According to the map, Fruity should be crossing the domain of the Single Horn Flame Lions by now. Instead, he found himself blocked by an attack from a Tier 7 Devil.
The Single Horn Flame Lions are demon monsters that don't have sight, so they can only sense their surroundings using the horn mounted on their heads.
Like the Hellhounds, they can also track their prey using blood and sound. But if none of these signals are present, they wouldn't be able to do much, which means Fruity could have crossed their domain by moving quietly or even through the air.
However, here he was, being attacked by Devil monsters.
"I really didn't want to waste spiritual essence, but I guess there's no choice now." Despite the attack aimed at him, he wasn't scared.
"Devour." He raised his staff, forming an ice wall made from Dark Gold Ice. The moment the attack hit it, the ice wall absorbed the blow but shattered. Fruity quickly raised another ice wall, which prevented the shockwave from reaching him.
"Human, why did you kill my soldiers?" the monster asked, perhaps noticing how easily its second attack had been absorbed.
"Die." In response, a large Dark Ice spear appeared in the air and shot toward the monster. Without waiting to see the outcome, Fruity immediately turned and started running. However, he hadn't even covered a kilometer when four more powerful presences appeared, surrounding him.
"Do you think you can run after killing our people?" A tall, dark figure said, appearing in the air.
"It was self-defense. They attacked me, so I had to defend myself," Fruity replied, seeing no way out now.
"Then defend yourself."
Five attacks suddenly appeared in the air, all aimed at him. Fruity quickly muttered something, and the bell appeared, instantly covering him.
Dang!
The five attacks struck the bell, making it ring loudly. Powerful sonic and soul attacks burst out from the bell, instantly hitting the five figures.
"Ah, what a headache," Fruity muttered, frustration evident in his voice as he gazed back at the Hellhound domain he had barely escaped from.
"It'll take me another month to get to Silent Mountain, and since I know nothing about the place, I'll have to be extra careful. Judging by how things are going, it will take more than two months to cross it."
And that's if everything went smoothly. "I can't come back here ever again, at least not while I'm this weak." Fruity glanced back at the domain of the Hellhounds.
"Well, at least I managed to bridge the gap a little. After more killing, I'll probably be able to break through to Sage within 6 months," he smiled, turning back toward the western road.
He found a cave, and for the next week, he decided to rest and recover. The journey to the north would require all the strength he could muster.
A week later, Fruity was ready to start his journey to the north and eventually head east. During the past week, he had hunted monsters and stockpiled rations for the long trek ahead.
He set off, and for weeks, he journeyed through dangerous terrains, battling and slaying monsters as he pressed forward.
Four days into the third week, the Silent Mountain came into view. Gazing at it from afar, Fruity wasn't sure if he had made the right choice coming this way.
On his way north, he had considered many plans. He could have stayed in the west, hunting more monsters. Once he became a Sage, he could have tried his luck passing through the Hellhound domain. But he quickly dismissed that idea.
If he took that path, he would need at least half a year to fully saturate his Star Core before forming a Sage Core. Even then, he wasn't sure if he could defeat whatever had driven him away from the Hellhound domain.
But even if he succeeded in killing it, he would still have to cross several other treacherous domains before reaching Illusion Mountain. Time wasn't on his side, so the best option was to keep moving forward and take his chances.
"I can't turn back now. I might as well embrace this path and add new information to the map. Who knows when I might need it again?" Fruity muttered to himself. Steeling his resolve, he started toward the eerie Silent Mountain.
A few hours later, he finally set foot on the mountain. Sensing no immediate danger, he ventured deeper into its depths.
A week passed without incident, and Fruity began to feel comfortable in the region. However, just as he was starting to relax, a voice, both familiar yet distant and menacing, echoed in his mind, freezing him in place.
"I have been waiting for your arrival, My Lord."