Two weeks had passed since Skylark was officially formed.
The trio had taken on several quests, mostly goblin exterminations, escort missions, and simple beast subjugations. Through these tasks, they earned a solid reputation within the Grasia Guild.
But none of it had truly challenged them.
Until now.
A high-priority request had arrived at the Guild—a village near the eastern borders had been suffering mysterious deaths.
People were found with blackened veins, their bodies stiff and bloated as if poisoned.
And the survivors spoke of a shadowy figure moving in the mist.
It didn't take long for the Guild to identify the cause.
It was the work of Snape—one of the Demon Lord's Generals.
The first real monster Skylark would face.
---
The Journey to Fenhurst
The village of Fenhurst sat at the edge of the Grasia Kingdom, surrounded by dense forests and rolling hills.
As Skylark traveled, the atmosphere grew heavier, the air thick with moisture.
Lida clutched her cloak tightly. "The temperature dropped…"
Rick gritted his teeth. "Damn it. This isn't normal."
Ashborn narrowed his eyes.
He could feel it.
A presence lurking. Watching.
---
The Ruins of Fenhurst
By the time they arrived, the village was already lost.
The houses were hollowed-out husks, their wooden frames blackened and twisted as if corroded from the inside.
The streets were eerily silent.
And the stench of death was suffocating.
Lida covered her mouth, her eyes wide with horror.
"We… we were too late."
Rick gritted his teeth. "Tch. That bastard wiped them out before we even got here?"
Ashborn remained still, his gaze sweeping across the ruined village.
Something was off.
If Snape had done this, then where was the blood?
The bodies were there, but there were no signs of struggle.
No defensive wounds. No weapons drawn.
As if they had all died without even realizing it.
A whispering voice echoed through the mist.
"You're finally here."
---
The First Encounter with a Demon General
The mist coiled and shifted, forming a tall silhouette in the center of the ruined village.
A man stepped forward—his movements fluid like a serpent.
He was beautiful yet unsettling.
Long, flowing black hair cascaded down his shoulders, his pale face adorned with sharp, fox-like features.
His violet eyes gleamed with amusement, lips curling into a smirk.
But the most striking feature was his obsidian-black armor, pulsing as if alive, veins of poison coursing through it.
This was Snape—Demon General of Venoms and Shadows.
And he was strong.
Ashborn felt it immediately.
"You must be the little heroes come to save the day," Snape mused, his voice smooth like silk.
"How adorable."
---
The Battle Begins
Snape vanished in an instant.
A second later—
Ashborn barely managed to block.
Snape's dagger clashed against his sword, the impact sending a wave of poison-laced energy outward.
Lida leaped backward, raising her sword defensively.
Rick grinned, brandishing his twin blades. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
Snape's eyes glowed. "Let's see how long you can entertain me."
And with that—
The battle for survival began.
---
Next Chapter: The Poisonous Dance
Snape's terrifying abilities.
Ashborn unlocks his resistance.
Skylark's teamwork is put to the test.
The first real step toward becoming legends.