The Rogues Of: No Man's Land

The journey toward the Vault of Eternity had begun, but with no clear idea of where they were going, the trio found themselves lost in the vast wilderness of No-Man's Land.

The map in Tao's hand was little more than a collection of scribbles that might as well have been drawn by a blind man. Despite their skills, they needed more than just brute force or stealth to navigate this world.

After hours of walking, the sun was setting behind them, casting long shadows on the barren wasteland around them.

The air was thick, and tension hung heavy. Tao adjusted the straps of his pack, glancing at Seraphina, who remained as composed as ever, and Rex, who seemed to be growing increasingly irritable.

"You think we're going in the right direction?" Rex asked, wiping sweat from his brow.

"I don't even think this map's been updated since the last great war," Tao muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.

"I told you we should've asked for directions," Rex added with a half-grin, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "Lost in No-Man's Land is not my idea of a good time."

Just as Tao opened his mouth to respond, a figure appeared in the distance. An elderly man, hunched over, with a long white beard and worn-out clothes, emerged from the dust like a mirage. He moved slowly, his eyes fixed on the trio as if he had been expecting them.

The trio tensed, ready for a potential threat, but the old man gave them a nod. "You look lost," he rasped, his voice creaking like an old door.

Tao looked at Seraphina and Rex, who both seemed just as confused as he was. Still, they decided to play it safe.

"We're looking for the Vault of Eternity," Tao said, his voice guarded.

The man's eyes lit up at the mention of the vault. "Ah, the Vault of Eternity. A place many seek, but few find. You've got your work cut out for you."

Rex raised an eyebrow. "You know where it is?"

The elderly man nodded slowly, his hands shaking as he pointed in the direction the trio had been heading. "It's far from here, deeper into the world. You'll find it on the other side, almost near the heart of Hange Larzac."

Tao frowned. "Hange Larzac? Where's that exactly?"

The elderly man chuckled softly. "It's a jungle, but not just any jungle. This one's full of bloodlines, creatures with extraordinary abilities, and one god, Poison Ivy, resides there too. As for the Vault..." His voice trailed off. "Getting there won't be easy. You'll need to pass through the jungle and beyond. If you're traveling on foot, it'll take days, maybe even weeks."

Tao felt a twinge of dread. They had no time to waste.

"Why can't we just take a shortcut?" Rex asked, frustration bubbling up. "Can't we hire a guide or something?"

The elderly man shook his head. "No guide would lead you to the Vault willingly. You're on your own, but I'll give you some advice. First, avoid the Nepit. They live in the outer regions of the jungle. You won't get through easily if they decide you're intruders."

"The Nepit?" Tao asked, his curiosity piqued.

"A group of wildcats, they're fierce. They don't take kindly to trespassers." The man's voice became more serious. "And whatever you do, don't speak of your mission to them. They'll take that as a threat."

Sister Seraphina, who had been silently observing the interaction, spoke up. "Thank you for the advice."

The man gave a knowing smile. "Be careful, travelers. And take the map." He handed over a rolled parchment that seemed oddly pristine compared to the worn surroundings. "This should help guide you."

Tao took the map with a nod. "Thanks, old man."

As they started to turn away, Tao glanced at his allies.

"I'll tell you guy's something," Tao muttered to Rex and Seraphina. "What I found in the Demon King's hideout… It was strange." He paused, remembering the purple crystal in his hands. "There was a purple crystal. I don't know what it's for yet, but it feels… wrong. Like it's connected to something bigger." He let out a sigh and rubbed his face. "And there was only 50 gold. That's it. Hardly anything compared to what I expected."

Rex raised an eyebrow. "Purple crystal? Gold? Seems like there's something more to it."

Tao nodded. "I thought the Demon King's operation would be packed with treasure or weapons. But no, just that weird crystal and a pittance of gold. It's got me thinking, what are they really up to?"

Sister Seraphina's expression didn't change, but she seemed to be processing the information. "We'll need to investigate further," she said softly.

Rex scowled but didn't say anything. They had bigger problems ahead.

"Let's go," Tao said, turning to the path ahead. "We have a jungle to cross."

