The sky was filled with countless wyverns.

They had gathered many of their kin to drive out the gryphons and take control of the canyon.

Today was the day of the decisive battle.

Today would be the day the wyverns became the rulers of the canyon.

But something felt off.

They had sent a reconnaissance team, but they hadn’t returned.

It was unimaginable that they had been defeated. Perhaps they were slacking off somewhere?

Taking control of the canyon and eliminating the useless ones could wait.

"Brothers, the day of reckoning has come."

The wyverns flew in unison toward the gryphon’s nest, but something was wrong.

My instincts, which had never failed me, were warning me.

Go any further, and you will die.

I tried to ignore the feeling as we approached the nest, but what I saw was shocking.

The smaller gryphons we had always fought were nowhere to be seen. Instead, massive gryphons filled the sky.

Then, a scream rang out, and I looked around to see countless wyverns being hunted by the gryphons.

My mind struggled to comprehend the situation, and just then, a voice called out.

"Welcome. If you’ve come to find your grave, you’ve come to the right place."

I looked up to see a gryphon, significantly larger than the others, glaring down at me.

Sweating profusely, I tried to come up with an excuse, but before I could speak, the world flipped upside down.

The last thing I saw was the beautiful moon before everything went dark.

[Is the Canyon of Death called that because you die if you go in?] I got a quest to steal a gryphon’s egg, and the moment I entered the canyon, I was ripped to shreds. What’s the recommended level for this?

[Comments] -Probably around level 60? -[OP] I’m level 60, and I got one-shot... My class is Warlord. -A Warlord got one-shot? Were you not wearing your gear? I’ll check it out myself, but if you’re lying, you’re dead.

[Don’t even get close to the Canyon of Death.] I thought it was a lie that a Warlord got one-shot, so I went in, and I got one-shot too. I’m over level 70 as a Holy Knight—is this for real!?

[Comments] -Were you not wearing your gear? LOL -[OP] I’m telling the truth! I had all my buffs up and still got one-shot! -Stop lying. -[OP] Dude, if you don’t believe me, go try it yourself!!

[Proof from the Canyon of Death. (Video)] The gryphons aren’t what we thought they were. Do you see that massive one? It’s at least twice the size of the ones we’ve seen before. There’s also one that seems to be a named boss. Don’t get close, or you’ll be ripped apart.

[Comments] -What is that? Did you wander into a dragon’s nest instead of a gryphon’s nest? LOL -Save us all! We’re all going to die! -Everyone’s dead; take this post down, LOL.

[Is it called the Canyon of Death because you die if you go in and come out?] Hmm, is it really that bad?

[Comments] -This guy’s really sticking to his bit, huh? LOL -Get out of here already! -[OP] Hmm, is it really that bad? -Hmm, is it really that bad? LOL

"Leader! Did you see the community posts?"

"I’m reading them right now."

Information is money and power.

To maintain our status as one of the Top Ten Guilds, we need to monopolize more information than anyone else.

Most of the other guild members were out completing quests or on party hunts, so it was just Sasha and me left.

I had no choice but to send Sasha on a mission.

"Sasha, head over there."

"Ugh, fine."

She always grumbled, but Sasha would still follow my orders.

She tore open a scroll from her inventory, and in a flash of light, she disappeared.

[Teleport Scroll] Allows you to travel to any location you’ve previously visited (except for certain restricted areas).

As I continued gathering information, sipping my tea, the alarm on my communication device went off.

The alert color was red.

That meant it was an emergency.

"What’s going on?"

"It’s—it's chaos here! Aah!"

The transmission cut off with a scream.

Grabbing my throbbing head, I pulled out a scroll from my inventory and tore it open.

In an instant, the scenery changed, and I was standing in front of the Canyon of Death.

I drew a sword from my inventory.

It was a sword I had obtained by chance through a hidden quest, thanks to my unique trait.

The item that had elevated me to the rank of a high-level player.

[Dragon Twin Blade]

I entered the canyon and climbed the stairs, only to find myself surrounded by countless gryphons.

