Characters:
NiZo – Main character (MC)
Zimi – Extroverted, flirty girl
Koku – Cheerful and intelligent girl
Zama – Silent with a mysterious aura
Laitho – An old man with deep knowledge about the mountain
Hanu – Funny and overly excited
Waith – Aggressive and hot-headed man
The team begins their ascent up the mountain.
As they move, NiZo thinks to himself:
> "This place... it feels so different from before.
Like the whole mountain has changed."
Zimi looks up with wide eyes.
> "Look at that... the mountain is rising above the clouds!"
Laitho nods seriously.
> "According to my knowledge, this mountain grows taller every year.
Its height increases by about 100 meters annually."
Koku adds,
> "But I don't see any mythological creatures around.
It's oddly quiet."
NiZo replies,
> "Forget mythology... there's not even a sign of normal wildlife.
And that's not normal."
Suddenly, Hanu trips and falls.
Everyone turns in shock.
But then they notice something strange—he can't lift the tool bag.
Before anyone says anything, Zama steps forward silently.
He lifts Hanu with one hand, slings the tool bag over his back, and starts walking again—without a word.
Waith glares, clearly annoyed.
> "I swear I'm losing my temper.
If anyone says one more word,
I'll shove this gun in your mouth and pull the trigger."
Zimi leans toward NiZo and playfully asks,
> "So… are you single?"
Before NiZo can respond, Zama gently taps Zimi's arm, subtly signaling her to touch her nose.
Koku suddenly sniffs the air and frowns.
> "There's something strange in the smell…"
Everyone notices it now.
They quickly put on their masks.
Laitho calmly explains,
> "This gas… it's produced by a very rare type of underground plant.
They only exist in certain hidden areas beneath the mountain."
Just then, a deer runs past them at high speed.
Waith smirks and says,
> "Let's hunt it down and eat it."
But NiZo stops him.
> "No.
That's the first animal we've seen since we arrived.
If we follow it, maybe it'll lead us to a safer or more stable area."
---
As night falls, the team sets up three tent houses.
It's now around 8:00 PM.
The campfire lights up the dark, and everyone starts chatting and joking, trying to relax.
NiZo wanders about 100 meters away from the camp, standing near a small lake.
Suddenly, in the fog, he notices something.
A strange creature is watching him—its head slowly emerging from the water.
It's a Kappa—a turtle-like humanoid mythological being.
The creature stares directly at NiZo.
Then it vanishes into the water…
A moment later, it leaps out of the lake and attacks NiZo viciously.
Caught off-guard, NiZo tries to defend himself.
The Kappa bites his arm.
NiZo punches it away and stumbles back.
Strangely, the creature starts trembling in pain, as if hurt by something invisible.
It hisses, turns around, and retreats back into the lake.
---
NiZo returns to the camp, clutching his bleeding arm.
Everyone rushes to him.
> "What happened to you?!"
NiZo breathes heavily and answers,
> "Some kind of human-shaped turtle creature attacked me.
I think… it was a Kappa."
Laitho's eyes narrow.
> "A Kappa…?
How strong was it? Did it feel ancient?"
Koku interrupts,
> "Let's stop the questions. He's bleeding—we need to treat the wound right now."
Waith scoffs.
> "Where are all these creatures hiding, huh?
I was told there was a ton of treasure here, not some fantasy junk."
---
Suddenly, Hanu points toward a tree in the foggy distance.
> "Look! Over there… those glowing yellow eyes!"
They all turn in alarm.
Laitho tries to remain calm.
> "It could just be an animal…"
But the figure slowly stands up.
What was crouching behind the tree now rises to a towering height—nearly 30 feet tall.
It begins walking toward them… but calmly, without aggression.
As it comes into view, the group realizes it's a Stone Golem—a walking myth from ancient stories.
The golem slowly walks past them, not acknowledging the group at all.
Everyone stands frozen, barely breathing.
But then…
The Golem vanishes behind the tent—and suddenly launches a deadly surprise attack.
It doesn't roar or rage.
It moves mechanically—silent, normal… but lethal.
---
Everyone panics and starts to run.
Waith bolts in the direction down the mountain, trying to escape.
But out of nowhere, a massive stone projectile crashes into him, slamming his body into a tree.
Waith dies instantly.
NiZo watches in shock, muttering to himself,
> "It was you…"
He grabs a pickaxe from the tool bag and leaps forward, delivering a devastating strike to the golem's head.
The golem collapses.
But before anyone can rest…
In the dark mist, more yellow eyes begin to glow.
Dozens of Golems emerge, charging toward them.
The team runs uphill toward the mountain top, desperately fleeing.
Suddenly, a large stone crashes toward Zimi.
NiZo, without hesitation, hurls the pickaxe toward the boulder.
It hits with such force that the stone shatters into fragments, but one fragment still injures Zimi.
Zama immediately lifts her and starts running.
Zimi weakly says,
> "Brother…"
Then faints in his arms.
The team finds shelter in a small cave.
Hanu suddenly panics,
> "Oh no! I left the tool bag behind!"
But then they all turn toward Zama—
He's holding Zimi in his arms… and the tool bag on his back.
Hanu stares in disbelief.
> "How the hell did he carry all that and still outrun us…?"
Zama doesn't reply.
He simply pulls a gun from his pocket—the one he had secretly stolen from Waith's body.
Everyone falls silent.
Laitho speaks quietly,
> "We're in danger.
But there's a lake at the top of this mountain—a place these creatures cannot reach.
If we can make it there… we might have a real chance."