章節 32: Two of them

Atlas jolted awake as Ivan shook him gently, pressing a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture. Instantly, Atlas understood and quickly scanned their surroundings.

The campfire from the previous night was extinguished, and the jungle around them was pitch-black, with shadows thickening under the canopy. The faint rustle of leaves swayed in a light breeze, but visibility was nearly zero. Atlas squinted, trying to adjust to the darkness.

Then he spotted something, barely visible against the night sky—a massive creature with four wings, gliding silently above the treetops. It was the same creature they had seen before, the one whose wings seemed to shake the trees as it moved.

Atlas looked back at Ivan, who began speaking in a low, urgent whisper. "That is not something you're meant to face," he said. "Stay still. Do not make a sound. That creature is called a Nightspire. It can see through the night and is of the Paragon rank."

The weight of Ivan's words sank in. A Paragon-ranked creature—another being as powerful as the Multisquad they'd encountered before. And this one could fly, an advantage that made it even more terrifying.

Atlas's heart pounded as he stayed silent, waiting for Ivan's signal. The Nightspire hovered above them, scanning the jungle floor as if searching for something—or someone. After a long, tense silence, Ivan gave a subtle nod, indicating they could move. They had to be fast; the Nightspire was clearly on the hunt.

Using Aether to enhance their speed, they leapt, climbed, and slipped through the undergrowth, putting as much distance as they could between themselves and the ominous creature above. For hours, they moved in near silence, hiding when necessary, until finally, the first light of dawn broke through the trees. With it, the Nightspire receded, vanishing into the shadows.

Relieved, Atlas glanced toward the horizon and spotted the faint, shining tips of the White Temple rising above the jungle. They were close. The journey was still far from over, but he estimated it would take no more than a week to reach their destination.

As they walked, Atlas's thoughts drifted to his combat style and weapon. Currently, he wielded a makeshift projectile weapon crafted from Aether, and his main attack was a set of clawed fingers that he hadn't even meant to summon. Reflecting on this, he realized that a long sword wouldn't suit him. He needed something compact and maneuverable, perhaps daggers or another light weapon he could use with speed and precision, especially during his Aether-enhanced movements and warping.

Lost in thought, Atlas almost didn't notice when they reached the edge of a broad, rushing river. It was at least two hundred meters wide, with a current that looked fierce. The water was a dark brown color obscuring what was hidden beneath. They approached the bank cautiously, but Ivan suddenly pulled him back with a firm grip and jumped high into the air.

A split second later, a massive set of jaws erupted from the water, snapping at the spot they'd just vacated. The beast's speed was astounding; even with his warping ability, Atlas doubted he could have dodged it alone. Ivan's quick reaction saved him.

They landed on a high tree branch, ten meters up, where they could see the creature clearly. It was enormous, resembling a crocodile from the living world but scaled up to monstrous proportions. Its teeth were long and yellow, its eyes a piercing red, and its scales a murky brown that blended with the water, giving it perfect camouflage.

Atlas caught his breath, stunned by how quickly danger had struck. Ivan, however, merely looked down at the beast and chuckled.

"By the gods, our misfortune must be a test. That, too, is a Paragon-ranked creature," he said, "but I do not know its name."

The revelation hit Atlas hard. Another Paragon-ranked monster. This confirmed his suspicions about Ivan's power level. He had reacted instantly and pulled them both to safety, a feat that suggested he was close to Paragon himself—or maybe just under, a Warlord rank. But Atlas still wondered if he was overestimating him.

Below, the crocodile-like beast stared up at them, clearly frustrated. Its body was at least ten meters long and as thick as the trees around it, almost blending in with its surroundings. It loitered near the riverbank, blocking their crossing.

Ivan smirked and spat down at the creature. "The gods have granted you strength, beast, but no intelligence. Strong, yes—but far from cunning."

Atlas glanced across the river, spotting the White Temple in the distance. Crossing seemed straightforward if they could get past the creature, but he knew better than to assume anything in this realm.

They moved from branch to branch, leaping with Aether-fueled agility as the creature followed them from below, ready to strike if they got too close. Finally, after about ten trees, Ivan stopped and turned to Atlas with an expectant look.

"The gods have blessed you, Atlas. Find a way to me; I'll be waiting on the other side."

With that, Ivan bent his knees, filled his legs with Aether, and leapt across the entire width of the river, landing gracefully on a tree on the opposite bank.

Atlas gaped at the display. "Wasn't this guy supposed to have an injured leg?" he muttered, feeling another layer of mystery shroud his strange companion.

He was left with a new challenge, but at least this one felt more achievable—hopefully.

Atlas studied the river, frustration welling up as he considered his options. The jump was impossible to clear in one go; even if he maxed out his Aether and warped multiple times mid-air, the two hundred meters was simply too far. Worse still, the river stretched endlessly in both directions, showing no signs of narrowing or offering a safer crossing.

And then there was the beast—a Paragon-ranked monster prowling below, waiting to strike the moment he got close to the water's edge or tried anything that might leave him vulnerable.

He exhaled slowly, glancing around. The situation felt like an unsolvable riddle. But giving up wasn't an option, and he knew he had to approach it as he would a puzzle, breaking down each part to find a way through.

"What are you going to do, Atlas?" he murmured to himself, letting the possibilities sink in.

Something deep inside him started to subtly crack.