Somewhere within the quiet forest, a warm breeze rustled through the scorched trees, scattering embers from Anthony's recent display of power. Dom gulped nervously. Despite not being the target of this man's wrath, the oppressive heat and sheer force radiating from the Knight made his body shiver.
"You? Send me to hell? I'm an S-Class. You can't beat me," the cannibal sneered, releasing his green aura. Dom flinched as the overwhelming, eerie sensation washed over him.
"Kid," Anthony said without turning, his red aura now licking at the air around him, transforming into flames that curled protectively over his fists. "…you'd better get back. I might not be able to hold back everything."
Dom's brow furrowed in confusion, but he nodded and tried to rise.
Elon's eyes flared green. "You're not going anywhere. You're still my prey!"
With a stomp that cracked the ground, Elon thrust forward, creating a vicious whirlwind over his palm. "Cyclone Slasher!" The massive spiral of wind surged toward them, shredding everything in its path.
But the spell dispersed harmlessly. Flames erupted where Anthony had been standing moments ago, leaving both Knight and Dom unscathed. Elon's confidence faltered. "Impossible…" he muttered.
"I'm not the one outclassed," Anthony replied, flames intensifying, hissing as moisture evaporated violently from the air. The surrounding trees combusted spontaneously, sending clouds of smoke swirling into the sky.
Dom noticed something extraordinary. The heat was immense, yet his clothes remained unscathed. His skin tingled but did not burn; the fire wrapped around him like a protective blanket.
It's hot enough to burn everything… but to me… It's warm. Safe. Like porridge, Dom thought, marveling at the strange comfort. Even though it could destroy the forest, it doesn't touch me.
"You said your class was to intimidate me, right? Too bad." The Knight said as he advanced, fists sizzling with heat."I'm not the one outclassed."
Meanwhile, Elon staggered back, his wind defenses faltering against the unbearable heat. He groaned as skin sizzled and hair singed. "What the hell are you?" He asked, his confidence quickly crumbling.
The Knight takes a low fighting stance with his already steaming fists held up in front of him.
"Head Captain of the Royal Knights' 3rd Division."
The name adds an immense weight to the very air.
Dom's mouth hangs open. That title belongs to a name that everyone in the entire Great-Land knows by heart.
"Anthony Justice… The Dragon." Dom mumbled.
At first, Elon trembled in fear, but he quickly suppressed it out of retaliation.
"There's no way a Monarch would show up in a town like this," Elon shouted, a naive smile now formed on his still pale face. "You may be strong, but if you can spit a lie like that…" He raises his arm and points his palm at Anthony. "… you must be really stu-"
His throat instantly went dry once he realized that Anthony was nowhere in sight.
A shock wave exploded from where Anthony was just standing, instantly blowing the equally shocked Dom aside.
Elon desperately looked around, sweat beads sliding down his face as his eyes rapidly searched for the now hidden threat… until he felt a searing heat at his side and turned just as a flaming fist smashed into his cheek.
Even from where Dom was sitting, he could hear the distinct crunch from Elon's jaw before he crashed to the floor several feet away. He leaned over and groaned as blood and a few teeth spilled out of his mouth.
Elon's eyes now reddened from the pain, and he looked up, his mind so rattled that Anthony appeared as a blurry spot that calmly walked up to him.
He swayed as he tried to stand, his arms raised with a weak wind current swirling around them… just as another flaming punch connected with his gut, forcing more blood out of his mouth.
Elon dropped to his knees, only to immediately meet Anthony's foot, which sent him flying.
Dom watched the once-feared S-Class predator crash into a tree like a helpless ragdoll.
Elon crumbled to the ground, his body too weak to react to the flames currently burning him.
"Even after all these years," The Knight said as he casually walked up, "there are still so many scums like you. It's irritating."
Elon could only manage a pained groan as he tried to crawl away.
"Just do us all a favor…" Anthony added as he raised an arm, a small fireball hovering over his palm. "… and burn in hell with the rest of your kind."
With that, Dom watched the fireball gently hover towards the retreating Elon, like a firefly lazily moving through a garden.
But the moment it touched Elon, it expanded with unbelievable speed, resulting in an explosion that rattles the entire forest.
Dom grunted as the sudden shockwave sent him flying… but Anthony grabbed him mid-air, using his body to shield him from the destruction around them.
A couple of seconds later, as the holwing winds died out and the ground settled…
Anthony stepped back, surveying the smoldering clearing. "Yeesh… a little overkill," he muttered, scratching his black-gray hair.
Dom sank to a patch of grass below, the only piece of green left in the charred wasteland around him. The man who had just threatened his life had been reduced to ashes.
He couldn't speak, still frozen. But it wasn't just from fear. It was complete and utter awe.
Two days later, a small funeral was held at the town's graveside for the lives lost during Elon's hunt. Dom stood in the back, black hoodie pulled tight, jeans dusted with ash. He rubbed the bandage on his cheek as he listened to the eulogy.
Around him, townspeople mourned—Matt's mother weeping on her knees, the town chief staring blankly at the coffin, others silently grieving.
Dom's mind replayed the scene: the tension, Matt's screams, the spray of blood. His throat went dry, body trembling. A gentle hand landed on his head.
