Haruto stood in the craftsman's workshop, observing Bruni Emberwhistle, a dwarf who was even shorter than most of her kind, with wild copper-orange hair that looked like it hadn't seen a comb in days. Goggles sat perpetually pushed up onto her forehead, and her leather apron was adorned with an assortment of strange tools, vials of glowing liquids, and blueprints sticking out from every pocket. Her boots sparked with every step she took.
"Owwww, Lord Haruto! Ya just got 'ere in the nick o' bangin' time!" she exclaimed, half-laughing, half-hyperventilating. "I was two ticks away from blowin' the whole blasted cave ta cinders! Thought I'd be goin' out in a blaze o' very avoidable glory—but nope! You swoop in like some icy prince o' death with a grudge and a sparkle!"
She pointed a soot-covered glove at him. "Next time, gimme a warning, will ya?! My nerves ain't built for this kinda suspense—I'm a tinkerer, not a drama queen!"
Bruni grinned. "But stars above, am I glad to see yer pretty broody face, ya overpowered menace."
Haruto gave her a wry smile. "You're full of energy today, huh, Bruni?"
"That's it. I'm callin' Thargrim!" She pulled out a glowing rune-stone and slapped it as if it owed her money. "If we're goin' full catastrophe mode, might as well drag the ol' iron goat outta retirement! Grit yer teeth, lads—'cause when Thargrim shows up, somethin's gettin' hammered, and it ain't just the enemy!"
With a wicked grin, she added, "Hope he's wearin' pants this time…"
As Bruni hurried off to get Thargrim, Haruto looked around the room. The floor was a dull gray stone, cluttered with tables full of strange items, bottles, and boxes scattered across the floor. Swords adorned the walls, and large pans of blue glowing liquids simmered nearby. Haruto slid his hands into his pockets and asked, "Is that the Saphiris plant?"
Azara's voice responded.
"The Saphiris is known for its potent healing properties. When properly processed, it can be used to create an elixir that accelerates the body's natural healing process, restoring vitality and even healing injuries at a remarkable rate. If you were to combine it with a few other ingredients, you could make a powerful restorative potion. However, its use must be measured carefully, as overconsumption could have side effects."
"I see." Haruto murmured to himself as he eyed the plant, deep in thought.
Thargrim entered with a thud, his massive frame filling the doorway. "Lord Haruto," he said gruffly.
Haruto turned to face him. "There you are. I came to ask if you've finished with what I asked for."
Thargrim was a sight to behold. His thick, jet-black beard was braided with steel rings, and his bald head bore a rune tattoo burned across his scalp. His eyes glowed like burning coals, a testament to the countless battles he had fought.
"Aye… I put somethin' extra in, Lord Haruto," Thargrim said, walking to the table and pulling out a bag. He set it down with a heavy thud and revealed a sword and silver armor that glowed with a rainbow of enchanted colors.
"Armor?" Haruto asked, eyeing the set warily. "I don't like wearing things that show."
Thargrim squinted up at him, arms folded, soot still smeared across his cheek. A rare smile tugged at the edge of his beard, small but real. It was the kind of smile that could melt iron. "Put it on, Lord Haruto."
His voice was low, firm, and proud, like he was speaking to a legend rather than a warrior. Thargrim stepped back, eyes gleaming like forge embers. "Go on then. Wear it like it was made for a king."
Haruto hesitated for a moment before donning the armor. To his surprise, it became invisible once he put it on. He lifted his arms up and down, testing its weight. "I don't even feel the weight."
"Well then…" Thargrim adjusted his gloves, trying to look busy but clearly watching Haruto's every move. "Is it… to yer likin', Lord Haruto?"
His voice dipped lower, rough like grinding stone, but there was a flicker of hope in his eyes—the kind that only came from pouring your soul into something. "Fit should be snug. Light on the shoulders. Built it ta move with ya, not against ya."
He cleared his throat, pretending not to care, though it was clear that he did. "If it ain't right, say the word—I'll tear it down and forge it again, better."
Haruto smiled at him. "It's amazing, Thargrim. I like it."
Thargrim's face lit up with an internal cheer. "Yes!!!"
Haruto turned to Azara. "Analyze the armor, Azara."
