completely different.


    Blue, glowing crystals. Magical herbs. Various platforms.


    No torches were needed.


    People, busy with their work, watched these beggars as they passed.


    Gloomer wondered.


    I wonder¡­ Do they know what¡¯s happening outside?


    The group was led into a hall.


    The old man spoke with a few people, but Gloomer didn¡¯t hear anything.


    He only glanced around.


    The others were already starting to recover.


    The beggars, who had barely been able to stand moments ago, were noticeably calmer.


    And so was Gloomer.


    The old man, having finished his conversation, left without even saying goodbye.


    They were given shoes and old clothes left over from others.


    But most importantly, they were at least somewhat warm.


    And then came¡ªtheir annoying questions.


    The usual ones: how did you meet the old man, and so on.


    After that, they were finally given rooms. Four people per room.


    They had correctly assumed that rest was necessary.


    The room was small, but they didn¡¯t care.


    Lark collapsed immediately, completely exhausted.


    And this time¡ªhe wasn¡¯t the only one.


    Everyone was dropping from exhaustion.


    This nightmare is over. Right?¡ªthought Ars.


    But Gloomer thought differently. He wanted to tell them what working here was like but realized there was no point in ruining their peaceful night.


    ¡ª What now? ¡ª Lark muttered sleepily.


    ¡ª We¡¯ll find out tomorrow, ¡ª Vale replied.


    They fell asleep instantly.


    Morning came quickly.


    But there were few people in the hall.


    Here, in the most spacious part of the cave, they had gathered miners, loaders, and everyone who needed to hear an important announcement.


    Standing before them was that same woman.


    ¡ª Yesterday, the Dark Island appeared near your island. And it brought many troubles¡­


    She exhaled.


    ¡ª The troubles have only worsened. From this day forward, it is forbidden to go outside without permission.


    These orders mainly concerned the middle and upper classes, who were engaged in more delicate and responsible work.


    For ordinary workers like Gloomer, going out without permission was already forbidden. In the past, as a useless child, he had been removed from his duties, which ultimately allowed him to leave the mine unnoticed.


    ¡ª This applies to lower-class guards as well.


    Murmurs of protest spread through the crowd.


    But Gloomer wasn¡¯t listening.


    He was looking for someone.


    He glanced to the left.


    There sat the workers, watching the proceedings with weary eyes.


    And then, he caught a familiar gaze.


    That person looked at him, too.


    Gloomer smiled.


    And let out a relieved sigh.


    ¡ª Naomi¡­ I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay.

 Immortal starstones

    There were many different jobs in the mines.


    The most basic ones included ore extraction, sorting and washing the ore, clearing fallen rocks that constantly blocked the entrance, tool maintenance, and mine toll collection.


    On the main side of the mine, where the air was barely breathable, a group of porters carried ores and other minerals using stretchers.


    Some were even glad to see newcomers¡ªthe burden on their shoulders, even if just slightly, became lighter.


    There were also miners with riding beasts here.


    Ore-Bearers¡ªthat¡¯s what they called the four-legged creatures with stone skin and sturdy shells, with magical crystals growing on their backs.


    But only high-class miners could use them, and of course, they were present.


    Gloomer was once again welcomed in this hell.


    ¡ªGloo, last time you were yelling that you''d never come back here, ¡ª a voice called out from the crowd.


    ¡ªAnd now they say you ran to the cave like a four-legged beast.


    The miners burst into laughter.


    Almost everyone here knew Gloomer¡ªas the bravest failure. His antics, even if just a little, lightened the heavy atmosphere.


    He stopped, threw off the stretcher, and climbed higher.


    ¡ªHeh heh, idiots, you should¡¯ve seen how that old man begged me to come back! Got down on his knees, gathered a whole group of people just to get me back into this damn hole. For you! For you bastards, I''m back, and also...


    Gloomer kept going, while behind him, his friends whispered among themselves.


    ¡ªHey, did he go crazy after that forest, or what¡¯s with him?


    Marlo, whom Gloomer had recently met, quietly asked Lark.


    Lark smirked.


    ¡ªThis idiot is always like that. It¡¯s just that when the time comes, he gets serious and useful.


    Gloomer jumped down and cursed to himself.


    Damn, carrying this crap is unbearable. Maybe screw all this? Run away, live outside?


    He almost let himself seriously consider it.


    But he had to push the thought aside¡ªsomeone hit him from behind.


    Only¡­ he didn¡¯t even feel the impact.


    ¡ªEven a pillow hits harder.


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    ¡ªHits, you say? ¡ª a familiar voice rang out. ¡ª I barely touched you.


    Gloomer turned around.


    Naomi stood before him.


    Black hair, short, barely reaching her neck. Simple, worn-out clothes, no different from what the miners wore.


    ¡ªHow do you endure this hell? ¡ª he asked. ¡ª I get these guys, they¡¯re drifters through and through, but you¡­


    ¡ªMaybe I''m just not that weak?


    ¡ªWeak? Even the head of this cave didn¡¯t dare say that to me.


    ¡ªHey, morons! ¡ª a rough voice interrupted them. ¡ª You here to work or chat?


    Brute Henry, one of the main overseers, looked at them with disdain. Like everyone else, he was dirt-poor, but he had managed to climb up and gain at least some power.


    ¡ªGloomer, you bastard, one more word and you¡¯ll be my punching bag for the evening.


    ¡ªNaomi, you shut up too and get to work.


    Gloomer snorted and walked past him.


    Naomi was his best friend. Among the miners, she was probably even more well-known than he was.


