"But now...?" Athan paused. His expression darkened. "I think we're in another world."
"Another world?" Balwin narrowed his eyes. "You mean we've entered a different realm?"
"I can't say for sure," Athan admitted. "I just hope it's our imagination. But the reason I think so... is the mana."
"Mana?" Balwin frowned. "You mean the life force here is different from ours?" He took a moment to sense the energy around him. "Now that you mention it… yes. It's lower than usual, and the flow is different. But there's still a possibility that we've simply ended up in the Forbidden Land."
The Forbidden Land—also known as the Beasts' Land—was a place no race had successfully reached. Humans, demons, elves, vampires—all had attempted the journey, but most had failed.
Those who survived could never return.
Only a select few had managed to escape. One of them was Balwin himself.
Before becoming the Demon King, Balwin had been a student. Bullies had tricked him, using a banned teleportation circle to send him into the Forbidden Land.
But he had survived.
With his shadow powers, he had escaped.
"If this really is the Forbidden Land, do you recognize anything?" Athan asked.
Balwin shook his head. "No... but maybe we shouldn't start doubting ourselves just yet."
"You know, last time, you were able to return by connecting with your sister," Athan pointed out.
"That was years ago during my school days." Balwin crossed his arms. "Trust me—I'm much stronger now. Maybe I'll be able to connect with her later."
Athan sighed. "So, do you have a plan? Where are we headed?" He touched his throat. "We're lucky we don't feel hunger like ordinary people. But because you sealed both my powers and yours... I'm starting to feel thirsty."
Balwin smirked. "Oh? You need blood already? That's unusual."
"Yeah, I don't know why." Athan shrugged. "Maybe it's the weather. Or maybe it's the fact that I haven't drunk blood in over three years."
Balwin hummed in thought. "That's a problem. Worst-case scenario, you can drink mine."
Athan scoffed. "Your demon blood? Yeah, no thanks. That'd make me sick."
Balwin chuckled. "Then that settles it—we're using my shadow travel skill at MAX."
"Max?!" Athan's eyes widened.
"Yes." Balwin's grin widened. "A speed I've never used before—I never thought I'd have to. But now's the time."
A shadow chair appeared behind Athan. Another one formed behind Balwin.
"What exactly are you planning?" Athan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, just trust me like you always do." Balwin's crimson eyes gleamed. "You're about to witness a new shadow skill—something even the first Shadow User never used."
Athan stared. "The first Shadow User? You mean the First Demon King?! Bruh, you're acting like you personally knew him."
Balwin only chuckled.
Before Athan could argue, he suddenly felt himself rising. It was as if the shadows were lifting them off the ground.
"Wait... what the hell?" Athan looked around. It felt like they were inside some kind of vehicle.
"This is much better," he muttered, relaxing into his seat. "At least now I don't have to stare up the whole time. It actually feels like I'm inside a carriage."
"Are you ready?" Balwin asked.
Athan hesitated. "You sound like we're about to do something insane."
That's when he noticed—shadows were wrapping around his entire body like ropes, securing him to his seat.
"Yep." Balwin's smirk deepened. "Don't worry, mate. We're about to travel so fast, I'll become the fastest shadow traveler in history."
Athan barely had time to react before—BOOM!
A massive force slammed him back into the seat.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Athan shouted.
Everything outside blurred into streaks of blue and black lightning. Shadows swirled around them like a storm, distorting their surroundings.
They were moving faster than anything Athan had ever experienced.
"Balwin—what the hell is this?!" Athan shouted.
But Balwin didn't answer. Instead, he simply said, "We're here! Push yourself back into the seat—tight!"
Athan, already traumatized from the previous experience, braced himself with all his strength.
Then—BOOM!
The shadow's speed surged even higher.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Athan yelled—only to be cut off as the movement suddenly slowed. Compared to the last acceleration, it felt almost... gentle.
That's when he realized something terrifying.
They were no longer on the ground.
They were flying.
"Balwin—WE'RE FLYING!" Athan shouted in shock.
"No, we're not," Balwin said casually, as if reading his mind. "We just jumped off a mountain cliff."
Athan's heart sank. He looked down.
"HOW HIGH ARE WE?!"
