The forest was still, except for the crunch of leaves beneath their boots. The Idiot Trio — Kyron, Ali, and Luca — moved cautiously through the fog-draped woods. The silver moonlight cut through the treetops, illuminating their path toward the target listed on their mission card:
"Moonlight Crystal Smiler — Class: High Risk. 37 Hunters confirmed dead."
Luca's voice trembled as he broke the silence.
"Umm… Ali? Why the hell are we doing this mission? We're beginners! Did you forget it said thirty-seven hunters already died trying to kill this thing?"
Ali flashed a confident grin, brushing his black hair aside.
"No problem, man! Those guys died because they weren't idiots like us."
"That's not a good thing!" Luca shot back, horrified.
Ali ignored him, punching his own palm with excitement.
"We're built different, Luca. We need to rank up fast. After one or two high-risk missions, we'll qualify for Elite-coordinated operations! Just imagine—hunting alongside the pillars of humanity!"
Kyron, who had been quiet the whole time, walked a few steps behind them, eyes glued to a small leather-bound book.
Ali glanced back, raising a brow.
"Hey, Kyron. You haven't said a word since we started walking. Why're you reading a book in the middle of the damn forest?"
Kyron looked up, flipping a page.
"This? Oh, it's about a technique called Overheat. It pushes rage to its absolute peak for a short time. It's meant for the Anger Emotion: Dragon Style, but if I can adapt it for my Bird Style, it could boost my power massively."
Luca groaned.
"You're trying to learn a new ability while walking toward a monster cave? You really are insane."
Kyron smirked faintly.
"Says the guy who's shaking like a leaf."
Just then, Luca pointed ahead, eyes widening.
"Hey! Look over there — a cavern! That's gotta be it!"
They followed his gaze. In the distance, an enormous cavern mouth yawned open — jagged, black, and pulsing faintly with a strange blue light from deep within.
Kyron's expression hardened.
"Yeah… that's the one. It's the only cavern marked on the map."
Before Kyron could say another word, Ali puffed up his chest.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's gooo!"
He bolted toward the entrance.
"Wait, Ali!" Kyron and Luca shouted in unison, sprinting after him.
By the time they caught up, Ali was standing in front of the entrance, staring into the abyssal darkness. A cold breeze rushed out from within — carrying the faint echo of whispers.
Luca's knees nearly buckled.
"I–I don't like this… It feels like something's watching us…"
Kyron gripped the handle of his katana.
"Yeah, it's unsettling… but we came this far. There's no turning back now."
Ali scoffed, voice fierce and unshaken.
"Don't act like kids. We've got this. It's just another Smiler."
The three stepped into the cavern.
As they walked, the darkness thickened like liquid. The sound of dripping water echoed around them. Their torches flickered — and then suddenly, the blackness gave way to light.
Thousands of glowing crystals filled the cavern — red, green, blue, and gold — jutting from the walls, ceiling, and floor like stars trapped in stone. The entire cave shimmered, painting them in ethereal colors.
Luca's fear melted into awe.
"Whoa… This place… it's beautiful…"
Ali whistled, running a hand along a glowing crystal.
"Pretty cool, huh? Looks like we found paradise instead of a deathtrap."
He snapped one from the wall, holding it up to the light.
"Man, even these things look expensive. Maybe the Smiler's hiding treasure here."
Kyron didn't laugh. His eyes darted around cautiously.
"No… this isn't right. Remember what the mission card said?"
Ali blinked.
"What?"
Kyron's voice grew low, cold, and serious.
"It said this Smiler deceives its victims with beauty — luring them with light before devouring them in the dark."
The cheerful air froze instantly.
Luca swallowed hard.
"S-so you're saying… this paradise—"
"—is the bait," finished Kyron, gripping his katana.
Ali frowned, the crystal still glowing faintly in his hand.
"Well, if it's bait… then the hunter just became the hunted."
The light of the crystals flickered—then dimmed.
The colors faded to gray.
And from the deepest shadow of the cavern, something moved.
The deeper they ventured into the cavern, the more the air around Kyron began to feel off.
The glittering lights from the crystalline walls shimmered beautifully, yet something beneath that beauty made his instincts scream.
"Guys… I don't think we should be touching anything here," Kyron said carefully, eyes scanning every color-shifting reflection.
"Even these crystals could be traps."
Luca gave a shaky laugh. "You think even touching something will kill us? Man, that's paranoid."
Ali chuckled boldly. "C'mon, Kyron. We came this far for the Crystal Smiler, remember? If we start worrying about every glowing rock, we'll be here all week."
Kyron sighed quietly. He wanted to insist, but he knew neither of them would listen.
Sometimes, being right didn't help when you were surrounded by idiots.
"Let's not stay too long," Kyron finally said. "We're forgetting why we're here."
"He's right," Ali said with a fierce grin. "The Smiler's somewhere in here. The sooner we kill it, the sooner we move up the ranks."
Luca raised a trembling hand. "And the sooner we die, too."
Ali patted him on the shoulder. "Relax. You've got me and Kyron. What could go wrong?"