    Now she worked as an ore distributor and had the same authority as the overseers, but once, just like everyone else, she had carried ore on her shoulders.


    She was different from other girls. Unusual endurance, strength that could rival even the guys.


    She had grown up among men since birth.


    And it was hard for her to connect with people¡ªthey saw neither a friend nor a girl in her.


    She had tried talking to the women, too, but¡­ the mortality rate among them here was abnormally high.


    Gloomer himself had befriended many, but almost none of them lived past the age of eight.


    Why?


    He didn¡¯t know. And still couldn¡¯t find the answer.


    Naomi was incredibly tough compared to them. Gloomer had dragged her along, protected her until she became strong enough to handle things herself.


    Now she was respected even more than he was.


    Some people didn¡¯t even know that she was a she, not a he.


    The only clue was her voice.


    But oddities were taken as a matter of course here.


    The day dragged on painfully long.


    Gloomer cursed every minute spent in the mine.


    But finally, the work was over.


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    Time to wash up and crash into bed.


    Gloomer was the first to go to the water, quickly rinsed off, and was the first to head to the room.


    After a day like this, he had no energy left even for complaints.


    He just collapsed onto the mattress and instantly passed out.


    It seemed nothing could wake him.


    ¡ªGloomer.


    He didn¡¯t react.


    ¡ªGloomer, wake up.


    No response.


    Usually, his alertness was extreme¡ªeven the slightest touch could have him on his feet.


    But now he was exhausted. Mentally. Physically.


    He couldn¡¯t even say a word.


    But suddenly, he felt¡­


    Someone¡¯s hands on his head.


    Cold.


    A whisper.


    Gloomer¡¯s eyes snapped open.


    And he immediately rolled back, flipping over his shoulder.


    In the dim light of the room, figures in black robes stood before him.


    Faces hidden.


    Naomi.


    Henry.


    And even his friends.


    Gloomer hadn¡¯t even had the chance to ask when he heard:


    ¡ªGet up. Urgent business. You¡¯ll get the details on the way. Just put this on and follow us.


    Naomi stepped closer.


    ¡ªHurry.


    Gloomer stared at them for a moment, then silently pulled on the offered robe.


    Whatever this was¡­


    I hope it¡¯s at least something worthwhile.


    Outside, it was quiet.


    They moved carefully, swiftly.


    No one spoke.


    No one explained anything to Gloomer.


    Don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re about to escape?


    No way. That¡¯s way too risky¡­


    But they didn¡¯t even head for the exit.


    They went deeper into the cave.


    Sixteen people.


    But that wasn¡¯t the important part.


    What mattered was Henry.


    Even he was in on this.


    Suddenly, they slipped into a narrow crevice and continued through a dark corridor.


    But the strangest thing¡­


    They moved as if they could see in the dark.


    Gloomer had no idea where they were taking him.


    Until a dull sound echoed ahead.


    Someone kicked a stone, and the wall¡­


    Opened.


    A secret entrance.


    Gloomer froze.


    Just followed the others inside.


    And then stopped dead.


    The first thing he saw¡­


    Stones.


    Countless.


    He immediately knew what they were.


    These stones granted people magical abilities.


    All they had to do was absorb them.


    They were called immortal star stones.


    And they¡­


    Had been created by nature itself.

 The conspiracy

    These stones produced energy.


    They were priceless. And there were far too many of them here.


    Gloomer averted his gaze from the shimmering minerals and looked at his companions. They were just as shocked.


    Twenty seconds¡ªthat was how long it took him to understand where this was heading.


    So they weren¡¯t going to report the discovery?


    No. They wanted to claim the stones for themselves.


    Gloomer couldn¡¯t blame them. He would¡¯ve done the same.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened in this mine. This was exactly what made it so valuable. These kinds of stones were found only here.


    In all the time he had worked here, the poor miners had stumbled upon such deposits again and again.


    But what did they get in return?


    Honor? Glory?


    No. All they received was unjust treatment.


    The mine belonged to the king, and everything found within it was his property as well. Even if you discovered gold in someone else¡¯s house, it would still belong to the owner. That was the rule.


    And the poor had no choice but to endure.


    But times were changing. Who didn¡¯t want to break free from this poverty and rise above it?


    ¡ª This is good and all, ¡ª one of the robed men said, ¡ª but how will we cover our tracks? I hope you have a plan?


    It was a logical question. The punishment for concealing ore was always brutal.


    Gloomer knew what happened to those who tried to cheat the system. They weren¡¯t just killed¡ªthey were made to suffer, to languish, to repent for weeks, months.


    No one wanted such a fate. That meant if they were to take the risk, it had to be with a carefully thought-out plan.


    But could they really escape? None of them possessed anomalous abilities.


    They didn¡¯t even have a proper education. They were too inexperienced.


    However, Henry merely smirked and said:


    ¡ª Our plan is simple. We must master abilities within three days. After that, we escape the mine.


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    A silence fell. Everyone exchanged glances.


    Was he out of his mind?


    The robed man spoke again:


    ¡ª I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve only voiced the surface-level part of the plan. You always do this.


    ¡ª Correct, ¡ª Henry nodded. ¡ª But the fact that you¡¯re all still here and haven¡¯t dismissed my words speaks for itself. You want this.


    He slowly let his gaze wander across their faces.


    ¡ª Each of you has at least a spark of intelligence. And each of you can be useful.


    Suddenly, one of the robed figures blocked the exit.


    ¡ª You may remove these uncomfortable cloaks.


