Morning sunlight filtered through the endless canopy of Aethelspire, painting the mountain forest in shifting shades of emerald and gold.
Unlike the dense jungle surrounding the base of Floor Three, the central mountain possessed an entirely different atmosphere.
Everything felt... ancient.
Towering cedar-like trees stretched hundreds of feet into the sky, their roots weaving naturally into cliffs and boulders that had stood untouched for centuries. Thick vines wrapped themselves around jagged rock formations while crystal-clear streams carved winding paths through the mountain. The air was noticeably colder than it had been earlier that morning, carrying with it the earthy scent of moss and damp stone.
Far above, hidden behind layers of clouds, the peak of the mountain remained invisible.
It was so high that even from where they stood, they could barely make out its silhouette.
Rio closed her notebook after checking the next section of her hand-drawn map.
"This way."
Without hesitation, she stepped onto a narrow trail hugging the mountainside.
Ryota followed immediately behind her.
Kiraya walked beside Hinabi while Ramos and Silla stayed close together in the center of the formation. Sayanaki remained several meters behind everyone else, moving almost silently through the forest as though she had become part of the shadows themselves.
No one complained.
No one questioned Rio's route.
After everything they had experienced since entering Floor Three, they had learned that every path Rio chose had a reason.
The climb was long.
Steep.
Every few minutes they had to cross rocky ledges or climb naturally formed stone staircases created by centuries of erosion.
Occasionally distant roars echoed through the mountains.
Sometimes they heard enormous footsteps somewhere beyond the trees.
Other times...
Absolute silence.
The silence bothered everyone the most.
Silla quietly looked around.
"...It's strange."
"Hm?"
"The jungle below had insects..."
"...birds..."
"...all kinds of noises."
She looked toward the endless forest surrounding them.
"But up here..."
"...it's almost peaceful."
Rio answered without slowing down.
"That's because predators live nearby."
"The smaller animals know better than to make unnecessary noise."
That simple explanation caused everyone to unconsciously glance around.
Ramos gulped.
"...I liked it better when the birds were loud."
Ryota laughed softly.
"I don't blame you."
They continued climbing for nearly another twenty minutes.
Then—
Every player in the party suddenly stopped.
A crimson window appeared before Rio.
Another appeared before Ryota.
Kiraya.
Hinabi.
Sayanaki.
The transparent screen pulsed ominously.
WARNING
You are entering a Blood-Red Zone.
The creatures beyond this point greatly exceed your current level.
Danger Classification: FAR BEYOND
Enemies within this area deal increased damage to lower-level players.
Recommendation: Turn back immediately.
The crimson notification lingered for several seconds before remaining minimized in the corner of their vision.
Kiraya slowly lowered her hand.
"...Blood Red."
Hinabi's expression grew serious.
"I've only heard stories about this warning."
Ryota scratched his cheek.
"So this is what it looks like."
Sayanaki merely stared ahead.
"...Interesting."
Ramos looked back and forth between everyone's reactions.
"What happened?"
Silla tilted her head.
"I didn't get anything."
Rio looked over her shoulder.
"Only players above a certain level threshold receive environmental danger warnings."
"You two are NPCs."
"So the system won't notify you."
Kiraya looked toward Rio.
"...Are you sure about this?"
"The system is literally telling us to leave."
Hinabi nodded.
"I trust you, Rio..."
"...but even I'm a little concerned."
Rio smiled calmly.
"I expected this."
She pointed toward the mountain ahead.
"We're exactly where we're supposed to be."
Ryota folded his arms.
"So this warning doesn't change the plan?"
"Not at all."
Rio closed the notification window.
"I never intended for us to fight anything in this region."
"We're simply passing through."
"The safest route to our destination happens to go straight across one of the most dangerous areas on Floor Three."
Ramos nearly choked.
"...You call that safe?"
Rio couldn't help smiling.
"It's safer than the alternatives."
No one argued further.
If anyone else had made that claim...
They would've turned back immediately.
But this was Rio.
The woman whose knowledge had brought every single one of them safely through dangers that should have been impossible.
Kiraya took a deep breath.
"...Alright."
"I trust you."
Hinabi nodded.
"So do I."
Sayanaki simply shrugged.
