The atmosphere grew increasingly vicious.The wind howled from every direction, and the clouds finally began to release their burden.As leaves fell one after another, the world took on an unsettling, ominous tone.
Somewhere visibility was nearly nonexistent.
A woman screamed in despair.
"(Raym)… please, live for me.I don't want to lose you.I don't want you to live like I did…(Raym)!"
That final cry tore through the darkness ...and jolted (Raym) awake.
He looked around, breath unsteady. Nothing felt unfamiliar… yet his chest felt heavy.
I need to walk, he thought.Even in this weather… it'll count as training.
There was no sound but the dull crunch of his footsteps against wet soil.
Suddenly, (Raym) stopped.
A strange wave of longing washed over him.This place… it felt familiar. Too familiar.
Have I been here before…?
His thoughts were cut short.
Before him stood a massive structure—towering, imposing.A fortress… or perhaps a stronghold.
A chill crawled up his spine.
Voices echoed nearby.
(Raym) quickly hid, forcing his breathing to still.
Wait—!
His heart nearly stopped.
Them… it's them.The same men who attacked us.
The SI Army.
His heart pounded violently. His breathing grew erratic as he struggled to remain motionless.
Why are they here?Why is security this tight?
There were more than twenty of them—undeniably the same soldiers.
After steadying himself, (Raym) carefully turned back, intending to warn the others.
Then—
A presence.
Something was watching him.
One of the men who had welcomed them yesterday suddenly stood before him, eyes wide with shock.
Unlike the soldier, (Raym) felt strangely calm.
He tried to speak, to warn him.
But the man lunged.
(Raym) reacted instantly, countering the attack despite his own disbelief.
"Why?" (Raym) shouted."How could you betray us? We trusted you!!!"
The man said nothing...
Three more joined him...
Four seasoned fighters surrounded (Raym).
He drew his sword and assumed his familiar stance.
The men hesitated...
Is he attacking… or defending?
It didn't matter.
"You're dead either way."
One charged...
(Raym) moved first...
Another attacked...but (Raym) was ready.
He shifted back, changed stance, and unleashed a rapid flurry of sword strikes.
One fell wounded.The others dodged—
Then, without hesitation, they killed their injured comrade.
(Raym) froze in shock.
They killed their own…???
Suddenly, all three activated their elements and rushed him at once.
Two attacked head-on.
The third was gone.
Behind him.
A crushing blow sent (Raym) to the ground.
They moved to finish him—
But in desperation, (Raym) released a burst of Light, blasting them away and injuring one.
Their expressions changed instantly.
Fear....
Recognition...
The remaining two attacked with everything they had.
Wounded and exhausted, (Raym) fell once more.
He tried to cry out—
But his voice vanished with the final strike.
They dragged him away.
Into the looming structure.
It was then he realized—
It wasn't a fortress...
It was a prison...
Elsewhere—
(Vail) jolted awake, his heart racing.
He had seen it.
A distant flash of light.
(Raym's light.)
Everyone should be safe…I'll rest my eyes—
What?
That light again?
No… impossible.
Unless—
"(Raym)?!!Where are you?!!(Raym)!!!"
(Vail) sprang up, running aimlessly through the camp...
The camp awoke in panic...
Their numbers were fewer...
(Raym) was gone...
And (Vail) knew—he had seen that light...
He searched relentlessly… until despair settled in...
Then he roared:
""EVERYONE ...UP—NOW!!!""
The soldiers panicked...
"Have you lost your mind?!!"
(Vail) exploded in fury.
"How can you sleep here of all places?!!(Raym) is missing—and I saw something I pray was a lie!!!"
They gathered quickly...
(Vail) turned to the guests...
"Weren't you more? Are some of you still asleep???"
One stammered nervously, "This… this is our full number."
(Zak) added quietly, "That was their count, yes..."
(Vail) clenched his fist until it bled...
"No. You're missing four men...Thirty seconds. Bring them to me."
His voice dripped with rage and suspicion.
"One of my men—my disciple—is missing.And coincidentally, so are four of yours."
The man suggested splitting into search groups.
(Vail) agreed—on one condition...
Two of his men with two guests per group.And (Vail) would personally keep their so-called leader close.
Time passed.
No trace of (Raym).
(Vail) headed toward the structure.
The guests protested.
"It's dangerous!!!"
(Vail) snarled,"Dangerous? I value my disciples more than anything—perhaps more than myself."
Near the stronghold, (Vail) hid and listened...
One guard laughed..."Heard they caught an injured boy."
Another replied,"Yeah. And I heard he wields the Light Element.The higher-ups will be pleased. We might even get promoted."
Those words shattered (Vail)...
He attacked without hesitation...
Killed the guards...
Turned on the guests—who had already prepared to strike.
Their leader barely dodged...
Consumed by rage, (Vail) assumed a strange stance—one hand raised, one lowered, rotating with the flow of energy...
He roared:
"Nine Flame Arts—First Form:『Spiraling Blaze』!"
A twisted flame erupted, tearing through the air...
The leader burned—collapsed lifeless...
Only then did (Vail) realize—
He had exposed himself...
Before him stood one of the most feared enemy strongholds...
The Sealed Prison...
A place rumored to hold all who opposed the SI Army...A place of cruelty… and whispered inhuman experiments...
There was no turning back.
Inside—
(Raym) awoke.
He felt (Vail)'s aura...
Before him stood a man radiating malice.
A spiked chain wrapped around his body.
And on his chest—
The number 4.
The man smiled wickedly...
"Oh?So you're the strange boy who still carries the Light Element?"
He leaned closer.
"The commander will be very pleased with you."