    Everyone slowly pulled off their robes.


    Gloomer looked around and immediately recognized a few familiar faces.


    Marlo? What was he doing here?


    Zidan¡ªthe same persistent guy who tried to befriend everyone.


    Hiruko, who always tried to dump his work onto him.


    There were many familiar faces here.


    But Gloomer kept his eyes on the one who had blocked the way out.


    This wasn¡¯t just some random person.


    This was Astrey.


    A sturdy man in his thirties, broad-shouldered, with a confident gaze and short, neatly combed hair.


    An overseer. A man of much higher status compared to them.


    It was obvious that someone influential in the caves was involved in this¡­ Otherwise, how could they have made it here so discreetly?


    Gloomer also noticed Damon.


    That same Damon¡ªone of the most renowned figures in their village.


    Ruin¡­ had it really destroyed his entire career?


    While everyone was still taking in their surroundings, trying to process what was happening, Henry broke the silence.


    ¡ª I don¡¯t want to waste time. I¡¯ll explain the plan briefly.


    He stepped forward.


    ¡ª The mine always had three overseers, five supervisors, at least fifteen low-class guards, and two special-class guards. Plus, ten enforcers¡ªjust like me.


    He paused.


    ¡ª But now there is only one overseer. All three of them left, considering the mine unsafe. Almost no one knows about this.


    The people¡¯s expressions grew tense.


    ¡ª There are eight guards left. Three supervisors¡ªone of whom is with us. The enforcers remain at ten.


    Henry smirked.


    ¡ª But the most interesting part¡­ There is only one special-class guard.


    He raised a finger.


    ¡ª And that¡¯s Doni. A guy who thinks with his sword rather than his head.


    Gloomer knew the type. Special-class guards were sent by the king or his vassals. Their rank was unknown, but everyone called them "special class."


    Henry was interrupted.


    Damon spoke.


    ¡ª It doesn¡¯t matter how many there are. This is still a death trap. Mastering abilities in three days? That¡¯s suicide.


    Henry raised his hand, signaling for silence.


    ¡ª You¡¯re right, Damon. But I¡¯m not done yet.


    He paused, then said:


    ¡ª In recent days, the situation in the mine has worsened. The workers are being forced to labor twice as much. And most importantly¡­


    He took a step forward.


    ¡ª We are trapped.


    A heavy silence followed.


    ¡ª The mine is gradually flooding. Because of the rains.


    Damon opened his mouth but said nothing.


    ¡ª In a few days¡­ things will become catastrophic.


    Henry pointed at the stones.


    ¡ª What do you know about them?


    One of the men muttered:


    ¡ª They grant abilities.


    Damon added:


    ¡ª They contain energy¡­ essence that can be absorbed.


    Henry nodded.


    ¡ª That¡¯s generally true. But not entirely.


    He looked at them intently.


    ¡ª A person is born with a phantom shell.


    ¡ª An empty vessel. A teapot that needs to be filled. The shell is unstable and can transform into anything.


    ¡ª But after birth, we simply live, walking here and there, and during that time, we gather various marks without even realizing it. All natural phenomena that people encounter carry the marks of their respective paths.


    ¡ª Bathe in water¡ªyou receive water marks. Walk in the wind¡ªyou absorb wind marks.


    ¡ª Magic stones contain only the marks of a specific path. When something contains only certain marks, energy begins to form within¡­ or, more precisely, essence.


    ¡ª When essence appears, it nourishes the marks, and we gain the ability to use powers. By absorbing such stones, we change our shell, filling it with only specific marks. This is the moment when we transcend the boundary of mortals.


    Damon frowned.


    ¡ª I¡¯ve heard that without stabilizing the body, it¡¯s impossible.


    ¡ª Correct, ¡ª Henry nodded. ¡ª But we already have a solution.


    He gestured with his hand and walked forward.


    With each step, a mesmerizing sight unfolded before them.


    The walls of the mine shimmered with blue crystals, like a starry sky. The ground beneath their feet was solid and firm. Even plants grew here.


    Violet flowers¡­ Gloomer had never seen anything like them.


    Soon, they came upon something astonishing.


    A waterfall.


    But not an ordinary one.


    It shimmered with a soft light, its water flowing gently, almost as if it were alive.


    If one were to sit beneath it, it would seem as though it was pouring directly into their consciousness.


    ¡ª A magic waterfall, ¡ª someone muttered.


    Henry smirked.


    ¡ª It will cleanse your body. Stabilize it. This is a necessary step, because the phantom shell you possess is filled with chaotic marks of the paths you¡¯ve collected throughout your life. Your shell must be purified, and through the stones, it must be filled with only a single set of marks.


    He raised his hand.


    The water swirled and gathered in his palm.


    Everyone froze.


    ¡ª As you can see¡­ ¡ª Henry looked at them. ¡ª Astrey and I already possess abilities.


    ¡ª And now we will teach you.

 Escape from hell

    Gloomer sat cross-legged, arms folded, with his eyes closed.


    Water poured continuously over his head from a small waterfall.


    From the outside, it might have seemed like he was just washing his head in some strange way.


    ¡ª What the hell is taking so long?! ¡ª Gloomer exclaimed, cracking one eye open. ¡ª Admit it, Henry, while this thing is pouring on my head, you guys are just sitting there laughing at me, right?!


    He was the first to agree to the cleansing.


    Henry, whose palm was pressed against his back, just sighed and replied:


    ¡ª Just shut up already and give me some time. Every person is unique, and the cleansing process works differently for everyone. Yours is... complicated.


