Land Of The Beginning

All the participants had gathered at the edge of the Forest of Shynal, their faces painted with a mix of curiosity and dread. The place was infamous, its reputation whispered about in hushed tones. Trees stretched endlessly into the distance, their gnarled branches clawing at the sky. A fog clung low to the ground, swirling unnaturally, as if the forest itself were alive.

"W-wait..." A trembling voice broke through the uneasy quiet. A young participant clutched his staff tightly, his knuckles white. "I-isn't this the forest where... many Wayfinders died?"

Murmurs spread like wildfire among the crowd.

"Y-yeah," another voice chimed in, equally shaky. "I heard none of them made it out alive..."

Arpheus froze, his breath hitching. Wait... What? Is this true? His mind scrambled for clarity, panic prickling at the edges of his thoughts. How had he missed this?

He leaned toward Reia, his team member and the only person he felt he could trust. "I-is that true?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Reia didn't look at him. Her eyes were fixed on the forest, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Unfortunately..." she said after a pause, her voice steady but laced with unease, "Yes."

Arpheus blinked, stunned. Reia was the type of person who rarely flinched, even in the face of danger. But now? The way her shoulders stiffened and her fingers twitched at her sides made it clear—she was nervous.

If she's worried, then what chance do I have? The thought struck Arpheus like a hammer. His mind spiraled into a storm of doubt, the possibility of death looming larger with every passing second. There's a chance I might actually die here.

Denarlus, the test overseer, strode to the front of the group. His imposing figure cast a long shadow under the dim light. His presence alone silenced the rising chatter.

"This," he said, his deep voice cutting through the tension, "is the second test." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing.

"Don't take this lightly. Treat this like a joke, and you'll end up in the afterlife."

Gasps rippled through the participants. The message was clear—this wasn't just a test. This was a death game.

Arpheus swallowed hard, his throat dry. Fear coiled in his stomach like a living thing, twisting and tightening. He wasn't the only one affected; the crowd around him shifted uneasily, their nerves fraying at the edges.

This time... I might actually die. His hands trembled slightly as he clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. Cold sweat dripped down the back of his neck. He didn't know why this fear hit him so hard, but he knew one thing for certain—if he didn't take this seriously, he wouldn't make it out alive.

A light tap on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts. He flinched, spinning around. Reia stood there, her expression softening just enough to calm him.

"Arpheus," she said quietly, her voice low enough that only he could hear. "It's okay." Despite the reassurance in her tone, her eyes betrayed her own fear. She wasn't as composed as she wanted him to believe.

Arpheus might seriously die in this test. The thought gnawed at her. She'd fought alongside him before, and while she respected his potential, the danger here was on another level.

Denarlus raised his hand, commanding attention once more. "Everyone will be separated into 20 teams," he announced, his voice booming. "The first team to kill ten monsters will pass."

Murmurs broke out again, louder this time. But Denarlus wasn't finished.

"Only one team will pass."

The crowd erupted into chaos. People argued, pleaded, and panicked. The weight of the situation was unbearable. One team. Out of twenty. The odds were grim.

Arpheus felt like the ground had dropped out from beneath him. His chest tightened as his thoughts spiraled further. Should I forfeit? He wondered, his mind racing. If I keep going, I might die here. But if I back out now... my dreams will be crushed.

The idea of forfeiting felt like swallowing broken glass. But the idea of dying was even worse.

Denarlus began calling out teams, listing names one by one. It took nearly half an hour for him to reach Team Eighteen. Arpheus barely heard the other names before his own was announced.

"Team Eighteen!" Denarlus bellowed. "Holand, Arpheus, Reia, Anne, and Ivy."

Arpheus let out a shaky sigh, relief washing over him. His team wasn't filled with random strangers—they were seasoned fighters. People he could trust. At least, that's what he hoped.

Holand, a towering man with an easy grin, immediately made his presence known. Without warning, he hooked an arm around Arpheus's neck in a playful headlock.

"Hello there!" Holand said cheerfully, his voice booming enough to draw a few chuckles from nearby participants. "You're Arpheus, right?"

"U-uhm, yeah," Arpheus stuttered, startled by the sudden friendliness. He wasn't used to people like Holand, who radiated confidence and warmth.

"Don't worry, boy!" Holand said, giving Arpheus a reassuring pat on the back. "I'll protect ya."

