Into the unknown
At 2 pm, Sylvetta and Aisha arrived at the apartment, and an hour later, Klauss emerged dressed in his classic black hoodie, black coat, black pants, and white sneakers—a signature ensemble that exuded his characteristic style.
As they prepared to depart, Cassius concluded his meditation, the yellow mana slowly evaporating from his body.
To Cassius's surprise, he found himself in the presence of two females, and, embarrassed by his topless state, he hastily ran to his room. The two ladies couldn't help but giggle at the adorable reaction of the young boy.
Simultaneously, Klauss and Cassius stepped out of their respective rooms. Klauss, catching sight of the situation, briefly explained to Cassius what was happening, assuring him that he needed to take care of something important.
Cassius, fueled by determination and a desire to offer support, expressed his intention to accompany Klauss on the sudden expedition.
However, Klauss, in his characteristic manner, paused and delivered a cold reality check. He looked at Cassius's eager eyes, smacked him on the head, and sternly stated, "Don't think because you awakened you can freely join me. You are ten years too young to follow me. Continue training and exercises in the meantime."
Cassius's expression fell as he absorbed the disappointment.
Feeling sympathetic for the young boy, Aisha pleaded with Sylvetta to allow Cassius to join the expedition, assuring that he would remain in the car with her.
After a moment of contemplation, Sylvetta sighed and relented, "Fine, you can come with us, young one, but you have to behave and not add any more stress to an already difficult situation. If you are good, I will give you a surprise."
Klauss remained adamant in his decision to leave Cassius behind, but the combination of Cassius's cuteness and Aisha's persistence paid off.
The group left the apartment, entered the car, and headed to the gate's location in the Sentinel district, the same district as Klauss's apartment. The journey would take around 20 minutes, setting the stage for an expedition that promised both mystery and danger.
Upon reaching the gate's location, the gate entrance was situated in a carefully cleared-out park, secured by THA security with absolute discretion. The area was devoid of any bystanders, ensuring a quiet and discreet entrance for Klauss.
Before stepping out of the car, Sylvetta handed him a stone and explained, "Take this, it's a return stone that allows you to quickly exit the gate in case of an emergency. Use it only if you have to. I'm counting on you, Klauss!"
Her words were brief yet sincere, conveying the gravity of the mission.
With everyone offering their good luck wishes, Klauss coolly exited the car and walked towards the entrance of the gate. As he stood before it, uncertainty loomed, but Klauss remained undeterred, his excitement fueled by the mystery that lay beyond.
The gateway to the unknown awaited him, and the adventure had only just begun.
The gate entrance stood out with its unusual characteristics—it was bright red, circular, and emitted an unstable glow, distinct from normal gate entrances.
Despite its abnormalities, Klauss, facing such phenomena, remained unfazed. Stepping into the gate, he found himself in an entirely different environment—a swamp.
The air in the swamp carried a distinctive smell of damp earth and decaying vegetation. The environment was shrouded in mist, with thick, tangled vegetation surrounding Klauss.
The ground beneath him was soft and muddy, making each step a careful maneuver. As Klauss expanded his vision with mana to gain a clear and precise read on the terrain, he noticed live forms in the distance.
Amidst the murky waters and dense vegetation, mysterious creatures lurked, their presence adding an element of intrigue and potential danger to the swampy landscape.
As Klauss discreetly approached a creature in the distance, he discerned the figure of a lizard with a humanoid form—it was a lizardman. These creatures were roughly the size of an average man, yet their bodies resembled that of an alligator, featuring scales, a long tail, and powerful limbs.
They carried spears and shields, showcasing a primitive yet effective form of weaponry. Their faces were marked by an unsettling ugliness, with snake-like tongues flickering from their mouths.
The lizardmen communicated in a language unfamiliar to Klauss, using hisses, clicks, and other sounds that seemed to mirror the hiss of a snake. Their communication appeared to be distant and complex, suggesting a social structure and organization among these swamp-dwelling lizardmen.
As Klauss observed them from a concealed position, the mysterious and potentially hostile nature of this realm became even more apparent.
Remaining concealed within the shadows of the swamp, Klauss observed the lizardmen, attempting to decipher their patterns and attitudes. The level of communication and coordination among them surprised Klauss.
Their movements suggested a degree of intelligence that warranted caution. Despite being in a rank D gate, their appearance and behavior hinted at a potential formidable challenge, considering the typical strength associated with D-rank monsters.