"If things go wrong..."
"...I'll just stab whatever tries to eat us."
Ryota laughed.
"Comforting."
The group resumed walking.
The forest slowly began to thin.
The steep trail eventually opened into a vast hillside overlooking the surrounding mountain ranges.
Tall grass swayed gently beneath the breeze.
Scattered boulders rested across the rolling terrain like sleeping giants.
Rio suddenly stopped.
Her right hand slowly lifted into the air.
"Stop."
Everyone froze immediately.
Not a single person took another step.
Rio slowly crouched behind a large stone overlooking the hill.
The others copied her movements.
She carefully peeked over the rock.
"...There they are."
One by one...
Everyone cautiously looked over the edge.
Silence fell over the group.
Dozens...
No...
Hundreds...
Massive creatures wandered peacefully across the hillside.
They resembled enormous bison nearly twice the size of elephants.
Their backs were covered in thick layers of moss, stone, and miniature trees that had somehow rooted themselves into hardened earth growing naturally across their bodies.
Some carried flowering shrubs.
Others had entire patches of grass growing upon them.
Their gigantic horns curved forward like sharpened mountain cliffs, layered with ancient bone and dark gray stone.
Each heavy footstep caused the ground to tremble ever so slightly.
"They're..."
Silla whispered.
"...beautiful."
Rio nodded.
"Bisonox."
Kiraya immediately activated Appraisal.
The information appeared.
Her pupils shrank.
"...Level seventy-five..."
Hinabi quickly checked another.
"...Also seventy-five."
Ryota let out a slow whistle.
"...We're level eleven."
Rio smiled.
"I'm twelve."
Kiraya was ten.
Hinabi was ten.
Sayanaki and Ryota were eleven.
Ramos and Silla...
Only level eight.
The difference wasn't large.
It was overwhelming.
One charge from those monsters would almost certainly wipe out the entire party.
Rio quietly began explaining.
"Despite their appearance..."
"They're herbivores."
Ramos sighed in relief.
"Oh..."
"Thank goodness."
Rio immediately continued.
"...They're also among the most territorial creatures on this floor."
His relief vanished instantly.
"If they perceive us as invading their grazing grounds..."
"They'll charge."
"And once one charges..."
"The entire herd follows."
Everyone silently looked back toward the enormous creatures.
There were easily over sixty of them.
Ryota muttered quietly.
"...I'd rather not test that."
Rio nodded.
"Neither would I."
She pointed toward a narrow path weaving between clusters of ancient trees along the edge of the hillside.
"We stay close together."
"We move slowly."
"No sudden movements."
"No loud voices."
"And under absolutely no circumstances..."
She looked directly at Ramos.
"...does anyone run."
Ramos swallowed hard before nodding repeatedly.
"I-I won't."
Rio stood first.
"Good."
"Let's move."
The party stepped out from behind the rocks.
Tiny compared to the mountain beasts surrounding them.
Each careful footstep brought them deeper into the Blood-Red Zone...
...where even the gentlest creatures possessed enough strength to erase an entire low-level party with a single mistake.
The herd continued grazing as though the group didn't exist.
Massive jaws chewed through thick patches of mountain grass with slow, rhythmic movements. Every now and then, one of the gigantic Bisonox would lift its head, exhale a cloud of warm breath into the cool mountain air, and return to eating.
Rio kept one hand raised without looking back.
It was the signal she had used countless times since entering Floor Three.
Stay together.
No one spoke.
Not even Ramos.
Every member carefully placed one foot after another, following the narrow path that skirted the edge of the grazing grounds.
The silence itself became suffocating.
Each heartbeat sounded louder than the wind.
Silla unconsciously held her breath as one of the Bisonox wandered only a few dozen meters away from them. Up close, it was even larger than it had appeared from afar. Moss-covered stone layered its shoulders like natural armor, while miniature trees swayed gently across its broad back.
"It... really has trees growing on it..."
she whispered.
Ryota nodded without taking his eyes off the creature.
"It's like the mountain itself came alive."
Rio continued leading them.
"Don't stare too long."
"They're calm."
"Let's keep it that way."
Everyone silently nodded.
Then—
Crack.
The sound echoed across the hillside.
Ramos froze.
