Helbei Mountain
A vast wilderness stretched across the horizon like a slumbering beast cloaked in dense jungle. Towering trees stood like ancient sentinels, their branches interwoven to form a thick canopy that blotted out the sky. Deep within the jungle, concealed beneath layers of foliage, stood a massive wooden stronghold—shrouded in secrecy.
Tall spiked fences enclosed the compound, their tips sharpened to ward off both beast and man. Watchtowers loomed at each corner, each crowned with glowing red orbs—softly humming with energy and casting a protective gleam over the stronghold like a veil. Enchantments woven into the orbs distorted the area from outside eyes, rendering the compound nearly invisible from above.
Inside the walls, chaos reigned with a twisted sense of order. Bandits roamed freely—some sharpening weapons, others boasting of their exploits. A few feasted gluttonously before a roaring bonfire, laughing crudely as greasy meat dripped from their fingers. Lifeless women moved among them, serving food and drink, their vacant eyes betraying that their spirits had long since withered.
Behind the revelry, rusted iron cages lined the shadowy edges of the stronghold. Inside them, people—men, women, and even children—huddled in terror. Many were bruised, bloodied, and emaciated, their skin pale and lifeless, as if their very blood had been drained. They looked withered—mere husks of who they once were. The faint cries and whimpers of despair clung to the air like a suffocating mist.
Beyond the cages, partially concealed behind crates, stood a sealed container etched with glowing red patterns. The markings pulsed rhythmically, as if alive—beating like the heart of some slumbering beast.
A pounding of hooves shattered the grim tranquility.
Five riders burst through the gates, their horses kicking up mud as they skidded to a halt. The man in front dismounted and rushed toward the largest cottage—a structure more ornate than the rest, with dark drapes over its windows and a crude throne within.
The interior of the wooden cottage was surprisingly lavish, a stark contrast to the feral surroundings. Rich, dark fabrics draped the walls, and a crimson carpet stretched across the floor. Ornate lanterns cast a warm, flickering glow, illuminating polished wooden furniture and silver-plated décor. At the far end, slightly elevated on a platform, lounged a man in a pristine white robe. The throne-like chair beneath him was adorned with intricate carvings.
This man was Larty, the current leader of the bandits. Though his expression was calm, his narrowed eyes and subtle smirk hinted at simmering malice. He radiated a quiet, dangerous authority that demanded obedience.
Flanking him were two others, also clad in white robes—Carson and Lino, his direct subordinates. Unlike the rough bandits outside, the two exuded an eerie presence that set them apart from ordinary men. Both were Awakened.
The three had come from the capital, dispatched by the Dawn Order to expand its reach by establishing secret bases across the land. This stronghold in the Helbei Mountains was merely one of many scattered across the world. Its remote location and existing bandit activity made it an ideal staging ground.
By aligning with local criminals, Larty and his companions gained manpower and influence without attracting unwanted attention. The bandits were easily manipulated—lured by the promise of future power and the possibility of awakening abilities.
The lead rider—Hando, once the bandit leader—now knelt with trembling legs. The dominance he once wore like armor had long since crumbled. He had been cruel and merciless in his prime, a ruthless predator, but in front of these three... he was no more than a frightened mouse.
"My lord… urgent news from the town," he said, his voice shaking.
Larty's gaze sharpened. "Speak."
Hando bowed lower. "Our contact points were compromised by town authorities. Someone stumbled upon the map we distributed—it was handed over and investigated. Several marked locations were raided. Many of our men were captured. The spies we embedded in the town have gone silent."
The room tensed.
Larty's knuckles whitened on the armrest. "And how, pray tell, did the map fall into their hands?"
"We don't know for sure," Hando replied quickly. "The group carrying it—were found dead. Burned. But there were no signs of battle. No scorch marks in the surroundings. Their bodies were charred, but the cause is unknown."
Hando was shaken himself. He couldn't understand how those men died. Their task was simple: scout a few villages. How could they have ended up like this? Careless.
Carson exchanged a sharp glance with Lino.
"Perhaps they encounter an Awakened?" Lino guessed coldly.
Carson frowned. "Possibly. There was no sign of a fight, yet their bodies were incinerated… That's unnatural."
"Any suspects?" Lino pressed.
