The Mystic Treasure Realm was not an especially vast world—only slightly larger than the Sacred Dragon Kingdom itself. It was divided into three distinct regions: a sprawling forest, a frozen land of snow and biting cold, and a simple flat plain.
Each place teemed with Vicious Beasts. Altogether, the beast population numbered in the millions, their strength ranging from First Grade to Seventh Grade. Nearly seventy percent of them were only first grade creatures.
In one of the icy regions blanketed in soft white snow, two young figures moved carefully through the cold. Their crimson uniforms stood out starkly against the endless whiteness as they walked in silence, their eyes keenly observing every drift and hidden hollow.
These two were Lore and Leo—members of the Soaring Seven. Fortune had smiled on them when they ran into each other soon after entering the frozen zone, and they'd decided to travel together. Eleven days had passed since then. In that time, their collection of treasures had grown steadily.
Lore was a 5th Level Scarlet Gold Rank adventurer, while Leo was 3rd Level Gold Rank. Together, they could cover more ground—and fend off most threats with ease.
Ever since Lore had witnessed Finn's meteoric rise and astonishing power, much of his arrogance had faded. He no longer looked down on other young Adventurers—whether they came from humble clans or powerful sects. He'd broadened his perspective. Even so, in his heart, he felt there was only one person worthy of his full respect.
Finn Doria.
Finn was his only hope of reclaiming his honor and defeating Azur someday. If Lore wanted to rise higher, he knew it would be Finn he'd have to rely on.
The two youth continued walking in silence. There was no need for conversation, and neither felt inclined to break the quiet.
Occasionally, they encountered Third Grade or Fourth Grade beasts, but with their combined strength, none of these posed a threat. A few quick attacks were enough to bring any enemy down.
"All the treasures we collect together," Lore said suddenly, his voice steady, "let's store them in a single interspatial ring. When the trial ends and we return to the Sacred Dragon Kingdom, we'll split everything according to our contributions."
He stopped and turned to Leo, studying him with a serious gaze.
"You're friends with Finn, aren't you?"
Leo paused mid-step, meeting Lore's eyes. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. After a few heartbeats, he finally nodded.
"He's my younger brother's friend," Leo replied evenly, "and beyond that… my Golden Lion Family owes him a debt we can never fully repay."
It was true. His clan owed Finn more than words could express. Finn had gifted them miraculous pills that transformed the Golden Lion Family's future. Thanks to him, they'd finally produced a Profound Rank powerhouse. More personally, Finn was the reason Leo himself had come so far.
Of course, he didn't voice these details. Some things were better kept private—to respect Finn's secrets.
Lore inclined his head slightly, sensing Leo's reluctance to share more. He didn't press further.
"I see," Lore murmured softly. "Mm. It would be good if we could find the others soon. The stronger our group, the further we can venture."
With that, the two resumed their quiet trek.
They had three goals here: to seize opportunities, to temper themselves in battle, and to regroup with their missing companions.
If they could reassemble the Soaring Seven—and with Finn among them as a Profound Rank Adventurer—they would have the strength to explore the very depths of this world. The treasures they could uncover would be beyond imagination.
As they pressed on, the wind swirling around them in frigid gusts, the two boys suddenly froze.
Their eyes widened.
In the clearing ahead, half-buried in glistening snow, lay an extraordinary sight.
Both their hearts pounded as they stepped forward, unable to tear their gazes away.
There—lying motionless—was the colossal corpse of a Vicious Beast: a Snow Wind Polar Bear.
Its snowy pelt blended into the landscape, but the vast bulk of it made clear this was no ordinary creature.
This species had long vanished from the Sacred Dragon Kingdom, according to every record. To see even a corpse of such a beast was a miracle.
They stared in awe.
The bear's skin was shriveling, its body dried by time. Examining it closely, Lore guessed it had simply died of old age.
Truly—fortune favored them.
Though it was long dead, the beast's body still radiated a potent energy, enough that both of them could feel it buzzing in their veins.
It was unmistakable: the carcass of a Fifth Grade vicious beast—power rivaling the Profound Rank.
And more importantly, its magic crystal was still intact within.
Lore's eyes locked onto the heart of the creature, sensing the fierce aura pulsing there. Without hesitation, he summoned his weapon from his ring.
He drove the blade into the beast's chest. A wet, tearing sound split the air as he carved open the ribcage and reached in.
When his hand emerged, it held a glowing red crystal that filled the clearing with dazzling crimson light.
Both boys stood spellbound.
"A Fifth Grade magic crystal… If we sell this in the Auction House, it'll be worth a fortune!" Leo whispered, voice thick with excitement.
Lore nodded slowly. He couldn't suppress the surge of relief in his chest.
He needed wealth—desperately. If he was to purchase the Advance Scarlet Pill from Finn, he would have to amass a staggering sum. Only with that pill would he have any hope of rivaling Azur and reclaiming his clan's respect.
Just as he prepared to seal the crystal away, a sneering voice rang out—sending a chill through the air.
"Lore Lilytel of the Lightning Wind Family."
A haughty young man stepped into view, his golden uniform catching the moonlight.
