Before leaving the Monolith behind—
They looted the bodies.
It wasn't hesitation.
It wasn't greed.
It was necessity.
Arin moved first.
Efficient. Focused. Detached.
He searched the fallen without looking at their faces—checking weapons, pouches, anything useful. There was no pause in his movements, no lingering thought about who they had been just moments ago.
They were resources now.
Nothing more.
Kael followed, slower at first.
This time—
There was no grin. No joke.
Only silence.
"…Feels different," Kael muttered.
Arin didn't stop.
"…It should."
A brief pause.
"…We killed people."
The words settled heavily between them.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
No more needed to be said.
They took what they could—
Then left.
The wind howled louder as the sky darkened.
What had once been a dull gray wasteland began to shift into something far more dangerous. Shadows stretched unnaturally across the rocky terrain, twisting as if alive. The air grew colder. Heavier.
Wrong.
Arin didn't slow.
"…We need to reach the town before nightfall."
Kael nodded, his breathing slightly heavier now.
"…Yeah… I feel it too."
From somewhere far behind—
A low growl echoed.
Then another.
Then many.
Not one creature.
A group.
Kael glanced back instinctively.
"…Those aren't goblins, are they?"
Arin didn't turn.
"…No."
That was enough.
They ran faster.
Time blurred.
Steps became rhythm.
Breath became effort.
Minutes stretched into something longer—until finally—
They saw it.
At first, just a faint outline on the horizon.
Then—
Walls.
Massive. Dark. Ancient.
And surrounding it—
A barrier.
A soft white dome, shimmering faintly in the growing darkness.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's new."
Arin's gaze sharpened.
"…A protection system."
A sharp screech echoed behind them—
Closer this time.
Kael didn't hesitate.
"…RUN."
They sprinted.
The town grew larger with every step.
The barrier shimmered brighter—
A thin line between life and death.
Then—
"…Wait—I've got an idea," Kael said suddenly.
Arin didn't slow.
"…What?"
Kael focused, expression tightening.
"…If I imagine something fast… like a bike…"
His eyes narrowed as he visualized it.
Wheels. Engine. Structure. Speed.
"…Come on…"
For a split second—
Something appeared.
A faint outline.
Almost real.
Almost solid.
Then—
It shattered.
Gone.
Kael stumbled.
"…What?!"
A sharp pressure hit his chest—like rejection.
Then the system responded.
[Insufficient Soul Power]
Kael gritted his teeth.
"…Damn it!"
Arin glanced at him briefly.
"…What happened?"
"…Tried to summon something big… didn't work."
Arin processed instantly.
"…Too much energy cost."
"…Yeah," Kael muttered.
Another growl echoed—
Much closer now.
Arin's voice sharpened.
"…Experiment later. Move."
"…Right."
The distance closed quickly.
Near the gate—
Two guards stood.
Armored. Armed. Alert.
Watching the darkness outside.
Waiting.
As Arin and Kael approached—
One stepped forward.
"…Stop."
They slowed immediately.
Hands raised slightly—not surrender, but caution.
The guard's eyes moved over them quickly.
Sharp. Experienced.
"…New climbers?"
Arin nodded.
"…Yes."
The second guard glanced past them—
Toward the darkness behind.
"…You picked a bad time to arrive."
Another distant howl proved his point.
Kael muttered,
"…Yeah… we noticed."
The first guard stepped aside.
"…Get inside. Quickly."
They didn't hesitate.
The moment they crossed the barrier—
Everything changed.
The pressure vanished.
The cold disappeared.
The distant sounds of monsters—
Muted.
Like they belonged to another world.
Kael exhaled deeply.
"…That's… way better."
Arin glanced back once.
The barrier shimmered behind them.
Calm. Silent.
But beyond it—
Something moved.
Shadows shifting in the dark.
Watching.
Waiting.
A faint scratching sound brushed against the barrier—
Then stopped.
Arin turned away.
"…We made it."
Inside the town—
It was alive.
Not crowded—
But active.
Structured.
Torches lit the streets with steady flames. Buildings lined the pathways—stone and wood, built for function, not comfort.
This wasn't a place to live.
It was a place to survive.
Climbers moved in groups.
Some armed. Some injured. Some watching.
Always watching.
Kael looked around, impressed.
