The Core of the Universe

"What in the world is that…"

Zeoth's voice pierced the silence within the carriage. Peering through the window, he could see a massive, black-scaled creature, its hulking form crushing trees as it advanced.

Elizabeth sat frozen beside him. Her eyes widened, her breath grew erratic. What she beheld was less a monster and more a nightmare made flesh.

King Ruthgard rose to his feet within the carriage. His brows furrowed, yet his gaze retained its calm resolve.

"This… is a species immune to magic. We must fight it with raw strength."

The team captain leaned out the window. "I can't reach the other team through communication magic, Your Majesty. Likely because of that creature."

Outside, the swordmasters waiting in ambush began their assault on the beast. Three of them struck at its legs in unison, but their blades merely grazed its scales.

With a thunderous roar, the creature swung its foreclaw, sending one soldier hurtling into a tree with a sickening crash.

The team captain assessed the situation with keen eyes, then drew his sword. "Your Majesty, with your permission."

The king nodded. "Go."

Like a bolt of lightning, the captain leapt from the carriage and engaged the creature in single combat. Each clash of his sword fractured the earth; each blow shook another tree to its roots.

The king turned to Zeoth and Elizabeth, his tone clear yet warm:

"Children… go now and tell the other two teams what's happened. Bring them here. We can't reach them."

Zeoth and Elizabeth's eyes widened. The thought of leaving the king here stirred unease, but his reassuring smile quelled their fears.

"I'm sending three mid-level swordmasters and one high-level master with you. Be swift."

With his words concluded, the king stepped out of the carriage, taking position beside the team captain.

At that moment, two more colossal creatures emerged from the trees.

The ground trembled.

The battle had begun.

Zeoth, Elizabeth, and the four soldiers sprinted into the depths of the forest.

"We're trying the communication magic again, but the signal's still too faint," said the high-level master.

Elizabeth, panting as she ran, spoke tremulously:

"What happens now, Zeoth? What if… what if something happens to my father?"

Her voice quivered. Tears welled in her eyes.

Zeoth turned to her.

"Your father is a formidable man. I'm certain he'll be fine. Don't burden yourself like this."

He paused for a moment… then took her hand.

Elizabeth hesitated briefly before gripping his hand tightly. Her courage surged.

They pressed on. Zeoth's gaze lingered on Elizabeth. Something puzzled him.

Elizabeth… was faster than everyone. Even the soldiers. And she showed no signs of fatigue.

"What kind of stamina is this? How can such agility reside in so delicate a frame?"

Even the soldiers exchanged glances, muttering among themselves.

"This girl… is she truly human?"

Some time later, they spotted smoke rising through the trees.

"That's the campsite!" one of them exclaimed.

Normally, the team would set up camp once everyone had gathered, but the other two teams had apparently hastened to establish it.

They quickened their pace.

Upon reaching the camp, the first thing they noticed was the eerie silence. Far too silent.

Only the rustling of wind through the trees broke the stillness.

"Is anyone there?!"

"EMERGENCY! CAN ANYONE HEAR US?"

No response.

As they ventured deeper into the camp, the grim truth revealed itself. Scorch marks on the ground… shattered swords… and blood.

Elizabeth covered her mouth with her hands.

"No… no, it can't be… the monsters came here too…"

Zeoth clenched his teeth. "This is bad."

One of the soldiers knelt, examining the bloodstains. "It's not fresh… but not too old either."

"We're going back!" Zeoth declared, his voice resolute.

Elizabeth whispered faintly:

"Please… please, Father… please be safe."

Zeoth did his utmost to comfort her.

They raced back through the forest, their hearts gripped by icy dread.

As they neared the battlefield, shouts still echoed in the distance.

"WE'RE BACK!" Zeoth bellowed.

"WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM!"

At that moment, the king delivered a final, devastating sword stroke, cleaving the neck of the creature before him.

As it collapsed, the bodies of other beasts lay strewn across the ground. Six monstrous corpses in total.

Zeoth, eyes wide with shock, stammered:

"What… what happened here?"

The king, weary but commanding, spoke:

"There were more than we anticipated. But we handled it… though, for the first time in this war, I felt my age."

The team captain approached the king's side:

"Fighting back-to-back with you, as in the old days… it was an honor, Your Majesty."

The king gave a slight nod before turning to Zeoth:

"What was the problem? Where's the other team?"

Zeoth and Elizabeth recounted everything—the state of the camp, the scorch marks, the blood, the silence.

The king's gaze shifted to the fallen creatures. A grave seriousness clouded his face.

"It seems matters are far graver than we thought."

He added:

"Let's prioritize getting the children safely to the palace. Then we must investigate this thoroughly. Otherwise, this could become a threat to us all."

They climbed back into the carriage.

Zeoth sat beside Elizabeth in silence. The air was thick with tension, as though a single word might summon the horrors anew.

When they arrived at the palace, everyone disembarked.

Zeoth had never seen such a structure before. Towers of enchanted stone, gates aglow with runes, and royal guards standing sentinel.

Yet his eyes did not sparkle. The unease within him stifled any sense of wonder.

As they prepared to enter the palace, a guard came running from within.

"MY KING!"

All eyes turned to him.

"MY KING! YOU MUST SEE THIS AT ONCE!"

And there the chapter ends.