Hando shook his head. "None. Even the soldiers haven't identified anyone. The investigation is ongoing."
"What about the person who turned in the map?" Lino asked.
"We considered him," Hando said. "But according to our men, he showed no aura fluctuations. No signs of being Awakened. He seemed genuinely ordinary. They think he just stumbled upon the map and turned it in."
Larty leaned forward, eyes gleaming with menace. "You're telling me a normal man ruined my plans and walked away unharmed?"
"He might not be normal," Lino growled. "Some abilities can conceal strength or presence."
Carson nodded. "Either way, that man must be eliminated."
Larty's smirk turned cruel. "Send men to kill him. Quietly."
"That's… currently difficult," Hando admitted. "The town is on high alert. The Association may have already sent reinforcements. Also… there's more bad news, my lord."
Larty's voice dropped. "What is it?"
"We… we lost someone."
Larty's gaze froze. "Who?"
Hando looked down. "Emett. He's been captured."
Silence fell like a blade. Emett's importance didn't lie solely in the fact that he was an Awakened. He was one of the subjects who had awakened through the Dawn Order's experimental method—a method not yet fully stabilized, and still shrouded in secrecy.
And more than that, he was the Chief's son. His uncle, Larty's brother-in-law, was one of the commanders of the Order, and had ensured Emett was stationed in this quiet town for safety reasons. The information they'd received was clear: no Awakened had been sent here. It was meant to be safe—he can treat this town as a training ground and he could create chaos and disorder as much as he wanted.
But it seemed they'd been wrong. They underestimated this small town.
For a moment, Larty didn't move.
Then—slowly, dangerously—he stood. His pristine white robe billowed like mist, red veins bulging beneath his skin, pulsing with a growing, unstable energy.
Hando flinched as the pressure shifted in the room, heavy and suffocating.
"You let them take my son?" Larty whispered, each word like a knife.
"My lord, we didn't expect—"
A violent surge of energy erupted from Larty, slamming into the walls like a shockwave. The torches shuddered in their sconces, flickering madly as if cowering from his wrath.
He was furious. That had been his son. He'd allowed him to come here, to train, to grow stronger. And now—this?
Regret clashed with fury in his chest. Had he grown too confident in the Order's control? Or worse— Were there spies among them? How had their whereabouts been leaked?
With Emett in their grasp, they could get information related to what the Dawn Order had done. The people above would probably get mad.
Carson stepped in, placing a hand on Larty's shoulder. "Chief, calm down. The Association is onto us, but they don't know our exact location yet. They won't kill Emett—not yet. Let Lino return to the capital and report what happened. The commander probably has a way to retrieve him. It'll take them weeks to reach the capital. Emett can still be saved."
Larty's breathing slowed. The red veins receded.
"Lino," he growled, "report to Commander Elton. Tell him everything that happened here."**
Lino nodded. "Then I'll leave immediately." A shimmering red light enveloped him—and in an instant, he vanished.
Larty turned and stormed toward the back of the compound. Carson and Hando followed.
Behind the main tent was a restricted zone guarded by armed men. Massive metal crates lined the area, each sealed with glowing enchantments. From within, guttural snarls echoed.
Larty halted in front of the largest crate. The guards stepped aside, visibly shaken.
Inside, chained by enchanted restraints, stirred a beast.
Its rust-red skin clung to sinewy muscle. Jagged, bone-like protrusions jutted from its limbs. Its glowing eyes radiated hatred.
The creature—classified by the Association as a Rust—snarled, its voice a twisted blend of hunger and madness. These creatures came from the Corrosion. The Dawn Order had been capturing them for their operations, they are used to spread chaos and disorder so they can capture more people as fodder for their experiments.
Larty stared at it, cold fire in his eyes. "They dared touch my son… Then they shall face the consequences. We'll execute the plan—early."
"But Chief—" Carson began.
"The plan stands," Larty cut him off. "If we wait, they'll send reinforcements. We need to strike first. Let my anger speak for itself."
He turned to Carson. "You will handle the one who found the map. Everyone involved in ruining my plan must die."
"Yes, Chief. I'll take care of it," Carson said with a nod.
The Rust slammed against the bars with a shriek.
Soon, these monsters would be unleashed once more.