After the archer finally disappeared into the darkened horizon, a fragile calm settled over the battlefield.
The soldiers exhaled as one.
Swords were lowered. Shields hit the ground. Some men collapsed to their knees, others stared blankly at the scorched earth where the monster had fallen. They had survived. That alone felt unreal.
"It's over…" one soldier whispered.
But Lunnaux did not relax.
She stood apart from the others, arms folded tightly around herself, eyes fixed on the treeline. The wind brushed past her silver hair, yet her unease refused to fade.
"This doesn't feel finished," she said quietly.
Thar approached her, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "The creature is dead. The threat is gone. You've been on edge since the fight—"
"No," Lunnaux interrupted, her voice firm. "Something lingers. Like the world itself hasn't exhaled yet."
Thar frowned but said nothing more. Eventually, the order was given to move toward the Central Plaza of Elysium, the capital. Darkness crept in faster than expected, and exhaustion overtook the troops before they could reach the main road.
They set up camp beneath a crescent moon.
Fires crackled. Rations were passed around. Soft laughter returned in fragments—but one presence felt wrong.
Noa sat alone.
He barely touched his food.
Since the battle with the monster, he had changed. He spoke little, watched everything, and when the firelight hit his face just right, the mark beneath on his left eye still glimmered faintly.
Stronger—but hollow.
Lunnaux glanced at him. "He doesn't feel like himself anymore."
Thar sighed. "Power always takes a price."
Before either could say more, shouting erupted from the edge of the camp.
A man came running—clothes torn, breath ragged, face pale with terror.
"My—my kingdom," he gasped, falling to his knees. "Ryujin soldiers… they slaughtered everyone. Please—Elysium must help!"
Silence followed.
Then Thar stood. "Mount up. Now."
They were too late.
The small kingdom lay in ruins. Homes burned. Streets silent. No cries. No survivors.
Vipul clenched his fists. "Cowards… they ran after killing civilians."
"They won't run far," Zephio said coldly.
The Elysium soldiers charged.
Steel met steel. Lightning split the sky. Water surged through the streets.Flame against Flame.Ryujin soldiers tried to retreat—but a presence stopped them.
Noa remained on his horse at the edge of the battlefield.
His hands trembled.
Not from fear of battle.
From something awakening inside him.
"Noa!" Lunnaux shouted. "We need you!"
Slowly, he looked up.
His left eye ignited.
In a blink, he was among them.
The fight ended in moments.
When it was over, Noa stood alone, hair turned white once more, steam rising from his skin. The ground around him was scorched. Silent.
No cheers followed.
Only dread.
That night, the dead were buried. Prayers were spoken. The last surviving noble refused escort.
"This land is my home," he said softly. "Even if it has become a grave."
The soldiers returned to camp and rested.
At dawn, a crow descended.
Thar took the message.
His blood ran cold.
"The village we saved…" he whispered. "It's been attacked again."
They arrived to devastation.
Bodies lay everywhere. Homes burned. Smoke still rose into the sky.
And standing among the ruins—
Cultists.
Robed figures surrounded by symbols carved into the earth.
They were torturing children's, Women, Men.
Rapping Women in front of them.
Lunnaux stepped forward. "We're too late…"
Suddenly, an invisible force slammed into them.
A barrier.
Vipul struck it with lightning. Zephio unleashed torrents of water. Nagumo attacked from multiple angles.All the soldiers tried there best but-
Nothing worked.
The cult leader raised a hand.
"You watch," he said calmly, "or you suffer."
A shockwave hurled the soldiers back.
Darkness swallowed them.
They found themselves inside a vast black void—no walls, no sky. Then the ground beneath them changed.
Red.
Liquid.
The air filled with whispers.
Figures rose from the surface—twisted echoes of the dead.
"They're illusions!" Thar shouted. "Hold formation!"
But the figures kept coming.
Overwhelming.
Endless.
All the soldiers couldn't use there powers
Under the dark magic anymore.
Fear seeped into even the strongest hearts.
"We have to retreat!" Zephio yelled.
Thar grabbed Lunnaux's hand. "Move!"
But Noa didn't.
He stared at the chaos, breathing hard.
"I won't leave them," he whispered.
His eye flared brighter than ever.
He charged.
Every strike erased dozens—but more rose to replace them.
"Noa!" Lunnaux screamed. "It's pointless!"
He didn't answer.
Blood burned beneath his skin. Pain ripped through his body—but he kept moving.
Because if he stopped—
Everyone would die.
And somewhere beyond the darkness, the cult leader smiled.
"To be continued…"