    ¡ª So what you''re saying is that I''m special? Thanks, I really needed to hear that.


    The others watched to see if the cleansing could be completed in such a short time.


    Cleansing with a waterfall was one of the most accessible methods, but far from the best.


    Among 10,000 different methods, this one was almost unremarkable.


    Because with it, full cleansing would take an entire night. However, if combined with Henry¡¯s water abilities, the process could be accelerated.


    Suddenly, Gloomer felt the tension leave his veins, his every muscle fiber relax, and his nerve endings seem to stabilize.


    So this is what people feel during cleansing...


    He had expected pain, but it turned out to be the opposite. The process wasn¡¯t just painless¡ªit was actually pleasant, albeit slow.


    Then, Henry¡¯s palm vanished from his back, and Gloomer realized¡ªthe ritual was complete.


    Everyone around let out a sigh of relief. Immediately, arguments broke out about who would go next.


    Gloomer tried to stand up but immediately felt his body buckle.


    ¡ª What the hell?..


    Naomi caught him before he could collapse.


    ¡ª After cleansing, the body becomes too weak. If you don¡¯t synchronize with a stone right away, it might be too late later.


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    ¡ª And you couldn¡¯t have explained this sooner?!


    Henry, ignoring him, was already preparing for the next cleansing.


    ¡ª That bastard, I¡¯ll remember this¡­


    Naomi helped him sit and continued:


    ¡ª We examined the stones. There are eight types in total.


    Each stone bore the marks of a specific path. And within them, they held essence.


    She paused for a second, then pointed at a stone that looked like a blend of blue and black.


    ¡ª This one has water marks. There are also stones of wind, thread, illusion, light, mist, sand, sound, and bone.


    Essence is the energy that appears when only specific marks are gathered inside a vessel. It fuels the marks and allows one to use abilities.


    Marks are magical symbols reflecting natural paths. They determine what abilities can be used, but without essence, they remain passive.


    After cleansing, all the chaotic marks you gathered throughout your life disappear, and you get the chance to refill your vessel with specific marks. After that, your body will begin to form its essence.


    ¡ª Not a bad selection¡­ ¡ª Gloomer muttered. ¡ª Which one is the strongest?


    The conversations stopped.


    ¡ª Light and bone, probably? ¡ª someone suggested hesitantly.


    ¡ª And what about mist and illusion?


    Astrey cut off the discussion, answering all questions at once:


    ¡ª Yeah, good question. In short: wind, light, and bone are the most popular and well-researched. If you pick one of them, you¡¯ll definitely be able to go far.


    ¡ª We expect you to choose from among them.


    ¡ª Sand, thread, and sound follow. They¡¯re rarer but have their own quirks. I¡¯ve seen people with these abilities defeat even those who were considered incredibly strong.


    ¡ª And finally, mist and illusion. These two are almost never used. They¡¯re weak in direct combat, so people think they¡¯re useless. But they have their own advantages. For example, incredible stealth, useful for spies and scouts.


    ¡ª The choice is yours. But keep in mind: you won¡¯t be able to change it later. It will define your fate.


    Gloomer stared at the stones in thought.


    Should he choose bone or light? He knew how strong they were...


    But his gaze kept returning to the mist and illusion stones.


    ¡ª Astrey, illusion is...


    ¡ª Illusion is what seems real but isn¡¯t, ¡ª Astrey calmly answered. ¡ª You¡¯ve already seen it in action when we went to the cave with the old man.


    So that was it...


    A thought unsettled Gloomer: "These abilities are already well studied."


    If he chose wind or light, wouldn¡¯t that mean his skills would be predictable? Countermeasures had long been developed against them.


    But mist and illusion? According to Astrey, few knew how to counter them.


    Espionage, conspiracies¡­ That was interesting.


    He didn¡¯t even bother considering sand, thread, and sound.


    He had already made his decision.


    Slowly, he reached out and touched the illusion stone.


    Would this ability allow him to deceive people easily? Wasn¡¯t it a perfect fit for him?


    It was.


    ¡ª I choose this one. Illusion.


    Everyone froze.


    Gloomer was the first to choose, and he picked... illusion?!


    Was he an idiot? ¡ª many thought.


    But Gloomer knew what he was doing.


    It was a strategic choice.


    Illusions affected the enemy¡¯s mind, creating false images and leading them astray.


    And if he had chosen light or wind? He would¡¯ve been just one of thousands of similar warriors, predictably firing flashes or wind blades.


    Besides, he wasn¡¯t physically strong.


    Illusion, however¡ªwas rare, barely studied. Almost no one on the islands was prepared for such an opponent.


    Though discussions about abilities were a popular topic, Gloomer had never even heard of people with such powers. That alone showed how rare illusion really was.


    He was more and more convinced that this was the best option.


    That was why he considered the other abilities irrational choices.


    Neither his friends nor anyone else interfered with his decision.


    Even Astrey didn¡¯t seem particularly worried about what Gloomer would choose.


    As long as he could be of some use, it didn¡¯t matter what he picked.


    Astrey simply nodded.


    ¡ª A good choice. Then we move on to the next stage¡ªsynchronization with the stone.


    Gloomer sighed.


    ¡ª This is going to be boring and tedious... ¡ª he muttered, barely moving.


    ---


    Three days passed.


    Gloomer was minding his own business when the overseer called out to him.


    ¡ª Gloomer, you bastard, why are you so slow?! Do you have no respect for me?


    He wanted to ignore him, but that wasn¡¯t his style.


