The Rotten Pine Forest was rather large in distance, far more expansive than it had appeared from the outside. Despite Mirage's high speed, it took them nearly an hour to traverse the corrupted woodland and finally erge on the other side.
The landscape that greeted them was different from the lush valley Moon had initially glimpsed.
Mountainous terrain stretched before them—not the gentle rolling hills they'd encountered elsewhere on Lunaris Island, but mountains with steep inclines, rocky outcroppings, and treacherous paths that would have been impossible to navigate on foot.
Mirage, however, had no such issues.
His powerful legs gave him both the strength and sturdiness needed to traverse the dangerous terrain without issues. His hooves found purchase on loose gravel and solid stone alike, allowing him to climb slopes that would have forced Moon and Selene to dismount and proceed carefully.
They ascended steadily, following what seed to be a natural path winding up the mountainside. The air grew cooler as they gained elevation, and the vegetation beca sparser.
As they rounded a sharp bend where the path narrowed between two large boulders, a massive shape suddenly erged from a hidden cave entrance to their left.
ROAR!
A bear, easily twice the size reared up on its hind legs. It's body was packed with muscles beneath its coat, and its claws were sharp enough to tear through boulders.
Whoosh!
Before the bear could complete its threatening display, before it could drop to all fours and launch itself at them, an arrow pierced through its skull in a perfect strike.
The beast's roar cut off mid-sound. Light escaped its eyes almost instantly. The massive body toppled backward, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud that sent small rocks tumbling down the mountainside.
Moon turned to look over his shoulder, impressed by the speed of the strike.
Yara was already lowering her bow, the string still vibrating slightly from the force of her shot. "Well done, Yara," Moon nodded in approval.
It wasn't just the accuracy of the shot that impressed him, though that had been exceptional. It was the speed of her reaction, and the lack of hesitation.
She'd assessed the threat and eliminated it within seconds. The beast was a level 25 beast, a b-rank threat, yet she eliminated it with ease.
That was the behavior of soone who could survive in dangerous territory.
'I knew she would beco stronger with a more powerful bow and arrow.' Moon thought, staring at the improved bow and arrow that Selene had given to Yara. Although she wasn't an archer, Selene still kept various other weapons in her storage ring in case they were ever needed. Yara nodded in acknowledgnt of the complint, a faint flush of pride coloring her cheeks. "It was a clean angle, it would be hard to miss."
"Still impressive."
Yara explained quietly. "When you're smaller and weaker than others, you learn to kill from a distance. And you learn to make the first shot count, because you might not get a second one."
"Just take the complint, Yara. You did well, there is no need to keep downplaying your skill." Selene smiled.
The mountain path continued to climb, winding between rocky outcroppings and past several more cave openings with a few additional threats.
After another twenty minutes of steady climbing, the path finally began to level out, opening onto a wide plateau.
And there, standing in the center of that plateau like it had been waiting for them...
A pavilion.
Up close, it was even more impressive than it had appeared from a distance. The pavilion was constructed from white stone, the structure rose two stories high. Two massive pillars flanked the entrance, and between them stood a set of doors that looked like they hadn't been opened in centuries.
"This is it," Selene breathed, sliding down from Mirage's back as soon as they reached the plateau. "This is definitely where we're ant to be."
Moon dismounted as well, his eyes focused on the pavilion. Looking for traps. For guards. For any sign of what they might face inside.
But the temple stood silent and still, with no movents anywhere near it.
Whatever waited within had been waiting a very long ti. And now, finally, soone had arrived to claim it.
"Wow, I wonder who built this beautiful place..." Yara couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes wide as she took in the building before them.
To Moon and Selene, the temple was relatively simple—white stone construction, clean lines, basic four walls. But for Yara, who'd spent her entire life in their village settlents, even this straightforward building seed magnificent.
"I think we have a clue..." Moon muttered quietly, his mind already turning to the mysterious figure the Savi people had spoken of with such reverence.
The Benefactor.
During his stay with Yara and the others, Moon had tried multiple tis to gather more information about this mysterious person. He'd asked for descriptions, for nas, for any concrete details that might help identify who had helped the Savi people survive on this hostile island.
But the Savi had possessed very little useful information.
The Benefactor had apparently never ntioned his true na, offering only a nickna when asked: 'The World's Flaw.'
As for his physical description, it was frustratingly generic: human, black hair, black eyes, and average height. The kind of appearance that would blend into any crowd, be forgotten monts after being seen. Whether that was intentional or simply how the person looked, Moon couldn't determine.
'The World's Flaw,' Moon thought to himself as he approached the temple entrance, one hand resting on his staff. 'That's an interesting na. Even though it sounds a little edgy.'
Once they left this realm and returned to the outside world, Moon had already decided he would search for any records about this nickna. Historical docunts, awakener databases, legend compilations—anything that might provide more information about the mysterious figure who commanded a beast as powerful as the Golden Fish.
That was the part that truly bothered Moon.
***
Hey guys, currently doing a golden ticket event for next month!
If we can reach 200 tickets within first 5 days of February , I will mass release 5 chapters!
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