The next day, they arrived at the edge of the Hange Larzac jungle, the air thick with the scent of wild plants and humid heat.

Giant trees twisted and creaked, and the dense foliage was nearly impenetrable. It wasn't the kind of place you'd want to get lost in. The ground beneath their boots felt unstable, as if the ground itself was shifting with each step.

"You sure about this?" Rex asked, glancing at the dark forest ahead.

"We don't have much choice," Tao replied, checking the map one last time. "It's our only shot at getting to the Vault."

A small, sleek figure appeared in the clearing ahead. A cat, no bigger than a housecat, stepped into view, its fur dark and sleek, eyes gleaming with an intelligence that sent a chill down Tao's spine. It was remarkably agile, moving with a feline grace. But there was something off about it, something that made Tao pause.

The small cat stopped a few feet in front of them, its golden eyes narrowing as it sized them up. "Travelers," it purred, its voice smooth and sly. "What brings you to Hange Larzac?"

"We're just passing through," Tao said, keeping his tone neutral.

The cat tilted its head. "Just passing through? Into the heart of the jungle, where the deadliest creatures and gods roam?"

Rex stepped forward. "We're looking for the Vault of Eternity."

The cat's eyes widened slightly, then narrowed in what seemed like amusement. "Ooh, Vault, huh? Not many come looking for it. It's a dangerous path to travel. It's said that only the boldest, or the foolish, ever make it to the other side of the jungle."

Tao looked at Seraphina, then at Rex, unsure how to respond. He wasn't about to spill their whole plan to this stranger, but there was something about this small cat that made him feel like it wasn't someone to mess with.

"We've come to take a chance," Tao said, glancing at the cat warily. "We know it's dangerous, but we need to find the Vault. It's the only way out of this mess."

The cat sat back on its haunches, watching them closely. "Is that so?" it said, almost with a knowing grin. "Well, then, you'll have quite the journey ahead. You might want to be careful what you say around here."

Without another word, the cat turned and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the trio in stunned silence.

"Well, that wasn't exactly the warmest welcome," Rex muttered, glancing at Tao. "You think it's really that bad?"

Tao stared into the depths of the jungle, where the shadows seemed to twist and shift. "We've come too far to turn back now."

They looked at the jungle ahead, the path dark and treacherous. "Let's get this over with," Seraphina said, already moving forward, unfazed by the warning.

As the trio started to venture deeper into the jungle, the wild sounds of the environment grew louder, and strange creatures watched them from the trees.

There were no signs of the Nepit just yet, but Tao could feel eyes on them, following their every move.

Hours passed, and as the sun dipped lower in the sky, the dense undergrowth grew more treacherous.

Their path became increasingly difficult to navigate, with thick vines and tangled roots threatening to trip them at every turn.

Then, suddenly, a rustling noise ahead caught their attention.

Tao froze, his eyes darting to Seraphina and Rex, who had both instinctively dropped into combat-ready stances. The rustling grew louder, and then, A long, slender figure leaped from the trees, landing in front of them with a grace that was almost impossible to follow. It was a wildcat, its fur dark as night and its eyes gleaming with intelligence. It moved with unnatural speed, and Tao had a brief flash of recognition.

A second, larger cat appeared from behind, its massive frame imposing, yet with a strange sense of swagger to its movements. This one, Tao realized, was different. Its muscles bulged, and the smell of oil and sweat hung around it, giving it a street-fighter vibe. It was no ordinary beast.

Before Tao could react, a third cat appeared subsequently, it was the one that had greeted them earlier.

"This is bad," Rex muttered under his breath, sizing them up. "Real bad."

Tao opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the sudden realization. Rex had revealed their plans earlier on accident.

"We shouldn't have trusted that cat." Tao whispered under his breath, knowing that it might be the last thing he ever said.

The smallest cat, Necada, suddenly stepped forward, its eyes locking onto Tao's. "You've come for the Vault of Eternity," it hissed. "I'll make sure you never get close."

As the two larger cats, Nepar and Nepo, stepped forward, Tao's mind raced. If he didn't think of something fast, this could be the end of their journey.