Chapter 162 164: Three Tier 5 Monster

Alix plucks the parchment from the board, reading it over again slowly. A deep voice rumbles beside him. "You lookin' to die?" Alix glances sideways. A thickly built reptilian adventurer — probably a Crocodilian-type monster — stands there, arms crossed, jagged teeth flashing in a grim smile. His scales shimmer dark green under the lantern light. "Everyone who's gone after the Ember Claw lately," the Crocodilian says, jerking his thumb at the board, "ain't come back. Place is a meat grinder. Even Tier 5s been havin' trouble." Alix folds the notice neatly and tucks it into his belt. His voice is calm. "I'll manage." The Crocodilian chuckles, a dry, rattling sound. "Suit yourself. You got guts. Maybe no brains, but guts." Alix tilts his head slightly. "You know anything about this hideout?" The reptilian scratches his snout thoughtfully. "Only that the Ashen Woods ain't right anymore. Used to be just another forest. Now? Magic's thick in the air. Real bad stuff. Word is, the Ember Claw's been diggin' in deep. Traps, sentries, wards. The usual rebel shit — but worse." He leans in slightly, lowering his voice. "And rumor is... they got a new leader. Some real nasty piece of work. Strong. Real strong. Even the enforcers are nervous." Alix's eyes narrow slightly. New leader? The Crocodilian pulls away, laughing. "Anyway. Good luck. If you come back in one piece, drinks are on me." Alix offers a faint smile. "I'll hold you to that." ----- Alix stands at the entrance to the Ashen Woods. Gray mist clings low to the ground, swirling in unnatural patterns as if alive. The trees loom tall and skeletal, their bark blackened like charred bone. The air itself feels wrong — heavy, thick, almost oily against the skin. Whispers drift between the branches, soft at first, then growing louder the deeper he peers inside. Alix watches the forest quietly, his cloak fluttering lightly in the cold, stagnant breeze. What that Crocodilian said... he thinks, eyes narrowing. It's even worse than he made it sound. The soil at the forest's edge is a sickly, grayish black, cracked like dying skin. Strange fungal growths sprout along the roots, pulsing faintly as if breathing. Farther in, he catches glimpses of moving shadows — things that shouldn't even exist — twitching and shuffling between the trees. Most people would have turned around already. Maybe even run. Alix simply steps forward, unbothered. He raises his left hand briefly, feeling the cool, subtle weight of the Null Ring resting against his finger. A divine artifact — small, unassuming, but utterly priceless. With it, curses, poisons, diseases — even most magical corruption under divine-tier — wash off him like water against stone. Alix exhales once, steady, and walks straight into the mists. Immediately, the unnatural pressure tries to settle on him — claws of invisible sickness reaching for his mind, his body, his spirit. But the Null Ring flashes a faint pulse of silvery light. The poison seeps away. The curses crackle and vanish. The diseased air splits harmlessly around him. Nice try, he thinks, pushing deeper. His senses stay sharp. Even though the corruption can't touch him, the dangers here are still real — physical traps, ambushes, enemy scouts. And if the Ember Claw rebels have fortified this place, then they're bound to have monsters loyal to them lurking somewhere close. Minutes pass. The mist curls tighter around Alix, muffling even the sound of his own footsteps. Then — a flicker of movement. Alix's body shifts instinctively. A sharp blur cuts through the mist — fast, aimed straight for his throat. A blade? A claw? Alix's hand moves even faster, snapping up and catching the strike effortlessly. It's a clawed hand, thick with scales, the owner hidden by the haze. The impact rattles the air, sending a small shockwave through the fog. Alix doesn't even flinch. A low growl follows, and from the mist, two more figures burst forth — one from the left, another from above. No hesitation, no words — just clean, practiced violence. Three tier 5. He can feel it in the pressure of their auras, heavy and vicious. Still holding the first attacker by the wrist, Alix tilts his head slightly, voice calm and almost bored. "Finally," he says, his tone edged with faint amusement. "You all decided to come out." He throws the trapped attacker back with casual force — the figure crashes into a tree with a sharp crack of splintering wood. Alix straightens, brushing invisible dust from his cloak. His crimson eyes gleam faintly in the dim light. "I was getting bored out here," he adds, voice carrying through the mist like a blade. The two new enemies land lightly a few paces away, snarling. Now that they are visible, Alix gets a better look. One is a tall, lean creature — almost feline — with sleek black fur and molten yellow eyes. Wickedly curved blades sprout from its arms like natural