Annoyed, Serena pounced on him and began to harshly ruffle his hair. "Who's the kid now?" she asked smugly.
"Everyone is watching. Who is it?" Asher responded casually, causing her to pause.
She looked around and noticed that many people in the tavern were staring at her with amused smiles. Embarrassed, she quickly let go and returned to her seat, her face turning red as if blood might drain from her any moment. She just sat there, bowing her head, too shy to say anything to him.
Asher left her be and made his way to the quest board. "Hmm, since I'm going to the 10,000 Poison Lands, might as well take a quest from there." He scanned the board and picked one. "Violet Blood Flower collection… A-rank quest. This will do."
The 10,000 Poison Lands—a treacherous region filled with deadly flora, venomous beasts, and toxic air—was also the rumored location of one of the War God's Trials.
Since Asher was already planning to head there, he figured he might as well take on a quest related to the area. "Might as well make some extra profit while I'm at it," he muttered, glancing at the quest details. The Violet Blood Flower was a rare plant that only grew in the most poisonous areas, making it an A-rank mission.
With the quest accepted, Asher prepared himself for the journey ahead.
"Want to come with me?" Asher asked, reaching back toward Serena, whose face was still flushed with embarrassment from earlier.
She hesitated, her fingers gripping the hem of her cloak. "Hmph! Why would I want to go with you?" she huffed, turning her head away.
Asher smirked. "Well, I figured you'd want to get stronger. Or are you just going to sit here sulking?"
Serena's eye twitched. "Tch. Fine, but if I die, I'm haunting you."
Asher chuckled. "Deal. Let's move out." If you want to read more chapters, please visit Novel~Fire. (n)et
Serena sighed, adjusting her gear as she followed Asher out of the guild.
"So, where exactly are we going?" she asked, still slightly annoyed but clearly curious.
"10,000 Poison Land," Asher replied casually.
Serena stopped in her tracks. "Wait… what?!" she shouted, eyes wide. "That place is a death trap! Are you insane?!"
Asher shrugged. "Probably. But that's where one of the War God Trials is, and I just picked up a quest for a Violet Blood Flower while I'm at it. Thought you'd want in."
Serena pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're unbelievable."
"Yet you're still coming," Asher teased with a grin.
She grumbled but didn't argue further. "Fine, but if we die, it's your fault."
"I'll take full responsibility," Asher said, smirking as they set off toward their next deadly destination.
Asher and Serena made their way out of the guild, heading toward the teleportation gate that would take them to the outskirts of the 10,000 Poison Land.
The journey was relatively quiet at first, until Serena finally broke the silence. "So, what exactly is this War God Trial you're after?"
Asher glanced at her. "Not sure. From what I've gathered, each trial is different. It's supposed to test a person's combat ability, willpower, and adaptability. Survive, pass, and you gain the War God's recognition. Fail…" He trailed off, shrugging.
Serena narrowed her eyes. "And failing means…?"
Serena groaned. "Of course it does. Why am I even surprised?"
They reached the teleportation gate, where a few adventurers turned their heads, overhearing their conversation.
"Wait… did that guy just say he's heading to 10,000 Poison Land?"
"Tch, another idiot with a death wish."
"That place is cursed. Even high-rank adventurers barely make it out alive."
Ignoring the murmurs, Asher stepped forward and paid the teleportation fee. With a bright flash of light, he and Serena were transported to the boundary of one of the deadliest locations in the world.
The air immediately changed—thick with toxins, the sky a sickly shade of purple. The ground beneath them was cracked, covered in patches of withered plants oozing strange liquids. The scent of decay and venom lingered everywhere.
Serena coughed. "Ugh, this place is disgusting."
Asher took a deep breath, unaffected. "You'll get used to it."
She shot him a glare. "I don't want to get used to it!"
Asher smirked and started walking. "Then don't fall behind."
Asher, walking ahead, snapped his fingers, creating a blood barrier around him.
"This will protect us from the poison," he said, his voice calm as he observed the toxic air around them.
Then, with a faint smirk, he added, "And… it will also allow me to assimilate the 10,000 kinds of poison found in this place into my blood."
Serena stared at him in disbelief. "Do you even hear yourself when you talk?"
Asher merely chuckled, his crimson eyes glinting with excitement as he studied the map given to him by Genevieve. He traced the route with his fingers, noting the locations of deadly creatures, traps, and the supposed trial grounds for the War God's challenge.
"This way," he muttered, leading the path deeper into the poisonous wasteland.
Serena, still wary, followed behind, gripping her weapon tightly. "If I die because of your crazy ideas, I'm haunting you."
"Noted," Asher replied with an amused tone, unfazed by the dangers ahead.
After a moment, they reached the place—a massive Black Water Lake. The surface was eerily still, reflecting the dark sky above.
"We need keys for War god trial" Asher muttered as he examined the area.
Serena led him forward. "Keys are some creatures head," she answered, stepping cautiously.
Asher nodded. "Yes, the War God's trials need foresight, as well as action, to activate." He glanced around. "And one of the conditions here is to bring the head of the Black Water King—a massive, slumbering centipede with countless legs and a poisonous tail. It's said that even an Elder Tree, a magical tree with highly concentrated sap that can heal even grave injuries, would wither from its venom."
Serena tensed, gripping her weapon. "So… how do we kill something like that?"
Asher smirked. "We wake it up first."