The dawn sky over Radiance was still brushed with lavender when Rayne led the Strongest Guild through the eastern gates. Three hard weeks of drills and duels had left their clothes sweat-stained and their packs lighter than they’d have liked, yet every footstep thudded with new confidence. A single carriage rumbled behind them. By noon the rolling farmland ended, melting into scrub and shattered stone. Ahead, a grey curtain shimmered between two lonely watch-towers, the Northern Rift, the place where the Light Continent touched the Shadow Realm. Tetsuo whistled. “Looks like somebody draped a thundercloud over the ground.” Aiko shaded her eyes. “What is that, exactly?” Yoshinori adjusted the strap of his bag and answered in his lecture cadence. “The world-veil. It’s the oldest working barrier on record, keeps every ghoul, goblin, and nameless horror trapped in the mid-plane. If it ever collapsed, all four continents would drown in monsters within a week.” Even Ryuji sobered at that. Up close the veil was neither mist nor stone but a wall of slow-moving ink, flecked with violet sparks. The air hummed; hair lifted from scalps; tiny arcs of static snapped across Yoshinori’s knuckles as he pressed a palm against it. “Whatever forged this,” he murmured, “wasn’t following any law of elemental sorcery I know.” Rayne nodded, resting his broad hand on the S-ranker’s shoulder. “Of course it wasn’t natural, and whoever did forge it probably isn’t around anymore.” He turned, sweeping his gaze over the party “Listen up,” Rayne said, voice carrying over the low wind. “Shunjiro’s somewhere beyond this veil, and every hour we waste is an hour he might face Eclipsed Abyss alone. We march five hours to Shadow Inn I, don’t stray, don’t split. From there it’s seven more hours and we’ll see the Cosmic snowfields.” He drew his great-sword, point resting at his boots, the steel glowing faintly. “You didn’t train for comfort. You trained to survive. Remember those dummies you shattered, those bruises you earned? Out here the targets hit back harder. Stay tight, trust one another, and grow stronger with every mile.” Aiko blew a loud exhale. “I vote we kick this realm’s teeth in and drag Shunjiro home.” Tetsuo punched his stony fist into his palm. “Seconded!” Rayne raised two fingers. “Last chance to turn around.” No one moved. He smiled, stepped forward, and the veil swallowed him like dark water. One by one they followed: Yoshinori sparking, Ryuji grinning, Tetsuo bellowing a challenge, Aiko with a muttered oath of revenge, and finally Itsuki, cheeks pale but eyes steady. The moment they crossed, daylight vanished. A rancid, rain-soaked wind slapped their faces; sour grey clouds crawled across a starless sky. Somewhere far ahead, hidden by twisted trees, faint lantern-lights marked the promise of Shadow Inn I. Their five-hour march had begun. The moment they stepped into the Shadow Realm, each member of the guild fell silent, struck by the surreal landscape before them. It was unlike anything they’d ever seen. Ryuji’s eyes widened with astonishment. “It’s like a never-ending dusk,” he murmured, taking in the grimly beautiful view of twisted, shadow-drenched trees and jagged terrain draped in perpetual twilight. Yoshinori knelt down, pressing his hand against the dark, rocky earth, his gaze analytical. “The ground here feels… wrong. Almost hollow, like it’s waiting for something.” Tetsuo, usually brimming with bravado, looked uneasily toward the distance. “Do you guys feel that?” he asked, rubbing the scar on his face nervously. “It’s like the air itself is watching us.” Aiko shivered, unconsciously tracing the edges of her scar as if to reassure herself. “I swear the shadows move on their own here,” she said quietly, eyes darting around the dim landscape. “Like they’re alive.” Rayne’s voice cut through their observations with a steady, authoritative tone. “The Shadow Realm is corrupted territory. Your instincts aren’t wrong. It’s a place that feeds on doubt and fear. Remember, though, the path is generally safe. We shouldn’t face anything above an A Rank threat. If something stronger appears, particularly anything S rank or higher, don’t engage. Leave it to me, and retreat immediately.” Itsuki remained silent, her eyes distant, locked onto the shifting horizon. Her face was pale, clearly battling an internal turmoil she wasn’t ready to share. The group pressed forward steadily for nearly four hours, each step taking them deeper into the oppressive atmosphere of the Shadow Realm. Suddenly, the sky darkened further, and heavy rain began pounding down, drenching them instantly. Yoshinori shielded his face with his arm. “We can’t keep going in this downpour,” he shouted over the rising wind. He pointed off the path, squinting through