In the fragmented and war-torn land of Akasa, Ray was born into the most chaotic era.
It was the age following the orc rebellion. Human cities were burned, defensive lines crumbled, and those who survived were either strong or lucky cowards. But Ray was neither a chosen one nor a noble's heir. He grew up amidst the ruins, learning how to hide, fight, survive, and steal breaths from the orcs' relentless hunts.
Even as a boy, Ray displayed an extraordinary calmness and keen insight. He could predict enemy movements, memorize the patrol intervals of orcs, and even assassinate lone orc scouts with a crude dagger. His talents quickly caught the attention of the resistance, and he was recruited by the underground militia led by Ivan, marking the beginning of his journey as a warrior.
At that time, humanity faced dire circumstances—shortages of supplies, outdated weapons, and repeated defeats. But Ray was different. In countless ambushes and defensive battles, he demonstrated exceptional tactical intuition and decisive leadership, leading his team to break through the orcs' encirclement time and again. It was during these battles that he met two people—Kain's parents.
They fought alongside Ray. Kain's father was one of the few technical soldiers and intelligence experts in the resistance, while Kain's mother excelled in stealth and assassination. With their assistance, Ray's forces successfully carried out ambushes, defeating orc units far superior in strength. Together, they ambushed an orc supply convoy in the northern wastelands of Akasa and annihilated an elite squad from the Shadow Clan amidst the ruins of abandoned cities. These life-and-death battles brought humanity rare moments of respite.
But humanity's strength was ultimately limited.
"Ray, we must stay behind." Those were the last words Kain's parents said to him in Akasa, their expressions resolute.
"You know this is suicide," Ray retorted, his voice low and trembling with anger, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
"If no one stays to hold them off, the main fleet and the survivors won't escape... Humanity will be wiped out." Kain's mother smiled gently, looking at the baby in her arms. "He's still young. He has to live on."
Ray looked at the baby—Kain. He said nothing more, only turning away and leading the surviving humans toward the starship bound for Elamia. Kain was secretly entrusted to the couple, Luan and Seya, becoming one of the refugees.
That farewell was their last.
After arriving in Elamia, Ray never let go of the anger in his heart. He refused to accept the comfort and submission that other refugees embraced. Instead, he joined the New Empire Army, starting as a low-ranking soldier, silently harboring his longing for Akasa and his hatred. It was on this alien continent that he unexpectedly awakened to the elemental powers of wind and fire.
It happened when spatial rifts first appeared on Elamia's continent. On that day, Ray was undergoing his usual training. The strange noises in the sky caused all the soldiers to pause, and as the earth trembled, the terrifying and hated orcs suddenly descended upon this land. The surprise attack inflicted heavy casualties on the human forces. When Ray's squad was severely injured and trapped, Ray, in a desperate attempt to protect his retreating comrades, fought the orcs alone until exhaustion. At that moment, Ray awakened his elemental powers for the first time—whirling winds and burning flames, mysterious runes appearing on his arms, transforming him into a rare warrior wielding both "wind and fire." With his newfound strength, he repelled the orc army.
As his military achievements accumulated, Ray rose to become one of the Empire's three generals. His gauntlets, capable of channeling fire elements, left searing marks on his enemies, earning him the fearsome nickname among the orcs—"The Branded Iron Fist, Ray."
Even in his high position, Ray never forgot his homeland. He opposed the Empire's secret policy of compromising with the orcs, which earned him many enemies within the military.
"You meddle too much, Ray," Ivan coldly warned him in the military's secret chamber in the capital.
"What exactly are you planning to cooperate on with those monsters?!" Ray roared, his fists subtly igniting with flames.
"We're just using each other. Mind your own business!" Ivan turned away, spitting out the words with icy indifference.
The skirmishes and resource conflicts between humans and orcs never ceased. Not long after, Ray was ordered to lead his troops through a spatial rift to launch a surprise attack on Akasa. There, he encountered his opponent of the day—the wolf-like orc leader. In that bloody battle, Ray led his forces to ambush the allied troops of the wolf and hyena clans. At that time, the orcs had not yet united into hybrid species and were still divided by race. The wolf-like orc leader, now in command, was then just a squad captain, while the main commander was an older, formidable wolf. Ray personally defeated the commander, and the young captain stepped forward to shield his leader from Ray's heavy blow, paying the price of being sent flying dozens of steps away, his blood staining the ground.
However, this act of bravery earned Ray's respect. He ordered his men to spare the orc's life, believing the battle was over and there was no need for further killing.
"Spare him," Ray commanded his subordinates. "This battle is over. There's no need to kill anymore."
This decision, however, was noticed by Ivan's spies, who falsely accused Ray of colluding with the orcs. Upon his return, Ray was framed, stripped of his rank, and sent to the Empire's secret experimental facility.
Few in the human forces could suppress Ray, but to avoid senselessly draining humanity's strength, Ray chose to surrender peacefully. Yet, his choice resulted in the deaths of his subordinates and the loss of his elemental powers.
During his imprisonment, Ray began to doubt himself, to despair, and to lose hope in humanity. That was until he met Kain, Roddy, Tario, and Aina—young warriors who reminded him so much of his old friends. Especially Kain's eyes, filled with defiance and purity, were identical to those of Kain's father.
He thought of Kain's father, still trapped in Akasa, his fate unknown. He thought of the lost homeland yet to be reclaimed, of the unavenged disasters brought by the orcs. He knew he couldn't afford to fall any further.
And now, those buried memories have resurfaced.
Ray stood between the orc leader and Kain's group, one hand behind his back, his gauntlets glowing faintly, like a rock in the center of a storm. The black gauntlets etched with runes reflected in the wolf leader's crimson eyes, awakening the nightmares buried deep in its heart.
"No... Impossible..." The orc leader froze, its shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
It remembered this man—the one who, amidst the blood-soaked wastelands of Akasa, in the whirlwind and flames, shattered the orc battle formation with a single punch and crushed its leader's spine with a single step. And it, this very creature, had once been blasted away and gravely wounded—merely to block one strike from this human.
"Ray... Ray Sahar...!"
Its throat squeezed out weak, trembling words, its legs retreating involuntarily, cold sweat dripping from its forehead, its pupils contracting violently.
Outside the cave, silence reigned, broken only by the stunned gazes of Kain and his companions.
"Hey... Why is that monster... afraid of Ray?!" Roddy whispered in disbelief.
"He's... clearly not just some ordinary fugitive..." Tario furrowed his brows, the long-standing doubts in his heart gradually becoming clear.
"No wonder... his aura has been unusual from the start..." Luan murmured.
"Ray... who is he...?" Milena asked softly, her eyes wide with shock.
Witnessing this scene, Kain lowered his head in thought, recalling the first time he had met Ray outside the prison. The orc leader's reaction further convinced him that Ray had known his parents.
Ray lightly tapped his gauntlets, producing a crisp hum, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips. "So you still remember me. Good."
And the wolf leader, at this moment, had only one thought left in its mind—
—"Run."