The Murky Mountains separated the Southern Federation from the Acadian Empire.
Ancient, untamed, and shrouded in perpetual mist, the mountains were a cursed frontier where even the bravest of Magi feared to traverse.
And the deeper one ventured… the more life-threatening the journey became.
This treacherous stretch of land was more than a natural barrier. It was a graveyard of the reckless.
Legend had it that its dark forests and jagged cliffs whispered the haunted voices of those who entered and never returned.
As if the land wasn't hostile enough, it was also infested with horrors—feral magical beasts, savage tribes of bloodthirsty orcs, cunning trolls that hunted under the moonlight, and ogres whose flesh was as hard as steel.
Some legends even claimed that ancient dark Magi slept beneath the mountains, beings that predated nations and empires.
Mana Foundation and Mana Liquefaction beings could be found in abundance in these perilous lands. Mana Vortex existences were slightly less common, but ever-present.
Moreover, there were whispers of magical beasts with strength equivalent to the Mana Core Rank residing in these mountains.
Whether these rumors were true or not remained to be found.
But one thing was for certain: should any of these Mana Core beasts—if they exist in the first place—descend the mountains, then utter pandemonium would ensue and the lands would be dyed in crimson.
Fortunately enough, the mountains occupied a vast area of land, bigger than even the Southern Federation.
The Murky Mountains weren't just a boundary. They were a stern warning. A living curse.
Adam was extremely alert as he made his way through the dense jungles. It had been close to a month since he had entered, and he had only just crossed the outermost periphery.
First, he was being cautious in his journey and, as such, was treading slowly. Second, the Murky Mountains were simply that expansive.
With his current speed, it would take him around half a year just to trudge through these mountain ranges.
Mana Vortex existences weren't a match for him, yet he still chose to be extra cautious while traveling.
After all, he had grown up listening to tales of horrors about this place. It was something that was etched deep into his heart since he was a child.
His parents would tell him stories about the monsters lurking in these dark mountains. The professors at Clover Academy were also the same.
The Murky Mountains were a symbol of mystery and terror to anyone who grew up in the Southern Federation.
It's a good thing I didn't get Luna along with me, he thought to himself as he jumped from one branch of a tree to another.
The underbrush was thick with vegetation and was not viable for Luna to travel through.
In the past month, he had come across several magical beasts, trolls, and ogres. However, all of them were Mana Liquefaction Rank and below.
These were highly instinctual creatures, to begin with, thus, they easily retreated when he let out his overbearing aura. He didn't wish to draw any attention to himself in these dangerous lands.
Who knew if there really was a Mana Core existence in these mountains? He surely didn't wish to find out.
Adam raised his head and glanced at the twin moons through the thick forest canopy. His gaze was different this time when he looked at the smaller moon.
Now, he knew that there was a portal on Luna that would allow him to travel to the Greater Universe.
His eyes flashed with a look of yearning, and he softly muttered, "Soon…"
The youth sat down on the thick branch of the tree, deciding to camp out for the night. He had been traveling for the past several days straight.
A circular disk rested on his palm, and atop the disk lay a needle that pointed in a particular direction.
It was pointing in the direction of Berger!
Blacky had given this to him in the past in case he ever came looking for the gnome in the Murky Mountains. Now, it finally came in handy.
The circular disk was enchanted with magic from the School of Divination, allowing him to accurately pinpoint Berger's location.
I wonder how long it will take me, he thought.
Old man… I wonder how you are faring.
Have you been well all this time?
He leaned against the trunk of the tree and recalled the days he learned to concoct potions from the old gnome.
Those quiet days at Herbs & More, filled with warmth and laughter, remained some of his fondest memories.
A faint smile formed on his lips as he recalled the good old days.
With a flick of his finger, he conjured a bag of cooked meat from his earrings. Sitting in silence, he took a bite, chewing slowly with his eyes closed, savoring both the food and the bittersweet memories.
Suddenly, his hand paused when he noticed a few presences approaching him through his Sphere of Resonance. But the next moment, he continued to eat.
More than a minute later, a group of three orcs passed by under him. One radiated the power of the Mana Liquefaction Rank, while the other two exuded the aura of the Mana Foundation Rank.
Adam coldly watched them pass by, not even bothering to deal with them. He wasn't the kind to spill blood without purpose.
But it seemed that the night had no intention of remaining silent.
One of the Mana Foundation Rank orcs just happened to look up by sheer coincidence. His eyes immediately narrowed when he gazed at the dark-robed figure calmly sitting on the branch and munching on delicious meat.
The orc immediately alerted the other two. Now, all three orcs had gathered at the base of the tree, intently staring at Adam. No, to be more precise, they were staring at the cooked meat in his hand, as well as the bulging bag filled with food beside him.
Looks like they were out hunting for food, Adam thought as he continued to casually eat.
A few moments later, he threw the bag containing the cooked meat at the orcs, causing them to be greatly taken aback.
Initially, they thought it was a trap. But when they saw that the bag was actually filled with food, they couldn't help but become clueless.
Right at that moment, Adam's cold voice sliced through the darkness like a dagger. The sound alone sent shivers down their spines, and a primal fear gripped the orcs' hearts.
"I'll give it to you," came the chilling words of the Dark King.
"It's not worth your life."