Each one was easily twice the size of the ones I had seen before.

One gryphon, in particular, stood out, dwarfing the others with its immense size.

"Is that a named boss?"

Just then, Sasha, who had been running for her life, spotted me and came sprinting toward me.

"Leader! Save me!"

"Don’t come this way!"

Sasha had attracted the attention of a massive flock of gryphons, and they were all headed straight for us.

While I could handle a few dozen gryphons, hundreds were too much.

Not to mention that named boss.

The aura it was giving off was far from ordinary.

I unsheathed my sword and swung it.

"By the sword I swear, mountains and rivers tremble."
"With one sweep, the world is drenched in blood."

As a warning, I unleashed a powerful strike, causing the gryphons to back off, and Sasha hid behind me, panting.

"Hah... Hah... I thought I was going to die."

"Really, be more careful."

Just then, the massive gryphon emerged from the flock of hundreds.

"Humans. Are you thieves, here to steal our eggs?"

It could talk—there was no doubt this was a named boss.

"No, we’re here to investigate the canyon. Could you tell us what’s been happening recently?"

"There is nothing to say. Leave. This is your only warning."

We were flatly rejected, so I grabbed Sasha and retreated.

I updated our intel.

The Canyon of Death, once recommended for level 60 players, was no more.

It would now take a large party of high-level players to hunt anything here.

However, the gryphons didn’t have any particularly valuable loot.

Considering the cost of potions needed for the hunt, it wouldn’t even be worth it.

This might actually be good news for the gryphons.

As we left the canyon, I gave Sasha a new order.

"As your leader, I order you to investigate if Yuna has ever been to the Canyon of Death."

"Huh? You think Yuna’s responsible for this? Is that even possible?"

"It’s a possibility. There aren’t many people who could pull off something this ridiculous."

"Hmm. Okay, I’ll check it out."

Sasha left to investigate in the City of Stars, and I turned back to look at the Canyon of Death.

I recalled an old story I had heard.

The canyon’s original name was Gryphon’s Canyon.

It used to be a peaceful nesting ground for the gryphons.

But after players began slaughtering the gryphons, the name had changed to the Canyon of Death.

"Is it possible it will regain its original name?"

Erica, smiling brightly, stroked my head.

"My little cutie who so heartlessly rejected my offer, what brings you here today?"

"Uh... do you have any other jobs available?"

I was currently in the Information Guild’s request room.

After spending all the magic stones I had on the gryphons, I was back to needing work.

As I stood there, unsure of what to say, Erica pulled out a scroll from her storage.

"This should do."

"Thank you!"

When I unrolled the scroll, a blue window appeared.

[A quest has arrived.]

On my way back to the hotel from the Information Guild.

A lot had happened today, and I had a new quest lined up for tomorrow.

"Kyuung."

"Hungry?"

I pulled out one of the magic stones I had gotten on credit from my inventory and handed it to Yongyongi, who was thrilled.

Thankfully, they gave me credit, or else I’d be in big trouble.

Back at the hotel, I threw myself onto the bed, noticing an unread message.

[You’ve reached level 30 and have acquired a class-specific skill.]

You’ve acquired the active skill: "Help Me!"

["Help Me!"] When used, this skill summons a creature. Mana cost: 0
Cooldown: 72 hours

I had always only received passive skills, so this was my first active skill.

And since the mana cost was 0, could I actually use it?

I wasn’t sure if I could use it since my mana was sealed by the Ring of Sealing.

I thought about trying it out but then shook my head.

I remembered how embarrassed I felt the last time I used a communication skill and shouted out loud.

Besides, Yongyongi is my only summon, so do I really need this skill?

I was too tired to think about it.

"Yongyongi, I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Kyuung."

[Logging out]

After removing my gear and zoning out for a while, I got up, finished my business, and grabbed a triangle kimbap from the fridge as I checked the community boards.

Ever since I had gotten used to the game, I had been collecting information regularly, but what was this?

The boards were flooded with stories about gryphons.

Back in my room, I turned off my phone and lay down on my bed.

‘I know nothing about this.’