They ventured deeper, the glowing walls reflecting their steps in dozens of colors. The light shifted and pulsed — blue, pink, green — as though the cavern itself was breathing.
Kyron's gaze caught something glimmering differently than the rest.
A small shard, no larger than his hand, lying perfectly still among scattered stones.
"Hey," Kyron muttered, kneeling. "This one's… different. It's carved — like it was shaped on purpose. Almost like a gift."
Luca tilted his head. "A gift? In a death cave? Yeah, that's not creepy at all."
"Maybe it'll help us track the Smiler," Kyron said, half to himself.
As soon as he picked it up—
CRRRRRACK!
The walls around them erupted with a deafening sound. Shards of crystal rose like barriers, splitting the cavern apart.
Before any of them could react, translucent walls sealed between them — cutting off Kyron, Ali, and Luca from one another.
"AALI! LUCA!" Kyron's voice echoed through the cavern.
"Where are you guys!?"
"Kyrooon!" Luca shouted back. "My path's blocked! I can't see anything!"
"Luca! Kyron! I'm stuck too!" Ali's voice was rough with anger. "These damn crystals — there's no way out!"
Kyron clenched his fists, forcing himself to think.
"Listen!" he shouted. "That Smiler— it's trying to separate us! Stay sharp! Don't panic and don't attack blindly. We'll find each other through destruction. Make as much noise as you can — if you break the crystals, we can find where the others are!"
"Roger!" Ali and Luca's voices echoed in unison.
Kyron took a deep breath. Good. They understood.
But something inside him still felt wrong. This separation wasn't random — it was planned.
Suddenly, a voice whispered from above him.
"Oh well, well… someone's playing leader, aren't they?"
Kyron spun around, katana drawn. The voice dripped with mockery — and it was close.
"You can stop pretending," it continued, echoing like glass scraping against glass. "You think your little orders will matter? I can be everywhere at once."
Something leapt down from the cavern ceiling, landing hard enough to shake the ground. Shards of light scattered across the floor.
When the dust settled, Kyron finally saw it —
A humanoid Smiler made entirely of crystal, its body refracting every color in the cavern.
Its grin stretched unnaturally wide, glowing faintly as light pulsed from its chest.
"So you're the bastard who's been killing dozens of Hunters," Kyron said coldly. "You're the one behind this setup."
"You're quick," the Smiler said mockingly. "But not quick enough."
It tilted its head, the crystalline surface cracking faintly as it moved.
"You see, this isn't even my main body. Just a clone — a reflection of my laughter arts. Your friends might be fighting one right now, thinking you'll come to save them."
It chuckled darkly. "How tragic. They'll die smiling."
Kyron's eyes flared. Flames licked his arms as his anger surged.
"You'll pay for that."
In the blink of an eye, Kyron vanished — Flame Rush.
He reappeared in front of the Smiler, blade blazing red, and slashed downward.
The Smiler raised an elbow to block — but the crystal cracked under the impact.
"Huh?" Kyron smirked. "Guess your little clone trick isn't so tough after all."
"Don't mock me!" the Smiler shrieked, its grin twitching violently. "You'll regret that."
It thrust its hand forward — and light burst from its palm.
"Reflection of Memories!"
A blinding flash engulfed Kyron's vision.
Suddenly — he wasn't in the cave anymore.
Snow fell gently across a small house's porch.
An old man sat beside a Christmas tree, smiling softly at a boy running through the snow.
"Grandpa!" the boy shouted, holding up a snowball. "Why do strong people always die protecting the weak? Aren't they special? Why should they die?"
The old man chuckled, his eyes kind but tired.
"That's because God made strong people just so that they can help those who aren't special like them it's the beauty of nature if everyone was special the word special would lose its meaning and sometimes sacrificing yourself to save others and seeing them thanking and praising you gives a satisfaction nothing can buy or even think of"
The boy frowned. "But the kids at school said I'm useless… that I don't serve any purpose. That I'm not special."
The old man looked at him quietly — then smiled.
"This world lets you choose your worth, Kyron. People may mock you, but God has plans for you — greater than theirs. It's not words that make a man special, but his deeds, so remember my grandson you're special."
"So lift your chin," he said gently, placing a hand on the boy's head. "Smile with confidence. Because you are special — and one day, you'll be the reason someone else smiles."
The vision faded — snow melting into light.
"Grandpa!" Kyron gasped, tears pricking his eyes as reality snapped back around him.
The crystal Smiler was already reforming, its broken shards knitting together with eerie cracks.
"Touching," it mocked. "Memories are such fragile things, aren't they?"
Kyron clenched his sword, fury returning tenfold.
"Yeah," he said quietly, fire roaring to life around him.
"But they're also the reason I'll burn you to ash."
Flames erupted across the cavern as the Smiler grinned wider, its body pulsing with color.
"Then show me," it whispered.
"Show me your rage, Hunter."
The cave filled with fire and light as Kyron charged again, their blades clashing in a storm of sparks and shattering glass.
[To Be Continued]