[Analysis Complete]
"The armor possesses the following attributes:
— Damage Reduction: Capable of absorbing 60% of all incoming physical and magical attacks.
— Self-Regeneration: Gradually regenerates any damage sustained, restoring its structure over time.
— Elemental Nullification: Immune to all elemental-based attacks, including fire, ice, lightning, and void.
— Absolute Durability: Any weapon with a lower durability or magical density than the armor will fail to pierce or damage it."
Haruto nodded, impressed with the results.
Before he could examine the sword, Lunara's voice reached him. "Lord Haruto, the Solmaria is near."
Later that night, the knights of the Solmaria had set up camp near the mountain. The sounds of their laughter and conversation filled the air as they prepared for the coming conflict.
Haruto stood with his army of human spiders, all armored and armed, their weapons gleaming under the pale moonlight. Among them, Liora and Lunara stood at his side, both of them ready for the coming battle.
Haruto's mind worked quickly. They're probably after me... Well, if they want to take me, they'll have to try harder.
He raised his hand, signaling his army to fall silent. In a commanding tone, he spoke, "So they dare invite us into their little slaughterhouse... Let them. We don't walk into traps—we rip them apart from the inside. We won't beg, we won't bow, and we sure as hell won't run. They want a war? Then we'll paint the end of it in their blood."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, as if on cue, the human spiders raised their weapons and roared, "Long live the King! Long live the King!"
On the other side of the battlefield, one of the knights said, "He's going to get his helmet." Another responded, "Don't take long, we're going soon."
But just as the knight reached for his helmet, a bright light illuminated the area. In mere seconds, the mountain he was standing on vanished. Actheria and Kieran created a shield to save most of their army, but the entire area was destroyed.
Actheria spoke coolly, "Not bad."
Haruto, Liora, Lunara, and his army stood through the dust, ready for whatever was to come. Liora spoke, "I'd hoped that would have killed you all."
The shield dropped. Kieran sneered. "Hmph, just who do you think we are?"
Haruto stood tall, the marks across his body glowing faintly. "What do you people want from us?"
Kieran chuckled darkly. "It doesn't matter. You're dead."
He gestured, and the knights charged forward, weapons raised. As they neared, Haruto calmly spoke, "Is this how you want to do this? Fine. Go kill them all until your heat contains it."
The human spiders rushed forward, and the battlefield erupted into chaos—swords clashing, screams echoing, enemies falling left and right, but Haruto's people were relentless.
Actheria and Kieran braced themselves for what was to come. Two others with white marks appeared, ready to face Haruto. Lunara, her face full of worry, spoke urgently. "My Lord, you can't take all of them alone!"
Liora, her voice calm and confident, reassured her, "Don't worry, Lunara. Lord Haruto will be fine."
But Lunara wasn't convinced. "But—"
Haruto's voice cut through the tension. "Go. It's an order."
With a nod, Lunara and Liora moved to engage the two marked figures.
Actheria smirked. "You're trying to take us both on alone? Who do you think you are?"
Haruto's confidence was unwavering. "Yes, I'll win. I've never lost in anything in my entire life—and I never will."
He drew his sword, its blade shimmering with cold power.
Kieran, recognizing the weapon, muttered, "That sword…"
Lunara and Kieran lunged forward, but before they could reach Haruto, they found themselves in an entirely different location—no mountains, no enemies, just an open expanse.
Haruto smirked. "They'll be in the way, so I thought this would be a better spot."
Kieran grinned. "Fine with me."
The tension was palpable. The stage was set
The battlefield was alive with tension, the very air seeming to hold its breath. Haruto stood tall, his breath steady despite the overwhelming odds. In front of him were two of the most dangerous opponents he'd ever faced: Actheria, the master of the sword, and Kieran, the wielder of time-altering abilities.
The moment the ground trembled under the force of their arrival, everything snapped into motion.
Haruto's movements were a blur, light-speed strikes flashing as he darted between them, his sword clashing with Actheria's, then Kieran's. His mind raced—he was calculating, adapting—but even with his formidable intellect, he could barely keep up.
CLANG. CLANG. FWOOSH.
Actheria's sword came at him from impossible angles, each strike like a comet streaking across the heavens. Haruto blocked, parried, his own blade crackling with ice and raw energy. But every time he thought he had an opening, Actheria was there again, her eyes cold, calculating.