    ¡ª Everything is about balance, ¡ª he answered calmly. ¡ª You¡¯re just too stupid to understand.


    The overseer¡¯s face turned red with rage.


    ¡ª You son of a bitch, you¡¯re dead.


    He reached for his whip, but Henry immediately intercepted him.


    ¡ª Idiot, are you new? Don¡¯t you know you can¡¯t beat useful people? If you¡¯re that eager, fight me instead.


    The overseer glared at Gloomer but realized that arguing with Henry was a


    bad idea.


    ¡ª Next time, I¡¯ll kill you.


    But Gloomer didn¡¯t even glance at him, continuing his work.


    Henry watched him.


    ¡ª I hope you¡¯re ready?


    Gloomer smiled.


    ¡ª Completely.

 Outplaying

    ¡ª Damn, how I hate these scum! If it weren¡¯t for that little crime, I wouldn¡¯t have been exiled here as a warden for a whole year...


    The guard, recently assigned to the mine, spat angrily. He wanted to teach Gloomer a lesson, but there was nothing he could do because of Henry.


    His gaze slid over the ore beasts¡ªmagical creatures used to transport extracted minerals. For three days now, they hadn¡¯t touched their food. This slowed down the work, triggering a chain reaction of problems.


    ¡ª What the hell is wrong with these damn creatures?


    The day trickled by like thick tar. Evening fell.


    At the main entrance to the mine, a small crowd had gathered. This was the primary passage through which workers entered and exited. Now, however, it was almost entirely submerged. A raging stream was already seeping into the cave.


    If not for several low-class guards with water magic, the mine would have flooded long ago.


    However, neither they nor their superiors knew that just a few meters away, hidden in the shadows, sixteen escapees lay in wait.


    Gloomer watched the guards with pity.


    ¡ª They¡¯ve been forced to stand here all day. I wonder what their faces will look like when we show up and destroy everything?


    Henry, on the other hand, stood firm.


    And then he gave the signal¡ªit was time to begin.


    But at that moment, something unexpected happened.


    A dull sound of footsteps echoed. Someone was coming up here.


    The low-class guards immediately noticed the silhouette.


    ¡ª Is that the boss? ¡ª one of them asked in confusion.


    When the figure fully emerged, there was no doubt.


    It was Donnie.


    A special-class guard.


    What was he doing here?


    The sixteen escapees tensed.


    ---


    Deep inside the mine¡­


    ¡ª Chief, urgent news! The ore beasts¡­ they¡¯ve become uncontrollable.


    An exhausted guard struggled to catch his breath.


    ¡ª They¡¯re even attacking people!


    The head of the mine frowned.


    ¡ª Are the guards handling it?


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    ¡ª That¡¯s just it¡ªthey¡¯re not. There are too few of them. Half of them fled through the secret passage after what that woman said...


    ¡ª We need Donnie¡¯s strength. Can we send him here?


    The chief immediately refused.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it myself. And Donnie... he¡¯s a bit busy right now. Punishing deserters.


    I was planning to help Donnie, but for some reason, these ore beasts appeared. Is this connected to the escape? But that person didn¡¯t give any such information...


    ---


    Donnie drew his scissor-blade and surveyed the darkness.


    ¡ª Sixteen people¡­ So that informant wasn¡¯t lying.


    He stepped forward.


    ¡ª I¡¯ll give you one chance. Step out and justify yourselves. If I like your answer, half of you will live.


    The low-class guards exchanged panicked glances.


    Gloomer noticed Henry and Astrey trembling for a split second.


    ¡ª No... How did he find out?! The information leaked? Where did we mess up? ¡ª Astrey whispered.


    Gloomer frowned.


    ¡ª He ran into Donnie again.


    Astrey quickly composed himself.


    ¡ª Fine, I¡¯ll think about it later, if we survive. Right now, we have no choice. We fight.


    He stepped out of the shadows.


    The others followed.


    The low-class guards froze, their concentration shattered.


    Two moments¡ªand two of them had already collapsed, struck down by Astrey¡¯s daggers.


    And then Donnie moved forward.


    The low-class guards abandoned the water construct they had been maintaining. Their lives were more important. They immediately reached for their weapons.


    The first ones who stood in Donnie¡¯s way didn¡¯t even have time to activate their magic¡ªthey were cut down in an instant.


    The rest would have met the same fate if not for a sudden torrent of water blocking the path.


    The low-class guards had released their hold on the water, and now it poured rapidly into the cave.


    Suddenly, the ground trembled.


    Gloomer felt it in his skin.


    Just like that time...


    But no one paid attention. He pushed through the enemies and rushed toward Astrey.


    Astrey parried the strike.


    The battle had begun.


    Gloomer suddenly felt someone grab his hand.


    Naomi.


    ¡ª Run! ¡ª she whispered and, conjuring a whirlwind, dashed for the exit.


    The others followed¡ªDamon, Marlo, Henry, Lark, Ars, Vale¡­


    Astrey was left alone with Donnie, like bait.


    Donnie ignored everyone else, charging straight at him.


    Inside, Astrey thought, My plan was perfect... Someone betrayed me. Henry?


    Donnie smirked suddenly.


    ¡ª That artifact... I think it¡¯ll make a fine reward for his cooperation.


    Astrey exploded with rage.


    ¡ª Bastard!


    But before he could finish, Donnie¡¯s blade was enveloped in darkness.


    Its speed became unnaturally fast.


    Astrey barely had time to realize what was happening before the blade passed through him.


    Donnie didn¡¯t even glance at the falling body.


    He moved toward the exit.


