Without pausing for even a breath, the two of them continued to chase the shadow of the great bird soaring across the sky. It veered westward, feathers scattering like fragments of ash in the wind.
"So the Soul Tree must be in that direction," Aisen muttered, the violet hue of his night-lit eyes glinting coldly.
The moment he caught its trajectory, Aisen leaned forward and surged ahead, each step pounding the earth as though springing off the ground, his speed spiking until only streaks of motion trailed behind him on the grass.
Breaking past the dense treeline, he launched himself up a colossal trunk, scaling swiftly with practiced ease.
Every movement was sharp yet fluid, like a wild beast returning to its rightful domain.
The bird shrieked, its cry reverberating through the canopy as it swept past the leaves. In that instant, as it crossed within reach, Aisen twisted, the curve of his blade sketching a silver arc in midair.
The slash was so fierce and fast it tore through the creature's flight path. It screamed in pain, its massive body lurching, balance shattered.
It plummeted, wings flailing violently, straight toward the clearing where Ren stood waiting. He gripped his sword tightly, calm eyes betraying his readiness.
As the vast shadow engulfed him, Ren stepped forward and delivered a precise strike, aiming to finish the wounded beast before it could recover.
But it was cleverer than Ren had expected.
Its colossal wings, wide enough to swallow the forest whole, suddenly spun into a vicious whirl.
A storm burst outward, scattering dirt, dry leaves, and debris into a blinding haze.
Ren narrowed his eyes, lowered his stance, and raised his glowing blade.
He slashed into the storm on instinct, only to slice the curtain of dust and leaves clean in two.
The beast had already twisted out of the blade's reach, crashing into the undergrowth, snapping branches with thunderous cracks.
At that moment, a figure dropped from above. Aisen, descending like a black spear through the dim forest light, thrust his sword straight at the monster's skull.
The strike was cold, merciless, like a judgment meant to end a life.
But then, a strange gust unfurled, warping the air itself as if the creature bent the sky to its will.
The massive shadow burst upward, escaping death by the width of a breath. Aisen's blade bit into the soil instead, vibrating with a low, frustrated hum.
"Damn it…" he growled, clicking his tongue in irritation, then lifted his gaze.
The bird now wavered visibly. Its wings faltered, feathers shedding like burning embers, while blood streaked down its belly in long, gleaming trails.
Under the moonlit mist of the forest, that blood glimmered like spilled rubies scattering across the earth.
Wounded as it was, the creature still forced itself westward, but its grandeur had all but vanished.
Its flightline faltered, unsteady, until… it veered toward the encampment.
Ren froze for a heartbeat. The thought flashed through his mind...it was retreating to seek refuge with the Forest Elves.
"Move," Aisen barked, determination sparking in his eyes.
Ren needed no further urging. He clenched his blade and sprinted after the fading shadow overhead.
They circled back, their pace quickening as flickering lights glowed brighter in the distance.
The encampment came into view, no longer silent but ablaze with scattered fires.
Flames licked up torn tents, black smoke twisting into the night sky like jagged scars ripping through the darkness.
The clash of steel rang out, not a raging battle, but scattered, heavy strikes, like the labored breaths of a dying conflict.
Stepping fully inside, Ren slowed at the sight before him.
Through the wavering firelight, only Forest Elf warriors remained locked in combat with a handful of stray players.
The clash between the two guild factions had already ebbed away. Armored figures stood apart now, weary, their blades lowered though still glistening with blood.
Ren exhaled softly, relief lightening his chest. Amid the chaos, something had finally settled into sense.
Perhaps they had realized that the slaughter only left both sides crippled. Some unspoken truce, some fragile accord, had silenced the madness.
For a fleeting moment, Ren almost felt… fortunate.
He and Aisen cut down the Elves barring their path, leaving behind cries of pain. Players nearby gawked in disbelief.
"Another… another overpowered NPC? First that girl, now this guy?"
"Wait… but the player fighting alongside him, who is he?"
"Never seen him before."
"He's good. Not just keeping up, no, he's winning!"
"But… whose side is he on?"
The whispers tangled together, but Ren and Aisen paid them no mind.
They pressed forward, two silhouettes striding past the stunned onlookers, eyes locked on the faltering bird above.
