Eccar was in the middle of a conversation with several Elf soldiers on the ground when Erend's call echoed through the air. He paused, looking up toward the balcony where Erend stood. With a quick farewell to the soldiers, he smiled.
"Duty calls, gentlemen," he said.
The Elf soldiers saluted him in return, gratitude shining in their eyes. "We're thankful for all you've done. Be careful out there, Eccar," one of them said, his tone filled with respect.
Eccar nodded, the smile still on his face as he spread his wings. With a single powerful beat he launched into the air, flying swiftly toward Erend. As he ascended the wind whipped around him and soon he reached the top of the tower, landing lightly beside Erend.
"So, what's next?" Eccar asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
Erend, standing with his arms crossed, gave a slight grin. "Just watch."
Erend close his eyes and began accessing the System with his mind. Moments later, a shimmering portal began to form in front of them, swirling with red and white light.
Eccar's eyes looking at it intently. "A portal, huh," he muttered. "How does this work and where this will take us?"
Erend opened his eyes and glanced at Eccar. "It's part of the power I've been granted. We don't have time to explain all the details right now, but trust me—this will get us where we need to go."
Without further hesitation, Erend stepped forward, standing just before the swirling portal. He glanced back at Eccar. "Let's go."
With that, Erend jumped into the portal, vanishing into the red and white vortex. Eccar hesitated for only a moment before following. He leaped in after Erend, and in the blink of an eye, they were swallowed by the portal.
---
When Eccar finally passed through the portal, he landed softly on a strange, grey sand that felt oddly weightless beneath his feet.
"Now," Erend replied, his tone shifting to focus. "Let's get down to business."
Erend raised his hand, summoning the Dungeon. A low rumble resonated through the grey sand beneath their feet, and before them, a large door materialized out of thin air. It looks dark, ancient. Erend glanced at Eccar.
"This is the Dungeon I was talking about," Erend said. "Once we enter, we'll be facing monsters. Killing them will give us the power we need to get stronger."
Eccar stared at the door, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his eyes. "I don't have the same power like you, though," he said.
Erend nodded, understanding the concern. "True, but if the System is letting you enter, there's a chance it'll benefit you in some way too. We'll figure it out as we go."
Without another word, Erend stepped forward and pushed the door open. He entered first, with Eccar following closely behind. As soon as they stepped through, the environment shifted around them.
Gone was the endless grey desert; they now stood in the midst of a dense forest, trees towering high above them. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth, and the sound of rustling leaves filled the air.
Eccar looked around, bewildered. "Wha—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a chorus of screeches echoed through the trees, cutting through the stillness of the forest like a blade. The noise was sharp, shrill, and unmistakably hostile.
Erend's eyes narrowed. "They don't waste time, huh," he muttered. He turned to Eccar, his expression serious. "We've got to fight. Get ready."
There wasn't any more time to explain. From the treeline, shadows began to move, swift and predatory. The monsters were already closing in.
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