The village of Mura no Ana teetered above the mouth of the world.
Suspended on stone pillars and wooden beams above an unfathomable abyss, the settlement felt less like a home and more like a dare—an act of rebellion against gravity and darkness. Beneath it, the great pit yawned wide, devouring all sunlight and warmth, a black mouth that whispered to the curious.
It was here that Achlys and Cryo wandered, fresh from exile and uncertain of their path.
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After a brief encounter with Tria and Hipe, the duo sought the chief's residence. A grand house stood alone near the cliff's edge, two crossed pickaxes carved above its doorway like sentinels of labor and lore.
As Achlys knocked, the door swung open with a creak, revealing a young woman with magenta hair and eyes the color of twilight flames. Her skin was bronzed, her posture sharp. What drew Achlys's gaze most, however, was the glowing symbol on her nose—a Marking.
She didn't speak his name, but her expression said enough.
Achlys stepped inside with caution, gripping a heavy pickaxe.
"What do you want from us?" he demanded, lifting the tool. His voice echoed through the house, the wooden beams above creaking in response.
Cryo, standing nearby, froze the base of the pillar to keep the house steady.
"Achlys, calm dow—"
The pickaxe sailed through the air, slashing past the girl's cheek, cutting skin but not flesh.
She did not flinch.
"I said, what do you want?" Achlys growled. "Don't say my name unless you've earned the right."
The woman exhaled softly and sat on the floor, cross-legged and composed.
"I'm part of a group," she said. "The Unmarked."
Achlys blinked, then lowered the pickaxe slightly. "The Unmarked…?"
He sat across from her.
"This is about my Marking, isn't it?"
She nodded, and he gestured for Cryo to give them privacy. The blue-haired spirit stepped outside, forming an icy staff and standing sentry at the edge.
Inside, Achlys reached into his pocket and pulled out a faintly glowing yellow stone. The woman's eyes widened in disbelief.
"A Time Stone?" she gasped. "How in the gods' names do you have that?"
"I found it in a cave near Loipetras," Achlys replied, frowning. "Why? What's it do?"
She shook her head, almost laughing in awe. "Time Stones are sacred to the Time Masters. They grant massive boosts to spellcasting and precision. Owning even one is enough to climb ranks. You… have no idea what you're holding."
"So… do they eat it or something?" he asked, bewildered.
She actually chuckled. "No, idiot. They embed it into their body. Every Time Stone absorbed quadruples the wielder's mana manipulation. That stone could decide a war."
Achlys examined it, thoughtful.
"Doviam's after me," he muttered. "A Time Master with a short temper. This might be what he wants…"
He held the stone out to her.
"Take it. Keep it safe. And if Doviam ever comes asking… give it to him."
She hesitated. "But—"
"No arguments," he said, forcing it into her palm.
After a pause, he asked, "What's the real goal of the Unmarked?"
She sighed.
"There are seventeen of us. Each representing a different Order—Shield, Bow, Flame, Mist… We're not bound by race, nation, or history. We're human, vampire, god, or demon. We're… unity. We're survival."
Achlys nodded slowly.
"And your name?"
She smiled faintly, eyes half-closed.
"Krisa Eldaf."
He stood, brushing dust from his cloak, and opened the door. Cryo greeted him with a lazy salute.
As they walked off, Krisa leaned on the frame, watching them disappear toward the pit.
"Achlys," she whispered. "You'll change this world. You'll be the god we never deserved."
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Achlys peered over the edge of the abyss, the wind tugging at his cape.
"So… should we go down and explore?"
Cryo hesitated. "It's dark."
Achlys slapped him hard on the back. "Don't be a scaredy bird. I'll be with you!"
With that, he shoved Cryo into the hole.
"ACHLYYYSSSS!" the scream echoed for miles.
Achlys laughed wildly and leapt in after him, arms behind his head like a falling king.
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They landed hard—Cryo face-first, Achlys laughing beside him.
"That was fun!"
Cryo's legs stuck out of the ground like a broken flag.
Achlys chuckled. "Need help?"
Cryo kicked free with a grunt, glaring. "If there's ever another hole this deep… you're never walking near me again."
"Fair," Achlys muttered, scratching his head.
He turned toward a glowing tunnel.
"Let's go!"
"You forgot the pickaxes, airhead."
Achlys reached behind him and pulled out two stone tools.
"I never forget."
He tossed one to Cryo, who caught it with a grin.
"Let's go exploring, Master," Cryo said, walking ahead with a smirk.
Achlys blinked at him, surprised.
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The duo mined their way through the glowing caverns. Elemental stones shimmered in the walls—Water Magic shards, Fire Essence gems, and more.
Then Cryo gasped.
"Master, come quick… I think you'll like this."
Achlys stepped over, eyes widening.
"A Skill Stone…" he breathed. "I read about these once, they are quite rare."
Cryo reached to mine it.
"Wait!" Achlys said. "You can't just hit it. You have to pull—the surrounding stone is fragile."
Gently, he worked the stone free, its green glow pulsing in his palm.
Cryo asked, "So what does it do?"
"You… eat it," Achlys said. "It merges with your body, and you gain a new skill—like a branching tree."
He flipped it over in his hand.
"If I eat this one… I might unlock Flash."
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Cryo stepped forward and offered it.
"Take it. You need it more than I do."
Achlys stared at him, grateful. "Thanks."
He pocketed the stone—and the ground cracked beneath them.
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"Achlys! We're falling!"
The floor shattered, and the two plummeted into a hidden sanctum.
They landed in a room made of pure white—a glowing void of clouds and light.
In the center: a chest, a corpse wearing a black-and-red cape, and a sealed bundle wrapped in chains. It was shifting, breathing, and was alive.
Achlys caught Cryo before he could stumble.
"…What is this?" he whispered.
Cryo scanned the room. "A chamber…"
Bellona's voice echoed faintly through the marking.
"A prison."
Achlys stepped forward.
"Master, wait—!"
But Achlys kneeled before the corpse, hands together.
"…I'm sorry we couldn't find you sooner."
Cryo fell silent.
"I'll free you," Achlys whispered.
The corpse stirred. A green light rose behind it, casting shadows.
Its voice was hollow, ancient.
"Please… save the angel who sealed herself away… to protect the world from her god."
Achlys nodded. The spirit vanished through the wall.
He stood, removing the cape from the corpse and throwing it across his shoulders.
"Let's save an angel from a fallen god."
Cryo stared. "Angel? God? What…?"
Bellona snorted. "Stupid bird."
Cryo, irritated, shot an ice shard that skimmed Achlys's cheek.
Achlys walked toward the chained cocoon.
He touched a chain—and screamed.
Flames seared his hand. Another chain whipped up a root that bound his legs.
"Each one… holds an element," he gasped.
"I need my sword."
Cryo nodded and conjured it, frozen in ice. He melted it and handed it over.
Achlys drew it.
The marking glowed. The cape lifted. The sword gleamed.
"First order… FULL MOON!"
He slashed.
One by one, the chains snapped—each releasing a line of mana that carved into the chamber floor like ancient runes awakening.
As the final chain fell, the cocoon dropped to the ground.
And slowly—ever so slowly—it began to open.
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<| Ability Book |>
Spellbook: Light and Dark Manipulation
Spell: Flash
Tier: High Mage
Strength: Extreme speed and maneuverability.
Weakness: Drains stamina. Skill is loud and can cause skin burns if used too early.
Description: A tier-two speed skill, two levels above Boost. Grants hyper-velocity at 50x the speed of sound.
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