"…This place is huge…"
Arin nodded slightly.
"…And controlled."
Everything felt different from outside.
Less chaos.
More system.
Kael stretched slightly.
"…First thing—we rest."
Arin shook his head immediately.
"…Information first."
Kael groaned.
"…Of course you'd say that."
Arin ignored him.
"…We don't understand this place yet."
A pause.
"…That's dangerous."
Kael smirked.
"…Fine."
Then added—
"…But after that, I'm eating something."
Arin didn't argue.
They moved toward the center of the town.
The plaza.
It was the busiest area.
Groups gathered, talking in low voices. Some traded. Others planned. A large board stood nearby, covered in requests—handwritten missions.
Not system-generated.
Human-made.
Kael glanced at it.
"…So even here… people are making their own work."
Arin nodded.
"…Survival creates systems."
As they stepped further in—
Eyes followed them.
Not hostile.
But cautious.
Everyone here was measuring everyone else.
Strength.
Threat.
Value.
Then—
A voice.
Close. Casual.
"…Hey."
They turned.
A man stood a few steps away.
Relaxed posture. Sharp eyes.
"…You two new here?"
Kael blinked.
"…That obvious?"
The man smiled slightly.
"…You've got that 'just survived something insane' look."
Kael let out a short laugh.
"…Yeah… that tracks."
"…Name's Chrome."
A pause.
"…Relax. I'm not here to cause trouble."
Arin didn't relax.
"…Arin."
"…Kael."
Chrome nodded.
"…Figured you'd end up here."
He gestured around.
"…Everyone does."
Kael tilted his head.
"…So what now?"
Chrome smirked slightly.
"…Depends."
A pause.
"…You trying to survive?"
"…Or get strong?"
Kael grinned.
"…Both."
Chrome chuckled.
"…Good answer."
Arin spoke calmly.
"…Start with information."
Chrome nodded.
"…Smart."
He gestured toward the town.
"…Barrier keeps monsters out."
A pause.
"…But inside?"
His expression sharpened slightly.
"…People are the real problem."
Kael's grin faded.
"…Figured."
Chrome continued,
"…You can trade. Rest. Take contracts."
"…But trust carefully."
Arin nodded.
"…And the Monolith?"
"…Central district," Chrome replied.
"…More guarded. More important."
A pause.
"…You'll get there."
Chrome studied them briefly.
"…You made it through your first missions."
Kael smirked.
"…Barely."
Chrome chuckled.
"…That's how it starts."
Then—
"…Let's try something."
Kael frowned.
"…What?"
Chrome's gaze sharpened.
"…Tell me something true."
A pause.
"…And something false."
Kael blinked.
"…That's it?"
"…That's it."
Kael sighed.
"…Fine."
"…We almost died out there."
A pause.
"…And we had help."
Chrome watched him carefully.
"…Continue."
Kael smirked slightly.
"…And… we're weak."
Silence.
Chrome studied him—
Then smiled.
"…Interesting."
Kael frowned.
"…What?"
"…First part was true."
A pause.
"…Second part…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…not entirely false."
Silence.
Arin spoke.
"…You can tell."
Chrome looked at him.
"…Not everything."
A faint smile.
"…Just enough."
Chrome's gaze lingered on Arin.
"…You're the dangerous one."
Kael snorted.
"…Wow. Rude."
Chrome ignored him.
"…You didn't answer."
Arin stepped forward slightly.
"…I don't play games without knowing the rules."
A pause.
Chrome smiled.
"…Good."
"…You understand value."
He reached into his coat—
Pulled out a small crystal—
And tossed it.
Arin caught it.
"…What's this?" Kael asked.
Chrome turned away.
"…A starting point."
A pause.
"…There's a place in this town."
"…Where people don't ask questions."
"…And answers cost less than your life."
He stopped briefly.
"…You'll need that."
Then—
He walked away.
Disappearing into the crowd.
Silence settled.
Kael looked at Arin.
"…Well… that was something."
Arin studied the crystal in his hand.
"…This place changes everything."
Kael cracked his neck slightly.
A faint grin forming.
"…Good."
"…Because I'm just getting started."
Arin closed his hand around the crystal.
"…First, we find that place."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Then we learn how this world really works."
The torches flickered.
The town breathed.
And beyond the barrier—
The night waited.