    Damon, standing at the entrance, shattered a guard¡¯s jaw with a lightning-fast punch.


    It was possible thanks to his stone skin, reinforced by bone magic.


    Marlo blinded the enemies with a flash of light.


    Henry, using water, broke their formation.


    Compared to the mob, the two wounded low-class guards were nothing.


    And so they broke through!


    But just as the group reached the exit, Donnie was already there, stepping out of the darkness.


    Time froze.


    Damon clenched his fists.


    If only I had a couple of seconds...


    And then...


    Water burst through the exit with incredible force, sweeping everyone away¡ªguards, escapees, even Gloomer.


    But the worst part¡ªa monster emerged from the water.


    Its skin resembled deep-sea creatures encrusted with barnacles.


    Fins jutted from its back.


    And its maw, filled with crooked teeth, twitched as if anticipating a feast.


    But it didn¡¯t attack.


    The monster glanced around and rushed deeper into the mine.


    Donnie froze.


    He immediately tried to stop it, but the creature didn¡¯t even acknowledge him.


    The others ran for the exit.


    Gloomer grabbed Astrey¡¯s drifting dagger as he passed.


    Donnie, watching the escapees out of the corner of his eye, smirked.


    ¡ª Astrey wanted to use them to feed this monster...


    ¡ª But why did it ignore them and go deeper? Don¡¯t creatures like that prefer devouring the weak with abilities?


    And then...


    They were free.


    Outside, the island was drowning in water, glowing with a strange bluish light.


    Thunder split the sky.


    The rain wouldn¡¯t stop.


    But they paid no attention to it.


    They just kept running.


    Thirteen of them remained.


    Henry spoke without hesitation:


    ¡ª We move forward. We need to find a safe place.


    The group quickened their pace, trudging through the water that slowed them down but also illuminated everything around them. Even at night, it was as bright as under the moonlight.


    Gloomer turned back, casting one last glance at the cave, slowly sinking beneath the water.


    ¡ª Astrey... You planned to use us to survive, but in the end, you were the pawn that got used.


    He exhaled, exhaustion washing over him in waves.


    ¡ª My experiments with illusions on the ore beasts weren¡¯t in vain... As expected, they worked. And against that monster at the entrance, too.


    The monster had been standing there for days. Its rank was high; otherwise, the low-class guards and even the chief wouldn¡¯t have fled through the secret exit.


    Astrey couldn¡¯t escape with them because he had been punished by the main figures of this place. By the time he reached the secret exit, it was already flooded.


    ¡ª So he had to come up with a new escape plan. And he planned to use us to pass through the main passage. The only obstacles in his way were the guards and the monster at the entrance.


    Both could have been dealt with if he found people willing to use their abilities to distract and take the damage.


    Especially when it came to monsters that usually ignored people without abilities.


    Gloomer wasn¡¯t entirely sure if this was the full truth¡ªhe was only speculating.


    ¡ª My plan to tip off another warden about the escape at the last moment was a success, despite the risks.


    Naomi¡¯s information about the monster at the entrance played a big role as well.


    ¡ª I have no idea how many times I¡¯ve escaped from here. But this is definitely the last.


    Glumer gave a weary smirk.


    ¡ª This ability to change the scent and taste of monsters is damn useful¡­ Too bad it drains all my strength.

 Dont open your eyes

    The icy cold pierced everyone to the bone.


    In just a couple of days, they had grown accustomed to the warm air of the cave, but now they were once again at the mercy of the frost, as if death itself were breathing down their necks.


    Thirteen people cautiously moved forward, using their last strength to make sure no one was chasing them.


    Many of them still couldn''t comprehend what exactly had happened to that monster.


    They had seen it. They knew it was something different. But they didn¡¯t understand the full picture.


    Even Vale, Ars, and Lark didn¡¯t know the truth.


    Naomi and Gloomer had hidden it.


    Gloomer was sure that no one would ever find out the truth. No one even suspected that he could change the taste and smell of things.


    He had first tested this ability on himself when he was once again chewing on a vile, tough bread that resembled compressed dust more than food. He had tried to make it taste delicious, to give it the aroma of freshly baked goods, the rich savor of meat, or the delicate sweetness of fruit. The illusion worked, but not in the way he had expected.


    Gloomer could taste it, but his body was not fooled. His jaws still chewed on the dry mass, the swallowed piece gave no nourishment, and the emptiness inside remained. His subconscious knew it was a lie, and even though he tried to convince himself otherwise, his body stubbornly resisted.


    That was when he decided that his ability was practically useless.


    But then he encountered the magical creatures that lived in the depths of the cave. They devoured ore greedily, needing it as much as they needed air. And that was when Gloomer got an idea.


    He changed the taste of their food, turning it into something disgusting, rotten, and repulsive. But that wasn¡¯t enough. So he went further¡ªhe changed the smell. Now the ore reeked as if it had been soaking in rotting flesh for years.


    The effect was staggering. The creatures grimaced, recoiled from the ore, and refused to eat. They couldn''t consume something that had suddenly become repulsive filth to them.


    That was the last piece of the puzzle.


    When the creatures that fed on ore suddenly turned away from it in disgust, they gradually began to go mad. They rushed about searching for food, bumped into one another, made irritated sounds, and then finally started attacking their own kind, forcing the others to defend themselves. In just a few hours, it escalated into a full-blown riot.


    The master of the cave¡ªthe one who controlled everything and everyone¡ªwas forced to intervene. He couldn¡¯t let the chaos grow, couldn¡¯t just watch as the magical creatures, on which the mining depended, went insane. All his attention was fixed on the disorder. And to deal with the escapees, he sent only one Dony.


