"Whoa…" Krad breathed, spinning around like a kid in a candy store. His golden eyes were practically sparkling as he tried to take in everything at once, the massive columns, the glowing vines, the ruins that looked like they'd been plucked straight from some epic fantasy tale. "This place is insane!"
Mist stepped forward, calm as ever, though his sharp eyes swept across their surroundings like he was cataloging every shadow and corner.
"Welcome," he said evenly, "to the Kingdom of Darkness."
The name hit Krad like a lightning bolt. Instantly, the potion seller's raspy voice echoed in his head:
The Kingdom of Darkness… they're famous for their unique materials. Rare ores and enchanted gems that can be forged into permanent weapons. Weapons strong enough to last a lifetime, imbued with properties that grow alongside their wielder.
And then the part that had really stuck with him:
You need a permanent weapon that can be upgraded as you grow stronger. Squads won't accept members without adequate equipment and skills.
Krad clenched his fists, feeling the fire in his chest reignite. After everything... the Pure Slimes, the corrupted mage he swore to hunt down, the journey from Ustina to here, this was it. This was where everything changed. Where he'd finally get strong enough to make that mage pay for what he did.
He glanced sideways at Mist, who stood there all composed and mysterious like some kind of warrior monk from a legend. The guy moved with this confidence that made Krad feel like a hyperactive kid by comparison. A thought suddenly struck him, and his eyes widened.
"Wait a second… this guy's way too strong. Way too experienced."
"Hey," Krad blurted out, unable to contain his curiosity any longer. "Are you… like, a Squad Captain or something?"
Mist's shoulders stiffened just a fraction, so slight Krad almost missed it. For a heartbeat, he wondered if he'd just stepped on a landmine. But then Mist glanced back over his shoulder, those piercing pink eyes locking onto him.
"Yes," Mist said simply.
Krad's jaw hit the floor. "Wait, what?! You're serious?! You're the Captain of Tiger Squad?!"
Mist turned fully now, one eyebrow raised. "Was that not obvious?"
"Obvious?! No, it wasn't obvious!" Krad's voice shot up an octave as excitement took over. "I mean, I figured you were strong and all, but a Squad Captain? That's a whole different league! How many members do you have? What kind of missions do you guys go on? Can I---"
Mist held up a hand, cutting him off mid-ramble. "Calm yourself. This isn't the time for twenty questions."
Krad flushed but couldn't wipe the massive grin off his face. His mind raced back to the potion seller's words about Squads, how he'd need to reach Level 20, how he'd need proper equipment. And here he was, standing next to an actual Squad Captain!
"Still, man, that's incredible!" Krad bounced on his heels. "You must be ridiculously powerful. I knew you weren't just some random guy, but a Squad Captain? That's so cool! The old man back in Ustina told me Squads were the only way to survive long-term, that lone wolves don't last!"
Mist sighed, though a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Strength alone doesn't make you a Captain. A Squad is built on trust, teamwork, and leadership. Titles mean little without those."
Krad nodded eagerly, the potion seller's warning about betrayal and dangerous slayers flickering through his mind. "Be careful who you trust, kid. Not everyone who smiles at you is a friend." But Mist felt different.
He hesitated, fidgeting a bit before speaking again. "So… what kind of weapon do you think would fit me, Captain?"
Mist froze mid-step. Then, to Krad's complete confusion, he started laughing. Not just a chuckle either—a full, genuine laugh that echoed across the ancient plaza, reminding Krad eerily of the potion seller's explosive reaction.
Krad's face burned. "What's so funny?!"
Mist wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. "I heard about a kid once. Walked into a potion seller's shop and told him, bold as brass, that he didn't need a weapon because his fists were his weapon."
Krad's blood ran cold as the memory crashed over him like a tidal wave.
"Your fists?" the old man had repeated, his laugh shaking the entire shop. "Against Devourer Slimes?! Kid, this isn't a tavern brawl!"
His face turned bright red. "Wait… how do you know about that?!"
Mist crossed his arms, that knowing smirk still plastered on his face. "The potion seller? Old friend of mine. He told me all about the crazy kid who walked in claiming he'd fight Devourer Slimes bare-handed. Said the kid was so confident he nearly choked on his tea laughing."
"Oh man, not you too!" Krad groaned, burying his face in his hands. "That old guy's been spreading that story around?!"
Mist's laughter softened, though his eyes still glinted with amusement. "Relax, Krad." His voice dropped, suddenly serious. "But here's the thing, he wasn't laughing at you. He was preparing you."