Haruto countered—Piercing Fang, an energy blast so sharp it could slice through mountains. But Actheria was already gone, vanished into the air, her movement leaving only a shimmer of afterimages.
"You're slower than last time."
Her voice was cold, but there was no mockery—only observation. She was testing him, trying to push him into a mistake.
Kieran, floating high above, raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
A crimson portal opened in the sky.
From the rift, a massive meteor shot down, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. It was aimed directly at Haruto—a force of nature, a collision of elemental fury that could flatten a city.
Haruto's eyes narrowed. "Not today."
He activated [Absolute Cutting] with a thought, his sword glowing as the world around him seemed to slow. He cut through the meteor, slicing the flaming rock into multiple pieces with a single, flawless strike. The pieces exploded in the air, showering the battlefield with a cascade of fiery debris, but Haruto was already on the move—dashing toward Kieran with a fury that even the heavens would tremble at.
Kieran's eyes widened, impressed for a fraction of a second, but that was all it took.
"Impressive," Kieran muttered, his fingers weaving another intricate pattern. The ground beneath Haruto shattered, and a massive barrier of gravity warped around him, slowing his movement, trapping him in a prison of dense air and force.
Haruto gritted his teeth, his fists clenched. "I'm not done yet."
He summoned [Soul-Consuming Slash], a dark aura rippling from his blade. The sword crackled with raw energy, striking the gravity field with such force that it fractured in an instant.
He was free.
But Actheria was there.
"You can't escape."
With a flash of silver, her sword came down like a guillotine. Haruto barely managed to parry, but the impact sent him crashing into the ground, the force of her strike reverberating through his body.
Before he could recover, Kieran appeared at his side, his palm outstretched. He released an orb of pure temporal energy, its mere presence distorting the fabric of space.
Haruto dodged just in time, but the energy grazed his side, leaving a burning mark on his skin. He grimaced—but the pain didn't show. Pain Nullification was a shield, but it didn't make him immune to the brutal toll this fight was taking.
"You're tougher than I thought." Kieran's voice was laced with a strange mix of admiration and frustration. "I'll have to get serious."
Haruto was already moving again, his sword flashing with elemental power. He unleashed [Ice Domain], creating a dome of absolute cold that slowed Actheria and Kieran's movements. His sword became an extension of his will, each slash freezing the air around him, turning it into jagged weapons of ice that he could use at will.
He lunged at Actheria, the ice forming into blades that shot toward her, but she vanished into thin air—appearing behind him. Haruto felt the shift in the air, his instincts barely giving him enough time to raise his sword.
But it wasn't enough. Her sword cut through him—her blade passed through his invisible armor with ease, severing his arm just below the elbow. Blood sprayed as he stumbled back, but the pain never reached him. His body regenerated instantly, ice and mana knitting his flesh back together.
"You're not going to win this time, Haruto," Actheria said, her voice colder than the winds of winter.
But Haruto wasn't finished yet.
His eyes narrowed. "If I can't win now, I'll fight until there's nothing left."
The ground beneath them cracked, the air thick with raw magical energy. Haruto activated his most dangerous move.
A massive spider-shaped sigil flared to life beneath his feet, the [Web of Command] glowing like a second sun. Haruto's power surged, spiders erupting from the ground, swirling around him in a whirlwind of movement. They were an extension of him now—part of his will.
"I won't go down so easily."
Actheria raised an eyebrow. "So this is your true strength."
Before she could react, Haruto slashed forward, sending waves of energy toward her, cutting through the storm of spiders and ice like a tornado of destruction. The sheer force of his attack sent the ground beneath them quaking.
But Kieran wasn't about to let him have the upper hand. He raised his hand once more, his eyes glowing with power.
"Time."
The air froze.
Haruto's entire body halted, his sword mid-swing, his muscles locked in time. 29 seconds.
Actheria stepped forward, her face emotionless. She whispered a single word as she raised her sword, its blade shimmering like moonlight.
"Goodbye."
With one fluid motion, her sword plunged into Haruto's chest, the blade passing through his heart with brutal precision.
As the blade drove deeper, a slight, almost imperceptible grin formed on Kieran's face.
The world resumed. But this time—Haruto didn't move.
"It's over," Kieran said, his voice devoid of triumph. "Your time is up."