A sudden pulse tore through the air.
A violent burst of mana swept across the battlefield, as if the very heavens had exhaled. The entire city of Galia shook. Birds scattered from rooftops. Horses neighed in panic. Adventurers all around gasped and staggered—some fell to their knees. Others collapsed entirely, fainting beneath the sheer pressure.
Even atop the city walls, Raizo buckled. The weight of the mana pushed down on his shoulders like a mountain. He clutched the stone ledge, gasping.
"What… is this power?" he whispered, eyes wide with fear. "It feels like… the world is suffocating."
Below, Guild Master Jade gritted his teeth, sweat forming at his brow. This mana... it's far beyond anything we've faced.
Suddenly, from the forest's edge, dark figures emerged. Demon hounds—beasts of muscle and malice—charged forward with blood-red eyes and slavering jaws. The tanks raised their shields, swordsmen stepped in front, and assassins leapt from shadow to strike.
The front line held. Barely.
Mages rushed to heal the wounded. The air pulsed with holy light as healing incantations were whispered between gasps and cries.
Then—without warning—three massive fireballs ignited high in the sky.
They burned with an unnatural flame—deep orange cores surrounded by dark smoke and crackling violet arcs of energy. They spun toward the formation of mages and archers like falling suns.
Raizo's heart stopped. "No…!"
On the battlefield, the mages realized the danger.
As one, they chanted:
"Shield of protection, form around!
Aegis of safety, I have found!
Defend me completely, from all harm's way!
Barrier absolute, seal and stay!"
A golden dome of shimmering light enveloped them.
But it wasn't enough.
The first fireball slammed into the barrier.
A flash of white.
Then—shatter.
The barrier broke like glass, and the remaining fireballs struck the ground.
An explosion ripped through the field. Smoke and flames engulfed everything.
Raizo screamed, "FREY!! LATINA!!"
When the smoke cleared, bodies lay scattered.
Some mages and archers groaned. Others… didn't move.
Among them—Frey's staff snapped in half. Latina's bow lay beside her as she bled from her side, unmoving.
Raizo gripped the wall. "Why... Why is this happening?"
Then—footsteps.
From the smoke of the fireballs, two demons emerged—smirking, claws dripping with blood. Their skin was dark and twisted, horns curling from their temples, and fire still licking around their fingers.
And behind them, the forest vomited demons.
Flying, crawling, snarling.
The battlefield darkened under the shadow of wings.
Chaos erupted.
The two fireball demons tore into the remaining mages and archers. One hurled a ball of condensed flame into a cluster of wounded archers. Another cut through a mage with its clawed hand like paper. Adventurers screamed.
Guild Master Jade narrowed his eyes. He could not afford hesitation.
He leapt forward, chanting under his breath, then raised his arms to the sky.
"Cryos, descend upon this place!
Frost, bite with icy, merciless face!
Temperatures, plummet to the core!
Absolute Zero, frozen eternity's score!"
A brilliant light erupted around him—icy winds howled in a dome. Demons all around suddenly froze mid-charge, encased in crystalline ice.
The assassins, led by Cid, darted in—slashing the frozen statues into shards.
The adventurers roared.
Hope surged.
But it didn't last.
More demon hounds burst from the trees—fast, too fast. They broke past the sides of the formation and struck the remaining archers and wounded mages. Screams echoed again. Blood sprayed the ground.
Even as the assassins turned to intercept, it was too late.
Latina, lying in pain, tried to reach for her bow—but a hound lunged.
Raizo screamed again. "NO!"
His nails dug into his palms, blood dripping. His crimson Gluttony eyes glowed faintly—but all he could do was watch.
Jade flew high into the air—his magic still swirling around him. Ice covered half of his face like a frozen mask, his breath a mist in the boiling battlefield.
"BATTLE FOCUS!" he roared.
His aura flared blue. His strength, speed, and endurance spiked. Then, with both hands, he summoned his weapon—twin frost pillars.
He slammed them down.
BOOM!
Demons flew like ragdolls, shattered by the impact.
But the air burned again.
