We stepped onto the glowing teleportation circle. The light pulsed beneath our feet, soft at first but quickly growing brighter.
Steve broke the silence with a quiet voice.
"I'm gonna miss the crab."
I gave him a small nod and smiled.
The light flared even more—and just like that, the world around us shifted. The ground vanished, the air twisted, and when everything settled, I found myself standing inside a hut.
My senses kicked in immediately. I expanded my perception outward, scanning the surroundings. We were in a small, straw-built hut—walls of bundled grass, the floor packed with dirt, and the scent of smoke lingering faintly in the air.
And then... I felt it. A presence. Someone strong. Someone who had brought us here.
I turned to Steve with a grin.
"Oh, you're gonna like this."
I stepped off the circle and moved toward the door. My hand met the rough wooden frame, and I pushed it open.
Sunlight poured in, and the moment I stepped outside, I froze. The place was stunning.
Tall wooden buildings stood scattered across a grassy clearing. They looked ancient—handcrafted with care and age-old skill. I counted nearly twenty of them, each massive, like large halls or lodges. Trees dotted the spaces in between, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze.
Beyond the structures, I could see a wall—a high wooden boundary that enclosed the entire area. It felt like we were inside a snow globe, sealed away from the rest of the world.
"It's a small realm," I muttered, still taking it in.
Steve glanced around, his eyes sharp.
"Did you find anyone?"
I nodded once.
"Yeah. Let's go."
I led the way, walking along the dirt road that stretched from our hut straight toward the biggest structure at the far end—a temple.
The temple stood out. Unlike the wooden buildings around it, it was pure white, built from polished marble. Its design was elegant and clean, with tall pillars and carvings etched into the walls. It looked sacred, untouched by time.
As we passed the other houses, I peeked inside a few. Empty. Every one of them.
"They're all in front of the temple," I said, more to myself than Steve.
Seven figures stood there, waiting.
I narrowed my eyes and focused on them.
Whoever they were... they already knew we were coming.
I understood how they knew we were coming.
The two little creatures that had been spying on my fight were here too. They looked like rats, or something close to it. They must have reported everything.
Still, I was relieved. None of them were abominations.
Since I evolved my class, I had gained the ability to scan beings even beyond Level 100. With just a thought, I activated my perception and checked their levels.
[Sama Bear – Level 170]
[Sama Bear – Level 123]
[King Ape – Level 172]
[Black Mamba – Level 163]
[Anastasia Redscale – Level 93]
Two massive bears. One terrifying ape. A black serpent. And one Feran girl.
My eyes locked onto the girl standing calmly in front of the beasts.
She was tall, just as tall as me. Her posture was strong, unshaken by the creatures behind her. Her blue eyes didn't blink, staring straight into mine with steady confidence.
Her black hair reached all the way down her back, slightly waving in the wind. She wore a simple black top and pants, nothing fancy, but the way she stood—with the white marble temple behind her—made her look almost unreal.
But what made her truly different, what marked her as one of the Feran race, were the two wings folded behind her. They were feathered and white as snow, large enough to easily lift her into the sky.
And then there were her eyes.
Not normal. Not human.
Her blue irises were slit down the middle. They glowed slightly in the light, sharp and watchful.
Predatory.
A grin tugged at the corner of my lips as I caught Steve's reaction. His eyes were wide, his mouth slightly open in awe. I was just about to tease him when the girl standing in front of the beasts spoke, her voice calm and firm.
"Begin."
One of the massive bears beside her lumbered forward.
Steve and I froze on the spot.
The beast was enormous—covered in thick black fur, nearly twelve feet tall, and broad enough to crush the both of us in a single charge. Its eyes locked onto us as it growled, each step making the earth tremble.
I narrowed my eyes and spoke quietly, without looking back.
"Step back."
Steve didn't hesitate. He vanished to the side in a blur, not even pretending to stand his ground. His attention never left the girl, completely ignoring the threat that was closing in.
I sighed and shook my head. Of course he would.
I activated [Psynapse Overdrive].
In an instant, my senses sharpened. The world slowed down, each sound becoming clearer, every detail sharper. I pushed my will outward, letting it spread through the air and into the ground around me.
The earth cracked under my feet. A sharp wind swirled around me as my presence altered the very space.
The bear stopped, just for a second, then let out a deafening roar that shook the air. I could feel it now, resistance. This thing wasn't ordinary. It pushed back against my will with raw strength.
But I didn't waver. I pushed harder, matching its pressure with my own.
The beast slammed its front paws into the ground, then lunged.
It charged like a mountain in motion, closing the distance fast. Ten feet away, it opened its mouth wide and a black beam of energy surged toward me.
The air around the beam shimmered and tore as it flew.
But with [Psynapse Overdrive] active, I saw it clearly. Every flicker, every twist of energy, I tracked it all.
I raised a hand and called out,
"[Havoc Sfera]."
Essence responded, but I shaped it into ice to avoid revealing too much. In a heartbeat, a five-foot-wide ice sphere formed in front of me, spinning with force. From its core, I released an icy beam to counter the black energy.
The two beams clashed mid-air.
Boom.
A shockwave rippled through the ground as both forces locked in a glowing stalemate.
I triggered my Absolute Skill.
"[Absolute] — Fast."
My body shifted. Muscles twitched and adjusted, my movement became cleaner, faster. The air itself felt lighter against my skin. I kept the ice beam flowing as I bent my knees, coiling power into my legs.
Then I launched upward.
Boom.
The moment I gave up control of the sphere, the black beam punched straight through it, shattering the ice with a sharp crack. But I was already airborne.
Midair, I summoned my weapon.
The staff tattoo on my forearm glowed. A swirling Essence portal snapped open beside me, and from it, I drew my staff.
Seven feet of dark, polished metal slid into my hand, familiar and solid.
Essence surged through my body as I forced more of it into my legs. I activated [Seismic Burst].
A fiery explosion burst from my feet, launching me higher—and straight over the bear.
It barely had time to lift its head.
I swung.
The staff cut through the air in a wide arc and slammed into the bear's chest before it could close its mouth again.
Boom.
The impact sounded like thunder.
The massive beast flew backward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Its body crashed into the ground and skidded across it, sliding past the girl and the rest of her group.
Dust exploded into the air behind them.
I landed lightly, the staff still in my hand.
The moment my feet touched the ground, I didn't wait.
The bear was already rising, its claws digging trenches in the dirt as it forced itself back up. Steam curled from its chest where my staff had landed—a direct hit, but not enough to put it down. Not yet.
It roared again, louder this time. Angrier.
I narrowed my eyes and poured Essence into my muscles.
I could feel them tighten, harden—my legs, arms, even the small muscles along my spine surged with fresh strength. Every tendon became a drawn wire, every movement sharper. I gripped the staff tighter, feeling it hum with the flow of power I sent through it.
The bear charged.
Not just fast—but explosive. Its massive body tore through the air like a boulder launched from a cannon. Dirt flew in its wake.
I met it head-on.
My feet slammed into the ground as I dashed forward, staff low, tip dragging sparks as it scraped the stone path. Just before we clashed, I spun to the left, letting its giant claws slice through the air inches from my chest.
I pivoted and struck.
The staff cracked against the bear's side. I reinforced the blow with Essence, forcing more energy into the swing. The impact echoed like a bell across the realm. The bear stumbled, but didn't fall. It turned with surprising speed and swung a paw at my head.
I ducked, rolled under it, and thrust upward—staff jabbing into its ribs.
It roared in pain, black blood splashing onto the ground. But it caught me this time—its backhand clipped my shoulder and sent me skidding back.
I winced, rolling to a stop.