Journey to Become the Zenith

Into the Mystery Woodland

Lane’s final task of the night led her deeper into the quieter parts of Fantom City.

Few people walked the roads that day.

A mist crept along the tight passageways, hugging the wet stones as if it were searching for shelter.

From time to time, a faint sound of walking rang out, sliding across the high walls before vanishing. Most of the area stayed still, buried beneath quiet that settled like dust after rain.

A hush moved over the houses, trailing scents - wet timber, old fire remains, hints of corroded metal clinging to the air.

Lane slipped past blackness without sound.

A hush carried her forward, step by slow step.

Wind tugged at her dark hair while she sprinted over rooftops, strands trailing like smoke. A sleeveless black gown hugged her frame - tight enough to show every curve of her toned form. Each leap split the air, one leg flashing through the dress’s high gap, muscle flexing beneath skin. Buildings blurred past as her feet barely kissed the edges before launching again. Every movement was precise.

Every movement was precise.

Silent.

Controlled.

Victor’s list was almost complete.

Only a few tasks remained.

And one of them had brought her here.

Lane landed lightly on a rooftop before dropping down into a narrow alley. She walked toward an abandoned-looking building tucked between two old warehouses.

To an ordinary passerby, the place looked dead.

Dusty.

Forgotten.

But Lane knew better.

This building was the workspace of a man Victor trusted with the most delicate missions.

Gian.

In the underworld, he was known by a different name.

Night.

Lane stepped inside.

The room was pitch dark.

For a moment it felt completely empty.

Then—

A single candle ignited.

The flame flickered softly in the center of the room, pushing back the darkness just enough to reveal faint outlines of furniture and walls.

And from the shadows behind the candle...

A man stepped forward.

Gian.

His black hair fell loosely around calm dark eyes that carried the faint boredom of someone who spent most of his life waiting in silence.

He looked slightly annoyed.

”Oh... it’s you.”

His voice sounded tired.

”What do you want?”

Lane wasted no time.

”Victor has a task for you.”

The moment Victor’s name left her lips—

Gian’s eyes sharpened slightly.

”What is it?”

Lane answered immediately.

”Victor wants you to kill the marquis who owns the lands south of here.”

For the first time that night—

Lane’s voice trembled.

Barely.

Just a slight shift.

But Gian noticed.

The name alone carried weight.

Even children from Kanal Village knew the stories.

The man was infamous.

A noble by title.

A monster in reality.

He kidnapped married women.

Treated people like disposable toys.

His lands were filled with whispers of suffering.

Lane remembered those stories from childhood.

The fear.

The anger.

Victor had probably heard the same stories growing up.

And now—

Victor had made a decision.

That man needed to die.

Lane understood perfectly.

If someone like that ever discovered Kanal Village...

It would only be a matter of time before tragedy followed.

Better to remove the threat first.

Gian studied her quietly.

The killing intent radiating from her was clear.

Cold.

Precise.

Controlled.

He scratched the back of his neck lazily.

”Well...”

A faint smirk formed on his lips.

”When it comes to that guy, nothing is ever simple.”

He stepped slightly closer to the candlelight.

”As you wish.”

That was enough.

Lane nodded once.

Her job was finished.

She turned and walked toward the door.

The moment she stepped outside—

The candle went out.

Darkness swallowed the room again.

And Gian’s presence disappeared as if he had never existed.

Lane didn’t look back.

She walked down the silent street, already thinking about the next instruction Victor had written.

Most tasks were done.

Only one remained.

She unfolded the small parchment.

Her eyes scanned the final line.

Find an alchemist.

Lane folded the paper again.

Then she stepped onto a rooftop and vanished into the night.

Morning arrived slowly.

Golden sunlight climbed above the horizon.

Far away from the city—

Victor finally reached his destination after a long run.

Before him stood a forest.

The trees were ancient and thick, their twisted branches weaving together to block much of the sky.

Dense fog covered the ground like a white ocean.

The atmosphere felt... wrong.

Heavy.

Oppressive.

Victor stood at the forest’s edge, breathing slowly.

The aura coming from within the forest was ominous.

This place was known as the Mystery Woodland.

One of the reasons people avoided it.

Victor’s golden eyes gleamed with interest.

Excitement stirred in his chest.

Finally—

Something interesting.

He stepped forward.

The moment he crossed into the forest...

He immediately noticed something strange.

The fog thickened.

The deeper he walked, the heavier the air felt.

Even the mana around him flowed differently.

Victor frowned slightly.

”Diana.”

The black tattoo on his arm shimmered faintly.

The scythe spirit manifested beside him.

Diana appeared quietly.

Her long black hair flowed down her back, and her red eyes glowed softly in the pale morning light. She wore a black shoulder less robe with a high slit that revealed her long toned legs. The fabric hugged her slender waist before flowing around her hips.

Her presence was calm.

Mysterious.

”What do you make of this?” Victor asked.

Diana looked around carefully.

Her expression grew thoughtful.

”There is a thick mana flow surrounding the forest,” she said.

Her voice was soft but serious.

”It feels very similar to the inside of a dungeon.”

Victor raised an eyebrow.

”You think the forest itself might be a dungeon?”

”It could be,” Diana replied.

”But the mana here is strange.”

She closed her eyes briefly, sensing the flow around them.

”The density is far greater than a normal dungeon.”

Victor’s lips curved slowly.

”Greater than a young dragon’s mana?”

Diana nodded slightly.

Victor’s smile widened.

”Are you suggesting a real fully grown dragon made its nest here?”

His golden eyes gleamed with dangerous excitement.

Fighting a dragon without distractions...

That thought alone made his blood stir.

Diana shook her head slowly.

”I’m not certain.”

”This mana is stronger than a young dragon’s...”

”But it doesn’t feel like a fully grown dragon either.”

Victor frowned.

”So it’s weaker?”

”In a way.”

Diana opened her red eyes again.

”The intensity of a true dragon isn’t there.”

Victor crossed his arms.

”Then what do you think it is?”

Diana remained silent for a moment.

Then she answered honestly.

”I don’t know.”

Victor stared deeper into the fog.

Earlier— While exploring deeper inside the dungeon in Fantom city—

He had discovered something unusual.

A dragon heart as dungeon core.

Or at least something that looked exactly like one.

It pulsed faintly with mana.

Almost like a dungeon core.

Victor had examined it carefully.

And it confused him.

This world only had humans and demonic beasts.

No dragons.

No other races.

At least...

That was what everyone believed.

Victor rubbed his chin slowly.

”Strange...”

He muttered.

”If dragons don’t exist in this world...”

”Then where did that heart come from?”

Diana glanced at him thoughtfully.

”It could be a dormant dragon heart,” she said.

”Something left behind from long ago.”

Victor narrowed his eyes.

Or...

Maybe my knowledge of this world is incomplete.

That thought excited him even more.

If a dragon existed here...

Then perhaps other forgotten things existed as well.

Other races.

Other mysteries.

Victor’s smile slowly returned.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

He looked deeper into the thick fog of the Mystery Woodland.

”Whatever it is...”

He said quietly.

”We’ll find out when we reach the source.”

And with that—

Victor stepped deeper into the forest.

Toward the unknown.