The clearing was still smoking from the defeated beast.

  Dago, Lyra, and Kaien could barely stand.

  Their heavenly techniques had drained everything.

  Around them, the Royal Elite Guard slowly formed a circle.

  Armor gleamed in the fading firelight.

  The captain stepped forward.

  His voice was calm.

  “You three possess dangerous power.”

  He looked at the corpse of the beast.

  “And the kingdom has a policy regarding dangerous power.”

  His sword slid from its sheath.

  “We remove it.”

  The soldiers raised their weapons.

  Dago tried to stand.

  His legs shook.

  “…Damn it.”

  Lyra clenched her fists.

  “My flames won’t ignite…”

  Kaien’s Eye of Chaos flickered weakly.

  “Energy reserves depleted.”

  The captain raised his blade.

  “End them.”

  Before the soldiers could move—

  Someone stepped forward.

  It was Manki.

  He cracked his neck slowly.

  “You guys look like hell.”

  Dago blinked.

  “Manki… don’t.”

  Manki rolled his shoulders.

  A strange calm spread across his face.

  “For once…”

  His aura began to rise.

  “…let me handle it.”

  The ground beneath him trembled.

  The air around him grew heavy.

  The Elite soldiers stopped.

  The captain’s eyes narrowed.

  “…Interesting.”

  Manki looked back at Dago and grinned.

  “You always rush ahead like some idiot hero.”

  He turned toward the soldiers.

  “So sit down for once.”

  His energy exploded outward.

  “Realm Break.”

  The clearing shook violently.

  Even Kaien’s eye widened.

  “…That level?”

  Lyra whispered.

  “Manki… you never told us…”

  Manki stretched his arms lazily.

  “Didn’t seem important.”

  The first Elite soldier charged.

  His spear moved like lightning.

  Manki tilted his head slightly.

  The spear stopped an inch from his face.

  Manki grabbed it.

  Snapped it in half.

  Then drove his fist into the soldier’s chest.

  The impact sent the man flying through three trees.

  The Elite moved together instantly.

  Four attacked at once.

  Swords.

  Spears.

  Energy blasts.

  Manki moved like a storm.

  He ducked one blade, elbowed another soldier into the dirt, kicked a third into the air, then caught an incoming spear and hurled it back.

  It pinned a soldier to a tree.

  The captain watched carefully.

  “His strength surpasses reports.”

  Another wave attacked.

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  Manki laughed.

  “Come on!”

  A soldier charged with a flaming sword.

  Manki grabbed his arm, twisted it, and slammed him into the ground.

  Another soldier struck from behind.

  Manki spun and drove his knee into the attacker’s ribs.

  Crack.

  Lyra stared.

  “He’s… fighting the entire Royal Elite alone.”

  Kaien spoke quietly.

  “…And winning.”

  Finally the captain stepped forward.

  “You are impressive.”

  Manki wiped blood from his lip.

  “Yeah, I hear that a lot.”

  The captain raised his sword.

  Energy gathered along its blade.

  “You will die first.”

  They moved simultaneously.

  Their clash split the ground.

  Manki blocked the sword with his forearm and punched the captain across the clearing.

  The captain slid back but didn’t fall.

  “…Good.”

  They attacked again.

  Blades clashed with fists.

  Shockwaves rolled across the forest.

  Minutes passed.

  Both fighters bled now.

  Manki breathed heavier.

  The captain raised his sword.

  “Enough.”

  Dark energy gathered around the blade.

  The remaining Elite soldiers joined him.

  Their power merged into one attack.

  A massive beam of destructive energy formed above them.

  Lyra’s eyes widened.

  “That attack will kill everyone here!”

  The attack fired.

  Dago tried to move.

  His body refused.

  “No…!”

  Manki stepped in front of them.

  He raised both arms.

  The beam slammed into him.

  The ground shattered beneath his feet.

  Blood ran down his arms.

  But he held it.

  Dago shouted.

