One day before the raid on the Lord's castle.
Kael and his party had stumbled upon a region where the air itself shimmered. The heat was so sharp it could peel the lungs from the inside.
Even standing near the entrance was painful.
But Kael stepped forward without hesitation.
He carried the Phoenix Flame.
The others didn't.
Mirra and Elira tried to follow, but the heat forced them back with burning lungs and trembling limbs.
He told them to return to town.
He would explore the place alone.
They didn't like it. They lingered. They looked back… a lot.
But in the end, they left.
And Kael continued.
The cavern was enormous.
A natural furnace buried beneath a mountain.
Lava pooled in open channels, lighting the stone walls with a dull red pulse.
Fire-beasts moved through the heat as if it were simply wind.
Kael faced them head-on.
Kill.
Refine.
Absorb.
The method Vela had taught him was brutal but effective. His flames separated body-tempering materials from the slain beasts, and the rest fueled his own growth.
He fought hundreds.
Flame Serpents that spit molten venom.
Shell Ants with armour forged in fire.
Bears with glowing veins like magma rivers under fur.
And finally—
The Blaze Bull.
The beast that ruled this cavern.
When it fell, the cavern trembled.
And Kael felt the opportunity he had been searching for.
The final push.
He refined everything in the bull's chamber, sitting cross-legged where the Bull once stood.
Fire wrapped around him.
Bones cracked.
Muscles reshaped.
His flame burned hotter, cleaner.
He broke into Peak Tier 0, both in body and flame.
A small step on paper.
But a monumental leap in reality.
And he didn't stop there.
He practised flame control, moulding it, tightening it, sharpening it.
His goal was simple.
To stand equal with Sylen in strength.
No bitterness, envy.
Just a rival he wanted to surpass the right way.
'I'll face him head-on. I'll surpass him. Then I'll move forward.'
That was the thought he carried into meditation.
Hours passed.
Kael woke in silence, surrounded by cooled embers. He stretched, the air hissing against his skin from residual heat.
"What happened while I was refining?" he asked.
Vela emerged beside him, small and bright, her flame-body faint but steady.
"Not something small," she answered. "But something that shook the entire Expanse. A few hours ago, the announcement spread."
She paused.
"The Lord is dead."
Kael blinked.
"…He really did it."
He didn't have a system like otherworlders. Only those who ascended through the portal could see a status screen. But he didn't need one to understand what this meant.
The Expanse would open.
His chance to move forward was here.
"I should get back," he said. "I can't let him talk circles around me again. I owe him a duel. And I owe you a promise."
Vela's flames flickered darker.
"My body is gone," she said. "If someone took it, I'll kill them myself. Even if they're above gods. But even the curse should've stopped them. Someone or something interfered, someone strong."
Kael didn't answer.
But the unease in his chest tightened.
He stepped outside.
Cold air rushed over his skin.
It should have felt refreshing.
Instead, something felt wrong.
A pressure in the ribs.
A whisper beneath thought.
"…Strange," he muttered. "Feels like something bad is waiting for me."
He shook it off.
There was no way to know.
No way to guess.
No way to even imagine that while he was fighting to grow—
The world was already sharpening its blade against his name.
He sprinted toward town, the sword at his back radiating silent heat.
Every beast that saw him fled.
Every trace of flame in his wake swayed like it bowed to him.
And yet—
Not even the fire could warn him of what waited ahead.
As now almost no beast was his match anymore in this expanse, except a few top figures sitting in town, Kael rode toward home.
After a few hours, he was already in front of the town, but the situation was the opposite of what he expected.
Instead of the bright atmosphere where everyone should be in joy, what he found was the exact opposite.
The town was silent, joyless; nothing looked bright, and even the wall guards didn't look well today.
Just as he was about to get closer, he felt two presences running toward him.
He raised his hand toward his sword hilt to be ready when he noticed Mirra and Elira rushing up with complicated faces.
"Hi, guys. I didn't expect you both to come pick me up — I was just about to enter the city myself. What happened? What's going on here…" he asked as they approached.
"Shut up and wear this cloak. Hide your face very well; no one should be able to see through your disguise." Elira tossed a cloak at him; he caught it and looked at them in confusion.
"Why… I don't understand. Is something wrong?" he asked while putting it on, pressured by Mirra, who herself looked confused and wary, eyes scanning for threats.
"No questions. Just follow us and don't speak until we get to the inn. If you do, we don't know what will happen. Only after we're inside the room can we tell you what's happening." She grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the gates, where several adventurers were walking.
He noticed everyone moving in a silent, gloomy way, as if under a cloud of sorrow, which deepened his suspicion that something was terribly wrong.
He realised the bustling town that was never silent was today eerily quiet, like some big event had happened.
'Is something major happening? Are there heavy casualties in the Twilight team? It must be—this was a Lord beast, not a random monster. Vela told me these grade beasts are on a different league, almost as powerful as a Tier 1 evolved being.'
He assumed that and was eager to find out.
After guiding him carefully through alleys and side paths, the two girls brought him back into the inn and up to their room.
Unbeknownst to them, several eyes watched from afar; with so many people in town, Kael couldn't distinguish who looked at them.
His senses weren't developed enough to pick up killing intent at that distance.
He had no idea what waited for him.
—
[Inside the room]
"What happened around here? Were there massive losses in the Twilight team? How many are dead? Where is Sylen? I need to meet him right now." Kael reached for the door, but Mirra stopped him.
"Kael, I don't know how to tell you this, but… There were losses in the team. Not just two or three members — all of them are dead now. Including Sylen and Elya…" Elira finished, and silence filled the room.
"Huh… what do you mean? I didn't hear this. Tell me again—what happened to the team and Sylen?" Kael's ears refused to accept it.
