A Leader’s Last Command    

It was the first time Horizon laid eyes on Vodgo, the leader of the Amberskin tribe. The sight was unsettling.

Vodgo's once proud features were now ghostly pale, his lips tinged with a sickly violet, and his nails darkened as if they were the last remnants of life slowly draining away. The stench of death clung to him, a grim reminder of his nearing end.

From what Horizon had heard, Vodgo was an old traditionalist, a relic of a bygone era, kidnapped from his homeland decades ago. He was the longest-surviving member of the Amberskin tribe. In his youth, Chief Vodgo had been an apprentice to the tribe's founders, the Fulgenreavers Adventurer Band.

Yet now, like everyone else, he was in the dark about the nature of his illness. Despite this, he seemed ready to face death as it approached.

Standing vigil behind him was his personal guard, Nukkos. With his Orcish blood, Nukkos was among the strongest members of the tribe. He was a silent sentinel, his presence a clear statement of loyalty and strength. Nukkos believed that the tribe's unity must remain intact, regardless of who would eventually take up the mantle of leadership.

Though his health was failing rapidly, Vodgo still had the strength to converse. His voice, though weak, carried the weight of authority. "Von, what brings you here? Is that the newcomer everyone's been whispering about?"

"This is Horizon," Von introduced. "He's from Eternia, like me. He was dragged here by the dragons."

Vodgo let out a raspy laugh that quickly dissolved into a painful cough. "Ah, fate seems to have a twisted sense of humor. I'd love to chat more, but as you can see, my voice betrays me. What is it that you need from me?"

Von's expression turned serious. "There's something urgent. We encountered Nix'udjar dragonkin near the Cleave — seven of them, just outside our entrance."

Nukkos listened intently, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the dragonkin. While he understood the gravity of the situation, he remained silent, considering it elder business that was not his to meddle in.

Vodgo's tired eyes narrowed in thought. "That is concerning," he finally said. "They haven't been sighted near our home in years. Mindless as they may be, they've never strayed this far before."

The room fell into a heavy silence as Vodgo's words hung in the air, the implications clear to everyone present. This was more than just a random occurrence — something was stirring in the depths of the Catacombs, and it was only a matter of time before it reached their doorstep.

Von's eyes lit up with hope. "Then . . . you'll—"

"However, I am in no shape to lead," Vodgo interrupted, shattering Von's hope with a single sentence.

"In truth, Rysamora has already informed me of this issue, and I share her concerns. The tribe is in a fragile state, and any disturbance could bring unrest. But if this is investigated privately, I believe that would be fine."

Von's smile returned, a flicker of relief in his eyes. "I knew you'd understand."

"I'm leaving this in your hands, Von. For now, I have another pressing matter — choosing a successor."

Von's smile faded as quickly as it had come. "Y-you . . . what?"

"Let's face it," Vodgo said, his voice strained, "any moment now, I'm going to die." He was seized by a violent coughing fit, his frail body shaking with the effort.

Nukkos immediately stepped forward, his massive form blocking Von and Horizon from getting any closer. "The chieftain needs rest."

"Right," Von agreed, quickly pulling Horizon out of the chamber.

As they stepped back into the dimly lit corridor, Von let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Poor Vodgo. He's been a strong leader, but I guess even the strongest succumb to illness."

"What's our next move?" Horizon asked. "Shall we search for the Twilight Flowers or investigate the Nix'Udjars' unusual activity?"

"We'll do both," Von replied, a grin spreading across his face. "We'll find the Twilight Flowers, investigate the Nix'udjar, and maybe even find a way out of here. Now that we have Vodgo's blessing, we can leave the Cleave whenever we want and take as long as we need without the elders' interference."

Suddenly, a notification appeared before Horizon's eyes:

[QUEST! Collect Twilight Flower x10

REWARDS: 5 AP, Twilight Flowers x5, 100 gil]

Horizon barely flinched at the pop-up quest, having grown used to them over time. Some quests had time limits, while others didn't. This one seemed open-ended, so he could take his time.

Quests usually appeared when he accepted requests from others, and there were also special missions that triggered based on his interactions with this world's inhabitants — just like the conversation with Vodgo earlier.

|| SPECIAL MISSION ||

Investigate the Nix'Udjars' movements and discover why they've started encroaching on the Cleave.

REWARDS:

❶ Gold Chest x1

❷ Silver Chests x2

❸ 100 AP

❹ 1000 gil

|| E N D ||

Horizon's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the Gold Chest reward. That meant this mission was tougher than most.

These special missions rewarded chests of different colors, each containing items of varying rarity. A Gold Chest was a rare find, promising something truly valuable.

Bronze Chests contained common items. 

Silver Chests held rare treasures. 

Gold Chests were coveted for their very rare items. 

Mythical Chests were legendary, holding powerful artifacts. 

Crystal Chests contained Grimoires — books of ancient, forbidden magic that granted unique skill or spells.

Horizon was eager to complete the special mission. He craved the possibility of new equipment to upgrade his current armor and weaponry. The shops in the Cleave only offered basic items — none of which could compare to his existing adventuring gear.

It was time for an upgrade.