Somewhere in the vast forest two hundred miles southwest of florin valley appeared a group of people on foot, 30 some in total being lead by a squad of three armored soldiers mounted on horses, two swordsmen while the last being an archer....

unlike the soldiers who were heavily armed this group of people were dressed in common clothing and some piece of old and outdated weapons.

"What's up with you trashes why so slow? we need to get to the deep cavern before nightfall , anyone who holds us back by the slightest bit shouldn't blame me for being ruthless" said one of the soldier turning back with a look of disdain as he stared at the group being led.

 "Tsk tsk, that damn division captain must think too lowly of us sending this bunch..." said the second soldier sending a  similar look of disdain back at the crowd.

Just take a look at this bunch of wastes with no military experience or training I can't even select a handful of competent individuals among them, they're better off feeding the pigs. I doubt they'll be able to buy us some time in any case we're besieged by a pack of second-order vicious beasts"

In this vast world, there existed different types of vicious beasts being graded by their combat power vicious beasts had unique characteristics of being better than humans of the same level when comparing physical strength but were relatively weaker compared to humans in magic power and skills except for some higher-level existence among them.

As the soldiers spoke among themselves, they felt their senses tingle and halted their conversation

 "Huh?"

What's that? you feel it right?"

 "Yeah, there seems to be a vicious beast nearby. I think it should be second-order"

  "Oh? that's nothing much but we have to be very sure, it should be time for these wastes to prove their worth already" said one of the soldiers as he lazily beckoned on two people at the forefront of the crowd.

 "Hey you lots hurry up and observe the situation in front... what, scared? you think you'll gain any benefits from this expenditure without giving any assistance?" 

Those two stepped upfront, they were slow and steady with a hint of panic in their eyes. They walked to a distance of about a hundred meters from the group while keeping their senses on high alert. They suddenly felt a chill which was as a result of murderous intent emanating from an unknown but close location in the bush. Suddenly realizing that they were to be victims of an attack at any moment, they couldn't help but shiver while looking back at the the soldiers.

"S-sir..." The tallest one was the first to speak up. "I think there's something over here"  

"Hey shut up and don't  move" said the archer among the soldiers while adjusting his bow-set in a ready position signaling to fire at any moment.

A rattling sound was heard deep in the bush followed by a horrendous roar, then appeared six-foot tall vicious beast with looks of a giant leopard with fiery eyes and long protruded fangs. It's s speed was comparable  to the wind as it covered a distance of thirty meters in two breaths worth of time. Having its eyes fixed on the two preys who had been frightened to the bone by now almost at the point of convulsing, it reached out its claws but was struck suddenly on the neck by well-timed arrow coming from the archer.

"Puff!"

 Followed by a loud whimper, the beast was sent tumbling and then giving a desperate struggle. Guided by collective instincts and experience, the two swordsmen rushed at the wounded beast sending series of bombardment leaving no room for escape. The whole scene lasted for about twenty breaths of time before the beast's head was chopped off by one of the soldiers. 

"Hahaha, not bad. Starting off with a low-rank second-order vicious beast, it's commendable right?" He said to his other companion while holding on to the head of the beast.

"Yeah that's right. hopefully we won't run into any sort of trouble like third-orderer vicious beast or sort"

"Ha, what do you think you're saying? how can there be third-orderer vicious beast around this area? besides the teran wolves are the only third-order vicious beast in this entire forest area but their territory is located deep withing the edge so we shouldn't expect to run into any of them if we remain in the safe zone"

After speaking he turned to the people who had just been used as bait "Have the body processed and bring me the collected materials" 

"Y-yes" they both replied with expressions like they've just been brought back from the dead.

The body of vicious beasts was highly valued because it contains materials that were important just like the skin, bones and also the core which could be used to forge equipment or for alchemy processes.

After a while, the group arrived at the  entrance of a massive cave which seemed like tunnel.

"Hmm, seems to be this one right?" One of the soldier said thoughtfully as he glanced through a map.

"Sure, it should be" replied the second. Turning a look over to the crowd and said...

"Listen up you all, this is where it truly begins. I'll be taking ten of you with us across the entrance while the rest will remain here to keep guard. Of course you should be well aware of the dangers and benefits that lies within the cavern, so ill let only those of you who are competent enough. Don't worry you'll be able to keep your dog lives under our watchful protection"

After speaking, he went through the crowd and selected ten people who readily accepted with some showing faint signs of panic.

Alright, this should be enough for..."

"Wait!"

The guard turned and his eyes fell on a young boy of about fifteen holding a sword 

"?.."

"Please let me come along I believe ill be useful"

"What makes you think that? because you have a fairly good weapon?"

"N-no not that sir.."

"Leave him be, he seems to be very confident in himself so it won't be a bad idea to let him come along" Said a soldier walking to the position where the young boy stood. "Such confidence...what's your name?" he said giving him a haughty look.

