Not long after leaving the stone tower…
Lucian's eyes swept across the horizon. In the distance, a jagged mountain, its peaks crowned in mist and snow, its cliffs wrapped in darkness and forest. Cold wind howled through narrow crevices, and ancient trails twisted upward, barely visible beneath the wild overgrowth.
Despite, how far he stood.
He couldn't shake the unease. He had left behind the mystery of the frozen stone people… unanswered questions still clawed at his mind but now wasn't the time to linger in the past.
He exhaled slowly. "I made it… Yellow Mountain... And they're already here."
Below the mountain's base, he saw a scattered group had already gathered. A mix of humans and strange fienda, all standing tense, their eyes flicking from one another to the narrow, winding path that led up up the yellow mountain, none dared to take the first step.
Each one appeared to be waiting for something… someone…to make the first move.
There should be many reward here… Did any of them come for what I'm here for… I need to be prepared if something goes wrong ,but I absolutely need that relic no matter how dangerous it gets.
Also he knew this place only opened once every couple years. Despite the countless dangers, every opening drew reckless prodigies, battle-hardened hunters, and greedy wanderers alike. The lure of relics and ancient power was too strong to resist.
He wondered, if it had anyone who previously came here and already knows about the mountain secrets?
As deep down, everyone there knew the truth causing their hesitation. Whoever entered first would risk igniting a bloodbath.
Lucian stopped at the edge of the group, his gaze steady as he surveyed them. His arrival did not go unnoticed. In fact, the instant he stepped forward, all eyes turned toward him. It was as if the very presence of him had shifted the air.
He was no stranger to being the center of attention. He no longer wore his previous clothing he looked like a simple human, just black cloth, leather pants and a blue gray shirt.
"That has to be him, there no one coming close to the mountain."
"We already saw everyone we already entered."
Some of them whispered to themselves. They knew what he carried, and with that knowledge came, dangerous anticipation, but it was a conflict that none of them dared to initiate... yet.
Lucian stood still, his posture relaxed, but his senses were on high alert. His eyes moved over the faces of the group, assessing them all, gauging the tension. He could see the flickers of greed, the calculations running in their minds, as if they were weighing their chances of overpowering him and taking what was his. It wasn't a surprise… this was the world he lived in. Power, dominance, and betrayal ruled over all.
But before anyone could make a move, the ground beneath their feet rumbled. The air thickened, a strange energy crackling through the air like an unseen force. Lucian hand instinctively went to his weapon, but he didn't draw it yet. As a globe of green energy covered them all before one the men even tried to leap out.
The moment the energy surged, a series of stone locks appeared, hovering in mid-air, their surfaces pulsing, ethereal light. The locks twisted and clicked, securing themselves to the ground.
"What's happening?" one of the creatures hissed, its claws twitching at its sides.
"Who... who did this?" another voice murmured, fear seeping into their words.
Whoever had placed it here was no fool. They knew exactly what kind of chaos could erupt if the wrong people entered, and this spell was designed to contain that chaos.
It's only when one of them saw a man and woman outside globe walking the step of the mountain.
"Mare! What are you doing?!"
The person who noticed was Unbreakable Silas, he stepped closer to the globe his fist clenched tightly.
It was the man and woman who questioned Sentinel Kurasame about his relics. The man had a hawk-like face and a smug smirk, and a woman cloaked in silver-blue robes.
"You should know by I don't play fair… That Relic is mine."
Mare waved her hand. "Acot let's go."
The man at her side bow before following. "Yes. Mistress Mare."
As all the other creatures and people started attack the globe, it only trembled it didn't show any sign that it was going to break. Even Mare and his servant kept walking.
"Damit! Mare wait, you need help!"
Silas slammed his fist again the globe despite being stronger than the other he didn't leave a sign that it would break. Everyone out the powerful group, that strong than Mare, knew it wasn't a natural globe.
"This is power by the energy of rhe mountain… and there only one way to destroy the source." One kf them men said.
"Well the source can't be destroyed if where trapped here." Silas said.
Lucian remained calm, his eyes narrowed as the barrier grew stronger, the energy pushing outward, a force designed to keep them all contained.
He stood montionless as the whispers spread through the group, growing louder, more intense. He could feel the weight of their stares like daggers at his back. The soft murmur of voices turned to harsh tones, words fueled by greed and impatience.
"You're got the key to get it should get us out." Silas said.
"You're got everything we need."
"We can take it from him. Force him to give it to us. Maybe... we don't need to wait. We take the key, open the realm, and leave. End this curse." One creature said.
Another creature, smaller and quicker, paced in agitation. "We could make him give it to us. Kill him now, take the token. We won't have another chance like this."
Lucian eyes remained cold. He knew exactly what they wanted, what they were all after… the token. The token that could offer daily power, freedom and a way out of this cursed place. But he wasn't about to let them think they could walk all over him.
"I don't have it on me," Lucian said, his voice cutting through the growing chaos like a blade. "The token you're all after? It's not here."
The group went silent for a moment, confusion flickering in their eyes. Some exchanged glances, unsure of whether to believe him. The warmth of suspicion began to churn in the air, but Luz could feel that they were already too far gone to back down now.
"What?" a hulking creature took a step forward, its claws scraping against the stone. "You're lying. You have it."
Lucian shook his head slowly, unfazed. "I'm not lying." He took a step back, his voice steady. "The token is not with me." His gaze hardened, locking onto each of them in turn. "But here's the thing you all need to understand: if I die here if any of you harm me… you'll never get it. You'll never reach the power you've been dreaming of."
The statement hit like a sudden blow to the chest, knocking the wind out of their desperate thoughts. Silence hung in the air once more, heavier this time.
"If I die," Lucian repeated, his voice dark, "the realm will remain closed. You won't be able to reach it. And whatever it is you think you're going to achieve by killing me… it won't happen." His eyes locked on the creature that had been the most vocal. "None of you are getting anything if I'm gone. Understand?"
The tension was palpable as the creature snarled, its massive form twitching in agitation. "You think you can threaten us with that? Moral." it hissed.
However, Silas didn't want anymore threats. He moved toward Lucian, It was like watching time skip a frame. One heartbeat… he was ten feet away. The next right in front of you.
"So," he said, voice laced with quiet authority, "You really decide to kill me over a token you think you can take it. You really toke a risk losing everything just to gain a single thing?"
As Lucian spoke, he had been taking steps back Silas got closer. Then Lucian had his crystal out, he slammed it against the globe and he easily slipped out.
"What!"
Everyone forze panic, confused on what he just did. Silas himself was close to him, that he slammed into globe cutting piesce his robe as it closed he stood there clothing in his hand.
"How did you do that?"
"Let us out."
Lucian remained silent titled his head and before turning, waking away.
Silas awoken. He shouted. "Wait. We will give you some relics… right guys." He looked around at the empress and Kurasame.
They didnt respon, but the creatures did. "Yeah… I have this chain relic here."
Without paying attention, Lucian just continued walking wher behind him he heard constant shouting.
"That group of man and woman… Without the I would have had more trouble, escaping and getting the relic. Now, instead how do I deal with them?"
A couple minutes walk later, he arrived infront a brown and yellow Pavillion. He entered a snake ten feet door, with was a bit hard to push in, as he peeked around inside.
He saw the man and mare standing around the floor filled of gold coins.
There they are… I looks like a this place is filled of traps, there already in one like I have to myself
During his walk here he had heard multiple sound of exploded behind, he knew he had to hurry.