"I'm telling the truth. Everyone is dead. And not by the Lord while killing him, but by someone else's hand…" She stopped and stared at him.
"Huh… someone killed him? No way. Is there even someone strong enough to kill him? I don't believe it. Do you know who did this? I'm sure Guildmaster Myralt must be behind them right now." Kael felt a shove inside at the thought of his rival being slain; he wondered who could be strong enough to do it.
"Yes… He's investigating. And they already know—or at least suspect—who it is."
"Then who is he? I'll go help Sir Myralt find him." He stood up to fetch his sword.
"Kael… hear me first. The one being accused is… none other than you, Kael." She stopped and looked at him to see his reaction.
"Huh? Me? But how? I was in the cave. I couldn't be the one. Is there any proof? Maybe someone is plotting against me." Kael felt his world tilt.
"Yes. When Sir Myralt reached the Lord's castle, it was destroyed — turned to pieces, engulfed in fire — and when they found the corpses of the team, they found sword marks resembling your weapon.
Everything points to you as the culprit. People are in a rage; they rushed to inform Sir Myralt, who now believes you killed them in a fit of rivalry."
"How can this be? I was in the cave—weren't you all with me? I must confront Sir Myralt and prove my innocence." Kael tried to leave but was stopped again.
"NO— you can't go out now. If you go in front of the townsfolk or the guild members, they'll tear you apart the second you appear.
Everyone's bloodthirsty.
You can't stand in the square. I suggest you leave town for a few weeks. When things die down, come back and try to find proof to clear your name." Elira said hesitantly.
"What are you saying, Elira? Can't you see? If I run, I'll be forced into the role of the culprit. You know I can be anything, but not a murderer.
I can't even think of killing someone for selfish gain. It has to be someone else. Don't you believe me anymore?" Kael grabbed her shoulders.
"I… I believe you… I do," she said, but her voice wavered. "But you need time to prove it. Until then, you must disappear. Just until things settle down."
She broke eye contact.
Kael saw the hesitation in her eyes. A quiet disbelief beneath the surface.
"So even you doubt me. Mirra… and you?" He turned to her.
"I… I think you're innocent. Yes. I'm sure," Mirra replied quickly, flinching. She never expected things to turn out like this.
"Thank you. If you both believe me, then I'll leave." His voice was low, tired.
"Take this bag. It has everything you'll need." Elira pushed it toward him. Even in doubt, she didn't want him to die.
"You were already sure I was guilty. So why pretend it's only suspicion…" he murmured, picking up the bag.
Just as he reached for the door, he felt a presence on the other side.
His hand moved to his hilt. He gave the girls a warning glance.
He opened the door carefully.
It was the innkeeper's woman.
"What can I do for you?" he asked calmly.
"S-sir… someone is waiting for you. At the counter," she said, trying to hide her fear.
"Alright. I'll come in a few minutes," Kael answered. He turned to grab his bag — but Vela's voice rang out inside his head.
'Kael. There are several presences waiting to ambush you.
Leave. Now.'
His expression tightened.
"May I ask who is calling for me?" Kael asked the woman steadily.
"You're Kael, right? A man named Bram is waiting."
"Tell him to come to this room. I'll speak with him here." Kael began closing the door.
A hand stopped it.
"You're not going anywhere, Kael."
The door was shoved open by a guild officer. A peak-rank Warrior. A Saber expert.
"I am not a murderer. I have no proof right now, but please let me leave," Kael tried reasoning.
"There is no time for talk. Come peacefully to meet the Guildmaster. If you resist, we will use force."
The man's eyes showed nothing but hatred. No room for understanding.
"Then we have nothing to discuss," Kael said.
Heat surged from his body.
The wooden walls crackled as if ready to ignite.
"Everyone! Target is resisting! Move in!"
Footsteps thundered through the hall.
Kael's aura erupted. Mana roared like a volcano.
"I will prove my innocence. And when I do, I will come to the Guildmaster myself."
He slammed the door.
When the guild members burst inside, they found only Mirra and Elira. The window was open.
"Where is he?!"
"He escaped. Through the window," Elira answered, feeling guilty, because she told them.
"Take them to the guild. He'll come back for them. Lock the city. He will not leave. This town will be his grave."
The inn exploded into chaos.
Meanwhile, Kael moved through an alley toward the outer wall, hearing shouts spreading through the streets.
'I must move. If the Guildmaster arrives, I won't escape without a fight. And that fight will cost more than I can afford.'
He was only a few streets from escape when instinct screamed.
A predator's gaze locked on him.
Kael spun, sword raised.
The incoming strike was deflected, but the force numbed his arms.
On a rooftop stood Myralt.
"Where do you think you're going? You think you can run from your crimes?" Myralt's voice was cold.
"Sir, I'm not a murderer. You know me. Please. Let me prove my innocence," Kael pleaded.
"Why pretend?" Myralt's voice hardened. "We saw your flames with our own eyes. That blade of yours has left several marks of his around the ruins. The people you killed were the ones who fought for this town. Come back. I will try to make the punishment merciful."
Kael shook his head.
"Sorry, sir. I can't."
Mana ignited around him. Flames flickered across his skin.
"Then suffer."
Myralt summoned his spear.
His aura spread across the entire street like a crushing weight.
The clash was inevitable.
....
On the wall above, hidden until now, someone watched.
"So the target is about to face the Myralt. But he can't die here. Not yet. I still need him."
He removed the mask, showing his eyes filled with intent.
A fierce new aura pulsed from the figure.
To be continued…
What will happen now?
Can Kael escape this battle?
And who is the figure watching from above? Evan or someone else?
Add it to your library and keep reading to find out.