Just outside the city limits, near the grand Wolfe Family mansion, lay the entrance to their private secret realm. Unlike the academy's nearby training zones, this realm was a bit farther away, reached by a well-maintained road that curved through peaceful woods and rolling hills. The Wolfe Family had built the road carefully to allow easier access for their invited guests and paying challengers.
The mansion itself was a large stone estate surrounded by tall trees and manicured gardens. Beyond the mansion's gates, a smaller, sturdy gate marked the entrance to the secret realm. Guards stood by the gate, checking tickets and ensuring only those with proper permission could enter.
Inside the secret realm, the terrain was wild and untamed, meant to test the skills and instincts of Beastmasters. Dense forests, rocky outcrops, rushing streams, and uneven trails formed a natural maze that demanded alertness and strategy.
Inside, the realm was divided into zones:
Outer Zone: Home to medium-level beasts like Stone-Tusk Boars and Wind Lizards, which challenged speed and reflexes.
Middle Zone: Populated by packs of Shadow Hyenas and Gale-Fanged Wolves, requiring teamwork and strategy.
Inner Zone: Where stronger creatures such as Wind Drakes and Crystal-Back Gorillas roamed, pushing Beastmasters to their limits.
Rumors spoke of a powerful apex beast, the Night Howler, known for its stealth and speed, though few had actually encountered it.
Entry to the realm required a one gold coin ticket per person, purchased at the Wolfe Family ticket counter near the mansion's gate. The ticket allowed a single entry, and strict guards ensured no one entered without it. For a small fee of 10 silver coins, challengers could buy a basic booklet describing the beasts and environment, though detailed maps and strategies cost a steep 10 gold coins—a price most students couldn't afford.
Leon looked toward the gate, ticket in hand, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead. The road was easy enough to walk, but what lay beyond would push them all.
Leon handed their tickets to the guard, who gave them a quick once-over before nodding and swinging the gates open with a creak.
Beyond the stone gate was a shimmering space gate — a swirling portal of radiant light and shifting colors. It hummed softly, a gateway to another world waiting just beyond.
"Here goes nothing," Leon said, stepping forward.
One by one, they stepped through the space gate. The light wrapped around them like a cool mist, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to blur and shift.
When the light faded, they found themselves standing inside the secret realm.
Wild and untamed, the landscape stretched out before them — towering trees with thick branches, dense bushes, and patches of moss-covered ground. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, mixed with a faint, sharp tang that set Leon's senses on high alert.
Layla glanced around nervously, her eyes scanning the forest canopy while Jacob's gaze was sharp, taking in every shadow.
Tall trees formed a thick canopy overhead, filtering sunlight into scattered beams that danced across the forest floor. Distant calls echoed through the woods, and occasional rustling hinted at unseen creatures watching from the shadows.
"It's like the whole place is alive," Layla whispered.
Leon nodded. "Exactly why we need to stay sharp."
With cautious steps, they moved forward, every snap of a twig or rustle amplified in the quiet wilderness. Leon's thoughts drifted briefly to their beasts, safely resting in their own beast spaces — connected but apart, waiting for their call.
His eyes caught a flicker of movement between the trees — something swift, silent, and watching.
Leon glanced around, then gave a short nod. "Summon your beasts. Better safe than sorry."
In three brief flashes, Ember, Tiki, and Jacob's dark-coated Panther appeared beside their respective masters, each beast instantly alert and scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.
No words were needed. The atmosphere spoke for itself — tense, quiet, ready to explode at the snap of a twig.
They moved forward cautiously, boots crunching over dry leaves, eyes peeled for movement.
Not even after taking a few steps, they heard a rustling sound coming from the left.
They froze, eyes narrowing as the bushes rustled again. The leaves ahead stirred unnaturally—piling up, twisting—something was tearing through the undergrowth, fast and purposeful, heading straight toward them.
Leon narrowed his eyes and muttered sharply, "Get ready to fight."
Then, from between the shifting leaves, they finally saw it—a wind lizard about a meter and a half long, its sleek body darting across the undergrowth. Its crimson eyes gleamed with hostility, locked onto them, and its muscles coiled, ready to pounce at any moment.