Flying demons swooped in, unleashing waves of fire. Jade took the blast—his body shielded in ice—but even he staggered.
Then—a voice.
"Enough."
A single word.
All the flying demons froze midair.
Silence.
The sea of demons parted like a tide.
Something… walked through.
A lone demon. Calm. Smiling.
Not snarling. Not rushing. Just walking.
Its body was tall, cloaked in shadows that twisted unnaturally. Horns like a crown, golden slits for eyes that pierced the soul. Every step was heavy, shaking the earth beneath him.
Even the bravest adventurers stopped.
Guild Master Jade's body trembled. His legs buckled slightly. This mana… no, this isn't mana. This is like being dragged into the abyss itself.
The very air bent.
Raizo, still atop the wall, clutched his chest.
His Gluttony flared violently—his hunger reacting to something ancient, terrifying… and familiar.
He fell to one knee.
His vision blurred.
That dream... the red sky, the broken walls… was this the demon I saw?
Down below, Jade took one step forward to face the approaching demon.
He raised his weapon.
And for the first time…
His hands shook.
A hush fell over the battlefield.
The demon descended slowly, landing atop the scorched earth as if he owned it. Smoke curled behind him like a cloak of death. His wings stretched wide—black as void, veins glowing faint red. His golden eyes shimmered with a hunger not of flesh, but of destruction itself.
A silence clung to the field until the demon finally spoke, his voice smooth like oil yet laced with venom.
"So… a human dares to stand at the center." He sneered, tilting his head. "Brave—or foolish. What is your name, warrior?"
Guild Master Jade, still shivering from the demonic pressure, clenched his teeth and gripped his frost pillars tightly. "Jade… Guild Master of Galia."
The demon smirked wider, sharp fangs glinting. "Ah… Jade. I am Grim, one of the Four Demon Generals. Loyal servant of Demon King Erethor."
Gasps echoed behind the line.
Even Raizo—watching helplessly from the wall—felt his heart drop. Grim... Demon General? His crimson Gluttony eyes widened.
Jade narrowed his eyes. "So the Demon Lord has returned…"
Grim's laughter rang through the air. "Oh, no, no... the Demon Lord hasn't returned."
Every adventurer froze.
Even the demons stopped, as if savoring this moment.
"What… do you mean by that?" Jade asked, breath shallow.
Grim leaned forward slightly, eyes glowing. "You'll find out… if anyone survives this day." He laughed, wicked and wild.
Jade roared, "Enough!"
He rushed forward, channeling all his mana into a single strike with his ice pillar. Grim dodged—but when he looked down, his feet were locked in ice.
The demon blinked, surprised.
Jade smirked. "Seems Demon Generals aren't as smart as I thought."
"Grrh…!"
Before Grim could react, Jade hurled his frost pillar again, aiming straight for the demon's head. But just as it was about to hit—
Grim grinned.
Wings burst from his back as he flew upward, shattering the ice with ease.
"Foolish human," Grim said. "You think I can't break free of that?"
He dove—lightning fast.
Jade barely raised his second pillar in time, but Grim caught it mid-air with one hand and crushed it into splinters—along with Jade's arm.
Crack!
"AAARGH!" Jade screamed, stumbling.
Before he could recover, Grim's clawed hand reached out, shattering the second pillar. Jade was now defenseless.
Then came the incantation.
"Darkness, sharpen the tip!
Bloodlust, guide the deadly rip!
Demon magic; Demon Needle, pierce and slay!"
A massive, jagged spear of black magic surged through the sky and impaled Jade's chest.
He crashed into the earth with a thunderous boom, leaving a crater behind.
Dust and silence.
Grim descended, walking toward the dying Guild Master.
"Any last words, Jade of Galia?"
Jade coughed blood, smiled weakly. "Yeah… one day… a boy will come. He will devour you and your strength."
Grim raised a brow. "And who is this so-called child?"
Jade grinned faintly. "...No one you'll see coming."
Schlk!
Grim's claw pierced through his gut.
Raizo gasped. His vision blurred. That… that was in my dream…
The world stood still for a moment.
