Liuke and his companions finally reached the edge of the thick mist. It stood before them like a silent, white wall.
"Everyone, stay together," Liuke commanded, his voice steady. "Hold hands and don't let go. We cannot afford to get lost in this melody."
Liuke, Rayna, Luka, Rika, and Tori gripped each other firmly. With a deep breath, they stepped into the blinding veil.
As they walked through the haze, the silence was heavy. Rayna was the first to speak, her voice barely a whisper.
"We've been lucky so far," she said. "We haven't run into any of those strange creatures yet. Tori, is this really the only path to the second layer?"
"Yes, it is," Tori replied. He looked around nervously. "Every time I have traveled this far, this mist appears before the entrance to the second layer. But... I have heard things from my kin."
"What kind of things?" Liuke asked, his eyes scanning the white void.
"That a dangerous beast lives here in this mist," Tori answered. "Most people think it's just a rumor, a story to scare travelers. But the stories are persistent."
"If that's the case, we have to stay alert," Liuke said. "We can't afford to be careless for even a single moment."
They pushed deeper into the fog. Soon, a sound began to drift toward them—a melodic, humming tune. It was the same haunting song that Jems had heard before.
"What is that sound?" Rika asked, her heart starting to race.
"How should we know?" Luka replied tensely. "We're seeing this place for the first time too."
They continued moving, trying their best to ignore Syria's enchanting song. But as they distanced themselves from the source of the music, the mist began to play tricks on their minds.
Distorted, ghostly human shapes began to flicker in the white. Rayna and the others felt a cold sweat breaking out. Their fear was reaching a breaking point.
Only Liuke remained unfazed. The fire of his mission—to save his friends—burned too brightly for the mist to dim.
Suddenly, Rika saw something that made her blood run cold.
In the swirling white, the mangled, burnt face of an old woman flashed before her. It stayed for only a few seconds before vanishing back into the fog.
Rika couldn't contain it. She let out a piercing scream.
Her voice echoed far into the trees. It was a cry of pure terror, but it was also a fatal mistake.
The group rushed to her side, trying to steady her. "Rika! Are you okay? What did you see?" Rayna asked, her own voice trembling.
"No... nothing!" Rika gasped. She kept the image of that face buried deep inside, a dark memory clawing at her sanity.
But the scream had already done its work. Something was coming.
Liuke felt it first. He sensed a presence moving toward them through the fog. He couldn't see it yet, but the killing intent was unmistakable.
In a sudden flash, an attack lunged straight for Rika.
"Get back!" Liuke roared.
He shoved Rika aside with a forceful move, saving her from the strike. The beast was so fast that Liuke only caught a glimpse of its shadow before it merged back into the white world.
"Are you okay, Rika?" Liuke asked, standing his ground. "Luka! You, Rayna, Tori, and Rika stay back. I'll fight this beast alone."
"But I can't let you face it by yourself!" Rayna protested.
"Understand the situation, Rayna!" Liuke snapped. "You aren't capable of fighting this thing right now. Luka, do it now!"
Luka didn't wait. She focused her solar energy into her palms, releasing shimmering motes of light. They spread out like a cloud, covering Luka, Rika, Rayna, and Tori.
"Any minor attack will dissolve inside this field," Luka explained. "Stronger attacks will be broken down into light, which will give me more power."
While the others were protected, Liuke stood ready for the confrontation.
His anger began to boil, causing his metallic form to grow even hotter. His muscles tightened, preparing for the impact.
He sensed the beast's movement. It was coming from above, leaping from the left.
Liuke was already generating fire in his fist. In the tenth of a second that the beast drew near, Liuke drove a massive punch straight into its neck.
The blow sent the creature flying ten meters away. Finally, its true form was revealed.
The beast had the head of a deer, but its body was fluid and long, like a snake. Its skin was a grotesque mix of tree bark, moss, and wet stone.
Instead of two eyes, its face was covered in dozens of tiny black dots.
Liuke didn't hesitate. He charged in to strike again, but the creature was too elusive. It vanished into the mist once more.
Liuke scanned his surroundings, but the forest was silent.
Then, with blinding speed, the beast struck from the right. It didn't just bite; it trampled over Liuke, pinning him down.
Liuke crashed to the ground. His hardened, burning metallic body was the only thing that saved him from being crushed instantly.
But the beast didn't stop. It began to feed on him while he was still alive.
Even Liuke's immense power felt useless under this brutal assault. He tried to kick and punch, but the creature's massive, tangled antlers scraped against him, locking him in place.
The monster began to tear at the lower right side of Liuke's abdomen. Under the relentless pressure, his unbreakable metallic skin actually started to crack.
Liuke felt the weight of helplessness for the first time. He was trapped.
But then, another terrifying presence emerged from the fog.
A massive saber-toothed tiger, with tusks so long they reached the ground, stepped into the clearing.
And sitting atop was the Wysar, watching the scene with cold, indifferent eyes.