SS Awakening: My Monster Merging System!

"A secret realm," Cole muttered.

The words made the Association members behind him go quiet for a moment, and even those who had been breathing hard from the chase straightened slightly. Secret realms were not like normal dungeons. Dungeons appeared, gave a challenge, and closed after being cleared, but secret realms were closer to separate spaces filled with resources, monsters, strange rules, and sometimes things that could change the future of an entire settlement if handled well.

Cole had only read about them in reports from higher layers, because secret realms were not supposed to appear easily in Layer One. They were more common above the beginner zones, where races fought over land, resources, and climbing rights. From what he knew, secret realms were divided by color grades: White, Blue, Gold, and Crimson. White was the lowest, Blue was above it, Gold was something most Layer One settlements could only dream about, and Crimson was the kind of place that killed people who entered without even knowing what killed them.

"This one is Blue grade," one Association member said, even though it was already obvious. "It is the second lowest, but for Layer One, this is still..."

"A gold mine," another whispered, his eyes already shining.

Cole did not correct him, because the man was not wrong. Even a Blue grade secret realm could contain materials that were difficult to buy in Layer One, and if they controlled access properly, the human shelter would gain training resources, rare monster parts, and maybe enough wealth to pressure the other alien groups around them.

Several members exchanged looks, and for the first time since the undead dragon appeared, their faces showed something other than fear.

"With this, we can finally get ahead of the Velhari," one of them said while gripping his weapon. "They have been acting arrogant because their territory has better hunting grounds."

Another nodded quickly. "If we control this entrance, they will have to trade with us."

Cole stared at the blue sphere and did not answer immediately, because something about its position bothered him. The portal was not deep in the human side, and the damaged trail from the undead dragon had crossed a strange stone marker half buried beneath the dirt.

"Wait," one member said while pointing at the ground. "Is that the boundary line?"

Cole’s expression changed.

He walked closer and brushed dirt from the stone marker with his boot. A faint line ran across the ground from one ridge to another, old but still visible. His eyes followed it, and his mood sank when he realized the secret realm had opened almost directly on the border between human territory and Velhari territory.

"Damn it," someone muttered, the excitement fading from his voice.

One Association member swallowed and looked toward the red tinted trees beyond the line. "Captain, what do we do? If they find this, they will not stay quiet."

"They already argue with us over hunting zones," another added. "A secret realm will make it worse."

Cole’s fingers tightened around his spear, but he kept his voice firm. "We secure the area first. No one enters until the Shelter Lord arrives."

As if the world had been waiting for those words, movement came from the Velhari side.

Several red skinned figures stepped out from between the trees, their bodies tall and lean, with dark markings running along their arms and necks. Their leader walked ahead with a relaxed smile, but his eyes were fixed on the blue portal, and greed showed clearly in them.

"Well," the Velharian said, looking at Cole and the others as if they were children standing in his path. "It seems the little humans found something interesting."

"Bastards," the Association members stiffened at once, annoyed.

The Velhari leader crossed his arms and looked at the portal again. "A secret realm in this zone. How fortunate. Since your people lack the strength to maintain and explore it properly, you should step aside and allow the Velhari to manage it."

One human fighter stepped forward angrily. "You have no right to say that."

Another raised his weapon slightly. "The undead dragon came toward our event zone. We found the entrance first."

The Velhari behind their leader laughed quietly, and the sound made several Association members’ faces tighten with even more anger.

"Finding something does not mean you deserve it," the Velharian leader replied. "If a child finds a sword, does the sword belong to the child?"

Cole, who had remained quiet all this while, finally spoke. "The secret realm appeared on the boundary line. It does not belong only to your side, and it does not belong only to ours."

The Velhari representative’s smile thinned. "You are claiming equal rights?"

"I am stating what the land shows," Cole replied in a firm tone. "No side has a superior claim."

The air between both groups grew heavy as subtle killing intent leaked from both sides. Weapons shifted. Fingers moved closer to hilts. For a few seconds, it seemed a fight would break out before anyone even entered the secret realm.

However, before anyone could make a move, a heavy pressure arrived.

Both the Velhari and the human side turned their heads toward that direction.

Arnold walked forward with his hands at his sides, his expression strict and unreadable. He did not hurry, yet every human player stepped aside the moment he approached. Even the Velhari who had been laughing earlier stopped, and their arrogance faded enough to show they understood who had arrived.

Cole lowered his head slightly as he spoke respectfully. "Shelter Lord."

Arnold stopped beside him and looked at the blue portal. His eyes moved once to the boundary line, and he understood the situation without needing a long explanation.

The Velhari representative forced his smile back. "Shelter Lord Arnold. We were just discussing proper ownership."

Arnold looked at him, and the man’s smile weakened slightly.

"The humans will not give up this secret realm," Arnold declared loudly.

The Velhari representative’s jaw clenched. "It is also on our side."

"Correct," Arnold replied. "If the Velhari wish to explore it, send your representatives. We will send ours."

Arnold’s voice remained calm, but no one mistook it for softness.

"No side enters alone. No side claims the realm alone. If your people disagree, tell them to speak with me directly."

The Velhari representative stared at him for a few seconds before lowering his gaze slightly. "I will report your words."

Arnold turned back to the portal. "Do that, and we will send our best as well."