Night slowly faded as darkness retreated into the depths of the forest. The silver glow of the moon dissolved, making way for the rising sun. Soft golden light filtered through the dense canopy of the Baspian Forest, bringing life back to the silent world. Birds began to chirp, leaves rustled gently, and a cool mist drifted between the towering ancient trees.
Near the forest's edge, Li Alex stood still like a statue. His posture was steady, his breathing controlled, yet his mind was far from calm. His thoughts were restless, circling around the strange incident from the previous night. No matter how hard he tried, the image refused to leave his mind.
A shadow.
A pair of cold, watching eyes.
A presence that felt distant… yet strangely familiar.
Alex clenched his fist tightly as anxiety crept into his heart. "What was that…" he murmured under his breath.
"Your energy is unstable."
The calm yet sharp voice of Yi Zhau echoed behind him. Alex didn't turn, but his expression stiffened slightly.
"I know," he replied quietly.
Yi Zhau stepped forward, his gaze piercing through Alex like he could see directly into his thoughts. "What is the reason behind your anxiousness?" he asked.
There was a moment of silence before Alex finally spoke. "Last night… I saw something."
Yi Zhau narrowed his eyes slightly, signaling him to continue.
"A figure," Alex said, his voice heavier now. "I couldn't see it clearly, but it felt real. It was like… it was watching me."
The surrounding air seemed to grow still.
Yi Zhau stroked his beard slowly, thinking. "That is not ordinary," he said after a pause.
Alex turned slightly. "You think it's an illusion?"
"No," Yi Zhau replied firmly. "It is something related to your past mystery."
Those words struck deep. Alex's eyes flickered. "My past…"
Yi Zhau stepped closer, his tone turning serious. "Do not focus on it right now. Thinking about shadows will not make you stronger."
He pointed toward the flowing water nearby. "Even if the truth stands in front of you, with your current strength… you won't be able to reach it."
Alex remained silent, absorbing those words.
"Focus on your practice," Yi Zhau continued. "Become strong enough first. Only then will you have the right to seek answers."
After a long pause, Alex nodded. "I understand."
He stepped forward again, closing his eyes. This time, he forced his restless thoughts away. Slowly, he began to sense his surroundings. The sound of flowing water entered his mind, the movement of air brushed against his skin, and the faint elemental energy of nature revealed itself.
Alex raised his hand.
Tiny water particles in the air began to gather. Slowly… gently. Not forced, not violent.
He remembered Yi Zhau's words.
Move with it… not against it.
His breathing aligned with the rhythm of nature. A thin stream of water formed above his palm, rotating smoothly. He shifted his stance and moved forward.
With a controlled motion, he struck.
A sharp stream of water shot forward like a blade, slicing through the air. This time, it didn't collapse. It remained stable.
Alex repeated the movement again and again. Each strike became more precise, more natural. Sweat formed on his forehead, but his control improved steadily. His connection with the element deepened.
Yi Zhau observed silently, then stroked his beard. "Better."
After some time, Alex stopped, breathing slightly heavier. Yi Zhau looked at him again. "Now tell me," he said, "that figure… where did it lead you?"
Alex paused before answering. "…Baspian Forest."
A faint smile appeared on Yi Zhau's face. "Of course."
Alex frowned. "What do you mean?"
"That was not just a vision," Yi Zhau said. "It was a direction. It might be the location of a treasure."
A spark ignited in Alex's eyes. Without hesitation, he said, "Let's go."
Yi Zhau smirked. "Follow me."
They moved deeper into the Baspian Forest, where the atmosphere changed drastically. The deeper they went, the darker it became. Towering trees blocked most of the sunlight, and their twisted roots spread across the ground like serpents. The air was thick with dense elemental energy.
Strange sounds echoed around them—low growls, rustling leaves, distant roars. Every step felt dangerous.
"This place feels different…" Alex whispered.
"It is," Yi Zhau replied calmly. He raised his hand slightly, releasing a wave of soul power that spread across the surroundings, scanning everything.
After a few moments, he stopped. "…Found it."
Alex stepped beside him as they moved forward carefully. Soon, they stopped in front of a massive cave. It stood like a dark abyss, silent yet terrifying.
"Which beast lives here?" Alex asked.
Yi Zhau's eyes sharpened. "This is the cave of a Necto Bear."
Alex's expression changed instantly. "A Necto Bear?"
Yi Zhau nodded. "A 5th Level Beast. Over ten meters tall, covered in dark violet fur. Its claws can tear through stone, and its strength is enough to crush you in a single strike."
Alex took a deep breath. "Then it's impossible for me to defeat it."
"You don't need to," Yi Zhau said calmly. "This beast has a sleeping nature. During certain cycles, it falls into a deep sleep."
A faint smirk appeared on his face. "And right now… it is sleeping."
They stepped into the cave.
The temperature dropped immediately. Darkness surrounded them, and a suffocating aura filled the space. As Alex's eyes adjusted, he saw bones scattered everywhere—large bones, small bones, broken skeletons spread like sand in a desert.
"So many…" Alex whispered.
"This is its hunting ground," Yi Zhau replied.
They moved deeper until they reached the center—and Alex froze.
The Necto Bear lay there.
Massive. Terrifying. Even in sleep, its presence dominated the entire cave. Each breath it took caused slight tremors in the ground.
Then Alex noticed something above it.
Two glowing honeycombs hung from the ceiling, dripping golden liquid directly into the bear's slightly open mouth.
Yi Zhau pointed at it. "That is Nourishing Honey."
Alex's eyes widened. "What does it do?"
"It is extremely valuable," Yi Zhau explained. "It enhances pills, stabilizes elemental energy, boosts soul power, and can even increase the level of beasts."
Alex looked at it with determination. "…we're taking it."
Yi Zhau nodded. "Carefully. If the bear wakes up… you die."
Alex took a deep breath. "I'll do it."
He moved forward slowly, step by step, controlling his breathing. Carefully, he climbed onto the massive body of the bear. Compared to it, he looked like a tiny monkey on a mountain.
His heartbeat grew louder as he reached closer to its head. The beast's warm breath brushed against him.
"…stay calm…" he whispered.
He took out a jar from his storage ring and carefully began collecting the golden nectar from the honeycomb. Drop by drop, it filled the jar.
Everything was silent.
Half full… almost full…
Then—
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
Alex froze.
Slowly, he looked downward.
Two massive eyes were open.
Cold. Dark. Filled with pure killing intent.
The Necto Bear was awake.
Its gaze locked directly onto Alex.
A deep growl began to rise from its throat as the cave trembled slightly.
Yi Zhau's voice echoed in Alex's mind, "Don't move—"
But it was too late.
The beast began to rise.
Bones shattered beneath its movement.
The ground shook violently.
And Alex…
Still stood on its body.
Face to face—
With a 5th Level monster.
One wrong move…
And death would be instant.
The beast's lips curled, its killing intent exploding like a storm.
And in that moment—
Alex realized—
He wasn't hunting treasure anymore.
He had stepped directly into the jaws of death.
Treasure in Danger...