The thunder wolves, pack-type monsters with dark grey fur, a single jet black horn on their foreheads, grey pupils, and large three-inch canines, approached the swamp where Alex had drowned.
But they found no sign of him.
All they saw was the lifeless body of the red-bellied toad floating in the murky water.
Instinctively, they kept their distance—its poisonous nature was well known.
After circling the area for a while, the wolves eventually retreated into the forest.
In the dense wilderness of the Yellow Zone, nightfall brought a suffocating darkness. Beneath the thick swamp, Alex lay motionless, his body completely enveloped by a mysterious energy.
This strange power formed a protective barrier around him, keeping the mud and filth of the swamp at bay. Not a single drop touched his skin.
He remained unconscious, suspended in a state between life and death.
Within his mind, Alex's thoughts replayed the pain and suffering of his short life.
Just ten years old and already burdened by immense loss—his sister's death, his father's disappearance, and the cruelty of the world.
Betrayals that came without warning.
He had endured brutal training alone in a cave, far from the warmth of human contact.
His mother had abandoned him at the age of four.
A child that age should have been innocent and carefree—but Alex had been forced to grow up too fast.
Despite it all, he had chosen to help and protect his party, revealing his powers without hesitation. For the first time, he had opened his heart to someone… and was stabbed in heart.
Literally.
At the Hunter's Guild, William and the two girls returned, presenting the red-bellied toad's heart as proof of their completed mission.
The receptionist handed them a form confirming the successful completion of a D-rank task.
From there, they headed to the Inner City, where the teleportation gates were located.
The Inner City walls towered 20 meters high and were 6 meters thick, with armored sentries patrolling their length. In front of a massive black metallic gate stood guards clad in shining armor. As William's party approached, one of the guards raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"Low-rank hunters are not allowed entry," the guard stated firmly.
"My name is William Roarhart," William said with a proud smile, revealing his Elemental Excellence Academy badge.
The guard's demeanor changed instantly. He bowed deeply. "Apologies, young master," he said, immediately ordering the gate to be opened.
They walked in like victors.
Not one of them spared a thought for the boy they left behind.
Back at the swamp, days turned into nights, and nights into days. Alex remained submerged, still encased in the dark purple, swirling energy.
Though unconscious, his mind was trapped in a cycle of haunting memories.
His body, however, was healing. The spike that William had driven into his chest still lingered, its tip resting mere millimeters from his heart—no thicker than a sheet of paper. It had failed to pierce his heart only because Alex had reforged his body with golden leaves, strengthening his physical form.
The wound had already begun to heal.
The poison from the red-bellied toad had been absorbed and neutralized by his dark elemental power. As the toxins faded, the wound closed around the spike. Drawing on his wood elemental power, Alex's body gradually pushed it out.
Though his physical injuries had healed, he remained lost in his nightmares.
The dark purple aura surrounding him kept him in a state of suspended stasis.
This power wasn't ordinary—it was ancient and rare.
Alexander Veylor was a descendant of the Mysterious Veil Clan, a bloodline known for wielding time and space abilities.
His father, Jack Veylor, had been cast out of the clan after the death of its patriarch , Alex's Grandfather.
At the time, Jack had shown no signs of possessing the clan's unique powers. Only after leaving did he awaken a short-range spatial ability known as "Blink."
For members of the Veylor bloodline, their powers often awakened during moments of unbearable anguish.
And in his torment, Alex had unknowingly unlocked this dormant force.
Months passed. Animals came and went near the swamp.
The red-bellied toad's corpse slowly decayed and sank into the earth.
Then, after six long months, deep beneath the swamp and surrounded by eternal darkness—
Two glowing purple eyes suddenly opened.