In the grand hall of the Ironfist family, the atmosphere was thick with tension and worry. Ten hours had passed in the outside world, which meant ten days had gone by for Evan, Celeste, and their team in that mysterious dimension. The light from the magnificent chandelier, usually warm and inviting, now felt dim under the shadow of anxiety that filled the room.Maria Walker sat in one of the chairs, tightly gripping her husband Daniel's hand. Her face was pale, and her eyes stared blankly ahead, as if searching for hope in the midst of darkness. Beside them, Elena Ironfist stood tall, though her face betrayed the same tension. Elena's eyes occasionally glanced at the door, as if hoping someone would come with good news.One of the Ironfist elders present in the hall tried to offer some comfort. “They are trained individuals. Evan and Aria are strong children. We must believe they will return safely.”Maria nodded slightly, though her heart could not fully accept the words of reassuran
The battle in the underground hall reached an unparalleled intensity. Thousands of kobolds, though individually weak, attacked simultaneously with all manner of weapons and traps. Exhaustion began to weigh heavily on Evan and his team, but they had to hold their ground.Aria stood at the frontline, wielding her wind magic. She conjured protective walls of wind that shielded against arrows and other projectiles. Additionally, shadows she summoned with her magic served as counterattacks, sweeping away kobolds that dared approach with deadly force. In the chaos, Aria appeared as an unshakeable guardian, maintaining the team's formation and minimizing the onslaught from all directions.On the other side, Liam fought with an aggressive and destructive style. Every movement he made unleashed waves of energy that obliterated the kobolds' ranks in a single strike. His actions were filled with skill and power, clearing out any enemies that dared to come near.Celeste Ironfist, who had remained
Evan stood in the middle of the grand Colosseum, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face. He had to find a solution before they were defeated.Evan’s eyes scanned the surroundings. He was looking for the dimensional gate, similar to the one they had seen in the Goblin tent, but as far as he could see, there was no gate around. While attacking and defending, Evan gave the command."Liam?! Do you remember the dimensional gate we encountered in the Goblin dimension?!" Evan shouted amidst the battle."Yes, I remember!!" Liam replied briefly."The dimensional gate isn't visible around here! Liam, lead the others to find that gate! I'll hold them off here!"Aria, who was catching her breath, looked at Evan with a worried expression. "What do you mean?! You can't face them alone!""This is not the time to argue!" Evan replied firmly. "If we don't find that gate, we'll be trapped here! I can hold them off, so you guys have to go now!!"Liam, who was usually full of energy, hesitated for
At the Ironfist residence, a place usually filled with joy and laughter, now only sorrow and deep sadness could be felt. As Liam, Aria, Celeste, Merlin, and Sergio entered through the front gate, they were greeted by faces full of grief and concern. Maria, Evan's mother, stood in the middle of the crowd, her expression reflecting the weight of the news they had received.Liam, usually accustomed to pressure, felt an overwhelming emotional burden as he took in the scene. He stepped forward, trying to deliver the news carefully, though his voice was heavy with sorrow. "We have returned, but... not all of us made it back."Liam's words touched the hearts of everyone in the crowd. Maria immediately covered her mouth, struggling to hold back the sobs that were already threatening to escape. Beside her, the Ironfist family and close friends of those who had embarked on the journey felt a deep sense of loss.In the midst of the thick sorrow, Aria, who was usually strong and resilient, could
The next day, the vast field in front of the Ironfist residence was filled with many people. They gathered to hold a somber funeral ceremony for the heroes who had fought until the end in another dimension. White tents were set up around the field, and half-mast flags hung along the edges as a sign of respect.In the midst of the ceremony, families and friends dressed in black delivered speeches and laid flowers on the altar that had been prepared. Tears were visible on many faces, and the atmosphere was filled with deep sorrow and sincere respect. Liam stood at the front, his body still injured but standing tall as a representation of the courage and leadership the heroes had shown. Beside him, Celeste was also present, though she looked utterly heartbroken. Her mother, Elena, stood behind her, offering moral support with a compassionate gaze.However, amidst the atmosphere of honor, one figure was conspicuously absent from the crowd. Aria, who should have been standing with them, ch
Evan emerged from the shattered cave, surrounded by debris and darkness. His steps were slow, each movement filled with exhaustion and confusion. As he advanced further, a new system message suddenly broke the oppressive silence.New Quest Received: Conquer Tenebros, the World You Now Inhabit.The message echoed in his ears, bringing with it a new burden to bear. Evan paused, surveying the grim and unfamiliar environment around him. Tenebros, the world he now found himself in, was the next challenge he had to face. A mix of alertness, fatigue, and determination enveloped him.Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Evan resolved to tackle this daunting quest. It was his only option now to survive and uncover the secrets of this world. The battle with the Kobolds had made him realize how far he still had to go in terms of strength. He needed to become much stronger.Unaware of what was happening in Arcadia City, Evan hoped that his friends there would return safely. With renewed determ
After Victor's takeover of Arcadia, his focus shifted entirely away from the remaining artifacts or even from Evan and Aria. With them now out of the public eye and his mother no longer keeping him on guard, Victor no longer thought about them. His primary focus was now on consolidating his power and pursuing new sources of strength.Several months after the chaos, the outside world began to notice Victor's dominance over Arcadia. Surrounding cities and other nations, struggling with the ongoing crisis, started reaching out to Victor to form a grand alliance. They hoped that with Victor's assistance, they could quell the crisis and save the world from further devastation.In a grand meeting held within Arcadia’s safe zone, nearly every nation was represented, each bringing their delegates to discuss the next steps. This meeting became a pivotal moment where the fate of the world was to be decided. Victor, with his political acumen and the power he had built, seized this opportunity to
Evan trudged forward with heavy steps, each one feeling more meaningless in the vast emptiness of the barren plains. Exhaustion seeped into his bones, and the gnawing hunger clawed at his insides, making his thoughts spiral between despair and the faint hope of some stroke of luck. Around him, the rocky hills loomed high, presenting a monotonous and bleak landscape. Occasionally, his eyes would catch sight of some mushrooms growing on the cliff walls, but he hesitated. The color and shape of the mushrooms were too unfamiliar, and his instincts warned that they might be nature’s traps—more dangerous than life-saving.In his doubt, Evan tried to recall the survival lessons from his childhood. "When in doubt, don't consume," he muttered softly, almost like a mantra. With an empty stomach and a wandering mind, he knew that one small mistake could be fatal. He averted his gaze from the mushrooms and continued his journey, hoping for something safer ahead. Meanwhile, the shadows of the ston