Is that a Wisp?

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"This is…?" Now, Krune was wholesomely confused as he looked around, finding himself smack dab in the middle of a city. 

Wherever he looked around, there were people streaming about in large numbers. He also noticed some demon beasts strutting about in their bulky physiques. However, they were too far and few in-between. 

The mechanical voice resounded once again around the people that arrived at the place. "Fifth Mission: Hunt the three apparitions."

The moment no time limit was announced, Krune could feel a collective sigh in relief around his surroundings. In their minds, they thought that it would be fine if they weren't constricted by time. 

But surprisingly, Krune only frowned at this. After all, whenever the time limit wasn't announced, it meant that the mission was too difficult. And as he had expected, it was indeed so. 

After all, details related to the mission were posted all over the city on large televisions. Krune looked at the information posted on one television. "First apparition: Nightmare Demon Wolf. Physique-wise, they aren't any different from regular wolves. But, the moment you close in on one, you would fall asleep and be subjected to nightmares. Unless you're carried to safety by someone else, you would be preyed upon by the Nightmare Demon Wolves that roam in packs. The greater the number of Nightmare Demon Wolves in a pack, the stronger the subjected nightmare."

"Second apparition: Fear Serpent. Hunting them is by far the most difficult. After all, the moment you close in on them, you would be subjected to intense fear. Even the bravest among people failed to kill one. The Fear Serpent is the reason hardly anyone managed to clear the fifth trial."

'So, this is where everyone is prevented from proceeding forward.' Krune frowned, realizing how difficult it was to obtain a Spiritual Mark. After all, Old Peun had gone through more than forty trials before obtaining his Spiritual Mark. 

And this was just the fifth trial. So, the spike in difficulty was too much. 

'Even though the Fear Serpent is dangerous, this is even worse.' Krune shuddered, fearing the opponent that was relatively easier for others to hunt. "Third apparition: Poison Spectre. Sporting an ethereal form, they can pass through matter, unaffected by most attacks. Upon coming into contact with a living being, the poison of the Poison Spectre corrodes their bodies, eventually turning them into Spectres as well."

"This is too dangerous," Krune shuddered as he muttered. After all, based on what he read, it took time for the poison to convert flesh into an ethereal form of the Spectres. However, Krune only had his Wisp Core that emitted some energy to condense his ethereal form. 

With that, the moment he came into contact, he would instantly turn into a Poison Spectre, a mindless creature that instinctively flew towards any living being. He didn't wish to become anything like that. 

Krune hurriedly hid within a crevice nearby while shrinking his ethereal form, listening to a couple of people speak. He immediately judged based on their getup and presence that they were someone who had a lot of experience at the place. 

Sporting a red hat, the man who was in his late twenties spoke, "It has been three years since we arrived here. We hunted the Nightmare Demon Wolf using traps. Thanks to the Sun Stones we obtained, we managed to kill the Poison Spectres relatively easily as well. But the Fear Serpents…"

"They live in their colossal den and never exit it. And, their effect of fear pervades even outside their den to a certain extent. But even before setting foot inside, we would be subjected to fear and flee the area."

"It just feels like butting heads at a wall."

"The Fear Serpents never leave their den. So, we can't even kill them using traps."

"I heard someone is organizing a raid party to hunt the Fear Serpents. Let's check it out and see what they have planned."

"Hopefully, they have a way to pass this place."

'What have they planned?' Krune was curious as he tailed after the two veterans, soon arriving at the place where a group of people had huddled together. It was in front of an entrance to a massive building, the plaque atop which read, 'Celestial Forge.'

There was a clamor at the place as the people that were barred from entering argued with the guards at the place. Suddenly, the doors opened as a man calmly walked out, causing shouts of surprise to resound from the crowd. 

"It's Gangli!"

"The executioner, Gangli?"

"So, even he joined the Celestial Forge."

"Of course, even he is helpless against the Fear Serpent."

"I heard he managed to enter the serpent den once, though? Why is he still here?" One of them expressed his confusion. 

"I have no idea. Something must have happened."

"If even the rumored iron-hearted Gangli has failed, then…"

As the discussions continued to increase in pitch while rumors were circulated, Gangli calmly expressed himself, "Our Celestial Forge plans to conquer the Fear Serpents and clear this round. Also, we'll be recruiting talented folks into our fold. However, please note that we have limited slots. So, if you wish to become one of us, you'll have to prove yourselves."

"What do you need to test?" One of the people in the crowd, a man with a massive stature surpassing two meters walked forward, hulking Gangli as his shadow covered the other party. "Whatever it is, I, Storvin, would succeed."

"It's simple. Our objective is the Fear Serpents, so we'll test your mettle accordingly." Gangli flashed a smile as he continued, "I've placed some flags at the entrance of the serpent den. There are twelve flags in total, which is the total number of people we would be taking with us. Bring a flag, and you'll become one of us automatically."

"What? Is he for real?"

"How can we head there?"

"That's too dangerous!"

"That's all." Gangli laughed, pointing at some people that already begun to head towards the serpent den. "There are indeed talented people among us."

Upon seeing such a scene, the rest of the crowd clamored, beginning to head towards the Serpent Den. 

"Damn it, it's just the entrance.. I should be able to manage somehow."