The morning sky slowly turned brighter above the Valley of Echoing Cries.
The dark blue night faded little by little as pale sunlight crawled over the mountains surrounding the valley. Cold wind drifted across the endless grass while birds cautiously began singing again, as if the world itself was slowly recovering from the horrors of the night.
For the first time in what felt like forever…
everything was quiet.
No screams.
No monsters.
No roaring dragons.
Only the sound of exhausted footsteps moving through wet grass.
The group slowly walked through the forest toward the center of the valley, where no trees grew anymore. The open land stretched out beneath the brightening sky, allowing them to see far into the distance.
Noah looked around carefully before finally stopping.
„Noah: We should be safe here."
His voice sounded calmer than before, but deep inside, his thoughts were still spiraling endlessly.
„Noah: At least here we'll be able to see if something comes toward us."
Johann immediately dropped onto the grass dramatically.
„Johann: Finally!"
He groaned loudly and stretched his injured leg carefully.
„Johann: If I had to walk one more hour, I swear I would've just accepted death."
Anna chuckled softly despite her exhaustion.
The entire group looked terrible.
Their clothes were damaged and covered in dirt and blood. Some of them still carried burns and cuts from the battle against the Skeleton Dragon.
And yet…
they were alive.
Barely.
But alive.
Barry slowly sat down beside them with a heavy rumble. Even the giant creature seemed exhausted after everything that had happened.
Anna stood up again and brushed dirt off her clothes.
„Anna: I'll go look for food really quickly."
She glanced at the others.
„Anna: If possible, could you guys start a campfire while I'm gone?"
„Heinrich: Yeah, sure."
Heinrich slowly stood up, still looking slightly pale from the Soul Vector effects earlier.
Then he wandered toward the edge of the clearing to gather sticks and stones.
Meanwhile, Noah sat down quietly near the grass and stared at the ground.
His mind refused to calm down.
Karag's past.
Elias.
The magenta light.
The voice.
The power he used on the tower.
None of it made sense.
Was it real?
A vision?
Or was Karag somehow manipulating him again?
Noah clenched his fists slowly.
He still remembered the fear in the Skeleton Dragon's eyes.
That thing had feared him.
And that terrified Noah more than the dragon itself.
Karoschi quietly walked over and sat beside him.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
The wind moved softly through the grass around them.
„Karoschi: Everything alright, Noah?"
Noah quickly looked away.
„Noah: Yeah… yeah, everything's fine."
Karoschi narrowed his eyes slightly.
He clearly knew Noah was lying.
„Noah: I've just been thinking about what happens next."
Karoschi sighed quietly.
„Karoschi: Yeah… that's the big question."
For a moment, both of them stared toward the distant mountains.
The world suddenly felt much larger than before.
Much darker.
Much more dangerous.
Heinrich eventually returned carrying a massive pile of sticks in his arms.
„Heinrich: Alright, move aside professionals are working now."
Johann laughed tiredly.
„Johann: Since when are you a professional at anything?"
„Heinrich: Since right now."
He slowly began arranging stones into a circle before building the campfire carefully.
As the first flames appeared, warm orange light danced across their exhausted faces.
Karoschi suddenly lowered his head slightly.
His voice became quieter.
More serious.
„Karoschi: Noah… I wanted to apologize."
Noah looked toward him.
„Karoschi: Earlier… we almost died because of me."
The fire crackled softly between them.
„Karoschi: If I had transformed into my Karagnist form from the beginning… the fight against the Skeleton Dragon wouldn't have become that dangerous."
Noah shook his head immediately.
„Noah: Don't blame yourself."
He looked toward the burning fire.
„Noah: Mistakes happen."
For a moment, Karoschi remained silent.
But deep inside, guilt still lingered heavily within him.
A few minutes later, Anna finally returned from the forest carrying berries and several dead Hell Beetles tied together with vines.
„Anna: I'm back with food."
Johann instantly sat up excitedly.
„Johann: Finally! I'm literally starving."
Anna rolled her eyes.
„Anna: You're always starving."
The group slowly began roasting the Hell Beetles above the campfire while eating berries beside them.
The smell was strange.
Burned meat mixed with smoke and cold morning air.
Still…
after everything they had survived, none of them cared anymore.
Food was food.
As the fire crackled peacefully—
a scream suddenly echoed through the valley.
„???: HELP!!"
Everyone instantly froze.
The voice sounded young.
Terrified.
Johann immediately stood up with pure disbelief on his face.
„Johann: Hell nah. Not this again."
Karoschi listened carefully.
Then his expression changed slightly.
„Karoschi: No… that's not a Help Screamer."
Everyone looked toward him.
„Karoschi: Help Screamers are nocturnal."
He slowly grabbed his sword.
„Karoschi: That's a human."
The scream echoed again.
Closer this time.
„???: HELP!!"
Without hesitation, the entire group stood up and began running toward the source of the cries.
Grass bent beneath their feet as they sprinted through the open valley.
Then finally—
they saw him.
A small boy running desperately through the forest while two skeletons chased him from behind.
The child looked no older than twelve.
Pure terror filled his eyes.
Noah immediately accelerated forward.
In a single motion, he swung his sword and shattered the skull of the first skeleton into pieces.
Bones exploded across the grass.
At the same moment, Barry ripped a massive rock from the ground and hurled it toward the second skeleton.
The creature was crushed instantly.
The boy collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
„???: Th-thank you… thank you so much for saving me."
Noah slowly lowered his sword.
„Noah: It's alright."
Then he looked at the boy carefully.
„Noah: What's your name?"
The child swallowed nervously.
„Perfidus: My name is Perfidus."
He pointed somewhere beyond the valley.
„Perfidus: I'm from the village of Kalburg."
Johann blinked.
„Johann: Wait… your village still exists?"
Perfidus looked confused.
„Perfidus: Of course it does. Why wouldn't it?"
The group exchanged shocked glances.
Perfidus continued proudly.
„Perfidus: Our walls are over one hundred meters high."
His eyes sparkled with confidence.
„Perfidus: Kalburg is impossible to conquer."
Anna immediately looked toward Noah.
Hope slowly appeared in her eyes for the first time in a long while.
„Anna: Noah… this could be our chance."
She stepped closer.
„Anna: Allies against Karag."
Johann grinned tiredly.
„Johann: Yeah… then we can finally kick Karag's ass properly."
For the first time in days—
Noah smiled slightly.
A small smile.
But real.
„Noah: Perfidus… can you take us to Kalburg?"
The boy nodded immediately.
„Perfidus: Of course!"
He looked at all of them gratefully.
„Perfidus: You saved my life. The least I can do is guide you there."
Then he pointed deeper into the valley.
„Perfidus: It's not even that far from here."
The group slowly gathered their belongings again.
The fire behind them slowly faded into smoke as they prepared to move forward once more.
And for the first time in a very long time…
they no longer walked with only fear in their hearts.
Now—
they carried hope with them too.