Arpheus blinked, stunned for a moment before nodding. "T-thanks," he managed, his voice barely audible.

Okay, he thought, his nerves settling slightly. Maybe this won't be so bad. With Reia and Holand on my side, I might actually have a chance.

The teams dispersed, each heading to their designated starting points. Team Eighteen moved toward the northwestern side of the forest. The trees seemed darker here, the fog denser, as if the forest itself wanted them to feel trapped.

A loud bang! echoed through the sky as a green smoke signal flared above. The test had officially begun.

Rustling leaves surrounded them as they stepped deeper into the forest. The air was thick, damp, and carried a faint metallic scent that made Arpheus's stomach churn. He couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching them.

"So," Anne said, breaking the silence. She adjusted her bowstring, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. "Got a plan, Holand?"

"Yeah," Holand replied, his voice steady, as if the oppressive atmosphere didn't faze him. "When a monster appears, Reia will lead the diversion. Anne, you'll attack from long range. Ivy and I will take the monster from behind—directly."

Holand's confidence was reassuring, but it left Arpheus feeling... out of place. His name hadn't even been mentioned in the plan.

Damn, he thought, his stomach sinking slightly. I'm just dead weight to them, aren't I?

But he pushed the thought aside quickly. I should be grateful. My teammates are strong—way stronger than me. Two B-ranks, two C-ranks, and one E-rank.

He glanced at his own hands, his grip tightening on his weapon. The others didn't expect much from him, and maybe that was for the best. At least he wouldn't drag them down.

Suddenly —

A loud, distorted buzz filled the air like the hum of a broken machine.

Bzzzzzrrrrttt!

Arpheus flinched as the sound pierced through the forest's eerie silence. He crouched lower in the dense foliage, his heart pounding in his chest. The ground in front of them trembled violently, dirt and leaves scattering as something immense began to surface.

What the hell is happening?

Then it appeared—a pillar of black fire erupted from the earth, its flames licking at the sky like it was alive, devouring everything in its path. The heat was suffocating, even from a distance. Arpheus could feel his throat tighten, his breath hitching as he tried to process what he was seeing.

"What is that!?" he whispered hoarsely, unable to keep the panic out of his voice.

His teammates, however, seemed far more composed, their eyes locked on the phenomenon in grim silence. Well, almost everyone. Ivy's lips parted slightly as she whispered the word like it was a curse.

"A Guardian..."

The way she said it made Arpheus's stomach drop.

"A Guardian?" he repeated, the word foreign on his tongue. "What does that mean?"

Anne, always the one to explain things in the midst of chaos, glanced at him briefly. Her bow was already in her hands, the string pulled taut as she scanned the clearing ahead.

"That's what they call monsters here," she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "In the Land of the Beginning, they're called Guardians."

Monsters? Arpheus's thoughts raced. That thing's supposed to be a monster? His eyes darted back to the pillar of flame, which began to shrink and condense, taking shape. He swallowed hard as the creature finally emerged.

It was massive, easily towering over the trees. Its body seemed to be forged from obsidian, sleek and reflective, with molten cracks that pulsed like veins. Its eyes burned with an unnatural crimson light, locking onto the forest like it already knew where they were hiding. Its claws scraped against the ground, leaving glowing trails of heat in its wake.

Arpheus felt his hands trembling as he gripped the hilt of his weapon. He wasn't ready for this. He knew he wasn't ready for this.

"TEAM!" Holand's voice cut through the suffocating tension like a whip. He stood at the front, his massive figure brimming with confidence. His arm shot into the air, signaling their next move. "FORMATION!"

The others sprang into action immediately.

Reia darted to the left, her movements quick and precise as she slipped into the shadows. Anne retreated to higher ground, her bow at the ready. Ivy and Holand moved in opposite directions, preparing to flank the creature.

Arpheus froze.

His mind screamed at him to move, but his body refused to listen. He could only watch from his hiding spot in the bushes, his breaths shallow and uneven.

I shouldn't be here. I'm not strong enough for this. They don't even need me.

He hated the thought, but it felt true. Watching his teammates, he couldn't help but feel out of place. Each of them moved like they belonged on a battlefield. Every step, every motion—it all had purpose.

And then there was him.

Still crouched in the bushes, doing absolutely nothing.