His skin felt like it was being pricked with needles. But Victor stepped in front of him and extended a protective shield of Force, enveloping them both. The fog seemed to part for Victor, as if recognizing him.

Then, Victor stepped forward. Beyond the veil of mist, the atmosphere changed completely. Gone was the serene beauty of the valley. The land here was scarred and barren, scorched gray and lifeless.

And looming in the distance… were shadows.

Three monstrous skeletons towered above, barely visible through the swirling red mist—each one at least three hundred meters tall.

"The remains of the three Beast Kings," Victor said quietly.

He led Axel to the edge of a clearing and swept his arm through the air. The blood mist parted, revealing a low grave marked by a single stone slab: "Micah's Tomb."

"So this is where he was buried… No wonder no one's ever found it."

"Back then, the murderous energy was far worse than now. No one could break through it," Victor explained.

He knelt and placed several ceramic offering plates at the grave, each with fruit. Then he lit three cigarettes, setting them neatly on the stone as a quiet tribute.

"General Micah," Victor murmured, "I brought someone here today. A promising young man."

......

After the offerings, Victor turned to Axel with a faint smile. "Come on. Bow with me."

Axel stepped up beside him and bowed deeply—three times, solemn and silent.

Victor stared at the grave for a moment, his voice heavy. "During the Beast Tide, Micah and the other level-nine Awakeners could've escaped. Not even Beast Kings could've stopped them."

"But they didn't run. They chose to stand and fight—for humanity."

Victor's hands tightened into fists. "There used to be another two powerful nations on this continent. But when the tide came, their elites fled. The mutant beasts tore through what was left. And now… the people there are in exile sporadically.."

"If they'd stood together from the start, they might've kept hope alive inside the walls, like Krythos."

Axel said nothing. He stepped forward again, gave one final bow, and closed his eyes.

Victor watched him, quietly satisfied. Victor didn't care if Axel killed or even tore down the ruling families. As long as he fought for humanity in the end—nothing else mattered.

Axel took a step back, eyes narrowing as he noticed the strange interaction between Victor's Force shield and the surrounding murderous aura. Rather than being consumed over time, the shield seemed to absorb the aura, growing even more solid and radiant.

"Mr. Victor… what exactly are you guarding here?" Axel asked, voice low. His gaze shifted to the silent grave of General Micah, and then to the eerie silhouettes of the three Beast Kings looming in the distance.

Just as the question left his lips, the blood mist that clung to the area thinned slightly, drawn and neutralized by Victor's Force. Axel's senses stretched out farther—his eyes sharpened, and his mental energy pierced deeper into the fog than ever before.

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And then he froze.

His breath hitched. His feet locked in place.

In the distance, beneath the bones of one of the Beast Kings, was a dark glimmer.

"That's…" Axel's voice cracked, his eyes locked on the eerie black glow.

A… life crystal? Black.

If Victor hadn't been standing there beside him, Axel might have lost his composure entirely.

Life crystals fade over time, their energy dispersing back into the world after their host dies. But these… these hadn't faded at all. What kind of force could preserve a life crystal for so many decades?

Victor's voice pulled him from his shock. "Come on, Axel."

But Axel didn't move. "Mr. Victor… can I take a closer look at the Beast King's remains?"

He wasn't going to touch Micah's crystal first, out of respect.

Victor raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Sure. There's not much to see. Just bones..."

They walked together through the thinning blood mist until they reached the first colossal skeleton. Even in death, the size and presence of the creature were overwhelming. Its bones gleamed faintly—like jade—untouched by time or decay.

If even a shard of these bones could be salvaged, it would be priceless—perfect for forging elite-tier Original Instruments. But there were no broken remains, not even a cracked tooth.

"This one," Victor explained, "was the Grassland Wolf King. The current alpha out there is one of its descendants."

Axel nodded, stepping closer. He crouched next to the black crystal that pulsed beneath the Wolf King's ribcage. It looked no bigger than his palm.

He reached toward it—slowly. The moment his fingers brushed against the crystal's glow, he tried to draw it into his Space Capsule.

Nothing happened.

He pick it up. No good. This damn thing might as well have been fused with the mountain itself.

Tch. Axel stood, brushing his fingers off on his coat. Guess I was not strong enough.

He wasn't devastated. The crystal wasn't going anywhere. And even if he could take it now, he couldn't use it. It was too far beyond his current level.

"You're right. Mr. Victor" Axel stood up as if nothing had happened, and Victor didn't think much about it.

Victor simply turned and led the way forward.

......

Victor said as he dusted off his robes. "I'll send you out of Infinite Cold Cave shortly."

He glanced toward the mist-covered cliffs above. "The Saint Sea Twig grows at the center of the Cloudvine Forest. Climb up from here and head east."

"Just remember—hold your breath and walk slowly. The spatial distortion won't affect you if your mind stays calm. Last time you got lost, it was because the murderous aura was messing with your head."

Victor handed Axel a crystal-clear pill. "This is a Breath-holding Pill. Take it before entering the Cloudvine Forest."

Axel studied the pill, then looked up. "Is it that dangerous?"

Victor's tone shifted just slightly. "There are swarms of blood-winged bats in that forest. Mutant, level-four. They're not usually hostile to humans, but it's not worth the risk."

Axel nodded solemnly. "Thank you… for everything, Mr. Victor."

Victor smiled and patted his shoulder. "Be careful out there, kid. We'll meet again—someday."

Then, as if remembering something, Victor turned back toward the cabin. He rummaged around for a moment, muttering to himself. Finally, he returned holding a worn-out, wrinkled piece of paper.

"Here. Almost forgot."

Axel took the paper and stared at it. "Kensington Hot Spring… Admission Ticket. Valid for up to 8 people?" He raised an eyebrow. "Uh, sir, I don't exactly go to spas."

Victor chuckled. "That's not just any hot spring. It's the Kensington Hot Spring. Ever wonder why the top families always seem to have such powerful, high-potential descendants? They're not just lucky."

Axel blinked. "You mean…?"

"Exactly. That pool contains a rare mineral infusion that enhances spiritual receptivity and strengthens internal Force circulation. Their kids bathe in it regularly while growing up. It's part of why they're always a cut above."

He looked at Axel again. "I helped the Kensingtons decades ago. That's the only reason I even got this ticket. It'll help you compress your Force more quickly. Use it. Don't waste it."

Axel held the ticket with both hands, feeling its strange texture, and bowed slightly. "I will. Thank you, sir."

Victor gave a casual wave of his hand. "Alright. Time for you to go."

A sudden surge of Force energy enveloped Axel like a pair of warm, invisible hands. He felt himself lifted effortlessly into the air—ascending through layers of thick fog until the mouth of Infinite Cold Cave came into view.

"Thank you, Mr. Victor!" Axel called out one last time as he rose out of the valley and into the open sky.

Victor sat back on his familiar stone bench, gazing at the spot where Axel had vanished.

Silence reclaimed the valley, settling over the trees and streams like a familiar old shroud.

After a long while, he exhaled—deep and heavy.

His eyes drifted toward the north, thoughtful and grim. "Humans… always caught in their own infighting."

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