the rain. “Look! There’s a cave just ahead, we can take shelter there.” Rayne hesitated, wary. “It’s risky. The paths here have a way of changing if you leave them, even for a moment.” “We’ll keep eyes on the path,” Yoshinori assured him firmly. “From that cave, we still have visibility. It’s safer than trudging blind in this storm.” Reluctantly, Rayne nodded. “Fine, but only until the rain lets up.” They hurried off the path and into the cave. Inside, the air felt colder, damp, and oppressive. Ryuji glanced around, suddenly uneasy. “What if there’s an animal living here?” Rayne shook his head, grimly amused. “Animals don’t exist in the Shadow Realm. If something lives here, it’s probably a goblin.” The word “goblin” sent a chill down the group’s spines. Rayne sat down, never fully relaxing, his eyes scanning the darkness. “Rest quickly. Thirty minutes, tops.” Ten tense minutes passed in silence, broken only by the relentless drumming of rain outside. Suddenly, Rayne stood sharply, hand on his greatsword. “We have company.” “What do you sense?” Yoshinori asked urgently, his lightning sparking subtly around his fingertips. Rayne’s eyes narrowed, analyzing unseen foes outside the cave. “Goblin patrol, ten of them. And one of them… at least SS rank.” Tetsuo’s face lit up in reckless excitement. “Great, some goblin skulls to smash!” “Don’t be dense!” Rayne snapped harshly, turning sharply towards Tetsuo. “This isn’t a fight we should pick. That high-ranking goblin is likely close to the Goblin King. If we anger him, it’ll get messy quickly.” The seriousness in Rayne’s voice made everyone pause. “Just how strong is this Goblin King?” Aiko asked quietly. Rayne’s voice grew tense, his expression grave. “Strong enough that even Kaito would find himself in a close fight. We cannot afford to provoke him.” Yoshinori looked toward the entrance, the rain continuing to pour. “So what’s the plan?” Rayne took a deep breath, hand tightening around his blade. “We remain hidden, quiet, and alert. If they find us, I’ll handle the SS rank myself. Your job is to survive.” The guild members exchanged wary glances, understanding the gravity of Rayne’s words. Itsuki shrank back slightly into the shadows, her eyes hollow and distant, praying that, for once, the darkness would pass them by. The goblins sniffed the air, sharp eyes suddenly narrowing in recognition. A menacing snarl echoed through the cave. Rayne’s posture tightened, every muscle readying itself for battle. “They’ve found us,” he said gravely, his voice carrying the tension of a coming storm. “All of you, run! Don’t look back! Sprint straight to the Shadow Inn, it should take less than twenty minutes!” Yoshinori nodded sharply, urgency burning in his eyes. “We won’t stop. You better catch up soon, Rayne.” “I will,” Rayne assured him, his voice firm but calm. “Now go!” The guild sprinted from the cave, leaving Rayne facing the goblins alone. The towering SS-ranked goblin leader stepped forward, its twisted grin spreading grotesquely. Four smaller goblins advanced with it, each readying crude, vicious weapons. Rayne’s grip tightened around his greatsword. With a surge of energy, he burst forward, the gleaming blade cutting a brilliant arc through the darkness. The goblins barely had time to react before four heads rolled away, bodies collapsing lifelessly to the ground. The goblin leader snarled angrily, eyes blazing. With a guttural shout, it commanded the remaining goblins, “Chase down those pests!” Rayne’s eyes narrowed, recognizing the immediate threat. Only high ranking goblins are capable of speech. This is going to be tough. He lunged toward the goblin leader, forcing its attention solely on him. The goblin charged, a massive palm flying toward Rayne intending to crush him. Rayne sidestepped fluidly, his greatsword flashing upward. A swift slice severed the goblin’s hand, spraying vivid purple blood into the air. The goblin shrieked in pain, staggering backward, cradling its stump. Rayne pressed his advantage relentlessly, his sword strikes swift and powerful. “You underestimated me,” Rayne said coldly, eyes locked onto his opponent’s furious glare. “That’s why you lost your hand.” With a fierce growl, the goblin leader deflected Rayne’s next blows with surprising agility, dodging and weaving despite its injury. Rayne knew dragging out the fight would risk the lives of his guildmates. He couldn’t afford that. Resolve solidified in his gaze. “If surviving means angering your king, so be it!” Rayne declared. Spiritual energy surged within him, coalescing around his sword until it burned with raw, crackling power. Realizing the imminent danger, the goblin leader began to dart desperately from side to side, attempting to make itself an impossible target, jumping swiftly