The journey back to the shelter was uneventful. The pair remained vigilant, avoiding encounters with monsters at all costs. They were in no condition to fight—especially Vale, who couldn't replenish his essence through mana crystals.
Inside their shelter, they used all the fur they had gathered to create makeshift beds. Compared to the cold and unforgiving ground of the cave, this was a significant improvement.
There was still no sign of the rest of their group. They had to accept the possibility that the others had gone in the opposite direction, failing to notice the towering silhouette of the tower—otherwise, they would have arrived long ago. Unless they fell to some monsters. But neither of them wanted to dwell on that grim possibility.
Although Vale was unsure of Ayla's abilities, he had little doubt that Dain could survive. That fool was probably thrilled to be here—fighting monsters, gambling his life for nothing. This place must be a paradise for him.
The following night passed without incident.
Of course, that didn't mean Vale got much rest. Klein woke him up countless times—once because he was convinced the wind was about to attack them, then because he thought the rocks were going to collapse, and finally because he was thirsty and needed the flask.
Days blurred together as their routine became a monotonous cycle. Each morning, they ventured out, set traps, ambushed unsuspecting monsters, and divided the spoils before retreating to the shelter once their mana essence was depleted.
Before they knew it, two weeks had passed.
Vale sat inside the cave, reflecting on their latest successful hunt. Over time, they had grown far more efficient. He could now trap three enemies per day and still retain about a fifth of his mana essence. Their strength had also improved—especially Klein, who had gained enough confidence to engage enemies with his shortsword when necessary.
Satisfied with their progress, Vale summoned his Status Window, eager to examine the new artifact he had obtained earlier.
*****
Name: Vale
Core: Dormant
Core Rank: [ E, 98/250 ]
Artifacts: [ Ordinary Katana, Titan's Ring, Fire Cloak, Flask of Salvation, Ironhide Armour ]
Relics: [ Four-Eyed Raven ]
Abilities: [ Vine Bind ]
Unique Ability: [ Ravenous Spark ]
Quest: [ Wanderer's Revenge ]
*****
His focus shifted toward the new artifact.
Ironhide Armour Description: [ Used by an old guild of assassins, the armour provides the perfect balance of protection, stealth, and mobility. ]
Enchantments: [ Stealth ]
Stealth Enchantment Description: [ You turn invisible. ]
Vale's eyes widened as he read the description of the enchantment. Acquiring an artifact with an enchantment was already rare—but for it to grant invisibility? That was a stroke of incredible luck.
It opened up countless possibilities for future battles. Even if his mana reserves ran low and he couldn't cast Vine Bind, he could still vanish—striking down monsters before they even sensed his presence, or slipping away from deadly situations if the odds turned against him.
Of course, he would need to test the full capabilities of the Stealth enchantment in battle. There might be limits—or even hidden drawbacks—but for now, he remained hopeful.
Without wasting another moment, he summoned the armour. Light particles swirled around him as a set of leather and iron armour materialized, wrapping itself around his body.
The armour was primarily crafted from black leather, reinforced with iron plates in key areas, each coated in a dark, matte substance. Vale moved, testing its weight. To his astonishment, it felt almost weightless, allowing him to move with effortless agility.
"New armour?" Klein asked.
Then his eyes widened as Vale vanished—his presence completely erased from sight.
"W-What?!"
The lanky student swung his arms around wildly, as if trying to grab Vale where he had just been standing. But before his hands could grasp anything, he heard a familiar voice from behind him.
"Yeah, I got it from the last kill."
Klein's head snapped back. There, standing right behind him, was Vale.
"What the hell was that?! You turned invisible?"
"Yeah," Vale confirmed. "It has a Stealth enchantment that lets me disappear."
Klein's shock quickly turned to excitement.
"That's great! You were long overdue for an artifact."
It was true. Unlike Klein, who had already collected multiple artifacts during the last two weeks, Vale had only obtained one—but what a prize it was. The Ironhide Armour was everything he could have hoped for. It didn't restrict his movements, provided extra protection, and, most importantly, allowed him to vanish at will.
Given their reliance on surprise tactics in combat, the Stealth enchantment was nothing short of a godsend—as if fate itself had chosen it for them.
With this new advantage, their hunting efficiency would drastically improve. They could aim for more than just three monsters per day—maybe even four or five, if everything went smoothly. It was a major step forward.
Vale lingered on that thought for a moment.
Despite their steady progress, the reality was that they were still far from completing either one of their quests. The days spent hunting had made them stronger—but not strong enough to lower their guards.
They had managed to gather all the ingredients required for the Potion of Vitality—all except one. The final component, the Horn of the Four-Armed Devil, remained out of reach. And that monster...
Vale doubted they were ready for it. The image of the creature burned in his memory—a towering, nightmarish figure, exuding raw, unrelenting strength. Just recalling its presence sent a chill down his spine.
Then there was his personal quest—killing the Tower Keeper. That being was just as formidable, if not even more so. And the thought of facing it alone? Daunting.
If they truly wanted to move forward, they had no choice but to push themselves harder than ever. Playing it safe would only delay the inevitable. Vale knew that a person had to push themselves beyond their limits to truly grow.
He exhaled deeply.
His mind was clear, and his decision was made.
"Gather all the supplies. We won't be coming back here."
Klein furrowed his brows. "What? What do you mean we won't be coming back? Where are we going?"
Vale turned to him, his voice steady.
"To kill a devil."