Krad lowered his hands, frowning. "Preparing me? For what?"
Mist's smirk vanished, replaced by an intensity that made the air feel heavier. "For this. For the truth of who you are."
"What do you mean?" Krad's heart started hammering. "The old man sent me here to get a permanent weapon! Something that could grow with me, something strong enough that Squads would actually accept me! That's why I'm here, to find one and get stronger so I can hunt down that corrupted mage!"
The words burst out before he could stop them, his fists clenching at his sides. The image of those Pure Slimes, their peaceful blue light turning violent purple flashed through his mind. The promise he'd made still burned in his chest.
Mist stepped closer, his gaze locking onto him like a sniper's scope. "You're wrong. You already have one."
"What?" Krad's breath caught. "What are you talking about?"
Mist gestured to Krad's clenched fist. "This. Your fists, your body... They are your weapon."
"But, but the old man said---" Krad stumbled over his words, confusion warring with something that felt almost like hope. "He said I needed a permanent weapon! He laughed when I said my fists were enough! He showed me the map to this place specifically to get a real weapon!"
Mist's expression softened just slightly. "Think about it. You fought ten Devourer Slimes at Level 0 with your bare hands. The potion seller knew that. He heard your story and instead of dismissing you, he sent you here."
Krad's mind reeled. "You're saying… he knew? That I wouldn't need a weapon?"
Mist nodded slowly. "The old man has been around longer than most. He sees potential where others see foolishness. He sent you here because Darkness isn't just a place to find weapons, it's where Slayers are forged. Where those with unique potential come to unlock their true power. Your fists are your permanent weapon, Krad. They just need to be awakened."
The weight of those words pressed down on Krad's chest like a boulder. He thought back to that conversation in the Weakling Shop, how the old man had laughed so hard, but then immediately told him about this place. How his eyes had lingered on Krad with that calculating look, like he was seeing something others couldn't.
"Either he's incredibly lucky... or there's something special about him."
"But…" Krad's voice wavered, and his thoughts turned to the corrupted mage somewhere out there. "How can fists be enough? Against monsters? Against that mage who hurt those slimes? Against slayers like you?" He looked up at Mist, frustration bleeding into his voice. "You've got magic. Swords. An entire squad backing you up. What do I have? Just these?" He raised his fists, shaking them slightly. "How is that supposed to be enough to make him pay for what he did?"
Mist's expression grew fierce. "You have more than you realize. And Darkness will prove it to you. That mage you're hunting? The one the old man told you about?"
Krad's head snapped up. "You know about him too?!"
"He was last seen near these lands three months ago," Mist confirmed. "If you want to face him, if you want to be strong enough to make him answer for corrupting those Pure Slimes, you'll need to embrace what you are. Not what you think you should be."
Before Krad could respond, the ground beneath them started trembling. The glowing green vines wrapped around the columns pulsed brighter, their light intensifying until it was almost blinding. A deep, resonant hum filled the air, vibrating through Krad's bones.
Mist's eyes narrowed as he turned toward the source of the disturbance. "It's starting."
"What's starting?!" Krad's voice pitched upward, panic creeping in.
Mist didn't answer right away. Instead, he pointed toward the skeletal ruins of the castle. The mist that had been drifting lazily moments ago now swirled violently, forming a vortex that seemed to suck the light right out of the air.
"This is your first trial," Mist said, his voice steady but urgent. "The guardians of Darkness are awakening. They'll test you, not just your strength, but your resolve. If you truly believe in your fists as your weapon, if you truly want to be strong enough to hunt that mage and protect those who can't protect themselves, you'll prove it here."
Krad swallowed hard, the faces of those Pure Slimes flashing before his eyes. "And if I fail?"
Mist's gaze was unyielding. "Then this place will devour you, along with the Moon Eater."
A chill shot down Krad's spine, but he clenched his fists tighter, feeling the weight of his promise settle on his shoulders. He'd come here thinking he needed a weapon to get strong enough. But maybe, just maybe... the old man had been trying to tell him something else all along.
"You need a permanent weapon that grows with you."
What if he was that weapon?
"Alright," Krad said, his voice steadying despite the fear coursing through him. A grin started to break through, wild and determined, the same fierce expression he'd worn when he'd sworn to hunt down that corrupted mage. "Let's see what these guardians have got! I've got promises to keep and a mage to find! Believe it!"