Leon's eyes narrowed as he quickly activated the Beast Codex in his mind. A translucent panel of information flashed before him.
Name: Wind Lizard (Demonized)
Level: Early Bronze
Skills: Wind Blade, Tail Sweep
Evolution Route: Can't evolve
Layla's brows furrowed. "Demonized? But we've never seen a demonized beast in the Novice Secret Realm…"
"Maybe those Iron-level monsters are too useless to be Demonized," Leon muttered, eyes narrowing as the Wind Lizard closed in.
"Layla, use Fiery Gust to disrupt its rhythm," Leon strategized, eyes sharp. "Jacob, wait for an opening and sneak attack."
Layla commanded, "Tiki, unleash Fiery Gust!"
From Tiki's beak burst a swift gust of wind, laced with flickering flames. The fiery wind slammed into the wind lizard, stopping it dead in its tracks. Frustrated, the creature let out a sharp, howling cry.
"Ember, fireball!" Leon shouted, his voice cutting through the tension.
With a fierce roar, Ember's paws glowed bright as he unleashed a blazing fireball straight at the fallen wind lizard, engulfing it in roaring flames. The heat and light forced the beast to writhe in agony, clearly overwhelmed by the combined attack.
"Tiki, use Blazing Cyclone to finish it!" Layla commanded.
Tiki spread her fiery wings wide, spinning rapidly as flames whipped around her in a fierce cyclone. The blazing vortex tore through the stunned wind lizard, engulfing it completely and forcing the beast to collapse, defeated.
"Huff… it's dead. Not that hard," Layla said, catching her breath but smiling confidently.
"Don't take it so lightly," Leon warned, wiping sweat off his brow. "It's just an early Bronze-level monster, but that doesn't mean we can get careless. We need to stay sharp."
Layla nodded, her eyes scanning the surrounding trees. "Yeah, you're right. If this one was already demonized, who knows what tougher beasts we'll face deeper inside."
They carefully removed the sharp claws from the fallen wind lizard, knowing these could be useful materials for crafting or trading later.
Leon nodded as he pocketed the lizard's claws. "Let's keep moving. We already got the spiritual essence (heavenly reward,used to increase level) from that kill—and the claws, too. Not bad for a start."
Leon's voice turned serious.
"Be careful."
They moved cautiously through the dense underbrush, taking down lone monsters one by one. Occasionally, a small pack crossed their path—nothing too big or overwhelming—and they handled those with careful coordination. But whenever they caught sight of larger groups, they made sure to keep their distance, knowing better than to get caught in a dangerous fight this early on.
"It's getting late. We should get out of the secret realm," Leon said, glancing up at the darkening sky.
"Yeah, it'll only get more dangerous once night falls," Layla added, tightening her grip on Ember's reins.
Jacob nodded, "Better safe than sorry. Let's head back before things get tricky."
With that, they began making their way toward the gate, alert and ready for anything.
"Aahh… upgrading is way harder than I thought," Layla groaned as they stepped out of the secret realm.
Leon gave a tired smile. "Yeah, we didn't even hit intermediate Bronze this time."
Jacob sighed. "Feels like there's a long way to go before we get truly strong."
Layla crossed her arms, still a little frustrated. "Guess we've gotta keep grinding. No shortcuts here."
Leon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We don't have the money to come back here anytime soon. We really need to figure out how to earn some cash."
Layla nodded in agreement. "Yeah, no point pushing ourselves if we can't even pay the entry fee."
Jacob glanced at them both. "Alright, let's head home and think things through."
With that, the three of them turned away from the secret realm's entrance and started walking back toward the city.
By the time Leon and Layla got home, darkness had fully settled outside. The cozy warmth of the house was a sharp contrast to the chill of the evening air. They sat down to dinner with their parents, the quiet clatter of dishes filling the room as they shared a few simple words about their day. Nothing about the secret realm or the danger—just enough to keep their parents at ease.
After dinner, both siblings retreated to their rooms, minds heavy with thoughts, ready to rest but far from relaxed.