    And that was when Gloomer struck the final blow.


    He altered the scent of the monster that burst into the cave. It didn¡¯t even glance in their direction¡ªits keen nose caught an irresistible aroma wafting from the depths. Without hesitation, the beast dashed toward it, consumed by a ravenous instinct.


    The plan worked.


    Gloomer stood and watched. He went over the details in his mind again, checking if he had missed anything.


    But it no longer mattered.


    Henry was the first to drop to one knee, trying to find something familiar in the surrounding chaos.


    He looked around, hoping to determine their location by the remaining landmarks, but everything looked different.


    Gloomer also peered into the horizon but realized that knowing the island by heart meant nothing now.


    Wind, thunder, tsunami¡ªthe island was no longer the place he remembered.


    The elements had torn away chunks of land, flooded valleys, shattered beaches, and made his homeland foreign.


    Everything around them hinted at it.


    ¡ªHope the monster doesn¡¯t appear by accident¡­ ¡ª Gloomer muttered, just before Damon¡¯s voice shattered the silence:


    ¡ªThis island is slowly sinking. We need to reach the nearest island immediately.


    Henry turned his head and frowned at him:


    ¡ªYou mean Golieth? The second colonial island of the Green Reef?


    But Damon immediately shook his head.


    ¡ªNo. Even if we wanted to get there, it¡¯s impossible.


    ¡ªWhy?


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    ¡ªIt¡¯s simple. When the Dark Island appears near any other island, it starts drawing energy from it, as if feeding off it.


    ¡ªAnd so what? ¡ª Henry scowled.


    ¡ªSo, Golieth has long since moved away from us to avoid being affected. And that applies to all the other nearby islands. They move farther away, farther from destruction.


    ¡ªSo what are you getting at? ¡ª his voice was already filled with irritation.


    Damon paused for a moment and then said something that made everyone freeze:


    ¡ªThe king is sending his best warriors to the Dark Island. They want to seize one of its main sources of power¡ªa sacred artifact. This island emerges once every five years, and they can¡¯t miss their chance.


    A deathly silence fell.


    Henry got the hint.


    ¡ªCan anyone confirm your words? ¡ª he asked, narrowing his eyes. ¡ª This sounds¡­ too¡­ unreal.


    No one answered.


    But Damon continued:


    ¡ªIt doesn¡¯t matter. You know yourself that the king couldn¡¯t send his warriors earlier. The Dark Island wouldn¡¯t let them in. First, they need to deal with it.


    ¡ªAnd if he failed¡­ ¡ª Henry slowly exhaled, realizing. ¡ª This island would have sunk, and we¡¯d have died in the mine.


    ¡ªExactly. But if he succeeds, his warriors will be there. And they could lead us to a safe place.


    That was when everything fell into place.


    The people, who had been confused until now, finally understood what these two were talking about.


    Damon was hinting that they needed to go to the Dark Island.


    That cursed place, full of monsters.


    But here, where they were now, wasn¡¯t much better.


    Water was everywhere. The wind was tearing down the last surviving trees. The ocean was gnawing away at the land. Death was squeezing the island in its icy grip.


    ¡ªYou¡¯re right¡­ ¡ª Henry exhaled. ¡ª But the chances of meeting them are negligible. And considering our luck¡­ ¡ª he looked at the sky.


    They stopped.


    Not knowing what to do.


    Morning had already come, but the sun was nowhere to be seen. Only dark, heavy clouds, looming like the vault of a tomb. Hunger. Cold. Uncertainty. Everything bound them, keeping them from making the next step.


    Gloomer looked intently at Vale.


    ¡ªYou¡¯ve been awfully pessimistic these last few days.


    Vale smirked and shrugged:


    ¡ªJust don¡¯t know what¡¯s worse. Our old wretched life¡­ or what we have now.


    ¡ªWhy bother thinking about it? ¡ª Gloomer grinned. ¡ª If we die, better with a smile than with that gloomy face.


    ¡ªOh, don¡¯t exaggerate, ¡ª Vale chuckled. ¡ª I¡¯m not that tense. It¡¯s just¡­ this whole situation is unusual. And you act like you¡¯re used to it.


    Gloomer smiled, remembering.


    ¡ªYou always said that to me. Every time I did something reckless. Remember when we stole cherries? I climbed over the fence even when we almost got caught. Or when I fought against five guys, and they nearly tore my head off. It was hell, but now I remember it with a smile.


    Vale snorted:


    ¡ªWell¡­ if you don¡¯t die, I¡¯ll say it again.


    Gloomer laughed.


    Then he looked at Ars and Lark.


    They were both exhausted by the circumstances.


    They had grown up with Gloomer, but their bodies were less adapted.


    After all¡­ they were just children.


    They didn¡¯t sit there for long.


    After an hour and a half of arguments and deliberations, everyone unanimously agreed¡ªthere was no choice but to head for the Dark Island.


    The direction was obvious: west, to the place where the boats were kept. These boats were made from the sturdiest trees, capable of withstanding even the most brutal storms. They hoped they had survived.


    In theory, they could swim across¡ªthe Dark Island was terrifyingly close. It blocked the horizon, covering the entire west and south like a colossal shadow. But no one would dare to do that. The water hid too many unknowns, and the eerie silence enveloping the bay only deepened the fear.


    Naomi, walking beside him, suddenly broke the silence:


    ¡ª Glo, where do you think all the bone skeletons and monsters went?


