Night fell without warning.
Campfires stretched across the wasteland like a distorted river of stars, where the army of Darama had just made camp. Only a few more days of marching — the capital, Sylveris, was already within reach.
Amid the endless rows of tents stood a structure so prominent it could hardly be called a tent. Metal pillars carved with runes upheld a solid frame, and magic-stone lamps illuminated every refined detail. It was the residence of King Rio II.
Inside, the air was heavy enough to suffocate.
Lusia, Reta, Cos, Mana, and Mane were all present. On the table lay battlefield maps that still carried the scent of gunpowder and lingering mana.
"Anate's spell… was completely destroyed."
Cos's voice sank low, his eyes still filled with disbelief.
"And 'Shadow' has gone missing." Reta added, her fist tightening.
They recounted what had happened on the battlefield: the formation collapsing, abnormal mana fluctuations, and especially the armor worn by the mysterious man who had saved Rysaz — someone who belonged to no known faction. No name, no insignia, only power that exceeded any normal standard.
No one had information about him.
Only Lusia — remained silent.
Her encounter with Sivall's group, and the fact that she had spared them, was buried deep inside her heart as a secret.
Rio II leaned both hands on the table, his gaze sweeping across everyone.
"Where are Anate and 'Shadow'?"
No one could answer.
At that moment, Yui stepped closer to the king, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear.
"Your Majesty… through my mental link with Anate, I sensed that they were engaged in battle with an unidentified being."
Yui swallowed.
"The demonic aura it emitted was overwhelmingly dense… the connection was distorted. I… couldn't clearly perceive its form."
The air inside the tent froze.
And then —
Boom.
A magic circle suddenly appeared in the middle of the room, its light twisting as if reality itself had been torn open. Two dark figures fell onto the floor.
"Anate!" Lusia screamed.
The female mage lay motionless, her shoulder soaked in blood, her breathing faint. Beside her, "Shadow" stood firm, his cloak torn but without visible injuries.
"Take her to treatment, now!" Lusia ordered.
Reta, Cos, Mana, and Mane immediately rushed forward. No one dared to hesitate.
Only Rio II, Yui… and "Shadow" remained.
"What happened?" Rio II asked, his voice low but sharp.
"Shadow" did not circle around the matter. He recounted the battle briefly and concisely — about the creature dwelling in the forest, about its overwhelming strength, about the feeling of facing a living calamity.
"Stay away from that forest." he said, his voice cold as steel. "At any cost."
Yui widened his eyes. "Such a being… exists so close to here?"
On the contrary, a dangerous gleam flashed in Rio II's eyes.
"A power that even you must be cautious of…" he murmured. "If it could be subdued…"
"Don't." "Shadow" cut him off, revealing urgency for the first time. "That thing is not a tool. It is a disaster."
The tension lingered for several heartbeats before "Shadow" turned and left, disappearing into the darkness.
The medical tent shone brightly with magic.
Anate lay on a bed, around her wound a thin crystalline barrier of light — the final self-protection spell she had managed to cast before losing consciousness.
Lusia placed her hand on Anate's shoulder and began chanting. Mana and Mane stood on both sides, linking their mana together, streams of warm energy flowing steadily.
Cos and Reta stood behind them, their worry evident.
"What kind of thing… could reduce Anate to this state?" Reta asked quietly.
No one answered.
After a while, the light gradually softened. The wound slowly closed.
Anate opened her eyes.
"Anate!" Lusia leaned closer, her voice trembling slightly. "Are you alright?"
"I… am not dead yet." Anate smiled weakly. "But I'm not much better than that."
When asked, she only spoke briefly.
"A monster… no, a stone blocking the path."
Her violet eyes darkened.
"It will be the thing that prevents Rio II from reaching the pinnacle of humanity."
Cos and Reta exchanged glances.
"If what you say is true…" Cos said gravely, "then that power has already surpassed every standard we know."
The tent filled with discussion, worry, and unanswered questions.
Elsewhere, Rio II and Yui stood before the war map.
"Our army has only reached the outer wall." Yui said. "There are still two layers remaining. If this drags on, casualties will be immense."
Yui proposed:
"A surprise attack at night. End it quickly. Give the enemy no time to adapt."
Rio II pondered for a long moment… then nodded.
Yui let out a breath of relief. Yet in his mind, the chaotic vision he had glimpsed through his link with Anate resurfaced — sending a chill down his spine.
At the same time, at the camp of Sylveris.
Sill's group had just arrived when they were stopped by soldiers. Sill looked around and frowned slightly — the troop numbers were frighteningly few.
Sivall presented their adventurer credentials and exchanged a few words. They were allowed through and led to meet RaJa, the regional commander.
The middle-aged man smiled gently when he saw them.
"Very few… are willing to stay and defend this kingdom."
"Besides you, only 'Black Raven' and 'Iron Axe' remain."
Sill listened as he explained the battlefield situation. Kael studied the map, his heart heavy — the situation was worse than he had imagined.
And then, Sill spoke.
She would not participate in the battle.
Silence fell.
When she presented the mushroom — the only thing that could save her mother — every objection died in their throats.
Sivall's heart was torn apart. Responsibility… and family.
Before he could speak, Senmi and Senki stepped forward.
"We'll go with Sill."
Renar blinked in confusion. Kael let out a quiet sigh — he had already expected this.
Sill embraced the two of them tightly, silent tears falling.
RaJa nodded, his voice warm and deep.
"That… is what comrades are."
The decision was made.
The road split into two.
They were ready for the counterattack.
But none of them knew that — at the edge of the forest near Darama's camp —
A figure cloaked in eerie purple was smiling.
He recalled the past — the day he had planted magical whispers into the mind of a naive young boy, the one who would later become king.
He removed his cloak.
Sharp horns. Ash-gray skin — a demon.
Behind him, a massive magic formation appeared, covered in animal bones and the corpses of magical beasts. Ancient runes twisted violently, demonic aura thick enough to suffocate.
"If this plan succeeds…" he whispered, kneeling on one knee with reverence in his voice —
"…surely my lord will reward me."
His smile widened, descending into madness.