Scene – Rana steps out of the dwarf palace. It's evening.
Rana (thinking):
There has to be a reason behind this. If I use my brain a little, dwarves love only two things: first, machines and artifacts… and second, power.
So is it possible that there's a very powerful artifact inside that cave?
No—wait, that's just a theory.
Another possibility is that the dwarf king wants to use the four elemental dragons, mix their powers, and create a new artificial elemental dragon…!
Is that even possible?
Well, anything is possible. I just need to stay alert.
Scene – The next day, inside the palace garden, Dugu and Rana are standing. In front of them are five dwarves.
Dugu: "So, Rana, these are the five people who will go with you on this raid."
Rana: "But you said ten people would go."
Dugu: "What difference does it make—five or ten? You'll be the one doing the work anyway. They're just here to keep an eye on you."
Rana: "…"
Dugu: "So let me introduce them. This is Malu, Desu, Eco, Suba, and this one is Chei."
Malu and the others: "Hello."
Rana: "Yeah…" (nods)
Dugu: "You may now head to the raid with them."
Rana: "Okay."
Scene – Everyone is standing at the dungeon entrance.
Chei: "Inside the dungeon, there are divine spiders, tempest bats, and giant snakes. We don't know what's inside the cave."
Rana: "Alright. Let's go."
Scene – They enter the dungeon and go deep inside, killing many monsters along the way. Suddenly, a demon appears before them.
Desu: "! It's a Greater Demon!"
Eco: "What the hell is a demon doing here?!"
Demon: "Oh-ho… some humans…!"
Rana: "Why wasn't I told there was a demon here?"
Suba: "We didn't know either."
Rana: "Then how the hell is this demon here?! Are you saying it just appeared out of nowhere?!"
Chei: "…!"
Demon: "Don't get so impatient, humans."
Rana: "Demon, answer me. How did you come into the mortal world?"
Demon:
"Ch… ch… ch!! You lowly creature wouldn't understand what's happening in the world—even if I told you what's about to happen.
Anyway, since you're going to die soon, I'll tell you.
After an eternal sleep, the Great Lord's seal will soon be removed. He will return to rule this world once again.
To make things easier for him, his loyal servants are cleaning things up… and making preparations…"
Rana (thinking):
Great Lord?! Who is that? I don't remember any lord with that name or title…!
Is this also part of that damn dwarf king Dugu's plan?!
Rana: "All of you—leave this place and go deeper into the cave. Wait for me there. I'll handle this."
Desu: "But is that okay? He's a demon. Even if he's low-ranked, he's still powerful."
Rana: "Don't worry. Just go."
Scene – They all start running away.
Demon: "Do you think I'll allow that?"
Scene – The demon rushes forward, jumps, and is about to grab one of the humans. At that moment, Rana attacks, but the demon dodges. The humans manage to escape.
Demon: "Tsk!"
Rana:
"As far as I remember, for demons to enter the mortal world, you either need a body or you need to absorb soul power to stay here.
But the easiest method is possessing someone's body—because absorbing soul power again and again is troublesome for demons."
Demon: "Y-Yeah! You know that. So what?"
Rana: "…"
Demon: "You're going to die here! DEMON BLADE!"
Scene – A blade appears in the demon's hand, and he rushes forward.
Scene – Rana dodges and jumps backward.
Demon: "Why are you dodging?"
Rana:
"I'm just checking a demon's power.
I think this is my first time fighting a demon… or maybe I've fought one before? I don't remember clearly."
Demon: "… BLACK BOLT!"
Scene – The demon thrusts his hand and blade forward. A black-colored lightning shoots out.
Rana: "! ILLUSION LOCKDOWN!"
Scene – The lightning freezes in midair at one spot, and Rana moves away.
Demon: "What the hell?!"
Scene – The Black Bolt hits the wall, causing a huge explosion. The wall and ceiling collapse. Both the demon and Rana survive.
From between the falling stones, the demon rushes out and punches Rana—but it was an illusion.
Demon: "! Why are you playing tricks?!"
Rana: "Don't demons fight using tricks too?"
Demon: "That's it then! BLOOD HELL!"
Scene – The ground breaks apart, and lava made of blood appears. Rana stands on a stone above it, untouched.
Demon:
"Hah! This skill isn't very powerful yet—I learned it recently—but it's more than enough to kill you!"
Rana: "You think so?"
Demon: "?!"
Rana: "BREAK."
Scene – The scene shatters like a broken screen and turns black.
Then it opens again. The demon opens his eyes and sees everything is normal—no broken walls, no blood lava pool.
It's as if the fight never even started.
Demon: "H-How?!"
Rana: "It's my skill."
Scene – Rana stands there, one hand on his chest, his fingers shaped like a gun.
Rana:
"ETERNAL DREAM.
Once an opponent enters this, they're trapped in a dream—or you could call it an illusion—where everything feels completely real, even damage dealt or received.
Inside this, no one can defeat me… but I also can't directly attack anyone."
Demon: "Ahn…!!! Y-You were playing with me this whole time?!"
Rana: "Maybe. Now die—CIE FLAM."
Scene – Rana slashes the air with his fingers. From them erupts a dark-blue flame that engulfs the demon, burning him alive.
Demon: "AAAAAA!! Damn you, human!!! Aaaahhh!!!"
Rana:
"He's dead. I should go back to the others. Who knows—they might be in trouble."
Scene – Rana leaves. The demon's body keeps burning until it turns into dust.