The journey to Velquoria's borderlands took one day on horseback, through rugged hills and ancient roads carved by now-forgotten empires. As Jorik crossed into the misty edges of the Forest of Black Wyrms, he felt the pressure shift.
The system chimed.
> [Location Entered: Forest of Black Wyrms – Velquoria Territory.]
Danger Level: A-Rank
Creatures Detected: Shadow Serpents, Flame Wyrms, Bonewalkers.
> [Quest Timer: 41 hours remaining]
Jorik dismounted and tied his horse near a sacred stone etched with faded runes. The deeper he went, the darker the air became—thick with mana, death, and sorrow.
He moved silently.
An hour in, he found the first trail—bloody footprints, broken tree limbs, and crushed golden lilies—the royal crest's flower.
> [Tracking: Princess's Party – 700 meters west]
Then the ground rumbled.
From the trees burst a Black Wyrm, twice the size of a warhorse, with scales like iron and molten breath. Its eyes locked on Jorik.
> [Mini-Boss Detected: Wyrm Alpha – Fireline Class]
Recommended Level: 10
Current Level: 4
Jorik smirked.
"Perfect test."
He leapt forward, drawing Chrono-Banisher, activating Quickstep and Chrono Edge.
The blade shimmered with temporal light. The Wyrm breathed fire—Jorik rolled under it, struck once across its jaw, and disappeared behind a tree.
> [HP: 77%]
He emerged again with Vaelgard's Wrath activated.
His entire body surged with red-gold energy.
Each strike carved through armor-like scales.
He ducked under a tail swipe, then somersaulted onto the Wyrm's back and plunged his blade into the base of its skull.
It shrieked… then fell silent.
> [Enemy Defeated – Level Up x2]
[You have reached Level 6]
As the Wyrm's body collapsed, fire spiraled from the corpse into Jorik's chest.
> [Soul Gear Slot Unlocked]
Would you like to manifest your Soul Gear now?
"Yes."
> [Manifesting… Scanning Soul Core…]
A silver light exploded around him.
A shape formed in the air—sleek, arcane, burning with dark blue runes and ancient might. A two-handed sword unlike any he'd ever seen.
> [Soul Gear Manifested: Tyrakhel, Blade of Endings]
Type: Adaptive Greatsword
Traits: Soul-Bound, Evolutionary, Anti-Dragon, Spell Channeling
Passive: Increases damage vs. large enemies by 40%
Active: Void Slash – Cuts through magic and space (Cooldown: 10 sec)
Jorik held it in both hands, the weight perfect—like it had always belonged to him.
In the distance, a woman screamed.
The princess.
He sprinted forward.
> [Quest Update: Party Found – Princess and Lord Under Siege – 500m ahead]
[Time Remaining: 37 Hours]
He grinned.
"Let's see what royalty I'm really made of."