Thwip.
The arrow took the ash-furred rabbit cleanly. It was a small, ordinary lesser beast, but its meat was surprisingly tender. However, it was swift and hard to catch, which also made it a perfect practice target for me. And I only hunted when it was necessary, avoiding pointless killing.
As I approached the downed creature, a familiar, translucent blue window materialized in the corner of my vision.
__________ ______
[ SCENARIO COMPLETE: A PRINCESS’S FIRST STEP ]
[ Due to your significant contributions, both overt and background, Princess Aurelia has secured First Place in the First Trial of the Crown. ]
[ REWARDS GRANTED: ]
[ • 10,000,000 Aura Coins ]
[ • 100 Scenario Points ]
[ • Silent Veil has been upgraded to Level 4 ]
[Note: The storyline has changed slightly due to your interference. ]
_________ _____
I raised an eyebrow, pausing as I pulled the arrow free. That was a pleasant surprise, indeed. A quick scan confirmed the best part: Silent Veil had reached Level 4. I’d been grinding it relentlessly, feeling it was close. While a small part of me was disappointed I hadn’t crossed that final hurdle myself, the efficiency of the System’s reward was far more valuable than my pride. Or so I consoled myself.
Dismissing the window, I made a mental note to use the Narrative Glimpse in a few days, once the second trial was likely underway.
With the immediate business concluded, I stored the rabbit meat in my inventory.
"Dinner’s sorted as well," I muttered.
A simple but satisfying end to the day’s hunt.
It was hard to believe that only three full days had passed since I’d left the Eclipse Keep and became a Tier 3 Resonator. The initial, overwhelming rush of power had already settled in as I fully adapted to my newfound strength.
As for my destination, I’d decided on a methodical approach.
I decided to travel through the territories of the three Shield Families first — the bastions bordering the Hollowlands. It was the most logical path as I needed to understand the lay of the land, and more importantly, gauge the atmosphere near the one place I knew I’d have to venture into sooner or later.
The Hollowlands.
A place of death and secrets.
I was sure my path would lead me there soon enough. So I thought it would be better to get acquainted with its doorstep first.
And the first stop would be the territory of-
"!"
My pupils contracted, and my thoughts were cut short.
[Pulse of The Unseen]
A terrifying presence, dense with bloodlust and raw power, was approaching at a breakneck speed. I spun towards the source, my eyes sharpening as I activated my distance sight.
The world sharpened.
And there it was.
A hulking beast — easily five meters tall, covered in jagged plates of frost-blue chitin — barreling toward me with a speed that should’ve been impossible for something that size.
I cut the ability off immediately, my mind moving faster than ever.
’Silent Veil. Hide. Move Away!’
I blurred sideways, aura sinking into absolute stillness as Silent Veil wrapped around me like a second skin. Both my body and presence vanished. Even my breath was swallowed by the skill. I quickly changed direction and sprinted in a different direction.
Yet, the beast didn’t hesitate. Its head swung, its beady eyes locking onto my new position as it corrected its charge.
’It can sense me?!’
I nearly lost my footing in surprise.
Snow exploded behind it as it accelerated, covering the distance between us in seconds.
’Tch.’
I decided to stay where I was, posture lowering slightly, ready to blink out with Interception Step at the exact heartbeat before impact. Timing was everything. One mistake and—
The beast suddenly roared, skidding across the snow before slamming both front limbs down.
Crack—!
Ice erupted.
A dome of jagged spikes surged upward, surrounding me in a cage of glittering death. The ground froze solid beneath my feet, locking me in place.
I couldn’t dash. I couldn’t even move.
Swoosh—!
The monster leapt again, higher than before, blotting out the pale winter sky as its shadow swallowed the dome entirely.
"Shoot."
I cursed under my breath and started gathering my aura.
[Glacia Sinfonia.]
I’d have to blow the entire dome apart.
I was one breath away from activating the ability when I felt many more presences.
’More monsters?!’
No, their intent wasn’t directed at me, but the beast that was descending, jaws wide, ready to crush me whole.
"..."
However, I stopped gathering aura.
There was no panic in me anymore.
Just calm.
Cold as the snow beneath my boots.
The monster’s shadow grew larger—
Closer—
Ready to devour—
Then something blurred across my vision.
A figure.
Massive.
Shaped like a man, but broader, taller, wrapped in fur and swirling markings that glowed faintly under the winter sun.
His heel connected with the monster’s flank.
BOOM—!
The beast was sent flying, crashing through two trees before sliding across the frozen ground in a trail of shattered ice.
Snow rained down.
Silence followed.
Inside the icy dome, I blinked once.
Outside, the giant figure stood with one hand raised as if swatting away a fly.
A second, third, and fourth figure landed behind him, each wearing identical masks and carrying weapons made from bones, their eyes glowing in a faint orange colour.
And the first one — the one who’d kicked the beast away — turned his head toward me.
His eyes were like molten amber.
’Is he the leader?’
I thought as it chuckled briefly before speaking.
"...Wait here for me, cutie~."
Then the figure turned away, his attention snapping back to the beast that had somehow dragged itself upright. Frost-chitin cracked and flaked off its body as it let out another guttural bellow, the sound echoing through the surroundings.
But the figure didn’t even flinch.
He moved the moment the monster lunged. A ripple passed through the air, dense aura gathering inside him. A bone axe formed in his grip as if pulled from thin air, its surface etched with swirling runes that also glowed faintly in the cold light.
He met the charge head-on.
"THOOOM—!"
The axe carved downward with vicious precision, splitting the beast’s momentum in half.
A shockwave burst outward, rattling the air and making the remnants of the ice dome around me shiver as though struck by a storm.
"WRRR-!"
A piercing shriek tore out of the monster, which was cut short halfway like a candlewick pinched between fingers.
Then everything went quiet again.
The scent of frost and blood lingered. Snow dust drifted lazily back to the ground. The giant lowered his weapon as though he had merely swatted away a bothersome insect.
I exhaled slowly.
And then...
...my mind replayed something.
A line I had forcibly ignored because survival had taken priority.
But now that I was no longer inches away from being chewed into paste—
’...Wait.’
’What the heck did he just call me?!’