I Search of the Weapon

 **Chapter 15 In search of The Weapon**

Paul sat in silence, his golden eyes distant as he stared at the journal in his hands. The weight of the information he had received during the trance pressed heavily on his mind.

The world was far more complex and dangerous than he had ever imagined, and the responsibility of wielding the Oni's weapon loomed over him like a storm cloud.

He didn't know if he was ready for this, but he also knew he couldn't turn away. The fate of Eryndor—and most importantly his own survival—depended on what he did next.

Maxim and Alfred watched him carefully, their concern evident.

"Paul," Maxim said, his voice breaking the silence, "what happened back there? You were out for a long time."

Paul looked up, his expression unreadable. "I was… viewing the memories of the book," he responded, his voice low. "It's a lot to take in."

Alfred tilted his head, his wide eyes filled with curiosity. "What did you see, master?"

Paul hesitated, then shook his head. "Not now. We need to focus on finding the X on that Map you found."

Maxim and Alfred exchanged a glance but didn't press further. They could tell Paul was holding something back, but they trusted him enough to follow his lead.

----

The map led them deep into the wilderness, their journey taking several days. The terrain grew harsher, the forests denser, and the air colder. 

Maxim's injuries had healed somewhat, thanks to Alfred's makeshift bandages and Paul's meager knowledge of medicinal herbs, but he was not too far from his full strength a testament to his barbarian genes.

Alfred, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood with jokes and stories, but Paul remained quiet, his mind preoccupied with the task ahead.

On the fifth day, they finally reached their destination. The map had led them to a small, inconspicuous tree in the middle of a clearing. It was an unremarkable sight, and for a moment, they wondered if they had made a mistake.

"This is it?" Maxim asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "A tree? Maybe we're supposed to uproot it or something."

Alfred shook his head, his small hands already searching the ground around the tree. "No, no, there must be a clue here."

Paul stood silently, his golden eyes scanning the area. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After everything they had been through, this was what they had found? But before he could say anything, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the forest.

---

A large group of rabid beasts burst into the clearing, their green eyes gleaming with savage anticipation.

Among them were the alphas—massive Stalkers with razor-sharp claws and grotesque Climbers that moved with unnatural speed.

Behind the corrupted beasts was a squad of Shifters, their bone masks gleaming in the dim light as they directed the chaos with eerie precision.

"We're surrounded!" Maxim shouted, his axe already in hand.

Paul's mind raced, but he quickly dished out instructions. "Alfred, search for clues around the tree! Maxim, with me—we'll hold them off!"

Maxim didn't need to be told twice. He charged at the smaller beasts, his axe swinging in wide arcs.

Every strike claimed a life, but the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming. His injuries slowed him down, but his determination kept him going.

Paul, meanwhile, went straight for the alphas.

The Stalkers lunged at him, their claws slashing through the air, but Paul's greatsword was a blur of steel.

He dodged and countered with brutal efficiency, his hybrid nature giving him the edge he needed.

When a Climber managed to claw his side, his regeneration kicked in, the wound healing almost as quickly as it appeared.

The Shifters stayed back, their cackling laughter echoing through the clearing. They thought they had cornered their prey, but Paul wasn't about to let that happen.

---

Alfred, meanwhile, was frantically searching the area around the tree. His small hands brushed against the bark, the roots, the ground—anything that might hold a clue.

Finally, his fingers found a small, almost imperceptible groove in the soil. He pressed it, and with a soft click, a hidden hatch opened in the ground.

"Master! Over here!" Alfred shouted, his voice filled with relief.

Paul didn't hesitate. "Maxim, fall back! Now!"

Maxim obeyed, cutting down one last beast before retreating to the hatch. 

Alfred went in first, followed closely by Maxim. Paul was about to follow when the Shifters finally made their move. 

They lunged at him from different directions, their claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed.

Paul fought back with everything he had, his greatsword cutting through the Shifters with brutal strikes.

Half of the squad fell before his blade, but the others pressed the attack, their movements coordinated and relentless. They came at him from different angles, Paul was forced to retreat, his body battered and bloodied, but he refused to give up.

Finally, with a final, desperate swing, he cleared a path to the hatch and jumped in, barely slamming it shut behind him. 

The sound of the Shifters' furious banging echoed through the hatch, but it held firm.

---

Paul collapsed to the ground, his body trembling from exhaustion and pain. His regeneration was already working to heal his wounds, but it would take time. Maxim and Alfred stood over him, their weapons ready in case the Shifters found a way in.

When Paul finally looked around, he realized they were in some kind of lab. The walls were lined with glowing panels, their surfaces covered in strange symbols and diagrams. In one corner was a **MedPod**, its sleek design a stark contrast to the rugged wilderness above. In front of it was a rack of potions, their contents glowing faintly in the dim light.

The lab was a marvel of ancient technology, a testament to the Oni's advanced knowledge.Paul sat in silence, his golden eyes scanning the lab.

The weapon was here, somewhere, and he knew he had to find it. But the weight of what it represented—the fate of an entire world—was almost too much to bear.

Maxim and Alfred watched him, their expressions filled with concern. "Paul," Maxim said, his voice soft, "what now?"

Paul took a deep breath, his mind made up. "We explore. We find the weapon. And then… we decide what to do next."

The journey was far from over, and the challenges ahead were greater than anything he had faced before. But he was ready. He had to be.