Arin and the others had run far—so far that the battle behind them became nothing but smoke and distant echoes.
But then, a blinding white light tore through the sky.
A moment later, a shockwave slammed into them.
The ground beneath their feet cracked apart, trees bent, and dust exploded into the air.
Everyone staggered.
Arin's heart dropped.
"Let's go back… he might need help."
None of them argued. They ran.
And when they reached the battlefield—
They froze.
The earth was scorched black.
Huge craters stretched across the field.
Nothing remained of the two titans who clashed there.
Nothing… except two objects.
A crystal-blue sword, half-buried in the ground.
And a shiny black armor plate, cracked and still radiating a faint demonic warmth.
Eldrin's sword.
Kurishobe's armor.
Arin fell to his knees.
His vision blurred.
His vision blurred.
His mind slipped.
He saw his family dying again, the flames, the screams—
And now, Eldrin.
The one who saved him.
The one who trained him.
Gone.
Remembering everything that happened to his family, he broke into dispair
His friends grabbed him, pulling him back from the spiral consuming him.
Hanase stepped forward, eyes hard yet trembling.
"Get in the carriage. All of you. We're going back to the city."
No one resisted.
Two days later they arrived at klorade
The city gates were crowded.
Hundreds of adventurers had gathered, preparing to march, worried for the party of Eldrin.
The moment Arin's group appeared, people rushed to them.
"Where's sir Eldrin?"
"Is he injured?"
"Did he win?"
Arin didn't speak.
He simply lifted the sword.
The moment people saw a shining crystal blue sword, silence spread across the crowd.
Neblaheim stepped forward and removed something from his bag—a dark, gleaming helmet.
The guild officials approached, tense.
"Arin. May we… show the armor to the people? To boost morale?"
Arin handed the armor over.
But when they reached for Eldrin's sword, he stepped back, gripping it tightly.
His eyes were empty—except for a cold, burning anger.
Eight Months later
Arin and his party didn't rest once.
They hunted nonstop—
Goblin settlements were wiped out in minutes.
Orc Leaders were slain before they could roar.
Beasts that once threatened towns vanished overnight.
Their growth was terrifying.
In eight months, the weakest party in the city became the strongest force Klorade had seen in decades.
People spoke their name with awe and fear.
And one morning—
They packed their weapons, tightened their armor, and prepared their carriage.
Arin looked at Eldrin's sword, still glowing faintly with blue light.
"Master… watch us."
They set out toward the Monster Realm.
Not for a quest.
Not for coin.
But for revenge.