Building A Business Empire From Scratch In Another World

Nestled against the horizon, Moonswhisper Peak towers majestically, its summit piercing the sky like a sentinel of ancient secrets.

The base of this colossal mountain resembles a crescent moon, an enchanting sight that feels almost otherworldly.

Lush greenery blankets its slopes, vibrant with emerald foliage and blooming flowers that paint the landscape in hues of nature's palette.

A magnificent waterfall cascades down its face like a silver serpent, forming a gentle river that meanders into the distance.

Thorne took a deep breath as he gazed up at Moonswhisper Peak, unsheathing his long sword with a sense of purpose.

While the mountain appeared serene and beautiful, Thorne knew better; beauty often masks danger.

Years spent as an adventurer had taught him that tranquility can be deceptive, after all, what lurks beneath the surface is often more perilous than it seems.

He released his soul sense to scan the surroundings for any lurking threats.

All was quiet except for the distant cries of insects and birds and a few curious white rabbits hopping about, no magical beasts in sight.

With caution guiding his steps, Thorne made his way toward Moonswhisper Peak, consulting his map to ensure he was on course.

After half an hour of trekking through dense vegetation, he finally arrived at the entrance of a massive cave nestled beside the roaring waterfall.

Weeds cloaked its mouth; without careful observation, one might easily overlook it.

Not rushing inside, Thorne hid behind a large boulder to extend his soul sense into the cave's depths.

To his surprise, and confusion, he sensed no magical beasts or dangers lurking within.

"According to my knowledge," he muttered to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "Myrthrill Apples are always guarded by Winged Lions." Had they wandered off in search of food?

Myrthrill Apples were treasures coveted by many, a 5-star Heaven and Earth treasure capable of enhancing magical beasts' strength significantly.

Each Winged Lion began life with one pair of wings but would grow more over time; their number indicated their tier level, the more wings they possessed, the stronger they were!

Typically found alongside these prized apples due to their ability to expedite growth cycles by years, it was odd for Thorne not to encounter any guardians here.

"Well then," he chuckled wryly to himself as excitement bubbled within him.

"This just got easier!" With renewed determination coursing through him, he took several deep breaths before stepping into the cave.

The path ahead was spacious yet dimly lit, a damp corridor leading deeper into darkness, but enough light filtered through for him to navigate cautiously.

Even though he sensed no immediate danger, Thorne remained vigilant; after all, unseen threats could still lurk in shadows.

After walking for a few minutes, Thorne stumbled into a vast clearing that took his breath away.

The space was expansive, with a small river gracefully winding through the middle, flanked by an array of vibrant flowers and mesmerizing glowing plants that illuminated the entire area.

But he didn't let the beauty distract him for long.

His eyes suddenly lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, "There it is, the Mythrill Apples!"

Just a few meters away stood three magnificent trees, their trunks adorned with glowing runes that pulsed like veins.

The leaves were lush and enchanting, while fist-sized fruits glowed pink on the branches, each one shimmering faintly amidst the dense Mana swirling around them.

Thorne's heart raced as he gazed at these precious fruits, a dreamy look settling on his face.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I can't believe my luck! I never expected to find three Mythrill Apple Trees, and there are so many!" He gasped, his breath quickening with anticipation.

If he could gather all these apples, he could fulfill his mission requirements and keep plenty for himself.

After all, Mythrill Apples were renowned 5-Star Heaven and Earth treasures coveted by many, especially alchemists eager to refine them into powerful pills.

These rare apples were not only expensive but also notoriously hard to come by; even those with wealth often found it impossible to buy one.

Shaking off his reverie, Thorne scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger before transforming into a blur and scaling one of the trees.

"I better hurry up," he muttered under his breath as he began picking the glowing fruits and stashing them in his storage ring.

Minutes later, after finishing with one tree, he quickly moved on to the next.

But just as he was about to leap down from the second tree to reach the last one, an oppressive weight descended upon him, a heaviness so intense that it made breathing difficult.

The Mana around him surged violently, creating an atmosphere thick with foreboding.

Thorne's face paled as dread washed over him; he felt an overwhelming killing intent lurking nearby, a bloodthirsty aura that sent chills down his spine.

Slowly turning around, horror gripped him as his eyes widened in shock.

