"Where is MY brother…?"
Lara's heart thundered in her chest, not from fear but from a thought—a crippling, suffocating thought—that perhaps she was already too late. Her father's plan, twisted and cruel as it had been, might have succeeded. The beast before her wasn't just any monster; it reeked of malice and secrets, its grotesque form looming like a shadow cast by something far darker. The one who was before her was a demon, An actual demon incarnate.
'Am I already…late?' she thought, anguish clawing at her insides. Her aura flared involuntarily, spilling out like molten steel ready to burn everything in its path. It wasn't anger—it was desperation. Pure, unfiltered desperation that made her grip her sword tighter, knuckles white beneath her gloves.
The fat hulking demon snarled, baring rows of jagged teeth stained with who-knows-what. "Hey, hey, keep that sword down!" he snapped, his voice dripping with irritation. "I don't want your fucking aura attracting my colleague here…"
Lara didn't respond immediately. Instead, her truth-seer eyes scanned every inch of him—the filth clinging to his skin, the faint traces of crimson energy lingering on his claws, even the long ear of some poor dark elf stuck between his teeth. But more importantly, she saw beyond him. Farther south, another presence lingered—crimson, menacing, ancient. A demon far stronger than this one. One she couldn't afford to fight, not now, not with so many lives depending on her.
Her priority wasn't battle. Her priority was her brother.
"Then be quick with it," Lara spat, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. "Where is he? What have you done with him? And how do you even know I'm looking for my brother?"
Questions swirled in her mind like storm clouds, each demanding answers. She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay silent. She couldn't risk alarming her team, wasting their strength on this creature when time was slipping through her fingers like sand.
The demon grinned, exposing those disgusting pointy teeth again. His tongue flicked over an elf ear lodged in his gums, and Lara fought the urge to gag. "Hehe...I can smell him on you," he said, tilting his head like a predator sizing up prey.
"…..?"
"The scent is undeniable. You're carrying—or wearing…" He paused, his grin widening as Lara's face flushed red. "…something of his. God damn. Do humans showcase family love like this?.....Actually, Don't know, don't care."
He jabbed a clawed finger toward the south. "Your oh so lovely brother is that way, at the southern entrance. Go find him in the Dark Continent." His tone was almost bored, as if giving directions to a lost traveler rather than revealing life-or-death information.
"....."
Lara stayed silent, suspicion coiling around her like a snake. "Just like that?" she asked finally, her voice low and dangerous.
"Yeah, just like that," the demon replied with a shrug. "Oh, you're worried I'll deceive and manipulate you, puny girl? That's some old-generation shit. Look, I just wanna go back to our realm and watch my pets kill each other. There's also some sex here and there—you know what I mean. But in the name of Satan, it's good fucking entertainment. So yeah, my job is done. Puny girl. Tata…"
And with that, he vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the stench of sulfur and unanswered questions.
Lara stood frozen for a moment, staring at the empty space where the demon had been. Confusion warred with relief in her chest, but one thing was clear: Her brother was alive. Alive and waiting for her somewhere in the depths of the Dark Continent.
She exhaled slowly, the previous weight lifting off her shoulders like a boulder rolling downhill. 'Not even the demons could kill him,' she thought, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Pride bubbled beneath the surface, tempered by determination.
"Just wait for me, brother," she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling slightly. "We'll reunite soon, and I can embrace you once more."
But then reality crashed back in—the demon's words about the scent. That filthy, barbaric creature had guessed correctly. She glanced down at her armor, adjusting the oversized shirt hidden underneath. It was her brother's, worn close to her heart as a talisman against despair.
"That fucking barbaric demon," she muttered, cheeks still burning. "No sense of manners at all."
With a deep breath, she approached the campfire, the faint glow of embers casting shadows across her comrades' faces, she squared her shoulders. coming to her normal composer, Doubt had no place here. Not anymore.
.
.
.
At the dark Continent.
Atlas's truth eyes flickered with less red as they trudged forward, the monsters that once swarmed them now retreating like shadows fleeing dawn. The ring pulsed faintly on his finger, its authority radiating outward in invisible waves, repelling threats without effort. It was almost...too easy.