Suddenly, the beast folded its wings and dove into the camp's heart. The gale from its descent ripped through the tents, flames flaring violently as the fabric whipped apart.
A thunderous impact followed as it slammed into someone, hurling them across the ground.
"Asuna!" Kizmel's voice rang out, laced with both worry and panic.
But she couldn't afford to be distracted as her opponent closed in immediately. Her blade came up just in time, intercepting the enemy's lethal strike.
The clash of metal resounded sharply, sparks scattering into the darkness.
Just then, as Aisen and Ren arrived, Kizmel's opponent stepped into the firelight, a Forest Elf with a gaunt face, high cheekbones sharpening his features into something cold and severe.
His long hair draped over one eye, while the other narrowed into a thin slit, gleaming with calculated malice.
"Falconer." Aisen muttered, his voice dropping low as if naming an old nightmare.
Ren instantly noticed the shift in Aisen's demeanor, his body tensed, his eyes sharp as blades, his grip on his sword tightening.
The air between them grew thick and heavy, heavier than the smoke and flames billowing from the burning tents around them.
Falconer's strikes fell relentlessly, each one precise to the point of predicting Kizmel's every move.
The Dark Elf knight did not falter, but it was clear she was forced to fight at her utmost just to keep up.
Steel clashed, sparks flew, the ground beneath them cracked with every step, their duel so evenly matched it seemed to shake the very air.
On the other side, Asuna was still held down by the massive bird. Its wings beat furiously, stirring dust and tearing rags of canvas across the camp.
Asuna gritted her teeth, struggling to find an opening, but the beast showed none.
Ren's fingers tightened around Windslash's hilt. He knew this was no longer a mere skirmish, Falconer's presence had changed everything.
"I'll help Knight Kizmel. You take care of your friend." Aisen's grip firmed, his eyes flashing, and then he lunged straight toward Falconer.
Ren gave a sharp nod. Without another word, he shifted direction, boots striking hard against the ground as he dashed toward Asuna. Ahead, she was fighting desperately, fending off the giant bird's claws while Forest Elf blades pressed in on her from all sides.
Every beat of Ren's heart pounded in rhythm with the clashing steel, urging him to move faster.
.....
Elsewhere in the camp, not far away, a very different scene had taken shape.
The players of ALF and DKB were no longer slaughtering each other. Instead, they sat in a ragged circle upon the ash-stained ground.
Fires still burned behind them, throwing red light across their grim faces, yet here they were… actually negotiating in the middle of a battlefield.
"I heard the Elf Quest reveals information about the next Boss." Lind leaned on his sword with both hands, voice low and probing as his gaze swept over the circle.
Before anyone could respond, a sharp voice cut through, harsh and certain. "Wrong." Ago snapped, her eyes flashing irritation.
The group froze. Several players blinked in disbelief. Ago curled her lips into a thin smirk and continued, each word hammering their fragile hope into dust:
"That rumor is absolute nonsense. The Elf Quest contains no such detail, not in the Beta, and not here in the official release."
Players from both Guilds exchanged stunned, uneasy looks.
"Then… what the hell are we even doing here?"
"Damn it! If we hadn't wasted time on this stupid quest… we could've already cleared the next floor!"
"Y-You can't trust her," one player shot back, his voice shaky but fierce. "All you Beta Testers are liars!"
"That's right! You hid the info about the Floor 2 Boss!"
Ago closed her eyes briefly, exhaling heavily. "The changes from the Beta… were never our fault."
She lifted her gaze, calm but edged with steel. "I've explained enough. Believe me or don't...it's your choice."
Silence stretched taut as a bowstring. Ago's eyes swept across the circle, pausing on each waiting face.
Her voice hardened, each word piercing: "But there's one thing I don't understand… Why are your Guilds so obsessed with slaughtering each other? If anyone here truly believes I've been deceiving my own clients…" She drew in a deep breath, her shoulders trembling slightly though her eyes never wavered. "…then step forward."
The air pressed down like a weight. No one spoke. Everyone knew how much Ago had sacrificed to provide accurate intel, to prevent needless deaths. She had saved countless lives… and stopped meaningless slaughter from repeating.