The night air carried the faint scent of smoke and iron. Beneath the pale moonlight, the reinforcement group led by Theo advanced through the northern path toward the battlefield. Every step was heavy with tension; even the wind seemed to tremble with the distant echoes of war.
Akari Sato gripped her sword tightly, her eyes fixed ahead. Her heart raced, not from fear, but from the weight of what lay before them. The northern battlefield loomed beyond the hills — its sky already painted with crimson embers and dark smoke.
"Theo, how much farther?" one of the adventurers asked, voice low.
"Not far," Theo replied firmly, his gaze sharp. "Be on alert. We're entering monster territory."
Just as he spoke, rustling erupted in the trees. Glowing eyes flashed from the shadows, followed by a chorus of snarls.
"Ambush!" a scout shouted.
Dozens of monsters burst forth, their claws slicing the air. Theo reacted instantly. "Formation! Frontliners, hold! Mages, support from the rear!"
Akari took a step forward, ready to cast a spell, but Theo raised his hand to stop her.
"Not yet," he commanded. "Save your mana. Support for now — the real battle is still ahead."
Akari hesitated, then nodded. "Understood."
The adventurers surged forward. Draco's group — the Black Sword — took point. The massive man swung his axe in a brutal arc, cleaving through two beasts at once. Beside him, Sena chanted holy incantations, strengthening her allies with radiant light. Yone and Techies moved in sync, cutting down enemies with practiced precision.
Nearby, Leo's team charged in, their attacks flowing like a deadly rhythm. Fire arrows streaked through the night sky while blades met flesh in bursts of sparks.
Akari watched them fight with awe. Their movements were sharp, their teamwork flawless — the kind of unity that only came from countless battles fought side by side.
Minutes passed like seconds. When the last beast fell, silence returned to the forest. The air was heavy with the stench of blood and sweat.
"Hold positions," Theo ordered. "Check for injuries."
Several adventurers were wounded. Without a word, Akari stepped forward. "Theo, let me help."
He glanced at her, his tone softening. "Don't push yourself too much."
"I'll be fine," she replied, already kneeling beside a wounded soldier. Her hands glowed faintly as she chanted, "Heal."
Blue light enveloped the injured, mending gashes and sealing wounds. One by one, relief washed over their faces as pain faded.
Akari moved tirelessly from one to another, her energy calm yet radiant. Finally, she reached Leo, who sat resting against a tree with a scratch on his shoulder.
"You shouldn't waste mana on small cuts," Leo said lightly.
Akari smiled faintly. "Even small wounds can cause problems later. Please, stay still."
She placed her hand gently on his shoulder. A soft glow spread, and the wound vanished in seconds.
Leo chuckled softly. "Your kindness hasn't changed, Akari."
She blinked, then smiled warmly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
For a moment, silence lingered — warm and fleeting. Leo quickly turned away, trying to hide his flushed face, while Akari simply moved to the next wounded adventurer, unaware of his reaction.
When she finished, she sighed in quiet relief — but a sudden chime echoed in her mind.
[Heal skill has reached Level 5.]
[Skill has reached maximum level. Evolution available. Do you wish to evolve Heal?]
Akari's eyes widened. "Evolution…?"
Without hesitation, she whispered, "Yes."
Her hands glowed brilliantly, divine warmth surging through her. The air shimmered, filled with the gentle sound of chimes.
[Heal has evolved into Grace Blessings — a superior healing magic capable of regenerating lost blood and severe wounds.]
She exhaled softly. "Grace Blessings… what an incredible gift."
She looked up at the moon, remembering the God of Reincarnation's words — and silently thanked him once more.
When the group was ready, they pressed onward. But unease grew heavier with each step.
The northern battlefield was chaos incarnate.
The Knight Commander of the Kingdom of Solemn stood amidst burning wreckage, his sword stained with blood. "Hold the line!" he shouted, rallying what few soldiers remained.
Across the field, a woman draped in a violet-black robe raised her staff, dark energy swirling around her. With a wicked grin, she chanted, "Rise, servants of the abyss!"
Black portals tore open, spilling forth monstrous beasts. Their combined roars shook the earth — yet even that paled before what came next.
A colossal shadow fell across the battlefield.
From the depths of the summoner's portal emerged a massive black dragon. Its scales glimmered like obsidian, its eyes burning with golden-red fury.
The commander froze in horror. "That's… impossible…"
The dragon's name whispered through his trembling lips. "Nefarion… the Dragon of Destruction."
The beast opened its maw, and a pulse of pure annihilation gathered within. The ground split. The sky darkened.
Then, the black blast erupted — a wave of ruin that consumed the entire frontline. The shockwave flattened everything in its path, erasing hundreds in a single breath.
When the dust settled, only silence remained.
Moments later, the reinforcement group arrived at the ruined outpost. The scene before them was devastating — burned ground, shattered armor, lifeless bodies.
Theo rushed to a half-conscious knight. "Where's the commander?"
The knight coughed blood, voice weak. "Gone… the dragon… it wiped them out…"
Theo's expression hardened. Arke's voice trembled. "A black dragon? That's… that's Nefarion. But he was slain centuries ago!"
Akari turned to Ruby, alarmed. "Ruby, who is Nefarion?"
Ruby's eyes darkened, her tone grave. "He was once a divine guardian — one of the Dragon Gods of Balance. But he fell into corruption under the Goddess of Destruction. He became a calamity known as the Dragon of Despair. His flames devoured empires, and even the gods feared his wrath."
Akari's voice quivered. "Then… how is he alive again?"
Ruby's expression grew grim. "When divine beasts die, their souls are supposed to be reclaimed by the Goddess of Divine Beasts. But if someone powerful intervenes — someone backed by divine power — they can steal that soul before it returns to her realm."
Theo clenched his jaw. "So the summoner isn't just commanding monsters. She's resurrecting divine beings."
Arke's eyes widened. "That would take a god's interference…"
Akari's mind raced. "Could it be… Arima?"
Theo's silence was all the confirmation she needed.
A wounded knight stumbled toward them. "Captain Theo! The enemy is approaching fast! We don't have much time!"
Theo turned sharply. "All units, prepare for battle! Reinforce the lines!"
Ruby stepped forward, her aura blazing crimson. "Theo. Let me handle the dragon."
Theo hesitated. "Are you sure?"
Ruby's golden eyes burned. "He's my kin — my burden. I won't let his corrupted soul destroy another world."
Akari's chest tightened. "Ruby, please… don't be reckless."
Ruby turned and smiled faintly. "Worry not, my master. I'll return — and I'll make sure his suffering ends."
Theo looked at his people — adventurers, soldiers, mages — and shouted, "Listen up! This battle will decide the fate of Solemn! There's no retreat — only victory or death!"
The adventurers roared in response.
Akari's heart pounded as she looked at the sea of determined faces. Despite fear, no one faltered. Even in despair, they stood tall.
She clenched her fists, whispering to herself, "This time… I'll fight with everything I have."
Above them, the northern sky turned crimson — and from the horizon came the sound of a dragon's roar that shook the heavens.
The battle for Solemn had begun.