Then Grim stood, turning to the battlefield. "Now then… DESTROY THEM ALL!"
Demons roared, charging in from all sides.
Assassins tried to counter, but their blades bounced off the demons' new defense. Swordsmen and tanks found their strength fading, their techniques sluggish.
"Why aren't our attacks working anymore?!" one adventurer shouted.
Raizo's eyes widened. Jade… he was buffing everyone with his ability the whole time… Now he's gone…
Screams erupted.
Blood spilled.
The front line collapsed.
Cid, desperate, activated his movement skill Dasher, vanishing into the crowd with Shadow Slip—a deadly combo. He took out several demons, but then—
He was surrounded.
"CID!" Nathan cried out, rushing forward.
But before he could reach him, a demon's claw pierced through Nathan's back.
Blood trickled down his armor. Nathan looked down in shock.
"Na…than…?" Cid's voice trembled.
Nathan turned slightly… and smiled.
Then another demon ripped through his chest.
He fell.
Raizo screamed. "NATHAN!!!"
Rjay, watching his comrades fall, snapped.
His eyes turned bloodshot. He activated Berserk, muscles pulsing with strength. He roared, "AAAAAAAAHH!!"
He charged into the horde like a beast, tearing through demons with pure fury. Others followed him, trying to rally behind the last standing warrior.
But it wasn't enough.
They fell.
One by one.
Until only Rjay remained.
Bloody. Exhausted. Still standing.
Grim smirked. "Impressive…"
He vanished.
And reappeared behind Rjay.
Rjay spun around, swinging his sword—shatter.
Grim caught it and broke it with his hand.
Then he grabbed Rjay by the throat, lifting him effortlessly.
Rjay struggled, eyes wild, rage boiling. But his berserk state began to fade.
Grim's grip tightened.
Then—crash!—he threw Rjay into the city gate. Stone cracked. Blood splattered.
Yet Rjay stood.
Wobbling.
Breathing hard.
Raizo cried out, "RJAY!!"
Grim chuckled darkly, stepping forward. "You were the strongest I've fought in years… You should be proud."
His claws glowed with death.
And then—
He struck.
Slash.
Rjay's body collapsed.
Raizo's voice broke through the walls.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
A chilling scream broke through the smoky silence.
Raizo's voice echoed across the city walls like a wounded beast. Grim, standing amongst the broken remains of Galia's defense, paused mid-step. His demonic grin curled wider.
He heard it.
In a blink, he vanished in black smoke—teleporting—and appeared before Raizo.
The two guards standing near the young boy saw the demon's monstrous form materialize and immediately fled in terror, dropping their weapons. Raizo stumbled back, heart pounding. Grim loomed over him like a shadow cast by death itself.
The demon inhaled deeply, his bloodstained claws twitching. "You… I smell it now. A hunger within you. Something ancient... dangerous."
Raizo's knees trembled, but he stood firm.
Grim's eyes narrowed. "You're not ready. Not yet. But soon… I'll carve the truth out of you."
The demon turned away, raising his hand toward the gates. "Break the doors—bring the boy to me alive."
But before his command was fulfilled—
BOOM!
A blinding light erupted from the far horizon.
FWOOOOOSH!
One of the demons was suddenly reduced to ash, his scream vanishing into cinders. Grim spun around, eyes flashing with surprise.
Galloping through the smoke and flame was a knight clad in shining gold armor, atop a white steed. His cape flowed behind him like a banner of the sky itself. Mana radiated from him in pure, concentrated bursts of holy power.
A divine force.
A Hero.
The holy knight raised his sword, and with a single swing, cleaved through three demons as though they were nothing but smoke.
Behind him came his party—mages, clerics, and warriors. The Holy Mage cast a wide-reaching spell:
"Holy Barrier!"
A radiant dome spread out from her staff. Any demon who touched it instantly burned to ash, screaming as divine light seared their flesh.
Grim snarled. "Tch… not now."
He opened a portal of black flame behind him, and with a smirk toward Raizo, whispered, "Until we meet again, Glutton."
