Alex finally took a step into the unknown forest after leaving the mountain top; he had expected to encounter monsters the moment he went in judging from the wyvern behavior; however, he encountered nothing, not even the slightest animal's cry, not until a blinding light assaulted his vision forcing him to close his eyes and when he reopened them again Alex found himself in entirely different scenery, a different forest.
The forest was vast, compact, and primal. Its canopy was overshadowed by alder, cedar, and oak; enough light shimmered through their crowns for scattered shrubs to reign the thick layer of leaves below.
Curling branches held onto the occasional tree, and a medley of flowers, which desperately tried to avoid the shadows, stood out against the otherwise amber forest grounds.
A cacophony of beastly sounds, predominantly those of ferocious monsters, brightened up the forest and added to the sounds of the wind blowing gently through the forest.
However, this wasn't what attracted Alex's attention; his gaze was focused on the gigantic stele in front of him; this stele was plain as a virgin stone, yet it couldn't help have Alex's gaze focused on it, as if trying to peer through this stele to know what kind of secret, it doesn't contain; unfortunately, he saw nothing.
''How disappointing!" Alex spat out after not feeling anything from this stele; howeverr, just as those words escaped from Alex's mouth, a change happened in the plain stele before him; it shone in purple light before some incomprehensible words appeared above this stele.
[As soon as the sky is colored brightly, a broken bone shall usher forth the end of history and a cursed age.]
''Is this supposed to mean something?" Alex asked, confused; however, nothing happened; he got no answer until the stele before him began shaking.
Kiki! Kaka! Boom!
It exploded and was transformed into a small portal.
''I see; I need to pass through this portal to go to the other side where the real boss of this level was probably located.'' He mumbled before taking a step forward; nothing would happen if he stayed passive, not doing anything; despite not knowing what awaited him on the other side, he ought to go; therefore Alex stepped through the portal trying to hide his nervousness.
As Alex moved forward through the florid portal hidden among the trees. A gloomy world immediately met him. Clouds of dust fill the air; it stings one's eyes and lungs with every breath and obstructs vision. Somehow a sense of adventure takes hold of your heart, telling you that this world is rich with opportunities.
Much remains to be discovered here, but some things may be best left a secret. This world is definitely inhospitable.
Close to Alex's proximity, he could vaguely see silhouettes of creatures stranger even than those of old legends. While they seem docile enough, for now, he knew he must keep his distance. Alex managed to spot huge, hairy creatures in the distance; he felt like he was in some fairy tale book.
Unexpectedly, he could feel your excitement rising as if to tell him to begin his life as a wanderer, explorer, and adventurer in this new world. But, with Alex quickly got hold of himself not to get swept in, this realm was unusual, capable of bewitching one's soul; Alex had thought that his soul was strong enough, capable of facing most of these situations; however, the current situation made him realize that he still has a long way to go.
Suddenly, a terrible roar that shook the whole realm was heard.
''Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"
Alex immediately kneeled and protected his ears as they began bleeding.
〖No good it is a dragon!〗Silveria shouted.
''!!!!!"
Alex's body became rooted in place, not because of Silveria's warning but becaus of the unexpected figure which appeared after the terrible roar.
Only one could be used to describe this figure, huge, truly huge, massive that the end could be seen, it was covered in shinning red scales, two curved black horns, a being seen in a fictional story, a being said to be supreme to all of the other races, an apex predator.
Standing before Alex was a dragon, yes an actual dragon, a gigantic red dragon spanning over thirty meters.
''Gulp!"
Unconsciously Alex gulped; he knew that the current him would die if he were to face this monster; there is no doubt the fight outcome, no matter what he did, even Nyx, who usually doesn't show any emotion, became worried.
〖Run!〗Nyx ordered, and Alex didn't need to be told twice as he had no intention of fighting this monster.
For the sake of escaping, Alex, who couldn't control his body due to the terrible presence before him, immediately used his trump card. He activated Mana's body.
Wiz! Wiz!
Immediately following this activation, the surrounding mana gathered around him before entering his body; the mana pierced through his body like needles, yet he greeted his teeth to endure the pain, and soon his body was filled with abundant mana, increasing his mana over ten thousands, Alex poured this mana into Sleipnir and shot toward the exit, his body broke through the restraints and the sound of barrier to escape.
Finally, the being in the sky turned his head in Alex's direction, his golden slit narrowed in amusement, and he said.
''Not bad, wise decision.''
Alex had no time to be surprised by the sudden voice which entered his head because the moment he was about to pass through the portal he had taken to enter this realm, his body stopped as time had stopped for him, then his right eye started throbbing.
Thump! Thump!
Rumble!
The sky rumbled, lightning fell from the sky, the red dragon frowned, then space was ripped apart and from the other side and dangerous as the red dragon came out.
Dark skin shining like metal, nine heads, the legendary nine-headed Hydra appeared.
''Roarrrr!"
A roar that didn't lose to that of the dragon was heard, Alex was sent flying; unexpectedly, a red aura surrounded Alex's body and stopped his fall.
''Child goes, now isn't the time for you to appear here. Go to the lower floors; your destiny awaits you there!" The red dragon voice entered Alex's head again.
''What?"
Before Alex could question the red dragon about what he meant, he was thrown out of the realm; the last thing Alex saw was the two monsters fighting against each other, the sky trembled, the ground vaporized with just two attacks, Alex gulped and learned one thing from this unexpected expedition, he was still really weak, he must never get conceited, the road toward the top is still too far.