His face slowly drained of color.
Beneath his boot...
A dry branch had snapped cleanly in half.
The entire herd stopped eating.
Four Bisonox slowly raised their heads.
Their ears twitched.
Then, almost simultaneously, their enormous bodies shifted.
Massive hooves dug into the earth.
Stone-covered horns lowered.
A deep rumble rolled through the mountain.
Ramos's lips trembled.
"...Rio..."
"They're..."
"...looking at me..."
The nearest Bisonox pawed the ground once.
Twice.
Then—
BOOOOOM!
It charged.
Three more immediately followed.
The mountain itself seemed to shake beneath their weight.
Ramos's legs completely gave out.
"I-I'M DEAD!!"
Before panic could spread through the group—
Rio moved.
Her hand darted toward the ground, scooping up a fist-sized stone without anyone noticing.
In one fluid motion—
She twisted her body.
Her arm snapped forward.
The rock flew high through the air.
Instead of striking the charging monsters—
It smashed directly into a massive boulder nearly fifty meters away.
CRACK!
The impact echoed sharply across the mountainside.
The charging Bisonox instantly changed direction.
Without slowing down, all four enormous beasts veered toward the louder sound.
Moments later—
BOOOOOOM!!
The giant boulder exploded beneath four simultaneous impacts.
Stone fragments erupted in every direction.
Dust engulfed the hillside.
Even from where they stood, everyone felt the shockwave.
Kiraya didn't waste the opportunity.
She grabbed Ramos by the back of his shirt as though lifting a child.
"Move!"
She sprinted toward the rest of the group while carrying him effortlessly.
The others immediately followed.
Only after putting considerable distance between themselves and the destroyed rock did they finally stop.
Ramos collapsed onto his knees.
"...I..."
"...I almost died..."
His entire body shook uncontrollably.
Silla hurried beside him.
"You okay?"
He nodded repeatedly despite breathing heavily.
"I thought..."
"...I really thought that was it."
Rio walked over calmly.
"You'll be fine."
Ramos looked up.
"How..."
"...how did they suddenly change targets?"
Hinabi looked equally curious.
"I was wondering the same thing."
"They were definitely charging you."
Rio crouched and picked up another small stone.
She held it up for everyone to see.
"Bisonox have exceptionally poor eyesight."
"They can distinguish movement..."
"...but not detail."
She tossed the pebble lightly between her fingers.
"Their primary sense isn't vision."
"It's hearing."
"They locate predators almost entirely through sound."
Ryota blinked.
"So..."
"They didn't actually know Ramos was there?"
Rio nodded.
"They only knew where the loudest noise originated."
"When I created a louder impact elsewhere..."
"They instinctively redirected toward what they believed was the greater threat."
Kiraya crossed her arms.
"So if we stay quiet..."
"They'll ignore us."
"Usually."
Rio smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
Ramos wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"...Can we please avoid animals that weigh more than a house from now on?"
Sayanaki, who had watched the entire incident with an amused expression, shrugged.
"No promises."
Ramos nearly cried.
The group resumed climbing.
This time...
Everyone paid far more attention to where they placed their feet.
The mountain gradually became steeper.
Vegetation changed once again.
Ancient pines replaced broad-leafed trees.
Large black stones protruded from the earth like broken teeth.
Mist drifted lazily through the forest, reducing visibility with every passing minute.
The cheerful sounds of grazing Bisonox eventually disappeared behind them.
Silence returned.
Rio slowed her pace.
Then...
She stopped.
Her expression hardened.
One hand quietly rose once more.
Everyone halted immediately.
Ryota followed Rio's line of sight.
At first...
He saw nothing.
Then—
A shape emerged from between the trees.
A massive black bear.
Its fur was so dark it almost blended into the surrounding shadows.
Unlike any ordinary bear, however...
Its left eye was completely black.
Not dark brown.
Not cloudy.
Pure black.
As though the eye itself had become an endless void.
The creature stood motionless in the middle of the trail.
Watching them.
Watching...
Only them.
No one spoke.
Even Sayanaki's usual relaxed demeanor disappeared.
Rio's eyes narrowed.
"...Don't move."
The mountain had grown silent once again.
And somehow...
That silence felt even heavier than before.