Then he vanished into the dark.
The remaining demons tried to resist, but the knight's party tore through them like paper. The battle was over in minutes.
As the dust settled, the knight dismounted. He removed his helmet—and Raizo's breath caught in his throat.
"Lucas…"
His older brother stood before him, eyes wide.
"Raizo?! What are you doing here?!"
Raizo ran to him, throwing his arms around his brother, tears spilling from his eyes. "I… I'm an adventurer now…"
Lucas hugged him back, stunned. "We got a letter from Mom and Dad. You wrote them, right? Raizo… you really ran away."
"I had to…" Raizo whispered. "To become stronger. But—why were you late, Lucas?! You could've saved them!"
Lucas's hands tightened around him. "I'm sorry. We rode nonstop for two days. We tried—we really tried…"
Raizo sobbed harder. "Everyone's gone…"
All around them, the citizens of Galia emerged from hiding. Wives fell to their knees beside their husbands' bodies. Fathers screamed at the sky over fallen sons. Mothers clutched the lifeless hands of daughters.
The square was soaked in sorrow.
Only D-rank adventurers or below had survived the carnage… including Raizo.
Lucas looked down in shock as he noticed the faint glow of mana in Raizo's hands. "Wait… Raizo. You have magic? You awakened…?"
Raizo didn't answer.
He was already moving.
He sprinted toward a motionless body lying near the gate. "Rjay!" he cried.
The man's body was bloodied, but… breathing. Barely.
Raizo collapsed beside him, pouring all his remaining mana into healing magic. "Please… stay with me…!"
Rjay opened his eyes weakly. "Heh… don't cry, kid… It's alright…"
"No! I can still heal you! I can—!"
Rjay touched his arm, shaking his head. "No, Raizo. Save that magic… For someone who still has a chance. My party… They're waiting for me on the other side."
Tears streamed down Raizo's face. "Why are you talking like this?! We can go home—together!"
Rjay smiled. "You've grown so much… You even faced an alpha. Heh… You're gonna become someone amazing. But… will you do me one favor?"
Raizo swallowed hard. "Anything."
Rjay looked up at Lucas. "You… you're the Hero, right?"
Lucas knelt beside them, eyes sorrowful. "Yes. I'm sorry I was late…"
Rjay gave a weak laugh. "It's okay… Just answer me one thing… Are you two brothers?"
Lucas nodded. "Yes. He's my little brother."
Rjay smirked. "Knew it… You both have that fire…"
He slowly pointed to his side pouch.
Raizo pulled out a dagger—his own dagger.
Rjay nodded. "Would you… send me off? One last favor, friend."
Raizo's hands trembled. "Rjay…"
"Please…"
Lucas closed his eyes and looked away.
Raizo nodded.
"…Farewell, my friend."
He pierced Rjay's chest gently. His friend smiled one last time… and then was still.
Gluttony Ability Activated. Updating Stat...
ATK: 200
DEF: 185
STA: 230
MANA: 250
MAGIC: Fire, Wind, Lightning
Ability: Berserk
Skills: Fire Slash, Lightning Dash, Acceleration, etc.
A few hours later, the sky was dim. Flames danced in the wind as the survivors burned the bodies of the fallen. Silent prayers were whispered. Flowers left beside scorched shields and broken swords.
Raizo stood in front of the funeral pyres, eyes hardened by grief, soul fueled by purpose.
"I promise… all of you… I'll carry your legacy. I will avenge your deaths."
Lucas stood beside him. "Are you okay?"
Raizo didn't answer right away. "I'd be lying if I said I was…"
Lucas placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then come with me. Join my party—we'll protect each other. I'll make sure you grow stronger."
Raizo shook his head. "No. I'll forge my own path. Become strong my way. A path only I can walk."
Lucas smiled. "You've always been stubborn."
They held up their fists—and bumped them together.
"Good luck, little brother."
"You too… Hero."
Five days later, Raizo left Galia.
Not as a boy chasing strength.
But as a survivor… carrying the weight of the fallen and a vow that would shape the world.