"Hand that over—the crystal and the corpse. Don't worry," the youth said, his tone dripping with disdain, "I'll generously reward you with one hundred thousand gold coins."
Leo and Lore turned, their faces darkening.
The Tenth Prince.
Prince Theo.
"Your Highness," Lore said carefully, though his jaw tightened, "we were the ones who discovered this creature first."
No matter how bitter he felt, he could only speak with respect.
This was a prince of the Sacred Dragon Kingdom—and an 8th Level Scarlet Gold Rank at that.
They had thought themselves lucky—only to discover that fortune could turn as swiftly as the wind.
Theo's lip curled. His luck in this realm had been abysmal from the start. Twice already, he'd had his trophies snatched away—once by a rival Adventurer, once by a wandering beast. Since then, he'd been reduced to hunting weak Third and Fourth Grade creatures, too cautious to return to the forest depths.
Fear of death—and of having his corpse devoured—kept him wandering the frozen plains instead.
When he stumbled across Leo and Lore and saw the prize in their hands, he could hardly believe it. Finally—finally—he would have something worth taking home.
His eyes gleamed greedily, as if he already owned it.
And when Lore hesitated to surrender the spoils, Theo's expression hardened.
"Hmph."
"You dare refuse me?" he said icily. "If you hand it over willingly, I'll permit you to accompany me. With my strength, we'll travel safely—and you'll share in whatever else we find."
His aura surged forth, oppressive and suffocating.
"But if you persist in your stubbornness… don't blame me for what happens next."
Leo and Lore clenched their fists, every muscle in their bodies trembling.
Even so, they swallowed their anger—and forced themselves to remain silent.
--
The moon bathed the world in a silver glow. In the quiet forest beside the lake, two young adventurers sat before a great iron pot, the fire beneath it crackling cheerfully.
Finn and Ashe.
Ashe had finally stopped crying, though the redness around her eyes lingered. She sat hugging her knees, her expression blank, her heart still echoing with fear.
She had come so close to dying—so close she could still feel the shadow of the scythe over her skin.
Because of the boy sitting beside her, she'd survived.
She hadn't spoken since.
Her uniform was ragged and filthy, her red hair in tangles. Pale and scraped raw, she looked both pitiful and fragile.
After carving up the Supreme Mantis Shrimp, Finn had gently helped her to the lakeside, then set about cooking part of the beast's flesh with herbs and spices from his ring.
The shrimp's meat was famously delicious—one of the many vicious beasts prized for its flavor as well as its energy-rich flesh.
When the aroma began to drift through the clearing, Finn rose, savoring the rich scent. He dipped a wooden ladle into the bubbling broth, tasted it, and his eyes lit up.
He retrieved two bowls, filling them to the brim with steaming soup and tender meat.
Carrying them over, he stopped in front of Ashe.
She looked up, startled, her gaze meeting his.
For a moment, she felt something warm in his eyes—a sincerity she hadn't expected.
Silently, she accepted the bowl, and Finn sat beside her, eating without ceremony.
Ashe didn't touch her food at first. She simply watched him. A small laugh bubbled out, unbidden. He ate like a ravenous wolf—messy and unbothered.
After a moment, the tension in her chest loosened.
She looked down at the broth in her hands.
She breathed in the fragrant steam.
'I'm eating the monster that almost killed me…'
Her voice was small, but steady.
"…Thank you…for saving me."
Finn paused. He wiped his mouth and smiled, soft and honest.
"It's nothing," he said. "I still owe you, remember? I'm only making up for that."
At once, her face turned crimson. She clenched her jaw, barely resisting the urge to hurl the soup into his face.
She sucked in a sharp breath.
"Hmph! I still won't forgive you for…for what you did. You tarnished my dignity as a woman. If I can't gouge out your eyes, I'll find another way to make you suffer. As for your help—"
She glared at him, her cheeks burning.
"I'll repay you in the future."
Finn stared at her, slack-jawed.
'This girl…even now?'
He sighed, shaking his head, and went back to eating.
Finally, Ashe lifted her bowl and tasted the soup.
Her eyes widened.
Delicious.
Rich with energy—so delicious she couldn't stop herself.
In moments, she devoured the entire bowl, faster and messier than Finn himself.
If Finn was a wolf—Ashe was a starving piglet.
She slammed the empty bowl down, stood, and stomped over to the pot, refilling it without a trace of shame.
Finn's eyes bulged.
He dropped his own bowl—and burst out laughing.
He couldn't help it. She was ridiculous—and somehow, it made her seem a little more human.
Ashe turned her back on him, cheeks flaming, and ate in furious silence.
When he finally calmed down, Finn looked at her slender back and let out a long breath.
Then he reached into his ring and retrieved a small bottle.
"You're still covered in cuts," he said gently. "Take this. It'll heal you faster."
She eyed the bottle warily, then snatched it from his hand. Without hesitation, she swallowed the pill inside.
Warmth flooded her limbs as her wounds mended. Her skin smoothed back to porcelain perfection.
As she finished, she turned, thrust out her palm, and glared.
"Because of you, I wasted five recovery pills," she snapped. "Pay me back. Now."
Finn's mouth fell open.
"…Miss Ashe," he said incredulously, "is that…extortion?"