Once the trial ended, the throne and the platform dissolved right in front of my eyes, the stone breaking apart into nothing as if it had never existed in the first place. I had assumed something like that would remain, something others could find and attempt, but it was clear now that the trial wasn’t meant to be shared.
It was claimed.
Or lost.
I turned and made my way back toward Billion Sanctuary. By the time I arrived, the familiar golden dome of the safe zone stood firm, the faint shimmer of the barrier keeping everything outside at bay. I stepped through without resistance and moved straight toward the stream, washing off the blood and dirt, letting the cool water settle my body while I caught my breath.
Outside the barrier, I could still see monsters moving. Once I was done, I headed back toward the central hut.
Suddenly, a notification appeared.
[Leon Starc accepted your friend request]
[You are receiving a call from Leon Starc]
I didn’t hesitate as I assumed it was Knight.
"Billion?" a rough voice came through.
"Yes, sir. You’ve got me right."
"Good. I don’t have much time, so listen carefully." His voice was low and I could hear the urgency underneath. "I’m surrounded by believers and hiding inside a prison basement. They’re searching for me, and I don’t think I’ll make it out on my own. I’m in a city called Ture. Some alien race is occupying it. Magic casters... some kind of cult. Get here fast. I don’t have enough time."
The line cut before I could respond.
"City of Ture..." I muttered, already pulling up the map.
It wasn’t there since my map coverage was too small. I frowned and opened the shop again, pushing straight into upgrades. Two purchases later, the map expanded outward, new regions unfolding as I zoomed out further until finally I found the city of Ture.
It was very far from my current location. Too far to reach quickly on foot, especially with two cities in between.
"What should I do..." I murmured, my gaze shifting from the map to the forest beyond the barrier.
Then it clicked.
A mount. I didn’t waste another second. Grabbing my axe, I stepped out of the safe zone and broke into a run, heading deeper into the forest.
The first monster I came across was a bear, its massive body emerging from behind a cluster of trees, red eyes locking onto me as it growled low in warning.
[Monster Bear – Level 25]
I didn’t stop. The moment it lunged, I stepped in and swung.
The axe moved once and the strike passed through its neck, and its body dropped before the momentum of its charge even finished.
I continued on my way. Further ahead, the ground shifted slightly as movement spread beneath it, and then they came, giant ants, dozens of them, bursting out of the soil, their mandibles clicking as they rushed toward me.
"Radiant Slash."
The axe cut through the air, and the energy followed, lightning crackling along the edge as the arc tore forward, sweeping across the entire pack. The moment it hit, the discharge spread through them, chaining from one to another as the entire group collapsed almost instantly.
None of them were above level 40. Despite destroying a pack of close to 20 ants I did not receive any level ups. I continued in search of a mount.
The forest thickened, then thinned, and along the way more monsters appeared—wolves, boars, creatures twisted by the system but none of them slowed me for more than a moment. Each encounter ended just as quickly as it began, my path clearing as I cut through them without breaking stride.
Eventually, something larger stepped into my path.
A crocodile.
Its massive body slid out from a nearby dirty water pool, its jaws snapping once as it turned toward me.
[Monster Crocodile – Level 40]
It lunged. I stepped forward and the axe came down. The blade split through its skull in one clean motion, the body dropping heavily to the ground as I pulled the weapon free and continued forward.
[Level Up!]
[Level 60 -> Level 61]
[Combat Points + 140]
[Influence Points + 0]
I picked up my pace, continued forward and finally I came across them.
Three monster horses. Their eyes glowed red, a single horn rising from their foreheads, their bodies larger, stronger, their stance tense as they turned toward me the moment I entered their range.
[Monster Horse – Level 40]
They charged together the moment they saw me. I met them head-on.
The first came in from the side, I shifted and brought the axe across, the blade cutting through its neck as it passed. The second tried to follow through immediately, but I turned into it and struck again, the impact dropping it mid-charge.
The third tried to charge as well. I didn’t let it.
I stepped in and drove my leg forward, the kick landing square into its side, knocking it off balance and sending it crashing to the ground. Before it could recover, I moved in and brought the axe down, the blade pressing against its neck.
It froze.
For a moment, it struggled, its body tensing under me, but I leaned in slightly, pressing the edge just enough to let it feel the threat.
"Don’t," I said quietly.
It stilled.
Slowly, carefully, I allowed it to stand up and stepped onto its back, keeping the axe in place against its neck, not removing it for even a second.
"Now, we move forward." I muttered.
It tried to resist. I grabbed its mane tightly, pulling back just enough to force its head up while pressing the blade slightly deeper against its skin.
That was enough. The tension broke. The horse surged forward.
And it was fast. Faster than I had expected. The forest blurred around me as it broke into a full sprint, its body finally giving in to control as I held it steady, guiding it forward.
Toward the direction of Ture.
I kept my eyes on the map as we rushed forward, the forest blurring around us. The horse moved fast, but from time to time it resisted, its pace breaking slightly. Each time, I pressed the axe a little deeper against its neck, just enough to remind it. That was enough to bring it back in line.
The first city came into view not long after.
I slowed just enough to circle it once. No red marking on the map. No movement inside. No sign of believers or alien control. The buildings stood intact, but empty.
"So not all cities are under their control," I muttered and moved on. I pushed the horse forward again, and it picked up speed instantly, carrying me deeper through the forest without slowing.
Within the hour, the second city appeared.
Marked red.
A Believer safe zone.
I didn’t go near it. I adjusted my path and rode around it, keeping distance while maintaining speed. The horse surged ahead again and finally after 30 minutes of continuous riding I was in front of Ture.