Klauss, while confident in his own strength, intelligence, and agility, recognized the importance of caution. He could easily overpower and defeat these monsters.
But overconfidence could prove to be a mistake this early into the expedition, and so he continued to assess the lizardmen from the shadows, weighing the potential risks of interaction with these intelligent creatures in the unfamiliar and challenging environment of the swamp.
The balance between curiosity and caution guided Klauss as he navigated the enigmatic realm beyond the gate.
As Klauss maneuvered through the large and dense swamp, he keenly observed the lizardmen moving in groups of 4 or 5. Within each group, one lizardman took on the role of a leader, constantly issuing orders, talking, and gesturing to coordinate the actions of the others.
The level of intelligence displayed by the lizardmen intrigued Klauss, but his curiosity extended to understanding their fighting style.
Deliberately stepping out of the shadows, Klauss positioned himself in front of a group of 5 lizardmen. He sought to engage directly with them, eager to witness firsthand their combat tactics and assess their capabilities.
Despite the potential risks, Klauss's curiosity and confidence propelled him to confront the lizardmen, prepared for whatever challenges might arise in this mysterious and dynamic swamp environment.
The squad leader notices the appearance of Klauss in front of them and alerts the others to the impending danger. Reacting swiftly, they encircled Klauss, the majority wielding spears and shields, while the leader held a peculiar, longbow-like weapon.
Instead of launching an immediate attack, the lizardmen attempted to communicate with Klauss, but their hissing language remained incomprehensible to him. Klauss smirked at their continued hissing, resembling the angry growls of dogs.
In an attempt to provoke a reaction, Klauss threw a lazy kick at one of the lizardmen. His intention wasn't to engage in a full-fledged fight but to trigger them into attacking him.
As his kick approached, the group leader emitted another hiss, signaling a change in their demeanor. The lizardmen swiftly transitioned into an attack stance, their shields held high in front of their chests and spears poised on top—a spectacle reminiscent of scenes from a gladiator movie.
The swampy arena was set for a confrontation between Klauss and the intelligent lizardmen.
"Oh ho," Klauss exclaimed, genuinely impressed by the lizardmen's quick and coordinated reaction. As Klauss observed the lizardmen in their gladiator-like stance, the leader swiftly shot an arrow in his direction.
Effortlessly, Klauss dodged the projectile. Seizing the opportunity, one of the lizardmen rushed him from his blind spot, thrusting his spear. Klauss evaded with practiced agility, repeating the maneuver as another lizardman attempted the same attack.
The dance of evading and thrusting continued, allowing Klauss to grasp the lizardmen's fighting style. They exhibited a simple yet effective fighting style that suited them and their choice of weapon, striking a balance between offense and defense.
The group leader occasionally attempted to distract Klauss, but to him, it felt like child's play.
Suddenly, Klauss seized the spear of a lizardman that thrust at him, exhibiting impressive strength. With a powerful pull, he brought the lizardman closer, causing him to lose balance.
In a swift and acrobatic motion, Klauss executed a flip, flipping the lizardman over and leaving him sprawled on his back. As the lizardman looked up at Klauss in surprise, Klauss responded with a sinister smile.
In a decisive move, he thrust the lizardman's own spear straight into his mouth, concluding the encounter with a dramatic and effective maneuver. The swampy arena bore witness to Klauss's skill and dominance over the intelligent but ultimately outmatched lizardmen.
The sight of Klauss's swift and brutal takedown of one of their own sent shockwaves through the group of lizardmen. Shivers ran down their spines as they witnessed the ruthless efficiency of the human intruder.
Standing tall, Klauss locked eyes with the group leader and declared, "One down, four more to go. Who's next?" The weight of his words would have more punch if the lizardmen could understand him, but the intent behind his challenge was unmistakable.
As they looked upon their fallen comrade, rage overcame the remaining lizardmen. Their eyes transitioned from brown to bright red, reflecting their intense fury.
Surprisingly, they didn't retreat at the sight of overwhelming might; instead, they abandoned their intelligence, charging at Klauss like mad bulls. The sudden shift broke their formation, providing Klauss with an advantage.
However, Klauss noticed something was amiss. The blind rage exhibited by the lizardmen wasn't characteristic of their usual fighting style.
Although Klauss sensed an anomaly within the lizardmen, he recognized the immediate threat and prepared to face these now-feral beasts.