PLAYER SYSTEM C26 MISTWING FEN

Jack read the new quest window that shimmered before his eyes:

[Quest Name: Eyes of the Queen]
[The alluring store manager has offered you a rare opportunity: a free Epic-tier item — if you can bring her the crystallized eyes of the Flybeast Queen, an Elite Monster rumored to nest in the outer region of Mistwing Fen, east of Luke Town.]

[Defeat the Flybeast Queen and retrieve both eyes. One will be custom-crafted into an Epic accessory by the Artifact Store. Favor with the store will also increase, potentially unlocking discounts and future opportunities.]

He smiled faintly—until he spotted the small red warning beneath the prompt:

[Warning: The Flybeast Queen is a high-level Elite Monster. (Recommended Level: 20+)]
[Current Level: 12]
[Proceed with extreme caution.]

[Accept Quest?]
[YES]  [NO]

Jack furrowed his brows. ‘Level 20+? That’s quite the gap… I’m only level 12. Still, with the right tactics, I might pull it off.’ The promise of an Epic-tier item was simply too tempting to pass up.

Just then, the silver-haired NPC across the counter placed a hand over her chest and bowed gracefully. “Forgive my manners,” she said with a soft smile. “I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Selene Silver, manager of this establishment.”

“Larkight,” Jack replied, nodding politely. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Selene’s smile deepened, her eyes catching the light like twin moons. “About the offer,” Jack said, firming his tone. “It’s difficult, but I accept.”

Selene’s eyes brightened, but she didn’t seem surprised. “Really? That’s wonderful.” A slight hesitation passed before she added, “The Flybeast Queen nests in the Shallow Fen — the outer region of Mistwing Fen. These creatures... they’re abominations, born of failed experiments during the Alchemic Kings era. The Queen rarely leaves the Fen, but her spawn sometimes wander the roads and attack civilians.”

Jack crossed his arms, listening intently.

“I’ll be honest,” she continued. “The Queen’s eyes are valuable as crafting components, yes—but the real reason I’m asking you to hunt her is to break the hive. Once the Queen is gone, the swarm will scatter. It’ll take years before a new Queen emerges. Until then, the creatures will stay inside their swamp, leaderless and far less aggressive.”

Jack nodded slowly. “What exactly are these Flybeasts?”

Selene’s expression turned serious. “They’re mutated aerial predators—alchemic remnants from a corrupted lab beneath the Fen. A normal Flybeast is about the size of a cat, but far deadlier. They travel in erratic swarms, emit disorienting buzzes, and use primitive magic.”

Jack narrowed his eyes. “Magic?”

“Yes. They can pulse flashes of light from their eyes—disrupting spellcasters with silence effects. A single one is manageable, but in Mistwing’s shallow areas, they hunt in groups. A swarm can overwhelm even a seasoned Rank-C adventurer if they’re careless.”

Jack took a breath and glanced once more at the quest prompt. Then, without hesitation, he pressed [YES].

Selene seemed oddly confident that Jack would accept. When he finally did, she smiled gently.
“Thank you for accepting,” she said.

Jack nodded, but then raised an eyebrow as he gestured toward himself. “But… why me? I mean, you can see I’m a priest, not a warrior. What made you think I could take on the Flybeast Queen and not end up as swamp fertilizer?”

Selene blinked, then let out a soft chuckle, brushing a silver strand of hair behind her ear.
“Well, you are a Summoned Hero, aren’t you?” she said. “Word around town says you don’t exactly stay dead. So even if you fail, you can come back and try again.”

Jack gave a dry laugh. “Right. Makes sense now…” he muttered, shaking his head. ‘To them, I’m just an immortal guinea pig.’

He changed the subject. “Mistwing Fen—it’s east of town, right? How long of a walk?”

“Roughly an hour and a half,” she replied calmly. “Assuming you don’t get distracted.”

Jack nodded and turned to leave. “Alright then. I’ll be back—with the eyes.”

“Wait.” Selene’s voice stopped him mid-step.

He turned. “Hm?”

She reached down—right between the soft curve of her chest—and pulled out a small leather notebook. Jack blinked, momentarily stunned.

“This contains everything I’ve collected about the Flybeast Queen,” she said, offering it to him. “Sketches, weak points, behavioral patterns… just in case someone like you ever accepted my request.”

Jack accepted the notebook, trying not to look awkward about where it came from. Her fingers brushed his, soft and warm. He nodded with a mumbled “Thanks,” then quickly turned and made his way out of the store.


---

It took twenty minutes for Jack to walk from the edge of Luke Town to where the cobbled streets gave way to a more rugged, earthen road. The city’s noise faded behind him, replaced by the rustle of grass and the occasional chirp of unseen creatures.

He passed several farmlands and weathered windmills, their blades turning lazily in the breeze. Old NPC farmers tipped their straw hats in greeting as they loaded carts with harvested herbs and vegetables. A group of kids ran through the fields chasing a floating blue balloon slime, giggling as it popped into mist.

Not long after, Jack encountered minor monsters—nothing too threatening. A trio of Stonebeak Raptors skittered from the brush, their feathered bodies and chipped talons looking ready to pounce. Jack used Piercing Dawn to cut through them with ease. They dropped a few feathers and low-grade monster cores.

Farther along the path, the scenery began to change. The golden plains faded into more gnarled and shadowy woodland. Trees leaned overhead, casting dappled shade that made it hard to see far ahead. The ground became moist underfoot, and soon, his boots began to squish in the soft earth.

Finally, he arrived at the edge of the infamous Mistwing Fen.

The place was a far cry from the beauty of Luke Town. It was foul and humid, blanketed in a heavy mist that clung to his clothes like wet cobwebs. Fungal growths pulsed along the roots of blackened trees. The air smelled of damp rot and old alchemical reagents. Strange insect cries echoed from deeper within the swamp, blending with low buzzing in the distance.

A crooked wooden sign barely stood upright, its writing nearly faded away.

MISTWING FEN – OUTER FOG LINE. BEWARE OF FLYBEASTS.

Jack stared at the swampy trail ahead, then looked down at the notebook Selene gave him.

"Alright," he muttered, tightening his grip on his dagger. “Let’s see how bad this gets.”