"Doran"

I'll remember that, have it as an honor" said the soldier showing a fierce grin. "Come too we're going in" he added. 

Soon it was nightfall, the group had to rest for the night within the dark cavern. The next morning the they moved through the cavern with the help of fire torches for a few hours taking series of turns, Soon reaching a point where the tunnel divided in two.

"What's the supposed route?" asked the soldier in the fore front.

"I think it should be the left one" replied the other soldier taking a quick glance at the map.

They went along to the left route walking on it's straight path for some time before reaching a bright exit. The whole scenery changed around them all of a sudden, it was a bright and dazzling scene like a jungle paradise with beautiful flowers, trees, waterfall, birds and all what you could imagine. The group couldn't help but drown in fantasy.

"Snap out of it you all" shouted one of the soldier with an angry look. "You should know that this isn't a safe zone right? any wrong move from you bunch of wastes can put the lives of everyone here in danger. Besides, don't forget our main purpose is to find the golden goose egg as requested by the patriarch and we're running out of time. After speaking these words bringing everyone back to reality, the three soldiers went far ahead of the main group leading the way. The group moved on for hours without rest and were conscious to numerous changes of scenery,and soon came noon. 

"Doran right?" asked a similarly young girl glancing at a boy who seemed to have been lost in thought for a long while

"?... oh, yes that's me"

"You seem to have been thinking about something... is something wrong or do you find anything strange about this place?"

"I can't say for certain,but i think something isn't about right"

"W-what? what's that?" the young girl hurriedly asked with peaked interest.

Doran took a glance at the three soldiers in front and spoke "Do you remember what that soldier said about the teran wolves territory?"

"Yes, he said it's located deep within the main forest. Why do you ask?"

"i'm just curious about something... i don't think we're the first set of people to have come to this place, evidently someone made a map of it entirely. But what's most strange about it is that it seems like a completely new world where no one has ever been so...just take a look, this place is rich with resources, why hasn't there been any record of this?"

"Now that i think about it, you have a point" said the young girl as she turned and glanced around the surrounding.

"What the f*ck!" An angry shout was heard and every one turned straight to see the soldier who seemed to have shouted while glancing through the map held by his companion. "Don't tell me we've been going the wrong way ever since!"

"There's no way, i believe i checked correctly, we're on the right track"

"Then can you explain why there's a river up front? seems like the wrong way to me.Can't be, it can't be a problem with the map right?"

The map bearer was silent while thoroughly looked through the map 'Something's f*cking wrong, were we led here on purpose?' he thought.

"W-what? There's a problem with the map right?"

"Speak of the devil" the archer among then suddenly said while looking to a particular position behind him. the sky suddenly became dark as a huge mass of thick purple fog was seen approaching them at an abnormally rapid pace. 

Everyone present was thrown into a state of confusion. "Hey, what's that thing?" The young girl looked panic stricken as she asked pointing to the direction of the emerging purple fog.

"I don't know but it can't be anything good" replied Doran. after making a quick observation of the purple fog. "We need to find a safe place first" he added. As he spoke, some of the people present already began to read the entire situation and made attempts to flee the area right at the face of a potential danger.

"Stop! don't move, i'll kill anyone who dare tries to flee" Shouted the soldier with the map. "You all are f*cking cawards. You're already scared beyond measure just because of a mere unidentified natural occurrence?"

'Natural occurrence? with the whole situation it's clear that this is nothing more than absolute death approaching' Doran thought within himself as he traced his chin.

"What i think is... this should be a situation caused by the reaction of some sort of spirit artifact, there's no reason being scared" the soldier said while trying to remain as calm as possible. "You should consider this as an opportunity to obtain some benefits, i'll be sending two people once more to observe the situation upfront, any complains about that?" he added as he walked towards the group.

"Shameless! it's obvious that they're trying to use us as bait once more" whispered the young girl to Doran.

"Mhm"

"You two! go and do it" The soldier said pointing to two middle age men in the group. The middle age men couldn't help but break into cold sweat.

"S-sir are you sure it's safe" one of the men spoke frightened.

"What? you dare question me?... oh, perhaps you imply that my speculations are wrong?"

"No,no that's not what i mean sir" the middle age man hurriedly interjected. In this world, the weak was bound to fall in submission to the strong, everyone was aware of this fact. Strength was everything,according to ones strength was his status. 

The middle age men left the group and walked towards the purple fog. After reaching a close enough distance from the approaching purple fog, they felt a peaceful sensation and then glanced at the purple fog which seemed so harmless at the moment and let out a sigh of relief.

'I must have thought too much of the situation, seems to be as that soldier said. Besides this could be a real opportunity, i might find some lucky chance...' just as he was lost in thought he suddenly glanced over and noticed that the other man was no where to be found.

'what...where is he? did something bad happen?'realizing the sudden turn of event he turned around trying to flee from the mist of the fog and just as he was about to do so, he was caught by the leg by a condensed layer of fog chain protruding from the purple fog and pulled in at an amazing speed. The lower half of his body began to disintegrate into dust and swallowed into the purple fog like a giant maw of a beast. The whole event from afar was witnessed from the begining to end by the group of people who were now gripped tightly by a tremendous dismay.