Pops' familiar, comforting smile steadied him. Dom returned a weak smile.
Across the graves, Anthony watched from a distance, his presence quiet but commanding. Dom's body trembled again, but this time, the feeling was the same as back then. Inspiration surging alongside fear and relief.
The next morning, just outside the town gates, the town chief shook Anthony's hand. "I'm getting too old for this," Anthony muttered to himself.
"Says the man who blew up half the forest," a young, slim Knight quipped, walking up.
Anthony shrugged. "I said I was sorry."
The Knight rolled his white-pupil eyes, emphasizing the burn scar along his face. "We're good to go," he said, handing Anthony his formal hat as they returned to their carriage.
There, a red-haired escort lit a cigar, drawing Anthony's attention. "Can you stop that?" the scarred Knight barked.
The young escort finally complied, eyes flicking toward Anthony before noticing two figures rapidly approaching them.
As Anthony turned, Pops paused, intimidated by Anthony's towering presence, but managed a grateful smile. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Dom's guardian. I never got a chance to say it with everything going on these past days. Thank you for saving him, General."
Anthony nodded. "I'm glad I got there in time. How is he?"
"His wound will leave a scar, but he's physically fine," Pops said, patting Dom's head. "Mentally… he's doing okay, considering. He's a tough kid. In fact…" Pops nudged Dom forward. "…he has something to say to you."
Anthony knelt, meeting Dom's wide, determined eyes. "Dominic, what do you want to tell me?"
Dom swallowed hard. "Thank you for saving me, Mr. Dragon."
Anthony smiled. "You can just call me Tony. You're very welcome, Dominic."
His hands twisted the hem of his hoodie. Words bubbled up, but fear held them back. One deep breath, a steadying nod to himself—and finally, Dom's voice rang out: "I… I'm going to become the greatest Knight!"
A stunned silence fell over the adults, but Anthony laughed, genuine and warm. "The greatest Knight, huh? I see."
Dom's gaze hardened. "I want to be like you."
Anthony raises a brow. "Like me?"
Dom's hands trembled as he thought back to the encounter. I was so scared my body wouldn't move. I thought I was going to die just by being around him. He closed his eyes, trying to push away that terrible feeling.
"Dom," Pops mumbled, his gaze softening as he looked at his ward.
Dom drew a shaky breath, opened his eyes, and finally met Anthony's. "But you weren't like that," he said quietly.
Anthony frowned, puzzled.
"Even though you were, like… ten times stronger than him, your mana didn't scare me. It was like… Um…" Dom searched for the words, his gaze landing on a nearby bush. "Like your fire. Even though it was hot enough to burn everything, I didn't get burned."
He looked down at his own hands. "It made me feel safe. Like nothing bad could touch me." Dom clenched his fists. "In the end, you're all soldiers, so I know that you're forced to… kill sometimes."
Anthony nodded, listening intently. Dom's eyes brightened as he continued. "But even though you have the power to kill anyone with just one spell, you also use that power to help good people. I want to be like that. A fire that can protect people but still fight the bad guys."
A brief silence fell over the clearing. Dom noticed how the adults—Pops and the other attendants—looked at him, speechless.
"Is… is that bad?" Dom asked, glancing at them.
Unknown to him, the question left a profound impression. They were struck by how such a young boy could understand the weight of power, the responsibility it carried, and the choice to protect rather than destroy.
Anthony's smile softened. "You sound just like me when I started." He noticed Pops' posture and gait. "You're a former soldier, right?"
Pops blinked. "How did you know?"
"You walk like one," Anthony said. "I may not know you, but I can tell a commanding officer when I see one. You trained a good soldier."
Dom's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Anthony smirked, placing the oversized hat on Dom's head. "You're already thinking like a soldier. Keep it up, and you'll be fine."
Dom's gaze fell, his hat almost completely covering his face. "But I don't even have an affinity. How can I do it?"
Anthony paused, his expression momentarily confused, before a spark of amusement filled his eyes. "The greatest power isn't always the flashiest. Sometimes… you just have to master what's already inside you." He gently tapped Dom's chest.
Dom blinked, confused. "Wait… what does that mean?"
Anthony laughed, stepping into the carriage. "You said you wanted to become the greatest. Solving a little riddle like this shouldn't be too hard. When you figure it out, bring this hat. That will be proof your goal is still the same… and a promise I'll help get you there."
Tears filled Dom's eyes. He gripped the hat tightly. "I will! I promise!"
Anthony chuckled, closing the door. The horses pulled the carriage forward.
"Why not tell him what his power really is?" the scarred Knight asked, voice low and uneasy.
Anthony popped the cap off a bottle of alcohol and took a long swig, savoring it before answering. "I've always wanted to sound like a wise old man. Besides," he added, a sly glint in his eye, "if his hair's already like that… he's already manifested it. He'll figure it out eventually."
The scarred Knight shook his head, his tone tinged with disbelief. "I never thought I'd see one of their kind in a place like this."
Anthony's smirk widened as he let the thought linger. "The next Emperor… Dominic," he said softly, almost to himself, before chuckling. "I'll be waiting."