between trees. Rayne focused intensely, his sword now ablaze with brilliant energy. With a sharp exhale, he swung. A dazzling arc of pure spiritual energy erupted from his blade, slicing through trees and darkness alike with unstoppable force. The goblin froze, eyes wide with the terrible realization that escape was futile. The searing wave of energy split the creature in two, both halves dropping lifelessly to the ground. Panting softly, Rayne gathered himself quickly. He immediately sprinted down the path, urgency driving each step as he rushed to catch up with his guildmates. Ahead on the shadowed path, the Strongest Guild raced desperately toward safety. Four goblins pursued them fiercely. Yoshinori glanced back, analyzing the threat swiftly. “One’s S rank! The others are below A!” he shouted to the group. “Ryuji, with me! The rest of you, don’t stop running!” Ryuji grinned fiercely, nodding. “Let’s do it!” Suddenly, he vanished into the trees, disappearing from sight. Yoshinori skidded to a halt, turning sharply to face the incoming goblins alone. Behind him, Aiko slowed slightly, looking back worriedly. “We can’t just-” “Keep going!” Yoshinori yelled firmly. “We’ll handle them. Trust us!” Aiko bit her lip but nodded, continuing onward with Itsuki and Tetsuo. The goblins closed in rapidly, snarling savagely. Yoshinori steadied himself, spiritual energy building rapidly. “Strongest opponent since Suzu,” he muttered to himself, determination lighting his eyes. “I won’t get injured this time.” Yoshinori extended his finger, electricity surging violently around his arm. He released a devastating lightning bolt, a crackling lance of power that shot forth, obliterating three goblins instantly into nothing but smoke and ash. The S-ranked goblin staggered, snarling with pain but surviving, its skin scorched and blistered. Yoshinori smirked slightly. “That’s exactly where I needed you.” From above, Ryuji fell like a meteor, a gleeful smile stretching across his face. His hardened fist, glowing with spiritual energy, collided directly into the goblin’s skull. A sickening crunch resonated through the trees as the goblin’s jaw was completely shattered. Ryuji grimaced playfully, shaking purple goblin blood from his fist. “Gross.” He swiftly finished the goblin with a final blow, ending the threat definitively. Yoshinori approached, extending a firm handshake. “Good job.” Ryuji grinned back widely. “Couldn’t have done it without your set-up. Nice lightning show.” Rayne soon burst into view, breathing deeply as he caught up to them. “I handled the SS rank. You two alright?” Yoshinori nodded confidently. “We took care of ours. They’re all down.” Rayne nodded approvingly, but urgency returned quickly to his expression. “Good. Now let’s move, we have to catch up to the others before something else finds them.” Without another word, the three warriors dashed back onto the path, racing toward their friends, determined to leave the dangers of the Shadow Realm far behind them. Not long after dispatching the goblins, Yoshinori, Ryuji, and Rayne finally caught up to the rest of the guild, breathing heavily but relieved. “Are you guys alright?” Tetsuo asked, concern clearly etched on his face. Yoshinori nodded, giving him a confident smile. “It got dicey, but we managed.” Ryuji smirked, still energized. “We handled those ugly bastards just fine.” Rayne quickly took command, scanning the surroundings cautiously. “We can’t rest here long. Goblin patrols rarely travel alone, more will come soon. Let’s keep moving.” Tetsuo groaned softly. “How much farther is this inn?” “Shouldn’t be much longer,” Rayne assured him. “Just keep moving.” They pressed forward, urgency driving their pace. Soon enough, a glowing barrier dome loomed ahead, signaling their destination. They hurriedly stepped through, the barrier rippling gently as they passed. Inside, everyone halted abruptly, staring around in shock. “Snow?” Aiko murmured, confusion clear in her voice. Tetsuo shivered dramatically. “Great, just what I needed: more cold!” Rayne laughed softly, shaking his head at their reactions. “We’re close to the Cosmic Continent now. This inn is a protective pocket influenced by its climate. If not for the Shadow Realm, we’d already be deep into endless snowfields.” Yoshinori knelt, picking up a handful of snow. It was soft, cool, and strangely comforting. “And you’re telling me this snow never melts?” “Not naturally, no,” Rayne confirmed, eyes glancing toward a small, cozy village within the barrier. “Here, life thrives safely, even surrounded by corruption.” Everyone took in the quaint, welcoming buildings nestled together, their windows glowing warmly against the snowy backdrop. The quiet, peaceful atmosphere felt surreal compared to the oppressive