Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Cliffs, the chaos, and the Princess

The wind howled like a banshee as Alex made his way through the overgrown trails leading toward the northern cliffs of the Deserted Isle Island. With each step, the air grew colder, more ominous—as if the cliffs themselves were exhaling ancient warnings.

“Alright, Let’s go punch some wildlife in the face.”

He didn’t have to wait long.

From the thick shrubs emerged a pair of Novice-rank Clawbeaks, avian beasts with sharp talons and even sharper beaks. They screeched as they lunged toward him, wings spread wide.

Alex side-stepped one and sliced through the air with his sword, landing a clean hit.

’First form Void Step.’

He blinked behind the second Clawbeak and ended its squawk with a quick, efficient strike.

A few moments later, more Intermediate-rank monsters showed up:

A snarling Earthhide Boar charged at him with tusks gleaming like polished stone.

A pack of Shadowfang Wolves darted through the mist.

“Ah, the welcoming committee,” Alex said, grinning. “Let’s dance.”

Using a combination of Phantom Rend and Celestial Flow, he dodged, parried, and counterattacked with smooth efficiency.

Each strike of his blade echoed with grace and brutality.

By the time he stood at the base of the northern cliffs, the bodies of defeated monsters lay behind him like trophies of war.

After some time he finally reached his destination but there was just a small problem.

The cliffs loomed tall, crumbling at the edges like a pile of cursed pastries.

“Yup,” Alex said, cracking his knuckles. “Nothing like vertical cardio to get the blood pumping.”

The climb was hell. Each handhold threatened to crumble, each ledge a gamble with gravity. He slipped twice, nearly fell once, and cursed the game designers five times.

At long last, with a grunt and a final pull, he hoisted himself to the top.

“There it is,” he panted, spotting the cave entrance. “Glorious, damp, bat-infested mystery hole. I’ve finally found you.”

He collapsed near a boulder and pulled out a nutrient bar.

Just like their weapons and artifacts they can also bring food here which alex liked about this exam.

“Nothing says ’heroic journey’ like eating compressed chicken-flavored sawdust.”

After a short rest, he stood, cracked his neck, and walked toward the dark cave.

Activating his recently purchased Night Vision skill, because he knew it will come handy in the entrance exam, the shadows peeled back, revealing details hidden in the darkness.

Almost immediately, he noticed something strange—footprints. Humanoid. Multiple sets.

“Huh. Company? Didn’t thought some will reach here before me.”

Drawing his sword, Alex advanced cautiously into the cave.

—

Inside the Cave.

As he ventured deeper, faint sounds reached his ears—clashing steel, cries of magic, and the unmistakable screech of something… inhuman.

Alex crept forward until the tunnel opened into a wide chamber.

There, illuminated by enchanted arrows and bursts of magic, stood Elaria Moonshade Lareth’Thalas—elven royalty, decked out in elegant battle gear, her bow shimmering like starlight, and her rapier flashing in close-quarters combat.

“Well, that’s new,” Alex murmured. “She’s not supposed to be here … Did I cause a plot butterfly again?”

He stayed in the shadows, observing.

Elaria moved like liquid grace—releasing a barrage of arrows, each enhanced with elemental runes, then switching seamlessly to her rapier when a tendril lashed too close. Her minions—a squad of well-trained elven guards—formed a protective circle around her.

And in front of them…

The Abysskin Dreadmaw.

A hulking monstrosity with chitinous armor slick with abyssal ooze. Twin jaws jutted from a gnarled maw, and its six glowing red eyes darted in every direction. Its movements were deceptively fast, slithering through shadows, appearing suddenly behind victims. Each of its strikes left behind black miasma, eating away at protective shields.

From Alex’s point of view, it was more than just dangerous.

“Advance (Mid) rank,” Alex whispered, eyes narrowing. “And some attributes definitely compensating for some intelligence.”

Despite their coordination, Elaria and her forces were being pushed back. One by one, her eleven candidates fell.

First to venomous tentacles, then to a surprise acid burst from the creature’s underbelly.

Elaria fought with pride and skill, using both her weapons fluently—arrows flying in perfect arcs before she ducked into close combat, her rapier glowing with wind enchantments. She even barked orders, leading with precise strategy.

“She’s good,” Alex admitted, impressed.

But even she was losing.

Two minions remained, barely holding on. Elaria’s breaths were labored, her armor cracked it looked like she was barely holding on.

“Princess, retreat!” one candidate shouted.

“We can’t hold him!” said the other.

Elaria, bloodied but proud, hissed through clenched teeth, “An heir of Lareth’Thalas does not run from monsters.”

She knew it was live and her whole country is watching.

The Dreadmaw’s many eyes gleamed.

It was playing with them.

Then it struck.

One minion leapt in front of Elaria to intercept the blow—his body torn in two mid-air as he got eliminated.

The last minion, eyes wide with terror, screamed and bolted toward the exit.

Elaria stood her ground alone, her limbs trembling, a flicker of doubt in her eyes.

But even then she stealed herself and was prepared to fight to the bitter end.

Alex thought .’ Is she an idiot as royalty she should know when to retreat.’

“Looks like her pride is getting in the way.”

The same problem that he saw many times in the game with her character.

If she gets eliminated here, Alex thought grimly, the plot can get screwed up. That’ll mess up my power climb too.

As the monster raised its claw for the final blow—

Void Step.

Alex appeared in front of Elaria, sword up, catching the creature’s strike just in time.

Sparks flew.

Elaria blinked.

“Wha—”

He turned slightly, smiling. “Yo.”

She saw him clearly now—silver hair, piercing blue eyes, confident smirk. A prince out of a fairytale… or perhaps, a nightmare.

As alex parried the monsters strike to get some room.

He princess-carried her without hesitation, his footwork light as he dodged another strike.

Elaria, bracing for impact, opened her eyes to find herself cradled in the arms of a silver-haired human.

“W-Who are—” Her voice cut off as her eyes zeroed in on his ear.

A rounded, human ear.

“You’re a human?!” she screeched. “How dare you touch me, human!”

“Unhand me, human! ” she snapped, indignation flaring.

Alex raised an eyebrow a vein popped into his head.

“Oh? My bad, your high-elfiness.”

He let go.

Thud.

She hit the ground with a rather undignified grunt.

“Ouch! ” she exclaimed, glaring up at him.

Alex stopped himself from laughing but a scoff still came out.

Her face turned beet red—not from embarrassment, but from pure, unfiltered rage.

Despite knowing the situation she stared cursing him.

“You uncultured, mannerless monkey—!”

Alex yawned. “And you’re welcome, by the way.”

The Dreadmaw hissed again, looming in the background like he was telling them that he was also there.

Alex grinned and cracked his knuckles. “Now then, big guy. How about you and I finish what they started?”

The Dreadmaw roared, its attention now fixed on Alex. The battle was far from over.

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