Just as everyone became speechless by the sudden turn of events, one of the soldiers took no time to give out a scream...

"R-runn!" 

 Clearly even without being told this was exactly what everyone was about to do. Their survival instincts soared to the skies as they chose a particular direction with no sense of reason, and it so happened that they were heading for the river.

"Why are we going this direction? Isn't it a dead end?" asked the young girl who ran closely behind Doran

"We have no choice, it's our only path of escape..." Just as a spoke, he caught sight of a large boat by the river bank. 

"Haha, the heavens haven't abandoned us! Thankfully there's a boat here" the one who spoke was the soldier who held the map. 

"Hurry, let's get this thing moving"  he beckoned on the rest of the group. Without delay, the boat was pushed into the river by the joint effort of the group and was set sailing.

"Faster! paddle faster you blockheads!" one of the soldiers yelled at the top of his voice. The boat was paddled more intensely increasing their pace, soon reaching a considerably safe distance from the purple fog. 

"It stopped moving" looking back at the purple fog a voice called out excitedly. To their amazement, the fog had stopped advancing towards them and began to disperse.

"We're saved!"  

"Haha. I have a great destiny yet to be fulfilled, why would I be hurt by mere phenomenon?"  Said one of the soldiers defiantly. 

'Somethings not right, just like that? I didn't think it'll be that easy... Now that I think of it, a boat, out of nowhere... this place sure is strange' Thought Doran as his eyes suddenly fixed on a position on the surface of the water. There was something moving on the surface of the water, it gradually approached their boat but the rest of the group were too excited to notice it. 

'What's that?' He thought, and just as he noticed it, the strange entity rose from the water and plunged towards them. At this time he as well as the rest people could clearly see huge black tentacles. In the next moment, terror reigned supreme and the waters became turbulent.

"What's that?" 

"This can't be... "

"Help!"

Just as everyone's hearts were caught up in their throats, the giant tentacle descended on the boat. To their surprise, the tentacle was decisive in choosing its target as it skimmed through everyone and it landed and wrapped around a shocked-looking fellow. 

"Doran, watch out!" The young girl tried her best to scream out, but the speed of the tentacles was just too fast for anyone to respond.

"Take my hand!" She shouted as she stretched out to him, but he was wrapped around too tightly by the tentacle and dragged in the water. After that, the whole area became as calm as a summer sea, making it look like their entire experience was nothing but a lie.

"That damn brat! It's obvious he's been the cause of all the misfortunes we've experienced" Said one of the soldiers.

"He must have been cursed by the heavens nothing more, that explains why he insisted on following us," said another soldier thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, deep within the water... Doran, wrapped around by the tentacles was being pulled deeper and deeper. It was like an endless abyss with thick darkness. 'Is this the end? how can I die like this? I've been through a lot already... my parents, how will they feel?' He began recalling his life experiences, the hardship, and suffering he had experienced since birth being from a poor background.

He felt total emptiness, regret, hate. He loathed his cruel destiny, 'Is this what faith has in store for me?' Just then the giant tentacles suddenly loosened their grip on him. Amid the endless darkness, he could figure out two bright red lights approaching him. 

'Those lights... What are they?'

Just as he thought within himself, the light got closer and soon looking like two giant suns in the endless darkness. It was only after a while could he see that the giant light was nothing but the two eyes of an enormous dark figure. Facing this existence, he was like a speck of dust, so he couldn't discern its exact form. He could feel immense pressure emanating from its eyes and just by staring at it, he felt like his soul was about to leave his body.

'This is...' He was left confused as to what was right in front of him.

'Could this be a God beast?' His thought ran amok while trying to figure things out. God beasts were existences heard only in the legends. They were superbly sentient creatures with enormous power. God beasts were in record much stronger than human deific saints. The majority of them were enormous in size but they could also take the shape of humans or other small creatures to conserve energy.

They existed in this world and were very secretive. There could be almost no record of anyone sighting a single God best for tens of thousands of years, but the truth is that they existed in the world. Of course, a God beast could live for millions of years experiencing the rise and fall of several nations and powerhouses, so they didn't consider humans to be anything at all. There was no reason for them to get close or form a relationship with humans who could die at any moment.

The enormous figure opened its mouth which looking like a giant black hole capable of swallowing all existence. Doran was drawn in and the next moment, found himself in a place that looked like an ancient tomb. In front of the tomb was a stone door that seemed to be the entrance.

The stone door was built in between the legs of an enormous statue of a man resting hands on a standing sword.

As much as he was confused by the sudden transmigration, driven by curiosity he looked closely at the statue.

'What the...' 

To his greatest shock, he discovered that the statue had a resemblance to him.

'Definitely not, it should be some kind of coincidence right?' He thought.