Under the ze of the warm sun, casting a shadow across the surroundings site. Looking above there is no single cloud that dares to block the vast blue endless sky. While holding a worn-out parchment in her hands Hina before she stored it back in her storage ring along with her sses, walked behind Soma as if it was the natural thing, and opened her mouth.


    "Hey Soma, how long do you think we couldst in this ce?".


    "I assumed it, probably be another two weeks. If we conserve some of the food portion".


    "Good grief that sucks. I want to hurry up and finish the Trial Gate quickly".


    "My thoughts are exactly the same".


    It''s been fifteen days since Hinaid bare her feelings to the outside world. The two of them as usual explored the dungeon as they were walking on the straight path. The familiar sight of the light-brown wall and paved stone ground became their everyday sight.


    These fifteen days they spent exploring the gate, brought quite a huge fortune both for their pocket and level. Hina''s level up to level fourteen, but it was not the same for Soma, because he is still stuck in his level tenth and umted enough experience points to leap into level fifteen. However, he still had the bonus stats from his daily quest.


    First thing in the morning, they just found another big treasure box that contained a gleaming light from the gold and a single parchment that was in Hina''s hands. Soma''s luck almost touched level max, so it made them easier to find those boxes in this hugeplicated ce.


    They also found the same Oasis ce that grew many trees with ripened fruit, helping them preserve their food in their exploration.


    Soma, who walked in front, was holding the notebook he used to draw a simple map. The map was almost done, as he only needed to draw these straight paths, and they would reach thest ce the maze had prepared.


    "Are you sure this is thest passage?".


    "Well, I couldn''t guarantee it a hundred percent, but let''s hope it will lead us to thest ce in the maze".


    "You are right. I hope this never-ending scene will be over, my eyes were tired of witnessing the same scenery for almost a month".


    "You have a point, and also a bath for rxation".


    "Yep, I could definitely rte to that".


    After theyid their bare heart to each other the distance between them became closer. Hina, who usually put a tough front to chase away every stranger that wasing closer to her side, now started to be more open to him. She didn''t hesitate to let loose of her emotions.


    Usually, Soma is the one who tends to start the topic of conversation so the atmosphere does not turn awkward for both of them. However, now she is the one who tends to start the conversation to ease the boredom she happens to umte in her mind.


    Thanks to that, Soma could see various expressions of the girl named Hina. His favorite heroine, inside the Web Novel he read for years. Their rtionship evolved into what people called as close friends.


    Soma walked leisurely while having a small conversation with the person beside him. He turns his gaze ahead to the straight path where there is a huge shadow set upon the ground.


    The calm warm wind that apanied them in their exploration changed. It turned heavy all of a sudden, and the clear blue sky that brought spirit to the world changed into a dark one.


    Soma turned his gaze above and found the ck sky emerging, a gathering of clouds that were being pulled by unseen forces from all over the endless sky billowing and swirling to create a massive tornado.


    They halted their footsteps and realized that something was changing in front of them. Soma and Hina''s exchange then tense their body wary of the change that happened. A rumbling of thunder crashed into their ears, creating a stir in their hearts and the heavy wind that floated across the atmosphere turned berserk.


    "What is happening?".


    Soma observed his surroundings while hearing the distressed voices that came beside him. He took Hina''s left hand in his hand and dragged her to move forward. Trying to find out what happened.


    A violent wind that struck both their bodies made their advance slow down. They raised their hands to block the iing dust that could have invaded their vision. With heavy steps, slowly but surely Soma and Hina walk in steady feet while keeping their gaze forward.


    "What in the world".


    "...".


    In front of their eyes appeared a huge t stone arena that formed a circle with thirty-meter in diameter. Surrounding the arena there is a thick pir that connects towards each other, using a tough-looking wall with the same appearance as the maze wall they see every day.


    However, what made the two of them stunned was, in the middle of the arena there stood a being three meters tall with its chest puffed forward standing on its four legs gazing at the two visitors that caught its eyes.


    It has a ferocious face showing its pair of canines that protrude from its long mouth. White smooth fur that danced irregrly because of the wind, each of its strong legs was equipped with sharp ws that could split a huge boulder with ease.


    Standing with its four legs, with its imposing nature. It keeps its stare straight to their side observing the iing visitors.


    Hina, who had a lot of knowledge about the monster, opened her mouth.


    "Storm Wolf".


    Storm Wolf Rank A monster that lives in the deep forest who usually leads a huge pact, followed by multiple valiant wolves who act as the captain of the pact and the other gray wolf who acts as a soldier.


    Soma knew that wolf-type monsters had a strong bond with each other in the pact. Though they had a difference in form and nature, they were kindred spirits, bound by unbreakable bonds that transcend words.


    Soma knitted his brows, as he saw a small crackling electricity coiling around the monster''s fur and the swirling berserk wind surrounding the wolf as the center, made the situation turn worse than he thought.


    "Soma".


    Hina beside him whispers. She could not hide her nervousness as she was receiving the strong pressure from the wolf who stood in her way to reach home. Her heart began to throb so hard that it reached her ears, and her breath turned ragged as she unconsciously gripped tightly her linking hand with Soma, then closed her distance with him.


    Soma, whose attention did not leave the wolf for a second, felt a warmth from his right side and his right hand, bringing back his attention to the girl beside him. He took a nce to the side and found that she was casting her gaze down, standing still frozen in fear.


    He could feel that the hand they connected was trembling. Soma gripped tightly her left hand, as he gulped his saliva.


    "This waspletely out of bnce. …Hina let''s retreat first".


    Hina who is frozen in fear, does not give any response as she just follows the warmth that she feels in her hand, to guide her from the ce.