If this is the Beast Mountain… then it's simpler than it looks.
Baran thought to himself as he raised his gaze toward the rugged peaks.
"All I need to do is kill a few monsters… I just hope a second-level one doesn't show up."
Cold winds passed between the rocks, as if whispering a hidden warning—but he didn't care.
Baran began walking through the mountains, his eyes moving quickly between trees and shadows, searching for any sign of life… or death.
But strangely, he found nothing.
No sound. No movement. Not even a claw mark.
He frowned slightly.
Then suddenly—
He burst forward at incredible speed, as if something inside him had exploded.
Black lightning began to seep from his eye, writhing like a dark serpent.
He moved so fast that the air itself tore around him. Every tree he passed either burned or shattered apart, collapsing as if the black lightning devoured everything in its path.
"This is strange…" he muttered while continuing his dash.
"I don't see any monsters nearby. Could it be that a second-level monster has eaten them all?"
And then—
He stopped.
A cold smile formed on his face.
"Finally… there are monsters. And it's good they're only first-level."
Before him stood a group of massive bears, their bodies covered in thick fur, their eyes filled with hostility.
But Baran's attention wasn't only on them…
It was on the cave behind them.
"It's obvious… they're guarding this cave," he said with a faint smile.
He took a step forward.
The bears stepped forward as well, roaring threateningly, like a living wall blocking his path.
Baran wore a ring engraved with the word "Darkness," surrounded by seven small points like stars orbiting it.
The ring began to tremble—
And a spear appeared before him.
A cracked spear, on the verge of breaking… yet still pulsing with terrifying power.
Baran grabbed the spear—
And swung it once.
In an instant, blood scattered through the air like a crimson waterfall.
All the bears were cut in half… without resistance.
Silence fell, broken only by the sound of bodies collapsing.
The spear returned to the ring with a silent command, while Baran walked forward over the corpses without a second glance.
"Hm… this is good. Two cores are better than nothing."
Two glowing cores rose from the bodies, merging into the ring.
Then Baran entered the cave.
---
Inside, the cave was small and relatively open—its end clearly visible.
And deep within…
There was a girl.
Her hair was white as ice, her beauty calm despite her torn clothes, her body covered in wrapped wounds. She could barely move.
In front of her stood a massive white polar bear, its sharp eyes ready to fight to the death to protect her.
Baran stopped.
And smiled.
"This girl… she's from the Manuscript Reader World. Advanced level…"
He knew manuscripts well—places where people trained and gained abilities.
There were six worlds.
Each world had three main stages: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.
And a rare fourth stage…
The Legendary stage.
Only those with power and resources could reach it.
And Baran…
Was in the First World.
A Legendary-level Manuscript Reader.
Just one step away from the "Connected" realm—where the soul begins to slightly resonate with the manuscript's power.
He looked at the bear again.
"Legendary level… first tier."
He hesitated slightly.
His spear was on the verge of breaking.
If he fought now… he might lose.
But his smile widened as he broke the silence.
"Where are you from, girl?"
She looked at him, her voice trembling.
"I'm from the Frost Fang Sect—"
Before she could finish—
Black lightning shot forward at terrifying speed, shattering the wall behind her and slightly cutting her cheek.
She trembled violently.
Ice began forming beneath the bear's feet, ready to attack—waiting only for her command.
Baran spoke coldly, his eyes glowing red.
"Are you trying to scare me with your sect's name?"
She hesitated… then quickly said:
"My name is Orasa… I am Jiken's daughter."
Baran's expression shifted slightly.
"And what are you doing in a place like this?"
She didn't answer.
She was avoiding the question.
But Baran didn't wait.
"Is Narvik here?"
Her eyes widened… as if she had seen death itself.
Baran smiled.
"From your reaction… it seems he really is here. Probably in the city of King's Fang… but what is he doing there?"
He turned and left the cave.
His thoughts revolved around one name:
Narvik.
A childhood friend.
Ten years of training.
Of silence.
Of solitude…
And now… he might finally meet an old friend again.
---
"Hey! Kid, are you new here?"
Baran stopped and turned.
It was the same boy who had been with the girl earlier.
He looked at him coldly.
"How dare you call the young lady ugly?!"
Baran didn't respond.
As if he hadn't heard anything.
Anger ignited in the boy's eyes.
He rushed forward immediately.
Wind began to gather around his fist as he struck—
But Baran easily dodged.
Another attack.
Then another.
All avoided.
"Why are you running? Are you scared?!"
The moment he finished speaking—
Baran's spear pierced through his body.
Blood poured out violently, spilling from his mouth without stopping.
The boy looked in shock… unable to understand.
In the next moment—
Baran pulled the spear out…
And cut off his head without hesitation.
He stood quietly, closed his eyes for two minutes, then said:
"It seems the girl got away… I was planning to kill her too."
He left—
Leaving the corpse behind.
---
"Hello, how much for these cores?"
Baran was now in the largest shop in King's Fang City—a store that sold everything related to monsters.
The merchant looked at the two cores and smiled cunningly.
"Hmm… two intermediate-level cores. I'll give you seventy silver coins for each."
In truth…
Each one was worth one hundred and fifty.
But he assumed Baran was ignorant.
"Alright, I agree."
Baran said simply…
Not realizing he had been tricked.
---
The next day—
He sat in his hotel room, looking out the window.
"Should I go look for Narvik… or wait?"
But suddenly—
His body trembled violently.
Inside his mind, a man appeared—chained, surrounded by darkness.
No face.
Only a body.
Then suddenly—
A spear flew and pierced his shoulder.
Then a sword… into his leg.
And a voice echoed from the darkness:
"Is this really all you have?… You've disappointed me."
Another spear pierced his heart.
The man fell… dead.
Baran opened his eyes, cold sweat covering his face.
"Damn it… not this again…"
This vision kept repeating.
According to Zaflian…
This man might be the previous user of the Black Lightning Manuscript.
He wiped the sweat away—
Then froze.
In the alley, he saw men attacking someone until he lost consciousness. They carried him… and disappeared.
Baran immediately jumped out the window, curiosity burning inside him.
He followed them silently.
At the gate, the guards allowed them to pass—even though they were carrying an unconscious person.
"Hm… is this under the city lord's orders?"
He continued tracking them without being noticed.
Far from the city, near the forest—they stopped.
One of them opened a hidden underground entrance.
They all went inside.
Baran approached, his eyes shining with excitement, and whispered:
"Now… things are finally getting interesting."