  “Manki stop!!”

  Manki laughed weakly.

  “You know…”

  His voice trembled but stayed steady.

  “…when we first met… you were just some angry kid punching rocks.”

  Dago’s eyes widened.

  “You kept saying you’d become strong enough to protect everyone.”

  The beam burned deeper into Manki’s body.

  “But strength isn’t about winning every fight.”

  His voice softened.

  “It’s about standing up… when everyone else can’t.”

  He looked back at Dago.

  “So don’t you dare…”

  Blood spilled from his mouth.

  “…give up after this.”

  Dago’s hands trembled.

  “Manki…”

  The beam intensified.

  Manki smiled.

  “You’re going to surpass all of us.”

  The light consumed him.

  The attack faded.

  Manki’s body collapsed.

  Dago stared.

  No movement.

  No breathing.

  The captain lowered his sword.

  “One less problem.”

  A soldier laughed.

  “Your friend died protecting trash.”

  Another spoke coldly.

  “You should thank us.”

  Dago’s head slowly lowered.

  “What…?”

  The soldier grinned cruelly.

  “You don’t even know the truth, do you?”

  Lyra frowned.

  “…What truth?”

  The soldier chuckled.

  “Your mother.”

  Dago froze.

  “She screamed for help in the prison for weeks.”

  The soldier’s smile widened.

  “And we made sure no one helped.”

  “We enjoyed with her a lot”

  Dago’s hands began shaking violently.

  “You’re lying.”

  The soldier laughed.

  “Oh no.”

  His voice dropped coldly.

  “She suffered because of you.”

  Something inside Dago cracked.

  Dark energy erupted around him.

  His eyes began glowing.

  A monstrous presence filled the battlefield.

  Kaien stepped back.

  “…That power…”

  Lyra whispered.

  “Dago… stop!”

  The ground trembled as something ancient stirred inside him.

  Dago’s voice became distorted.

  “I’ll kill you.”

  Suddenly—

  A massive pressure descended from the sky.

  Everyone froze.

  The clouds split apart.

  A figure slowly descended from above.

  His cloak flowed like shadows.

  His presence alone crushed the battlefield’s energy.

  The captain stepped back.

  “…Who are you?”

  The man landed calmly.

  His eyes glowed with ancient power.

  He looked directly at Dago.

  “So this is where the other half ended up.”

  The soldiers attacked instantly.

  The man raised one hand.

  Black energy gathered around him.

  His voice echoed calmly.

  “Dagon’s authority… Devour.”

  A single wave of power exploded outward.

  The Elite soldiers were erased instantly.

  The battlefield fell silent.

  Dago collapsed unconscious.

  The man sighed softly.

  “You almost lost yourself.”

  He placed a seal on Dago’s chest.

  Dark energy calmed immediately.

  Lyra stared.

  “…Who are you?”

  The man smiled slightly.

  “My name is Xeurious.”

  His gaze softened as he looked at Dago.

  “And I’ve been watching him for a long time.”

  Kaien narrowed his eye.

  “Why?”

  Xeurious answered quietly.

  “Because…”

  A faint fragment of dark energy appeared in his palm.

  “…he carries the other half of Dagon.”

  Later that night.

  Inside a quiet mountain house.

  Dago slowly woke up.

  Lyra sat nearby.

  “You’re alive.”

  Dago sat up slowly.

  “…Where are we?”

  A voice answered from the doorway.

  “My home.”

  Xeurious entered the room calmly.

  “You needed somewhere safe.”

  Dago stared at him.

  “You… saved us.”

  Xeurious smiled faintly.

  “Not exactly.”

  He looked at Dago carefully.

  “I simply prevented you from destroying yourself.”

  Dago clenched his fists.

  “Manki…”

  Xeurious’s expression grew serious.

  “His sacrifice saved you.”

  Silence filled the room.

  Then Xeurious spoke again.

  “And now…”

  His eyes glowed slightly.

  “…your real journey begins.”