The forest grew darker as Leon and Aether moved deeper toward the frontier.
The morning sun was hidden behind thick clouds, casting long shadows across the land.
For hours they traveled without speaking.
Leon kept thinking about what the assassin had said.
Villages disappearing.
No survivors.
No bodies.
It didn't sound like normal monster attacks.
Finally Leon broke the silence.
"Do you think it's monsters?"
Aether answered calmly.
"Possibly."
Leon frowned.
"But monsters usually leave… evidence."
"Yes."
Leon looked uneasy.
"So something strange is happening."
Aether nodded.
By midday, the forest finally opened into a wide clearing.
In the distance stood a small village surrounded by wooden fences.
At least…
That's what it should have been.
Leon slowed his steps.
The village was silent.
Too silent.
No smoke from chimneys.
No voices.
No animals.
Even the wind seemed to avoid the place.
Leon whispered,
"This must be it."
Aether nodded.
"Yes."
They entered the village slowly.
The wooden gate creaked as it opened.
Leon looked around carefully.
Houses lined the dirt road.
Doors hung half open.
A few carts sat abandoned in the street.
But there was no sign of life.
No villagers.
No animals.
Nothing.
Leon's voice was quiet.
"This place feels… wrong."
Aether walked forward, examining the surroundings.
"There are no signs of battle."
Leon noticed that too.
The buildings were intact.
The ground showed no signs of struggle.
It was as if everyone had simply…
Vanished.
Leon walked toward one of the houses.
Inside, a table was still set with food.
The bread had hardened.
But it looked like someone had been eating when they disappeared.
Leon frowned.
"They left in the middle of a meal?"
"That appears to be the case."
Leon felt a chill run down his spine.
"That's creepy."
Aether crouched down near the center of the road.
Leon walked over.
"What did you find?"
Aether pointed at the ground.
"There."
Leon squinted.
Faint marks were pressed into the dirt.
Footprints.
But they were strange.
Too long.
Too thin.
Almost like claw marks.
Leon frowned.
"That doesn't look human."
"No."
Leon's heart began beating faster.
"Then what made them?"
Aether stood slowly.
"That is what we must find out."
Leon suddenly noticed something strange.
The air felt heavier.
Like faint magic was lingering around the village.
"Do you feel that?" he asked.
"Yes."
Aether's voice grew colder.
"Residual mana."
Leon looked confused.
"From what?"
"Magic."
Leon frowned.
"But there aren't any mages here."
Aether looked toward the far end of the village.
"Someone was here."
They followed the strange footprints toward the edge of the settlement.
There they found something unexpected.
A wooden shed.
Half destroyed.
Inside the shed was a large hole in the ground.
Leon blinked.
"A tunnel?"
Aether nodded.
"Yes."
Leon looked down into the darkness.
It seemed to stretch deep underground.
"This wasn't here before, was it?"
"No."
Leon felt uneasy.
"You're thinking what I'm thinking, right?"
"Yes."
Leon sighed.
"Something came from underground."
Aether knelt beside the tunnel entrance.
His hand touched the soil.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Fresh."
Leon's eyes widened.
"You mean… whatever did this might still be nearby?"
"Yes."
Leon swallowed.
"That's not good."
Aether stood and drew the Void Sword.
The black blade absorbed the faint light around it.
Leon tightened his grip on his wooden sword.
"We're going down there?"
"Yes."
Leon looked into the dark tunnel again.
"…Of course we are."
Far away, hidden among the trees outside the village…
A pair of eyes watched them.
Silent.
Patient.
A figure wearing dark clothing crouched on a high branch.
The assassin Kael had returned.
He spoke quietly to himself.
"So they found it."
His eyes moved toward the tunnel.
"That's going to be a problem."
Because whatever was living underground…
Was not something a beginner warrior should face.
Back in the village, Leon took a deep breath.
Then he stepped toward the tunnel entrance.
The darkness below felt endless.
Cold air drifted upward from the depths.
Leon forced a nervous smile.
"Well…"
"Time to see what's hiding down there."
Beside him, Aether stepped forward without hesitation.
The two of them began descending into the unknown.
And deep beneath the silent village…
Something was waiting.