He gritted his teeth.
He hadn’t expected to be t with this kind of trick the mont he stepped into Nexa.
It was subtle — expertly woven — but now that he saw through it, the false beauty of the grassland felt like a trap ant to lull him into comfort.
His pulse quickened.
So this was the real Nexa...
And this was only the beginning.
’It seems one has to be a certain distance from the portal for the illusion to work...’ Ethan’s eyes narrowed. ’That must be Dad’s asure to hide the portal from unwanted eyes...’
Ethan is smart. He caught on this instantly. He didn’t even need to think much. The illusion was harmless. It was to prevent unwanted eyes from noticing.
It made sense. A hidden portal in a dangerous world like this — no room for accidents.
Swoosh—!
Suddenly, a silhouette flashed before him, landing lightly on one knee. "Sir Leon Grimveil, are you headed for Vaelron Cross?"
The man looked... ordinary. Simple leather armor, dull in color, and a cloak that blended into the dust of the wasteland. His hair was a washed-out brown, face plain and forgettable — exactly the type that wouldn’t draw a second glance. But Ethan knew better than to let appearances fool him.
His eyes narrowed.
’Leon...?’ Ethan frowned at the na.
Before he could even reply, his cell phone buzzed softly in his pocket.
A ssage.
Ignoring the kneeling man for a mont, Ethan pulled out the phone. His eyes flicked over the screen. It was from the special number — the one only Gareth used.
[For you to be truly free, you need an alias, a na that would bring no suspicion. Here it is. From here henceforth, till you return back to the Drakethornes, you’re Leon Grimveil.]
A look of understanding crossed his face.
So that’s how it was.
Slipping the phone away, he focused back on the man and answered, voice cold but firm.
"Yes."
The man nodded once, rising to his feet with smooth precision. "My na’s Ben," he said simply. "I’ll point you in the right direction."
Ben’s directions ca crisp and efficient.
As Ethan listened, his earlier suspicions were confird — he had guessed the general direction using the map, sun, and ti... but with such crude thod, it would never have been precise. Nexa wasn’t that forgiving.
"There are intricacies on the path," Ben continued, his tone neutral but edged with warning. "You’ll encounter natural dangers, and not all terrain matches the maps. Before you reach Vaelron Cross, you’ll know you’re close when you see the do."
Ethan’s eyes sharpened. "Do?"
Ben gave a curt nod. "A formation. Massive in scale. It spreads out like a shield, covering the entire Vaelron Cross. Protects the people inside from Nexa’s dangers — awakened beasts, dungeon breaks from untended dungeons... Things that roam the wilds. Keep your guard up. You’ll co across many before you get there."
Ethan nodded slowly. Now, he had a clearer picture. More than anything, he could feel it — this was his father’s doing. Ben was sent by Gareth, that much was obvious...
Indirectly, but intentional.
Sending Ben, providing this info... It showed he cared. In his own, cold, Drakethorne way.
Deep inside, Ethan felt a flicker of gratitude.
Without this warning, he would’ve been wandering blind. With the distance and threats, he knew it would have taken him at least two days — maybe more — to reach Vaelron Cross safely.
But now?
With the knowledge Ben just handed him, the hidden paths, the dangers he could skirt around...
Twelve hours. Barely half a day.
He sighed inwardly, relieved.
"Thank you, Ben." His voice softened slightly.
Ben simply dipped his head. "Good fortune, Sir Grimveil."
Without another word, Ethan turned and continued on his way, steps lighter now.
Whatever dangers lay ahead... Gareth had deed him worthy enough to face them.
And deep down, that made his blood stir.
Excitent bubbled in his chest, fierce and wild. He hadn’t known stepping into the unknown could feel this exhilarating.
’Let’s see...’
’Let’s see how dangerous — no, how exciting this Nexa world can be...’
His thoughts drifted to the rank 2 sword resting in his void ring.
His fingers itched.
He couldn’t wait to draw it...
To clash with his first awakened beast.
The real journey had finally begun.
The walk was a long one, the desolate land stretching endlessly before him, the faint hum of the portal’s energy fading as he ventured farther away. Ethan’s boots crunched against the barren earth, each step taking him farther from the place he’d known all his life.
The sky above, a dull gray with streaks of clouds, offered little comfort. Here, in the Outlands, the silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional whisper of wind brushing against the sparse vegetation.
Sparse shrubs and twisted trees dotted the land, but there was nothing to mark his path — no civilization, no landmarks, just the vast emptiness that seed to stretch on forever.
Ethan had no idea about what lay ahead. The true world of Nexa awaited him, and it was far from the safety and predictability of the Labyrinth. He’d made his decision, and there was no turning back now. His instincts told him to move quickly, but his mind couldn’t help but dwell on the weight of the journey.
Then, a rustling broke the monotony. Out of the corner of his eye, movent caught his attention. A pack of animals erged from behind a cluster of thorny shrubs. Their long bodies low to the ground, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
It was a pack of Grassfang Jackals.
Ethan’s lips curled into a sneer. He knew these creatures well.
Grassfang Jackals. The bottom feeders of the Outlands’ food chain. Pack hunters, fast, with sharp teeth, but weak against any kind of armor. They thrived in numbers — a mix of non-awakened, half-awakened, and with their leader, a fully awakened beast.
Normally, they were cowardly on their own, but in a pack, they were dangerous. A single jackal would have no chance against a stronger foe, but in a group, they could overwhelm the unprepared.
They were called Grassfang Jackals because they’re mostly scavengers, eating leftovers and grass to survive, it was strange to see them attack so aggressively.
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