Balwin smirked. "We're touching the clouds."
Athan clenched his fists. His instincts screamed at him to break his seal. With his blood magic, he could summon wings, grab Balwin, and land safely.
"Don't do it."
Balwin's voice was calm yet firm.
Athan stiffened. Could he read his mind again?!
"We don't know how many enemies or celestials are here," Balwin continued. "We have no idea what your vampire aura might attract in this labyrinth. At your level, your power is equal to mine—the Demon King. If you unseal it now, we might be walking into a trap."
Athan exhaled slowly. "...Fine. I'll trust you."
"But are you sure we can make it across?"
Balwin grinned. "We're not crossing."
Athan blinked. "...What?"
"We're going down." Balwin pointed.
Athan followed his gaze—and his blood ran cold.
"DOWN?! I—I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE BOTTOM!"
"You've got big-headed lately," Balwin chuckled. "Are you visually impaired now? There's a gate down there. Maybe it's a way out."
Athan groaned. "Oh great. We're going even more insane."
The shadows plunged downward—a freefall from the sky.
Athan felt the force pressing against him. The wind roared in his ears.
Then—he saw it.
A blue mist swirling in a single spot below.
Balwin smirked. "There's our exit."
Before Athan could even protest, the shadows shot straight into the gate—and they disappeared.
After entering the gate, it was clear—it was some kind of teleportation.
They were still falling, but this time, no ground awaited them. **Above, below, left, right—**there was only an endless expanse of sky, painted in shades of brilliant blue and radiant white clouds.
Athan glanced at Balwin—and froze.
Balwin was sweating heavily.
That alone was shocking. The Demon King, exhausted?
But before Athan could even question it, the world shifted again.
BAM!
One second, they were in the sky—the next, they were inside a cave.
More importantly, they were no longer in Balwin's shadow.
Athan barely had time to react before they were violently thrown out, like discarded dolls.
CRASH!
Athan hit the ground hard—his back slamming against unforgiving rock.
"Ouch! That's—hard!" he groaned, pushing himself up.
Then, he turned his gaze to Balwin.
The Demon King lay a little ways off, sprawled across the rocky ground.
But something was off.
Even though the sweat had stopped pouring, his forehead and cheeks were still damp.
Athan narrowed his eyes.
"I've never seen Balwin sweat like this… except for a few rare times."
His instincts kicked in.
Without hesitation, he moved—rushing to his friend's side.
"Balwin! Balwin! Are you okay?!" Athan called out.
Balwin let out a weak chuckle, his breath uneven.
"Ha... haha... I'm fine," he muttered. "Just a little exhausted. My new body... this shadow technique cost me a massive amount of energy. And since I'm still sealed, I guess it hit me harder than expected."
Still lying on the ground, he turned his head toward Athan, flashing a tired grin.
Athan extended his hand.
"Come on, get up," he said.
Balwin clasped Athan's hand, pulling himself to his feet.
"Thanks," Balwin sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Looks like we finally made it out of that damn place."
Athan glanced around.
"Yeah, now we just have to return to Ranch Republic."
Balwin smirked. "No worries. We can be there in a few days... but first—where the hell are we?"
They scanned their surroundings.
This wasn't just any ordinary cave.
Athan furrowed his brows. The air reeked of dried blood—a sharp, metallic stench mixed with something rotting. Spoiled meat.
The cave wasn't pitch-dark. Torches lined the walls, their flickering flames casting eerie shadows.
Balwin's gaze sharpened. His senses picked up traces of dark mana.
"Athan," Balwin murmured. "Something's off."
"Balwin! Over here!" Athan's voice was urgent.
Balwin turned and saw what Athan had found.
A black magic circle.
Balwin stepped closer, eyes narrowing as he inspected it.
"It's weak," he muttered. "Barely functional."
They exchanged glances.
If someone created this, it meant something—or someone—was here.
Without wasting time, they started moving deeper into the cave, searching for an exit.
But just as they rounded a bend—
A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air.
A woman's scream.
Both of them froze.
Athan's eyes flicked to Balwin.
"Balwin!"
Balwin didn't hesitate.
"Over there!"
They took off running, chasing the sound.