gloom they’d just traversed. “I didn’t think a place like this existed,” Ryuji murmured in awe. “Neither did I,” Rayne admitted softly. “We’ll stay here tonight. Let me arrange our accommodations.” Rayne turned to Itsuki and Aiko. “Ask around about Shunjiro. See if anyone has heard rumors or sightings. Everyone else, rest up and stay alert.” Tetsuo instantly darted toward the large, roaring community fire, sighing loudly in exaggerated relief. “Oh, sweet warmth!” Aiko shook her head, smiling faintly. “At least someone’s happy.” Rayne entered the guild building, nodding politely to the innkeeper, a stout, gray-haired man warming his hands over a small fireplace. “Welcome, travelers. Long journey?” the guild master asked with genuine warmth. Rayne nodded seriously. “Rougher than expected. Any other guilds passed through recently?” The older man shook his head, concern shadowing his expression. “No, you’re the first visitors in weeks. Traffic has slowed to a crawl.” Rayne frowned deeply. “Odd. This route usually sees frequent travel from Radiance to the Stellar Empire.” “Things have grown tense,” the guild master said softly. “Trade between Radiance and the Stellar Empire has practically halted.” Rayne’s brows furrowed. “Relations have worsened that much?” “Aurelius started it,” the guild master explained gravely. “He suddenly closed borders, refusing trade. King Shadis took it as a personal affront. People fear war isn’t far off.” Rayne sighed, rubbing his temples. “I knew tensions existed, but I never imagined Shadis would let it escalate.” The master nodded gravely. “People think Aurelius is plotting something. Rumors fly, whispers of war drums sounding in the Stellar Empire.” Rayne crossed his arms, thinking deeply. “This complicates things. We need to tread carefully from now on.” Meanwhile, Itsuki and Aiko moved quietly through the strangely empty streets, their footsteps muffled by the snow. The eerie silence unsettled Itsuki. “Doesn’t it feel strange here?” she asked softly. Aiko halted, turning sharply to face Itsuki. “You know what’s really strange?” Itsuki blinked, taken aback by Aiko’s sudden seriousness. “What?” “You,” Aiko stated bluntly, eyes piercing into Itsuki’s. “I’ve watched you lately. You’re distant. Something’s wrong.” Itsuki forced a faint smile, masking her discomfort. “I’m fine, Aiko, really.” “Don’t lie to me,” Aiko pressed gently. “We’re all here for you. Don’t bottle it up.” Itsuki hesitated, then sighed softly, the weight of her hidden burdens briefly visible in her expression. “I appreciate that. Really. But right now, we need to find Shunjiro first.” Aiko softened, placing a comforting hand on Itsuki’s shoulder. “Then promise me you’ll talk to him when we find him. And if you even think about getting corrupted, I’m the one who’ll knock sense back into you.” Itsuki laughed softly, genuinely this time. “I believe you. Thank you, Aiko.” At the community fire, Tetsuo stretched out dramatically, practically lying atop the warm stones. “Careful, Tetsuo,” Ryuji teased, nudging him with his foot. “You’ll melt.” “Good,” Tetsuo muttered. “Better melting than freezing solid.” Yoshinori chuckled quietly. “Didn’t think someone who could create armor from stone would be so sensitive to temperature.” “I make armor, not coats,” Tetsuo grumbled good-naturedly, shooting Yoshinori a playful glare. Ryuji leaned back, eyes dancing mischievously. “Maybe Itsuki could knit you something cozy. She’s good with her hands.” “Itsuki’s got enough going on,” Tetsuo said softly, growing serious. “She doesn’t need to worry about keeping me warm too.” Yoshinori nodded, expression thoughtful. “We should all keep an eye on her. She’s trying to carry too much alone.” “We will,” Ryuji assured, sincerity in his voice. “We’ll be there for her.” Rayne rejoined the guild at the fire, observing their interactions quietly before speaking up. “We’ll rest here tonight. Recover and regroup. We still have dangerous territory ahead.” Tetsuo sighed dramatically. “Can’t we stay longer? It’s so warm here.” Rayne chuckled lightly. “Enjoy it while it lasts. Tomorrow won’t be easy.” Aiko glanced at Itsuki, quietly determined. “Tomorrow never is, but we’ll handle it together.” Rayne nodded approvingly. “Good. Remember that unity. It’s your strongest weapon.” Yoshinori smirked slightly, raising an eyebrow. “I thought our strongest weapon was Ryuji’s hard head.” Ryuji grinned, flexing jokingly. “It’s actually these muscles, get it right, Yoshinori.” Their laughter echoed softly through the quiet village, briefly lifting everyone’s spirits. Itsuki smiled faintly, warmth slowly returning to her heart as she listened to her friend’s banter. Maybe, she thought, they truly could face whatever lay ahead, as long as they did it together.