The endless fog surrounded the entire forest; wherever you looked, there was nothing but mist. You could see a few trees here and there. Checking the map again, I verified that we were heading in the right direction.

The fog in some places was as thin as air, but it could turn terribly cold. Of course, that would depend on the beast in the area; Zone 2 is much more sinister. The biggest danger is being taken by surprise.

"Help!" "Help!" "Help!" "Help!"

The endless silence was interrupted by a cry for help. Normally, the first reaction is to run to assist, but this place is far from normal. You can't check what lies beyond your line of sight. You don't know what's happening. The cry was very human, almost the voice of a girl. Gripping the sword hilt tightly, I look in the direction of the sound.

Right in front of us, I had a strong urge to run and save a "girl," but how can she be in a place like this? It's impossible. That thing is not human at all.

"Help!" "Help!" "Help!" "Help!"

I can't feel its presence.

"Help!" "Help!"

Another different voice.

"Help!" "Help!" "Help!"

And another one joined the plea for help. There are four voices in total, four beasts, and I can't sense any of them. This damn fog makes things difficult. They're in four directions: front, back, right, and left. We're surrounded. I can't hear their footsteps.

"Don't go far," I tell Elsa.

My sense activates, and I turn upwards. With a quick thrust, I make my attack, but it collides with nothing but mist. They can't be specters. They're not in this area, so they must be corporeal. There should be something tangible to cut. Feeling another attack from my right, I make another strike, but again, I cut nothing.

I don't understand what kind of ability they have, but I can feel it's dangerous. My senses don't fail. Somehow, I feel I must defend myself from that strange ability they possess.

"Elsa, launch a projectile forward, approximately 20 meters," I tell her. I have a feeling that, somehow, the fog surrounding us also belongs to their ability. So, if this is true, the ability they possess somehow traps us like a kind of prison. They're playing with our minds. The reason for this is the voices they used; they all belonged to children.

Secondly, as long as we're under their game, we have to be alert. And since they attack with whatever ability it may be, we are under pressure, and I can feel how they somehow absorb my mana. If this continues, I could run out of mana, although it wouldn't be a problem for me, I won't just sit idly by.

So, if the projectile somehow collides with the fog and can't pass through my field of vision, we are effectively in some kind of dome.

Around Elsa's hands, a small ice projectile forms, and with a little push, she launches it forward.

Bang!

The projectile doesn't travel more than 10 meters from our position and crashes as if there's a wall, confirming my theory. We are trapped. Putting aura on my sword, I advance with a diagonal attack and cut the dome we're in.

Clank!

The fog shatters, and we can see even more mist. But this is real. We're no longer under their ability. Activating my senses, I can feel the presence of all four. Quickly grabbing my sword covered in black flames, I run forward. The fog around me becomes cold and tense.

Looking up, I see their appearance: they're very large, about 2 meters tall, with extremely long arms and legs, covered entirely in gray fur from head to toe.

"ROARRRRRRRRRRRRR!" it roars, and the hairs around its mouth shake. It moves its hand quickly, and its 50-centimeter claws become visible. The claws come at me at maximum speed.

Clink! Swish!

Sparks flare with our clash around us. Hearing footsteps behind me, Elsa attacks with another projectile, but the three presences are running in our direction. Apparently, the roar it released was to call its friends.

"Stand in the rear," I shout to Elsa. Feeling another attack coming from behind, I react quickly, performing my footwork.

Swoosh! Boom!

The force of its attack is brutal. Damn it, how can they have such strength in their arms?

"ROARRRRRRRRRRRRR!" footsteps sound from my right and left simultaneously.

Cursing, I quickly disappear from the spot.

Booooom!

The ground cracks, the fog disappears, and I can see that all four are identical to each other. Landing on the ground, I grab my sword with both hands. Looking in my direction, all four come running toward me.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Every time they run, the ground shakes. If you could see the ground, surely their footsteps would be visible.

"ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" "ROARRRRRRRR!"

All right, bastards, come at me, I think internally. Let's have some fun.