At the entrance of this vast space stood two colossal creatures: lions adorned with four pairs of wings on their backs!

Their bodies shimmered gold and white in color; one sported a majestic golden mane, the male, while its companion lacked such adornment, the female.

Towering at least three meters tall each, they resembled living mountains with two spiraled horns jutting from their heads.

The pressure radiating from them was suffocating; it felt like time itself had stopped.

Thorne's face turned ashen, his heart racing. "What the hell? Why are there two Winged Lions here?"

He muttered under his breath, a storm of fear was brewing within him. "And what are you two Tier 4 Magical Beasts doing in the outer region? Aren't you supposed to be lurking in the inner depths?"

Though Thorne was a formidable Tier 5 Grandmaster Knight capable of handling ordinary Tier 4 beasts with ease, these were no ordinary creatures.

The Winged Lions before him radiated power and menace, and he could sense they were on the brink of breaking through to Tier 5. How did he know?

Those peculiar protrusions beneath their fourth pair of wings told him everything he needed to know.

"Great! Just my luck," Thorne cursed, his eyes darting between the two majestic beasts that now regarded him with chilling indifference, as if he were nothing more than a piece of meat waiting to be devoured.

These Winged Lions weren't just any magical beasts; they were intelligent predators who understood the stakes all too well.

They had ventured out for a simple hunt, only to return and find this audacious human pilfering their hard-earned treasures, the precious Mythrill Apples they had guarded for years!

Now, fury coursed through them like wildfire; they craved revenge and hungered for blood.

Thorne stood resolutely before the two majestic Winged Lions, gripping his long sword with a mix of determination and trepidation.

He knew these formidable beasts wouldn't let him slip away without a fight. If he wanted to escape their clutches, he was in for a real struggle.

Channeling his Mana into the blade, Thorne watched as glowing runes ignited along its length, radiating an intense aura.

Flames flickered to life, dancing along the sword's edge and causing the air around him to sizzle and crackle like a summer storm.

With narrowed eyes and fierce resolve, he raised his weapon high and slashed it forward.

"Tier 5 Knight Skill : Flame Requiem !" he shouted.

A torrent of fiery red flames surged toward the Winged Lions, leaving a blazing trail that illuminated the entire cave.

The heat was palpable; it felt as if the very walls were alive with fire!

ROARRRRRRRR!

The male Winged Lion unleashed a thunderous roar that reverberated through the cavern, shaking it violently and sending cracks spider-webbing across the walls.

Thorne's fiery attack was abruptly silenced by the shockwave generated by that ear-splitting roar.

But panic wasn't in Thorne's nature. Instead, he launched another series of slashes, moving like a silver streak of lightning through the chaos.

Yet each strike was effortlessly swatted away by the two powerful beasts as if they were mere annoyances.

"Damn! These creatures are no joke," Thorne muttered under his breath, frustration etched on his face.

The cave had been transformed into a battleground, devastation reigned supreme with gaping cracks everywhere and flames licking at every surface.

Thankfully, three Mythrill Apple Trees stood untouched amidst the chaos.

Thorne knew he had to tread carefully. With each attack he unleashed, the stakes grew higher; if he harmed the precious Mythrill Apple Trees, those already furious Winged Lions would go completely berserk.

And they were no fools, aware of the potential devastation their own powers could unleash, they held back as well.

If they decided to unleash their full strength, this cave would be reduced to rubble in an instant!

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed through the cavern!

ROARRRRRRRR!

The male Winged Lion lowered its massive head slightly, and the two curved horns glowed with an intense light.

In a flash, a brilliant orb of energy condensed between them, radiating immense pressure that sent shivers down Thorne's spine.

Before he could even react, that glowing orb transformed into a streak of golden lightning, zipping toward him at breakneck speed.

It was too fast, there was no way to dodge it! With no other option left, Thorne channeled every ounce of his Mana into his sword and slashed forward in desperation.

BOOOOOM!

The clash between Thorne's sword and the glowing orb produced an earth-shattering explosion that reverberated through the cave.

BOOOOOM!

In an instant, Thorne became a blur as he was violently slammed against the wall. Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone surface as he sank into it; his silver armor shattered in multiple places under the impact.

Blood poured from his mouth as horror flashed across his face, he felt deadly pale and vulnerable.