    Gloomer answered without hesitation:


    ¡ª I¡¯d like to know that myself. I think that Damon could answer your question.


    At the thought of Damon, he felt a strange relief. He had survived¡ªand that was damn important. Even if they managed to reach a safe island, what then? Who would they turn to? What would they do?


    But Damon¡­ he knew. He understood this world better than they did. And that was why they needed him.


    The journey took only an hour, but fear distorted the sense of time.


    As they approached the place where the boats were stored, everyone immediately felt the presence of the Dark Island.


    The fog, like a living entity, swirled at the water¡¯s edge, obscuring the horizon. Through it came unsettling sounds¡ªinhuman, distorted, as if thousands of voices whispered of doom.


    The closer they got, the more these sounds burrowed into their minds, pressing on their psyche. Even the most steadfast found their fingers trembling. Gloomer glanced briefly at Ars¡ªlast time, he had lost control. But now, he was holding himself together, albeit with effort.


    The air thickened, turning into a viscous substance. The fog grew denser, blinding them, while gusts of wind, soaked in dampness and decay, seemed to push them back.


    Through the haze, they saw ancient stone structures. The houses, on the verge of collapse, were the last reminder of those who had once lived here.


    And it was there that they found the boats.


    ¡ª The boats are almost completely intact! ¡ª Marlo suddenly exclaimed, having been silent the entire way.


    That was good news.


    But then came the bad news.


    The sounds coming from the fog grew so horrifying that even Damon, who had been confident until now, abruptly changed his mind about going further.


    But there was no choice.


    Even with fingers pressed into their ears, they could still hear the terrifying whispers seeping into their minds, murmuring fears they had never shared.


    Without wasting time, they launched the boat into the water as a group.


    It was a large, sturdy vessel, designed for long journeys. All thirteen of them fit inside with ease.


    They boarded, casting one last glance at the shore.


    The wind grew stronger.


    The fog thickened.


    And the Dark Island waited.


    Following Henry¡¯s instructions on how to steer the boat, they immediately began rowing rhythmically in the right direction.


    At Damon¡¯s request, almost everyone closed their eyes.


    They knew¡ªone must never open their eyes in the dark waters.


    They weren¡¯t sure if it was just a legend or reality, but taking the risk was stupid.


    This was the moment of truth.


    No matter what, they couldn¡¯t lose the rhythm.


    ¡ª One-two¡­ one-two¡­ one-two¡­ ¡ª they repeated, rowing in sync.


    The most important thing¡ªdon¡¯t falter.


    The wind died down. The water became thick, like the dense fog, but the boat kept moving.


    Splash.


    Something touched the hull.


    At first, these were light taps, as if the boat had brushed against floating branches. Then the sound changed¡ªsoft, wet, almost¡­ alive.


    Someone nearby swallowed hard.


    ¡ª Row, ¡ª Henry rasped.


    Gloomer squeezed his eyes shut tighter as his mind began to waver.


    In the black visions of his mind, he saw frozen faces with hollow eye sockets, skulls teeming with hundreds of tiny mouths, hands growing from his own shoulders.


    Was his imagination playing tricks on him, or¡­?


    Gloomer gripped the oar tighter.


    One-two¡­ one-two¡­


    Rustling.


    Barely audible, but it was there.


    A few seconds later, everything changed.


    He heard breathing. Something was breathing nearby, barely perceptible, as if standing right next to him.


    Suddenly, everyone stopped chanting in rhythm.


    In that moment, it wasn¡¯t just quiet.


    In that moment, the boat itself became louder.


    Some people screamed, some laughed, some wept, while Gloomer whimpered in pain.


    It felt like something was biting his entire body.


    ¡ª Bastards, ¡ª Gloomer cursed in his mind.


    But under no circumstances could he open his eyes.


    Suddenly, he felt cold hands on his neck.


    At that moment, he thought he was going to die.


    But that wasn¡¯t all.


    He also noticed that his fingers had begun to twitch uncontrollably.


    He started scratching himself with his own hands.


    However, what happened next was even worse.


    It felt as if something alive was crawling inside his mouth.


    He jerked, trying to clamp his lips shut with his hand¡­ but his hand wouldn¡¯t obey.


    At that moment, the stench became unbearable.


    And the sounds grew too loud.


    He could hear¡ª


    Screams.


    Laughter.


    And then a familiar voice rang out.


    ¡ª Glo, help me, please.


    Naomi? What?


    For a split second, he was about to open his eyes when he felt a sudden blow.


    A sharp, piercing pain shot through him.


    And then¡ªcold.


    Icy water rushed over his face, knocking the breath from his lungs.


    Gloomer coughed violently.


    ¡ª Glo, wake up! ¡ª he heard Naomi¡¯s voice.


    Vale muttered:


    ¡ª Naomi, stop, you¡¯ll kill him like that.


    Nearby lay broken pieces of the boat. Sand clung to his skin. A thick fog hung in the air.


    ¡ª Glo¡­ ¡ª Naomi clung to him, shaking.


    He heard Damon¡¯s voice:


    ¡ª Gloomer was the last to wake up. The others¡­ ¡ª he fell silent, ¡ª ¡­five aren¡¯t


    breathing.


    Gloomer slowly sat up. He couldn¡¯t forget what had just happened so easily.


    But that wasn¡¯t the most important thing.


    He looked around.


    They had made it.


    And none of his friends had died.


    Good news.


    After what had just happened, Gloomer didn¡¯t really want to go any further.


    But there was no way back.