"...they say it's impossible to even survive a day here," Eli muttered under her breath, clutching the makeshift spear he'd crafted earlier. Her knuckles were white, tension coiled tightly within her grip. She glanced around nervously, scanning for movement among the glowing trees. Despite her unease, relief softened her features—relief tinged with disbelief. They were alive. Still breathing. Still moving deeper into this cursed land.
But Atlas? He felt frustration clawing at his chest like a caged beast desperate for release. The adrenaline rush—the intoxicating surge of power from killing monsters and earning points—it had vanished the moment he slipped the ring back onto his finger. Growth was addictive, and now it felt stolen from him. Stolen by this false sense of safty.
They came across a giant tree—a colossal sentinel rising high above the canopy, its roots sprawling wide like ancient veins pumping life into the earth. Its bark shimmered faintly with bioluminescent moss, casting eerie green light over their weary faces.
"....it's late," Atlas said abruptly, halting near the base of the massive trunk. "We already got water, some reptile meat, and that tree looks safe." His tone brooked no argument, though his gaze lingered on the dead reptile slung over his shoulder. Its scaly hide gleamed dully in the dim light, its flesh ready to be cooked or preserved—whichever necessity dictated next.
Eli hesitated, eyeing the carcass warily. "...don't you think it might be... poisonous?" she asked, skepticism lacing her voice.
"No," Atlas snapped, his patience fraying like an old rope stretched too thin. "Why don't you freaking believe me? What were you fed upon—in some golden plate and diamond cutlery?" His words dripped sarcasm sharp enough to draw blood, but there was truth behind them. His 'truth eyes' never lied; they painted reality in vivid hues only he could see. Right now, the reptile glowed green—a sign of safety. Edibility.
Eli flushed slightly, sweat beading along her brow despite the cool night air. "Nooooo....I am just a guard's captain. I just eat...bread and dry chicken and all."
Atlas didn't bother responding further. Instead, he turned toward the towering tree, setting down their supplies with brisk efficiency. His ring did most of the work, warding off curious insects and lurking predators alike. But none of it mattered—not really. Not when every step deeper into the Dark Continent brought stronger foes, fiercer challenges. Challenges he wasn't yet ready to face.
'We can't go on like this.....this safety will be the dead of us later on...' he thought as he slid the ring off his finger, holding it loosely between thumb and forefinger before turning to Eli. Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand and slid the insignia band onto her ring finger.
"Wh...what are you doing?" she stammered, cheeks flushing crimson as realization dawned. The weight of the ring settled heavily on her skin, its presence both foreign and oddly comforting.
"I'm going to hunt for a bit," he replied curtly, standing up straight. His expression gave nothing away, but his eyes burned ever more.
Eli opened her mouth to protest, then closed it again. She knew better than anyone how stubborn Atlas could be. If he said he would do something, he'd do it—even if it meant walking headfirst into danger. All she managed was a quiet nod, her voice barely audible. "...okay, come soon. I'll cook and take care of our camp until you come back."
Atlas offered her a small smile—half reassurance, half dismissal—and stepped away into the jungle. As soon as the ring left his possession, his truth eyes flared red once more, painting the world in stark contrast. Danger lurked everywhere now, undeterred by the ring's protective aura. And right there, slithering silently through the underbrush, was his target: a three-headed snake, each maw dripping venom that smoked against the damp leaves.
Like a predator stalking prey, Atlas increased his speed. He leapt onto a nearby boulder, using it as leverage to propel himself skyward. High above the creature, he unleashed a roar that echoed through the forest—a battle cry born of sheer willpower.
"Iron Body!
Death Decay!
Clover Luck!
Heavy Attack!
Stun Attack!"
Gravity pulled him downward like a meteor crashing to earth. His spear gleamed wickedly from luminous, aimed directly at the serpent's writhing body.
'Like in the game,' he thought fiercely, teeth gritted, muscles taut. 'I will have to reach the apex of the whole food cycle of this terrain...'
"And I'm gonna start with you!" he roared, pointing the weapon inches from the beast's scaled hide.
Pierch!!