A hundred meters behind John and Tony, a mysterious shadow silently followed.
For the first time in her life, she had encountered a race in this world that felt... similar to her.
"This world is vast. Perhaps there are others like me out there," she thought, keeping a careful distance while studying them with growing curiosity.
Yet something puzzled her deeply.
"Why are they picking such low-level herbs?"
She had been tailing them with interest, but just as they neared the glowing green lake—only 200 meters away—she abruptly halted. A chilling realization struck her.
"No! If they keep going, they'll walk straight into danger. I have to stop them!"
Without hesitation, she called out, still hidden within the shadows of the dense forest.
"If you don't want to die, stop right now."
Her voice wasn't loud, yet it carried unnaturally well through the trees—enough for both John and Tony to hear clearly. They came to an immediate stop.
Tony scanned the area, frowning. "Who's there? Show yourself if you have something to say!"
Silence.
The two waited, tense and alert, but no one emerged.
After a pause, John stepped forward slightly. "Why do you want us to stop?" he asked, his tone calm but cautious.
There was a brief silence again before her voice echoed back, this time softer.
"It's dangerous up ahead."
Tony scoffed and grinned. "Dangerous? Can you elaborate, Miss Mysterious Voice?" His tone was teasing, clearly unconvinced. "You're not even brave enough to show yourself."
Unlike Tony, John's expression turned thoughtful. He didn't fully trust the voice, but something in her tone told him she wasn't lying. Still, he wasn't the type to retreat without understanding the threat.
Hidden in the shadows, the mysterious figure bit her lip in frustration. It wasn't fear that kept her hidden—it was caution. One of them radiated a strange aura that made her instinctively wary. She couldn't risk walking into a trap.
"But if they really are good people... I don't want to watch them die because of that monster."
She sighed quietly.
"It's your choice whether you believe me or not."
And with that, she fell silent, no matter how many times Tony called out afterward.
Tony turned to John with a shrug. "Do you think there's actually something dangerous ahead?"
John simply replied, "Only one way to find out."
And with that, he resumed walking.
---
Thinking it through, John had already come to a conclusion.
"She doesn't feel malicious," he mused silently. "If anything, she sounded worried... genuine."
Despite Tony's continued teasing and reluctance, John kept walking toward the lake with calm determination.
From behind, the mysterious girl clenched her fists.
"They're ignoring my warning?!"
A flicker of frustration flashed in her eyes.
"Unbelievable. Is this race always this reckless?"
Still, something tugged at her heart. She couldn't just let them die—not when she could at least witness the outcome. Not when they might be... like her.
With a low sigh, she resumed following them, keeping to the shadows like a silent wraith.
---
The forest thickened for a time, the air heavy with moisture and dense vegetation. Over the next thirty minutes, John and Tony advanced slowly, careful and alert.
They encountered a few small beasts—nothing too dangerous. A pair of spike-tails lunged from the bushes, but John's hands were faster. Tony fried one with a well-placed energy blast, grinning as it disintegrated.
"Teamwork," Tony said smugly, brushing some dirt off his sleeve. "We're practically nature's pest control."
John rolled his eyes but said nothing.
Along the way, they picked a few more glowing herbs, each surrounded by a faint white halo.
"What do you think? What makes them glow?" Tony asked, inspecting one. "Still don't know what these are, but something tells me we'll regret not taking them."
John nodded in agreement. "I think it's some kind of chain reaction that causes the glow. Could be alchemical materials."
Eventually, the trees thinned out and the path opened into a clearing—and there it was.
---
Even from a distance, it looked unnatural.
A still, emerald body of water, surrounded by jagged black rocks and low-hanging mist. The surface glowed faintly, casting shimmering green reflections onto the surrounding foliage. The water itself didn't ripple, even with the breeze—it looked like liquid crystal.
John and Tony both froze, struck speechless for a moment.
Tony let out a low whistle. "Okay... wow."
John stepped forward slowly. "This lake… it's not normal."
He crouched, letting his fingers hover just above the water's edge. His eyes narrowed. "I can feel it. Wood elemental energy. A lot of it."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "You mean like... plant magic?"
John nodded. "More than that. It's concentrated. The lake might be a natural reservoir—or maybe even sacred."
Tony grinned. "Well, if it's sacred, I vote we don't pee in it."
John gave him a flat look. "Nobody was planning to."
"But still... this place is incredible." Tony's voice softened as he stared into the depths of the green glow. "It's like standing inside a glowing forest dream."
---
Meanwhile, the shadow in the trees slowed to a stop, her sharp eyes locked on the lake.
"They've made it… idiots."
She crouched, eyes narrowed.
"They're standing too close. It's too late now."
---
Just then, the center of the lake bubbled.
A sudden pulse rippled through the air. The glowing water shimmered brighter—then darkened.
Something moved beneath the surface.
A second later, a massive head burst upward, sending waves crashing against the rocky shore. Green droplets scattered like falling gems.
Its scales were dark jade, its eyes a glowing gold. And mist rose from its nostrils as it exhaled a deep, rumbling breath.
Bahamut.
The monstrous serpent loomed above the lake like an ancient guardian woken from its slumber.
Tony took three steps back, mouth open, arms hanging limply at his sides.
"…You seeing this, right?" he whispered.
John slowly stood up, eyes focused and sharp.
"I was hoping that warning was exaggerated," he muttered.
Tony blinked rapidly. "Dude, that thing just came out of a fantasy novel and a nightmare. I... I'm not built for bahumat-snake diplomacy!"
He turned to John, half-panicked. " Do you think It's hungry?"
John didn't answer. He was already preparing to fight.
Tony let out a nervous laugh. "Okay, new plan! You keep him busy while I... I don't know, write my will?"
" Can you keep quiet for a sec?" John was truly speechless by Tony's antics.
---
From the shadows, the girl could only shake her head.
"Idiots… but brave ones."
She stepped forward, for the first time considering—maybe—intervening.