weapons. The other is a hunched, armored beast, more insect than man, with chitinous plates covering its body and twin scythe-like limbs twitching in anticipation. The first attacker — the one he threw aside — stands up, shaking off the impact. It's a reptilian, larger than the Crocodilian at the guild, with horned scales and a whip-like tail lashing behind him. All three radiate killing intent. All three are staring at Alix with open hostility. "You shouldn't have come here," the feline one growls, voice rough like gravel. The insectoid creature clicks its mandibles together in agreement, the sound sharp and rapid. "You walked into your grave," the reptilian hisses, baring rows of serrated teeth. Alix rolls his shoulders once, a slow, deliberate movement. The Null Ring gleams dully on his finger. Alix lifts a hand lazily, as if brushing aside their threats. "Well," he says, voice light, "I'm not really here to fight you guys." The three monsters stiffen slightly, exchanging quick glances through the mist. Alix's faint smile widens a fraction. "In fact," he continues, "I was thinking... maybe I could join your good deeds. You know — do my part for the cause." For a moment, there's only the whispering mist and the low rasp of breathing. The feline monster narrows its molten eyes, studying him. "You really want to join us?" the feline asks, voice still guarded but tinged with curiosity. Alix shrugs easily, as if the idea is the most natural thing in the world. Before he can answer, the reptilian snarls, tail lashing hard against the ground. "Stop with your nonsense," he snaps, venom dripping from every word. "If you really wanted to join us, you wouldn't come sneaking around here." Alix raises an eyebrow, playing along. "Oh?" he says smoothly. "And why is that?" The reptilian's eyes flash with anger. He steps forward, claws flexing. "Why would I tell you?" he growls, voice low and dangerous. Alix chuckles under his breath — a soft, amused sound that seems to mock them without effort. The mist coils tighter, the tension thick enough to cut. Alix tilting his head slightly. His crimson eyes gleam in the swirling gloom. "You really should be more welcoming to potential allies." The insectoid monster hisses sharply, scythe-like limbs twitching, but says nothing — watching, waiting. Alix lets the silence stretch a moment longer, feeling the weight of their suspicion, their barely restrained aggression. Good, let them think he's just another fool. It'll make everything easier. He smiles again — calm, easy, dangerous. "Well," he says lightly, "if you won't tell me... I'll just have to find out myself." The reptilian roars, lunging first — a blur of muscle and scale, claws flashing. Alix doesn't even move from where he stands. He lifts a single hand, catches the reptilian's wrist mid-swing — the momentum dies instantly, as if the larger monster slammed into an immovable wall. "What—?!" the reptilian snarls, eyes wide with shock. Before he can process it, Alix twists sharply. There's a wet crack as the reptilian's arm dislocates at the shoulder. He screams, staggering backward. The feline is faster, darting in with a blur of black and gold, twin arm-blades aiming for Alix's neck and heart. A clean strike. But Alix steps aside with a casual sidestep, letting the blades whistle past harmlessly. His hand flicks out — a slap, almost lazy. The feline is sent flying sideways like a ragdoll, slamming into the ground hard enough to leave a shallow crater in the soft, corrupted earth. The insectoid hisses in alarm, scythes gleaming as it charges, its movements sharper, more careful. Alix watches him come with mild interest. "You're the smart one, huh," he murmurs. The scythe-armed monster slashes at his midsection in a deadly arc. Alix lets it get close — too close — then pivots slightly, grabbing the scythe arm just as it passes. He yanks. The insectoid's body lifts off the ground with a shocked click, and Alix hurls him headfirst into a nearby tree. The impact splits the trunk in two, sending splinters flying through the mist. The forest goes eerily still for a moment. Alix straightens his cloak with a small tug at the collar, not even breathing hard. The reptilian groans on the ground, cradling his mangled arm. The feline struggles to rise, blood dripping from his mouth. The insectoid twitches among the broken remains of the tree, dazed. Alix steps forward leisurely, his boots barely making a sound against the corrupted soil. His crimson eyes sweep over the three, indifferent. "That's it?" he says, almost disappointed. "I was hoping for at least a warm-up." The reptilian grits his teeth, forcing himself upright, tail whipping the ground in frustration. "What the hell are you?" he snarls, voice shaking with rage and a hint of fear. Alix tilts his head slightly, considering the question. "I'm a Tier 5," he says mildly, brushing a speck of dust from his glove. "Same as you."