Vol.1 Chapter 6 – The Forgotten Island Core

Purple eyes full of glowing excitement locked onto mine, and her bright smile nearly blinded me.

"Eh? What's up with that face?" I asked.

"Don't tell me you forgot! Bro, remember!" Iris leaned way too close to my face.

I pushed her forehead back with my hand.

"How offensive! Ugh, hurry up and finish your soup already. We've got something BIG to do today."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered between spoonfuls.

"Wait, no way... you really did forget! BRUH!"

She practically climbed onto the bed.

"Could you at least let me finish eating? I can't breathe with you this close."

"Jayden... today's the day we DESTROY THIS ISLAND'S CORE!" she shouted.

That caught my attention.

"Destroy... the island core?"

"Yep! For massive rewards."

I still didn't fully get what she meant. I just kept eating while she ranted.

"You're so weird," she said, staring at me.

"This girl..."

That day, she felt so light, so cheerful. She had this charisma I couldn't explain. Like she belonged somewhere far above me. I didn't know if I deserved her kindness, but I kept pushing her face away out of habit.

"You can't even respect me while I'm dropping world-class classified info!"

Her pout faded quickly into a mischievous grin.

"Jayden. Let's. Gooo~!"

The Core Quest Begins

We headed south from the last campsite. Iris explained as we walked.

"Each land or island has a core. Think of it as a heart. Destroying it kills the island."

"And that's... okay?"

"Nope. It's a serious crime, depending on the island's size. Some cores are even protected by top-tier players."

I glanced at her.

"Then why are we doing this?"

"Because this island is abandoned. Useless. Forgotten. No value, no protection, no law."

She slapped my back.

"I've done this before. I'll protect you."

I wasn't convinced.

"This island's called... literally, Unnamed Island. Radius: 100 km. Development rate: 4%."

"If we destroy the core, what do we even get?"

"Good question, student! Rewards vary based on the island's size. Could be treasure, could be nothing."

"Not your student. Also... 50/50 odds?"

"Ehh, just made that up. Anyway!"

As she shrugged, a page fell from the book on her hip.

"Iris, your nose... it's bleeding. Were you using magic again?"

"Pretty much. I cast a silencing spell. Our convo can't echo beyond 30 cm."

"Ugh, don't wipe your nose with your hand. You're gonna touch me later."

"Why can't you be more caring?! I was just trying to look cool!"

"Caring...? I wouldn't know how even if I tried."

Forest of Silence

We camped near a dense forest. The trees were thick, vegetation dense. Shadows stretched far.

"It's cold... Jayden, do something."

"Fine. I'll find firewood."

"Hehe, want me to come with? Actually... never mind, it's scary. You got this!"

I still remember that smug look.

I ventured out. Silence swallowed the woods. No animals. No sounds.

Suddenly—a rabbit. It burst from a bush.

My blade reacted on instinct—SHNK!

Its head spun through the air. Blood dotted the leaves.

"Dinner secured... In your face, Iris."

But a memory struck. A girl—faint, blurry. Pink hair. Shark teeth. Glorious pink eyes that screamed royalty and wisdom.

"Jayden, you know I don't eat meat, right?"

The vision vanished.

I buried the rabbit instead.

Back at camp, Iris raised an eyebrow.

"Took you long enough. Nature call?"

"You have no idea..."

We lit a strong fire and entered separate tents.

"Jayden, don't you dare come into mine!"

"As if."

Nightfall

Later that night, I woke up—something was wrong.

Iris was in my blanket.

"HEY! What are you doing?!"

She was trembling. Eyes wide.

"Jayden... did you put out the fire?"

"No. Why would I—"

A hissing sound echoed through the forest.

PAIN. It struck like lightning across every nerve.

"Jayden, I'm scared!" she clung to me tightly.

Her glowing purple eyes dimmed... like a candle in a storm.

SYSTEM ALERT: NEW RAID BOSS ENCOUNTERED

LV: 27

NAME: FOG SNAKE

TO BE CONTINUED...