The ruins no longer felt the same.
As Ravin stepped out of the hall where he had completed the trial, his perception of the world had completely changed. This place was no longer just ancient stone and forgotten structures… it was alive, filled with remnants of a power that refused to fade.
"Golden Flow…"
he murmured softly, feeling the energy moving within him. It wasn't like fire. It wasn't like healing. It didn't act directly—it guided, refined, perfected.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Every decision.
"…This is only the beginning."
He lifted his gaze forward, ready to continue deeper into the ruins—
Then—
A chill.
Sudden.
Unnatural.
Ravin stopped.
"…This doesn't belong here."
The golden energy within him reacted immediately.
Not with harmony.
But with warning.
His grip on his sword tightened.
"…Something else is here."
Then—
It appeared.
From the shadows.
Slowly.
Heavily.
A single step was enough to change everything.
The air thickened.
Darkened.
Slowed.
Ravin didn't move.
But his eyes sharpened.
"…This isn't a normal beast."
The figure emerged fully.
Massive.
Its body covered in layered black armor—not metal, but something alive, breathing faintly. Dark energy flowed beneath its surface like veins of shadow, pulsing with quiet intensity.
Its eyes—
Glowed.
Sharp.
Aware.
Not wild.
Not feral.
But intelligent.
Watching him.
As if it had been waiting.
For the first time in a while—
Ravin felt tension.
Real tension.
"…Who are you…"
he asked, his voice low, controlled.
The creature did not attack.
Did not move.
It simply looked at him.
Then—
It spoke.
"…It is rare… for a human to reach this place."
The voice was deep.
Calm.
Yet unbearably heavy.
Ravin's mind reacted instantly.
"…It speaks…"
But he didn't show it.
"…Answer me."
His tone hardened.
"…Who are you?"
A brief silence followed.
Then—
A faint smile formed on the creature's face.
Unsettling.
"…You ask about something… your books never recorded."
Ravin's eyes narrowed.
The book.
Everything he had read.
Every creature.
Every rank.
Nothing—
Matched this.
"…You weren't mentioned."
he said slowly.
"…Not even once."
The creature's eyes flickered.
"…Of course not."
It stepped forward.
And the ground beneath it—
Didn't break.
It yielded.
"…Because those who saw me… did not live to write."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Ravin did not move.
But inside—
He understood.
"…Then…"
He raised his sword slightly.
"…You're dangerous."
The creature let out a quiet laugh.
Not loud.
But enough.
"…Your classification is too simple."
Then it paused.
Studying him more deeply.
"…But your energy…"
Another pause.
"…is not."
Ravin felt something shift.
That gaze—
It wasn't just observation.
It was recognition.
"…Answer me."
he demanded again.
Sharper this time.
"…Who are you?"
A brief silence.
Then—
The answer came.
Calm.
Heavy.
"…I am Serto."
The name itself carried weight.
As if it wasn't just a name…
But history.
"…Serto…"
Ravin repeated quietly.
"…Why are you here?"
A faint smile returned.
"…Because this place…"
He glanced around.
"…was peaceful."
Then he added:
"…since the year 1789."
Ravin froze.
"…What…?"
"…Humans haven't seen me since then."
Serto said simply.
"…And they did not search."
Silence.
Ravin processed it.
"…You're…"
He stopped.
"…older than anything I know."
Serto neither confirmed nor denied.
He simply looked at him.
"…And now…"
He stepped closer.
"…you are here."
The air grew heavier.
Ravin didn't retreat.
But his body prepared.
"…Why are you here?"
Serto asked.
Same calm tone.
But this time—
It was a test.
Ravin paused.
Then answered.
"…I came to grow stronger."
Part truth.
Not all of it.
"…And to understand this world."
A controlled lie.
Serto watched him.
For a long moment.
Then—
He smiled.
More clearly this time.
"…You lied."
A cold sensation ran through Ravin's spine.
But he didn't show it.
"…What do you mean?"
Serto stepped closer.
Now only a few steps away.
"…You are not here for strength alone."
His voice lowered.
Deeper.
"…And you do not belong to this world."
Silence—
Exploded.
Ravin froze.
His mind—
Stopped.
"…What…?"
His eyes widened.
For the first time—
His composure cracked.
"…How…"
Serto didn't move.
He simply looked at him.
"…Your energy does not lie."
Then added:
"…Nor does your soul."
Ravin clenched his fist tightly.
"…Answer me!"
This time louder.
"…What are you exactly?!"
But Serto did not answer immediately.
Instead—
He turned.
Slowly.
"…A good question."
He paused.
Without looking back.
"…But not the right time to answer it."
Ravin stepped forward.
"…No—"
Then stopped.
Something inside him warned him.
Danger.
Not a fight he could win.
Not now.
Serto began walking back into the darkness.
"…If you want your answers…"
he said calmly.
"…come to the cave."
Silence.
"…The Cave of Darkness."
Then added:
"…if you dare."
The shadows swallowed him.
As if he had never been there.
The air returned.
The pressure vanished.
Silence remained.
But—
Ravin was no longer the same.
He stood still.
His mind racing.
"…He knows…"
His grip tightened.
"…He knows I'm not from this world."
That was no ordinary beast.
Not even a boss.
Something else.
Something older.
Something far more dangerous.
Ravin lifted his gaze toward the darkness where Serto had vanished.
His eyes no longer uncertain.
But sharp.
"…The Cave of Darkness…"
he repeated slowly.
"…So that's where…"
A faint smile appeared.
Not confidence.
But challenge.
"…my answers are."
Deep inside—
He knew.
What awaited him there…
Would not be just answers.
But truth.
A truth—
That could change everything.